11 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Ariel Shapiro
Ariel Shapiro
Spotify’s podcasting business should break even “pretty soon.”

In a call with investors Tuesday morning, Spotify CFO Paul Vogel said that the company’s podcasting business is on track to (finally) become profitable. This follows a year of deep cuts to the podcasting arm, including the dissolution of Gimlet.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
The Twitter Fantasy.

It’s been almost a year since Elon Musk took over Twitter and, well, a lot of things have happened since then. Now, after previously diving into the backstories of dating apps, Meta, and Tesla, the Vox Media podcast Land of the Giants launches a new season about Twitter, its richest user, and “why Twitter’s cultural and political influence far exceeds its size,” hosted by Peter Kafka.

New episodes will arrive weekly starting on October 25th, and you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or other podcast apps.

Putting the profit in nonprofitPutting the profit in nonprofit
Ariel Shapiro
Death, Sex, and the future of WNYC podcastsDeath, Sex, and the future of WNYC podcasts
Amrita Khalid and Ariel Shapiro
Podcasting’s fallout continuesPodcasting’s fallout continues
Ariel Shapiro
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
TIL someone got the amazing analog Space Command remote to control Alexa.

No batteries, no infrared — just the original “clicker” TV remote’s ultrasonic pings translated into digital commands by an Arduino computer, which then speaks in a robotic voice to get Alexa to do your bidding.

Apple and Google want to shift how you listen to podcastsApple and Google want to shift how you listen to podcasts
Amrita Khalid and Ariel Shapiro
How Google taught AI to doubt itselfHow Google taught AI to doubt itself
Casey Newton
This USB button helps Jeopardy! contestants get their buzz on

Also: Liam Neeson used it to blow something up.

Andru Marino
Amrita Khalid
Amrita Khalid
Five unemployed men start their own podcast.

Spotify has partnered with late-night hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver to launch Strike Force Five. The proceeds will go to benefit the staff of their shows, who have also been out of work due to the ongoing Hollywood strike.