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T.C. Sottek

T.C. Sottek

Executive Editor

Executive Editor

    More From T.C. Sottek

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    We’ll miss you, Lance Reddick.

    Iconic star of The Wire, John Wick, Lost, Fringe, the video games Destiny and Horizon Zero Dawn, and the face of countless other roles, TMZ reports (with Variety confirming) that legendary actor Lance Reddick has died at age 60.

    No matter where you saw him or heard his voice, Reddick was always immediately recognizable and added a ton of weight to anything he appeared in. As a former Baltimore resident, I will always cherish his role as the sharp and upstanding Cedric Daniels.

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    Starlink is the latest internet boogeyman.

    AP reports that Brazilian federal agents are fighting a new enemy: Starlink satellite internet service that is allegedly aiding illegal mining operations in the Amazon rainforest. Obviously illegal rainforest mining is bad, but this all smacks of the same aggro law enforcement angle against tech like encryption, which is a benefit to society and an incidental boon for some criminal activity.

    It would be nice to shut down use of this service to raid a critical natural resource, but I hope it doesn’t compromise broader internet access for Brazilians.

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    Anyone want to go in together on this $6,000 arcade cabinet?

    Enter the Gungeon is my favorite roguelike of all time and this new cabinet version looks like such a clever take on the original game — one that evokes memories of playing Time Crisis at the movie theater growing up. The only downside? It’s about $5,643.94 more expensive than an Xbox. Who wants to pitch in?

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    On this day in Verge history...

    I’m trying out a new type of Quickpost today: a look back at the Verge archives for the given day in history. On March 10th, 2012, we were all talking about Turntable.fm with great hope, because the social music platform had signed a music deal. Turntable was one of our favorite platforms ever, and as you may know, it eventually shut down for good in 2014. It since relaunched with a couple competing versions, but it just isn’t the same anymore.

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    America’s broadband map is polluted by Starlink’s RV service.

    Bad maps have been a years-long problem for US broadband, and, despite recent updates, an Ars Technica report makes clear that the government has a lot left to fix. The latest anecdote in this sad saga comes courtesy of Starlink, which blames the FCC for counting addresses as “served” when in reality they only have access to the ISP’s internet plan for RVs.

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    This is what American decline looks like.

    We’ve lost a lot of expertise in government over the past decade. The destruction of Gigi Sohn’s appointment to the FCC is the latest in a trend of asymmetrical polarization and cynicism — the rejection of an extraordinarily qualified public servant due to unchecked ambition and nihilism.

    If you’re wondering why communications regulation is lacking over the next few years, including the erosion of the First Amendment, look no further than this travesty in self-governance.

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    Just posting some Star Trek lore to the website.

    After many years, I’ve been rewatching the TNG-era Star Trek films recently, and something stood out to me in the first entry in the series: Star Trek: Generations.

    No, it’s not the fact that Connor from Succession / Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was the captain of a starship. It’s the opening scene, which is filled with futuristic reporters — something seldom seen in the Trek universe. It’s just nice to know that people are still asking questions in space.

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    Jeff Bezos’ final frontier? The Super Bowl.

    Front Office Sports reports that Bezos is a finalist in talks to acquire the Washington Commanders: a sports team so frustrating that it made me personally quit NFL fandom and turn exclusively to ice hockey. Bezos’ ownership would probably be a marginal improvement on Dan Snyder’s tenure, who has been long-reviled by DC-area fans and who has plagued the region with his personal scandals.

    Winning a Super Bowl with the Washington team? Probably harder than going to space. No wonder Bezos is interested in the challenge.

    T.C. Sottek
    T.C. Sottek
    Hot Pod Summit 2023 was... very hot.

    We gathered this past Thursday at the gorgeous Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, NYC for our third Hot Pod event. I want to give a big thanks to everyone on the Verge team who made this happen, as well as our partners at Work x Work, which puts on Hot Pod Summit + On Air Fest each year. (I personally really loved the new experience at On Air Fest this year: The Podcast Experience.)

    Hot Pod is an essential read for anyone in the podcasting and audio industry, and we are incredibly proud to carry on its legacy. Please consider subscribing to Hot Pod for the latest and most essential news in the podcast industry.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    This week on The Vergecast we talked about Section 230.

    On the latest episode (you can find the audio feeds here) TC, Nilay, and Alex broke down this week’s Supreme Court hearings that could significantly impact the internet.

    After a break and a lineup change, we also dig into the new fraud charges filed against Sam Bankman-Fried, Spotify’s AI DJ (I don’t trust it), the Microsoft vs. Sony battle over Activision, and Tesla’s new California engineering HQ.