Apple’s Next Chapter, SpaceX and Cursor Strike a Deal, and Palantir’s Controversial Manifesto

Brian BarrettZoë SchifferLeah FeigerBusinessApr 23, 2026 3:26 PMApple’s Next Chapter, SpaceX and Cursor Strike a Deal, and Palantir’s Controversial ManifestoIn this week’s episode of Uncanny Valley, we talk about Tim Cook’s legacy as CEO at Apple and what his long-rumored departure means for the future of one of the world’s biggest companies.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyThis week on Uncanny Valley, the team discusses what’s next for Apple as Tim Cook steps down from his role as CEO. They also go into the reasoning behind SpaceX and Cursor’s surprising deal, and why Palantir’s self-published manifesto drew a lot of heat online. Also, we discuss why some conspiracy theorists are leaving Trump’s side, and how a scammer created an AI-generated woman to attract and grift MAGA men.Articles mentioned in this episode:Tim Cook’s Legacy Is Turning Apple Into a SubscriptionMAGA Is Starting to Look Beyond TrumpThis Scammer Used an AI-Generated MAGA Girl to Grift ‘Super Dumb’ MenYou can follow Brian Barrett on Bluesky at @brbarrett, Zoë Schiffer on Bluesky at @zoeschiffer, and Leah Feiger on Bluesky at @leahfeiger. Write to us at [email protected].How to ListenYou can always listen to this week's podcast through the audio player on this page, but if you want to subscribe for free to get every episode, here's how:If you're on an iPhone or iPad, open the app called Podcasts, or just tap this link. You can also download an app like Overcast or Pocket Casts and search for “uncanny valley.” We’re on Spotify too.TranscriptNote: This is an automated transcript, which may contain errors.Brian Barrett: Hey, it's Brian. Zoë, Leah, and I have really enjoyed being your new hosts these past few weeks, and we want to hear from you. If you like the show and have a minute, please leave us a review in the podcast or app of your choice. It really helps us reach more people, and for any questions and comments, you can always reach us at [email protected]. Thank you for listening. On to the show.Leah Feiger: Zoë, welcome back.Zoë Schiffer: Thank you.Leah Feiger: I missed you so much.Brian Barrett: And I missed you the exact same amount.Zoë Schiffer: Wow.Brian Barrett: It's not a contest.Zoë Schiffer: Oh, my gosh. I feel so loved. I'm going to go away more often. Absence makes the heart go fonder, as we all know, and I'm thrilled to be here. Welcome to WIRED's Uncanny Valley. I'm Zoë Schiffer, director of business and industry.Brian Barrett: I'm Brian Barrett, executive editor.Leah Feiger: And I'm Leah Feiger, director of politics and science.Zoë Schiffer: This week on the show, we're saying goodbye to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who announced that he is stepping down from the top gig at the company. And, more than just talking about his legacy at Apple, we'll be looking into what this long-awaited shift actually means for the future of one of the world's biggest companies.Brian Barrett: We'll also get into why SpaceX and Cursor's potential $60 billion deal announced this week is pretty staggering, and we'll get into Palantir's controversial 22-point manifesto. I feel like “manifestos” are inherently controversial, otherwise they'd be memos that they posted on X this week.Leah Feiger: And slowly but surely, we have been seeing certain MAGA leaders and supporters move away from Trump. We're going to break down whether these instances are actually building to something meaningful or just…

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