Big tech companies tend to make a lot of enemies — but there are none more powerful than the US government. Apple, Google, Amazon, and Meta are regularly called in front of Congress to fend off monopoly accusations — and lawmakers bring up bills to rein in the companies just as often. The Federal Trade Commission has taken a particularly central role, leading a lawsuit to sever Facebook and Instagram while blocking new acquisitions for Oculus and the company’s virtual reality wing. Like it or not, these regulatory fights will play a huge role in deciding the future of tech — and neither side is playing nice.
Musk has already donated $10 million to a super PAC supporting Nate Morris, who is running for the seat Mitch McConnell is leaving, and is “focused on” convincing voters who only vote when Trump is on the ballot to turn up for this year’s elections, The Wall Street Journal reports.
[The Wall Street Journal]
After Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted a photo of Nekima Levy Armstrong’s arrest in connection to a Minnesota church protest against ICE, someone behind the White House account on X decided to post a version edited to make it look like she had been crying.
The war on reality continues.
The Democratic state AGs think they’re the only officials standing up to Trump. They are probably right.
It’s been a long, confusing, and at times tiresome saga, but according to Semafor, the Chinese and U.S. governments have given the green light for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s American arm. The target closing date set back in December was today, January 22nd, 2026.
A federal judge barred government officials from reviewing Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s devices that were seized by investigators last week. The ruling came after the Post asked for the return of Natanson’s devices and not to review their contents, alleging a grave First Amendment violation.
Update: Added court ruling.
[The Washington Post]
Billionaires attending the exclusive World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland are reportedly getting duped by scammers selling fake VIP packages to meet President Donald Trump during his visit. (And yes, according to USA House, the official Davos venue hosting members of the Trump administration, the scam is specifically targeting billionaires.)
Looks like the man himself has weighed in. The Jackpot’s here — just unevenly distributed. At least, for now.
The Federal Aviation Administration is barring drones from flying within 3,000 feet of “Department of Homeland Security facilities and mobile assets,” 404 Media reports. The notice is similar to those restricting drones near military bases, 404 says, but could apply to flying them near Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles.
Polymarket — the same platform someone made thousands of dollars betting on Nicolás Maduro’s arrest — has 48 hours to cease operations in Portugal after users wagered more than 103 million euros (~$120 million) on the outcome of the country’s presidential election, according to a report from CoinDesk.
Political betting is illegal in Portugal, and its gambling regulator says Polymarket doesn’t have a license to operate in the country, CoinDesk reports.
Mark Davis, an independent running for the District 16 House seat in Florida, picked up the domain and pointed it to the department, explaining on X that “the GOP went full fascist and the democrat establishment still won’t name it.” He’s hoping to capture some of the growing furor over ICE’s increasingly aggressive tactics after several high-profile shootings.
At a hearing on kids’ screen time, lawmakers debated a federal fund for school internet services. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) accused the Biden administration of using funds to help students get online with little supervision. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said rather than “threatening” school funds, Congress should pass privacy protections.
Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-SC) made a last minute decision to postpone a vote on the Clarity Act, which would determine which federal agency could regulate crypto. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong came out against the latest version of the bill one day before the scheduled vote.
[The New York Times]
As Donald Trump steps up his attacks on Minneapolis, even threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, Governor Walz is encouraging documentation. He delivered a primetime address on Wednesday evening in which he told citizens to pull out their phones and record ICE agents whenever they see them:
That’s how many Australian social media accounts were removed in just the first few days after the country’s under-16 social media ban took effect in December, according to the Australian internet regulator. We already knew 550,000 of them were from Meta, but TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat and more were also covered by the ban.
[eSafety Commissioner]
”Did you decide in the middle of the hearing to officially abandon the FCC’s independence? Or had that decision already been made by you and President Trump prior to the hearing?” Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) asked. Carr said he’s “pleased that the FCC website reflects my views.”
In a highly unusual move, FBI agents executed a search warrant on Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson’s Virginia home, the Post reports. Natanson has written about the Department of Government Efficiency’s federal workforce overhaul. Investigators are reportedly probing a system administrator with security clearance accused of removing classified information.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the search on X, saying it was requested by the Department of War after the reporter was allegedly “obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor.” Washington Post spokesperson Olivia Petersen confirmed the Post is monitoring the situation.
Update: Added comment from Bondi and The Washington Post.
[Washington Post]
A political comms professional breaks down Trump’s meme media strategy.
An unknown number of vervet monkeys are “at large” in St. Louis, the AP reports. They’ve been on the lam since Thursday. And multiple people have claimed to have caught them, even using AI image generators to post “proof,” which has complicated the search efforts.
Ofcom says the probe will establish whether X has failed to comply with Online Safety Act obligations, over concerns its Grok AI chatbot is generating sexualized deepfakes of adults and minors. The investigation is “a matter of the highest priority,” and may result in hefty fines or even X being banned in the UK.
Dina Powell McCormick, who previously worked as deputy national security advisor during Trump’s first administration, is joining Meta as president and vice chairman.
Mark Zuckerberg says she’ll “be involved in all of Meta’s work, with a particular focus on partnering with governments and sovereigns to build, deploy, invest in, and finance Meta’s AI and infrastructure.”
