Close All Tabs

By KQED

Ever wonder where the internet stops and IRL begins? Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor. From internet trends to AI slop t... more

4.5

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FAQs about Close All Tabs:

How many episodes does Close All Tabs have?

The podcast currently has 608 episodes available.

Close All Tabs episodes:

February 26, 2025 TikTok's Vibe Shift
On January 18, 2025, TikTok went down for U.S. users. After just 14 hours, it was back. Since then, questions have been swirling online. Has the algorithm changed? Was the ban just a ruse? Has TikTok gone… conservative? In this episode, internet culture expert Taylor Lorenz joins Morgan to break down the answers to those questions. They’ll dig into the real reasons for the ban and what the future holds for progressive speech on an internet that has been drifting steadily to the right.

Read the transcript here.
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31min
February 10, 2025 Introducing Close All Tabs
New episodes drop weekly starting February 26!
Tech journalist Morgan Sung spends most of her day online—so you don’t have to. Each week, Morgan tackles a new topic that might seem niche on the surface but is destined to impact our lives—both online and off. She pulls from experts, creators, and history to add context to the trends and depth to the memes. And she’ll wrestle with as many browser tabs as it takes to explain the cultural moment we’re all collectively living.

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2min
January 14, 2025 Influencer Endorsements Gone Wild
This episode was originally published November 2, 2024.

In this final episode of the Close All Tabs miniseries, host Morgan Sung examines the increasing power of social media influencers in politics. Joined by WIRED senior tech and politics writer Makena Kelly, Morgan dives into the growing tensions between influencers and traditional journalists and explores how “shadow money” is quietly flowing to influencers for political endorsements, keeping the public in the dark about who’s funding content.
Read the transcript of this episode here.

Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

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37min
January 14, 2025 Stan Wars, The Fandom Menace
This episode was originally published October 26, 2024.

In this episode of Close All Tabs, host Morgan Sung examines the rise of “stan culture” in politics, where passionate supporters rally around political figures with the same fervor typically reserved for pop stars. Morgan is joined by tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge to unpack the evolution of cults of personality in digital spaces, what makes some candidates more “stan-worthy” than others, and how all of this has troubling implications for public discourse.
Read the transcript here.

Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

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34min
January 14, 2025 Couch F***** Memes vs The Truth
This episode was originally published October 19, 2024.

In this episode of Close All Tabs, host Morgan Sung dives into the world of viral political memes with TechCrunch senior writer Amanda Silberling, unraveling the origins of the infamous JD Vance “couch rumor.” What began as a seemingly frivolous post on X about the Republican VP nominee spiraled into a meme with real-world consequences, shifting the tone of the race. Morgan is also joined by Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, to explore the fragile line between satire and disinformation in modern politics.
Read the transcript here.

Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

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37min
January 14, 2025 From the Dean Scream to Brat Memes
This episode was originally published October 12, 2024.

Welcome to Close All Tabs, a special KQED podcast series exploring the intersection of internet culture and politics. In this first episode, host Morgan Sung takes us through the evolution of online campaigning—from the early days of dial-up modems to today’s Twitch streams. We’ll revisit iconic moments like “the Dean scream” and “Pokemon Go to the polls,” examine how memes became a legitimate political force, and discuss why Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are turning to podcasters and streamers to reach voters.
Read the transcript here.

Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
40min
April 29, 2021 If You’re Offered the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine, Take It, Experts Say. Here’s Why
The risk of a blood clot developing after a J&J vaccine is tiny, but it's also scary and confusing. We break down ways to evaluate vaccine options.
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4min
April 01, 2021 ‘Worst. Editorial. Guidance. Ever.’ KQED Science Reporters Reflect on the Pandemic’s Early Days
Struggles, decisions and startling moments that shaped KQED's science coverage in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
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8min
March 15, 2021 Kelp, Sea Otters and Urchins. Who’s Eating Who in Monterey Bay
California's underwater kelp forests are suffering massive declines. But a new study shows that sea otters are helping to preserve kelp off the Central Coast.
...more
5min
February 05, 2021 California Has a Rule to Protect Workers Against Pandemics. Here’s How It’s (Not) Working
California has a rule aimed at preparing hundreds of thousands of workers from airborne disease. Why didn't it protect more people?
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7min

FAQs about Close All Tabs:

How many episodes does Close All Tabs have?

The podcast currently has 608 episodes available.