You’ll often see tech policy reporting described as the intersection of technology and politics, and for years, that was a pretty accurate description: Silicon Valley existed independent of Washington politics, and every so often, they’d cross paths, discuss some regulatory concern, write a check, shake hands, and then go their separate ways.
This is no longer the case. Tech and politics have violently crashed into each other, and the leaders from both sides are locked in an existential fight that shapes the world The Verge covers, from crypto to AI, from cars to corporations, from physical consumer products to the way we exist on the internet. And in Washington — an unfamiliar environment for Silicon Valley and run by lawmakers grappling to understand the power of new technologies — the balance of power can change in the span of days, if not hours.
I’m excited to announce the launch of Regulator, a weekly newsletter from The Verge about the latest battles between Big Tech and Big Government — from the juicy palace intrigue to the devastating consequences of their political games.
Regulator will land in your inbox each week and I promise it’ll be fun to read: I’ve covered American politics since 2011, and wrote a newsletter about Congress, Trumpworld, interest groups, and MAGA intrigue for three of them. But Regulator is a project that highlights not just my takes but also the best of my colleagues’ work, in the way that only The Verge can: with an unparalleled understanding of the technology, the policies, and the cultural dynamics driving these massive political fights.
You’ll hear directly from these reporters about the backstory, their reporting process, and what they think might be next. Lauren Feiner may pop in to talk about the Federal Trade Commissioner’s vendetta against Meta. Hayden Field might appear to discuss how AI lobbyists are descending on the White House. David Pierce might come in to dissuade you from buying Trump Mobile. Elizabeth Lopatto, our resident Elon Musk expert / psychoanalyst, may offer insight on his move to ruin the midterms (and, most importantly, determine if it’s his personality or the ketamine). Heck, you might hear from any Verge writer at any point, because the future is weird and everything is crazy.
I’ll also come in with fresh reporting and analysis from Washington, as well as the occasional interview with policymakers and power brokers across the political spectrum. You’ll hear from members of Congress, watchdog groups, social media figures, and many more — people who’ll take you behind the scenes and explain the Game of Thrones of it all. Which senator is most likely to vote yes on this crypto bill? What tech CEO has gotten back into Trump’s good graces, and what did they sacrifice to get there? Who are the MAGA influencers getting fired? And most importantly: what do they see are the consequences?
Subscribe to The Verge today, with the option to pay $7 per month or $50 per year, and get access to Regulator, all of our other newsletter offerings, and, of course, the website itself. Your membership helps The Verge support what it has been doing for nearly 15 years: chronicling the way technology has changed human behavior — and eventually, society. With Regulator, The Verge is now writing the next chapter: how tech is not just interacting with politics, but fundamentally changing it.
