TikTok Is Still On The Chopping Block

Summary

Podcast Title: What A Day
Host: Jane Coaston
Episode: TikTok Is Still On The Chopping Block
Release Date: January 13, 2025

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Introduction

In the January 13, 2025, episode of What A Day, host Jane Coaston delves into a myriad of pressing topics shaping the current socio-political landscape. The episode primarily focuses on the legal challenges surrounding former President Donald Trump, the pending ban of TikTok in the United States, Senate confirmation hearings for Trump's nominees, and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance's nuanced stance on pardoning January 6th rioters. Additionally, the episode touches upon the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's strategic maneuvers within the tech and political arenas.

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Trump’s Conviction and Sentencing

The episode opens with significant news regarding President Elect Donald Trump's legal battles. After enduring months of procedural delays, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Mershon delivered a verdict in Trump's criminal hush money case.

• Key Point: Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying documents related to his hush money payments.

• Notable Quote:
  Justice Mershon (01:05): “This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching upon the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge.”

Despite the conviction, Justice Mershon did not impose any jail time due to Trump's impending presidency. Mershon emphasized the historical significance of the case amidst unprecedented media attention and security, yet remarked on the courtroom's normalcy post-session.

• Notable Quote:
  Justice Mershon (01:23): “This has been a truly extraordinary case. ...once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was no more special, unique or extraordinary than the other 32 criminal trials that took place in this courthouse at the same exact time.”

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Supreme Court Hearing: TikTok Ban Under Scrutiny

A pivotal discussion in the episode centers on the Supreme Court's deliberations over the potential ban of TikTok in the United States. The federal government's ultimatum mandates ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19 or face a complete shutdown.

• TikTok's Defense: The company, represented by former Trump Solicitor General Noel Francisco, denies national security threats and seeks to delay the ban until after Trump’s inauguration.

• Notable Quote:
  Noel Francisco (02:25): “There is nothing in the record that says that TikTok, like any other subsidiary, doesn't have its own independent making authority.”

Jay Willis, editor-in-chief of Balls and Strikes, provides in-depth analysis, expressing concerns over the Supreme Court's deference to national security claims without substantial evidence. He warns of potential slippery slopes, where similar justifications could be used to target other companies with foreign ties, exacerbating sinophobia and undermining free speech.

• Notable Quote:
  Jay Willis (07:53): “I would like to see a judiciary that is a little bit more skeptical, that asks for a little more information from the government whenever they say, you know, listen, this is so important for security..."

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Conversation with Jay Willis: Legal Implications and Senate Hearings

Jane Coaston engages in a comprehensive discussion with Jay Willis, dissecting the ramifications of Trump’s sentencing and the broader legal landscape.

• Trump’s Sentence Motivation: Willis explains that the sentencing was more procedural, aiming to formalize the conviction without imposing severe penalties due to Trump's upcoming presidency.

  • Notable Quote:
    Jay Willis (03:18): “Really, this is the best approximation of justice that the legal system can do in this particular consequence.”

• Senate Confirmation Hearings: The episode highlights the commencement of Senate hearings for Trump’s nominees to key positions, including Attorney General Pam Bondi. Willis notes the prevalent thread among nominees: loyalty to Trump and alignment with his legal strategies, particularly those defending him in various legal battles.

  • Notable Quote:
    Jay Willis (05:17): “Like, their common thread is that these people are literally his defense lawyers in his various prosecutions or both his impeachments when he was president..."

• Judicial Nominees Shift: Willis expresses interest in Trump’s current judicial nominees, especially in the context of his strained relationship with the Federalist Society, indicating a potential shift to the right in the judiciary.

  • Notable Quote:
    Jay Willis (05:17): “I'm very curious to see, like, who the first sorts of names... that'll tell us a lot about just how far he's willing to shift the judiciary to the right over the next two to four years.”

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Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance on January 6th Pardons

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance's stance on pardoning individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot.

• Vance's Position: Vance supports pardoning peaceful protesters who were perhaps unfairly prosecuted, but opposes pardoning those who committed violence.

  • Notable Quote:
    J.D. Vance (19:43): “If you protested peacefully on January 6th and you've had Merrick Garland's Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you, you should be pardoned. If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned.”

• Strategic Implications: Vance indicated that he and Trump would evaluate pardon cases individually, suggesting a tailored approach rather than blanket pardons.

• Context: With over 1,200 convictions and 1,600 arrests related to January 6th, Vance’s stance introduces a nuanced approach to addressing the fallout from the Capitol riot.

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Political Maneuvers

Jane Coaston shifts focus to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, highlighting his strategic “sucking up” to political powers.

• Policy Changes: Meta is revamping its speech policies, shifting from strict fact-checking to community-driven notes, ostensibly to enhance free expression, though Coaston critiques the consistency of these policies.

• Geographical Shifts: The migration of Meta's community moderation team from California to Texas is portrayed as an attempt to align with less politically biased environments.

• Political Engagement: Zuckerberg’s visits to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast underscore his efforts to ingratiate with conservative figures.

  • Notable Quote:
    Mark Zuckerberg (22:05): “You want like feminine energy. You want masculine energy... the corporate culture sort of had swung towards being this somewhat.”

• Historical Context: Coaston references Zuckerberg's past efforts to win favor with the Chinese government, juxtaposing his current maneuvers towards aligning with Trump.

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Los Angeles Wildfires and Political Responses

The episode also addresses the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history, resulting in significant loss of life and property.

• Government Response: California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass express confidence that the incoming Trump administration won't impede federal aid for wildfire relief, despite Trump’s critical remarks on social media.

  • Notable Quotes:
    Karen Bass (15:22): “It's a fine call. So I'm not concerned about that.”
    Governor Gavin Newsom (15:41): “Spirit of an open hand, not a closed fist. He's the president elect. I respect the office.”

• Trump’s Stance: Contrastingly, Trump criticized the current handling of the fires on his platform, Truth Social, blaming officials for incompetence without offering constructive solutions.

  • Notable Quote:
    Trump (19:38): “The incompetence PaulS have no idea how to put them out...”

• Ongoing Crisis: With forecasts predicting worsening conditions, the episode underscores the urgent need for effective wildfire management and disaster relief.

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Conclusion

Jane Coaston wraps up the episode by emphasizing the interconnectedness of legal, political, and social issues currently at play. From Trump’s legal proceedings and TikTok’s uncertain future to strategic political alignments by tech giants and the dire environmental crisis in Los Angeles, What A Day paints a comprehensive picture of the myriad forces shaping the United States in early 2025. The episode serves as a crucial guide for listeners to stay informed on the complexities of these evolving narratives.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Justice Juan Mershon (01:05):
  “This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching upon the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge.”

• Justice Juan Mershon (01:23):
  “This has been a truly extraordinary case. ...once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was no more special, unique or extraordinary than the other 32 criminal trials that took place in this courthouse at the same exact time.”

• Noel Francisco (02:25):
  “There is nothing in the record that says that TikTok, like any other subsidiary, doesn't have its own independent making authority.”

• Jay Willis (03:18):
  “Really, this is the best approximation of justice that the legal system can do in this particular consequence.”

• Jay Willis (05:17):
  “Like, their common thread is that these people are literally his defense lawyers in his various prosecutions or both his impeachments when he was president..."

• J.D. Vance (19:43):
  “If you protested peacefully on January 6th and you've had Merrick Garland's Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you, you should be pardoned. If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned.”

• Mark Zuckerberg (22:05):
  “You want like feminine energy. You want masculine energy... the corporate culture sort of had swung towards being this somewhat.”

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing valuable context and analysis for listeners seeking to understand the multifaceted issues explored by Jane Coaston and her guest, Jay Willis.

Transcript

[Jane Coastin]

It's Monday, January 13th. I'm Jane Coastin and this is Water Day, the show that has become a massive fan of helicopter water drops. Did you know that helicopter water drops are low key? The coolest possible thing, especially when big swaths of your city are on fire and then someone in a helicopter manages to drop water on a fire at just the right time and in just the right place. That's cinema. On today's show, Jack Smith steps down a special council and Vice President elect J.D. vance says that maybe not all January 6th rioters deserve a pardon. Hmm. Let's start with the latest news from President Elect Donald Trump's conviction. After months of delays in proceedings, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Mershon finally sentenced Trump in his criminal hush money case on Friday. Marchan ruled that Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying documents must be upheld. But the he didn't order the president elect to serve any jail time on account of him being, well, the president elect. Here he is explaining his decision in court on Friday.

[Juan Mershon]

This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgment of conviction without encroaching upon the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge.

[Jane Coastin]

Machon also underscored just how historic this case was.

[Juan Mershon]

This has been a truly extraordinary case. There was unprecedented media attention, public interest and heightened security involving various agencies. And yet the trial was a bit of a paradox because once the courtroom doors were closed, the trial itself was no more special, unique or extraordinary than the other 32 criminal trials that took place in this courthouse at the same exact time.

[Jane Coastin]

Another high profile case was heard on Friday. The Supreme Court heard arguments over whether or not the US can ban TikTok. This is the social media company's last ditch effort to keep its market of 170 million users in the US after the federal government gave it an divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance by January 19 or shut down all operations in the country. TikTok has been fighting the order in court for months. It denies claims that the app poses a threat to national security. Here's one of the company's lawyers, former Trump Solicitor General Noel Francisco, in court on Friday.

[Noel Francisco]

There is nothing in the record that says that TikTok, like any other subsidiary, doesn't have its own independent making authority.

[Jane Coastin]

TikTok wants the justices to put the ban on hold until after Trump's inauguration. The social media company is hoping that the president elect will intervene and keep his promise to save the app. But Trump hasn't said anything about how he'll do it once he's in charge of the Department of Justice. So to dive into all the legal news from the weekend, I called up friend of the show, Jay Willis. He's the editor in chief of Balls and Strikes, where he writes about the Supreme Court, the law and culture. Jay, welcome back to what a Day.

[Jay Willis]

Hey, thanks for having me. Appreciate it.

[Jane Coastin]

So Trump was sentenced in his criminal hush money case. On Friday. Justice Wamberschaun upheld the president elect's conviction for 34 counts of falsifying documents. But Trump was not ordered to serve any jail time because he's about to be our president again. So, so what was the point of sentencing him anyway?

[Jay Willis]

I mean, Judge Mershon in this case had already made clear that he wasn't going to sentence Trump to any sort of meaningful criminal punishment. Really, all this was was just sort of following through on the process of formalizing his conviction. And the judge made that very clear at the sentencing. He said if Trump weren't going into the White House, he wouldn't have those kinds of protections. But, like, this is the best approximation of justice that the legal system can do in this particular consequence.

[Jane Coastin]

So let's get into Senate confirmation hearings, which start this week. Trump has nominated some interesting people to run his Justice Department. The President Elect tapped Pam Bondi as his nominee for Attorney General late last year. What's her background and what can we expect from her if she's confirmed to perhaps the most important legal position in the federal government?

[Jay Willis]

I mean, I think the common thread that you're seeing with all of sort of the second Trump administration nominees, not just the legal ones, but, you know, here talking about the Department of Justice types, their most important quality is familiarity with and loyalty to Donald Trump. Pam Bondi has, you know, she was in Florida for most of her career. She's always been like a Trump person, a Trump Republican. And I think you see the same right with some of Trump's announced nominees to deputy positions in the Department of Justice. Like, their common thread is that these people are literally his defense lawyers in his various prosecutions or both his impeachments when he was president and the criminal prosecutions to which he's been subject since. It's pretty good hustle these days if you are a conservative lawyer to, like, bet on the presumptive Republican nominee as a client, because if he wins, which he did, suddenly you find yourself one of the highest ranking legal officials in the Executive Department in the country.

[Jane Coastin]

Are there any other Trump legal nominees or picks we should be paying attention to.

[Jay Willis]

I think I'm most interested in sort of his first wave of judicial nominees. During the first Trump administration, his judicial nominees came largely from the Federalist Society, right? Like that was the grand bargain between Trump in 2016 and the conservative legal establishment. Since many of Federal Society affiliated lawyers refused to help Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, or at least not to the extent he would have liked. Trump and the Federal Society have had a pretty public falling out. And, you know, many of the Federalist Society judges that Trump appointed in his first term were already on the fringes of the legal right. It's pretty unsettling to understand that those people are now, like, too much of conservative squishes to be nominated by Trump the second time around. So I'm very curious to see, like, who the first sorts of names. I think that'll tell us a lot about just how far he's willing to shift the judiciary to the right over the next two to four years.

[Jane Coastin]

Also in the Trump legal verse is 2001's man of the Year, Rudy Giuliani. He was ordered to give his assets to election workers in Georgia who he defamed many, many times. He has not paid up. He has now been held in contempt of court twice. What's going on there?

[Jay Willis]

I do not want to force too many of my readers or your listeners to try and figure out what is going on with Rudy Giuliani in, like, the last sort of dying star phases of his professional life. As you say, he has continually been ordered by judges to divest his assets to the election workers he defamed. He keeps offering, you know, some sort of excuse for why he can't do it. At one point, he. He said that some sort of health issue prevented him from attending a legal proceeding. And the judge said, what health issue? And his response was, okay, fine, never mind, I'll show up. I really think the man is just trying to run out the clock. But there's no clock to run out. Like, the case is over sooner or later. You know, these folks who got subject to just, like, vile abuse and violence are going to inherit several New York apartments that smell like cigar smoke.

[Jane Coastin]

The dream. The dream for everyone.

[Jay Willis]

I really can't decide if, like, I'm pulling for them or if, like, I don't want them to have to go through that renovation process.

[Jane Coastin]

Let's talk briefly about TikTok. The Supreme Court heard arguments over whether or not the US can ban TikTok. The social media company argued that imposing a Ban would violate users right to free speech. But the justices didn't seem into it. How did the justices respond to their case?

[Jay Willis]

The justices responded to the government's case like they usually do in cases like this one, which is just sort of nodding their heads solemnly at the government's assertion of the importance of national security. And that is the justification that Congress offered when it passed this TikTok ban last year. As it said, look, the Chinese government could in theory use TikTok to extract personal information about American users data. Notably, the government has not offered any evidence that like this has actually happened. Usually when you have laws like this that impose quite obviously on free speech rights, it's subject to a legal test called strict scrutiny, which requires a compelling government interest and then a narrowly tailored solution. The least restrictive means basically like, look, if you're going to tread on someone's free speech rights, it has to be as close a fit as possible to the problem. Now, the compelling government interest cited here is national security. But I think there is a wide gulf between this hypothetical danger of taking US users data and shutting the entire platform down. But the courts, the Supreme Court, the federal judiciary has long been pretty deferential to the government's assertions of national security and interest. Unfortunately, some of the worst things that this country has ever done were done in the name of national security and upheld by the Supreme Court. I don't think banning TikTok quite rises to that level, but I would like to see a judiciary that is a little bit more skeptical, that asks for a little more information from the government whenever they say, you know, listen, this is so important for security, but we can't tell you anymore. You just have to take our word for it.

[Jane Coastin]

The deadline for TikTok to divest from ByteDance is about a week away. And one of the lawyers representing TikTok argued that upholding the ban on the app could open the door for the federal government to go after any company with ties to China. Which isn't really surprising to me because I feel like Senator Tom Cotton dreams of that every single night while eating birthday cake, which he eats every day. Fun fact about Tom Cotton. But what are the broader implications of the Supreme Court siding with the federal government here?

[Jay Willis]

I mean, I think that's right. This could open the door to authorizing all sorts of sinophobic legislation. I also think it could go even further. Right, like if the Supreme Court will uphold a law like this, what is to stop Congress from passing a law forcing anyone they don't like to divest of A platform that they own. It's not clear to me if China is a national security threat. One could make the same argument, perhaps, like in a different Congress. Right. But one could make the same argument about Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg even. That is one of the primary points that skeptics of the governments here are, are making, which is like, look, if, if you have a justification for banning TikTok, like, you should have to share it. And the risk here is that we get a really sloppy Supreme Court opinion that leads to a lot of, in my view, negative consequences down the road.

[Jane Coastin]

Trump, because he decided he loves TikTok now, because maybe someone gave him a bunch of money to his campaign, who could say? But Trump has promised to save TikTok once he assumes office, but we have no idea how he plans to do that. There has been a lot of Talk about how ByteDance could sell off TikTok. They have no interest in doing so. What legal pathways are available to the President Elect and his administration to make good on his promise if TikTok is banned?

[Jay Willis]

Your guess is as good as mine. He has asked the Supreme Court to step in to block the implementation of the law to allow him to save TikTok. In his briefing, he just says, you know, I'm a businessman. Basically. It's the same thing that he said about everything that he's promised for the last God, 12 years that he's been a fixture of American politics. Like, I'm a businessman. I can figure out a way to make everybody happy here, to get ByteDance to sell TikTok and to let the kids keep doing funny videos, even if he has that, like, business acumen, to be able to negotiate some kind of deal that's not really responsive to, like, the very real problem of a specific law that requires TikTok to be sold by a specific date when he will not even be president yet. Like, I just don't know that there's a way around it. He's just sort of seeing if, like, these justices who have been inclined to give him whatever he wants over the last year or so will cook up some way to do it here, too.

[Jane Coastin]

Jay, as always, thank you so much for joining us.

[Jay Willis]

Hey, thanks again for having me. Appreciate it. Find me on TikTok. I'm not on TikTok.

[Jane Coastin]

That was my conversation with Balls and Strikes Editor in Chief Jay Willis. 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. What a day is brought to you by Deleteme. Ever wonder how much of your personal data is out there on the Internet for anyone to see? More than you think. Your name, contact information, Social Security number, home address, even information about your family members, all being compiled by data brokers and sold online. As a person who exists publicly, especially as someone who expresses her opinions online, I am hyper aware of safety and security and it's easier than ever to find personal information about people online. All this data hanging out in the Internet can have real consequences in the real world. That's how I found DeleteMe. DeleteMe is a subscription service that removes your personal info from hundreds of data. Brokers Sign up and provide Deleteme with exactly what information you want deleted and their experts take it from there. DeleteMe sends you regular personalized privacy reports showing what info they found, where they found it and what they removed. DeleteMe isn't just a one time service. Deleteme is always working for you, constantly monitoring and removing the personal information you don't want on the Internet. Take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for Deleteme NOW at a special discount for our listeners today. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to DeleteMe.com wad and use promo code WAD at checkout. The only way to get 20% off is to go to DeleteMe.com wdad and enter code WAD at checkout. That's JoinDeleteMe.com wadcodewod Now is your time.

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[Karen Bass]

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[Jane Coastin]

Here are some other stories we're following.

[Karen Bass]

Head of Lines.

[Gavin Newsom]

Actually, I'm not worried about that. I mean, I joined in the invitation to the incoming president to come to Los Angeles. I joined with the supervisor and the governor spoke directly with the incoming administration yesterday. It was a fine call. So I'm not concerned about that.

[Jane Coastin]

California lawmakers are trying to calm fears that Trump could block federal aid for the deadly fire still burning in and around Los Angeles. During a press conference Sunday, Louisiana Mayor Karen Best said she'd spoken with people in the incoming administration over the weekend and had no reason to be concerned about the potential for animosity. And on NBC's Meet the Press, Governor Gavin Newsom elaborated on a letter he sent Friday inviting Trump to tour the damage we want to do in the.

[Jay Willis]

Spirit of an open hand, not a closed fist. He's the president elect. I respect the office.

[Jane Coastin]

Both Newsom and Bass said they had not yet received a response from Trump. The LA fires are already projected to be the most expensive natural disaster in US History. But did any of that stop Trump from choosing politics over expressing anything resembling human empathy? Nope. In a post on Truth Social Sunday, Trump said the fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent PaulS have no idea how to put them out for context. The fires have burned an area twice the size of Manhattan. So far, 24 people have died and more than 12,000 homes, businesses and buildings have been destroyed or damaged. Officials expect both numbers to grow. And while firefighters made progress containing the fires over the weekend, more strong winds and dry weather are in the forecast in the coming days. That means the virus could still grow or new ones could pop up. So if Donald Trump would like to come and bring his many ideas on how to stop 100 mile an hour winds from setting dry chaparral on fire, I'm all ears. Special Counsel Jack Smith resigned from his post on Friday. It wasn't a surprise. Smith has said he would step down before Trump takes office on January 20th. His resignation brings an anticlimactic end to the federal government's two criminal investigations against Trump, which Smith dropped back in November. The first was over Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The other was over his mishandling of classified documents after he left office. Smith made no statement and his office didn't provide news outlets with any comment. His official resignation was buried in court papers filed Saturday. Attorney General Merrick Garland is still pushing to release the final report Smith submitted to the Justice Department on the two cases. A federal appeals court granted the Justice Department permission to release the part of Smith's report about election interference. The rest remains on hold after U.S. district Court Judge and Trump appointee Eileen Cannon temporarily blocked its release. The election interference portion of Smith's report could be released today. We've got a lot of great nominees on the Hill this week. As we mentioned earlier, the first Senate hearings for Donald Trump's Cabinet picks are set to start this week. Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt told CNN Sunday she's satisfied with conversations she's had with the nominees, even as some seem to be shifting their long held beliefs with the political winds. On Tuesday, hearings start with the Department of Veterans affairs secretary nominee Doug Collins, followed by defense secretary pick Pete Hagseth, and then Interior Department nominee Doug Burgum. Hagseth is already under fire for a sexual assault allegation and concerns over excessive drinking. And up until recently he's been staunch in his opposition to women serving on the front lines. This is what he said on the Sean Ryan show days before Trump announced him as his pick for defense secretary. Because I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn't made us more effective, hasn't made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated. But after bumping heads with army veteran and Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, Hegseth said last month he supports all women serving in the military. Hmm. Director of National Intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard publicly opposed a government surveillance authority as a member of Congress. On Friday, she told Punchbowl News she Now supports the Section 702 surveillance program. She says that's because of updated civil liberty protections. Sure, Gabbard was scheduled to have her hearing this week, but it was delayed after she failed to turn in all necessary vetting documents. It's yet to be rescheduled.

[J.D. Vance]

There are a lot of people we think in the wake of January 6th who were prosecuted unfairly. We need to rectify that.

[Jane Coastin]

Vice President elect J.D. vance is pro pardon for January 6 rioters, but not all of them. On Fox News Sunday, he specified who he thinks should get the presidential reversal.

[J.D. Vance]

If you protested peacefully on January 6th and you've had Merrick Garland's Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you, you should be pardoned. If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned.

[Jane Coastin]

Vance later said on X that he and Trump would look at each case individually. He also reminded Americans he in fact donated to the, quote, January 6th political prisoner fund. Trump told Meet the Press in December he would pardon the January 6 rioters on day one, saying they were prosecuted in a, quote, very nasty system. More than 1200 people have been convicted in connection with their actions at the Capitol in 2021. Almost 1600 have been arrested. And that's the news. One more thing, sucking up. It's a thing many people do in many situations. You want a better grade, you want a promotion. You could act like a normal person and just work hard or network or something. Or you suck up and you suck up good. Which brings me to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, for whom sucking up is an art form. We talked last week about Meta changing its speech policies on its platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and for the 10 people who use it threads. He wants to get rid of fact checking in favor of community notes like Twitter and emphasize free expression. And I say free expression in air quotes because what is and isn't permitted by Meta seems less than free to me. For example, you can say that bisexual people or trans folks are mentally ill, but you can't say that members of a religious group are mentally ill. Meta will also be moving its community moderation team from California to Texas because Texas is famously not politically biased. Zuckerberg himself has visited Trump's home in Mar a Lago twice since the election and recently joined Joe Rogan's podcast to talk about how very mean the Biden administration was to his little baby company. And also about how corporate America needs more masculine energy.

[Mark Zuckerberg]

You want like feminine energy. You want masculine energy. Like, I think that that's like you're gonna have parts of society that have more of one or the other. I think that that's all good, but I do think the corporate culture sort of had swung towards being this somewhat.

[Jane Coastin]

More neutered thing, which is interesting because most Facebook employees are men. So yes, Mark Zuckerberg is sucking up to the incoming administration, donating to the Trump inauguration committee, naming prominent Republicans to big time positions at Meta, the whole shebang. But for Zuckerberg, sucking up to powerful, prominent people is a way of life. Just look at his former best friend, the government of the People's Republic of China. Zuckerberg's efforts to suck up to the Chinese state a decade ago were legendary. Like Mark may be trying to be Trump's new favorite tech billionaire, but as far as I know, he has yet to ask Donald Trump to give his unborn child an honorary name, as he asked President Xi jinping back in 2015. See, Facebook isn't permitted in China, and Mark Zuckerberg really, really, really wanted to change that. So he sucked up. He kept a copy of Xi's compiled writings and speeches on his desk and got copies for his colleagues as well, saying, quote, I want them to understand socialism with Chinese characteristics. And maybe you're thinking, but Jane, what if it's a super interesting book? Well, according to the New York Times, the book, quote, might make tough reading even for Communist Party stalwarts. It's also more than 500 pages long. During a visit to Beijing in 2016, Zuckerberg went for a little jog through Tiananmen Square on a day when the air quality index, or AQI, was over 300. For comparison's sake, the AQI here in LA on Wednesday afternoon in the midst of multiple massive fires, including one just over a mile from my house that pushed thousands of people to evacuate was 3:25. And did Mark wear a mask, a super common thing to do in China on high pollution days? Of course not. On the Chinese social media site Weibo, users made it clear that the smog jog was unbelievably stupid. As one user said in response, you don't want your lungs anymore. So yeah, Mark Zuckerberg is very experienced in sucking up to authoritarian government entities who can make his life harder or make him way, way richer. And now Donald Trump has gone from threatening Zuckerberg with life in prison, as he did last summer, to praising him. Before we go. To support disaster relief efforts, Vote Save America Action and Crooked Ideas have set up a fundraiser to help on the ground groups including World Central Kitchen, Los Angeles Regional Food bank, and more. With wildfires forcing more than 100,000 people to evacuate and thick smoke blanketing the metro area, these groups are providing critical aid to those who need it most. You can make a donation [e-mail] relief. That's votesaveamerica.com R E L I E F We'll also put the link in the show notes. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review. Celebrate firefighters you know and love. And tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just about how firefighting crews from around the country and around the world have descended onto LA to help fight fires. And I for a one will stand them forever. Like me, Water Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coston and this is a pro firefighter podcast. Water Die is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producers are Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer. Our producer is Michelle Aloy. We had production help today from Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters and Julia Claire. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka Foreign.

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