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Trial and terror: Russia escalates Kyiv campaign

Oct 1, 2026 · 21m

Summary

Ukraine faces a new Russian strategy combining kinetic attacks, sabotage, and disinformation to destabilize Kyiv ahead of winter, with correspondent Oliver Carroll detailing the escalating threat to civilian infrastructure. In tech, Henryrex discusses the backlash against Meta's smart glasses due to privacy concerns, while noting that competitors like Snap and Google continue to innovate in the growing AI eyewear market. Finally, Catherine Nixie explores the history of the pen in Simon Garfield's new book, tracing its evolution from quills to a modern status symbol and essential tool of pro…

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Perk travel and spend platform Public Service Announcement: Gun safety conversations Episode intro: Ukraine, smart glasses, and pens Ukraine: Russia's biggest energy infrastructure attack Ukraine: Escalating terror against civilians in Kyiv Ukraine: New jet drones and military logic behind attacks Ukraine: Three-part strategy to destabilize the capital Ukraine: Winter strategy and interceptor shortages Ukraine: Disinformation campaigns and public mood Ukraine: Vulnerability of infrastructure and defense gaps Ukraine: Psychological toll and population shifts Ukraine: Frontline progress and rear concerns Sponsor and PSA repeats Smart Glasses: Misadventure with Meta Ray-Bans Smart Glasses: Backlash against covert filming Smart Glasses: Detection apps and industry response Smart Glasses: New innovations from Meta, Snap, and others Smart Glasses: Market growth and competitive strategies Smart Glasses: Future of AI wearables and surveillance History of the Pen: A life-saving anecdote from 1944 History of the Pen: Early history and writer complaints History of the Pen: The era of quills and their annoyances History of the Pen: Invention of the fountain pen History of the Pen: Status symbols and obsolescence Outro and Sponsor: Perk Outro and PSA: Gun safety
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