The Briefing by Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Five times/week

The Briefing

By Martin Peers, Jessica Lessin and the team at The Information

Get smarter about the day’s news in tech, media and finance by following Silicon Valley’s most-read executive newsletter.

By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy

Recent Editions

Photos by Bloomberg; Shutterstock. Illustration by Mike Sullivan

I Helped Uncover QAnon. Failed Prophecies Won’t Kill It

By Paris Martineau · Jan 23, 2021 7:47am PST · 3 comments

I first stumbled upon the collective delusion we now refer to as QAnon in November 2017, just a few weeks after it began as a series of conspiratorial posts on one of the internet’s more untamed bulletin boards. In a sprawling discussion thread on 4chan titled “Calm Before the Storm”—a reference to a quote from the prior... I first stumbled upon the collective delusion we now refer to as QAnon in November 2017, just a...

Clubhouse Co-Founder and CEO Paul Davison. Photo: Bloomberg

Clubhouse Gets Investment Interest at $1 Billion Valuation

By Zoë Bernard, Kate Clark and Alex Heath · Jan 22, 2021 6:24pm PST · 17 comments

Update: On Sunday, Clubhouse confirmed it raised a Series B round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Read more details in our brief. The race to invest in social audio app Clubhouse is on again. Venture capital firms have approached the startup’s founders in recent weeks about leading its potential next round of funding at a roughly $1... Update: On Sunday, Clubhouse confirmed it raised a Series B round led by Andreessen...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. Photo by Bloomberg

Google’s Threat Down Under: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Jan 22, 2021 5:31pm PST

Google’s threat to shut down its search engine in Australia if the legislature there proceeds with a plan to require the search giant to pay publishers for linking to their news articles puts the spotlight on a little-understood question. What is the potential cost for Google, and Facebook, if they had to pay for news content on terms... Google’s threat to shut down its search engine in Australia if the legislature there...

The Information’s 411 — Self-Promotion as a Service

By Tom Dotan · Jan 22, 2021 2:25pm PST

The Information’s 411 — Self-Promotion as a Service

By Tom Dotan · Jan 22, 2021 2:25pm PST

What happens when VC firms become publishers? Tom talks with The Information’s Zoë Bernard and Newcomer.co’s Eric Newcomer about Andreessen Horowitz’s latest moves, and startups’ relationships with journalists. Then, Cory breaks down his reporting on Airbnb’s efforts to keep white nationalists and... What happens when VC firms become publishers? Tom talks with The Information’s...

The People With Power at Robinhood

By Kate Clark · Jan 22, 2021 6:01am PST · 5 comments

Last year, as Robinhood’s trading activity boomed and legal problems mounted, the $11.7 billion startup shook up the ranks of its senior staff. The turnover means many top employees will be relative newcomers at the time of its anticipated public listing this year. The Menlo Park, Calif., company saw the departures of its head of... Last year, as Robinhood’s trading activity boomed and legal problems mounted, the $11.7...

The Justice Department's sign at a press conference. Photo by Bloomberg

When Antitrust Opposition Boosts Value: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Jan 21, 2021 5:01pm PST

Sometimes, the government is here to help. The Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit that killed Visa’s acquisition of Plaid promises to become a windfall for shareholders in the fintech startup, as The Information reported today. Visa had agreed to pay $5.3 billion for Plaid, but there’s now investor interest in the company... Sometimes, the government is here to help. The Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit that...

Zach Perret, CEO and co-founder of Plaid, spoke during the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit in Salt Lake City last year. Photo: Bloomberg

Plaid Shareholders Field Offers at $15 Billion After Merger Collapse

By Kate Clark · Jan 21, 2021 1:47pm PST · 2 comments

Normally CEOs that opt to sell their companies aren’t happy when the government blocks the deal over antitrust concerns. But that doesn’t appear to be the case with Plaid, a fintech startup that has seen a surge in investor interest since federal regulators blocked its merger last week with Visa. So far, the prospective investors... Normally CEOs that opt to sell their companies aren’t happy when the government blocks the...

SoftWear Automation CEO Raj Rajan. Photo provided by the company

‘Made in the USA’ Apparel Gets a Tech Boost

By Malique Morris · Jan 21, 2021 6:01am PST · 1 comment

SoftWear Automation CEO Raj Rajan. Photo provided by the company

‘Made in the USA’ Apparel Gets a Tech Boost

By Malique Morris · Jan 21, 2021 6:01am PST · 1 comment

When Covid-19 began spreading in China last winter, the global apparel supply chain was thrown into disarray and overseas production in the category ground to a halt. That’s when Marta Miller—owner of Lefty Production Co., a Los Angeles–based company that manufactures clothing for clients—began seeing a surge in inquiries... When Covid-19 began spreading in China last winter, the global apparel supply chain was thrown...

Patreon CEO Jack Conte. Photo courtesy of Patreon

Patreon Considers Public Listing as Soon as This Year

By Ross Matican and Amir Efrati · Jan 20, 2021 6:45pm PST

Patreon, the online service that allows podcasters, musicians and other artists to receive direct financial support from fans, is considering a public listing as soon as this year, said a person with knowledge of discussions. The San Francisco startup has met with banks and has been approached by special purpose acquisition companies, though the... Patreon, the online service that allows podcasters, musicians and other artists to receive direct...

Anthony Levandowski. Photo by Bloomberg.

The Thinking Behind Levandowski’s Pardon: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By The Information Staff · Jan 20, 2021 5:02pm PST

Now-former president Trump’s last minute pardon of self-driving car engineer Anthony Levandowski raises a fascinating question about crime and punishment in Silicon Valley. When a judge last year sentenced Levandowski to 18 months in prison for stealing a proprietary Google document, he said his goal was deterrence. As we reported at the... Now-former president Trump’s last minute pardon of self-driving car engineer Anthony...

Rioters breached barricades to enter the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Photo: Bloomberg

Airbnb Used Facebook and Twitter to Weed Out Hate Groups

By Cory Weinberg · Jan 20, 2021 6:02am PST · 1 comment

For the past few years, a specialized team of about half a dozen employees within Airbnb has been assigned an urgent task: preventing white nationalists and other potentially dangerous fringe groups from renting homes on the site. Working inside the company’s trust and safety unit, the employees comb through Facebook, Twitter and far-right... For the past few years, a specialized team of about half a dozen employees within Airbnb has been...

Andreessen Horowitz co-founders Marc Andreessen (left) and Ben Horowitz. Photo by Bloomberg.

Andreessen Horowitz Looks to Launch Opinion Publication as Its Media Ambition Grows

By Zoë Bernard · Jan 19, 2021 5:39pm PST · 5 comments

Andreessen Horowitz co-founders Marc Andreessen (left) and Ben Horowitz. Photo by Bloomberg.

Andreessen Horowitz Looks to Launch Opinion Publication as Its Media Ambition Grows

By Zoë Bernard · Jan 19, 2021 5:39pm PST · 5 comments

Silicon Valley investment firm Andreessen Horowitz, which once courted attention from the news media, is ramping up its own media efforts. The firm plans to expand its publication of content related to technology and business on its website through an opinion section that publishes articles from outside contributors, according to people briefed... Silicon Valley investment firm Andreessen Horowitz, which once courted attention from the news...

Netflix's Los Angeles office. Photo by Bloomberg

Netflix Passes Major Milestone: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Jan 19, 2021 5:32pm PST · 1 comment

If the contest to build a profitable video streaming service were a footrace, Netflix would be the runner crossing the finish line as all the other contestants were leaving the starting blocks. The reality of that was brought home today when Netflix said it had passed 200 million global subscribers and was “very close” to being... If the contest to build a profitable video streaming service were a footrace, Netflix would be...

Daniel Zhang. Photo by Bloomberg.

Alibaba’s Regulatory Challenges Put Spotlight on CEO Zhang

By Juro Osawa · Jan 19, 2021 9:13am PST

Just a few months ago, things were going well for Alibaba CEO and chairman Daniel Zhang. Despite the global pandemic, China’s economy was bouncing back and strong e-commerce demand was boosting Alibaba’s revenue and share price. Time magazine in September named Zhang one of the world’s 100 most influential people, along with... Just a few months ago, things were going well for Alibaba CEO and chairman Daniel Zhang. Despite...

Vice CEO Nancy Dubuc. Photo by Bloomberg.

Inside Nancy Dubuc’s Quest to Rehabilitate Vice

By Jessica Toonkel · Jan 19, 2021 6:00am PST · 4 comments

When television veteran Nancy Dubuc took over as CEO of Vice Media in the spring of 2018, cash was so tight that company executives were debating whether they should cancel the Friday morning ritual of free donuts and bagels for staff. Once the irreverent darling of the new media sector, known for its online news and TV documentaries, Vice was... When television veteran Nancy Dubuc took over as CEO of Vice Media in the spring of 2018, cash...

Illustration by Mike Sullivan

How to Curb Tech Executives’ Power

By Robert Lindsay · Jan 18, 2021 6:01am PST · 16 comments

Illustration by Mike Sullivan

How to Curb Tech Executives’ Power

By Robert Lindsay · Jan 18, 2021 6:01am PST · 16 comments

This is the month that net neutrality died. But maybe, if we strengthen other checks on the power of tech and telecom company executives, we don’t need to mourn its loss. I believe the inevitable outcome of the horrifying political violence on January 6 is that content noninterference will soon become a fringe position. With each new... This is the month that net neutrality died. But maybe, if we strengthen other checks on the power...

Big Tech and Big Media Have Made Up: Now What? Inside the New Era in the Tech and Media Wars

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jan 16, 2021 7:46am PST · 3 comments

Despite all the knives pointed at big tech right now, some longtime antagonists to the tech industry seem to be taking a back seat in the fights. These are the big media companies whose leaders have for years poked, prodded and attacked tech leaders at every chance they got. This isn’t to say that reporters are easing up. News coverage of... Despite all the knives pointed at big tech right now, some longtime antagonists to the tech...

Apple's Eddy Cue at a developer conference in 2015. Photo by Bloomberg

Will Apple Kill the Free Podcast?: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · Jan 15, 2021 5:30pm PST

The podcasting industry as we know it is about to change. Plans by Apple to launch a subscription service for podcasts, as The Information reported today, portends a shift to a much more balkanized podcasting world. Instead of shows being broadly available for free on a variety of outlets, in the future podcasts will be attached exclusively for... The podcasting industry as we know it is about to change. Plans by Apple to launch a subscription...

David Barrett, CEO of Expensify. Photo courtesy of Expensify.

Expensify in Talks With SPACs About a Potential Merger

By Ross Matican · Jan 15, 2021 4:39pm PST

Expensify, a startup that sells expense management software, has been in talks with special purpose acquisition companies about a possible merger to take it public, say two people familiar with the discussions. The 13-year-old software company is also considering a direct listing with an accompanying capital raising, said one of the people. Its... Expensify, a startup that sells expense management software, has been in talks with special...

The Information’s 411 — Urgent Telegram

By Cory Weinberg · Jan 15, 2021 2:10pm PST

The Information’s 411 — Urgent Telegram

By Cory Weinberg · Jan 15, 2021 2:10pm PST

Cory and Alex tell the story of messaging app Telegram and its mysterious founder, Pavel Durov, as the company finds itself in the global spotlight amid a sudden surge in users. Can the company figure out how to make money from its growing popularity? And will it crack down further on chat groups with the potential to spark real-world... Cory and Alex tell the story of messaging app Telegram and its mysterious founder, Pavel Durov,...