WIRED Roundup: The 5 Tech and Politics Trends That Shaped 2025

In today’s episode of Uncanny Valley, we dive into five stories—from AI to DOGE—that encapsulate the year and give us clues as to what might unfold in 2026.

The DOJ’s Jeffrey Epstein Files Are Here

Forced by an act of Congress, the Justice Department has released “hundreds of thousands” of pages of documents related to Epstein—but not everything, as is required by law.

Terrifying New Photos Emerge From the Jeffrey Epstein Estate

The latest photo dump from Democrats in the House Oversight Committee includes more famous men and upsetting Lolita quotes written on a woman’s body.

The Most Powerful Politics Influencers Barely Post About Politics

New research shows that social media creators have enormous influence over their audiences’ politics—especially those who don’t normally share political content.