TWIT 1027: "20 Years in the Can" – 20th Anniversary Special Edition

Podcast: This Week in Tech (Audio)
Host: Leo Laporte
Panelists: Father Robert Ballecer (Digital Jesuit), Alan Malventano (Soledigm), Sam Abuelsamid (Telemetry, Wheel Bearings Media)
Date: April 14, 2025
Theme: Celebrating 20 Years of TWIT with Reflections, Listener Stories, and the Week’s Key Tech News

Episode Overview

This milestone 20th-anniversary episode blends nostalgia and gratitude with sharp analysis of the week’s tech headlines. Host Leo Laporte welcomes a classic panel and, in a change from routine, spotlights listener and viewer testimonials via video, letters, and poems interspersed with coverage of topics like tariffs, trade, AI, antitrust battles, and more. The result is a celebration of the TWIT community, an oral history of tech podcasting, and a timely tech news roundtable all wrapped into one.

Table of Contents

• Opening & Anniversary Context (02:33)
• Panel Introductions & TWIT Origin Stories (03:40–15:21)
• Listener/Viewer Reminiscences (05:53, 08:23, 31:08, 35:42, Many Throughout)
• Main Tech News: US-China Tech Tariffs, Rare Earths, and Supply Chain Uncertainty (15:57–28:25)
• Antitrust: FTC vs. Meta (41:50–48:07)
• IP Law, Creators, and AI Training (37:30–41:50)
• Security & Governance: The Purge of CISA and Chris Krebs (55:47–64:22)
• Innovations, Nostalgia, and Maker Spirit (74:12–77:24; 109:05–112:39)
• Recall, AI, and the Quest for Memory (94:00–105:02)
• Smart TVs, Browser Extensions, and the Age of "Inshittification" (157:32–164:06)
• Listener Stories Spotlight: Global and Diverse Audience (86:43, 148:38, 149:07)
• Tech Industry Challenges: NASA Cuts, Dire Wolves, and Genetic Engineering (136:03–138:29)
• Podcasting Culture and Legacy (166:04–167:16)
• Touching Closing & Credits (189:43–End)

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Opening & Anniversary Context (02:33)

• Leo sets the stage for a different kind of TWIT: “This is our 20th anniversary episode… celebrating TWIT’s impact—past and present.”
• The show promises news, but also “videos, poems and letters” from listeners worldwide.

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Panel Introductions & TWIT Origin Stories (03:40–15:21)

• Panel: Father Robert Ballecer, Alan Malventano (SSD/AI expert), Sam Abuelsamid (transportation analyst).
• Each panelist shares their first TWIT appearance (memorable, sometimes chaotic, pioneering days).
  • Robert: "I was in the Peninsula setting up for Interop… I mentioned in chat that I was in the area and Leo said, 'Come up to the studio!'… That was my very first episode." (09:22)
  • Alan reminisces field-stripping a DROBO live from a Navy barracks.
  • Sam: “My first time on the network was in January 2011 at CES… I think I was actually on TWIT in 2014.”

Quote:
"The very first show that we did was April 17, 2005... It was only 34 minutes. Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, and Robert Heron." – Leo (10:08)

Panelist Nostalgia, Podcast Tech History:

• Stories of recording in attic bedrooms, double-ender recording, the evolution of sync, and changing studios.
• “We never did a lot of podcasts to this day...double-enders”—Leo (12:39)
• “Nowadays, we use Zencastr”—Padre (13:06)

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Listener/Viewer Reminiscences

Throughout the episode, Leo features clips, emails, and stories from the loyal TWIT audience across the globe:

• Prison listeners in Washington: “As a nerd for over 40 years, it’s a blessing to have the joy of TWIT every week.” – Ron (08:24)
• Brazil --> France: “I’ve been listening to the show for over 10 years now, you guys are part of my Monday morning routine.” – Alexander (31:10)
• Combine harvester in Austria: “This is how I have been listening to a lot of TWIT podcasts...” – Hannes (86:44)
• Global: UK, Canada, Australia, at sea, in the sky—listeners join from tractors, boats, planes, and across continents.

Notable Quote:

"My favorite moment is when I heard Leo praising the USAA banking app...I work at USAA...the highest compliment that Leo...loved something I had a small part working on." – Scott Simmons (05:53)

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Main Tech News: US–China Tech Tariffs, Rare Earths, and Supply Chain Uncertainty (15:57–28:25)

Summary:

• Tumult as US tariffs on Chinese tech products (CPUs, smartphones, etc.) rise above 100%, later “paused”; uncertainty reigns.
  • "It’s only for 90 days...None of this is enough for Apple to say, 'Oh, we dodged a bullet.'" – Leo (17:05)
• Apple rushes iPhones from India, Vietnam; supply chain cannot adapt overnight.
• China retaliates by suspending rare earth mineral exports; both sides conduct economic brinkmanship.
  • Quote: “China has suspended exports of rare earth minerals and magnets...China is just turning off the tap whether there’s tariffs or not.” – Leo (23:54)

Industry Impact:

• Sam details implications for US auto industry (“a vehicle that’s built here, at a minimum, at least half the value...came from outside the United States…” – 18:23)
• Alan: Difficult for SSD manufacturers to stay domestic: “There are still plenty of fabs that are overseas. Just like any other chip.” (20:36)
• “We’re just going to...we’ve got a crazy person driving the car and we’re in the back seat.” – Leo (25:23)

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Antitrust: FTC vs. Meta (41:50–48:07)

• US trial begins regarding splitting Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) into separate companies.
  • Quote: “Should they be forced to divest now?...What harm is caused by the integration?...Do you see that happening?” – Padre (41:50)
• Panel skeptical of harm proof, notes dominance of WhatsApp outside the US (“It’s the default here. Everyone uses it.” – Padre in Italy)
• Discussion of data sharing across properties, ad targeting; Zuckerberg’s transactional overtures to the White House (44:04).

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IP Law, Creators & AI Training (37:30–41:50)

• Sparked by Jack Dorsey’s “delete all IP law” tweet, with Elon Musk’s support.
  • “Let’s be serious. What they’re after is the ability to feed everything into their AI." – Padre (37:41)
• Debate on copyright/patents—meant to reward actual inventors, now mainly benefit corporations and patent trolls.
  • “Somewhere along the way...we didn’t have competent patent examiners...so they were just granting patents willy-nilly on everything, especially on software...” – Sam (38:28)
• Guest anecdotes: US Patent Office could not pay enough for expert staff, leading to subpar evaluations.

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Security & Governance: The Purge of CISA & Chris Krebs (55:47–64:22)

• CISA (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency) director Chris Krebs targeted for investigation after declaring 2020 “secure.” Massive layoffs/firings threaten crucial security.
  • “This is not ‘investigate him for any particular action.’ This is ‘I would like you to find a crime.’” – Padre (55:47)
• Panel expresses alarm at “authoritarian” implications, loss of institutional knowledge, and dangers of brain drain.
  • Quote: “Once you start doing that [sacrificing expertise for loyalty], you end up with a non-functional government. Because if people in the government can’t disagree…you don’t have a government, you have yes men.” – Padre (56:26)
• Consequences for future recruitment: "You can't make that pitch ['do what's right for your country'] anymore." – Padre (64:53)

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Innovations, Nostalgia, and Maker Spirit (74:12–77:24; 109:05–112:39)

• The panel and community reminisce about famed moments and artifacts from TWIT’s past studios (“the original Mackie mixer is in my garage!” – Alan).
• “No Hole” secret studio hangout; legendary gadgets, gear, and the origins of the show’s open, communal spirit.

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Recall, AI, and the Quest for Memory (94:00–105:02)

• Microsoft’s “Recall” feature for Copilot+ PCs, controversial for privacy/security (“It’s most useful if it’s not local…” – Leo).
  • Local vs. cloud-based archives; implications for hackers.
• Dream of truly searchable life-logging still unrealized, but tech is closing in—AI will soon be “the movie ‘Her’ available locally." – Alan (103:19)
• Panelists discuss their digital packrat habits (Padre describes 30 years of meticulous digital archiving).

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Smart TVs, Browser Extensions, & the Age of "Inshittification" (157:32–164:06)

• Chrome extension security debacles: “Dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions…4 million installs.”
• Panelists move away from Chrome, recommend Zen browser (Firefox fork), discuss evils of “inshittification”: companies optimizing entirely for extraction (“This is the end stage…” – Leo).
• Smart TVs become data-collecting ad platforms (see Vizio/Walmart’s “scenic mode” running political ads).
  • “Can you get a dumb TV now? Is there any manufacturer that sells a dumb TV?” – Padre (161:36)
  • “Costco selling 85-inch TVs for $800...because those TVs spy on you.” – Leo (161:48)

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Listener Stories Spotlight: Global and Diverse Audience

TWIT listeners join from all walks and geographies:

• Combine harvester (Austria): “This is how I listen…” (86:44)
• Satellite-linked sailboat off Devil's Island: “Now we can sail continuously around the world for three years...with Starlink nowadays and high-speed comms...I listen to all episodes of MacBreak Weekly and TWIT…” – Chris (53:11)
• Commercial pilot (The Stork): “You've been a constant source of entertainment and consistency throughout the last some 20,000 flight hours of mine…” (149:07)
• Disney podcaster: “It really all starts back at TechTV days, watching you on Call for Help, showing all these great applications.” – Tony (181:40)
• Educators, retirees, inmates, and new hobbyists all share how TWIT launched, inspired, or accompanied their careers and passions.

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Tech Industry Challenges: NASA Cuts, Dire Wolves, and Genetic Engineering (136:03–138:29)

• NASA’s science budget cut by 20% under new administration. Discussion on the long-term value of fundamental research vs. focus on immediate returns.
  • “The NASA budget is infinitesimally small compared to...other things. It should be large.” – Alan (136:18)
• Debate on viability of Mars as a human destination: “Mars is a horrible target for space exploration.” – Padre (139:21)
• Colossal Biosciences’ “dire wolf” announcements: Panel critiques the hype, but acknowledges the real advances in genetics and editing technology.

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Podcasting Culture and Legacy (166:04–167:16)

• Leo’s brief campaign to popularize the term “netcast” instead of “podcast” (“I still love hearing 'Netcasts you love from people you trust.'” – Padre).
• “Now everything's shorts!” – Padre; “What do you call it when it’s on YouTube?” – Leo
• Reflections on podcasting’s evolution, listener loyalty, and why the word “podcast” stuck.

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Touching Closing & Credits (189:43–End)

• Leo reads more letters celebrating TWIT as a “constant in my life” despite “jobs and houses and towns.”
• Club Twit—community, Discord, and listener support pivotal to ongoing success ($7/month or $84/year for membership).
• Thanks to crew, contributors (roll credits for all 389 panelists ever), and behind-the-scenes staff.

Memorable Quotes & Moments:

• “TWIT is a blessing to have...every week.” – Ron (prison listener, 08:24)
• “20 years—that is a quite a miraculous milestone in podcasting.” – Tony (181:46)
• “TWIT changed my life.” – Padre (87:56)
• “Next time it’ll be Easter Sunday…I don’t know if we’re gonna get anybody to show up for that!” – Leo (193:43)
• “Another TWIT is in the can.” – Leo (194:00, traditional sign-off for 20 years)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “We’ve had so many great people. As I said at the end, stay till the end of the show because at the end we’re going to show credits for everybody who’s ever been…on This Week in Tech.” – Leo [05:53]
• “Elon Musk, by the way, responded with two words, 'I agree.'” – Leo [37:41]
• “Without trademark and copyright protections...the whole idea of patents was to encourage inventors to invent stuff.” – Leo [38:03]
• “Chris Krebs...was targeted for investigation by his basically pet Department of Justice at this point. No accusation of a criminal act...This is not 'investigate for any particular action.' This is 'find a crime.'” – Padre [55:47]
• “Padre, didn’t you watch Total Recall? Get your ass to Mars!” – Leo [139:57]
• “The no hole was a space we had hidden behind racks...It had workstations, a fridge, alcohol...It was a place for us to retreat between shows.” – Padre [109:46]
• “[Podcasting: netcasts vs. podcasts] There’s an alternate timeline somewhere where everyone’s calling them netcasts.” – Alan [167:12]

Tonal Highlights

• Nostalgic and grateful, but also candid and irreverent (“You don’t have to kiss their ass, but you come pretty darn close.” – Leo)
• Community-focused: A heartfelt thread uniting the tech news with audience stories (“It’s meaningless for us to sit around...if we don't have all these wonderful people listening.” – Leo [73:43])
• Wry and humorous, especially in discussing policy whiplash, shower head EOs, or “A1 in education.”

Conclusion

This TWIT 20th anniversary special celebrates not just a show, but a community and a moment in tech history. It balances earnest, global fan reflections with intelligent and candid conversation about the challenges and absurdities of the contemporary tech landscape. The panel, true to TWIT’s origins, brings warmth, skepticism, and expertise—reminding the listener why, for two decades, “Another TWIT is in the can.”

For full impact, seek out timestamps noted above for direct context and contextually rich, memorable moments.