About this episode
Silicon Valley’s heating up—and we’ve got the inside scoop.This week on More or Less, Jessica, Dave, Sam, and Brit unpack a whirlwind of drama: Google’s $32B Wiz grab, rippling’s spy scandal with Deel, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s bold intimacy coordinator diss. Dave’s back from YC Demo Day, where AI-driven startups are still fetching 25 to 40 million despite shaky traction.Here’s what’s cooking:• Google’s Wiz deal—will Trump’s FTC let it fly?• Rippling vs. Deel: a spy caught in a Slack honeypot• Gwyneth says no to intimacy coordinators—culture’s shifting• Brit’s new AI-built app, Guarding, locks down kids’ usernamesPlus, Solana’s PR flop, NVIDIA’s chip wars, and Elon’s billion-dollar X raise.We’re also on ?X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit00:00 Trailer01:10 No introductions needed03:34 The New York Times Ethics Department07:06 Solana video disaster13:16 Gwyneth Paltrow vs intimacy coordinator17:03 Google acquires Wiz for $32 billion18:59 Trump administration's tech leverage30:08 Brit's app Guardling (higuardling.com)35:06 The Silicon Valley Spy Scandal!46:34 Are there VC spies?50:53 Elon raises a billion for X52:19 Drive-through AI and going bankrupt56:29 Sam Lessin has left the chat59:03 Outro
