Input/Output

A large "Stop the Steal" Facebook group, ostensibly set up to protest the election count, got a surprise rebrand late last week. Some prankster or pranksters changed the name of the group to “Gay Communists for Socialism,” infuriating the page’s pro-Trump users. Input editor Ryan Houlihan and editor in chief Joshua Topolsky join us to discuss this delightful turn of events. And later: Elon Musk’s car company recently announced its own brand of booze called Tesla Tequila. The 40-percent alcoholic beverage costs a whopping $250 and comes in a fancy glass bottle shaped like a thunderbolt. Of course, it sold out almost immediately. Ryan and Joshua talk about the latest Tesla news.

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The new Chromecast with Google TV, a $50 streaming device, improves on earlier models with the inclusion of a remote control. It also comes with a slick new TV interface for discovering content. Input senior reviews editor Ray Wong wrote a glowing review of the new Chromecast. He joins us to discuss. And later: Due to the pandemic, movie theaters are shuttering. Blockbusters are getting shelved. Studios are scrambling to find their way. And all this could be a good thing. So argues Input editor in chief Joshua Topolsky in a recent piece for the site. He joins us to talk about his article.

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Saying goodbye to your loved ones is already hard enough, but that feeling is magnified online — especially when the news of someone’s death comes unexpectedly via apps like Facebook or Twitter. Rae Witte recently wrote an Input piece about how we process death on social media. She joins us to discuss. And later: Sharing a video of a person’s suicide on social media doesn’t make you edgy. It makes you a piece of shit. So argues Input news editor Cheyenne MacDonald in a recent piece. She adds that platforms such as Facebook and TikTok need to get a handle on this problem. Cheyenne joins us to talk about this important issue.

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The release of the open-world, action-adventure title Cyberpunk 2077 has been bumped back yet again, this time to December 10. The latest delay has spurred death threats against the game’s developers. Input editor Ryan Houlihan and editor in chief Joshua Topolsky join us to discuss this sorry state of affairs. And later: Apple is reportedly devoting increasing resources to the creation of its own search engine to rival the likes of Google. The timing is impeccable, given that Google was just hit with a massive antitrust lawsuit alleging its search engine and advertising empires constitute an illegal monopoly. Ryan and Joshua talk about the news.

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Instagram, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, is the most important thing that ever happened to sneaker culture, according to writer Rae Witte. In a recent piece for Input, she explains how the app changed streetwear forever – for better and for worse. Rae joins us to talk about her article. And later: The Swiss footwear brand On Running recently announced the new Cyclon model, a 100 percent recyclable running shoe that will be available exclusively through a monthly subscription. For $29.99 a month, subscribers will be able to trade in the Cyclon for the latest version of the sneaker. On Running will then recycle the worn shoe to be used in another generation of running gear. Input news writer Ian Servantes drops by to discuss.

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The Surface Laptop Go is a fantastic surprise, according to Input senior reviews editor Ray Wong. With a touchscreen, a great keyboard, and a real OS, Microsoft’s $700 Laptop Go is the new college laptop. It’s a way better value than an iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard combo that costs $1,350. Ray joins us to discuss. And later: Mercedes-Benz first showed off its AVTR Vision concept car at CES in January 2020. Inspired by the James Cameron blockbuster Avatar, the vehicle featured some wild ideas about what the future of four-wheeled mobility might look like. We never thought we’d see more than a shell and some sketches, but Mercedes recently featured a working unit in a 13-minute YouTube video. Input news editor Craig Wilson swings by to talk about it.

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Influencers are buying empty shopping bags from high-end brands like Hermes and Pandora to pretend that they’re rich. And the people who resell the used, disposable bags are making good money, according to an Input article by writer Chris Stokel-Walker. Input editor Ryan Houlihan and editor in chief Joshua Topolsky join us to discuss this phenomenon. And later: Grocery chains have held out on Apple Pay and other contactless payment systems. But Covid-19 might – and indeed should – change that, argues Samuel Polay in a recent piece for Input. Ryan and Joshua talk about Samuel’s story.

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The new Netflix comedy series Sneakerheads centers on a family guy named Devin and his quest for a pair of legendary sneakers. Input senior editor Edgar Alvarez recently interviewed series creator Jay Longino about the show’s origins and more. Edgar joins us to discuss. And later: Nearly four decades after the birth of the Air Jordan, the namesake brand Nike created for Michael Jordan is finally turning its attention to women. And it’s paying off bigtime, writes Jessica Schiffer, a contributing editor at Vogue Business. She joins us to talk about her Input piece on Jordan Brand’s awakening.

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As the technology has gotten cheaper, there’s been an explosion of deepfake porn videos – clips in which people's likenesses are digitally inserted onto other people’s bodies. Right now, the targets are mostly female celebrities. But deepfakes are coming for regular people soon. Input news writer J. Fergus joins us to discuss. And later: The porn industry is overtly racist. Some POC performers have hit upon a way to combat that fact, by tagging their porn with empowering rather than racist hashtags. Writer Jessica Klein joins us to discuss.

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Twitter and Facebook recently made controversial editorial decisions to reduce the spread of a disputed New York Post story about presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son Hunter. Republicans accused the platforms of censorship, and Twitter later reversed course. Input editor Ryan Houlihan and guides editor Evan Rodgers join us to talk about these pre-election developments. And later: For the first time since the original iPhone was launched in 2007, the device won’t come with any headphones in the box. Nor will it come with a power adapter. Apple is framing this as a sustainability effort, but Ryan and Evan aren’t convinced. Read more on inputmag.com/inputoutput.

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