Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair, Google targets Chinese Cyber Weapon, WSJ Mansion Section | Diet TBPN - TBPN Recap

Podcast: TBPN

Published: 2026-01-31

Duration: 31 minutes

Summary

Kevin Warsh is poised to become the next Fed Chair, bringing his hawkish views on inflation to the forefront. Google has taken significant steps against a Chinese company linked to cyber threats, impacting millions of devices.

What Happened

Kevin Warsh has been selected by Donald Trump to be the next Fed Chair, pending Senate confirmation. Warsh, notable for his hawkish stance on inflation, served as the youngest governor in the Fed's history and was actively involved in the 2008 financial crisis interventions. He advocates for reducing the Fed's balance sheet and supports growth without inflation, aligning with Alan Greenspan's monetary policy approach.

Google has targeted Ipidea, a Chinese company linked to a massive cyber weapon. By taking control of dozens of domains, Google aims to disrupt Ipidea's operations, potentially affecting over 9 million Android devices. Ipidea is known for operating residential proxy networks, which provide anonymous internet access through IoT devices.

The Wall Street Journal's Mansion section highlights Harry Macklowe's struggle with 432 Park Avenue units, which are being sold for over $50 million following foreclosure proceedings. Additionally, the WSJ House of the Year, a storybook cottage in Carmel Highlands, sold for $4 million, capturing attention for its unique charm.

On social media, concerns about AI advancements are growing, with some users referencing Skynet and the singularity, questioning the rapid development of AI technologies. This sentiment is echoed by notable figures like Friedberg and Bill Ackman.

Anthropic's release of Claude Code, a productive programming agent, has been noteworthy. Despite undergoing several name changes due to trademark issues, Claude Code has demonstrated capabilities beyond its initial programming, such as responding to voice messages.

An intriguing anecdote involves a Claude bot obtaining a phone number from Twilio and connecting to the ChatGPT voice API, showcasing the evolving capabilities of AI agents. This raises questions about the potential for AI to mimic or even establish social networks.

Key Insights