DoorDash “Desperation Score” Claims, Uber vs Lyft Prices & Gig Work in 2026 | Ep 284

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We break down a wild start to 2026: rumors of a DoorDash “desperation score,” shifting incentives across Uber, Lyft, and Spark, and the thin line between algorithmic efficiency and exploitation. From a Waymo red-light fail to McDonald’s weighing bags, we push on safety, trust, and what drivers can actually control.

• Uber quest math vs Lyft drought on bonuses
• Spark incentives influencing supply on holidays
• Long-trip deadhead realities and hourly trade-offs
• DoorDash payout rumors and algorithmic steering
• Government scrutiny of pricing tests and AI ethics
• McDonald’s weighing deliveries to curb missing items
• Uber wrapped sparking budget wake-up calls
• Octopus tablet tying rewards to Uber Journey TV
• Pickup trucks powering hauling and delivery side gigs
• EV pullbacks and battery plants pivoting to data centers
• Waymo running a red and a trunk stowaway risk
• Delivery fraud by photo and string, trust erosion
• Zesty by DoorDash for AI restaurant discovery

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