American lawmakers have tried for years to ban TikTok, concerned that the video app’s links to China pose a national security risk.

Sapna Maheshwari, a technology reporter for The Times, explains the behind-the-scenes push to rein in TikTok and discusses what a ban could mean for the app’s 170 million users in the United States.

Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, who covers TikTok, technology and emerging media companies for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• A tiny group of lawmakers huddled in private about a year ago, aiming to bulletproof a bill that could ban TikTok.
• The TikTok law faces court challenges, a shortage of qualified buyers and Beijing’s hostility.
• Love, hate or fear it, TikTok has changed America.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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