Techdirt Podcast Episode 145: Tom Wheeler Reacts To Trump's FCC

from the special-guests dept

Tue, Nov 28th 2017 1:30pm — Leigh Beadon

If you're a Techdirt reader or just a general regular on the ol' internet, our topic this week — the current situation with net neutrality and the FCC — needs little introduction. And we've got two very special guests joining us to discuss it: former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler (author of the rules that Ajit Pai is currently undoing) and his former advisor Gigi Sohn (who joined us on the podcast in February to predict pretty much exactly what is now happening). There are few people as qualified to talk about these issues, so enjoy this week's episode looking at Trump's FCC and the future of the internet as we know it.

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Filed Under: ajit pai, donald trump, fcc, gigi sohn, net neutrality, podcast, tom wheeler

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Richard Bennett (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 1:58pm

Respect My Authoritah!!!
Wheeler sounds more like Eric Cartman every day.
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Baron von Robber, 28 Nov 2017 @ 2:09pm

Re: Respect My Authoritah!!!
You sound more like an apology letter from the condom company every day.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2017 @ 2:59pm

It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....
Ajit Pai and Trump are no more one and the same than you are your mama. It's painfully obvious that you are simply using anything and everything you can to bash Trump any chance you can as you have ever since he ran for office. I don't even like Trump, yet I can see that's exactly what you're doing.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 3:38pm

Re: Respect My Authoritah!!!
Funny. I've now relistened to the podcast, and I don't hear him suggesting that at all. Indeed, I hear him discuss the research and studies that they did that show why the order they made was good for the public, and provided a better internet for everyone -- and how Pai's order... doesn't.

Meanwhile, just a few hours ago you told me that I was responsible for death threats to Pai's family because I showed where Pai was wrong (while similarly telling people not to attack Pai personally). You responded that your comments were "moderate" and fair. And, yet, now here you are, not even 24 hours later, insulting former chair Pai with a false ad hominem.

Funny that.
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That One Guy (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 9:41pm

Re: It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....
Out of curiosity would you happen to know who decided to give Pai the position of head of the FCC, and as such played a significant role in how it would act for the foreseeable future? The name is just on the edge of my mind but refuses to solidify, I was hoping you'd be able to help out there if you could.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 28 Nov 2017 @ 11:17pm

Re: It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....
It's a reference to what Tom Wheeler refers to in the podcast, not our own framing. You did listen to it first before complaining, right?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Nov 2017 @ 11:19pm

Re: It's Ajit Pai's FCC, not "Trumps"....
Dude, the president is a narcissistic lunatic with the ego of a nine-year-old and an intellect to match. Every day the internet is replete with discussion of his history of sexual abuse, his stunning incompetence on the highest matters of state, his flagrant conflicts of interest - oh and a widespread criminal investigation into all his friends and allies.

So what I'm saying is, a tech blog offhandedly using the common parlance of referring to any federal agency as [President]'s [Agency] is not your or Trump's biggest problem. And, uh, it's certainly not "using everything it can"...
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