What's Happening

Tech

TikTok on the Clock: Will Trump Be the One To Save the App?

What's going on: From Moo Deng to “cucumber guy” and “morning shed” routines, TikTok FYPs have delivered content that has, at times, been “very demure, very mindful,” and at other times, given us brain rot. But as hard as it may be to imagine, this platform of endless content could go dark in the US. TikTok creators and users are grappling with the looming possibility of the app’s Jan 19 ban. As the date inches closer, its Chinese owner, ByteDance, is doing what it can to keep the ring lights on for the app, including asking the Supreme Court to temporarily block the law by Jan 6. Earlier this week, the app’s CEO met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. It’s not exactly clear what the two discussed, but it’s safe to guess it centered on the app’s future ahead of Trump’s Jan 20 inauguration. Now, the question is: Could Trump end up being TikTok’s saving grace?

What it means: It is not an understatement to say that TikTok has transformed lives and American culture. But the government alleges it comes at the risk of national security (think: the Chinese government accessing user data). What happens next is anyone’s guess. The Supreme Court could move to block the law and later issue a final ruling on whether the ban violates freedom of speech protections. If the Supreme Court doesn’t weigh in, Trump — who now says he has a “warm spot” in his heart for the app — could direct his Justice Department not to enforce the ban. The legislation also allows for a one-time 90-day extension so that ByteDance can find an American seller. (But have you ever met someone who wanted to get rid of their crown jewel?) In the meantime, many of TikTok’s 170 million users and creators are making their post-ban plans. Yes, we’re for Reels.

Related: Is It Bad Polling or ‘Election Interference’? Trump Just Sued Ann Selzer for the Latter (NBC)

Investigation

Are Elon Musk and SpaceX National Security Risks? They're Under Federal Review, According to a Report

What's going on: Federal agencies are investigating whether Elon Musk and SpaceX broke any reporting protocols meant to protect state secrets, according to The New York Times. Musk, whose SpaceX company is a major contractor for the Pentagon and NASA, is required to report personal, financial, and travel information to keep his high-level security clearance. But according to those who spoke to the NYT, Musk and SpaceX haven’t been showing all of their receipts since at least 2021. This includes some omissions about Musk’s meetings with foreign leaders and his use of drugs (even prescribed ones), though he has shared some details on X, according to the report. At least two offices within the Defense Department and the Air Force are allegedly looking into what Musk and SpaceX haven’t shared. The NYT reports SpaceX employees have been increasingly worried that their boss can’t handle sensitive information but feared retaliation if they spoke out. 

What it means: How these alleged federal reviews affect Musk and his business dealings with the government is up in the air. However, this comes as the Tesla CEO faces scrutiny amid his growing presence within the incoming Trump administration. These reviews could also be moot since Trump can grant Musk a security clearance, regardless of what agencies recommend, once he takes office. But as Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) put it, “to have someone who has major contracts with the government who would be in a position to pass along — whether deliberately or inadvertently — secrets is concerning.” After the NYT published its report, Musk posted on X, “Deep state traitors are coming after me, using their paid shills in legacy media.”

Related: Jonas Brothers Fans Are Not OK After Nick Jonas’s Message to Elon Musk (X)

US News

Nuclear Bunkers Are So Hot Right Now... 

What's going on: Turns out, the business of selling anxious, rich people their very own bunkers is booming. AP News reports that the market for US fallout and bomb shelters is forecast to grow to $175 million by 2030, up from $137 million last year, as bunker sales rise globally. One report noted that the increase in interest is partly due to “the rising threat of nuclear or terrorist attacks or civil unrest” at a time when nuclear weapons spending surged to $91.4 billion last year. Now, when most of us think about doomsday bunkers, we imagine cold, concrete caves, where Darth Vader’s “Imperial March” is played on a loop and despair reigns (but is preferable to possible radiation and explosions in the outside world). In reality, real estate options for doomsday bunkers are much more versatile — some feature cozy master bedrooms with floral duvets, chic kitchen backsplashes, fireplaces, and lush pantries stocked with Three Musketeers Bars and all the ramen you can eat.

What it means: The Pew Research Center recently found about 39% of US adults believe we’re living in the end times. Of course, the average person cannot afford a nuclear bunker (it’s mostly billionaires and celebs — Kim Kardashian and Rick Ross have talked about investing in them), though there are lower-budget “small metal box”-style options (great). And maybe that’s okay. Critics say that these bunkers are unnecessary, and create a false perception that safety is possible in the event of a nuclear war. They may even make the people with power and money feel more flippant toward the possibility of nuclear destruction, at a time when countries like China, Russia, and North Korea are investing in this weaponry (this is all feeling like an Oppenheimer fever dream to us…). However, as one expert put it: “Bunkers are, in fact, not a tool to survive a nuclear war, but a tool to allow a population to psychologically endure the possibility of a nuclear war.” 

Related: Peek Inside the Luxury Bunkers of Billionaire Survivalists (The Hollywood Reporter)