Podcast Summary: Here's the Scoop – Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg on Trial; The FCC vs. Late Night

Host: Yasmin Vossoughian
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into two headline stories:

1. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony in a landmark trial regarding social media addiction and minors' mental health.
2. The FCC’s push for stricter equal time regulation on late night political interviews, causing controversy with Stephen Colbert and CBS.

Additional coverage includes a tragic avalanche near Lake Tahoe, key legislative moves in the Senate and Illinois, and a lively Olympic update.

1. Mark Zuckerberg's Testimony: Social Media on Trial

Guest: Laura Jarrett, NBC News Senior Legal Correspondent
Time Segment: 00:03 – 08:08

Background and Stakes

• Main Story:
  Mark Zuckerberg testified in a high-profile Los Angeles court case, addressing allegations that Meta (and Google) intentionally designed social media products to be addictive for children.
• Plaintiff:
  “KGM,” a 20-year-old woman, claims her childhood and teenage social media use exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Defendants’ Stance:
  Meta and Google counter that their platforms are not addictive—unlike cigarettes—and assert they’ve put safety and parental controls in place.

Key Discussion Points

• Atmosphere at the Courthouse:
  “The way he entered the courthouse… speaks volumes about what he’s facing in this trial and what’s at stake… a group of parents who have either lost their children to suicide or… self-harm were standing linked, hand in hand, waiting to face him.”
  — Laura Jarrett, 01:32

• Legal Distinctions and Burden of Proof:

  • Plaintiffs must show Instagram substantially contributed to the plaintiff’s depression.
  • Defense argues other factors (e.g., family struggles) contributed, making the legal causality difficult.
  • “To get legal liability, they have to prove that Instagram was a substantial factor… That’s a hard argument.”
    — Laura Jarrett, 03:35

• Meta’s Defense Approach:
  “We understand the concern… but these things are not addictive. This is not like cigarettes.”
  — Jarrett paraphrasing defense, 02:39

• Humanizing Zuckerberg:
  Plaintiff’s lawyers confront Zuckerberg with memos about making himself more likable in court—a nod to how much jury perception may matter here.
  “He says, ‘Yeah, I know this is not my strong suit,’… knowing the jury is paying attention to his, like, every eyebrow movement.”
  — Laura Jarrett, 04:26

• Significance of Not Settling:
  Snap and TikTok previously settled similar cases. Meta is gambling on a legal victory because of the high burden of proof, but with over 1,500 similar cases pending, the stakes are massive:
  “If they settle this… we are going to be paying out billions of dollars. Now they may be paying out billions of dollars if they lose this trial too.”
  — Laura Jarrett, 06:06

• Potential Precedents and Tech Liability:
  If the plaintiffs win, it could upend longstanding protections shielding tech companies from civil liability for user experiences, not just bad actors:
  “If this case finds that there is liability from a civil standpoint, I think that… [would] blow a huge hole through federal law.”
  — Laura Jarrett, 08:04

Memorable Quote

“Our generation’s problem, right—for many people—is social media.”
— Yasmin Vossoughian, 05:30

2. FCC, Late Night, and Equal Time: Colbert vs. CBS

Guest: Ali Canal, NBC News Business Reporter
Time Segment: 09:45 – 17:34

The Controversy Unpacked

• Immediate Cause:
  CBS refused to air Stephen Colbert’s interview with Texas Senate candidate Rep. James Talarico, citing the FCC’s equal time rule after a warning from Chairman Brendan Carr.
• Colbert's Response:
  He publicly criticized CBS’ decision, saying it yielded to FCC pressure. The interview was instead published on YouTube, where it garnered over 5 million views and boosted Talarico’s campaign coffers.
• FCC Chairman Carr's Position:
  He denies censorship, reiterating networks had options. His press conference used partisan language, casting doubt on the neutrality of his enforcement.

Explaining Equal Time

• Rule History:
  Requires broadcast TV/radio networks to grant equal air time to all legally qualified candidates if one is given airtime.
  “The key word here is ‘broadcast’. This does not apply to cables, this does not apply to digital, it does not apply to streaming platforms.”
  — Ali Canal, 12:27

• Changing the Exemption:
  Previously, late night talk shows were treated as “bona fide news” and exempt. New FCC guidance says they must now petition for this status.
  “If they want to be considered bona fide news, they need to petition themselves to be that. So that is the big change here.”
  — Ali Canal, 13:29

• Political Overtones:
  “He said the fake news media, he said it’s a hoax… echoing words and phrases that we’ve heard from President Trump.”
  — Ali Canal, 14:33 Carr claimed applying the rule “could hear more from Democrats… and that is not partisan.”

• Spotlight on Talarico:
  “The primaries are where equal time is incredibly important… The FCC actually opened up a probe into [his appearance on] The View, basically implying that The View didn’t abide by the equal time code.”
  — Ali Canal, 15:29

Paramount, Politics & Business

• Network Maneuvering:
  CBS and its parent, Paramount, are heavily entwined in politics—from a $16M settlement over a Trump lawsuit to mergers requiring administration approval. Current corporate structures are influenced by Trump donor Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison’s Skydance.
• Industry Implications:
  With high-stakes mergers and competitive streaming markets, the regulatory environment has never been tighter.

3. Headlines and Quick Updates

Time Segment: 19:26 – 21:45

Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe

• Eight skiers dead, one missing after a major avalanche. Rescue crews saved six others thanks to avalanche beacons and cell phone SOS signals.
• A powerful snowstorm is compounding rescue operations and causing accidents.

Election Reform Legislation

• Senate Action:
  Senate Republicans are set to vote for President Trump’s “Save America Act” (requiring photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote). Democrats likely to filibuster.
  Sen. Chuck Schumer: “Jim Crow 2.0… it would strip millions of Americans of their ability to vote.”
  — 20:07

Illinois’ Pause on Data Centers

• Governor J.B. Pritzker pauses tax incentives for new AI data centers over power grid and community concerns, pending legislative approval.

4. Olympic Minute – Joy and Victory

Reporter: Molly Hunter, NBC International Correspondent
Time Segment: 21:45 – 22:35

Headlines

• Love on Ice:
  “Speed skater Brittany Bow may not be leaving with a medal, but she is heading home with a ring. Longtime girlfriend and Team USA hockey star Hillary Knight got down on one knee proposing before hitting the ice for the women’s gold medal game.”
  — Yasmin Vossoughian, 21:36

• Team USA Medals:

  • Jake Cantor: Bronze in Slope Style (Olympic debut).
  • Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher: Silver, Men’s Team Sprint (Cross Country Skiing).
  • Mikaela Shiffrin: Gold in Women's Alpine, her first Olympic gold in 8 years, by the largest margin since 1998.

• Upcoming:
  Mikaela Shiffrin will appear on the following day’s podcast.

Select Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Zuckerberg:
  “He’s got, like, internal memos about, like, you know, just be natural, don’t be robotic, like, knowing the jury is paying attention to his, like, every eyebrow movement.”
  — Laura Jarrett, 04:26

• On FCC’s Enforcement:
  “If they want to be considered bona fide news, they need to petition themselves to be that. So that is the big change here.”
  — Ali Canal, 13:29

• On Regulatory Pressure:
  “Paramount Skydance is really at the center of this regulatory environment… David Ellison met with President Trump and we know his father, Larry Ellison, is a friend… they want to kind of play this regulatory dance, be within that good favor.”
  — Ali Canal, 16:54

Episode Structure & Flow

• The episode moves swiftly between in-depth legal analysis (Meta/Zuckerberg), live political/regulatory debate (FCC/Late Night), and rapid-fire news headlines—delivering both context and color in a conversational yet urgent tone.
• Crucially, it highlights the broader cultural and legal stakes of tech and media regulation in 2026, mixing sharp reporting with moments of lightness (like the Olympic love story).

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode offers an engaging and accessible primer on two major legal and political showdowns—framed with expert context, lively dialogue, and pointed quotes—plus a sweep of national and sports headlines for a well-rounded daily news roundup.