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Slate.com
Technology writer for Slate.com
PROFILE
Will Oremus
Guest
FROM Will Oremus
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Is Mark Zuckerberg planning a political campaign? Facebook is more popular now with young people. We find out why, and whether there’s anything to the rumors that Mark Zuckerberg wants to run for president. He’s hired pollster Joel Benenson.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Foxconn plans to build first U.S. factory, but is it real? The chairman of Foxconn announced a new $10 billion factory in Wisconsin to make flatscreens and other electronics. Foxconn is the Taiwanese company that makes iPhones and iPads for Apple. But it has a habit of not following through with big announcements.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Is the Seth Rich conspiracy over? DNC staffer Seth Rich was killed last summer, and his murder is unsolved – although it’s suspected to have been the result of a botched robbery. However, conspiracy theorists went into overdrive trying to link his murder to the Clinton campaign. Fox News, which published the story on its website, has since retracted it.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Identifying real news v. fake news: it's complicated Facebook, Twitter and Google have all been criticized for posting fake news stories, misleading clickbait and conspiracy theories. For example, the Pope endorsing Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton involved in a child sex ring in a pizza parlor. These companies are working on plans to combat fake news.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Are PCs are making a comeback? Apple just revealed a new MacBook Pro with a touch panel instead of function keys at the top of the keyboard. Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Studio, a desktop PC with a giant, ultra high-definition touchscreen. One technology writer is calling it a comeback for PCs and a letdown from Apple.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Tesla’s 'ingenious' autopilot software update Following a fatal crash in May in which a Tesla Model S on autopilot crashed into a truck because it didn’t recognize it as a truck, Tesla has been working on a software fix to prevent that kind of an accident. Now Tesla says they’ve done it, and if true, it could make self-driving cars a lot safer. Slate’s Will Oremus calls the fix “ingenious.”
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Facebook’s Influence in the Presidential Election More than a billion people log onto Facebook every day to look at cat gifs and baby pictures; and now more than ever, people are getting their news from the social networking site. That news is controlled by Facebook’s powerful news feed algorithm, but there are also humans involved. Gizmodo reported Monday that, according to a former Facebook contractor, curators of Facebook’s trending news feature routinely suppressed conservative news stories. Facebook has denied the allegations, but a Senate committee is looking into the matter. Regardless of whether the allegations are true or not, Facebook is clearly having an effect on this election.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
The Elitism of the Apple Watch Tech addicts around the world have been waiting anxiously for the final rollout of Apple’s new smart watch. And they finally got their fix, Monday. Aside from the usual debates that accompany any new Apple product, there is the issue of price. The company says, “There’s an Apple Watch for everyone.” But that’s if “everyone” has at least $349 and a late-model iPhone. Mid-range models are closer to $1,000 and high-end models will go for as much as $17,000. That’s the cost to consumers, but what about the cost to Apple? The steep price of the watch could damage its image as a company that brings high-tech and great design to the masses.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Cyber Silliness It’s Cyber Monday, the day that online retailers offer deals hoping to lure consumers into spending a lot of time and money shopping on the Internet. Is it a day of great bargains, or a bunch of manufactured hype? Slate’s Will Oremus is firmly in the second camp. Two years ago he wrote a piece titled “ The Unmitigated Inanity of Cyber Monday: The Dumbest Fake Holiday of the Year ,” and today he explains why he stands by it.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Requiem for the San Francisco Bay Guardian The owners of the San Francisco Bay Guardian announced that it will cease publishing today. The progressive weekly newspaper was founded in 1966 by muckraking reporter Bruce Brugmann and his wife, Jean Dibble. They vowed "to print the news and raise hell." Its demise reflects not only the changing face of the Bay Area, but troubles experienced by alt-weekly papers nationwide.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
iHype This morning, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a new slate of products, including two new iPhone models. Many news outlets live-blogged every minute of the event. But… why? What is it about Apple that inspires an avalanche of breathless press every time a new product is unveiled?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Aging Facebook Today marks the 10 year anniversary of Facebook’s launch. But while the site is still going strong for now, its users are aging. We take a look at the social media sites young people are actually using, and why a lot of adults haven’t heard of them. We’ll also talk about whether these sites are doing enough to keep kids safe from predators.
To the Point
Tesla Motors Fights a Very Bad Review After months of "best car" awards and glowing reviews of the Tesla Model S luxury electric car, the New York Times' John Broder published a dissenting opinion . Tesla CEO Elon Musk then accused Broder of deliberate fabrications and trying to stall the car out on purpose. Technology writer Will Oremus has been following the dispute with potential impact on the future of a much-hyped industry for Slate.com .
Recommended
Design and Architecture
Farewell LA freeways, Peter Shire is back Angelenos don't want more freeways but we seem not to want mass transit either. Metro has killed the 710 freeway extension, and bus and train ridership is down across the region. What's the future of getting around in LA? And, Peter Shire is having a comeback. What attracts a new generation to his playful ceramics and furniture?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
How do Trump supporters feel about the Paris Accord? Globally and around the U.S., there are strong opinions whether or not the Paris Climate Accord is a good idea. The American exit is either a horrifying abdication of American leadership or a forceful and long overdue statement about U.S. sovereignty.
Bookworm
Claudio Magris: Blameless In Claudio Magris' Blameless, a museum of the implements of war and destruction is created to inspire peace. But this conversation is not just about war and peace.
Good Food
Shaking up the USDA, 'The Beef Cookbook' and 'Tartine All Day' Peggy Lowe explains why Trump’s pick for USDA Secretary is rattling rural America. Dario Cecchini talks future plans for Chianti ramen, and Richard Turner shares cuts from “PRIME: The Beef Cookbook.” Writer Matthew Sedacca looks at the controversy behind liquid smoke. Jonathan Gold tries Chengdu-style dishes, and Elisabeth Prueitt of Tartine fills us in on the latest. Plus, chef Michael Beckman shares a recipe for cactus confit.