If Then

News on technology, Silicon Valley, politics, and tech policy.

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About the Show

If Then is a show about technology, society, and power. Each week, the hosts take you on a lively tour of the tech news that actually matters, from fake news in your Facebook feed to the algorithms that want your job to the Uber drivers who want a job with benefits. With news-making interviews of key tech-industry figures, fascinating academics, and top tech journalists, we explore not only how the technology that’s shaping our world works, but the ideas, ideologies, incentives, and biases that underlie it.

Hosts

Smash Bros. Side Hustlers

Modernizing and monetizing a classic with pro gamers.

The People Who Hold the Internet Together

A researcher on the gruesome, underpaid world of commercial content moderation.

What It Takes to Study Online Harassment

The dangers of researching the cybermob—and why it’s worth it.

The Surveillance Is Coming From Inside the (Smart) House

A designer works with victims of domestic abuse to make all those fancy speakers and thermostats safer.

Breaking Away From Google

One journalist’s quest to wean the tech behemoth out of his daily life.

The Case for the Vape

The contraption is now associated with a deeply concerning and sometimes deadly illness. It’s also a much-needed antidote.

Inside Uber

A closer look at Uber during the Travis Kalanick years.

Cosmetic Gene Editing Gone Awry

Exploring a future where you can give yourself purple eyes, bat wings, and malware.

When Your DNA Is Public Information

The recent genealogy craze has turned into a boon for law enforcement. But it’s also a giant privacy conundrum.

The Allure of Smart Guns

Presidential candidates are calling for firearms that will only unlock for their owners. Research shows their potential is complicated.

China’s Cyberwar Against Hong Kong

There’s no “great firewall” in Hong Kong, so Beijing officials are resorting to fake news campaigns and cyberattacks to foil protesters.

Chemists Spill the Science of Skin Care

The founders of Chemist Confessions tell us about the molecules behind all that marketing.

Facebook Can’t Just Create a Currency

The social media giant wants to create a global cryptocurrency called Libra, but it doesn’t seem to understand all the rules and regulations that would—and should—come with it.

Amazon Prime Day’s Weird Symbiosis With Journalism

News outlets—including Slate—get extra revenue by including Amazon links in their articles. Should they?

ICE’s Reckless Use of Facial Recognition Tech

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are partnering with DMVs to scan millions of driver’s license photos without citizens’ consent.

Soon We’ll All Basically Be FaceTiming Our Doctors

Remote doctor visits via secure video platforms can be speedy and convenient, but there are still some limits to the telehealth experience.

Why Tech Journalists Took Off Their Rose-Colored Glasses

It used to be all about marveling at the new. Now tech writers are holding power accountable.

When a Scooter Makes More Sense Than a Car

Horace Dediu, an expert on “micromobility,” explains why tiny forms of transportation are popping up in cities all over the world.

How Driverless Cars Will Actually Work

Aurora CEO Chris Urmson helped pioneer the technology. He says the changes it will bring will be a lot more subtle than you’d think.

Luxury Bunkers for the End of the World

Growing fears about natural disasters, nuclear war, and a slew of other threats are causing people to buy fancy underground apartments.