Following a Supreme Court-enforced ban, President Trump’s stance on TikTok has shifted. Initially pledging to overturn the ban and highlighting his substantial engagement on the platform, he now labels TikTok “worthless” unless a favorable deal is reached. Trump suggests a joint venture where the U.S. obtains half ownership, but the future of the ban remains uncertain pending his final decision. This reversal reflects a hardening of his position toward the social media platform, despite previous assurances to the contrary.
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A 19-year-old Menasha man was arrested and is facing arson charges for allegedly setting fire to the Fond du Lac office of U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman early Sunday morning. The fire was contained by police before firefighters arrived, and no injuries resulted. The suspect reportedly confessed to starting the fire in response to discussions surrounding a TikTok ban. The investigation is ongoing.
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Following a brief shutdown, TikTok resumed service after President-elect Trump intervened, pledging an executive order to allow more time for a sale to a US buyer. This action has been met with skepticism, with critics alleging the situation is a calculated “scam” to portray Trump as a savior of the app, despite his prior calls for a ban. The incident raises concerns about potential influence over tech companies and the circumvention of existing federal laws. Trump’s shift in stance, coinciding with increased TikTok following and his claim of its electoral impact, underscores the political complexities surrounding the app.
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A 19-year-old Menasha resident was arrested and faces arson charges for a fire at Representative Glenn Grothman’s office early Sunday morning. The suspect allegedly confessed to starting the fire in protest of proposed TikTok bans. Fortunately, no injuries occurred as the office was unoccupied at the time. The incident remains under investigation by local police and fire departments.
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Following a Supreme Court ruling upholding a bipartisan law mandating ByteDance divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban, President-elect Trump announced plans for an executive order delaying the ban’s implementation. This action, seen by some as a political win for Trump facilitated by Democrats, comes after President Biden signed the legislation into law despite previous efforts to overturn a similar executive order from Trump’s presidency. The delay allows for negotiations to preserve TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially involving a joint venture with U.S. ownership. Critics, however, decry the law’s passage as prioritizing symbolic action over comprehensive data privacy legislation and as enabling Trump to position himself as a savior of the platform.
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A new bipartisan bill banning TikTok in the U.S. unless sold to a U.S. owner went into effect, leading to the app’s immediate suspension and removal from app stores. President-elect Trump initially suggested a 90-day extension, a proposition opposed by several senators who emphasized the law’s strict requirements for any extension. While Trump later clarified his desire to bring TikTok back online, Representative Mike Johnson affirmed the administration’s intention to enforce the law, requiring a sale to a U.S. entity to ensure national security. This legal requirement necessitates a divestiture of ByteDance’s ownership to comply with the ban.
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Following a federal ban, TikTok experienced a brief outage in the U.S. President-elect Trump intervened, issuing an executive order to temporarily suspend the ban and allow time for a sale to a U.S. entity. This action provided assurance to service providers, enabling TikTok to restore service. Despite the resumption of functionality, the app remained unavailable for download on app stores. The ban stemmed from national security concerns related to TikTok’s Chinese ownership, but Trump’s intervention aimed to find a solution before the law’s permanent prohibitions took effect.
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The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law banning TikTok in the U.S. due to national security concerns regarding its ties to China, rejecting TikTok’s challenge. The law mandated ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban. Following a temporary shutdown, President-elect Trump intervened, promising an executive order to allow TikTok’s continued operation in the U.S., pending a long-term solution involving potential U.S. ownership. This action led to TikTok restoring service. However, the law remains in effect, leaving TikTok’s future in the U.S. uncertain despite the temporary reprieve.
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Following a Supreme Court ruling upholding President Biden’s order, ByteDance’s US operations, including TikTok, were shut down. This action also impacted several other ByteDance-affiliated apps, namely Marvel Snap and CapCut, which are now unavailable to US users. Mobile Legends Bang Bang, a Nuverse (ByteDance subsidiary) game, was also affected. While some affected companies, like Second Dinner (Marvel Snap’s developer), are working to restore service, the immediate future of these apps in the US remains uncertain.
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A 19-year-old Menasha man was arrested and charged with arson after setting fire to U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman’s office in Fond du Lac. The suspect reportedly confessed to the act, citing his opposition to the recent TikTok ban as his motivation. Fond du Lac police and fire crews quickly responded, extinguishing the fire with no injuries reported. The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail.
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John Q. Hosedrinker