Podcast: Why the Solar Storm Broke Tractors and GPS

We've got something of a John Deere special episode this week. We start with Jason's piece on how the recent solar storm knocked out GPS for John Deere tractors, having a direct impact on farming across the country. After the break, Jason breaks down his deep dive into the various walls closing around John Deere's right to repair monopoly. In the subscribers-only section, we've got two wild Amazon stories: one on the bots used by Amazon workers to book time off, and another on "Swag Bucks," Amazon's internal employee cash system.

Listen to the weekly podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. There should be a video version on our YouTube channel soon. Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism. If you become a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way.

• Solar Storm Knocks Out Farmers' Tractor GPS Systems During Peak Planting Season
• The Walls Are Closing in on John Deere’s Tractor Repair Monopoly
• Amazon Workers Use Bots to Claim Limited Supply of Time Off
• Amazon’s Swag Store Sells Neck Fans to Prevent Workers from Overheating