#TBOT 17: The Bright Side of a Govt. Shutdown, Digital ID in the UK/Europe, New U.S Biometric Rule, Windows 11 Woes, GrapheneOS New Phones

#TBOT 17: The Bright Side of a Govt. Shutdown, Digital ID in the UK/Europe, New U.S Biometric Rule, Windows 11 Woes, GrapheneOS New Phones

Author: The most important weekly tech news + solutions. November 7, 2025 Duration: 38:42

#TBOT 17: now with more crowdsourced stories! 🤩 Thanks to the #TBOT crew on Telegram!

The Brightside of The Government Shutdown: SNAP benefits end soon for 40M Americans, many suggest food riots. Or is it 40M Americans that can start growing their own food? Let’s transmute fear into action.

BONUS ✨ We look at clear skies over America, suggesting that geo-engineering is part of the government budget. Hakeem also discusses what he learned talking with some unpaid and upset TSA agents. New U.S. Biometric Rule: The U.S. has some new rules for noncitizens leaving the country. Find out what they are, the tech behind it, and how much it costs to roll out. The 5 Worst Things About Windows 11: Windows 11 is in full swing with more AI and less user freedom. GrapheneOS’s New Phone: Rumors have been confirmed as GOS works with a new OEM provider. Hear the details! Digital ID in UK/Europe: Hakeem reviews the latest on Digital ID, including biometric entry requirements and mandatory requirement of DID to work.

Don’t miss our Digital ID Report. Download now!

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Hakeem Anwar hosts The #TBOT Show, a weekly podcast dedicated to cutting through the noise of the tech world. Instead of just reporting headlines, this show focuses on the technology news that actually shapes your daily routine, privacy, and digital freedom, explaining why it matters in clear terms. Each episode is designed to be concise and actionable, wrapping up in under twenty minutes. You’ll hear informed analysis and straightforward recommendations on how to navigate the week’s developments. True to its mission, every installment also provides a practical takeaway: this might be a powerful open-source tool you can use, a privacy-enhancing skill to learn, or a sustainable tech solution to implement. It’s a blend of necessary context and usable insight, making it a resource for anyone who wants to understand and take back control of their tech life. Tune in for a focused, efficient update that prioritizes depth over duration, ensuring you stay informed without being overwhelmed. This podcast delivers exactly what its author promises: the most important weekly tech news paired with tangible solutions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 80

The #TBOT Show with Hakeem Anwar
Podcast Episodes
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar on Abusive Software Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:19
Dan and Hakeem get into how technology is being used as a system of control and the danger of dealing with abusive software. What do you think? Is technology leading us towards an Orwellian future?Support our work:https:…
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar on Digital ID [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:39
Dan and Hakeem discuss the evolution of the Greater Reset conference and the technology sessions at the conference. Hakeem gets into the dangers of digital ID and how to opt out of this dystopian system by using the Abov…
Join us at the People's Reset, September 27-29 in Bath, UK! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:13
Dan and Hakeem explain their student mindset when it comes to constantly learning new things and hopefully meeting new people at the coming People's Reset conference that is happening September 27-29 in Bath, UK!What do…
AI Surveillance & Pre-Crime: On the Sentient World Simulation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Since 2006 the U.S. Department of Defense and Homeland Security have been working on a decidedly Orwellian computer simulation called the Sentient World Simulation (SWS). This virtual world, a kind of digital twin, is de…
Telegram CEO's Arrest, Is Telegram Still Safe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram Messenger, was arrested last Saturday by French authorities. Authorities were executing an arrest warrant issued by (OFMIN), Office Mineurs which deals with offens…
VIDEO: How Does Above Phone Protect Your Data? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:13
Hakeem Anwar and Dan Astin Gregory discuss what is different about the Above Phone, how it protects you and what types of protection it offers to safeguard your personal data from surveillance and invasive tracking. Supp…
Dan Astin Gregory & Hakeem Anwar on Big Tech vs Open Source [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:49
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar get into the primary differences of how to distinguish between proprietary and open source technology.Support our work:https://www.tiktok.com/@takebackourtechhttps://x.com/abovephonehtt…
Dan Astin Gregory & Hakeem Anwar on Surveillance Capitalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:10
Dan Astin Gregory and Hakeem Anwar discuss the dangers of big tech monopolies that have no transparency and the growing dystopian applications of surveillance capitalism. Support our work:https://www.tiktok.com/@takeback…
VIDEO TUTORIAL: How to Use Telegram Without a Phone Number [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44
Ever wonder about how you can use Telegram anonymously without a phone number attached to your identity? Hakeem Anwar from Take Back Our Tech and Above Phone breaks it down for you!Follow us:https://www.tiktok.com/@takeb…