Transcript
Lakshmi Singh (0:01)
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is testifying today in a state court trial in Los Angeles that could reshape social media. At issue is whether social media companies are legally responsible for young people's addiction to companies products such as Instagram and Facebook. NPR's Bobby Allen is covering Zuckerberg's testimony.
Bobby Allen (0:25)
Social media companies have used a legal shield known as Section230 to avoid sorts of legal consequences of what people post to their sites. It's been described as an impenetrable fortress for Silicon Valley. But in recent years, plaintiff's lawyers have gotten pretty creative and they are now suing tech companies under product liability law to say, you know what, these platforms are essentially defective products like a defective car or a defective toaster, and that Meta and Google, the equivalent of a manufacturer, should be held liable.
Lakshmi Singh (0:54)
NPR's Bobby Allen. In the aftermath of yesterday's avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California, authorities confirmed today eight skiers are dead. The crew is still searching for one person. The ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee led a group of Democrats to Odesa, a key Ukrainian port that has been hard hit in Russia's war against Ukraine. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that the U.S. lawmakers say American businesses are being hit, too. Senator Jean Shaheen says she and her colleagues met with American business leaders in Odessa who have faced Russian attacks. Richard Blumenthal, another Senate Democrat, puts it.
Richard Blumenthal (1:29)
This way, open season on American business. There are about 600 major businesses here. Nearly half of them have been directly and purposefully attacked. The American people deserve to know that Putin is targeting American businesses.
Lakshmi Singh (1:46)
He's also pushing for more sanctions, saying countries that are buying Russian gas should be given, quote, strong incentives to stop. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department, weeks after facing scathing criticism for racist posts on his social media account, today President Trump is hosting a reception in recognition of Black history month.
Richard Blumenthal (2:08)
Nearly 10,000 African Americans fought for the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War. Did you know that? 10,000. And it's actually a number even, I've heard even number higher than that, helping secure our independence. In every generation since, from the Buffalo Soldiers to the Tuskegee Airmen, black Americans have stepped forward to defend the flag and to defend our country.