The Insanely Great Podcast

Apple's Big Keynote, a Foldable iPhone, and AI Getting Weird — Insanely Great Podcast, September 12, 2026
Chris and DJ break down everything from Apple's latest keynote — the CEO handoff from Tim Cook to John Ternus, the end of the standard iPhone lineup, a $100 price hike across the board, and the debut of Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo. They dig into the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max camera upgrades, the new A20 Pro chip, Apple Watch Ultra changes (including a jaw-dropping $3,100 Hermès band), and what Siri's long-promised "brain upgrade" actually looks like in practice.
From there, the conversation shifts to AI: a former Anthropic researcher's warning about AI risk, a report on threat actors abusing AI models, growing concern over AI-powered drone surveillance networks used by police, and the ongoing debate over whether any model has really reached AGI.
The back half covers current events — the RNC's low-turnout Dallas rally, a competitive Texas Senate race, 9/11 remembrance controversy, and the FCC fallout around late-night TV hosts.
In this episode:
  • Apple's iPhone 18 lineup, pricing changes, and camera upgrades
  • First impressions of the foldable iPhone "Duo"
  • Apple Watch Ultra, AirPods, and what Apple left out of the keynote
  • The new A20 Pro chip and iOS 27
  • AI safety warnings, model misuse, and AGI claims
  • The rise of AI-powered surveillance drones
  • Political headlines: RNC turnout, the Texas Senate race, and late-night TV controversy
A quick note: this episode includes candid political commentary and some adult language.

Chapters
  • (00:00) - Welcome to Insanely Great: Apple Keynote Recap
  • (00:48) - The Keynote Opens: Race Cars, Handoffs, and a New CEO
  • (03:16) - No More Plain iPhone — And Prices Go Up $100
  • (05:33) - iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max: Vapor Chambers and Variable Aperture
  • (09:14) - On-Device AI, Smarter Dictation, and eSIM Swapping
  • (11:40) - Bye Qualcomm: Apple's New In-House Modem
  • (12:33) - Apple Watch Ultra, Ceramic Colors, and a $3,100 Hermès Band
  • (15:19) - New AirPods, No AirPods Max, and Apple's Pricing Puzzle
  • (16:32) - What Didn't Show Up: iPads, HomePods, and a Beefier Apple TV
  • (17:06) - Siri Finally Gets a Brain (Sort Of)
  • (19:57) - Pre-Orders, Colors, and Guessing the Fan Favorite
  • (20:31) - The Foldable iPhone "Duo": First Impressions
  • (26:23) - Will Apps and Cases Keep Up With the Fold?
  • (29:42) - D-Brand's Tariff Rant (And Why It's Kind of Hilarious)
  • (32:17) - MKBHD's Crease Check and Our Duo Sales Predictions
  • (34:32) - iOS 27, Photos, and the New A20 Pro Chip
  • (37:01) - Which Phone Are We Actually Buying?
  • (37:28) - AI Doomsaying: The Ex-Anthropic Researcher's Warning
  • (38:53) - Threat Actors, Guardrails, and AI Gone Rogue
  • (39:41) - The Pentagon Wants an AI That Never Says No
  • (40:27) - Drones Everywhere: The Quiet Rise of AI Surveillance
  • (44:25) - Is Astra Really AGI? And AI's Hallucination Problem
  • (47:38) - RNC in Dallas: Empty Seats and a Purple Texas
  • (49:15) - 9/11, "Alternative Memories," and a Very Public Nap
  • (53:34) - Grindr Keeps Crashing at GOP Events — Here's Why
  • (55:21) - Kimmel, Colbert, and the FCC Fallout
  • (56:55) - The $5,000 Promise and the Missing Tariff Money
  • (01:00:05) - Merch Sales Drop and Closing Thoughts

What is The Insanely Great Podcast?

The Insanely Great Podcast is your weekly mix of tech, AI, sports, politics, and whatever other shiny object grabs our attention. One minute we’re breaking down the future of artificial intelligence, the next we’re debating game-day drama, political chaos, or the kind of random topic that somehow becomes the best conversation of the episode. Smart, funny, and just unhinged enough to keep things interesting, it’s the podcast for curious people who like their insights sharp and their conversations a little unpredictable.