Grumpy Old Geeks – Episode 739: "The Thin Black Line"

Release Date: March 27, 2026
Hosts: Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister (with Dave Bittner)
Theme: A no-holds-barred breakdown of the week’s biggest tech train wrecks, legal showdowns, and the state of the industry—delivered with sardonic wit and zero mercy.

Episode Overview

This episode lives up to the promised tagline: a brutally honest tech round-up that skewers corporate malfeasance, celebrates courtroom wins for accountability, and ponders the fragility of the AI/tech bubble. The hosts revel in rare positive legal victories—the "thin black [robed] line" of judges reigning in corporate abuse—while dissecting collapses and missteps across AI, social media giants, and government. From Polymarket scandals to the unceremonious demise of hyped-up AI ventures, this episode is a whirlwind tour of just how messed up Big Tech remains in 2026.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Sports, Streaming, and MLB App Shenanigans

• [00:53] Brian enjoys baseball season's return, noting the oddities of MLB streaming agreements and T-Mobile providing "free" access (with endless caveats and blackouts).
• Memorable Quote:
  “For the four games that you do get to watch on T Mobile, it's worth it.” — Jason [02:00]

2. Polymarket & Insider Trading: Propped-Up Integrity or PR Stunt?

• [02:04] Ongoing concerns about Polymarket and prediction market ethics; discussion of their new "integrity" rules around insider trading and market manipulation.
• Notable Insight:
  The hosts are deeply skeptical of self-regulation’s value, especially after scandals involving platform users (like Mr. Beast’s video editor).
• Quote:
  “They’ve announced they're going to take insider trading more seriously as opposed to the not seriously at all as they have been.” — Brian [02:04]

3. The Thin Black Line: Judges Holding Tech & Government Accountable

• [04:35] A recurring theme is the “thin black [robed] line”—the judiciary as democracy’s last real defense against tech and governmental overreach.
• Cases Covered:
  • Anthropic v. Pentagon:
    Judge blocks Pentagon retaliation when Anthropic refuses to let its AI be used for kill decisions/surveillance.

    “If the Pentagon just didn't want to use Claude, they could, you know, stop using Claude.” — Jason [05:16]

  • Meta v. Children’s Safety (New Mexico Verdict):
    Meta found liable, fined $375 million for violating state protection laws.

    “We have the paperwork, we have the whistleblowers.” — Brian [07:16]

  • Meta & YouTube Addiction Damages (Los Angeles Verdict):
    Platforms found negligent, ordered to pay damages. Precedent set for a new wave of lawsuits.

    “It's a huge deal because now we have legal precedent.” — Brian [07:41]

4. Elon Musk Lawsuits Unravel

Advertiser Boycott Lawsuit Dismissed

• [09:40] Elon’s suit claiming an ad boycott was illegal gets tossed "with prejudice."
• Quote:
  “Turns out companies simply deciding they don't want to buy ads somewhere isn't illegal. Shocking.” — Brian [10:08]

Investor Fraud & Doge Lawsuit

• [11:12] Musk found to have defrauded Twitter investors by trying to manipulate share prices; future damages likely in the billions.
  • Doge case allowed to move forward for claims of unconstitutional governance.
• Memorable Sarcasm:
  “This is becoming the most expensive company takeover in history for nothing. Oh, wait. Except for maybe winning an election.” — Jason [11:58]

5. AI Bubble Wobble: OpenAI’s Stumbles, Sora Shutdown & Industry Shakeout

• [14:49] OpenAI’s paradox: Hiring spree after layoffs, pivoting furiously as competitors gain ground. Sam Altman’s “thanks developers” tweet seen as a prelude to replacement, sparking an industry backlash.

  “Nothing says you're being replaced like a heartfelt thank you from the guy doing the replacing.” — [16:41]

• [18:21] Sora (AI video app) is “killed off” after burning through enormous daily losses; Disney bails on $1bn deal.

  “They are the big winners here because they get out of having to pay a billion dollars and making the worst mistake with their IP of all time.” — Jason [19:34]

• Media Analysis & The Tech Bubble:

  “A highly capitalized AI startup that bails on one of its most prominent creations and largest corporate deals so soon…is not in a good position as a business.” — Brian (paraphrasing Slate) [21:19]

6. Elon’s “Galactic Civilization” and Government-Corporate Overlaps

• [22:38] Musk’s Terrafab Announcement: Elon promises biggest chip fab, hyping “galactic civilization” as the goal (“in his ketamine fueled brain”).

  • Hosts skeptical anything materializes.

  “It is, Elon. So he has to say that this is the next step towards harnessing the power of the sun and creating a galactic civilization. It’s a chip manufacturing facility.” — Jason [24:06]

• [25:04] White House Advisory Board now packed with Silicon Valley billionaires—pay to play?

  "Nothing says objective policy like a room full of billionaires." — Jason [26:25]

7. Social, Privacy, and Platform Policy Moves

• [26:25] Pinterest CEO bizarrely calls for social bans on teens under 16—except for Pinterest.
• Reddit exploring stricter account verification; privacy trade-offs loom.

  “None of them are perfect and some of them take away privacy. And that's really going to bother a bunch of users on Reddit.” — Brian [27:39]

• FCC Mandate: All new routers must be made in America or face tough approval—likely higher costs and less innovation.

  "So it has to be expensive and not work." — Jason [35:41]

8. Industry & App Talk ("Apps and Doodads")

• [27:47] Brian has joined the ranks of 3D printing dads—some fun, some market-creating, lots of noise and bartering among kids.
• [32:42] Jason creates "The Grumpinator"—a personal AI news feed Sentiment Analyzer, comparing code productivity and costs to the 3D printer. Discussion of real-world use and cost-benefits of local AI coding.

  "It's definitely a better coder than I ever was or ever will be." — Jason [32:44]

9. Media & Streaming ("Media Candy")

• [37:53] Reviews and laments:
  • Star Trek Starfleet Academy canceled after next season; entire streaming Trek era winding down.
  • More Daredevil is cause for celebration, but Netflix’s price hikes (up to 12.5%) are not.
• Harry Potter HBO reboot: Both hosts are unimpressed, highlighting the lack of color and magic compared to original films.

  “It's so washed out and drab and horrible looking and I hate it.” — Jason [46:09]

• Lord of the Rings Movie: Stephen Colbert to write the next installment; skepticism remains about whether it will ever be produced.

10. Legal & Policy News Lightning Round

• [50:06] Supreme Court rules ISPs aren’t liable for user piracy unless they explicitly encourage it, dealing a blow to “copyright cop” ambitions.

  "For once, it is just a platform." — Jason [50:06]

• [51:44] Netflix price hikes—again—with dismissive advice from executives to “cancel with one click.”

  “Thanks, Ted. Very helpful. Appreciate it.” — Jason [51:44]

11. Book Pick: "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art"

• [52:04] Brian reviews this much-hyped book: valuable advice on nasal breathing, but overhyped, anecdotal, and possibly skimpy on science. Notable for changing his approach to exercise and reminding listeners that “exhaling is how you lose weight.”

  “He came up with the idea of 140 character microblog. And that's it.” — Jason (on Jack Dorsey’s legacy) [34:32]

12. Patreon & Community Shoutouts

• [55:51] Warm thank-yous to new and continuing supporters, with the usual self-aware grumpiness.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On judicial accountability:
  “I see this…We basically have a thin black robed line protecting democracy at the moment, which is these heroic judges…” — Brian [05:46]
• On OpenAI’s developer “thanks” tweet:
  “A lot of these same developers heard it as a eulogy for their careers…” — Jason [16:18]
• Summing up the fragility of the tech economy:
  “The American economy was built…This is a castle built in sand right now and the fucking waves are coming.” — Brian [21:20]
• On Musk’s endless overhype:
  “Everything he's ever said that has come out of his mouth has been either late or never happened.” — Jason [24:48]

Final Thoughts

Tone & Takeaway:
The episode expertly blends cynicism, gallows humor, and refreshing moments of hope as courts start to stand up to tech titans. The hosts’ barbed commentary is on point, especially as they note the increasing disconnect between tech PR and real-world impacts. Listeners are left with a sense of cautious optimism amid the continuing chaos, all delivered with trademark GOG snark.

Quick Timestamps Reference

• Polymarket/Insider Trading: [02:04]
• Anthropic v. Pentagon: [04:35]
• Meta legal verdicts: [07:16] & [08:11]
• Elon Musk lawsuits: [09:40] & [11:12]
• OpenAI/Sora collapse: [18:21]
• Tech Bubble/Slate commentary: [21:19]
• Elon’s Fab Factory: [22:38]
• White House advisory board/Silicon Valley: [25:04]
• App/3D printer talk: [27:47]
• Media/streaming reviews: [37:53]
• Legal quick hits (ISPs, Netflix, platform liability): [50:06], [51:44]
• Book Review on "Breath": [52:04]
• Patreon & Closing: [55:51]–end

For Fans & Newcomers:
If you want a week-in-tech debrief with an edge—no sugarcoating, plenty of expert context, and biting humor—this episode is essential listening. Expect to come away both grimly amused and slightly more optimistic about the long, messy fight to hold the tech elite accountable.