The final EFFector of 2025 is here! Just in time to keep you up-to-date on the latests happenings in the fight for privacy and free speech online. In this latest issue, we're sharing how to spot sneaky ALPR cameras at the U.S. border, covering a host of new resources on age verification laws, and explaining why AI companies need to protect chatbot logs from bulk surveillance. Prefer to listen in? Check out our audio companion, where EFF Activist Molly Buckley explains our new resource explaining age verification laws and how you can fight back. Catch the conversation on YouTube or the Internet Archive. LISTEN TO EFFECTOR EFFECTOR 37.18 - ? AGE VERIFICATION IS COMING FOR THE INTERNET Since 1990 EFF has published EFFector to help keep readers on the bleeding edge of their digital rights. We know that the intersection of technology, civil liberties, human rights, and the law can be complicated, so EFFector is a great way to stay on top of things. The newsletter is chock full of links to updates, announcements, blog posts, and other stories to help keep readers—and listeners—up to date on the movement to protect online privacy and free expression.  Thank you to the supporters around the world who make our work possible! If you're not a member yet, join EFF today to help us fight for a brighter digital future.

Netflix's has its second big foray into video podcasts with its new partnership with iHeartMedia.

The food waste startup founded by Nest alumnus Matt Rogers also received an investment from Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund.

Google's new email based assistant will be available to 18+ AI Pro and Ultra plan users in North America

If anyone is still in line to take these deadly Operation Warp Speed shots, have they not heard anything that warns them about their dangers?  Have they not read of the plethora of people who took them only to die or be injured from said shots?  In any case, the unconstitutional Department of Health & …

The Suspect Still Hasn't Been Found

Braxton Keith stopped by the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast for our final episode of the year (don’t worry, we’ll be back in 2026). The young country star talked about how he avoids burnout with a busy touring schedule, what it’s like to play 150 shows a year, how his band is like family, and that he actually comes from a family of dentists. Obviously, he veered off his family’s path and has become one of the shining examples of neotraditional country music. Braxton Keith is helping to keep that sound alive, and spoke on how important it is for real, genuine music to exist with the surge of AI in music as of late. Oh, and the “Cozy” singer discussed his cover of George Strait’s “The Chair,” how that came to be, when fans can expect a live version of it to drop, and even touched on how often he’s asked if he’s related to Toby Keith. Needless to say, it was a jam-packed conversation, and this week’s episode is presented by Nicokick. Go to Nicokick.com and use code WHISKEYRIFF for 20% off logged-in orders. Download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or click here. We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts. Cheers, y’all. Audio Video The post Whiskey Riff Raff Podcast With Braxton Keith first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

New music from the powerhouse duo? There’s absolutely no denying that Brooks & Dunn is the most prolific duo in the history of country music. Beyond their 20 #1 hits, including the likes of “Brand New Man,” “Neon Moon” and “My Maria,” their 11 RIAA certified-platinum albums and status as one of the key members of the beloved ’90s country era, the duo recently stamped their names in the history books at the 59th annual CMA Awards last month. Beating out the likes of Brothers Osborne, The War And Treaty and Dan + Shay in an admittedly weak Vocal Duo of the Year category, the powerhouse duo fully regained their title as the most awarded artist in CMA History with a staggering 20 wins after breaking their tie with Chris Stapleton (19). What’s been the ongoing narrative with Brooks & Dunn, both with their back-to-back CMA Vocal Duo wins and in general, is the lack of new music throughout the better part of the past two decades. Though they have released not one but two Reboot albums in 2019 and 2024 respectively, re-recording their most iconic hits with everyone from Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson to Cody Johnson, Jake Worthington and Kacey Musgraves, you have to go back 18 years to find the last time the pair released original music. This, of course, was their 10th studio album, Cowboy Town, in 2007, which included their #2 hit with Reba McEntire, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” as well as “Put a Girl in It” and “Proud of the House We Built.” Since then, however, there’s been absolutely nothing in terms of original music from the pair. Much to the joy of Brooks & Dunn fans around the country, it looks like that is going to change very soon, with the help of none other than hitmaker and songwriting extraordinaire, Ernest. In a joint Instagram post from the official Brooks & Dunn account and Dunn’s personal page, Ernest appeared in a video. Noting that Dunn texted him about writing a brand new song, he seemingly indicated that the duo is looking to record new music with the help of the “I Had Some Help” co-writer. “You’re texting the right guy this morning, Ronnie Dunn. I got my ring on and everything. I got my f***** country-smash ring on so, and I got nothing to do. I’ll go f*** with a guitar and see what happens. I’m assuming you need tempo, show-bangers, smash. ‘Hard Workin’ Man’ 2.0. Probably not another cowboy song. Of course, I say that, and you’ll probably take a cowboy song so. I’m going to try to write a hit.” View this post on Instagram If you recall, last December, Kix Brooks stepped down as host of American Country Countdown, a show he’d been hosting since January 2006. Citing a desire to concentrate more heavily on Brooks & Dunn as a duo, Brooks would tell Billboard that fans could expect a new album from the pair within the next few years. “In the next two years? I’d say pretty good… I’m sure Ronnie’s got his own idea of how that could work. But I know he’s been writing a lot of songs. He’s sending me songs all the time. Ronnie’s fired up about getting into that. And I’m certainly not going to hold him back, and I will do my best to keep up and do my part.” In the same interview, Brooks was also blunt about not chasing a #1 record, essentially acknowledging the fact that they’re making music to satisfy both themselves as artists and for their long-time fans. “As far as Ronnie and I, we don’t have any honest expectations of having a No. 1 record, any more than probably George Strait or Garth or Reba. We’re not necessarily making music now to try and fight our way up to No. 1. We’ve definitely had our time in that spotlight, and would it be great? Yeah, sure. But we’ve been doing this long enough to know how the world turns here, so that’s not something that we would have delusions of.” As for the inclusion of Ernest into the mix, it’s safe to say his track record speaks for itself. In addition to the aforementioned “I Had Some Help,” which scored Post Malone and Morgan Wallen an all-genre #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, he has also co-written a collection of Wallen’s additional hits such as “Wasted On You,” “Heartless” and “You Proof” as well as Post Malone and Luke Combs’ #1 hit, “Guy For That,” Koe Wetzel’s “Oklahoma Sun” and his duet with Charles Wesley Godwin, “Dead To Rights.” As of now, there is no additional information surrounding the new Brooks & Dunn song/project, but all signs point to receiving something new from the legendary duo at some point in 2026. In the meantime, we’ll just have to wait and see what Ernest and the pair have in store. While you’re here, fire up Ernest’s feature on “Indian Summer” off of Reboot II. The post Ernest Teases New Music Is Coming From Brooks & Dunn: “You Texted The Right Guy” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Hope this isn’t history repeating itself… Jessie Murph has blown up over the past couple of years, thanks in no small part to her duets with country artists like Koe Wetzel on “High Road” and Jelly Roll with “Wild Ones.” She was nominated for New Female Artist of the Year at the 2025 ACM Awards, though even Murph admitted that she doesn’t consider herself a “country artist.” I wouldn’t look at me and be like, ‘That’s a country artist.’ I don’t know that I deserved to be in that category. I feel like there’s other country artists that maybe deserved to have that spot. I love mixing genres and I think that I’ll always do it… I don’t like the thought of boxing myself in to express myself.” And she’s not wrong: Her music skews towards pop, R&B and even rap, like her viral hit “Blue Strips” or her risqué “Touch Me Like A Gangster.” She also made headlines earlier this year for her graphic “1965” music video, though she’s also drawn praise from the country community for her voice on covers like Miranda Lambert’s “Tin Man.” @murphieshq jessie covering “tin man” by Miranda Lambert during soundcheck! @J E S S I E M U R P H #jessiemurph #fyp #viral #jessiemurphhh #worldwidehysteriathetour ♬ original sound – murphies hq Her voice has drawn a wide range of comparisons, from Miranda to Billie Eilish and Miley Cyrus or even the soulful, raspy sounds of Amy Winehouse. But after a performance recently, she began receiving further comparisons to Winehouse – and concern from fans. Murph recently headlined the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Los Angeles, where she performed a cover of the Leonard Cohen classic “Hallelujah.” And her performance had fans worried for Murph’s condition: @channel933sd WOW. We didn’t know the vocals got better as we kept listening, but they did @jessiemurphhh #jessiemurph #jingleball #iheartradio @iheartjingleball @iheartradio #kiisjingleball ♬ original sound – channel933 Her twitching and movements, as well as her facial expressions, led many fans to compare it to the final performance from Amy Winehouse before she died from alcohol poisoning in 2023: “Y’all go look at Amy Winehouse’s last performance. Almost an identical performance…and we know how that ended…” “it’s giving Amy Winehouse last performance” “is she okay?? i’ve seen this film before and it didn’t well…” “No she’s moving how Amy Winehouse did with her last performance” “Nah, this isn’t the Jessie Murph I’ve been listening to. Poor girl needs to rest before she is resting in peace” “She’s moving like Amy Winehouse i hope shes okay ALSO IM NOT HATING ON AMY I LOVE HER” “Someone check on her before she becomes Amy Winehouse.” “We can’t do another Amy winehouse girl…” “Why is she shaking? And look at her eyes. I hope she’s ok” “That actually hurt to watch. So many shades of Amy Winehouse here” “Amy Winehouse vibes… and I don’t like it.” Here’s that final performance from the legendary Amy Winehouse. But just be warned, it’s a tough watch. @backtoamy___ #amywinhouse #uk #london #jazz #jewishgirl #singer #amywinehouseedit #amywinehousefanbase #backtoblack #27club ♬ suono originale – Amy Hopefully Jessie is alright and it was just an emotional performance for her, but if there is something else going on, I really hope she gets whatever she needs so that we don’t end up with another tragic situation. The entertainment industry is brutal, especially for somebody like Murph who is only 21 years old and finds herself in such a big spotlight already.The post “It’s Giving Amy Winehouse” – Fans Express Concern For Jessie Murph Following “Hallelujah” Performance At iHeartRadio Jingle Ball first appeared on Whiskey Riff.