After more than five years of machinations, secret meetings, legislative actions, and confusing messaging, it appears a deal is coming to keep TikTok alive in the US. On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order that didn’t quite make a deal, but at least gave everyone space to make deal. It’s a concept of a plan, really.
Tick tock, TikTok
On The Vergecast: ChromeOS and Android, TikTok and America, and Jimmy Kimmel and Brendan Carr.
On The Vergecast: ChromeOS and Android, TikTok and America, and Jimmy Kimmel and Brendan Carr.
is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.
On this episode of The Vergecast — which we recorded a few hours before Trump signed that order, which luckily didn’t change many details — we dig into everything we know about the TikTok deal. Before we do, though, David and Jake talk about some gadget news! There’s the latest in Google’s seemingly never-ending attempt to bring ChromeOS and Android together; there’s the increasing rumors about a touchscreen Mac; and there’s some new info on what Jony Ive and OpenAI are building together.
After that, it’s TikTok time. The Verge’s Liz Lopatto joins the show to talk about what we know about the deal, who the key players are (one new thing since we recorded: it appears the Abu Dhabi-based MGX will be another large investor), what it means that Larry Ellison in particular will be so powerful in the new TikTok, and more. We also wonder whether it’s even possible for TikTok to feel like the same platform and community after all these changes.
Finally, in the lightning round, the gang discusses the return of Jimmy Kimmel, Anker’s new party speaker, SCRATCHGATE!, and more. We also feel very bad for Nvidia and all its money.
If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first on the week’s gadget news:
- Google’s Android for PC: ‘I’ve seen it, it is incredible’
- Google reveals its Android for PC is coming next year
- Our biggest questions about ChromeOS and Android merging
- The foldable iPhone might look like two iPhone Airs stuck together
- The touchscreen MacBook rumors are never ending
- OpenAI might also be developing AI glasses, a voice recorder, and a pin
And in TikTok news:
- Trump signs ‘Saving TikTok’ order to start resolving its big ban problem
- Trump claims the US is about to get a tremendous fee for taking TikTok out of China
- Some details of the TikTok deal have been worked out.
- From The New Yorker: What Trump Wants from a TikTok Deal with China
- From The New York Times: TikTok Deal Could Make Oracle Founder Larry Ellison a New Kind of Media Mogul
And in the lightning round:
- Anker’s party speaker projector hits Kickstarter with a sizable discount.
- Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro can be easily scratched
- Kimmel returns to television to mock FCC Chair Brendan Carr
- Montblanc is getting into the digital notepad game
- Nvidia is partnering up with OpenAI to offer compute and cash
- It costs $895 per year to get American Express’ premium app theme
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