Casey Newton and Kevin Roose take 'Machine Gods' to NPR

Kevin Roose and Casey Newton are moving their AI journalism to public radio. NPR announced on September 16, 2026 that the pair will host Machine Gods, a video-first, twice-weekly show that debuts in October on the NPR app, YouTube and podcast platforms, and rolls out to the NPR Member station radio network in early 2027. Production is based in San Francisco.

Roose comes from the New York Times; Newton founded Platformer. Their prior show is Hard Fork.

"AI is the biggest story of our lifetimes, and most of the coverage is either cheerleading or doomsaying," Roose said in the announcement. "Casey and I are building a show for people who want to know what is actually happening with AI, and partnering with NPR will let us reach smart, engaged audiences at a scale no tech podcast has ever had."

Newton framed the move as a bet on reach over paywalls. "When you build an independent tech publication, there's always a temptation to retreat behind a paywall or talk exclusively to insiders," he said. "What sold us on NPR is its public-service mission. We get to bring sharp, independent reporting on AI to millions of people for free, right where they already listen."

NPR Chief Content Officer Nadine Zylstra called the hosts "two of the sharpest, most trusted voices covering the technology shaping our world." The announcement lands days before Roose's book The AGI Chronicles, out October 6.

The release does not disclose deal terms or ad-revenue splits.