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Raquel Maria Dillon Raquel Maria Dillon is a reporter with NPR's Business Desk.
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Raquel Maria Dillon

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Thursday

Some Twitter users flying the coop hope Mastodon will be a safe landing

The Mastodon app homepage is seen displayed on a mobile phone screen. Photo Illustration by Davide Bonaldo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

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Photo Illustration by Davide Bonaldo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Technology

Some Twitter users flying the coop hope Mastodon will be a safe landing

Now that Elon Musk owns Twitter, some of the social network's users are looking for alternatives. One that's ballooned in the past two weeks is Mastodon.

Some Twitter users flying the coop hope Mastodon will be a safe landing

Listen · 3:47
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Monday

Business

Twitter promotes a new monthly subscription that will verify accounts

Twitter says it will wait until after the midterms to roll out its $8 a month blue check verification program. The tech giant has seen upheaval since Elon Musk took the company private.

Twitter promotes a new monthly subscription that will verify accounts

Listen · 3:31
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Saturday

Friday

Twitter layoffs begin, sparking a lawsuit and backlash

A receptionist works Oct. 26 in the lobby of the building that houses the Twitter office in New York. Mary Altaffer/AP hide caption

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Mary Altaffer/AP

Business

Twitter layoffs begin, sparking a lawsuit and backlash

New owner Elon Musk moved swiftly to fire thousands, saying "unfortunately there is no choice" when Twitter is bleeding money. Critics called for an ad boycott.

Twitter layoffs begin, sparking a lawsuit and backlash

Listen · 3:54
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Friday

Business

After many delays, Elon Musk is now the proud owner of Twitter

This $44 billion deal was finalized Thursday night. Soon after, Musk fired top executives, including the CEO. This comes after months of twists and turns –- many of which played out on Twitter.

After many delays, Elon Musk is now the proud owner of Twitter

Listen · 3:42
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Thursday

Wednesday

Economy

California's gas prices top $6 a gallon in October

California's gas prices, well above the national average, have gone into overdrive, topping $6 a gallon in October. Why is gas so expensive in a state that's synonymous with the automobile?

California's gas prices top $6 a gallon in October

Listen · 3:39
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Thursday

Judge gives Elon Musk and Twitter until the end of the month to close their deal

Elon Musk has until Oct. 28 to close the deal to purchase Twitter, a judge ruled on Thursday. Here, the Tesla CEO smiles while on stage at an event in Norway in August. CARINA JOHANSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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CARINA JOHANSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Judge gives Elon Musk and Twitter until the end of the month to close their deal

The judge overseeing Twitter's lawsuit against the Tesla CEO has halted the trial scheduled to begin in less than two weeks. She's told Musk to complete his purchase of Twitter by Oct. 28.

Wednesday

Business

Elon Musk changes his position and says he wants to buy Twitter after all

Elon Musk is proposing to proceed with his original $44 billion buyout of Twitter. The agreement would preempt a trial that had been scheduled to start in less than two weeks.

Elon Musk changes his position and says he wants to buy Twitter after all

Listen · 2:24
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Tuesday

Elon Musk says he's willing to buy Twitter after all

Billionaire Elon Musk has told Twitter he's willing to buy the company after all, and at the originally agreed upon price of $54.20 per share. CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Elon Musk says he's willing to buy Twitter after all

The Tesla CEO tells Twitter that he'll go ahead with the original deal to buy the company for $44 billion, or $54.20 a share, possibly averting a trial set for later this month.

Elon Musk says he's willing to buy Twitter after all

Listen · 3:51
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Friday

Texts released ahead of Twitter trial show Elon Musk assembling the deal

SpaceX founder Elon Musk during a T-Mobile and SpaceX joint event on August 25, 2022 in Boca Chica Beach, Texas. Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images

Technology

Texts released ahead of Twitter trial show Elon Musk assembling the deal

Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter went down via private text messages between the Tesla CEO and a small circle of Silicon Valley's rich and powerful, according to court filings released this week.

Texts released ahead of Twitter trial show Elon Musk assembling the deal

Listen · 3:48
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Wednesday

Tuesday

Twitter may have hired a Chinese spy and four other takeaways from the Senate hearing

Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, former head of security at Twitter, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on data security at Twitter, on Capitol Hill, September 13, 2022 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Technology

Twitter may have hired a Chinese spy and four other takeaways from the Senate hearing

Twitter's former security chief Peiter "Mudge" Zatko accused the company of misleading the public, the government and its own board of directors over security flaws.

Twitter may have hired a Chinese spy and four other takeaways from the Senate hearing

Listen · 4:11
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Monday

Here's why the Twitter whistleblower's testimony to Congress will be crucial

Peiter Zatko, known by his hacker name "Mudge," talks about cybersecurity with the Senate Governmental Affairs committee on May 19, 1998. He's scheduled to testify again about his whistleblower complaint against Twitter on Sept. 13, 2022. (Photo by Douglas Graham/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images) Douglas Graham/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images hide caption

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Douglas Graham/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Technology

Here's why the Twitter whistleblower's testimony to Congress will be crucial

Peiter Mudge Zatko follows Frances Haugen as the second tech whistleblower in less than a year to testify before Congress about the struggles inside a social media company.

Saturday

Elon Musk wants to get out of buying Twitter. A whistleblower's claims might help him

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's legal team argues that allegations by Twitter's ex-security chief give him reason to pull out of his agreement to buy the Twitter. Here, Musk speaks at a meeting of energy, oil and gas executives in Norway on August 29. CARINA JOHANSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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CARINA JOHANSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Elon Musk wants to get out of buying Twitter. A whistleblower's claims might help him

The social media company appeared to be on solid legal ground when it sued the Tesla CEO to force him to complete the merger. But allegations by Twitter's ex-security chief may help Musk's case.

Elon Musk wants to get out of buying Twitter. A whistleblower's claims might help him

Listen · 4:07
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Thursday

Economy

Encore: Drivers question whether it's worth it as Uber and Lyft cut incentives

With inflation running high, more people are driving for Uber and Lyft. Most of them say the cost of living is why they signed up. (Story first aired on All Things Considered on Aug. 8, 2022.)

Encore: Drivers question whether it's worth it as Uber and Lyft cut incentives

Listen · 3:12
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Tuesday

A former employee accuses Twitter of big security lapses in a whistleblower complaint

Peiter Zatko, Twitter's former security head, poses for a portrait on Aug. 22 in Washington, D.C. Zatko accused the company of ignoring major security vulnerabilities in an explosive whistleblower complaint. Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images hide caption

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Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Business

A former employee accuses Twitter of big security lapses in a whistleblower complaint

Twitter's former security head is accusing the company of ignoring major security vulnerabilities and misrepresenting the number of fake accounts on the platform.

Monday

As takeover battle heats up, Elon Musk subpoenas former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey

Elon Musk has subpoenaed his friend and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey as part of his legal effort to get out of his acquisition of the social media platform. Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz/Bloomberg via Getty Images;Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz/Bloomberg via Getty Images;Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Business

As takeover battle heats up, Elon Musk subpoenas former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey

Elon Musk has subpoenaed former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey as his legal battle with the social media platform gains momentum.

Business

Some Uber and Lyft drivers question whether it's worth it as companies cut incentives

With inflation running high, more people are driving for Uber and Lyft. Uber's CEO said that lots of new drivers signing on, but over 70% of them say that cost of living is the main reason.

Some Uber and Lyft drivers question whether it's worth it as companies cut incentives

Listen · 3:08
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Thursday

Tuesday

Snapchat is rolling out new parental controls that allow parents to see their teenager's contacts and confidentially report to the social media company any accounts that concern them. A child lies in bed illuminated by the glow of a cell phone.

Snapchat is rolling out new parental controls that allow parents to see their teenager's contacts and confidentially report to the social media company any accounts that concern them. A child lies in bed illuminated by the glow of a cell phone. Elva Etienne/Getty Images hide caption

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Elva Etienne/Getty Images

Technology

Snapchat's new parental controls try to mimic real-life parenting, minus the hovering

Snapchat's Family Center lets parents see whom their teen is contacting, but not their messages. Parents can also confidentially report accounts that concern them, without their child's knowledge.

Snapchat's new parental controls try to mimic real-life parenting, minus the hovering

Listen · 3:18
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Monday

A New Mexico firewatcher describes watching his world burn

A plume of smoke from the Black Fire rises over the Gila National Forest. Philip Connors watched the fire grow and creep closer to his fire lookout post. Philip Connors/Philip Connors hide caption

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Philip Connors/Philip Connors

Climate

A New Mexico firewatcher describes watching his world burn

Philip Connors deeply loves the forest he has watched over every summer for the past 20 years. But it was a different forest two decades ago, and will be even more changed once the flames die down.

A New Mexico firewatcher describes watching his world burn

Listen · 6:35
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Saturday

Eva, the hero dog, beats back a mountain lion that attacked her owner on a hike

Eva relaxes in a puddle in 2020. Erin Wilson hide caption

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Erin Wilson

Animals

Eva, the hero dog, beats back a mountain lion that attacked her owner on a hike

Erin Wilson recounts how her dog saved her from a mountain lion attack while she hiked along a river in remote Northern California. Eva the Belgian Malinois is recovering.

Eva, the hero dog, beats back a mountain lion that attacked her owner on a hike

Listen · 1:50
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