Brendan Carr is a dummy

On The Vergecast: the future of free speech, the winners of the streaming wars, and much, much more.

by David Pierce

Dec 19, 2025, 2:36 PM UTC

David Pierce 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.

All year on The Vergecast, we’ve been tracking the many bizarre and problematic actions of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. There has been a lot to discuss! Then, this week, ahead of one of our last episodes of the year, Carr appeared in front of the Senate Commerce Committee and spent three hours explaining how he thinks about his job, the FCC, and the state of online communication and entertainment. It was a lot.

On this episode of The Vergecast, we begin with a dissection of Carr’s testimony, his threats against broadcasters, and the ways in which he’s using old ideas about content delivery to get his political way. Nilay and David walk through some of Carr’s most important quotes, explain the history of broadband regulation, and look ahead to how Carr might bring these same tactics to internet regulation next year.

Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | More

After that, the hosts talk through some odd but telling news in the streaming wars. YouTube got the Oscars; Netflix got FIFA and a bunch of podcasts; Warner Bros. doesn’t want Paramount’s money. Along with producer Travis Larchuk, we then update the Go90 Scale of Doomed Streaming Services, to see who’s winning the streaming wars and who’s in danger of losing them forever.

Finally, in the lightning round, we discuss the Copilot icon that suddenly appeared on a bunch of LG TVs, Bluesky’s controversial contact import feature, the latest product ideas from the AI industry, Ford’s EV overhaul, Will.i.am’s odd ideas about cars, and the seemingly looming end of the metaverse.

Also, an important housekeeping note: The Vergecast will be live at CES! We’ll be at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas, at 3:30PM on Wednesday, January 7th. There will be podcasting, and hanging out, and bowling. It’s going to be great, and if you’re going to be in Vegas, we’d love to see you there.

Until then, if you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first on Brendan Carr:

And in the streaming wars:

And in the lightning round: