Topic: Hot Wheels

The CEO of Mattel announced that the company expects to raise prices on products like Barbie and Hot Wheels rather than moving manufacturing to the United States. While Mattel plans to diversify its supply chain away from China, it intends to relocate production to other foreign countries to avoid U.S. tariffs. The company, based in El Segundo, currently manufactures almost no products domestically.

The hosts discuss the reality of Soviet surveillance, noting that the KGB's technology often appeared clunky and outdated, such as microphones visible under layers of paint in hotel rooms. Adam Curry describes the difficulty of making international calls through "floor ladies" and how he eventually used a Westwood One satellite truck to get a U.S. dial tone.