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a16z Backs ‘Monitoring the Situation,’ a 24/7 Livestream News Venture on X

The launch signals Silicon Valley investors are funding real-time, platform-native news to compete with shrinking legacy outlets.

Overview

  • MTS, which went live Monday on X, is funded by Andreessen Horowitz and led by Erik Torenberg and Brent Liang with angel support from Dan Romero and Packy McCormick.
  • Built as a timeline-native channel, the stream runs continuously with hosts reacting to posts on X, pulling in prediction markets, and inviting guests for rapid commentary.
  • The founding team includes Chris Bakke, Theo Jaffee, and Gabriel Dickinson, and the project is recruiting hosts, guests, and sponsors while running a public Discord for its audience.
  • Marc Andreessen has already appeared, pitching MTS as a tool for fast “sense-making” and comparing its always-on mix to CNN’s early “Randomonium” programming.
  • Early reviews describe a rough, reactive format that critics say looks like venture partners flipping between X, prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, and quick sources, placing MTS within a broader push that also includes OpenAI’s TBPN deal and Peter Thiel–backed Objection.AI.