The Vergecast

• Tesla's robotaxi reality check

  Tesla is famous for throwing caution to the wind in the name of rolling out cool technology, so it was somewhat surprising to see its robotaxi service launch over the weekend in somewhat muted fashion. The Verge's Andy Hawkins joins the show to explain what, exactly, Elon Musk and co. launched, and what it says about the state of the self-driving revolution. After that, The Verge's Allison Johnson takes us through the history of MVNOs, and why they might just be the best deal in wireless carriers. We talk about Trump Mobile, Ryan Reynolds, e-SIMs, and what it would mean to make it easier to switch service. Finally, we answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline about how to free up storage on your iPhone. It's harder than it should be, but hopefully easier than you think. Further reading: Tesla’s robotaxi is live: here are some of the first reactions The Tesla Cybercab is a cool-looking prototype that needed to be much more than that Waymo says it will add 2,000 more robotaxis into 2026 How Donald Trump and Ryan Reynolds can easily sell you phone plans Trump Mobile is a bad deal How to clear up space on your iPhone when you’re running out of storage Email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:15:28
• Truth, lies, and the Trump Phone

  Starting a wireless carrier is easier than you might think. So is building a half-decent Android phone! But doing all the things Trump Mobile promises, at the price and on the schedule it says, seems awfully close to impossible. While Nilay's out, David and Jake chat with The Verge's Dominic Preston about what we know about Trump Mobile and the T1 Phone, why everyone wants to be a wireless carrier, and what it would actually take for this to work out. After that, David and Jake talk through some big news in the TV world, and the streaming takeover that appears to be happening faster all the time. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for some brief FCC news, a check on the state of Siri, big questions about the ad-rich future of WhatsApp, a look at the new fediverse feed in Threads, and some thoughts on the Framework Laptop 12. Further reading: Trump Mobile launches $47 service and a gold phone  Who is really behind the Trump Mobile T1 phone?  Trump Mobile is a bad deal  What is the deal with the Trump Mobile T1 Phone?  What do Alabama, California, and Florida have in common? How Donald Trump and Ryan Reynolds can easily sell you phone plans  Even Klarna is launching a mobile phone service now SmartLess Mobile | Don't get outsmarted. Get SmartLess Mobile. Eric trump interview Trump is giving TikTok another ban extension  Vivo wants its new X200 Ultra smartphone to replace your camera  Streaming is eating cable and broadcast TV’s lunch. | The Verge From Nieman Lab: For the first time, social media overtakes TV as Americans’ top news source Max will show autoplaying video previews suggested by AI  Senate confirms Trump’s FCC pick, Olivia Trusty  Apple’s upgraded Siri might not arrive until next spring  WhatsApp is officially getting ads  WhatsApp’s rollout of ads will change the app forever  Signal says it won’t add AI or ads like WhatsApp. | The Verge Reddit will help advertisers turn ‘positive’ posts into ads  Senate passes GENIUS stablecoin bill in a win for the crypto industry  Threads is adding fediverse content and search to its feeds  Framework Laptop 12 review: plastic fantastic | The Verge Email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:46:35
• Life with the Nintendo Switch 2

  It's a small miracle that a bunch of us managed to get our heads out of Mario Kart World long enough to make a show about the Switch 2. But that's what we did! First, we chat with The Verge's Andrew Webster about his review, and why it feels like the Switch 2 is both everything we wanted and somehow still a little underwhelming. (Or at least just... whelming.) After that, The Verge's Ash Parrish tells us about her adventures traveling with the Switch 2, plus her recent time with the new Asus ROG Xbox Ally, and what she's learning about the future of consoles. Finally, The Verge's Sean Hollister helps us answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline all about console prices: why they keep going up, and whether they'll continue to be worth it. Further reading: Nintendo Switch 2 review: exactly good enough Nintendo says your bad Switch 2 battery life might be a bug Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: pro enough for me Mario Kart World review: the perfect Switch 2 launch game The Verge staff on the Switch 2: what we love and what we don’t Fortnite feels like a new game on the Switch 2 Xbox’s new handheld is a surprisingly comfortable way to play Gears of War Steam Deck, Switch, ROG: picking the perfect portable console Steam Deck OLED, ROG Ally and more: all the news about the handheld PC revolution Fortnite feels like a new game on the Switch 2 Email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  1:19:41
• Switch, Xbox, and the portable future of games

  There's a lot of news this week, so today's episode turned into a whole bunch of lightning rounds. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes talk through all the vibes and news at WWDC, and why F1 seemed to outshine everything else. We also talk about the Switch 2 launch, and the news this week that Microsoft and Asus are building Xbox handhelds in both clever and confusing ways. After that, we run through for a bunch of AI news, including the ongoing decline of Google traffic to the web, the new Dia browser, and Sam Altman's ideas about how much water ChatGPT uses. Finally, it's time for another edition of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, followed by the news of Warner Bros. Discovery breaking up, some very fast flash drives, and a new Meta messaging app. Further reading: Craig Federighi confirms Apple’s first attempt at an AI Siri wasn’t good enough Ars: Apple’s Craig Federighi on the long road to the iPad’s Mac-like multitasking Nintendo’s Switch 2 is the fastest-selling game console of all time  Nintendo says your bad Switch 2 battery life might be a bug Microsoft and Asus announce two Xbox Ally handhelds with new Xbox full-screen experience This is how Microsoft is combining Windows and Xbox for handheld PCs  Xbox’s new handheld is a surprisingly comfortable way to play Gears of War  Microsoft just teased its next-gen Xbox console, and nobody noticed The Nothing Phone 3 is coming to the US, and not in beta. HP reveals $24,999 hardware created just for Google Beam  Online publishers are facing a chatbot calamity.  Disney and Universal sue Midjourney for making AI ripoffs of their biggest characters  Taboola’s clickbaity chumbox is evolving into an AI chatbot  Alexa Plus now has a million users and could be coming to you this summer  Amazon is about to be flooded with AI-generated video ads Dia, the AI browser from the makers of Arc, is now available in beta  Sam Altman claims an average ChatGPT query uses ‘roughly one fifteenth of a teaspoon’ of water FCC’s last Democratic commissioner doesn’t know why Trump hasn’t fired her yet Republicans are barreling toward remaking the internet  Trump-fired FTC commissioner resigns.  Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into two companies Email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  2:03:13
• Liquid Glass, Spotlight, and the rest of WWDC 2025

  Apple spent 90 minutes talking about the future of its software, and we're pretty sure only said the word "Siri" once. Nilay and David are joined by The Verge's Victoria Song and Allison Johnson, both of whom were with Nilay at the keynote, to talk about all the news of the day. They talk about the Liquid Glass design language, and why Apple decided to redesign all its software. They talk about Spotlight on the Mac, the new multitasking features on the iPad, the typing indicators on the iPhone, Workout Buddy on the Watch, personas on the Vision Pro, and everything else that Apple announced — or, in a few cases, pointedly didn't announce — on stage. We're just starting to try out some of this software, and it's all likely to change a lot before it hits your devices this fall. And we'll have lots of thoughts along the way. Further reading: Apple renames its operating systems  Apple’s new design language is Liquid Glass  Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign doesn’t look like much  Apple’s ChatGPT integration makes it easier to search for more context on images and shop for things they see. Apple Intelligence takes on language barriers in messages and phone calls.  Apple announces macOS Tahoe 26 with new design and revamped search features  Apple’s Spotlight upgrades in macOS Tahoe have power users in mind  Apple launches iPadOS 26 with a new look and way better multitasking  Apple announces watchOS 26 with a wrist flick gesture and AI ‘Workout Buddy’  Apple’s visionOS 26 adds PSVR2 controller support and spatial widgets  Apple’s AirPods update adds camera controls and more  Apple’s new Games app lets you challenge your friends Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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