Facebook Censorship, Oasis Reunion, & Price of Happiness

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Big Stories

Zuck Says White House Pressured Facebook to Censor COVID-19 Content

Mark Zuckerberg claimed that the Biden administration pressured his company to censor COVID-19 content during the pandemic

• In a letter to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, the Facebook CEO wrote he regretted not speaking out sooner and admitted that his company made decisions under pressure, which he now questions. The censorship pressure focused mainly on misinformation about the virus and vaccines.

• During the pandemic, President Biden and other officials criticized social media platforms like Facebook for not doing enough to remove harmful misinformation. The administration argued that misinformation was making it harder to control the pandemic. While Facebook said it was working hard to combat false information, the White House continued to push for more action, although they eventually reduced their criticism.

• Zuckerberg's letter, seen as a "win for free speech" by some, emphasized that Facebook would resist such government pressure in the future. He also announced that he wouldn't fund electoral infrastructure in the upcoming election, distancing himself from the controversy that arose when he contributed $400 million during the 2020 election to support voting systems.

Harris Proposes Raising Corporate Tax Rate

Vice President Kamala Harris is proposing to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% to generate revenue for her plans if she becomes president.

• Her campaign says the increase would help fund programs to support the middle class and ensure big corporations pay their fair share. They would also help fund some of her expensive campaign plans such as expanding the child tax credit and easing the cost of housing and medical debt

• The proposed tax rate increase is expected to raise hundreds of billions of dollars over a decade. It would partially reverse the tax cuts made by former President Trump in 2017, which reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Harris’s plan aligns with President Biden’s recent budget proposal.

• Harris will likely face opposition from Republicans who disagree with raising the corporate tax rate. To pass her plan, she would need strong support from Democrats in Congress. The debate over tax policy is expected to be a major issue, especially as some of Trump’s tax cuts expire in 2025.

Trump Selects RFK JR., Gabbard For His Transition Team

Donald Trump has added Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard to his transition team for a possible second term as president.

• Kennedy, who recently endorsed Trump, and Gabbard, a former Democratic U.S. representative, will help choose key personnel and shape policies for the potential new administration.

• RRK Jr., who initially ran for president as a Democrat and then Independent before endorsing Trump, said he is ready to assist in selecting the people who will run the government if Trump wins. Tulsi Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, also endorsed Trump and appeared with him at a recent event in Detroit.

• Kennedy and Gabbard join a team that includes prominent figures like Linda McMahon, Howard Lutnick, and Trump’s sons. Trump’s campaign is now highlighting the broad coalition of support he is building across party lines.

Little Stories

• Fifteen years after Oasis broke up, the Gallagher brothers have hinted at a reunion tour. On Monday, Noel and Liam Gallagher posted a short video with the date and time of August 27 at 8 a.m., using the Oasis font. Rumors suggest the brothers might reunite for big concerts next summer, including Glastonbury and a record 10-night run at Wembley Stadium. (More)

• Israeli forces rescued a 52-year-old man from a tunnel in Gaza on Tuesday, marking the first time a hostage has been freed alive from Hamas’ underground network since the war began on Oct. 7. The man was taken to a hospital in Israel and reunited with his family. (More)

• A federal judge in Texas paused a new Biden administration policy that would make it easier for undocumented spouses and children of Americans to gain legal status. The judge issued the pause after Texas and 15 other Republican-led states sued the administration. The judge will review the claims before making a final decision on the case. (More)

• Eli Lilly has released a new version of its popular weight loss drug Zepbound in vial form, which costs about half as much as the original injectable pen. The lowest vial is priced at $399 for a four-week supply. Unlike the pen, the vial doesn't come with a needle, so patients will need to buy their own syringes. (More)

• A rain delay led to a strange moment in baseball history: a player competed for both teams in the same game. The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox had their game rained out on June 26, when catcher Danny Jansen was still with the Blue Jays. A month later, he was traded to the Red Sox. When the rescheduled game resumed on Monday, Jansen played against his old team in the same game he started two months earlier. (More)

Extra Credit

Study finds the price of happiness is $200,000.

America’s best Labor Day weekend trips.

Study finds where love lives in the brain.

The countries with the highest wealth per person.