Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Big Buys in the Tech World

    Why did Facebook just buy a texting app for 16 billion dollars? Is Apple really investing in cars? And how has Silicon Valley been flexing its political muscles? We’ll talk about this week’s tech news with Sam Biddle, editor of Valleywag .

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Why did Facebook just buy a texting app for 16 billion dollars? Is Apple really investing in cars? And how has Silicon Valley been flexing its political muscles? We’ll talk about this week’s tech news with Sam Biddle, editor of Valleywag.

    The full episode

    1 of 5
    WhatsApp, The Power of Fraternities & Flu Vaccine Myths
    1. 0:00Big Buys in the Tech WorldYou’re reading this
    2. 7:51Inequality and Prosperity
    3. 16:49Design and Architecture
    4. 25:57The Dark Power of Fraternities
    5. 41:44Vaccination Myth Busting
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Andrew Walsh

      Too Beautiful to Live

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sam Biddle

      The Intercept

      News

    The full episode

    1 of 5
    WhatsApp, The Power of Fraternities & Flu Vaccine Myths
    1. 0:00Big Buys in the Tech WorldYou’re reading this
    2. 7:51Inequality and Prosperity
    3. 16:49Design and Architecture
    4. 25:57The Dark Power of Fraternities
    5. 41:44Vaccination Myth Busting
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand