Automatic is reducing its contributions to WordPress core, and Luke suspects it's a strategic move by Matt to exert control. Jonathan explores alternative interpretations, but both agree that this action carries significant risks for the future of the project.

Crossword returns for Season 8. Jonathan and Luke catch up after the holiday break, review the news, and decide not to talk about cricket. Is the WordPress community finally getting back to business, or are there more surprises in store?

Luke expresses fear of being "canceled" from the WordPress community for criticizing Matt Mullenweg. Jonathan questions the likelihood of such retribution, but Luke points to the banning of Ryan McCue and others as evidence of Matt's willingness to silence dissent. Is there a price to pay for speaking truth  to power in the WordPress world?

Luke expresses fear of being "canceled" from the WordPress community for criticizing Matt Mullenweg. Jonathan questions the likelihood of such retribution, but Luke points to the banning of Ryan McCue and others as evidence of Matt's willingness to silence dissent. Is there a price to pay for speaking truth  to power in the WordPress world?

What does a healthy future look like for WordPress? Luke shares three key takeaways from a WordCamp Sydney hallway track: the importance of centralization, the need for better governance, and the potential benefits of commercializing WordPress.org. Do Jonathan and the wider community agree?

Is the WordPress drama finally winding down? Jonathan senses a de-escalation, but Luke points out there are still some unsettling loose ends. They discuss new data on WordPress growth, the departure of more plugins from WordPress.org, and the lingering questions about the future of the project.

Matt Mullenweg's actions have sparked an identity crisis within the WordPress community. Luke and Jonathan grapple with the realization that their sense of belonging and purpose is intertwined with a project that might be slipping away. Can they find a way to reconcile their personal investments with the unsettling reality of WordPress today?

Luke has reached a point of acceptance about the future of WordPress, but that doesn't mean he's giving up. Join the conversation as he and Jonathan explore the different paths forward, from Matt Mullenweg's potential departure to the emergence of a more unified and empowered community.

Matt Mullenweg’s actions over the past few weeks raises a fundamental question: What does success look like for an open-source project? Luke and Jonathan discuss the weekends’ events, ask more questions than they answer, and work through the stages of grief.

Even the most optimistic members of the WordPress community are feeling down. In this episode of Crossword, Jonathan and Luke grapple with the emotional weight of Matt Mullenweg's actions, including a bizarre new login requirement on WordPress.org, and question whether a "war" is truly the best path forward.