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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration says it has agreed on a deal that might let TikTok keep away from a US ban.
What’s the context? TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese language tech firm ByteDance, was alleged to be topic to a nationwide ban beginning in January 2025, after a deadline for ByteDance to promote the app — imposed by Congress in 2024 — handed unmet.
As a substitute, President Donald Trump has signed a collection of govt orders punting on the ban. The newest of these orders, in June, set the brand new deadline for September 17 — this Wednesday.
What does the deal say? We don’t know but, although any deal would require the sale of TikTok to a US-based proprietor. As is commonly the case underneath Trump, the introduced deal is at the moment only a “framework,” in line with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Chinese language officers stated Monday that the 2 sides had reached a “primary consensus” on a deal.
Why did the US wish to ban TikTok within the first place? Concern about TikTok boils right down to a priority about Chinese language affect. ByteDance’s shut relationship with the Chinese language authorities, coupled with the app’s proprietary content material algorithm and huge attain — TikTok has about 170 million American customers — imply China might acquire entry to large quantities of American information or use TikTok to unfold propaganda.
Why does this matter? TikTok’s huge consumer base within the US means a possible ban is a politically delicate subject, significantly with younger voters who’re changing into more and more electorally necessary for each events.
What comes subsequent? It’s nonetheless potential Trump pushes the deadline for the ban again additional as phrases of the deal — if it holds — are finalized. For now, Trump stated he’s set to talk with Chinese language President Xi Jinping in regards to the deal on Friday.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
It’s essentially the most fantastic time of the 12 months: The 2025 World Athletics Championships started over the weekend in Tokyo, Japan, which implies 9 days of wonderful observe and area motion. However the remainder of the schedule goes to have a tough time topping my favourite race of the meet to this point, from this morning (East Coast time, a minimum of — Tokyo is 16 hours forward).
Within the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the place runners leap over 4 boundaries and one water leap per lap for seven and a half laps, New Zealand runner Geordie Beamish took a shocking win over double world champion and double Olympic gold medalist Soufiane El Bakkali. It’s the form of end you could see to imagine, and you’ll watch it right here. Have an awesome night!
