Hours before a new federal law banning TikTok was to take effect in the United States, the social media app showed users a pop-up message saying it would be “temporarily unavailable” starting Sunday. “We regret that the US law banning TikTok will go into effect on January 19,” the message said. “We are working to … Read more
It’s become a cliché to cry that the American government doesn’t do big, bold things anymore. But banning TikTok — a social media platform used by nearly half of Americans — would certainly be considered big and audacious. That outcome became more likely yesterday, even if it is far from assured. The Supreme Court unanimously … Read more
While he was waiting for his agent to call in September, Isaac Rochelle, a professional football player looking for a team, watched the National Football League’s opening weekend games on television with his infant daughter. His wife needed a baby sitter. Alison Kucharski, Rochelle’s wife and an online influencer with more than three million TikTok … Read more
Free speech and national security can often conflict. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln prohibited newspapers from publishing pro-Union material. During subsequent wars, the federal government suppressed criticism. After the 9/11 attacks, Congress also made it a crime to provide human rights advice to extremist groups. In each case, government officials argued that they needed … Read more
It’s September 2026, and the Pentagon is alarmed. Its spy satellites have detected a rapid, large-scale buildup of Chinese naval and amphibious forces across the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese government’s intentions are unclear, but military leaders in Washington hope that a show of American force will maintain deterrence. This is not a far-fetched concern. Chinese … Read more
Five college students in Massachusetts are accused of luring a man onto the Assumption University campus in a plot that police said was inspired by the television show “To Catch a Predator” and a craze on TikTok. According to a criminal complaint released in December in Worcester District Court, the students were part of a … Read more