Recode Daily

The SAT goes digital

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The College Board announced that, starting in 2024, the SAT — the test nearly all American high school seniors take to determine their college readi...

Finding asteroids before they find us

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists are constantly searching for asteroids that could crash into Earth. But if they find one, will they be able to do anything about it? NASA h...

Peloton’s ride to nowhere

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When the pandemic started, Peloton’s stationary bikes were flying off the shelves and into people’s living rooms. Now they’re struggling to sell...

How a volcano disconnected a country

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tonga was disconnected from the rest of the world earlier in January. Chris Stokel-Walker explains what it will take for the small, Pacific island nat...

What in the Wordle?

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A deceptively easy game for burnt-out pandemic shut-ins. Vox's Aja Romano explains. Read Aja’s story: https://www.vox.com/culture/22891192/wordle-g...

Beanie babies were the NFTs of the 90s

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when the frenzy ends and the world doesn’t value your valuables? Vox’s Emily Stewart explains.  Read Emily’s story: https://www.vo...

The crypto colonizers of Puerto Rico

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For several years, businesses have flocked to Puerto Rico because of its reputation as a tax haven. Crypto investors are getting in on it now, too—a...

Microsoft is buying one of the biggest names in games

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard, one of the biggest names in games — if Washington lets it.  Read Peter Kafka’s story: https://www.vox.co...

The 5G airport freakout, explained

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The FAA is worried about your cellphone again. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains.  Read Rebecca’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/1/12/2...

So … what the hell is Web3?

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What the hell is Web3, why did everyone start talking about it all at once, and are we going to still be talking about it in a few months? Jarrod Dick...

Electric cars aren’t just vehicles

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They’re big batteries that can power homes and businesses, too. Recode’s Neel Dhanesha explains.  Read Neel’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode...

John Deere thinks its self-driving tractor's sexy

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re one step closer to self-farming farms. Recode’s Adam Clark Estes explains.  Read Adam’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode/2022/1/8/22872...

Now’s the time to get the job you want

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

American workers have power. That won’t last forever.Recode’s Rani Molla explains.  Read Rani’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode/22841490/work...

Are we living in a simulation?

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Illing talks with philosopher David Chalmers about virtual worlds and the nature of reality, and other topics that stem from Chalmers's new book ...

Rapid tests, omicron, and you

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rapid tests work with omicron, but there are caveats. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains.  Read Rebecca’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode/22870...

Theranope

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A tech startup said it could start a medical revolution with a little machine and a drop of blood. It was a fraud, but research into smarter, less inv...

To catch an insurrectionist

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After the Capitol riot the FBI and technology companies teamed up to track down, arrest, and prosecute insurrectionists using their digital footprints...

Jill Lepore on Elon Musk's imaginary world

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sean Illing talks with historian Jill Lepore about her new podcast: The Evening Rocket explores Elon Musk and the new form of extravagant, extreme cap...

The problem with TikTok therapists

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve spent a few minutes on TikTok, you probably have seen videos about mental health–and you’re not alone. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings explai...

The space station race

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After two decades in orbit, the International Space Station will shut down, and a crop of several new space stations will take its place. Recode's Reb...

You’ve got my mail

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We use email for practically everything. But can we really trust it with some of our most sensitive information? Recode’s Sara Morrison (@saramorris...

The 21st century trolley problem

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Autonomous tech could lead to deaths at the hands of robots. But is continuing to let humans drive even worse? Recode’s Rani Molla explains. This ep...

The gas stove myth

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The oil industry spent decades convincing Americans that there was something special about cooking with gas. Rebecca Leber (@RebLeber) explains. Read...

The ghosts of Google Maps

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine coming across your dead relative in Google's Street View. For some people, it's a strange reality. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil (@rebheilweil) ...

404: Podcast not found

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The World Wide Web is kept interconnected through hyperlinks. But what happens when those hyperlinks stop working? Researchers say hyperlinks are dyin...

How to buy anything for a fraction of the cost

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the advent of the internet and blockchain technology, the list of valuables you can invest in is endless. In addition to gold, cryptocoins, and t...

How social media threatens humanity

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Social media has, in an incredibly short period of time, drastically restructured the way we communicate. But there's a problem: We know very little a...

TikTok is making tax policy cool

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok is the go-to place for memes and dance videos. But sometimes those pieces of content can play a critical role in letting lawmakers know which p...

What Google’s trending searches say about America in 2021

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From wolf haircuts to Wall Street, Recode's Rani Molla explains what Americans googled this year.  Read Rani’s story: https://www.vox.com/recode/22...

Social media comes for the QVC

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Live shopping has traditionally been the territory of television networks like QVC and HSN, but now social media platforms are getting in on it. This ...

OnlyFans blurs the line between influencing and sex work

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On platforms like OnlyFans, people with big followings online can earn money. Rebecca Jennings explains why celebrities and influencers are joining th...

The first Starbucks union

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A Starbucks in Buffalo, New York, recently became the first company-owned store in the US to unionize. Recode’s Rani Molla explains the historic vot...

Workers of the world, stay home!

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why Americans have a problematic relationship with work, and how to move toward a rational future (as opposed to a national emergency) of working from...

The inside story of HBO

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For nearly 50 years, HBO has kept us riveted with movies and TV shows. But its behind-the-scenes stories are equally compelling. James Andrew Miller i...

Kids content is crushing it

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just a few years ago, kids’ streaming content was seen as a tool to stop users from canceling their subscriptions. But in the pandemic, shows for ki...

The highs and lows of the "creator economy"

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Vox's Rebecca Jennings talks with Taylor Lorenz, tech culture reporter for the New York Times, about the creator economy: what it is, who's in it, and...

Unwrapping Spotify Wrapped

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Spotify Wrapped may be the product of spying and data tracking, but we still kinda love this annual tradition. Kelly Pau (@kehpow) explains. Read Kell...

Space trash

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Russia blew up a satellite and almost put the International Space Station in a precarious position. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains how humans ar...

The mushroom detectives of Facebook

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When a loved one eats a potentially deadly plant in the front yard, time is of the essence. A Facebook group is stepping in to help users get answers ...

How Amazon squeezes small businesses

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon’s strategy to squeeze marketplace sellers and maximize its own profits is evolving. Recode’s Sara Morrison explains.  Read Sara’s story:...

Twitter has a new boss

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Twitter’s Jack Dorsey announced on Monday that he’s stepping down as CEO. Why is he leaving, and who will take his place? Recode’s Shirin Ghaffa...

All my friends are robocalls

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Why even answer the phone anymore?  This episode of Today, Explained was hosted by Sean Rameswaram; produced by Noam Hassenfeld, and Luke Vander Plo...

What inflation means for the holiday shopping season

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Inflation and supply chain woes aren’t stopping shopping, but they’re changing it. Vox’ Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM) explains.  Read Emily’...

The case for buying less stuff

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The supply chain is facing an enormous strain this holiday season. Shoppers are scrambling to buy their gifts as soon as possible. But what if it’s ...

The Doorbell

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The American dream of a suburban house with a white picket fence cordons off the home as a haven, separate from the outside world. This personal, priv...

Automation is not what you think

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Workers have always feared robots taking over their jobs, but it’s not robots they have to watch out for. Author and New York Times columnist Kevin ...

Where are the at-home Covid-19 tests?

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rapid at-home Covid-19 tests are hard to come by right now — and expensive. ProPublica’s Lydia DePillis explains what’s behind the shortages, w...

Turkey shortage?

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Disruptions to the supply chain are throwing the turkey industry for a loop. This Thanksgiving, the perfect turkey might just be the one you can actua...

Why Chris Hayes thinks we're all famous now

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Vox Conversations, Sean Illing talks with Chris Hayes, author, commentator, and host of All In With Chris Hayes on MSNBC. They disc...

Facebook's next monopoly

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Can Mark Zuckerberg create a metaverse monopoly through mergers and acquisitions? Recode’s Peter Kafka explains. Read Peter’s story here: https://...

Your boss might be watching you

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your boss looking over your shoulder at the office wasn’t really something to think twice about. But now that a lot of office workers are working fr...

The case for climate reparations

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While world leaders have descended on Glasgow to try to figure out how to slow emissions in the future, New York magazine’s David Wallace-Wells argu...

A dispatch from COP26

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Government officials from countries all over the world are gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, to discuss a path forward on how to combat climate change. V...

The open secret to looking like a superhero

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Performance-enhancing drugs helped create the new male body standard. You see their effects on the action heroes of mainstream movies, on the fitne...

Fixing America’s imperfect shipping system

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You know that PS5 you ordered weeks ago that hasn’t arrived yet on your doorstep? The reason behind that delay is more complex than you might think....

Zillow’s over-Zestimate

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A few years ago, the famous real estate tech company Zillow began buying houses. The new venture seemed promising, but the company’s attempt to flip...

“I quit!”

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Businesses are reopening and jobs are coming back, but workers, in many cases, are not. Recode’s Rani Molla joined Vox’s Today, Explained podcast ...

Higher pay is not enough to bring workers back

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hundreds of thousands of workers left the hospitality and leisure industries at the onset of the pandemic. Now that businesses have started reopening,...

How Big Tech benefits from the disinformation panic

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Vox Conversations, host Sean Illing and Joe Bernstein of BuzzFeed News discuss online disinformation and what — if anything — c...

The male anxiety industrial complex

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Health-care brands want to leverage young men’s anxiety over erections and hair loss into a multibillion-dollar empire. Reporter Jesse Barron (@_jes...

Facebook’s Meta-morphosis

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From the company that brought you alternate facts comes an alternate reality! This episode of Today, Explained was produced by Will Reid, engineered ...

The ghost stores of Instagram

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

That cute dress you bought off Instagram could be found for much cheaper on Shein, AliExpress or Amazon. Vox’s Terry Nguyen explains.  Read Terry’...

The price of Apple’s new privacy feature

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Apple's latest software update offers enhanced privacy to iOS users, but at what cost? Critics of the new policy say small e-companies face the brunt ...

What the internet took from us

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about the complicated relationship between change, innovation and loss, and how to understand who we are and who we've become in a worl...

TikTok's fictional influencers

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A tech company has created a slate of scripted influencers, each with their own storylines. But how is anyone supposed to tell the difference between ...

Dune was ahead of its time

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The latest and long-awaited adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel Dune is in theaters and it's epic in every sense. Vox’s film critic Alissa Wilkins...

Dave Chappelle vs. trans people vs. Netflix

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special, "The Closer," may be a tipping point for trans people. They have a list of demands, but taking down the spe...

The “Russian roulette” of buying drugs online

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Teens are overdosing on drugs at an alarming rate, many of them after buying counterfeit pills on Snapchat. NBC News’ Olivia Solon (@oliviasolon) ex...

Save the rhinos ... with 3D printers?

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fake rhino horns were supposed to foil poachers. Vox’s Benji Jones explains what went wrong.  This episode was produced by Taylor Maycan, engineere...

The $5,000 butt

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Brazilian butt lift isn’t just a cosmetic surgery; it’s a lifestyle. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings explains how influencers gave a decades-old pro...

Apple’s China problem

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Much of Apple’s success is built around its relationship with China, which is both one of Apple’s largest markets as well as where most of its pro...

Lebanon goes dark

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Lebanese government has neglected its electric grid for decades. The whole country lost power last weekend, leaving many without access to water, ...

The future of healthcare might not include privacy

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Telehealth and virtual care boomed during the pandemic. Same with technological advancements in consumer and medical-grade health devices. Together, t...

How to buy anything for a fraction of the cost

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the advent of the internet and blockchain technology, the list of valuables you can invest in is endless. In addition to gold, cryptocoins, and t...

Amazon wants you to buy this electric truck

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Electric cars have taken years to find success, and companies have been slow to innovate batteries strong enough to power an electric truck. But just ...

How to regulate Facebook

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

US lawmakers have been angry at Facebook for years. Former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen's testimony before Congress gave them the clearest ...

How food delivery apps destabilized an industry

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Food delivery apps like Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats may have made life easier for customers, but delivery workers are the ones paying the price. ...

The Facebook whistleblower

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

An anonymous whistleblower ignited Facebook’s latest scandal last month after leaking thousands of damning internal documents to journalists and law...

AI’s anti-Muslim bias problem

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence is often thought of as an efficient and objective tool for everyday tasks. But a lot of AI systems show signs of racism and di...

NASA’s new telescope is a game-changer

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Decades ago, the Hubble telescope revolutionized NASA’s ability to visualize space. Soon, the new James Webb telescope will take us even further. Vo...

The rise of a Silicon Valley supervillain

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Thiel has worn many hats over the years: He co-founded PayPal, helped fund Facebook, and brought about Gawker’s demise. He was also one of Don...

The 21st century trolley problem

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Autonomous tech could lead to deaths at the hands of robots. But is continuing to let humans drive even worse? Recode’s Rani Molla explains.  Enjo...

Fixing Facebook

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook is broken, and everyone knows it. Can it be fixed? Recode’s Shirin Ghaffary explains.     Enjoyed this episode? Rate Recode Daily ⭐⭐...

It’s been a busy year in tech. What’s next?

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As we get ready for the 2021 Code Conference, we’re looking back on the biggest tech stories we’ve covered recently. Recode Editor-in-Chief Samant...

Inside an unexpected fight at Apple

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For the past several months, a fight has been brewing inside Apple, the world’s most profitable company, about a fundamental aspect of its business:...

How the iPhone changed everything

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The smartphone landscape hasn’t been the same since Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone in 2007. Peter Kafka (@pkafka) explores the legacy of this...

Facebook’s secret research, explained

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, the Wall Street Journal uncovered some damning internal research at Facebook regarding the impact of social media on our mental health, demo...

Everybody's hiring; nobody's getting hired

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are more open jobs in the United States than available workers, yet job seekers are struggling to land new gigs. The country’s broken hiring s...

The Real World: Space

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Inspiration4 space mission was historic. It may have laid the groundwork for the future of commercial space travel, which offers limitless possibi...

Instagram is bad for teens’ self-esteem, and it knows it

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

New reporting from the Wall Street Journal confirms what many teens already knew: Instagram can be harmful to their body image and self-esteem. And as...

California scheming

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Republicans primed their voters to believe the California recall was stolen. And right-wing media helped them. Vox’s Aaron Rupar explains. Read Aar...

The future of cybersex

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The mobile gaming giant Roblox is hugely popular among minors — most of them young kids. But it turns out the platform has a burgeoning strip club a...

Walgreens' Covid testing site exposes patient data

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of people got Covid-19 tests through Walgreens. Their information wasn’t adequately protected. Recode’s Sara Morrison explains. Read her ...

Facebook’s smart glasses: cool or creepy?

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook and Ray-Ban announced their new collaboration: Ray-Ban Stories, their version of smart glasses. And they are surprisingly normal-looking, som...

Why El Salvador made bitcoin a national currency

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

El Salvador recently became the first and only country to recognize bitcoin as an official currency. It’s a high-risk, high-reward experiment for th...

How gig work became a full-time job

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic put a lot into perspective, especially when it comes to work. Millions of Americans lost their jobs during lockdown, while others found t...

You’ve got my mail

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We use email for practically everything. We use it for everyday things like food delivery apps, newsletters, and streaming services. We also use it fo...

Start your holiday shopping NOW!

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic has put immense strain on the global supply chain. Everything from basic food items like chicken wings to critical tech components like c...

Air conditioning is not cool

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Air conditioning technology was considered revolutionary in the 20th century, but over the years, it’s proven to be devastating for the environment....

How the levees held

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, August 29. The powerful storm grew to Category 4 by the time it crashed into the coast, and with a...