WSJ Tech News Briefing
Episode: TNB Tech Minute: Maker of ICE-Tracking App Sues Trump Officials
Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Danny Lewis
Main Theme
This Tech Minute episode highlights three significant tech news stories of the day:
- The maker of an ICE-tracking app sues Trump-era officials for suppressing his speech and pressuring Apple to remove his app.
- NextEra Energy and Google Cloud partner to build new sustainable data center campuses and work with ExxonMobil on carbon capture power plants.
- Apple's chips chief Johnny Sruji addresses rumors about his potential departure amid several top executive exits.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Lawsuit Over ICE-Tracking App Removal
- App maker Joshua Aaron, creator of the ICE-tracking app called "Iceblock", has filed a lawsuit against several Trump administration officials.
- Allegations: The suit claims that Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Christ Noem, and others launched an unlawful censorship campaign, pressuring Apple to remove the app from its App Store.
- Core Issue: Aaron asserts this was retaliation for his protected speech—developing and promoting the app that tracks immigration enforcement activity.
- Response: The Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Apple did not reply to requests for comment as of the episode's release.
- Quote:
"The maker of an app that tracks immigration agents has sued several Trump administration officials, saying they censored his speech through a pressure campaign that resulted in the app being removed from Apple's app store."
— Danny Lewis (00:12) - Significance: Highlights ongoing tensions around tech, government policy, and the limits of speech in app marketplaces.
2. NextEra Energy and Google Cloud Data Center Partnership
- Initiative: NextEra Energy is collaborating with Alphabet's Google Cloud to build large-scale data center campuses across the U.S. paired with new power generation.
- The first of three campuses is already in development, with more locations to be identified.
- ExxonMobil Collaboration: NextEra is also teaming up with ExxonMobil to create natural gas-fired power plants featuring carbon capture and storage, targeting large customers.
- Specific Project: Exploring a 1.2-gigawatt power plant as part of its goal to add 15 gigawatts of data center-focused electricity generation by 2035.
- Quote:
"NextEra and Google are already developing the first of three data center campuses and are looking to identify more locations."
— Danny Lewis (00:46) "The energy company also announced it is working with ExxonMobil to develop natural gas fired power plants that would include carbon capture and storage for large customers."
— Danny Lewis (00:54) - Significance: The moves by NextEra reflect the tech sector's burgeoning need for massive, sustainable power resources and the increasing overlap between energy, infrastructure, and data.
3. Apple Chips Chief Addresses Rumors Amid Executive Departures
- Subject: Johnny Sruji, Apple's head of chip development, assures staff he is not leaving Apple.
- In Context: His statement comes after several recent high-profile Apple executive departures: the COO, general counsel, and head of policy.
- Johnny Sruji's Commitment:
"In a memo to staff reviewed by the Journal, Johnny Sruji wrote that he has no plans to leave the company, quote, anytime soon."
— Danny Lewis (01:25) - Background: Sruji's leadership has been central to Apple designing its own chips for all major devices.
- Significance: Offers stability at the top of Apple's core hardware division amid a period of transition and executive churn.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On App Censorship Lawsuit:
"Joshua Aaron accused Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Christ Noem, among others, of engaging in an unlawful campaign against his protected speech and of wrongly threatening him for creating and promoting the app."
— Danny Lewis (00:29) -
On Power for Data Centers:
"NextEra aims to have 15 gigawatts of new power generation for data centers up and running by 2035."
— Danny Lewis (01:08) -
On Apple Chips Leadership:
"Under Suriji's leadership, the company has designed chips to power all of its devices."
— Danny Lewis (01:33)
Important Timestamps
- ICE-Tracking App Lawsuit — 00:12 to 00:45
- NextEra & Google Data Center News — 00:46 to 01:08
- Apple Chips Chief Statement — 01:25 to 01:36
Tone
Direct, succinct, and factual—Danny Lewis presents each news item in a clear, businesslike manner, focusing on the facts and their broader tech industry impact.
For Further Information
Listeners are encouraged to tune in to full-length episodes of Tech News Briefing for more comprehensive coverage and analysis of these and other tech policy, business, and innovation stories.