715: Our Wizard Lies

Grumpy Old Geeks is back with another round of righteous griping and eyebrow-raising headlines in Episode 715: Our Wizard Lies. We kick things off in FOLLOW UP, where TikTok is still the geopolitical hot potato that both the U.S. and China promise to sort out “someday, maybe,” while Wired’s global editorial director explains how tech’s growing political clout is playing out under Trump. From there, it’s a cavalcade of absurdities: DOGE as federal workforce demolition derby, and crypto bros trying to turn Charlie Kirk’s death into meme-stock retirement plans. Late-stage capitalism is nothing if not creative.Then in IN THE NEWS, Amazon gets spanked with a $2.5 billion fine for Prime trickery, Microsoft yanks cloud services from an Israeli military unit, and Palantir goes full lifestyle brand—yes, you too can cosplay as a drone strike enthusiast with a $99 pair of gym shorts. Silicon Valley philosophers warn AI regulation would literally summon the Antichrist, while banks whisper the bubble might pop before the devil even arrives. Meanwhile, YouTube toys with letting COVID and election denialists back into the algorithm, “SIM farms” threaten New York’s cell networks, and unlucky tourists are finding themselves trafficked into cyber-scam slavery across Southeast Asia. Progress!MEDIA CANDY tries to lighten the mood—sort of—serving up everything from Elio, Tron: Ares, and Disney price hikes to AI musicians cashing million-dollar checks. Lionsgate, on the other hand, learns you can’t feed four John Wicks into an algorithm and get an anime out the other side. Over in THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, we get furries on the DC Metro, Disney plotting your every park step via Ray-Ban spy glasses, a Ponzi scheme in RadioShack cosplay, and even a Jim Henson Company anniversary auction. We close out with shout-outs and sighs, because sometimes the world doesn’t deserve a mic drop—just a slow shake of the head.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/715FOLLOW UPUS and China agree to agree on a TikTok dealWIRED global editorial director on tech's growing political power under TrumpThe Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal WorkersCrypto Bros Are Trying to Monetize Charlie Kirk’s DeathIN THE NEWSAmazon to pay $2.5 billion for allegedly duping millions to sign up for PrimeMicrosoft cuts off cloud services to Israeli military unit after report of storing Palestinians’ phone callsPalantir Wants to Be a Lifestyle BrandSilicon Valley’s latest argument against regulating AI: that would literally be the AntichristAI Experts Urgently Call on Governments to Think About Maybe Doing Something‘Workslop’: AI-Generated Work Content Is Slowing Everything DownDeutsche Bank Issues Grim Warning for AI IndustryYouTube may reinstate channels banned for spreading covid and election misinformation‘SIM Farms’ Are a Spam Plague. A Giant One in New York Threatened US Infrastructure, Feds SayThey traveled to Thailand. They wound up cyber scam slaves in Myanmar.MEDIA CANDYElioSupermanHuman: OriginsHuman: JourneysAlien: EarthThe Traitors IrelandDisney is raising the price of Disney+, Hulu subscriptions next monthWicked: For Good | Final TrailerLilith Faire: Building a MysteryTron: AresAI Artist Signs Million-Dollar Record DealLionsgate Is Finding Out It’s Really Hard to Make Movies With AIJimmy Kimmel May Be Back. Trump’s Attacks on the First Amendment Aren’t Over By Merrill MarkoeJimmy Kimmel is Back!THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingDisney Explores Using Ray-Ban Meta Glasses To Guide Guests Around Its ParksThe Happiest Story on Earth: 70 Years of DisneylandThe Mandalorian and Grogu | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 22, 2026The Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary AuctionFeds Say Company That Bought RadioShack Was Running $112 Million Ponzi SchemeFurries ride the DC MetroSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.