Tech Brew Ride Home – "The New King Of All Media"

Date: March 11, 2026
Host: Brian McCullough
Episode Theme:
A daily roundup dissecting the most pivotal stories in tech, focusing today on major developments at Binance and in government investigations, Meta's international crackdown on scams, YouTube surpassing Disney as the world’s biggest media company, Nintendo's surprising comeback, and TikTok's new legal partnership with Apple Music.

Main Topics and Insights

1. Binance Faces New U.S. Government Probe Over Iranian Transactions

[00:04–04:30]

• Overview:
  • The Department of Justice is investigating alleged use of Binance to evade Iranian sanctions, particularly involving funds supporting Iran-backed terror networks like Yemen's Houthis.
  • Investigation follows reports indicating over $1 billion flowed through Binance to these networks.
• Key Details:
  • The Wall Street Journal cites company docs and insiders as sources; it's unclear if Binance or just its customers are under scrutiny.
  • This probe comes after Binance’s 2023 guilty plea for violating anti-money laundering laws and a $4.3 billion fine.
  • Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance founder, recently received a pardon from President Trump and was previously jailed.
  • Binance’s internal anti-fraud team reportedly flagged suspicious $1.7 billion in transactions but were suspended after reporting.
  • Much of the money allegedly moved via a Hong Kong firm, Blessed Trust.
  • Binance required to follow strict compliance and screening under a U.S. Treasury-appointed monitor until 2029.
  • Binance claims compliance and cooperation with law enforcement.
• Notable Quote:
  • "The company uncovered a sophisticated multi-jurisdictional pattern of financial activity and that the Iranian connections were only identified and sanctioned after Binance began investigating and taking action in lockstep with law enforcement to shut down this network." — Binance spokesperson ([04:15])
• Context:
  • Binance is suing Dow Jones for defamation related to coverage of its Iran-linked transactions.

2. Meta & Law Enforcement Crack Down on Southeast Asia Scam Centers

[04:30–06:30]

• Overview:
  • Meta has disabled over 150,000 accounts as part of an international effort (Royal Thai Police, FBI, US DOJ) targeting scam centers in Southeast Asia.
• Key Points:
  • These scam operations perpetrate romance, crypto, and impersonation-based frauds, often using trafficked labor.
  • Meta's director David Agranovich credits close collaboration with law enforcement for recent successes.
  • Meta is introducing new scam-detection features on Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
    • Examples: friend request alerts, suspicious link warnings, AI tools reviewing conversations for scam patterns.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "When platforms and law enforcement can share information and coordinate our efforts, we can disrupt these scam networks faster and more effectively than any of us can do alone." — David Agranovich, Meta ([05:20])
  • "Scammers are becoming increasingly nimble." — Agranovich ([06:10])
• Technology Angle:
  • AI tools are making scams more convincing and targeted.
  • Scammers now impersonate regulators, attorneys, or law enforcement to target wealthy or high-trust individuals.

3. Anthropic Debuts In-House ‘Anthropic Institute’ Think Tank

[06:30–09:00]

• Overview:
  • Anthropic, the AI company, creates a new internal think tank—Anthropic Institute—to study the broad impacts of AI on society, the economy, and legal systems.
• Key Points:
  • Led by co-founder Jack Clark (now Head of Public Benefit), with a focus on policy, safety, and the societal implications of "powerful AI" (their term for AGI).
  • Team brings together societal impact, red teaming (AI stress-testing), and economic research.
  • Launch follows Anthropic’s lawsuit against the U.S. government related to Defense Department blacklisting.
  • New roles: Sarah Heck becomes Head of Public Policy.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "What we're experiencing with the last few weeks just sort of shows you how much hunger there is for a larger national conversation by the public about this technology." — Jack Clark, Anthropic ([08:10])
  • “People tend to buy trust, and a lot of what we can produce are the sort of research that help businesses trust us long term. Anthropic has always viewed its investment in safety and studying and reporting on the safety of its systems as being not a cost center, but a profit center.” — Jack Clark ([08:45])

4. YouTube Becomes the Largest Media Company in the World

[09:59–12:30]

• Overview:
  • YouTube, per MoffatNathanson analysis, has surpassed Disney’s media division in annual revenue to become the world’s largest media company.
• Key Data:
  • 2025 revenues: YouTube — $62B vs. Disney Media — $60B.
  • Current valuation for YouTube: $500–$560B, compared to Netflix at $409B.
  • Massive ad revenue: $11.4B in Q4 alone.
  • Subscription business includes YouTube Premium, Music, NFL package, YouTube TV (~10 million subscribers).
  • $100B+ paid out to creators, music, and media partners.
• Strategic Focus:
  • AI investment to help creators scale content output.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “There are two really fundamental things that we do for creators. One is help them build an audience and connect with their fans, regardless of where fans are in the world. And the second thing we do is we help them build businesses. That's what that $100 billion represents for me.” — Neil Mohan, YouTube CEO ([11:50])
  • “We strongly believe that YouTube will be a major beneficiary of both the structural tailwind and headwinds facing technology and media companies.” — Michael Nathanson ([12:10])

5. Nintendo’s Comeback on the Success of Pokémon Pocopia

[12:30–13:30]

• Overview:
  • Nintendo stock surges after Switch 2 exclusive Pokémon Pocopia becomes a surprise hit.
• Key Details:
  • Pocopia sold out at U.S. retailers; Amazon increased prices due to high demand.
  • Analysts call it a “dark horse” and highlight its positive effect on company and investor morale.
  • Gameplay shifts away from traditional Pokémon battles to a cozy, Animal Crossing-style social experience.
  • Despite success, Nintendo shares are still down 30% from a previous November peak.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Pokemon Pocopia's success is a welcome surprise for Nintendo investors, who have been battered by fears that skyrocketing memory prices... could squeeze the company's margins.” — Hideki Yasuda, Toyo Securities ([13:05])
  • “It was totally off people's radars, making its popularity a positive development.” — Hideki Yasuda ([13:20])

6. TikTok Teams Up with Apple Music for Integrated Song Listening

[13:30–14:30]

• Overview:
  • TikTok and Apple Music announce a partnership allowing Apple Music subscribers to play full songs within the TikTok app and join Listening Parties for communal music experiences.
• Key Details:
  • "Play Full Song" button integrates directly on TikTok’s For You and Sound Detail pages, allowing easy access to full tracks and playlist saving.
  • Listening Party feature enables live group listening and chat around artists.
  • The rollout will be global in the coming weeks; previously, TikTok had tried its own music service but sunsetted it in 2024.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Tapping into the music you love should feel effortless.” — Only Oberman, Apple Music ([14:05])

Summary Table of Key Segments and Quotes

| Timestamp | Topic | Notable Quote/Speaker | |------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | 00:04–04:30| Binance investigation, Iran sanctions | “...sophisticated multi-jurisdictional pattern...” (Binance rep) | | 05:20 | Meta scam crackdown collaboration | “When platforms and law enforcement can share information...” (Agranovich, Meta) | | 06:10 | Scammer adaptation | “Scammers are becoming increasingly nimble.” (Agranovich, Meta) | | 08:10 | Anthropic think tank mission | “...hunger for a larger national conversation...” (Clark, Anthropic) | | 08:45 | Trust in AI research | “People tend to buy trust...” (Clark, Anthropic) | | 11:50 | YouTube creator focus | “There are two really fundamental things that we do for creators...” (Mohan, YouTube) | | 12:10 | YouTube’s media dominance | “We strongly believe that YouTube will be a major beneficiary...” (Nathanson) | | 13:05/13:20| Nintendo Pocopia analysis | “...success is a welcome surprise...” (Yasuda, Toyo Securities) | | 14:05 | TikTok and Apple Music partnership | “Tapping into the music you love should feel effortless.” (Oberman, Apple Music) |

Tone and Style

The episode maintains Brian McCullough’s brisk, data-driven, and conversational tone, balancing deep dives into legal and financial news with commentary and expert analysis. Direct quotes from tech insiders and company spokespeople retain the original insight and language.

Listeners walk away with clear, up-to-the-minute knowledge on:

• The renewed legal troubles facing Binance,
• Global efforts to combat online scams,
• Anthropic’s new strategy for AI accountability,
• YouTube’s record-shattering dominance in media,
• Nintendo’s unexpected rebound via an unlikely Pokémon title,
• And TikTok’s move to a more integrated, music-centric social platform.