Five tech CEOs walk into a hearing…
Five tech CEOs walk into a hearing…
Also in today's edition: Stanley cups, loud budgeting, and is the U.S. going to war with Iran?
Welcome back! If you’re new here, our newsletter serves a guide for the curious who want to better understand the world around them and discuss issues that impact their future.
Is the U.S. going to war with Iran?
Since the war in Gaza started, after the October 7 Hamas attack, there have been about 160 attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East. These attacks are believed to be done by Iranian “proxies,” which are groups supported by Iran with money and weapons. The U.S. has responded a few times, but it hasn’t stopped the barrage of attacks.
Last weekend three American servicemen were killed in an attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan, the first fatal attack since October 7. That’s a game changer, and President Biden has promised to respond in a more forceful way.
But here's where it gets tricky. He wants to "deter" Iran, which basically means he wants to prevent Iran from further attacks. Biden has to show enough strength to make Iran think twice about attacking again, but not so much that it leads to a full-blown war between the U.S. and Iran.
So, are the U.S. and Iran going to war? It's unlikely. Both sides know that a war would be bad news for the Middle East and the whole world. Instead, they're playing this high-stakes game of trying to show who's tougher, without actually stepping into the ring for a full fight.
It's a complicated situation. A lot of what happens in international politics is about sending messages and trying to influence others without going too far. Let's hope that both sides avoid turning this into something bigger.
Dig Deeper:
🌎 How will Biden respond to drone attack?
President Biden said he isn’t looking for a war with Iran, but holds Iran responsible for Sunday’s drone strike on a U.S. base on the Jordanian-Syrian border that killed three American soldiers. (via Guardian)
🌎 Why are U.S. troops in the Middle East and where are their bases?
The U.S. has operated bases around the Middle East for decades. At its peak, there were more than 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2011 and over 160,000 personnel in Iraq in 2007. (via Reuters)
🌎 Israeli forces dressed as women and medical workers raid West Bank hospital
Israeli forces disguised as civilian women and medical workers raided a West Bank hospital Tuesday, killing three Palestinian militants. The raid shows how the war in Gaza is spreading into the West Bank. (via AP)
Five tech CEOs walk into a hearing… things got tense
The chief executives of Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord and X, formerly known as Twitter, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing that often got heated and emotional.
Parents of children who suffered or died as a result of social media were in the audience, which drove tensions during the questioning.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stood to apologize to the families in the hearing room whose children have been affected by his platform, including young people who died by suicide after being threatened by predators online.
“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,” he said. “No one should go through the things that your families have suffered and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer.”
In response, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley called on Zuckerberg, as a billionaire, to “compensate” the families whose children have been affected by his platforms.
Dig Deeper:
📱 Accusations, tears and rants: 5 takeaways from today’s tech CEO hearing
A rare unifying force on Capitol Hill: Hating social media companies (via CNN)
📱 Silicon Valley Battles States Over New Online Safety Laws for Children
Lawsuits filed by NetChoice, which represents companies including TikTok and Meta, have stalled protection efforts in three states. (via New York Times)
📱 Facebook Approves Disgusting Pro-Anorexia and Drug Ads Targeted at Teens and Made With Its Own AI
To see how open to abuse Facebook's advertising and AI platforms really are, a tech watchdog tested out some salacious prompts. (via Futurism)
On the radar
⭐ About that MAGA meltdown over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
MAGA Republicans are spreading conspiracy theories about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, claiming Taylor is an undercover agent for the Pentagon and the NFL is "rigged" - all to to spread "Democrat propaganda." (via New York Times)
🤗 Response to Elmo's "checking in" post underscores U.S. mental health crisis
Thousands replied to his post, and even President Biden weighed in. Many made clear they're not doing so well. (via Axios)
Are you feeling down or struggling with your mental health? Here are some resources.
🍽️ Did your dinner come from slave labor?
Prisoners at a former Southern slave plantation-turned maximum-security prison are forced to work for pennies an hour or sometimes nothing at all for hundreds of popular food brands. (via AP)
🏫 Hate crimes in the classroom
Schools are the third-highest location for hate crimes: The FBI says in 2022, there were more than 1,300 reported hate crimes at schools and college campuses. (via ABC News)
🍲 Protesters throw soup at Mona Lisa
The demonstration happened as French farmers fight for better pay and protections against cheap imports. (via Washington Post)
Gen Z in the spotlight
🔦 Can’t afford to take that job?
Young people in UK are having to refuse jobs due to high cost of living. (via The Guardian)
In the U.S., Gen Z is taking on the cost of living crisis by “loud budgeting.” (via Fortune)
🔦 Gen Z, millennials are becoming homeowners — thanks to $30K tiny homes on Amazon
It’s a small price to pay — and it’s paying off big time. (via NY Post)
🔦 The unthinkable mental health crisis that shook a New England college
Over six terrible months, professors and administrators at Worcester Polytechnic Institute took on the unofficial role of counselors during a spate of campus suicides. (via New York Times)
On our ‘gram
🥤 Is your Stanley cup a potential health hazard?
From claims that Stanley cups contain lead, to warnings of drinking too much water, is your beloved tumbler a potential health risk? (via Zivvy)
And that’s a wrap on our second newsletter! We are looking forward to hearing from you as we build our community. Reply to this email, drop us a note here, or slide into our DMs with your thoughts and what you are interested in reading about. Thanks!
 | A guest post by
|