WIRED Politics Lab

By WIREDNews Politics

WIRED Politics Lab episodes

October 26 From The Big Story: She Was the DEA’s Premier Crypto Detective. The Clues Led Straight to Her Own Family
To listen to episodes a day early, follow The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
To escape the chaos of her Russian childhood, Lili Infante became an American law enforcement prodigy. She pioneered the DEA’s investigations of the dark web—never suspecting who she’d find hiding there.
Written by Joshuah Bearman and Owen Long. Originally published on October 21st, 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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1 hr 26 min
October 23 From The Big Story: Inside the Bitcoin Bust That Took Down the Web's Biggest Child Abuse Site
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
They thought their payments were untraceable. They couldn’t have been more wrong. The untold story of the case that shredded the myth of Bitcoin’s anonymity.
Written by Andy Greenberg. Originally published on April 7th, 2022.
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1 hr 49 min
October 21 From The Big Story: Evan Ratliff Tried to Vanish: Here's What Happened
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
He shed his identity with the goal of disappearing for one month. Then the manhunt began.
Written by Evan Ratliff. Originally published on November 20th, 2009.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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1 hr 10 min
October 19 The Big Story: Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything
Including what Elizabeth Holmes said to him last week. A WIRED exclusive interview with the comic auteur, as his first feature film hits theaters.
The conversation between Katie Drummond and Nathan Fielder is performed by voice actors. These are not their actual voices.
Written by Katie Drummond. Originally published on October 19th, 2026.
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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51 min
October 18 From The Big Story: A College Girl Was Exploited on Camera. A Network of Anonymous Men Got to Work
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online community of sports fans. Now she’s fighting back.
Written by EJ Dickson. Originally published on September 14th, 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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49 min
October 16 From The Big Story: The Accidental Zillionaire
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Microsoft spawned two billionaires. Paul Allen is the other one.
Written by Paulina Borsook. Originally published on August 1st, 1994.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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1 hr 1 min
October 14 From The Big Story: In Search of the Heart of the Online-Cat Industrial Complex
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
A cat wearing a short tie plays music on a cat-shaped keyboard (“Pancake Meowsic Video,” 185,459 views). A woman performs sun salutations with a cat on her back (“Cat Loves Yoga,” 1,539 views). A man slaps two cats on an ironing board to the beat of “Atmosphere” (“Cat Slap Joy Division,” 357,605 views).
Written by Gideon Lewis-Kraus. Originally published on August 31st, 2012.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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46 min
October 11 From The Big Story: The Internet Runs on Cats and Porn. It’s About to Get Cattier and Pornier
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Soon, hundreds of new top-level domains, including .meow and .fart, could be added to the internet. WIRED goes inside the backroom shenanigans of ICANN, the organization at the helm.
Written by Pete Millspaugh. Originally published on October 6th, 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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34 min
October 09 From The Big Story: Billions Registered
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Right now, there are no rules to keep you from owning a bitchin’ corporate name as your own internet address.
Written by Joshua Quittner. Originally published on October 1st, 1994.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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30 min
October 07 From The Big Story: Why the Future Doesn't Need Us
Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop

Our most powerful 21st-century technologies—robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech—are threatening to make humans an endangered species.

Written by Bill Joy. Originally published on April 1st, 2000.

For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story

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1 hr 19 min

About WIRED Politics Lab

From the publisher's feed

Politics has never been stranger – or more online. Each week on WIRED Politics Lab, our reporters guide you through the exciting, challenging and sometimes entertaining vortex of internet extremism,…