The EPA Wants to Roll Back Emissions Controls on Power Plants
"The EPA is trying to get out of the climate change business,” says one expert.
Wired by Molly Taft
Articles from: Wired
180 articles
The Viral Storm Streamers Predicting Deadly Tornadoes—Sometimes Faster Than the Government
Storm streamers are using radars and AI robots to predict extreme weather for millions of YouTube subscribers, in some cases faster than the National Weather Service, which has been gutted by DOGE.
Wired by Hilary Beaumont
Complaints About Tariff Evasion Have Jumped 160 Percent Under Trump
As importers find creative ways to avoid paying Donald Trump’s tariffs, a flood of tipsters is coming forward to keep alleged troublemakers in check.
Wired by Paresh Dave
The EPA Plans to ‘Reconsider’ Ban on Cancer-Causing Asbestos
President Donald Trump has supported use of asbestos in the past and blamed the mob for its bad reputation.
Wired by Beth Mole, Ars Technica
The Minnesota Shooting Suspect's Background Suggests Deep Ties to Christian Nationalism
Experts say that the suspect showed clear ties to forms of so-called charismatic Christianity that views abortion as a sacrifice to demons and seeks the end of secular democracy.
Wired by Tess Owen
'Dosa Divas' Is a ‘Spicy’ New Game About Fighting Capitalism With Food
Outerloop Games’ colorful new RPG will be released next year. The studio says it's determined to “humanize” immigrant experiences amid ICE raids.
Wired by Megan Farokhmanesh
How Democrats Are Meeting (and Missing) the Moment
After the shootings of lawmakers in Minnesota, the weekend's "No Kings" protests, and elected officials being placed in handcuffs, Democrats are searching for the path forward.
Wired by Jake Lahut
A False Start on the Road to an All-American Bitcoin
Donald Trump pledged to cement the US as the bitcoin mining capital of the planet. The president’s sweeping tariffs stand to simultaneously undermine and advance that ambition in one swoop.
Wired by Joel Khalili
Print. Fold. Share. Download WIRED's How to Win a Fight Zine Here
Never made a zine? Haven’t made one since 1999? We made one, and so can you.
Wired by Reece Rogers
What Lt. Col. Boz and Big Tech's Enlisted Execs Will Do in the Army
Meta CTO Andrew "Boz" Bosworth and leaders from OpenAI and Palantir have joined a detachment intended to make the US Armed Forces "force leaner, smarter, and more lethal."
Wired by Steven Levy
Israel Says Iran Is Hacking Security Cameras for Spying
Plus: Ukrainian hackers reportedly knock out a key Russian internet provider, China’s Salt Typhoon hackers claim another victim, and the UK hits 23andMe with a hefty fine over its 2023 data breach.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman
Truth Social Crashes as Trump Live-Posts Bombing Iran
The social network started experiencing global outages within minutes of Donald Trump posting details of a US military strike on Iran.
Wired by Andrew Couts, Lily Hay Newman
Google Wants to Get Better at Spotting Wildfires From Space
A partnership with the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance and satellite manufacturer Muon Space is giving Google a better shot at tracking wildfires—and using AI to process all the data being collected.
Wired by Boone Ashworth
Texas Lawmakers Want More Control of the Tesla Robotaxis on Their Roads
WIRED spoke to Texas State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, who represents part of the area in Austin served by Tesla’s new and limited robotaxi service.
Wired by Aarian Marshall
ICE Rolls Facial Recognition Tools Out to Officers' Phones
Plus: US feds charge alleged masterminds behind infamous forum, Scattered Spider targets airlines, and hackers open a valve at a Norwegian dam.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman, Andy Greenberg, Dell Cameron
Fairphone Has a New Plan to Get You to Care
WIRED loves Fairphone and everything it stands for—but people just aren’t buying its devices, and the few who have don’t need to upgrade.
Wired by Andrew Williams
Trump’s Defiance of TikTok Ban Prompted Immunity Promises to 10 Tech Companies
Newly disclosed records show Attorney General Pam Bondi gave cover to not only Apple and Google, but also several other companies that help TikTok operate in the US.
Wired by Paresh Dave
Android May Soon Warn You About Fake Cell Towers
Plus: Iran-linked hackers threaten to release Trump campaign emails, Chinese hackers still in US telecoms networks, and an abusive deepfake website plans an expansion.
Wired by Matt Burgess
How to Use Clean Energy Tax Credits Before They Disappear
There are just a few weeks left to tap federal programs that make purchasing an EV, heat pump, or solar panels more affordable.
Wired by Tik Root
The Enshittification of American Power
First Google and Facebook, then the world. Under Trump 2.0, US statecraft is starting to mimic the worst tendencies of Big Tech.
Wired by Henry Farrell, Abraham L. Newman
Trump and the Energy Industry Are Eager to Power AI With Fossil Fuels
At a Pittsburgh summit, the Trump administration, energy executives, and tech barons joined as one to promote AI as the future of fossil fuels.
Wired by Molly Taft
DHS Faces New Pressure Over DNA Taken From Immigrant Children
The US government has added the DNA of approximately 133,000 migrant children and teens to a criminal database, which critics say could mean police treat them like suspects “indefinitely.”
Wired by Dell Cameron
How Trump Killed Cancer Research
Attempting to eliminate funding for certain kinds of “woke” studies, the Trump administration erased hundreds of millions of dollars being used for cancer research.
Wired by Elisa Muyl, Anthony Lydgate
A Top NASA Official Is Among Thousands of Staff Leaving the Agency
Makenzie Lystrup’s departure from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center comes soon after the resignation of the director of JPL.
Wired by Stephen Clark, Ars Technica
Trump Ends Tariff Exemption For Small Packages
Starting in September, US buyers on sites like Etsy and eBay may face higher tariffs on goods from abroad.
Wired by Zeyi Yang
Scientists Say New Government Climate Report Twists Their Work
A new Department of Energy report “fundamentally misrepresents” climate research and leaves out key context, multiple scientists cited in the report tell WIRED.
Wired by Molly Taft
What to Know About Traveling to China for Business
Recent developments and an escalating trade war have made travel to cities like Beijing challenging but by no means impossible.
Wired by Mitch Moxley
Inside the Biden Administration’s Unpublished Report on AI Safety
The US government conducted a groundbreaking study on frontier models—and never published the results.
Wired by Will Knight
Donald Trump Orders Crackdown on Politically-Motivated ‘Debanking’
In a new executive order, the US president has called on federal regulators to investigate and punish banks for alleged discrimination against conservatives, Christians and certain types of business.
Wired by Joel Khalili
RFK Jr. Is Supporting mRNA Research—Just Not for Vaccines
HHS is slashing hundreds of millions in funding for mRNA vaccines and infectious disease treatments, but leaving the door open to mRNA therapies for cancer and genetic conditions.
Wired by Emily Mullin
Senators Press Howard Lutnick’s Former Investment Firm Over Tariff Conflict of Interest Concerns
Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren are demanding answers from Cantor Fitzgerald after WIRED reported that the firm was essentially creating a way for clients to bet on whether Trump’s tariffs will be struck down in court.
Wired by Louise Matsakis, Zoë Schiffer
Christian Militants Are Using Instagram to Recruit—and Becoming Influencers in the Process
There's a new guard of paramilitary activists, whose youthful membership, edgy aesthetics, use of Instagram, and, in many cases, overt nods to religion points to a new brand of anti-government Christian nationalist militias.
Wired by Tess Owen
Russia Is Cracking Down on End-to-End Encrypted Calls
Plus: ICE agents accidentally add a random person to a sensitive group chat, Norwegian intelligence blames the Kremlin for hacking a dam, and new facial recognition vans roam the UK.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman
An Account Using the Same Name as Trump's BLS Pick Posted Red-Pilled Conspiracy Theories
A WIRED review of a now-deleted Twitter account that used the screen name “Dr. Erwin J. Antoni III” shows it posted conspiratorial content about the 2020 election, Covid-19, and Jeffrey Epstein.
Wired by David Gilbert
It's the Economy, Donald
As US labor and inflation data seemingly worsen, the White House refrain is “no panicans”—in other words, no room for panic. That isn't keeping everyone in Trumpworld from getting the jitters.
Wired by Jake Lahut
US EV Sales Are Booming—for Now
Changes in US government support for electric vehicles have led to a buying bonanza—and a darker long-term future for the US auto industry.
Wired by Aarian Marshall
The Duty-Free Loophole Is Closing. What That Means for You—and Your Packages
President Donald Trump stopped allowing small shipments to enter the country without paying tariffs. Now, things are getting pricier and shipping costs are going up.
Wired by Boone Ashworth
The Internet Revolutionized Porn. Age Verification Could Upend Everything
Platforms like Pornhub and OnlyFans have given porn stars more autonomy. But sweeping age-check laws are already impacting their bottom lines.
Wired by Jason Parham
We Can Get Rid of Carcinogens and Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water. Will We Do It?
New research shows that filtration systems that remove PFAS can also get rid of other harmful substances. Whether they'll actually be introduced is a different matter entirely.
Wired by Molly Taft
US Congressman’s Brother Lands No-Bid Contract to Train DHS Snipers
DHS says retired Marine sniper Dan LaLota’s firm is uniquely qualified to meet the government’s needs. LaLota tells WIRED his brother, GOP congressman Nick LaLota, played no role in the contract.
Wired by Dell Cameron
Tech CEOs Praise Donald Trump at White House Dinner
At a White House dinner Thursday night, America’s tech executives put on an uncanny display of fealty to Donald Trump.
Wired by Brian Barrett
ICE Has Spyware Now
Plus: An AI chatbot system is linked to a widespread hack, details emerge of a US plan to plant a spy device in North Korea, your job’s security training isn’t working, and more.
Wired by Matt Burgess, Andy Greenberg, Lily Hay Newman
The United Arab Emirates Releases a Tiny But Powerful AI Model
K2 Think compares well with reasoning models from OpenAI and DeepSeek but is smaller and more efficient, say researchers based in Abu Dhabi.
Wired by Will Knight
Melania Trump’s AI Era Is Upon Us
The ever elusive first lady has emerged with a brief to exert thought leadership over AI, for the children. Some insiders are excited; others won't touch the subject with a 10-foot pole.
Wired by Jake Lahut
Charlie Kirk Shot at Utah Valley University Event
Turning Point USA cofounder Charlie Kirk was shot at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. A suspect is in custody, according to campus police.
Wired by Andrew Couts, Dell Cameron
Right-Wing Activists Are Targeting People for Allegedly Celebrating Charlie Kirk's Death
Extremists and an anonymously run website are posting identifying details about people accused of celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder online. Some of those targeted are now getting death threats.
Wired by David Gilbert
WIRED Health Recap: Cancer Vaccines, CRISPR Breakthroughs, and More
This year’s WIRED Health summit in Boston featured Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, and a day’s worth of insights and provocative conversations.
Wired by WIRED Staff
Matthew Prince Wants AI Companies to Pay for Their Sins
The Cloudflare CEO joined ‘The Big Interview’ to talk about standing up to content scraping, the internet's potential futures, and his company’s relationship to Trump.
Wired by Katie Drummond
These Are the 15 New York Officials ICE and NYPD Arrested in Manhattan
More than a dozen elected officials were arrested in or around 26 Federal Plaza in New York City, where ICE detains people in what courts have ruled are unsanitary conditions.
Wired by Dell Cameron
China Turns Legacy Chips Into a Trade Weapon
As Washington pushes for a TikTok deal, Beijing is countering with probes into American chipmakers.
Wired by Zeyi Yang
Livestream: Tech Went All in on Trump. Now What?
Our panel of experts discuss what the tech industry's allegiance to Trump really means, and how it will shape our future.
Wired by WIRED
Nick Fuentes’ Plan to Conquer America
For years, influencer Nick Fuentes was too extreme even for MAGA. Now he's working his way into the mainstream—and has a plan for his secret followers to seize the levers of power.
Wired by David Gilbert
OpenAI Teams Up With Oracle and SoftBank to Build 5 New Stargate Data Centers
The new sites will boost Stargate’s planned capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts—about equal to the output of seven large nuclear reactors.
Wired by Zoë Schiffer, Will Knight, Lauren Goode
Trump Executive Order Will Hand TikTok Over to US Investors
After five deadline extensions and several rounds of negotiations, President Trump signed an executive order to put TikTok’s US operations in the hands of Oracle and other American investors.
Wired by Zeyi Yang
The Onion Made an Absolutely Unhinged Jeffrey Epstein Mockumentary
"Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile" is a very silly deep dive on a very serious issue. In the current media landscape, it’s a wonder it even got made.
Wired by Manisha Krishnan
Armed Guards and Muscle Milk: Senate Investigation Reveals DOGE Takeover Details
A new Senate report claims DOGE put every American's Social Security number at risk—and that officials at federal agencies essentially obstructed an investigation, all but denying DOGE even exists.
Wired by Makena Kelly, Vittoria Elliott
The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers
WIRED spoke with more than 200 federal workers in dozens of agencies to learn what happened as the Department of Government Efficiency tore through their offices.
Wired by Zoë Schiffer, Leah Feiger, Vittoria Elliott, Makena Kelly, Kate Knibbs, David Gilbert, Molly Taft, Aarian Marshall, Paresh Dave, Jake Lahut
Apple Took Down ICE-Tracking Apps. Their Developers Aren't Giving Up
“We are going to do everything in our power to fight this,” says ICEBlock developer Joshua Aaron after Apple removed his app from the App Store.
Wired by Reece Rogers, Lily Hay Newman
'Happy Gilmore' Producer Buys Spyware Maker NSO Group
Plus: US government cybersecurity staffers get reassigned to do immigration work, a hack exposes sensitive age-verification data of Discord users, and more.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman
Mark Cuban Would Still Have Dinner With Donald Trump
The billionaire investor campaigned for Kamala Harris, but thinks tech execs have a “moral imperative” to play nice with the president. Why? It’s good business.
Wired by Katie Drummond
‘Sovereign AI’ Has Become a New Front in the US-China Tech War
OpenAI has announced “AI sovereignty" partnerships with governments around the world, but can proprietary models compete with Beijing’s open source offerings?
Wired by Zoë Schiffer, Louise Matsakis
Scenes From Saturday's Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests
Organizers say the “No Kings” protests drew more than seven million people across 2,700 cities. The crowds included high-profile politicians, A-list celebrities, and more than a few creative inflatables.
Wired by Brian Barrett, Alyssa Walker
Inside the Trump Adminstration's Bluesky Invasion
On Friday, after months of internal discussions, federal agencies began posting on the left-friendly social network. Within days, they dominated a list of the most-blocked accounts.
Wired by Makena Kelly
Melania Trump Used as ‘Window-Dressing’ in Elaborate Memecoin Fraud, Legal Filing Claims
The first lady of the United States became a pawn in an intricate memecoin scam that resulted in millions of dollars in losses, crypto investors have alleged.
Wired by Joel Khalili
The Long History of Frogs as Protest Symbols
Inflatable frog costumes are selling out following the weekend's “No Kings” protests and to counter Trump’s demonization of US cities more broadly.
Wired by Angela Watercutter
NASA’s Boss Just Shook Up the Agency’s Plans to Land on the Moon
Sean Duffy called out SpaceX for being “behind schedule” on a lunar lander and said he’d explore other options.
Wired by Eric Berger, Ars Technica
Donald Trump's Truth Social Is Launching a Polymarket Competitor
As crypto-based prediction services attract a flood of attention and capital, the US president’s social media platform has announced plans to muscle in.
Wired by Joel Khalili
CBP Searched a Record Number of Phones at the US Border Over the Past Year
The total number of US Customs and Border Protection device searches jumped by 17 percent over the 2024 fiscal year, but more invasive forensic searches remain relatively rare.
Wired by Matt Burgess, Dell Cameron
Republicans Claimed Biden Censored YouTube. 20 Employees Seem to Say Otherwise
Lawyers for Alphabet, Youtube's parent company, recently alleged that the Biden administration tried to “influence” the company. Interviews with employees don't appear to support their claim.
Wired by Makena Kelly
Trump's CZ Pardon Has the Crypto World Bracing for Impact
The Trump administration has recast Binance founder CZ as a martyr—and his pardon may have unintended consequences for the US crypto industry.
Wired by Joel Khalili
An Anarchist’s Conviction Offers a Grim Foreshadowing of Trump’s War on the ‘Left’
As the Trump administration ramps up its targeting of left-leaning people and groups, the prosecution and harsh sentencing of Casey Goonan may provide a glimpse of things to come.
Wired by Ali Winston
Jeffrey Epstein Claimed Intimate Knowledge of Donald Trump’s Views in Texts With Bill Gates Adviser
In text messages from 2017, Jeffrey Epstein seemingly represented himself as positioned to pass information from the Trump White House to Bill Gates through an intermediary.
Wired by Tim Marchman, Leah Feiger
OpenAI’s Open-Weight Models Are Coming to the US Military
The gpt-oss models are being tested for use on sensitive military computers. But some defense insiders say that OpenAI is still behind the competition.
Wired by Paresh Dave
Social Security Data Is Openly Being Shared With DHS to Target Immigrants
For months, the Social Security Administration was quietly sharing sensitive data about immigrants with DHS. Now it’s official.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
How Donald Trump Lost Control of the Epstein Spin Cycle
Donald Trump has spent years benefiting from the QAnon's Jeffrey Epstein obsession. That’s all changing.
Wired by David Gilbert
Senators Want Extremism Researchers to Surrender Documents Linked to Right-Wing Grudges
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED.
Wired by Ali Winston
Europe Is Bending the Knee to the US on Tech Policy
The Trump administration's pressure on European regulators is having an impact, with fewer restrictions on Big Tech and canceled measures.
Wired by Mila Fiordalisi
The Trump Administration’s Data Center Push Could Open the Door for New Forever Chemicals
The EPA is prioritizing review of new chemicals to be used in data centers. Experts say this could lead to the fast approval of new types of forever chemicals—with limited oversight.
Wired by Molly Taft
Former USIP Lawyer on DOGE: ‘Brass Knuckles on an Authoritarian Fist’
George Foote, who served as the outside general counsel to the US Institute of Peace, said at WIRED’s Big Interview event that DOGE operatives arrived like a “strike team.”
Wired by Angela Watercutter
The DOJ's Jeffrey Epstein Files Are Here
Forced by an act of Congress, the Justice Department has released “hundreds of thousands” of pages of documents related to Epstein—but not everything, as is required by law.
Wired by Maddy Varner
WIRED Roundup: The 5 Tech and Politics Trends That Shaped 2025
In today’s episode of “Uncanny Valley,” we dive into five stories—from AI to DOGE—that encapsulate the year and give us clues as to what might unfold in 2026.
Wired by Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett
Big Balls Was Just the Beginning
DOGE dominated the news this year as Elon Musk’s operatives shook up several US government agencies. It’s far from over.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
The New Surveillance State Is You
Privacy may be dead, but civilians are turning conventional wisdom on its head by surveilling the cops as much as the cops surveil them.
Wired by Andrew Couts
The Worst Hacks of 2025
From university breaches to cyberattacks that shut down whole supply chains, these were the worst cybersecurity incidents of the year.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman
Discovering the Dimensions of a New Cold War
The United States’ plan for dealing with Putin’s Russia and Xi’s China remains ill-defined among a shifting global order. That must change.
Wired by Michael McFaul
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How Protesters Became Content for the Cops
The tactics behind protest policing are changing—from one of cooperation to intentional antagonism for political marketing purposes.
Wired by Dell Cameron
What Happens Next in Venezuela—and the Rest of Latin America?
Donald Trump says that Venezuela's governance will remain in the hands of senior US officials until a "proper and judicious transition" can take place. The rest of the region is on notice.
Wired by Fernanda González
Disinformation Floods Social Media After Nicolás Maduro's Capture
From seemingly AI-generated videos to the recirculation of old footage, TikTok, Instagram, and X did little to stop the onslaught of misleading posts in the wake of the US invasion of Venezuela.
Wired by David Gilbert
The 3 Keys to Understanding Trump’s Retro Coup in Venezuela
This weekend’s invasion was both a throwback to the last century and a new, uniquely Trumpian nightmare—one that’s just beginning.
Wired by Garrett M. Graff
Venezuela Is the First Big Test for the Pentagon's Influencer Press Corps—and It's Failing
Mainstream reporters are out at the Pentagon, and right-wing influencers are in. The results are predictable, and oddly reminiscent of Iraq War-era warblogging.
Wired by Makena Kelly
How Mormons Helped Make America’s Prepping Industry Into Big Business
How two big names in mainstream disaster preparedness helped sell Americans on fear, anxiety and a new generator.
Wired by Jasper Craven
The Danger of Reducing America's Venezuela Invasion to a 60-Second Video
January 3 marked the return of US military intervention in Latin America. While the events unfolded between Caracas and Brooklyn, social networks had already fabricated their own reality.
Wired by Anna Lagos
Right-Wing Influencers Have Flooded Minneapolis
Clips from creators in Minnesota have become primary evidence in attempts from the right-wing to justify ICE's surge on American cities.
Wired by Makena Kelly
Minnesota Sues to Stop ICE ‘Invasion’
The state of Minnesota, along with the Twin Cities, have sued the US government and several officials to halt the flood of agents carrying out an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation.
Wired by Dell Cameron
Tech Workers Are Condemning ICE Even as Their CEOs Stay Quiet
The killing of George Floyd in 2020 prompted a wave of statements from tech companies and CEOs. Today, pushback against ICE is largely coming from employees, not executives.
Wired by Lauren Goode
How AI Companies Got Caught Up in US Military Efforts
Two years ago, companies like Meta and OpenAI were united against military use of their tools. Now all of that has changed.
Wired by Nick Srnicek
Former CISA Director Jen Easterly Will Lead RSA Conference
The longtime cybersecurity professional says she’s taking the helm of the legacy security organization at “an inflection point” for tech and the world beyond.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman
Former USDS Leaders Launch Tech Reform Project to Fix What DOGE Broke
The plan, which is still in its early stages, is spearheaded by former USDS administrator Mikey Dickerson.
Wired by Steven Levy
The Race to Build the DeepSeek of Europe Is On
As Europe’s longstanding alliance with the US falters, its push to become a self-sufficient AI superpower has become more urgent.
Wired by Joel Khalili
China’s Renewable Energy Revolution Is a Huge Mess That Might Save the World
A global onslaught of cheap Chinese green power is upending everything in its path. No one is ready for its repercussions.
Wired by Jeremy Wallace
Pro-AI Super PACs Are Already All In on the Midterms
Silicon Valley’s battle against AI regulation is already shaping the next US election cycle.
Wired by Maxwell Zeff
Google DeepMind Staffers Ask Leaders to Keep Them ‘Physically Safe’ From ICE
A federal agent allegedly tried to enter Google’s Cambridge campus in the fall, WIRED has learned. Now, staffers want policies that protect them from immigration officials.
Wired by Maxwell Zeff
Silicon Valley Tech Workers Are Campaigning to Get ICE Out of US Cities
Even as Big Tech CEOs curry favor with President Trump, Silicon Valley employees are calling on their bosses to use their influence to help stop his immigration policies.
Wired by Katie Drummond
Jeffrey Epstein Had a ‘Personal Hacker,’ Informant Claims
Plus: AI agent OpenClaw gives cybersecurity experts the willies, China executes 11 scam compound bosses, a $40 million crypto theft has an unexpected alleged culprit, and more.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman, Matt Burgess, Andy Greenberg
The Paramilitary ICE and CBP Units at the Center of Minnesota's Killings
Two agents involved in the shooting deaths of US citizens in Minneapolis are reportedly part of highly militarized DHS units whose extreme tactics are generally reserved for war zones.
Wired by Ali Winston
ICE Is Expanding Across the US at Breakneck Speed. Here’s Where It’s Going Next
ICE plans to lease offices throughout the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.
Wired by Leah Feiger
‘Uncanny Valley’: ICE’s Secret Expansion Plans, Palantir Workers’ Ethical Concerns, and AI Assistants
In this episode of “Uncanny Valley,” our hosts dive into WIRED’s scoop about a secret Trump administration campaign extending right into your backyard.
Wired by Brian Barrett, Zoë Schiffer, Leah Feiger
Social Security Workers Are Being Told to Hand Over Appointment Details to ICE
The recent request goes against decades of precedent, and puts noncitizens at further risk of immigration enforcement actions.
Wired by Zoë Schiffer, Vittoria Elliott, Leah Feiger
Senators Urge Top Regulator to Stay Out of Prediction Market Lawsuits
As prediction market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi battle regulators in court, Senate Democrats are urging the CFTC to avoid weighing in, escalating a broader fight over the burgeoning industry.
Wired by Kate Knibbs
LGBTQ+ Athletes Are Front and Center at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games
Nearly 50 out LGBTQ+ Olympians are participating in events throughout the Winter Games—even as their rights to speak and compete are under attack.
Wired by Paolo Armelli
Makers Are Building Back Against ICE
In hacker spaces and at their homes, creative protesters are laser-cutting and 3D-printing tools to resist an occupation.
Wired by Boone Ashworth
The El Paso No-Fly Debacle Is Just the Beginning of a Drone Defense Mess
Fears over a drug cartel drone over Texas sparked a recent airspace shutdown in El Paso and New Mexico, highlighting just how tricky it can be to deploy anti-drone weapons near cities.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman
Donald Trump Jr’s Private DC Club Has Mysterious Ties to an Ex-Cop With a Controversial Past
The Executive Branch has a reported membership list that includes Trumpworld elites like David Sacks. A WIRED review of corporate filings reveals an under-the-radar player: a notorious former DC police officer.
Wired by Kate Knibbs
They Bet Against Trump's Tariffs. Now They Stand to Make Millions
After the US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, investment firms are in line for a whopping return on a niche trade.
Wired by Joel Khalili
The Olympics and Politics Are More Intertwined Than Ever. Maybe That’s a Good Thing
The Olympics often provide a moment of unity and celebration during times of geopolitical uncertainty. But blind nationalism didn’t win at the 2026 Winter Games.
Wired by Angela Watercutter
Leading US Research Lab Appears to Be Squeezing Out Foreign Scientists
House Democrats are demanding answers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and urging it to halt rumored changes they say could undermine its mission.
Wired by Paresh Dave
The Supreme Court's Tariff Ruling Won't Bring Car Prices Back to Earth
Despite Friday's SCOTUS ruling, many tariffs affecting the auto industry will remain. So will the other dynamics that have led to today's historically high car prices.
Wired by Aarian Marshall
Life in Cuba Under Trump's Pressure Campaign: No Electricity, No Oil, and Impossible Choices
As the United States takes new steps against the regime that has ruled the island since 1959, the Cuban people face 20-hour blackouts, decreased internet access, and shortages of basic supplies.
Wired by Abraham Jiménez Enoa
US and Israel Launch Strikes Against Iran
US president Donald Trump said a “major combat operation” against Iran had begun as he called for the country’s government to be overthrown.
Wired by Matt Burgess
X Is Drowning in Disinformation Following US and Israel’s Attack on Iran
WIRED has reviewed hundreds of posts on X that promote misleading claims about the locations and scale of the attack.
Wired by David Gilbert
The 5 Big ‘Known Unknowns’ of Donald Trump’s New War With Iran
The all-out air assault on the Islamic Republic might be the biggest gamble of the president’s career.
Wired by Garrett M. Graff
Former Top Trump Official Is Going After Prediction Markets
As the battle over prediction markets rages on, Mick Mulvaney is leading a new coalition that calls these platforms illegal gambling.
Wired by Kate Knibbs
Here’s Why Trump Posted About Iran ‘Stealing’ the 2020 Election Hours After the US Attacked
Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social about Iran echoed a conspiracy theory that has been circulating online for years.
Wired by David Gilbert
The Texas Senate Primary Was a Preview of Creator Wars to Come
After the 2024 election, influencers were seen as an asset. A contentious race between Democrats James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett showed that they can also be a liability.
Wired by Makena Kelly
Here’s Every Country Directly Impacted by the War on Iran
As the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, more than a dozen countries in the region have reportedly been affected by strikes.
Wired by Maddy Varner
Anthropic Sues Department of Defense Over Supply-Chain Risk Designation
The Claude chatbot developer says the Trump administration overstepped by escalating a contract dispute into a federal ban on the company’s technology.
Wired by Paresh Dave
Fake AI Content About the Iran War Is All Over X
X's Grok is failing to accurately verify video footage from the Iran conflict, and is sharing its own AI-generated images about the war.
Wired by David Gilbert
Pete Hegseth Is Pushing Defense Employees to Volunteer With DHS
The defense secretary has made clear that Pentagon managers are to encourage workers, including civilians, to volunteer to assist in the administration's immigration crackdown.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
Trump Administration Won’t Rule Out Further Action Against Anthropic
The White House is preparing an executive order targeting the AI startup, even as its earlier actions against the company face a major test in court.
Wired by Paresh Dave
Confessions of the ICE Agent Whisperer
Federal immigration enforcement agents usually won't talk to the media—but they will talk to independent journalist Karl Loftus.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
Arm’s CEO Insists the Market Needs His New CPU. It Could Piss Everyone Off
Arm just confirmed the rumors: It’s producing its own chip for the first time. CEO Rene Haas explains why this won’t alienate the many chipmakers who license the company’s designs.
Wired by Lauren Goode
Anthropic Supply-Chain Risk Designation Halted By Judge
A judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's designation, clearing the way for Anthropic to keep doing business without the label starting next week.
Wired by Paresh Dave
Senators Demand to Know How Much Energy Data Centers Use
In a letter sent Thursday morning, Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley press the Energy Information Agency to mandate annual electricity disclosure for data centers.
Wired by Molly Taft
Gas Prices Are Soaring. So Is the Demand for Used EVs
Dealerships say they’re getting busier as the Iran war and the shipping crisis at the Strait of Hormuz drag on.
Wired by Aarian Marshall
I Took RFK Jr.’s Advice and Ate Nothing but High-Protein Foods for a Week
From forcing down chewy, bacon-flavored Man Cereal to vomiting at the office, buying into the MAHA protein craze was a challenging endeavor.
Wired by Miles Klee
The DOJ Misled a Judge About How It’s Using Voter Roll Data
The acting head of the DOJ’s voting section told a judge last week that the agency had not touched the nonpublic voter roll data it has collected. That wasn’t true.
Wired by David Gilbert
Iran-Linked Hackers Are Sabotaging US Energy and Water Infrastructure
As Trump threatens Iranian infrastructure, the US government warns that Iran has carried out its own digital attacks against US critical infrastructure.
Wired by Andy Greenberg
The Next Attorney General Will Probably Be an Election Denier
Pam Bondi's DOJ left election deniers frothing for more. Potential candidates for the attorney general job could give them what they want.
Wired by David Gilbert
Inside the Pro-Iran Meme Machine Trolling Trump With AI Lego Cartoons
Since the beginning of the Iran war, the group Explosive Media has released over a dozen viral videos mocking Trump and the US.
Wired by David Gilbert
MAGA Media Seems to Have Hit Its Breaking Point Over Iran
"The online right wasn’t supportive and there wasn’t anything that was going to change that," says one person familiar with the Republican influencer pipeline.
Wired by Makena Kelly
No One Knows Where US Vaccine Policy Goes Next
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sweeping changes to federal vaccine guidance are paused for now. But even if they’re reversed, lasting damage has already been done.
Wired by Emily Mullin
What’s in Hasan Piker’s Starter Pack? Creatine, Zyns, Signal
You too can be a Twitch streamer like Hasan Piker. A love for caffeine and nicotine isn’t required, but it helps.
Wired by Boutayna Chokrane
Government Workers Say They're Getting Inundated With Religion
“This has never happened before,” one government employee tells WIRED. “I have never gotten a message like this from anyone.”
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
Where the DOGE Operatives Are Now
WIRED tracked down some of the most prominent figures of last year’s DOGE invasion. Here's where they are now—in government and beyond.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
This Scammer Used an AI-Generated MAGA Girl to Grift ‘Super Dumb’ Men
A med student says he’s made thousands of dollars selling photos and videos of a young conservative woman he created using generative tools. He’s not alone.
Wired by Ej Dickson
The Latest Push to Extend Key US Spy Powers Is Still a Mess
A US surveillance program that lets the FBI view Americans' communications without a warrant is up for renewal. A new bill aims to address mounting lawmaker concerns—with smoke and mirrors.
Wired by Dell Cameron
A DOGE Affiliate Is Now in Charge of the US Government's ID Platform
Greg Hogan will oversee Login.gov as the government seeks to integrate driver's license and passport information into the service, making what one insider calls "a national ID."
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
Elon Musk Seemingly Admits xAI Has Used OpenAI's Models to Train Its Own
While answering questions under oath, Musk argued it’s standard practice for AI labs to use their competitors' models.
Wired by Maxwell Zeff, Paresh Dave
Welcome to the Great American Satellite Age
A new generation of satellite startups in San Francisco is racing to capitalize on recent technological breakthroughs in space-based data collection and communications.
Wired by Paresh Dave
A Library Dedicated Solely to the Epstein Files Is Opening in New York
The Institute for Primary Facts has compiled more than 3.5 million pages of the Epstein files for public display at the newly opened Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room.
Wired by Ej Dickson
What It Will Take to Make AI Sustainable
Researcher Sasha Luccioni argues we need better emissions data and a better sense of how people are using AI in the first place.
Wired by Molly Taft
Trump’s Tech Posse in China, Who’s Winning in Musk v. Altman, and Hantavirus Conspiracy Theories
Today on “Uncanny Valley,” we discuss how Donald Trump’s visit to China could influence conversations between world leaders at a moment when the economic and foreign policy stakes couldn’t be higher.
Wired by Brian Barrett, Zoë Schiffer, Leah Feiger
A Danish Couple’s Maverick African Research Finds Its Moment in RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Policy
The work of Peter Aaby and Christine Stabell Benn has long been controversial. Until Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became US health policy chief, most vaccine scientists tended to ignore it. Now they can’t.
Wired by Arthur Allen, KFF Health News
It's Officially Election Season In Trumpworld
With Trump nemesis Thomas Massie vanquished, Republican strategists are now eyeing races in Texas, California, and Maine.
Wired by Hugo Lowell
NYC and LA Are Teaming Up to Fight for EVs
After the Trump administration turned away from electrification, two of the nation’s biggest governments will advocate for more electric vans, police cars, and eventually, snowplows.
Wired by Aarian Marshall
The EU Is Going Through a Trump-Fueled Breakup With Big Tech
France is already moving on from Zoom and Microsoft Teams in favor of homegrown alternatives. Other countries are quickly following suit.
Wired by Matt Burgess, Vittoria Elliott
The Department of Labor’s Faith Leader Is Now Also in Charge of Its Civil Rights Enforcement
Kenneth Wolfe organized the Department of Labor’s controversial prayer services before he was quietly appointed to lead a major agency office.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
Why the 2026 Hurricane Season Might Not Be That Bad
The impending arrival of El Niño will help keep the number of storms low. But it only takes one landfall to create a catastrophe.
Wired by Brian Kahn
The FBI Wants ‘Near Real-Time’ Access to US License Plate Readers
Plus: Google publishes a live exploit for an unpatched flaw, the feds arrest two men accused of creating thousands of nonconsensual deepfake nudes, and more.
Wired by Matt Burgess, Dell Cameron, Andrew Couts
The Manhattan Institute Helped Kill DEI. Now It’s Coming for Protests
The right-wing think tank is actively pushing “civil terrorism”—increasing penalties for minor crimes committed while people engage in constitutionally protected free speech.
Wired by Ali Winston
Elon Musk and America’s Far Right Stoke Anger Over Murder of UK Teen
Influential figures, including Nick Fuentes, have been accused of “hijacking” the murder of Henry Nowak to push a racist agenda.
Wired by David Gilbert
The TikTok Ban Was Never About TikTok
A new documentary chronicles how the app became a stand-in for American anxieties about social media, China, and political power.
Wired by Zeyi Yang
‘It’s Not a Joke’: A ‘Simpsons’ Writer Holds His First Presidential Campaign Rally
At a small kickoff event in Los Angeles, Dan Greaney explained why he could no longer stand by and watch the demolition of American democracy.
Wired by Miles Klee
All the Ways Europe Is Ditching American Technology
A WIRED timeline shows how dozens of governments, companies, and other organizations across Europe are moving, or planning to shift, away from US Big Tech.
Wired by Matt Burgess
Trump Risks Key Surveillance Authority Over ‘Unqualified’ Spy-Chief Pick
US lawmakers are alarmed that Bill Pulte, a housing official with no intelligence experience, is poised to take charge of one of the government's most powerful surveillance tools.
Wired by Dell Cameron
Donald Trump Is Ready for Fight Night. So Are Donors
The UFC event on the White House's South Lawn is the president's birthday gift to himself. Sources expect it to be a lobbying extravaganza.
Wired by Hugo Lowell
The Strait of Hormuz Has Been Closed for 100 Days. Why Aren’t Oil Prices Higher?
President Donald Trump says a secret mission moved 100 million barrels of oil through the blocked Strait of Hormuz. That number is impossible to verify.
Wired by Carla Sertin
Anthropic Is Still at Odds With the White House Over Claude Fable 5
Anthropic leaders flew to Washington, DC, to meet with White House officials on Monday. After high-level talks, they're still split on the risk Claude Fable 5 presents.
Wired by Maxwell Zeff
The Korean Telecom Giant at the Center of Anthropic’s Mythos Controversy
Days before Anthropic took its most advanced AI models offline, the White House ordered the company to revoke SK Telecom’s access to Claude Mythos over claims of alleged ties to China.
Wired by Louise Matsakis, Maxwell Zeff
The White House Is Making Up Its Rules for AI in Real Time
Anthropic still can’t distribute Claude Mythos or Fable 5 after running afoul of the Trump administration. But no one can say exactly what the company did wrong.
Wired by Maxwell Zeff
Federal Workers Can’t Get the White House’s App Off Their Phones
“I deleted it as a test and it came immediately back,” says one government employee.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
Europe Is Fed Up and Wants Its Own AI
It's a stretch to think that the continent can build a top-tier model, but it has an advantage: Donald Trump.
Wired by Steven Levy
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's Island Resort Could Bring Down Albania’s Prime Minister
What began as a “flamingo revolution” to protest the $1.4 billion development on Sazan Island has spiraled into mass protests against a ruling party that thousands now want out.
Wired by Arbjona Çibuku
Trump Administration Allows Anthropic to Release Mythos to Select US Organizations
After weeks of negotiations, the White House permitted Anthropic to restore access to its most advanced AI model for a select group of US companies and government agencies.
Wired by Maxwell Zeff
Security News This Week: LastPass Users Had Their Data Stolen—Again
Plus: Former national security advisor John Bolton pleads guilty in classified-materials case, Microsoft helps take down major infostealer infrastructure, and more.
Wired by Lily Hay Newman
The DEA Plans to Ban Opioid-Like Kratom Compound 7-OH
The federal agency says it will temporarily schedule the drug, which has been called "gas station heroin," as a controlled substance—a boon for MAHA and the mainstream kratom industry.
Wired by Manisha Krishnan
Peter Thiel’s Husband Sued a Flight Attendant Who Says He Assaulted Her on a Private Jet
Matthew Danzeisen’s lawyer says the case is a “shakedown about a bag” that brushed someone’s leg. Stefanie Bojar says she was injured aboard the jet—and that the lawsuit is a bullying tactic.
Wired by Dhruv Mehrotra
Republicans Gleefully Celebrate Midterms Chaos in Maine
Political operatives in Trumpworld hope that US Senate candidate Graham Platner stays in the race as long as possible.
Wired by Hugo Lowell
Federal Investigators Say Certain DOGE Records Were Deleted
A government report claims DOGE didn’t access sensitive systems. It also says the agency deleted records that would show if they had.
Wired by Vittoria Elliott
Robot Dogs, Teslas, and Rescue Helicopters: The UN AI Summit Was a Lot
Amid live coding sessions and Silicon Valley optimism, the UN’s AI for Good summit wrestled with an increasingly urgent question: Can global governance catch up before the technology races beyond its control?
Wired by Chris Stokel-Walker