The Information

Around the World With Apple — The Information’s 411

By Cory Weinberg · Feb 12, 2021 2:45pm PST

Tom Dotan and Jessica Toonkel discuss their reporting on how NBCUniversal is trying to pluck its way to streaming success, and why a merger with WarnerMedia might make sense. Then, Wayne Ma explains the logistical feats that helped Apple avoid the kind of shipping delays that plagued other companies. Tom Dotan and Jessica Toonkel discuss their reporting on how NBCUniversal is trying to pluck its...

The Information’s 411 — When Startups Get Political

By Tom Dotan · Feb 5, 2021 3:24pm PST · 1 comment

This week, we bring you two of the most revealing interviews from The Information’s Future of Startups conference. Expensify CEO David Barrett and Cameo CEO Steven Galanis spar over the right way to lead a startup in an extreme political climate. Then, Jessica Lessin interviews former Google CEO Eric Schmidt about antitrust scrutiny and... This week, we bring you two of the most revealing interviews from The Information’s Future...

The Information’s 411 — How GameStop Disrupts ‘Consensus Reality’

By Cory Weinberg · Jan 29, 2021 1:24pm PST · 2 comments

The Information columnist and former Facebook executive Sam Lessin talks to Cory and helps us make sense of online communities, internet populism and the GameStop stock surge. Then, reporters Tom Dotan and Jessica Toonkel explain why ESPN is no longer the favorite child of parent company Disney. The Information columnist and former Facebook executive Sam Lessin talks to Cory and helps us...

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 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,...

The Information’s 411 — Googlers of the World, Unite!

By Tom Dotan · Jan 8, 2021 2:56pm PST

Following the announcement of the new employee union at Google parent Alphabet, we look at what’s behind the recent labor activism in the tech industry, and talk to some of the people behind the organizing efforts. Plus, Cory talks to Alex about the fallout for social media companies following President Trump's incitement of the mob... Following the announcement of the new employee union at Google parent Alphabet, we look at...

The Information’s 411 — Closing the Racial Equity Gap

By Tom Dotan · Dec 24, 2020 2:41pm PST

Our year-end episode features an interview with musical artist Pharrell Williams and non-profit adviser Willa Seldon, who talked about their experiences as Black entrepreneurs. They also shared their views on what most investors and executives who aren't racial or ethnic minorities don't understand about the headwinds that minorities... Our year-end episode features an interview with musical artist Pharrell Williams and non-profit...

The Information’s 411 — Is 2020 a One-Off for Business?

By Tom Dotan · Dec 18, 2020 2:39pm PST

The Information’s 411 — Is 2020 a One-Off for Business?

By Tom Dotan · Dec 18, 2020 2:39pm PST

As the year winds down we look ahead to what we think will transpire in 2021. Tom chats with Jessica Toonkel and Martin Peers about the tumult in media and whether Hollywood really is abandoning theaters. Then Cory talks with Zoë Bernard and Kate Clark about changes in the investing space and why financial services startups took off... As the year winds down we look ahead to what we think will transpire in 2021. Tom chats with...

The Information’s 411 — IPO My God

By Tom Dotan · Dec 11, 2020 3:51pm PST

Amir and Cory explain what DoorDash and Airbnb's specatular debuts on the markets means about both companies and about the tech world in general. Then we chat with Peter Hamby of Snapchat, who hosts the company’s popular political series “Good Luck America.” He talks about whether social media platforms are doing enough to... Amir and Cory explain what DoorDash and Airbnb's specatular debuts on the markets means about...

The Information’s 411 — Slacking Benioff’s Thirst

By Tom Dotan · Dec 4, 2020 4:18pm PST · 2 comments

Cory speaks with Kevin McLaughlin, our enterprise reporter and soothsayer, about the reasons Salesforce spent big to acquire Slack. Tom talks to Paris about why Generation Z is both Amazon's biggest critic and a loyal customer base. Cory speaks with Kevin McLaughlin, our enterprise reporter and soothsayer, about the reasons...

The Information’s 411 — I Left My Startup in San Francisco

By Cory Weinberg and Tom Dotan · Nov 27, 2020 11:35am PST

Cory talks to Scott Wiener, a member of the California state senate, about housing, the pandemic and the future of the tech industry in San Francisco. We wrote this week about the CEOs of Dropbox, Brex and Splunk leaving the city permanently. Wiener isn't sure the trend will last. "There have been a lot of speculative predictions that... Cory talks to Scott Wiener, a member of the California state senate, about housing, the pandemic...

The Information’s 411 — Dark Side of the Loon

By Tom Dotan · Nov 20, 2020 1:22pm PST · 2 comments

The Information’s 411 — Dark Side of the Loon

By Tom Dotan · Nov 20, 2020 1:22pm PST · 2 comments

Alex talks about the tensions inside Facebook over how to deal with misleading posts from political leaders. Cory gets the inside story from Nick Bastone about struggles at Alphabet's Loon, the experimental company that has tried to bring internet connectivity to rural areas. Alex talks about the tensions inside Facebook over how to deal with misleading posts from...

The Information’s 411 — 500 Middle Miles

By Tom Dotan · Nov 13, 2020 4:24pm PST

Paris explores Amazon’s plan to own more parts of the delivery process by building out its trucking fleets. Wayne talks about Apple’s fraying relationship with manufacturer Foxconn. Paris explores Amazon’s plan to own more parts of the delivery process by building out its...

The Information’s 411 — Before the Dust Settles

By Cory Weinberg · Nov 6, 2020 1:57pm PST · 1 comment

How can we start to make sense of the implications of this election for tech? Cory talks to three tech-savvy politcal veterans for early takeaways. Guests: Jim Messina, CEO of the Messina Group and former campaign manager to Barack Obama in 2012 Bruce Mehlman, founder of Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, a lobbying firm that works with... How can we start to make sense of the implications of this election for tech? Cory talks to three...

The Information’s 411 — Contractors With Benefits

By Cory Weinberg and Tom Dotan · Oct 30, 2020 1:14pm PDT

Will Uber and Lyft drivers become full-time employees, or something more like contractors with benefits? California's Proposition 22 will help determine the fate of "gig" work, as well as the financial fortunes of Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart. Tom and Cory break down this high-stakes battle ahead of Election Day, with some... Will Uber and Lyft drivers become full-time employees, or something more like contractors with...

The Information’s 411 — Quibi, We Hardly Knew Ye

By Tom Dotan · Oct 23, 2020 1:28pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — Quibi, We Hardly Knew Ye

By Tom Dotan · Oct 23, 2020 1:28pm PDT

Nick Bastone and Christopher Stern join to talk about the DOJ's antitrust suit against Google and where things go from here. And Jessica Toonkel and Tom dive into the brief life and sudden death of video streaming service Quibi. Nick Bastone and Christopher Stern join to talk about the DOJ's antitrust suit against Google...

The Information’s 411 — Working Remotely, or Not Remotely Working?

By Tom Dotan · Oct 16, 2020 2:34pm PDT

Tom talks to Kate Clark about the state of funding for female-led startups, which has sunk even lower during the pandemic. We also interview Tracy Chou, founder of Blockparty, and Sara Mauskopf, co-founder of Winnie, who discussed their experiences raising money for their startups. And Cory talked to Nick Bastone and Humu’s Liz Fosslien to... Tom talks to Kate Clark about the state of funding for female-led startups, which has sunk even...

The Information’s 411 — The Appiest Place on Earth

By Cory Weinberg · Oct 9, 2020 12:41pm PDT

Cory Weinberg talks to Tom Dotan about the success of Disney+ and why the app’s importance has bred tensions at the entertainment giant. Then, Cory talks antitrust and tech culture with Maelle Gavet, a former executive at real estate startup Compass and online travel firm Booking. Gavet recently published a book about her experience with... Cory Weinberg talks to Tom Dotan about the success of Disney+ and why the app’s importance...

The Information’s 411 — Slacktivism

By Tom Dotan · Oct 2, 2020 4:34pm PDT

Zoë talks about this week's Coinbase controversy and how different CEOs feel about taking activist stands as a company. Then Alex talks about Facebook’s battle with Apple, this time over messaging and integrating into iMessage. Zoë talks about this week's Coinbase controversy and how different CEOs feel about...

The Information’s 411 — SPACs: A Love Story

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 25, 2020 1:05pm PDT

The Information’s 411 — SPACs: A Love Story

By Cory Weinberg · Sep 25, 2020 1:05pm PDT

It seems like everyone in Silicon Valley is starting a SPAC. Reid Hoffman, Peter Thiel, Kevin Hartz, Chamath Palihapitiya, maybe even your roommate. Reporters Cory Weinberg and Ross Matican trace the origins of the SPAC surge. We explain why these special-purpose acquisition companies have become so popular, how they got started and what some of... It seems like everyone in Silicon Valley is starting a SPAC. Reid Hoffman, Peter Thiel, Kevin...