June 18, 2026

TechCrunch Top 3

Spotify's reserved ticket sales to music superfans are now going live: Spotify is launching "Reserved," a new system that will hold two concert tickets for an artist's superfans before they're on sale to the public. Read More

NASA picks Eric Schmidt's rocket company for Mars mission, setting up a race with SpaceX: Relativity Space—a rocket maker acquired by former Google executive chair Eric Schmidt last year after stumbling on the path to orbit—might just beat SpaceX to Mars. Read More

Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis to stop them driving into highway construction zones: The company has identified at least 13 instances where its robotaxis drove into highway sections closed for construction. Read More

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Morning Must-Reads

FTC lawsuit reveals how subscription scam networks evade app store enforcement: A new FTC lawsuit reveals how sophisticated subscription app operators can allegedly use shell companies and payment infrastructure to stay active on app stores despite mounting consumer complaints. Read More

Pixi's new iOS app turns text messages into interactive AR experiences: Forget stickers, GIFs, and emoji reactions. Pixi is betting that the next evolution of messaging is interactive augmented reality (AR). Read More

Cybercriminals allegedly hacked tens of thousands of Fortinet firewalls used by major companies all over the world: An alleged Russian-speaking group of cybercriminals is reportedly compromising and targeting several major companies that use Fortinet Firewalls and VPNs through previously known passwords. Read More

After unveiling ridiculously expensive AR glasses, Snap's stock takes a dive: Snap's long-awaited smart glasses debut hasn't exactly done wonders for the company's stock. Read More

AI is hurting Apple in more ways than one: it may force iPhone price increases: CEO Tim Cook said in a recent interview that the situation is "unsustainable." Read More

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Last but Not Least

Roelof Botha joins SpaceX's board of directors: The former Sequoia Capital leader is filling an "existing vacancy" on SpaceX's board, days after the company went public in the largest IPO ever. Read More