Is TikTok Doomed?

Summary

What a Day Podcast Summary Episode: "Is TikTok Doomed?"
Release Date: December 10, 2024
Host: Jane Coaston | Produced by Crooked Media

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Introduction

In this episode of What a Day, host Jane Coaston delves into the pressing issues shaping our modern landscape. From the potential downfall of TikTok and the resurgence of cryptocurrency to Biden's push for commuting federal death row sentences, Jane navigates through a myriad of topics that matter. With insightful interviews and expert analysis, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the forces influencing today's society.

Is TikTok Doomed?

Court Ruling and Legal Battle

The episode opens with a critical examination of TikTok's precarious position in the United States. A federal appeals court recently upheld a law that could effectively ban the popular social media app unless it divests from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. TikTok contended that such a ban infringes upon users' free speech rights, but the three-judge panel disagreed, insisting on the necessity of severing ties with ByteDance to retain access to the U.S. market.

Trump's Shifting Stance

Jane highlights the fluctuating position of former President Donald Trump regarding TikTok. Initially intent on banning the app due to national security concerns, Trump altered his stance during his campaign, pledging not to enforce a nationwide ban. In a recent interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Trump's responses about TikTok were notably inconsistent:

[01:50] Donald Trump: "And I use TikTok, so I can't really, you know, I can't totally hate it... if you do do that, something else is going to come along and take its place... you can't have Chinese companies. They have the right to ban it if you can prove that the Chinese companies own it."

This ambivalence underscores the complexity of the situation, leaving the public uncertain about the administration's future actions regarding TikTok.

Expert Analysis with Louise Matsakis

To unpack these developments, Jane converses with Louise Matsakis, Senior Business Editor at Wired. Louise provides clarity on the legal nuances and national security implications:

[03:44] Louise Matsakis: "I do not think that there is any public evidence, at least, that the Chinese government is using this app in particular, in order to surveil Americans."

Louise emphasizes the lack of concrete evidence linking TikTok to Chinese government surveillance, pointing out that other avenues, such as telecom hacks, are more significant concerns.

Supreme Court Implications

As the case advances to the Supreme Court, Louise speculates on potential outcomes:

[04:51] Louise Matsakis: "They have shown that they believe in a wide breadth of free speech rights... courts give a lot of leeway to national security arguments."

The interplay between free speech protections and national security remains a delicate balance, with Louise noting that previous rulings have often favored executive branch discretion in such matters.

Future Prospects and Precedents

Should TikTok fail to comply with the divestiture requirement, the app might face removal from major app stores, impacting its accessibility:

[08:16] Louise Matsakis: "Apple and Google would be liable for... no new users. But it still is unclear whether the same app on your phone would work abroad..."

Furthermore, Louise warns of the broader implications:

[09:37] Louise Matsakis: "I worry that American platforms are dominant in most parts of the world... authoritarian regimes might cite similar national security risks to ban platforms like Facebook."

This sets a concerning precedent for the potential suppression of other foreign-owned social media platforms in the U.S.

News Highlights

1. Arrest in High-Profile Murder Case

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrest of Luigi Mangioni in connection with the targeted murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Mangioni was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after being identified at a McDonald's. Evidence against him includes a firearm, suppressor, fraudulent IDs, and a handwritten document expressing animosity toward corporate America.

2. Biden's Push to Commute Federal Death Row Sentences

A coalition of over 100 faith groups, civil rights organizations, and prominent figures, including the Pope, have urged President Biden to commute the sentences of federal death row inmates. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and the ACLU have highlighted cases of wrongful convictions and systemic injustices to support their appeals:

[13:07] Eric Adams: "President Biden, this is your legacy."

This initiative faces opposition from figures like Donald Trump, who advocate for maintaining and expanding the death penalty.

3. Lara Trump's Resignation from RNC

Lara Trump has announced her resignation as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, intending to vie for a Senate seat vacated by Florida Senator Marco Rubio. Her departure follows strategic moves within the party as President-elect Trump positions his administration, with potential implications for the GOP's future direction.

4. Jay Z Faced with Sexual Assault Allegations

An unnamed accuser has expanded a lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs by adding Jay Z, alleging participation in a 2000 sexual assault incident. Jay Z has publicly denied the claims, labeling them as attempts at blackmail. This lawsuit is part of a broader series of legal challenges confronting Combs over similar accusations.

Cryptocurrency on the Rise

Trump's Evolving Position

Initially dismissive of cryptocurrency, Donald Trump's stance has markedly shifted. In the past, Trump labeled Bitcoin a scam:

[16:22] Donald Trump: "Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam."

However, at a recent Bitcoin conference, Trump outlined an ambitious plan:

[16:36] Donald Trump: "This afternoon I'm laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and the bitcoin superpower of the world."

This pivot aligns with the new administration's infusion of crypto enthusiasts and positions the U.S. at the forefront of the cryptocurrency surge.

Interview with Stacy Vanek Smith

Jane interviews Stacy Vanek Smith, Senior Editor at Bloomberg, to demystify cryptocurrency and its implications for the average American:

[17:34] Stacy Vanek Smith: "It is money that people agree is worth something and they trade it... The tricky part is it's hard to know what it's backed up by."

Stacy explains that unlike traditional currencies backed by governments, cryptocurrencies derive their value from collective belief and market dynamics. She highlights the libertarian inclination towards crypto due to its decentralized nature and the skepticism of government control.

Policy and Financial Implications

With the Trump administration's pro-crypto stance, Stacy anticipates increased regulatory support:

[21:47] Stacy Vanek Smith: "We're likely to see that just a greater ease of use, much more integrated into our economy and I think just into our day to day lives."

However, Stacy also voices concerns about volatility and the potential risks if widespread adoption leads to significant financial losses, emphasizing the need for responsible integration into the financial system.

Conclusion and Additional Segments

The episode wraps up with a nod to Crooked Media's Anti Doom Initiative, featuring Priyanka Arabindi's interview with indigenous climate advocate Quanah Chasing Horse. This segment underscores the podcast's commitment to highlighting voices fighting for environmental justice and sustainable futures.

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Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump on TikTok:

  "[01:50] And I use TikTok, so I can't really, you know, I can't totally hate it..."

• Louise Matsakis on Surveillance Concerns:

  "[03:44] I do not think that there is any public evidence, at least, that the Chinese government is using this app in particular, in order to surveil Americans."

• Eric Adams on Biden's Legacy:

  "[13:07] President Biden, this is your legacy."

• Stacy Vanek Smith on Cryptocurrency:

  "[17:34] It's money that people agree is worth something and they trade it."

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This episode of What a Day offers a nuanced exploration of the intersection between technology, politics, and societal issues, providing listeners with informed perspectives and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our world.

Transcript

[Jane Coston]

It's Tuesday, December 10th. I'm Jane Coston and this is what a day. The show that is polarized about Merriam Webster deciding that polarization is the word of the year. Some of us are supportive of this decision and some of us are very, very angry about it. And I feel like there's a divide between us on this. I wonder what that's called. On today's show, bitcoin is spiking and Trump is filling the White House with crypto and enthusiasts. What does that mean for the future of American currency? And Biden is asked to commute the sentences of federal death row inmates. Let's get into it. TikTok's days may be numbered. A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law that could ban the app in the U.S. tikTok argued that such a ban would violate users right to free speech. But the three judge panel disagreed and maintained that TikTok must divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or lose its US market. On Monday, TikTok asked an appeals court not to enforce the ban until the Supreme Court decides whether or not they want to take the case. TikTok also argued that delaying enforcement would give President Elect Donald Trump and his administration more time to clarify if they are pro ban or want to keep the app. Because right now it's kind of unclear. We've talked on the show before about how Trump tried banning TikTok during his first term in office. He was 100% on board with all the lawmakers who said China is using TikTok to spy on Americans. But on the campaign trail, he changed his tune entirely and promised that he would not let a nationwide ban go into effect. During Trump's interview with NBC's Meet the Press earlier this week, host Kristen Welker asked Trump if he plans to keep that promise. But in true Trump form, his answer was all over the place. Listen for yourself.

[Donald Trump]

And I use TikTok, so I can't really, you know, I can't totally hate it. It was very effective. But I will say this, if you do do that, something else is going to come along and take its place. And maybe that's not fair what they're doing. And really what the judge actually said was that you can't have Chinese companies. In other words, they have the right to ban it if you can prove that the Chinese companies own it. That's what the judge asked.

[Jane Coston]

So are you going to try to protect TikTok just very quick once you're in office?

[Donald Trump]

I'm going to try and make it so that other companies don't become an even bigger monopoly.

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

Okay.

[Donald Trump]

Because that's what happens.

[Jane Coston]

I do not know what that means. I wanted to talk to someone who could run through the possibilities of what comes next. So I called up Louise Matsakis. She's a longtime tech reporter and the senior business editor at Wired. Louise, welcome back to what a day.

[Louise Matsakis]

Hey, how's it going?

[Jane Coston]

So with regard to this case, was this ruling the expected outcome, I think.

[Louise Matsakis]

Before this all started? Absolutely not. I think the idea of blocking a major social media platform in the United States was sort of an unheard of idea. However, recently, yes, this was expected because during the oral arguments, it seemed like the panel of judges were already sort of leaning in this direction, and they were very sympathetic to the national security arguments that were being made by Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice.

[Jane Coston]

I want to get into those national security concerns because I feel like I've heard two different versions. One is the kind of more fear mongering. You know, they're making things trend to make Americans into bad people. But then I've also heard the idea that the Chinese government is using the app to surveil users. Can you tell us if there's any merit to that claim? Does the federal government actually have any evidence that the Chinese government is using the app to surveil users or influence them in some way?

[Louise Matsakis]

The answer is no. I do not think that there is any public evidence, at least, that the Chinese government is using this app in particular, in order to surveil Americans. There have been no reports of that specifically in terms of, like, widespread, you know, data collection. And I think it's important to note that that's not because the Chinese government is benevolent, but because there's a lot of other avenues where they can get the sorts of data that they're interested in. Right. You know, there's a lot of reporting right now about how the Chinese government has been accused of hacking a number of major telecom providers in the US So that would probably give them a lot more information about patterns of communication, the phone numbers and maybe addresses and maybe other data of the types of people that they're interested in. So it's not that this hacking isn't happening, but there's no public knowledge that it's happening through TikTok specifically.

[Jane Coston]

It looks like the case is headed for the Supreme Court. TikTok has asked that the federal government hold off on enforcing the ban until the justices weigh in. The court's conservative supermajority is known to rule in favor of free speech. But this is a little different, especially when you bring in those national security concerns. Do we expect the high court to rule in favor of TikTok?

[Louise Matsakis]

I think everything is on the table. I think that these are judges who have definitely shown that they believe in sort of a wide breadth of free speech rights and sort of, you know, leaning in that direction. However, historically, including in the ruling we just saw on Friday, courts give a lot of leeway to national security arguments, and they also give a lot of leeway to the executive branch. There could be, you know, a number of avenues that could open up for, you know, President elect Donald Trump to potentially do something here. So we could sort of see a mixed ruling where, you know, some parts of the law are upheld and then other parts of the law are able to go forward. What was interesting to me about the ruling on Friday was how the court said that, you know, the First Amendment gives you the right to ensure that your free speech is not infringed upon by the US Government. But what they said was that what this law did was infringing on the free speech of a foreign platform, of a Chinese owned platform. So it's sort of like this idea that the First Amendment is not a global right and that it's not protecting the rights of Chinese companies or foreign companies. There's a lot of different ways that the court could interpret that, and I wouldn't make bets either way.

[Jane Coston]

Let's say TikTok loses again. Can someone still buy the app to satisfy the doj? Has anyone shown any interest?

[Louise Matsakis]

Yes, I would say one of the people making the most noise right now about wanting to buy the app is a real estate investor named Frank McCourt. And there's been some reporting that he's raised about $20 billion to potentially buy it. However, the question really is Whether or not ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, would really want to sell it or be able to. When this issue first came up four years ago, when Trump first tried to ban the app, the Chinese government signaled that they wouldn't allow this sort of sale to go through. And I don't think that there's really any indication that that's necessarily changed. But, yeah, a number of people like McCord have sort of raised their hand and said, hey, I'll take it. But whether that sale is realistic, I think, is an entirely different question.

[Jane Coston]

You mentioned just a moment ago that Trump tried to ban TikTok during his first presidency. There was a lot of conversation among Republicans about how TikTok was very dangerous for some of the reasons that I mentioned a little earlier. We've talked on the show before about how Trump flip flopped on this completely, and he promises to save the app if he's elected, and he has been. What could he do to reverse the ban once he's inaugurated?

[Louise Matsakis]

So one of the things that he could do is he could decline to enforce the law. So even if the law stays and the Supreme Court decides to uphold it, he could basically just say, I'm not going to go after Google if they continue hosting TikTok in their app Store. I'm not going to, like, you know, come and try and shut down TikTok's headquarters in Los Angeles. However, he would potentially then be violating another law which basically says that presidents need to continue to uphold the laws that have already been passed. So that's why we don't have a situation where when a new president is elected, they just say, oh, forget all these other laws that have already existed. I don't care about those. Right. It's potentially possible that he could then get in trouble for ignoring a law that is considered the will of the people and that Congress overwhelmingly voted to pass.

[Jane Coston]

That January 19 deadline is coming up very quickly. If TikTok doesn't divest from ByteDance, does that mean the app just disappears from the App Store and our phones?

[Louise Matsakis]

So the app won't necessarily disappear from your phones. The technical specifics do remain a little unclear. But what could potentially happen is that when you try to use the app from a United States IP address, it may no longer work. Apple and Google would be liable for, you know, tens of thousands, potentially millions of dollars of fines for continuing to host the app in their App Store. So that means, you know, no new users. But it still is unclear whether or not, let's say you flew to Mexico or to Europe, whether the same app on your phone would work, or if you need to download a different version. I think a lot of those questions remain really unanswered. And that's been a big source of the confusion here is like, and if a sale does go through, will you be on this app where there are only other Americans? Because TikTok is only being forced here to divest its US operations. Right. So does that mean, like, you know, the creators I follow in Japan or in France or wherever, I just won't be able to see their accounts anymore? Right. Like, those are the sorts of things that we don't really know and that certainly ByteDance is probably trying to hash out right now.

[Jane Coston]

And I also want to talk briefly about the broader legal implications of banning an entire social media platform in the US does this set a precedent that could be used to ban other social media apps?

[Louise Matsakis]

I think it definitely does set a precedent for banning foreign owned platforms in the US but what I worry about is that American platforms are dominant in most parts of the world and so I worry about other countries saying, hey, you banned TikTok for national security reasons that were sort of vague and based on hypotheticals. Well, it's a national security risk for my authoritarian regime that people are allowed to protest on Facebook. So I'm gonna ban Facebook, right? And I think that underlying hypocrisy will be really hard to argue against on the global stage.

[Jane Coston]

Louise, this has been really helpful. Thanks for being here.

[Louise Matsakis]

Thanks for having me.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with Wired Business Editor Louise Matsakis. We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe, leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads and now the news.

[Jessica Tisch]

He is believed to be our person of interest in the brazen targeted murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, last Wednesday in midtown Manhattan.

[Jane Coston]

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrest of Luigi Mangioni Monday, a suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Thompson was killed last week in Manhattan, where the company was holding an investor conference. Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after he was recognized at a McDonald's in a press conference. New York City Mayor Eric Adams attributed the arrest to a photo of the suspect circulated by the NYPD.

[Eric Adams]

We sent it across the country and someone, a McDonald's employee, did something we ask every American to do. If you see something, say something, but most importantly, do something, tisch said.

[Jane Coston]

Local police officers then questioned Mangione, who was, quote, acting suspiciously.

[Jessica Tisch]

Officers recovered a firearm on his person as well as a suppressor, both consistent with the weapon used in the murder. They also recovered clothing, including a mask consistent with those worn by our wanted individual.

[Jane Coston]

Tisch said Mangione was carrying multiple fraudulent IDs as well as a US passport. She said. Police also recovered a handwritten document that, quote, speaks to both his motivation and mindset. That's a lot of things, the NYPD says. The document noted, quote, ill will towards corporate America. Mangione had a preliminary arraignment in Pennsylvania Monday night, where he was formally hit with multiple charges, including forgery and carrying firearms without a license. He was ordered held without bail. More than 100 faith groups, civil rights organizations, current and former prosecutors, and even the pope are asking President Biden to commute the sentences of federal death row inmates before he leaves office. In letters to Biden made public Monday, groups like Human Rights Watch and the ACLU asked the president to commute all federal death sentences to life in prison without parole. They appealed to Biden's Catholic faith and the fact that he campaigned against the death penalty. The ACLU also released ads to bolster its request. They include a plea from Herman Lindsay, a former Florida death row inmate who is exonerated by the state's Supreme Court.

[Eric Adams]

The weight of those years on my mind, my body is something that I still live with every day. President Biden, this is your legacy.

[Jane Coston]

Commute Thoreau Driving this pressure campaign on Biden right now is the fact that Donald Trump campaigned on his support for the death penalty. Trump also wants to expand the pool of crimes eligible for capital punishment. Right now, there are 40 men on federal death row. They include the surviving Boston Marathon bomber, the man who killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, S.C. and a gunman who killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Donald Trump's daughter in law, Lara Trump, is stepping down as co chair of the Republican National Committee. She made the announcement late Sunday in a post on social media saying she plans to formally resign at the next RNC meeting. Her co chair, Michael Watley, is staying on and she's practically begging for the Senate seat that's about to be vacated by Florida Senator Marco Rubio. The president elect picked him to be his secretary of State pending Senate confirmation. Speaking to Fox on Sunday night, Lara Trump downplayed good old fashioned nepotism as a factor in potentially getting that seat.

[Lara Trump]

I think probably my last name does heighten my political profile a little bit.

[Jane Coston]

But I've got a proven track record. Has Lara Trump ever served in government or run for election? No. But sure, it's definitely her experience and not her last name that could win her the job. Once Rubio vacates a seat, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would have the power to appoint his replacement to serve until 2026, when a special election would be held for the remainder of Rubio's term. DeSantis says he's already vetting candidates. An unnamed woman who accused Sean Diddy Combs of raping her at an awards show afterparty in 2000 when she was just 13 years old added Jay Z to her lawsuit Sunday, saying he participated in the assault in a statement released on Twitter. Jay Z denied the allegations and called them a blackmail attempt. He called the plaintiff's lawyer, Tony Busby, a, quote, ambulance chaser in a cheap suit, and said the accusations amount to quote, theatrics. Busby has filed more than 100 lawsuits accusing Diddy of sexual assault, but many of those cases have not gone forward due to his clients wishing to remain anonymous. Since Jay Z's statement, Busby claims his family has been harassed. The woman's lawsuit alleges that Diddy and Jay Z took turns assaulting her after she was given a drink that made her feel lightheaded. It also accuses Jay Z of holding her down while Diddy assaulted her. These claims are part of a litany of lawsuits against Diddy that include federal sex trafficking and racketeering. And that's the news. One more thing. I have a confession to make. Despite being a smart, well reasoned and well informed person with a job that's literally telling you all about why and how stuff works and is happening, I am still not exactly sure how I feel about cryptocurrency. Honestly, I think I actually agree with President Elect Donald Trump.

[Donald Trump]

Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam.

[Jane Coston]

Well, to be clear, that was Donald Trump speaking with fox business in 2021. This is Donald Trump at a bitcoin conference this past summer. Sounding a little different.

[Donald Trump]

This afternoon I'm laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet and the bitcoin superpower of the world.

[Jane Coston]

Sure, the new Trump administration is full of crypto enthusiasts. Trump himself has his own crypto coin and his sons have a crypto exchange. Bitcoin's worth is skyrocketing and more people than ever are getting into cryptocurrencies, like it or not. And I am not inclined to like it. Crypto is going to be a major factor over the next four years, even if you, like me, don't own any. So I thought I'd ask Bloomberg senior editor and friend of the POD, Stacy Vanek Smith, some questions about what cryptocurrency means for everyday Americans. Stacey Vanek Smith, welcome back to what a Day.

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

Thanks Jane. I'm glad to be here.

[Jane Coston]

So first of all, can you explain what is cryptocurrency? And please explain it to me as if I were a high school freshman who is usually just not thinking about cryptocurrency.

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

I mean, it is in certain ways incredibly simple. Which is it is money that people agree is worth something and they trade it. Normally the value of money comes from the government that issues it. So the United States issues the United States dollar, and all of the businesses within the country are, like, legally required to accept it. It's legal tender. The government sets the value. It's backed up by the US Economy, and so it's sort of seen as backed up by a real thing, by a country. Then there's crypto. And the interesting thing about crypto is it's not attached to any country. Obviously. The advantage is it's not, you know, if your government collapses or there's terrible inflation or the government's trying to freeze your assets, it's separate from that. It is currency you can own yourself. The tricky part is it's hard to know, like, what it's backed up by. People will say, you know, it's the blockchain. I feel like that word gets thrown around, like, nobody knows what it means. It's a public record. So if I give you part of a Jane coin, then there's a record of it. Now, how much is the janecoin worth? That gets trickier. Infinite amount, of course, but, like, that gets trickier because it's like. Well, it's not like a country's having a good day or a bad day or a country's economy's doing badly things that you can traditionally measure. It's more like what people are deciding it's worth on any given day. It's like, vibes.

[Jane Coston]

Why is it that it seems like the people who are into crypto, like, talk about it all the time, are kind of bro y and right wing?

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

Well, one reason people talk about crypto all the time is that the vow, it's sort of like the, like in Peter Pan when they're like, clap for Tinkerbell.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah.

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

So that she exists. I mean, the value of the cryptocurrency people have is literally dependent on how much you think it's worth. So that is why, if you've ever been, like, backed into a corner at a party and had someone, like, explaining crypto to you and, like, why it's so amazing, and the currency of the future, they have a real investment in you and everybody else believing that. So the reason that you have, like, kind of evangelists is that if you. If everybody stops believing in bitcoin, bitcoin will be worth nothing. And then also I think it's a little countercultural because it is people who have a little bit of a suspicion of the government. I think the profile for people who own crypto and the profile for people who own gold is not that far off right, which is why I think libertarians tend to favor it. And so I think that faction of the Republican Party tends to be into crypto. People who are suspicious of government want a small government, don't want the government controlling things.

[Jane Coston]

But that's kind of funny because so many people in the incoming Trump administration are crypto bros and big fans of crypto and people who may even have minted their own coins. Does this have any implications for policy, for our personal finances? For people who are still really into the US Dollar? Yay, the dollar.

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

I am also really into the US dollar. Big fan invested in it. Trump winning the election has gotten the world of crypto very, very excited. I mean, Trump issued his own coin, the Trump coin, which peaked at 66 cents apiece and is now at 6 cents or something. But he issued his own coin and he's been very vocal about pushing for crypto. I think part of it was motivated by money. So a lot of crypto people donated a lot of money to his campaign and Trump has very seems to be delivering on it. The new head of the securities Exchange Commission that Trump has nominated is this man, Paul Atkins, who has also been very vocal about thinking that crypto should be allowed to sort of roam freer or become kind of a bigger freer asset than it is, more mainstream, I guess.

[Jane Coston]

And what does that mean, do you think? I mean, we don't know. I don't know anything. But what does that mean for policy moving forward and for everyday Americans who might not own crypto?

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

This is really interesting. I mean what you said is very true. I think for all of us, we don't know. I think what we're going to see is the regulation come off of a lot of crypto and crypto become much more seamlessly easy to buy and sell, much more integrated in our financial system. Maybe people getting paid in bitcoin or you're able to buy bitcoin through your bank or pay for stuff with bitcoin more easily. I think we're likely to see that just a greater ease of use, much more integrated into our economy and I think just into our day to day lives. But it's very volatile and it's not backed up by a government or an economy. And that is what scares me, I think about crypto is that if there's a crash and it has become so, I mean it's one thing if like a bunch of very wealthy tech bros who back you into a corner at a party, own it, it's another thing if everybody's saying like, oh, I've got to put my savings into this, because otherwise, because some guy at a party told me I should, and then all of a sudden everybody's savings is gone and there's no reason why and there's no one held accountable. I don't know that that is the part that scares me. I think both the really exciting part of crypto and the really dangerous part of crypto are kind of the same.

[Jane Coston]

Stacey, thank you so much. This has been very informative.

[Stacy Vanek Smith]

Yes, thank you so much for having me. Jane, it's always good to see you.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with Stacy Vanek Smith, Senior Editor at Bloomberg. Before we go, if you care about the planet or even some of the people who live on it, the time for action is now. As part of Crooked Ideas Anti Doom Initiative, we're spotlighting the people who are fighting for our planet and working to solve the climate crisis every day. Stick around to the end of this episode to hear Crooked correspondent Priyanka Arabindi's conversation with indigenous actress, model and climate advocate Quanah Chasing Horse. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe. Leave a Review Celebrate Taylor swift ending the eras tour after 21 months on the road and tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just about how the ERAs tour raked in $2 billion and entertained 10 million people who definitely didn't make it their entire personality like me. Water Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Costen and that is so many friendship bracelets. Water Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producer is Raven Yamamoto. Our producer is Michelle Eloy. We had production help today from Tyler Hill, Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters, and Julia Clare. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adrian Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka.

[Priyanka Arabindi]

Before you go, check out my interview with indigenous actress, model and climate advocate Quanah Chasing Horse. I'm Priyanka Arabindi and I sat down with Quanah as part of our Anti Doom initiative to talk about why she's hopeful about the future of the climate. You grew up in Alaska, very connected to the Arctic, to the whole region. You've been fighting to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from mining, drilling and fossil fuel interests since you were a teenager. So what have you learned from that fight and what Continues to inspire you.

[Lara Trump]

I definitely learned a lot growing up with such powerful elders. And leading examples in my life have really laid a foundation of how I work and how I show up. My first thing that really inspired me and taught me that I had a voice, that I had power, was when I went to the school board and I advocated for them to change Columbus Day into Indigenous People's Day. And that's when I realized, you know, I have a voice, I have power, and I can carry that. And it's not just from the examples of my aunties and people around me, but the strength that I have comes from generations. The thing that really brought tears to my eyes one of the last times I went home was I had an elder. She was in her 90s, and she was brought to tears. And she said, because of you, people see us. She cried about how she felt seen for the first time in her entire life.

[Priyanka Arabindi]

So back in 2020, you shared a poem with Teen Vogue. It referenced a lot of the staples of the environment that you grew up in. Moose, birch trees, hunting, fishing, berry picking. You also went on to talk about the women in your family and how they kind of taught you to stick up for your rights and your land. Can you take us back to, you know, that time in your life and explain a little bit about how they imparted these lessons?

[Lara Trump]

I would say it mostly started when I was, like, 12 and 13, when I really started to become more aware of the world. And, you know, I had very minimal access to the outside world. And, you know, the women around me that raised me really took the time to make sure that they were teaching me the right things, bringing me into spaces where I was learning a lot. You know, making sure that I was spending time with elders, having them just simply bringing me into those spaces has taught me how to sit in professional spaces, Whether it's political, to modeling and fashion, to, you know, the climate space. I know how to show up in those spaces, and I know how to listen. Because when I go into different spaces, I carry their stories with me as well. You know, when I feel like I need moments of guidance where I don't feel like I'm fully in my power enough to feel confident to show up and do what I came to do. You know, I channel all of those teachings. I channel those stories. I channel the power through the women in community that I was raised up in.

[Priyanka Arabindi]

Absolutely. In that same interview, you said, quote, I'm not an environmentalist. I'm an indigenous youth trying to stick up for our ways of life. That's a really interesting and I think, important distinction to draw. Can you tell us a little bit more about how you think about that?

[Lara Trump]

Ever since I started doing this work, I never really understood those kinds of labels just because that I never related to them. I never felt like that's what I was. I never felt like an environmentalist. I never felt like an activist or whatever. Like, I felt just like a person that cared about what was happening to my people. Like, it wasn't something that I just chose to care about one day. It was definitely something that I saw was affecting my family, myself, my people, you know, our animal relatives, my mom's dog team, because they are our family, you know, just as much as we are with each other, you know, and I think really making sure that we're taking care of each other. And the only way to do that is to take care of the planet.

[Priyanka Arabindi]

Quanah chasing horse thank you so much for being here. We so appreciate your time.

[Lara Trump]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Priyanka Arabindi]

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