There Are No Girls on the Internet – News Roundup

Episode: Amy Poehler's Golden Globe Win | Renee Good Lies Debunked | DoorDash Hoax Exposed
Air Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Bridget Todd | Co-host/Producer: Mike (iHeartRadio)

Overview

In this weekly news roundup, Bridget Todd and Mike discuss major internet news and viral moments, with a focus on marginalized voices and how online narratives shape public perception. Key stories include Amy Poehler’s historic Golden Globe win for podcasting and what it means for podcast culture; fact-checking the viral “DoorDash Desperation Score” hoax and its implications for trust in the AI era; and debunking misinformation surrounding the murder of Renee Goode, drawing attention to how identity and marginalization are weaponized in digital discourse. The episode wraps with discussion on a viral AI chatbot “breakup” and general media literacy tips.

Main Themes

• The rise and impact of celebrity-driven podcasts and institutional recognition of podcasting
• The challenge of verifying viral internet stories in the age of AI-generated content
• The persistent weaponization of identity and misinformation in cases of societal violence
• The evolving nature of digital content and podcasting as a medium

Segment Breakdown and Key Insights

1. Amy Poehler’s Golden Globe Win for Podcasting

Starts at 02:49

Context and Reactions:

• Amy Poehler's Good Hang wins the inaugural Golden Globe for Best Podcast. Competitors included shows like Armchair Expert, Call Her Daddy, Mel Robbins Podcast, Smartless (hosted by Poehler’s ex-husband Will Arnett), and NPR's Up First.
• Celebrated as a win for women in podcasting and a relief over certain right-wing figures (Ben Shapiro) not being awarded.

“Let’s not forget that the alternative is a world where Ben freaking Shapiro won the inaugural Golden Globe for podcasting...”
– Bridget Todd [05:17]

Industry Critique:

• The selection pool was limited to the 25 most downloaded/streamed shows on Apple and Spotify—a narrow snapshot, mostly celebrity- and corporate-driven.
• Discussion of a lack of diversity in nominees and concern that celebrity podcasts crowd out “scrappy,” independently produced work.
• Smartless is critiqued for prioritizing hosts’ banter over guests' voices, in contrast to Poehler’s more guest-focused style.

“I make it a practice of not talking over guests. I’ve invited you because you’re interesting... I actually want to hear the answer.”
– Bridget Todd [11:14]

“Sometimes it does feel like the powers-that-be feel like there were no podcasts before Smartless got huge in 2020…”
– Bridget Todd [15:40]

Evolution of Podcasts:

• Noted shift toward video-first podcast consumption (YouTube) among younger audiences; concern about the definition of “podcast” as the medium blurs.
• Nostalgia for podcasts as a DIY, audio-first, “weird” medium, now diluted by corporate and celebrity influence.

“...having there be a category for podcasts at the Golden Globes is a step in that direction, which I think is great. However... is it really good to have a celebrity podcast...held up as the award-winning pinnacle?”
– Bridget Todd [14:34]

Notable Quote

“A Ben Shapiro loss is a win for the good guys.”
– Mike [06:42]

2. DoorDash Hoax and the Dangers of Viral Misinformation

Starts at 23:31

Viral Story:

• A Reddit post, allegedly by a software engineer at a food delivery company (implied DoorDash/Uber Eats), claimed the service rigs algorithms against drivers and customers. Details included claims about scamming priority deliveries and a so-called “Desperation Score” for drivers.

“The thing that actually makes me sick and the main reason I'm quitting is the ‘Desperation Score'...”
– Bridget Todd [25:30, paraphrasing viral post]

The Debunk:

• Journalist Casey Newton (Platformer) tracks down the poster, finds inconsistencies, and discovers forged “employee credentials” and a dense technical document, both made using AI tools.
• Highlights how sophisticated AI-generated “evidence” can dupe even experts.

“With AI tools, it does make it very easy to create this kind of thing... The infopocalypse that scholars... were warning about... looks increasingly more plausible.”
– Bridget Todd [32:04, quoting Casey Newton]

Key Takeaways:

• AI makes it cheaper and easier than ever to manufacture believable hoaxes, forcing higher standards of skepticism on everyone.
• Harm and wage suppression by gig platforms are real, but rarely spelled out in “movie villain” fashion as viral hoaxes suggest.
• Urges listeners to critically evaluate viral content, especially if it “confirms your worst suspicions.”

“...We are living in an information ecosystem where it is harder and harder to trust things. So...verify everything.”
– Bridget Todd [34:14]

Notable Moment

“It basically reads like Uber Eats or DoorDash laying out our evil plan. Like if I were writing a movie about an evil company... this is the kind of document that would accompany it...”
– Bridget Todd [34:34]

3. Debunking Misinformation: The Renee Goode Case

Starts at 37:19

Viral Smears:

• After Renee Goode was killed by authorities, fabricated “arrest records” and misleading images circulated online, aiming to portray her as deserving of violence or to deflect blame from law enforcement.
• Photos juxtaposing her professional, feminine image with less-conventional or “queer-presenting” ones were used to sow doubt and rob her of empathy.

“If you see posts like this online, you should know they are fabricated... none of the claims...can be verified in any court database. I will say...they look AI-generated...”
– Bridget Todd [38:57]

Analysis:

• Explains the motivations behind this character assassination: to “flatten” the victim and make her less sympathetic, relying on transphobic, homophobic, and classist tropes.
• Clarifies that “malinformation”—true information weaponized to mislead by withholding context—is a growing danger.

“They didn’t leak [the incriminating police footage] to make the shooter look innocent, but to make the victim look guilty... guilty of having a visibly queer wife, guilty of liberalism, guilty of opposing the regime.”
– Bridget Todd (quoting Molly Conger) [41:03]

• Emphasizes that even after death, marginalized people have their identities weaponized against them to reinforce oppressive narratives.

Notable Quote

“It makes me so angry that even in death...we can’t even expect dignity...it just really disgusts me how cheap...the party of life is when we’re talking about actual life.”
– Bridget Todd [46:30]

4. AI, Identity, and the Viral “Feminist Chatbot Girlfriend”

Starts at 51:06

The Story:

• A user posts on Reddit that his AI “girlfriend” dumped him for not supporting feminism, complaining that “the feminists ruined everything.”
• The hosts question the authenticity, noting that chatbots are designed to reflect users’ expectations or drama.

“Assuming this is real, the chatbot would probably be pulling from available data online. So this claim that the chatbot has been programmed to be feminist is, like, probably not what’s going on.”
– Bridget Todd [53:30]

Analysis:

• Mike theorizes that some men who rail against feminist women still seek them out—either for the “chase” or to create conflict as a form of attraction or validation.
• Bridget references Trevor Noah’s observation: “The traditional man wants a woman to be subservient. But he never falls in love with a subservient woman. He’s attracted to independent women...his dream is to put her in a cage.” [57:01]
• Concludes that many reactions to “woke chatbots” reveal personal hang-ups and the blurred lines between fantasy, projection, and reality online.

Notable Quote

“There are plenty of conservative women out there who want to have a trad wife situation. Yeah. And you would think that...The men do not see it that way. The men don’t feel that way.”
– Bridget Todd [57:38]

5. Media Literacy, Language, and Listener Community

Starts at 59:21

• Brief “decompression” section with a lighter exchange about changing the phrase “kill two birds with one stone” to “feed two birds with one scone” (listener suggestion [60:08]).
• Reminders to practice skepticism, check sources, submit stories, and join the podcast community.

Notable Quotes

• “A Ben Shapiro loss is a win for the good guys.” – Mike [06:42]
• “Sometimes it does feel like...there were no podcasts before Smartless got huge in 2020…” – Bridget Todd [15:40]
• “The infopocalypse that scholars...were warning about...looks increasingly more plausible. That future was worrisome enough when it was a looming cloud...It feels different now...” – Bridget Todd, quoting Casey Newton [32:04]
• “It makes me so angry that even in death, this is how...we will treat people. It is nothing new...we can’t even expect dignity in death, and it’s just really heartbreaking.” – Bridget Todd [46:30]
• “...His desire is not for...conservative women...And I can confirm those are not the women they go after..." – Bridget Todd [57:38]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:49] – Introduction to podcasting Golden Globes discussion, Amy Poehler’s win
• [23:31] – The viral DoorDash hoax and AI-generated evidence
• [37:19] – Debunking the Renee Goode arrest record misinformation and weaponized images
• [51:06] – The “Feminist AI girlfriend” Reddit saga and gender politics online
• [59:21] – Listener mail, language, and closing notes

Podcast Tone & Style

Conversational, informed, critical yet witty. Bridget and Mike frequently use pop culture, personal anecdotes, and light irony to drive home media literacy points and foster empathy for marginalized perspectives.

In Summary

This episode critically examines the intersection of online culture, platform power, and the weaponization of identity. From institutional recognition of podcasting to the challenges of AI-driven misinformation, Bridget Todd and Mike offer sharp media analysis, bring marginalized voices to the center, and provide concrete strategies for listeners to discern fact from fiction in an increasingly complex digital landscape.