Content Moderation, Cuba Investment, & Vintage Jobs

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
March 17, 2026

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Whistleblowers from TikTok and Meta say the companies sometimes prioritized complaints from politicians over reports involving serious harm, according to a new BBC documentary examining moderation practices at major social media platforms. More than a dozen insiders described systems that ranked political cases ahead of reports involving harassment, abuse, and exploitation.
One TikTok safety employee said complaints involving public figures were given higher review priority than cases involving minors reporting cyberbullying or sexual blackmail. Moderators were instructed to follow the ranking system even when they believed cases involving children or vulnerable users required more urgent action.
Former Meta employees also said the company loosened safeguards as it tried to compete with TikTok’s rapid growth. Internal research reportedly showed Instagram Reels posts had higher levels of bullying, hate speech, and violent comments than other parts of the platform. Both companies denied the allegations and said they continue investing heavily in user safety.

A sprawling storm system put more than 100 million Americans in the path of extreme weather yesterday, canceling over 3,000 flights nationwide and forcing school closures across the mid-Atlantic. Blizzard conditions buried parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota under up to two feet of snow, while the House of Representatives postponed votes due to travel difficulties.
The storm is now barreling toward the East Coast, where forecasters warn of wind gusts topping 70 mph and "strong and long track tornadoes" from South Carolina to Maryland. A cold snap will follow, pushing wind chills below freezing as far south as the Gulf Coast.
Meanwhile, Arizona is experiencing triple-digit heat this week, California is approaching 90°F, and Maui received over 20 inches of rain over the weekend, triggering landslides and road collapses.

Cuba plans to allow citizens living abroad to invest in private businesses on the island for the first time, a senior government official said, as Havana seeks new sources of capital to revive its struggling economy. The move would allow expatriate Cubans to own businesses and participate directly in the country’s growing private sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga said the government hopes the policy will attract investment across sectors such as tourism, mining, and infrastructure while helping modernize Cuba’s aging power grid. He said the initiative is part of broader economic reforms aimed at creating a more “dynamic business environment.”
The shift comes as Cuba faces a severe energy crisis driven by fuel shortages, which have triggered rolling blackouts and disruptions to critical services across the island. Officials blame US sanctions for restricting access to fuel and financing, though Havana confirmed it has begun talks with the Trump administration.

Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander who led Trump's immigration crackdowns in Chicago and Minneapolis, is retiring at the end of the month after being removed from his national role in January. (More)

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, Trump said Monday, adding she has an excellent prognosis and will stay in her role. (More)

Three massive wildfires, including the largest in Nebraska history, have scorched 600,000 acres in central and western Nebraska with zero containment, killing one person. (More)

The EU's foreign policy chief is exploring a Ukraine-style shipping deal with the UN to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. (More)

Drones struck the UAE's Fujairah oil export hub for the second time in two days Monday, setting off a major fire as Iran's war with Israel enters its third week. (More)

Chile's new conservative government started digging trenches and building walls at its Peruvian and Bolivian borders to crack down on illegal migration and smuggling (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +1.01%, Nasdaq +1.22%, Dow +0.83%). Indexes recovered some of their losses from last week as oil prices pulled back. (More)

Public Storage agreed to buy National Storage Affiliates for $10.5 billion in stock, combining to form the country's biggest self-storage company with nearly 4,600 U.S. locations. (More)

Workers at one of the country's largest meatpacking plants went on strike Monday in Colorado over alleged retaliation during contract talks — the first U.S. beef plant walkout since 1985. (More)

Venezuela overcame a 2-1 deficit with a three-run seventh inning to beat Italy 4-2 and reach the World Baseball Classic title game against the US tonight at 8 pm ET. (More)

Alabama guard Aden Holloway, the team's second-leading scorer, was arrested Monday on felony marijuana charges days before the Crimson Tide opens NCAA tournament play against Hofstra. (More)

The Chiefs are trading a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Jets for quarterback Justin Fields, giving Kansas City a capable backup while Patrick Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL. (More)

Scientists found that a brain chemical tied to learning can seize control of serotonin signaling, offering a new explanation for how conditions like OCD and depression develop. (More)

A planet 35 light-years away appears to be made entirely of molten lava, astronomers say, suggesting a new category of world beyond the familiar rocky and water planets. (More)

A 1949 humpback whale recording found on old audio equipment is believed to be the oldest known whale song, and also reveals how quiet the ocean was before modern shipping. (More)

Why are Earth’s days getting longer?

…and the most common jobs for women 100 years ago vs now.

Watch a time-lapse of a man building a log cabin.

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