Topic: Data Feed

An anonymous TV professional reported that local news stations were overwhelmed by the speed at which the Associated Press (AP) called state results on election night, sometimes with 0% of precincts reporting. Many stations have since requested features to bypass the AP data feed in future elections. The AP is described as an "incestuous" part of the news industry that exerts significant control over the national narrative.

The DHS has automated the publication of cyber threat indicators in a machine-readable format, which is interpreted as a simple RSS feed. Secretary Jeh Johnson announced plans to open a satellite office in Silicon Valley to strengthen ties with tech giants like Google and Facebook. The U.S. Digital Service is presented as a way for tech talent to "rotate" between the private sector and government service.

A custom-built "freedom controller" system is described, which aggregates over 700 RSS feeds into a searchable database, outperforming Google for specific research tasks. The discussion highlights how Google has drifted from its original mission of providing fast, clean search results by adding excessive JavaScript, ads, and Google Plus integration. The host suggests that Google's focus on driverless cars and Google Glass is a distraction from their declining core product.