Because the tech world hires a lot of overseas talent, Silicon Valley has been largely critical of Trump’s immigration ban. Politico reporter Tony Romm joined us to talk about the how the ban is specifically affecting companies in this sector and the measures that some companies are taking to protect workers. Next, we’ll look at Ford Motor’s attempt to change its brand from a car company to a future “mobility” company. At the Manhattan transportation center today, the first new FordHub will open. Inside, there will be a rolling ball sculpture, a wall covered in matchbox-sized cars, and a futuristic travel game.

Our tech future may include more communication with voice recognition software, rather than looking directly at the web. We’ll explore how companies can make money from these types of interactions. Next, we’ll look at a new virtual reality film called “Indefinite,” which looks at the experience of immigrant detention in the U.K. Finally, we’ll take a glimpse at a possible Apple product: a vaporizer. 

Amid news that Verizon and Charter could be planning a merger, telecom analyst Angelo Zino takes a look at what this deal would mean to consumers. Afterwards, we’ll discuss whether the Federal Communications Commission should be involved in business moves like these. Harold Furchtgott Roth, an FCC commissioner from 1997 to 2001, gives his take. Finally, we’ll play this week’s “Silicon Tally” with Wayne Cotter, an engineer turned comedian.   

As Trump calls for the return of manufacturing in the U.S., Los Angeles is looking to technology as a promising sector for job growth. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti joined us to talk about why he wants to make LA a tech hub and how he’ll try to ensure that it’s a diverse one. Afterwards, we’ll look at how viable it is to work for ridesharing companies. Uber recently agreed to pay $20 million to settle claims that it misled drivers about how much they could expect to earn on the job. 

As AT&T prepares to announce fourth-quarter earnings later today, we’ll revisit the company’s proposed $85 billion merger with Time Warner and look at what it means for consumers. Next, we’ll talk about the Trans-Pacific Partnership’s connection to the television and film industry. Hollywood had rallied behind beefed-up copyright protections included in the TPP, a deal that Trump withdrew from on Monday.

Walls and fences aren’t the only things dividing the U.S. and Mexico. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams — reporting from Nogales, Mexico —  examines the low-and high-tech barriers that exist between the two countries. Afterwards, we’ll look at the conversation surrounding private photos in the digital age. Dozens of states now have laws that make it a crime to publicly disclose someone’s intimate image without his or her consent.

During his time as head of the Federal Communications Commission, Tom Wheeler pushed for internet providers to deliver information at equal speeds. But companies have pushed back against this idea of net neutrality. Wheeler joined us to talk about the telecom industry, his successor, and his plans for the future. Afterwards, we’ll hear from Harvard professor Susan Crawford about what telecom policy might look like under President Trump. 

New gadgets mean new rules. With Trump’s inauguration taking place today, D.C. wants to make it clear that drones and selfie sticks are not allowed in the capitol. We’ll take look at what attendees WILL be able to bring with them. As for those of us who live elsewhere in the country, we’ll also share the ways you can watch the event online. Afterwards, software engineer Tracey Chou will join us to play this week’s Silicon Tally. 

Thousands are heading to Washington for Trump’s inauguration — many of them to protest the event. Rally, a tech platform that connects riders with transportation to big events, is getting a lot of business right now thanks to anti-Trump activists. Co-founder Siheun Song explains how the service works. Next, we’ll step outside of the planet to look at evidence from Mars rover Curiosity about possible mud cracks on the planet, which could tell us something about the possible history of life there.