Tina Nguyen
@tinanguyen.bsky.social
Senior Reporter at The Verge and author of Regulator, covering Big Tech vs Big Government. Formerly Puck/Politico/Vanity Fair. Wrote a book called THE MAGA DIARIES. Send your juiciest/most apocalyptic goss to tina@theverge.com or @tina_nguyen.19 on signal.
Pinned
Tina Nguyen
@tinanguyen.bsky.social
· Aug 6
Some personal news: I’m back in the newsletter game.
The Verge and I are proud to announce the launch of Regulator, a weekly newsletter for Verge subscribers that covers the fights between Big Tech and Big Government.
The Verge and I are proud to announce the launch of Regulator, a weekly newsletter for Verge subscribers that covers the fights between Big Tech and Big Government.
"New media" used to broadly describe traditional outlets that published traditional news, but online. But these days in DC, powerful Republicans now use “new media” as a polite catch-all for “right-wing media.”
My latest reporting in this week's Regulator:
www.theverge.com/column/79990...
My latest reporting in this week's Regulator:
www.theverge.com/column/79990...
‘New media’ is just right-wing media
Podcasts, but not those podcasts.
www.theverge.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:44 PM
"New media" used to broadly describe traditional outlets that published traditional news, but online. But these days in DC, powerful Republicans now use “new media” as a polite catch-all for “right-wing media.”
My latest reporting in this week's Regulator:
www.theverge.com/column/79990...
My latest reporting in this week's Regulator:
www.theverge.com/column/79990...
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
Here’s @tinanguyen.bsky.social detailing the results of the incredible settlement YouTube paid to Trump for no reason except cowardice www.theverge.com/policy/79135...
Trump rolled YouTube into paying $22 million for his ballroom
“This is a political payoff, pure and simple.”
www.theverge.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Here’s @tinanguyen.bsky.social detailing the results of the incredible settlement YouTube paid to Trump for no reason except cowardice www.theverge.com/policy/79135...
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
Donald Trump and Silicon Valley have formed an alliance — but that doesn’t mean the MAGA base thinks it’s a good idea.
This week @tinanguyen.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the many ways the MAGA movement isn’t on side with Big Tech.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/296_...
This week @tinanguyen.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the many ways the MAGA movement isn’t on side with Big Tech.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/296_...
October 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Donald Trump and Silicon Valley have formed an alliance — but that doesn’t mean the MAGA base thinks it’s a good idea.
This week @tinanguyen.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the many ways the MAGA movement isn’t on side with Big Tech.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/296_...
This week @tinanguyen.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the many ways the MAGA movement isn’t on side with Big Tech.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/296_...
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
When I read @tinanguyen.bsky.social’s recent piece on visiting NatCon and seeing MAGA leaders openly criticize tech executives and their companies, I knew I had to have Tina on the show. It was a really insightful conversation!
Donald Trump and Silicon Valley have formed an alliance — but that doesn’t mean the MAGA base thinks it’s a good idea.
This week @tinanguyen.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the many ways the MAGA movement isn’t on side with Big Tech.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/296_...
This week @tinanguyen.bsky.social joins @parismarx.com to discuss the many ways the MAGA movement isn’t on side with Big Tech.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/296_...
October 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
When I read @tinanguyen.bsky.social’s recent piece on visiting NatCon and seeing MAGA leaders openly criticize tech executives and their companies, I knew I had to have Tina on the show. It was a really insightful conversation!
There's this thing at Trump rallies where people leave partway through because they've seen what he's said before
It's happening right now, and I think the stadium is now half empty
But it's so wild to see this happen after all the intense Christian Revival energy pulling the room together
It's happening right now, and I think the stadium is now half empty
But it's so wild to see this happen after all the intense Christian Revival energy pulling the room together
September 21, 2025 at 11:10 PM
There's this thing at Trump rallies where people leave partway through because they've seen what he's said before
It's happening right now, and I think the stadium is now half empty
But it's so wild to see this happen after all the intense Christian Revival energy pulling the room together
It's happening right now, and I think the stadium is now half empty
But it's so wild to see this happen after all the intense Christian Revival energy pulling the room together
Trump: "He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best of them. But I disagree with Charlie.
I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best of them...I am sorry. Erika can talk to me and they hope that maybe they can convince me that that's not right, but I can't stand my opponent."
September 21, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Trump: "He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best of them. But I disagree with Charlie.
I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best of them...I am sorry. Erika can talk to me and they hope that maybe they can convince me that that's not right, but I can't stand my opponent."
NEW: Trump tells the audience at Charlie Kirk's memorial that tomorrow, he, RFK and Dr. Oz "found an answer to autism [and] how it happens, so won't let it happen anymore."
Will announce at a press conference tomorrow.
Yeah, I'm serious.
Will announce at a press conference tomorrow.
Yeah, I'm serious.
September 21, 2025 at 10:42 PM
NEW: Trump tells the audience at Charlie Kirk's memorial that tomorrow, he, RFK and Dr. Oz "found an answer to autism [and] how it happens, so won't let it happen anymore."
Will announce at a press conference tomorrow.
Yeah, I'm serious.
Will announce at a press conference tomorrow.
Yeah, I'm serious.
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
At Charlie Kirk's massive memorial service, it appears his widow, Erika Kirk, is not, in fact, the final speaker on the program.
President Trump is.
President Trump is.
September 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
At Charlie Kirk's massive memorial service, it appears his widow, Erika Kirk, is not, in fact, the final speaker on the program.
President Trump is.
President Trump is.
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
While people are suddenly and uncharacteristically paying attention to media regulation, please take a moment to notice all the massive harm Brendan Carr has done to consumer protection and public safety as well
me, back in April:
me, back in April:
Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine
The White House’s personal censor.
www.theverge.com
September 20, 2025 at 5:57 PM
While people are suddenly and uncharacteristically paying attention to media regulation, please take a moment to notice all the massive harm Brendan Carr has done to consumer protection and public safety as well
me, back in April:
me, back in April:
Hello from Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Glendale, Arizona. I'm live from the floor of State Farm Stadium.
The service won't start for another two hours, but lines to get in are backed up for miles. The only word I can give for inside the stadium is "megachurch."
The service won't start for another two hours, but lines to get in are backed up for miles. The only word I can give for inside the stadium is "megachurch."
September 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Hello from Charlie Kirk's memorial service in Glendale, Arizona. I'm live from the floor of State Farm Stadium.
The service won't start for another two hours, but lines to get in are backed up for miles. The only word I can give for inside the stadium is "megachurch."
The service won't start for another two hours, but lines to get in are backed up for miles. The only word I can give for inside the stadium is "megachurch."
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
Huge week for people crashing out in The Verge comments saying “I thought this was a tech blog!!!” Anyway here are just a few pieces from our policy and politics desk 🙂
www.theverge.com/policy/77979...
www.theverge.com/report/77935...
www.theverge.com/policy/77897...
www.theverge.com/policy/77979...
www.theverge.com/report/77935...
www.theverge.com/policy/77897...
Republicans are honoring Charlie Kirk’s memory by declaring war on the First Amendment
Where’s all that free speech absolutism now?
www.theverge.com
September 18, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Huge week for people crashing out in The Verge comments saying “I thought this was a tech blog!!!” Anyway here are just a few pieces from our policy and politics desk 🙂
www.theverge.com/policy/77979...
www.theverge.com/report/77935...
www.theverge.com/policy/77897...
www.theverge.com/policy/77979...
www.theverge.com/report/77935...
www.theverge.com/policy/77897...
BREAKING:
- Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Charlie Kirk's killer
- FCC's Brendan Carr threatens to pull licenses of TV stations airing Kimmel unless ABC fires him
- Nexstar owns a lot of TV stations
- Nexstar says their stations will stop airing Kimmel
- ABC does this
www.theverge.com/news/780471/...
- Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Charlie Kirk's killer
- FCC's Brendan Carr threatens to pull licenses of TV stations airing Kimmel unless ABC fires him
- Nexstar owns a lot of TV stations
- Nexstar says their stations will stop airing Kimmel
- ABC does this
www.theverge.com/news/780471/...
Jimmy Kimmel Live pulled ‘indefinitely’ for joke about Charlie Kirk’s killer after FCC threat
ABC folded.
www.theverge.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:54 PM
BREAKING:
- Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Charlie Kirk's killer
- FCC's Brendan Carr threatens to pull licenses of TV stations airing Kimmel unless ABC fires him
- Nexstar owns a lot of TV stations
- Nexstar says their stations will stop airing Kimmel
- ABC does this
www.theverge.com/news/780471/...
- Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Charlie Kirk's killer
- FCC's Brendan Carr threatens to pull licenses of TV stations airing Kimmel unless ABC fires him
- Nexstar owns a lot of TV stations
- Nexstar says their stations will stop airing Kimmel
- ABC does this
www.theverge.com/news/780471/...
First byline with @haydenfield.bsky.social: Meta made a super PAC for AI issues, meaning they can run ads against their political targets in California -- and maybe their AI competitors, too.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Meta created its own super PAC to politically kneecap its AI rivals
Mark Zuckerberg, via Meta, can now essentially spend unlimited money in California elections.
www.theverge.com
September 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
First byline with @haydenfield.bsky.social: Meta made a super PAC for AI issues, meaning they can run ads against their political targets in California -- and maybe their AI competitors, too.
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
I decided to subscribe to The Verge because they accurately reported the news
Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme
Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme
The suspected shooter left a hodgepodge of extremely online taunts.
buff.ly
September 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I decided to subscribe to The Verge because they accurately reported the news
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
You can subscribe to The Verge for just $4 a month right now. www.theverge.com/subscribe
Just to be blunt, if you want Wired and 404 and The Verge to employ reporters who understand the memes on bullet casings and can connect them to gaming culture while having the legal and support resources to deal with waves of harassment when we do it… you have to subscribe and pay for the work
the entire media ecosystem is just not built or ready for events like this and far right billionaires like larry ellison buying news orgs will only make this worse
September 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM
You can subscribe to The Verge for just $4 a month right now. www.theverge.com/subscribe
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
If you value the work we do at The Verge, please consider subscribing so we can keep doing it. It's $4/month right now, which is a really great deal!
New from @tinanguyen.bsky.social and me: Charlie Kirk's shooter left behind bullet casings with a furry sex meme and a bunch of Helldivers video game references. Subreddits for Helldivers immediately picked up on it.
www.theverge.com/politics/777...
www.theverge.com/politics/777...
Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme
The suspected shooter left a hodgepodge of extremely online taunts.
www.theverge.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
If you value the work we do at The Verge, please consider subscribing so we can keep doing it. It's $4/month right now, which is a really great deal!
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
Too bad the GOP effectively criminalized studying how information moves online and news orgs laid off and demonized all the reporters who covered the burgeoning online accelerationist performative death cults. All of that work was somehow "censorship" that needed to be stopped. Now we're here.
September 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Too bad the GOP effectively criminalized studying how information moves online and news orgs laid off and demonized all the reporters who covered the burgeoning online accelerationist performative death cults. All of that work was somehow "censorship" that needed to be stopped. Now we're here.
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
Just to be blunt, if you want Wired and 404 and The Verge to employ reporters who understand the memes on bullet casings and can connect them to gaming culture while having the legal and support resources to deal with waves of harassment when we do it… you have to subscribe and pay for the work
the entire media ecosystem is just not built or ready for events like this and far right billionaires like larry ellison buying news orgs will only make this worse
September 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Just to be blunt, if you want Wired and 404 and The Verge to employ reporters who understand the memes on bullet casings and can connect them to gaming culture while having the legal and support resources to deal with waves of harassment when we do it… you have to subscribe and pay for the work
New from me an @miasato.bsky.social: the most cursed thing I've ever reported, and I've reported a LOT of cursed things.
www.theverge.com/politics/777...
www.theverge.com/politics/777...
Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer scratched bullets with a Helldivers combo and a furry sex meme
The suspected shooter left a hodgepodge of extremely online taunts.
www.theverge.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
New from me an @miasato.bsky.social: the most cursed thing I've ever reported, and I've reported a LOT of cursed things.
www.theverge.com/politics/777...
www.theverge.com/politics/777...
At NatCon, there were two topics dominating everyone’s discussions: the imminent end of the right’s support of Israel — and the existential threat that technology posed to Western civilization.
I wrote about the second discussion.
www.theverge.com/politics/773...
I wrote about the second discussion.
www.theverge.com/politics/773...
MAGA populists call for holy war against Big Tech
Butlerian jihad from an unlikely quarter.
www.theverge.com
September 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
At NatCon, there were two topics dominating everyone’s discussions: the imminent end of the right’s support of Israel — and the existential threat that technology posed to Western civilization.
I wrote about the second discussion.
www.theverge.com/politics/773...
I wrote about the second discussion.
www.theverge.com/politics/773...
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
Everyone's watching Alien: Earth, apparently
"Even if it doesn’t turn you into the alien if you eat this stuff, I guarantee you’ll grow an extra ear."
Senator Says Radioactive Shrimp Will Turn You Into the Alien From 'Alien'
gizmodo.com
September 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Everyone's watching Alien: Earth, apparently
As someone who's gone through four sets of sleep headphones, two smartwatches, three air purifier fans, and infinite apps promising to cure my productivity prior to meeting Victoria...I absolutely require this newsletter. Please join me in signing up for Optimizer!!
@vicmsong.bsky.social
@vicmsong.bsky.social
Just in time for tech event season, we’re introducing Optimizer, a weekly newsletter sent every Friday from Verge Senior Reviewer @vicmsong.bsky.social that will dissect and discuss the latest phones, smartwatches, apps, and other gizmos that swear they’re gonna change your life.
bit.ly/4p5ngMD
bit.ly/4p5ngMD
September 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
As someone who's gone through four sets of sleep headphones, two smartwatches, three air purifier fans, and infinite apps promising to cure my productivity prior to meeting Victoria...I absolutely require this newsletter. Please join me in signing up for Optimizer!!
@vicmsong.bsky.social
@vicmsong.bsky.social
New Regulator is out!
Today we talk about that @wired.com investigation into a well-funded talent incubator for liberal and progressive creators -- and why the Dem establishment seems sclerotically incapable of existing in a media environment it cannot control.
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
Today we talk about that @wired.com investigation into a well-funded talent incubator for liberal and progressive creators -- and why the Dem establishment seems sclerotically incapable of existing in a media environment it cannot control.
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
Why the Democrats suck at countering MAGA influencers
As the fallout of the Chorus influencer program reveals, the Democratic establishment seems incapable of existing in an uncontrollable media environment.
www.theverge.com
September 3, 2025 at 7:22 PM
New Regulator is out!
Today we talk about that @wired.com investigation into a well-funded talent incubator for liberal and progressive creators -- and why the Dem establishment seems sclerotically incapable of existing in a media environment it cannot control.
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
Today we talk about that @wired.com investigation into a well-funded talent incubator for liberal and progressive creators -- and why the Dem establishment seems sclerotically incapable of existing in a media environment it cannot control.
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
New Regulator alert! Today we've got:
🤖💸 The AI industry starts spending on elections
🇺🇸📈I argue that Trump is a tech billionaire whose product is memes
📱I ask @allisonjo1.bsky.social a Q that's eating me alive: exactly HOW does Trump Mobile make money?
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
🤖💸 The AI industry starts spending on elections
🇺🇸📈I argue that Trump is a tech billionaire whose product is memes
📱I ask @allisonjo1.bsky.social a Q that's eating me alive: exactly HOW does Trump Mobile make money?
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
AI super PACs, the hottest investment in tech
Tech corporations are legally considered people (and therefore, donors).
www.theverge.com
August 26, 2025 at 8:24 PM
New Regulator alert! Today we've got:
🤖💸 The AI industry starts spending on elections
🇺🇸📈I argue that Trump is a tech billionaire whose product is memes
📱I ask @allisonjo1.bsky.social a Q that's eating me alive: exactly HOW does Trump Mobile make money?
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
🤖💸 The AI industry starts spending on elections
🇺🇸📈I argue that Trump is a tech billionaire whose product is memes
📱I ask @allisonjo1.bsky.social a Q that's eating me alive: exactly HOW does Trump Mobile make money?
www.theverge.com/regulator-ne...
Reposted by Tina Nguyen
Join me @tinanguyen.bsky.social for the latest edition of The Home Front Podcast. We discuss her new newsletter Regulator, from @theverge.com, why #tech went right and more! Watch and subscribe today! youtu.be/cEqscDPUTFU?...
Big Tech and MAGA, A Match Made in...??? With Tina Ngyuen
YouTube video by The Home Front
youtu.be
August 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Join me @tinanguyen.bsky.social for the latest edition of The Home Front Podcast. We discuss her new newsletter Regulator, from @theverge.com, why #tech went right and more! Watch and subscribe today! youtu.be/cEqscDPUTFU?...