Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review: The White House joins TikTok
4 snips
Aug 22, 2025 
Maria Curi, a tech policy reporter at Axios, dives into the intriguing intersection of technology and government. She discusses Meta facing congressional scrutiny over its chatbot interactions with children, raising alarms about safety. The White House’s recent TikTok move adds another layer, especially with ongoing U.S.-China tensions and ownership debates. Additionally, Curi delves into the Trump Administration's plan to claim a stake in Intel, showcasing the evolving dynamics in semiconductor funding and the bipartisan push under the CHIPS Act.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Government Equity In Chipmakers
- The Trump administration is proposing equity stakes in CHIPS recipients as a new model for federal support of industry.
- This links grant money to government ownership rather than leaving funds as unconditional grants.
Strings Attached To CHIPS Funding
- The equity-for-funding approach would attach strings to CHIPS money without voting power or board seats, according to the administration.
- It aims to secure a more direct financial benefit for the U.S. government from industrial policy.
Unexpected Political Convergence
- The equity idea echoes proposals discussed during the CHIPS Act debate and even aligns with past proposals from Senator Bernie Sanders.
- Political alliances on industrial policy can shift quickly when administrations pursue new mechanisms.