Luister naar The Vergecast

Everywhere you look, antitrust fights have the potential to reshape the tech industry. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes start by digging into the latest ruling in the Apple / Epic trial, in which a furious judge rips open the App Store in a way Apple likely never saw coming. The way we pay for apps is about to change, and fast. After that, it's time for an update on the Google and Meta trials, as Google tries to preserve its search empire and Meta tries to make the case that basically every company on the web is its vicious competitor. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for another installment of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, plus some notes on this week's Worldcoin launch and the strange new Meta AI app. Also: party speakers. Always party speakers. Further reading: * A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store [https://www.theverge.com/news/659246/apple-epic-app-store-judge-ruling-control] * ‘Cook chose poorly’: how Apple blew up its control over the App Store [https://www.theverge.com/apple/659296/apple-failed-compliance-court-ruling-breakdown] * The future of the App Store depends on the difference between a ‘button’ and an ‘external link’ [https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22667161/app-store-epic-ruling-difference-button-external-link] Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple [https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/10/22662320/epic-apple-ruling-injunction-judge-court-app-store] Apple exec ‘outright lied’ during Epic trial [https://www.theverge.com/news/659301/apple-executive-lied-under-oath-epic-alex-roman] Apple confirms it will appeal the App Store order. [https://www.theverge.com/news/659310/apple-confirms-it-will-appeal-the-app-store-order] Epic says Fortnite is coming back to iOS in the US [https://www.theverge.com/news/659271/fortnite-ios-apple-app-store-us-return] Sundar Pichai says the DOJ’s antitrust plan could kill Google Search [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658738/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-testifies-doj-search-antitrust-trial] Google confirms it’s close to getting Gemini support on iPhones [https://www.theverge.com/news/658770/google-gemini-apple-iphone-deal-ai] * The TikTok ban is back in court — in Meta’s antitrust trial [https://www.theverge.com/policy/659102/tiktok-ban-meta-antitrust-trial-instagram] * TikTok’s head of operations takes the stand. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658687/tiktoks-head-of-operations-takes-the-stand] * Reels isn’t Instagram’s ‘core’ experience. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658703/reels-isnt-instagrams-core-experience] * TikTok doesn’t compete with Meta for ‘personal social networking.’ [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658696/tiktok-doesnt-compete-with-meta-for-personal-social-networking] * TikTok’s legal entanglements collide. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658716/tiktoks-legal-entanglements-collide] * The TikTok ban makes another cameo. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658826/the-tiktok-ban-makes-another-cameo] * TikTok’s friends tab is not exactly a hit. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658734/tiktoks-friends-tab-is-not-exactly-a-hit] * TikTok and Reels are ‘indistinguishable.’ [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658748/tiktok-and-reels-are-indistinguishable] * Are YouTube and Instagram the top competitors for TikTok?  [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658800/are-youtube-and-instagram-the-top-competitors-for-tiktok] * TikTok predicted Instagram would redesign its app to focus on Reels. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658818/tiktok-predicted-instagram-would-redesign-its-app-to-focus-on-reels] Meta prepared for a ‘flood in traffic’ ahead of the TikTok ban. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658192/meta-prepared-for-a-flood-in-traffic-ahead-of-the-tiktok-ban] * Facebook execs worried Google would buy WhatsApp and make it ‘a cross-platform iMessage.’ [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657405/facebook-execs-worried-google-would-buy-whatsapp-and-make-it-a-cross-platform-imessage] * Facebook worried most about Google or Apple buying WhatsApp. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657985/facebook-worried-most-about-google-or-apple-buying-whatsapp] * Google had a ‘long shot’ chance of becoming competitive in social with WhatsApp. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657980/google-had-a-long-shot-chance-of-becoming-a-social-competitor-with-whatsapp] * Facebook exec worried about losing the business to mobile messaging apps. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657888/facebook-exec-worried-about-losing-the-business-to-mobile-messaging-apps] * ‘I was really worried that this could become the end.’ [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657870/i-was-really-worried-that-this-could-become-the-end] * ‘This shit is getting scary.’  [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657824/this-shit-is-getting-scary] * WhatsApp showed ‘absolutely no signs of morphing’ into a social app. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657904/whatsapp-showed-absolutely-no-signs-of-morphing-into-a-social-app] * Facebook floated starting from scratch on messaging. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657943/facebook-floated-starting-from-scratch-on-messaging] * Facebook didn’t know how it would make money from WhatsApp. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/657971/facebook-didnt-know-how-it-would-make-money-from-whatsapp] Facebook didn’t fear WhatsApp becoming a social competitor. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/658100/facebook-didnt-fear-whatsapp-becoming-a-social-competitor] Meta releases AI app to compete with ChatGPT [https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/657645/meta-ai-app-chatgpt-competitor-release-ios-android] Brendan Carr congratulates himself [https://x.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1917247350604488913?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet] Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine [https://www.theverge.com/tech/656653/brendan-carr-fcc-anti-consumer-harassment-dei-trump] Brendan Carr’s Bizarro World FCC [https://www.thefire.org/news/brendan-carrs-bizarro-world-fcc] Sam Altman-backed Worldcoin cryptocurrency launches in the US [https://www.theverge.com/cryptocurrency/659011/worldcoin-us-launch-orb-crypto-sam-altman] https://www.thefire.org/news/brendan-carrs-bizarro-world-fcc Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Sometimes you want more tech in your life — and sometimes you want a lot less. This episode is all about less. First, Tim Stevens joins the show to talk about his story about the Slate Truck, an ultra-minimal electric vehicle that has almost no features to speak of and yet still promises to reinvent the way we think about cars. After that, Casey Johnston tells us about her journey in managing her screen time. She has tips for how to get the most problematic apps of your phone, is a big proponent of a factory reset, and has seen first-hand what happens when you look at your devices just a little less. Finally, we answer a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about whether there's a MacBook Air equivalent in the Windows world. The answer surprised us, and it might surprise you too. Further reading: * The $20,000 American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreen [https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/655527/slate-electric-truck-price-paint-radio-bezos] * Is this the antidote to America’s truck bloat problem? [https://www.theverge.com/electric-cars/656270/slate-truck-bloat-size-weight-safety-tech] * From TechCrunch: Inside the EV startup secretly backed by Jeff Bezos [https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/08/inside-the-ev-startup-secretly-backed-by-jeff-bezos/?_thumbnail_id=2991135] * Around the Next Bend on Substack [https://timstevens.substack.com/] * Slate is the American truck scene's Ctrl+Alt+Del moment [https://timstevens.substack.com/p/slate-is-the-american-truck-scenes] * From She's a Beast: The DIY Dumbphone Method [https://www.shesabeast.co/the-diy-dumbphone-method/] * Casey's book: A Physical Education [https://www.caseyjohnston.website/my-work/a-physical-education] * Framework Laptop 13 (2025) review: getting better with age [https://www.theverge.com/reviews/650608/framework-laptop-13-review-2025-amd-ryzen-ai-300] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Some weeks, it just feels like everything is up in the air all at the same time. Nilay and David are joined by The Verge’s Jake Kastrenakes to talk about all the unrest, starting with the ever-changing tariff rules that are making gadgets hard to price, hard to find, and hard to bet on going forward. (Maybe that’s why it seems everyone on Earth tried to pre-order a Switch 2 this week.) After that, the hosts catch up on the Meta and Google antitrust trials happening this week, and try to figure out who might be interested in the internet’s most popular browser. Finally, in the lightning round, we talk Brendan Carr (who is a dummy), the wood-backed Motorola Razr Ultra, and the 20th anniversary of YouTube. Further reading: * Nintendo Switch 2 preorders were a total mess — at first [https://www.theverge.com/news/654571/nintendo-switch-2-preorders-issues-problems] * Nintendo Switch 2 preorders are sold out everywhere [https://www.theverge.com/news/655361/nintendo-switch-2-preorders-sold-out-walmart-gamestop-target] * GameStop’s Switch 2 preorders started poorly, too [https://www.theverge.com/news/655626/nintendo-switch-2-gamestop-preorder] * Auto industry tariffs are doing what now? 24 hours of White House confusion [https://www.theverge.com/transportation/655010/auto-industry-tariffs-white-house-confusion-china-canada] * Did Tim Cook finagle a special tariff deal? Senator Warren wants to know [https://www.theverge.com/news/654882/apple-tim-cook-tariff-deal-senator-warren] * The US hikes tariffs on solar products from Asia [https://www.theverge.com/news/653750/tariffs-solar-us-china-southeast-asia] * DHL halts international deliveries to US consumers worth over $800 [https://www.theverge.com/news/652977/dhl-shipment-delays-us-tariffs-business-to-consumer] * Game Boy clone maker Anbernic suspends all shipments to US [https://www.theverge.com/news/652797/anbernic-suspend-shipments-tariffs-us-china] * Ayn, like Anbernic, is pausing retro handheld shipments to the US. [https://www.theverge.com/games/653978/ayn-like-anbernic-is-pausing-retro-handheld-shipments-to-the-us] * Perplexity wants to buy Chrome if Google has to sell it [https://www.theverge.com/policy/654835/perplexity-google-antitrust-trial-remedies-chrome] * OpenAI tells judge it would buy Chrome from Google  [https://www.theverge.com/news/653882/openai-chrome-google-us-judge] * Former DOJ antitrust chief says a Google break up will benefit the internet [https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/654243/jonathan-kanter-antitrust-google-ad-tech-monopoly-doj] * Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom says Zuckerberg “saw us as a threat” [https://www.theverge.com/policy/654069/instagram-co-founder-zuckerberg-saw-us-as-a-threat-to-facebook] * Instagram launches its CapCut clone, Edits [https://www.theverge.com/news/653136/instagram-edits-meta-capcut-clone-tiktok-bytedance] * Threads adds more ads [https://www.theverge.com/news/654048/meta-threads-ads-advertisers-globally] * Former Google exec testifies about the company’s attempt to buy WhatsApp. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/652625/former-google-exec-testifies-about-its-attempt-to-buy-whatsapp] * Google’s antitrust trial begins with a fight over Chrome, money, and AI [https://www.theverge.com/policy/652708/google-search-antitrust-remedies-trial-opening] * Google is paying Samsung an ‘enormous sum’ to preinstall Gemini [https://www.theverge.com/news/652746/google-samsung-gemini-default-placement-antitrust-trial] * Google reveals Gemini AI has 350 million monthly active users. [https://www.theverge.com/google/654641/google-reveals-gemini-ai-has-350-million-monthly-active-users] * Apple and Meta hit with the EU’s first DMA antitrust fines [https://www.theverge.com/news/627522/apple-meta-eu-dma-antitrust-fines] * The EU isn’t happy with Apple’s tax on alternative app stores [https://www.theverge.com/news/636196/apple-eu-dma-probe-alternative-app-stores-tax]  * Brendan Carr is a dummy [https://x.com/AjitPai/status/1914845780826873974] * From Puck: David Ellison’s Carr Trouble [https://puck.news/will-the-fccs-brendan-carr-kill-the-paramount-sale/] * The Trump FCC’s Coercion Cartel [https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-trump-fcc-s-coercion-cartel] * Motorola’s new Razr Ultra brings the wood back panel back [https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/654846/motorola-razr-ultra-2025-specs-screen-price] * YouTube’s TV changes include a redesign and more multiview [https://www.theverge.com/news/653916/youtube-tv-multiview-non-sports-content] * YouTube is everything and everything is YouTube [https://www.theverge.com/youtube/654240/youtube-future-creators-ai-music-content] * 20 years ago, the first videos uploaded to YouTube were short and swee [https://www.theverge.com/news/653899/youtube-video-20-year-anniversary-first-three-videos] Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

If you’re heading on vacation this summer, you’re going to want to listen to this. The Verge’s Gaby del Valle joins the show to explain how worried you need to be about your digital data when you cross borders, and what you can do to protect yourself. Even if you don’t think you have anything to hide, a little precaution goes a long way. After that, Puck’s Matt Belloni joins the show to explain why Apple, Amazon, Google, and other tech companies continue to pour money into the streaming business, when it seems so far removed from what those companies do well. (Spoiler alert: it’s fun to be friends with Ben Stiller.) Finally, we answer a hotline question about the Google Pixel’s ascent to “best Android phone for people who just want a phone.”  Oh, also: thanks to everyone who voted for us in the Webby Awards! We’ll know soon whether we won, but however it shakes out, we’re so grateful to everyone who voted for us. Further reading: * Is it safe to travel to the United States with your phone right now? [https://www.theverge.com/policy/634264/customs-border-protection-search-phone-airport-rights] * DHS’s airport panopticon is getting people deported and detained [https://www.theverge.com/policy/632843/cbp-phone-search-airport-arrest-mass-deportations] * Trump says he wants to deport US citizens to El Salvador [https://www.theverge.com/policy/648338/trump-deport-us-citizens-el-salvador] * Matt Belloni at Puck [https://puck.news/author/matthew-belloni/] * The Town podcast [https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-town-with-matthew-belloni] * From Puck: How Long Can the Apple TV+ Experiment Sputter On? - Puck [https://puck.news/how-long-can-the-apple-tv-plus-experiment-sputter-on/] * Google Pixel 9A review: a midrange phone done right [https://www.theverge.com/phone-review/646135/google-pixel-9a-review-a-midrange-phone-done-right] * Google Pixel 9 review: the phone that Android needs [https://www.theverge.com/24232480/google-pixel-9-review-screen-camera-battery] Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

We promise, this episode is only a little bit about header bidding. Nilay and David are joined by The Verge’s Alex Heath to talk about some big news in tech regulation: Google lost its ad-tech monopoly trial, which could reshape both Google and the internet altogether. And that’s not the only monopoly news! Meta’s trial also started this week, and Alex was there to see Mark Zuckerberg and others try to defend Instagram, WhatsApp, and the company as a whole. After all that, we talk about OpenAI’s plans to build a social network, and how this company seems to never run out of ambition. Finally, in the lightning round, it’s time for another round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, and some news about viral cameras and the Switch 2. Which we’ll be yeeting into our homes as soon as possible Further reading: * Google loses ad tech monopoly case [https://www.theverge.com/news/650665/google-loses-ad-tech-antitrust-monopoly-lawsuit] * FTC v. Meta live: the latest from the battle over Instagram and WhatsApp [https://www.theverge.com/news/646809/ftc-v-meta-antitrust-monopoly-trial-instagram-whatsapp] * Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defends Instagram purchase in antitrust trial [https://www.theverge.com/policy/648666/mark-zuckerberg-meta-ftc-trial-testimony-instagram] * Zuckerberg defends his empire during FTC antitrust trial [https://www.theverge.com/policy/649520/zuckerberg-meta-ftc-antitrust-testimony-facebook-history] * Mark Zuckerberg suggested spinning off Instagram [https://www.theverge.com/policy/649213/mark-zuckerberg-meta-instagram-spin-off-ftc-antitrust-trial] * Mark Zuckerberg tells court that Meta made WhatsApp, Instagram better [https://www.theverge.com/policy/650360/mark-zuckerberg-defends-instagram-whatsapp-ftc-meta-antitrust-trial] * Mark Zuckerberg once suggested wiping all Facebook friends lists to boost usage [https://www.theverge.com/news/649246/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-friends-wipe-reset-meta-antitrust-trial] * Meta reportedly offered $1 billion to settle the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit. [https://www.theverge.com/policy/649387/meta-offered-1-billion-settle-ftc-antitrust-lawsuit] * Zuckerberg defends his empire during FTC antitrust trial [https://www.theverge.com/policy/649520/zuckerberg-meta-ftc-antitrust-testimony-facebook-history] * Google, Apple, and Snap aren’t happy about Meta’s poorly-redacted slides [https://www.theverge.com/news/649834/meta-redactions-apple-google-snap-angry-ftc-antitrust-trial] * Meta’s antitrust trial slide redactions aren’t actually hiding anything [https://www.theverge.com/news/648893/meta-redacted-documents-leak-ftc-antitrust-opening-statement] * OpenAI is building a social network [https://www.theverge.com/openai/648130/openai-social-network-x-competitor] * OpenAI debuts its GPT-4.1 flagship AI model [https://www.theverge.com/news/647896/openai-chatgpt-gpt-4-1-mini-nano-launch-availability] * OpenAI might finally get better model names soon. [https://www.theverge.com/news/648601/openai-might-finally-get-better-model-names-soon] * OpenAI’s upgraded o3 model can use images when reasoning [https://www.theverge.com/news/649941/openai-o3-o4-mini-model-images-reasoning] * ChatGPT will now remember your old conversations [https://www.theverge.com/news/646968/openai-chatgpt-long-term-memory-upgrade] * OpenAI is reportedly considering a $3 billion deal to buy AI coding tool Windsurf. [https://www.theverge.com/news/650071/openai-is-reportedly-considering-a-3-billion-deal-to-buy-ai-coding-tool-windsurf] * Netflix is testing a new OpenAI-powered search [https://www.theverge.com/news/647518/netflix-openai-search-beta-test-ios] * Brendan Carr on X [https://x.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1912641900558893377] * The Media and Democracy Project on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social/post/3lmqivlws522e] * Trump excludes smartphones, computers, chips from higher tariffs [https://www.theverge.com/news/647666/trump-exempts-smartphones-laptops-chips-tariffs] * Smartphone tariffs are coming back in ‘a month or two,’ says Trump admin [https://www.theverge.com/news/647811/smartphone-laptop-chips-tariffs-returning-semiconductor-sector-tariffs] * TSMC is unfazed by tariffs. [https://www.theverge.com/news/650471/tsmc-is-unfazed-by-tariffs] * Microsoft’s Phil Spencer: “I want to support Switch 2.” [https://www.theverge.com/news/649887/microsofts-phil-spencer-i-want-to-support-switch-2] * In pursuit of a viral, five-year-old compact camera [https://www.theverge.com/tech/649145/canon-powershot-g7x-iii-tiktok-how-to-buy] Email us at vergecast@theverge.com [vergecast@theverge.com] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]