Matt Taibbi, journalist and author, joins Krystal and Saagar to discuss the release of Jan 6th texts, SEC catching influencers, bipartisan bill to ban Tik Tok, labor victories in 2022, and an upcoming live show in Austin Texas.
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Quick takeaways
Elon Musk threatens legal action against a Twitter user tracking his jet, contradicting his previous support for free speech.
Eight social media influencers charged by the SEC for manipulating stock prices in a pump and dump scheme.
Text messages reveal Republican members of Congress collaborating to overturn the 2020 election results.
Deep dives
Elon Musk threatens legal action over tracking of his jet
Elon Musk is threatening legal action against a Twitter user who tracked his jet and has had the Elon Jet account suspended. Musk claims that real-time posting of his location is considered doxing and a physical safety violation. He says that the tracking of his jet puts his family at risk. However, the information being tracked is already publicly available. Musk's threat of legal action goes against his previous stance of being a free speech absolutist.
SEC charges social media influencers with market manipulation
Eight social media influencers have been charged by the SEC with a pump and dump scheme in which they manipulated stock prices and made fraudulent profits of approximately $100 million. The individuals cultivated hundreds of thousands of followers and encouraged them to buy stocks by posting price targets and indicating their own purchases. However, they sold their own shares when prices rose, without disclosing their plans to pump securities while promoting them.
Text messages reveal efforts to overturn 2020 election by members of Congress
Text messages obtained by TPM reveal that 34 Republican members of Congress had discussions with former chief of staff Mark Meadows about plans to overturn the 2020 election. The messages include wild conspiracy theories and attempts to find ways to prevent the certification of the election results. The texts show members of Congress actively collaborating in their efforts to overturn the results and expressing extreme views on the state of the country.
Bipartisan effort to ban TikTok introduced by lawmakers
Lawmakers Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Gallagher, and Marco Rubio have introduced a bipartisan effort to ban TikTok. The legislation aims to block all transactions from social media apps controlled by foreign adversaries, citing national security concerns and unfair competition. The lawmakers argue that relying on such apps poses risks in terms of data security and foreign influence. The legislation marks a serious bipartisan effort to address the issue of TikTok's control and influence in the United States.
TikTok's Control by Chinese Parent Company and Concerns over Surveillance
The podcast episode discusses the concerns over TikTok's ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and the potential surveillance and control of user data. It highlights a draft agreement that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the US while remaining wholly owned by ByteDance. The episode argues for the need to protect Americans from potential espionage and manipulation through social media networks. It emphasizes the urgency to ban TikTok and lauds legislators who are working towards this goal.
Workers' Struggles and Victories in 2022
The podcast episode reflects on the significant moments for workers and the labor movement in 2022. It highlights the success of grassroots organizing in fast-food and service jobs, particularly within Starbucks where workers won 267 elections and achieved an 80% win rate. The episode also discusses other labor victories, such as reform movements in major unions and the wave of strikes by various worker groups. It acknowledges the challenges and setbacks faced by workers, but overall recognizes the bold actions taken and the revolutionary spirit displayed by workers throughout the year.
Krystal and Saagar discuss Desantis vs Trump, Fed Rates, SEC catching Influencers, Marshall Law texts from Jan 6th, Elon banning Private Jet account, a bipartisan bill to ban Tik Tok, Revolutionary Labor moments of the year, an exclusive interview with Matt Taibbi on the Twitter Files and our upcoming live show in Austin Texas!