WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday to uphold a federal law that will ban TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, divests from the app by Sunday, January 19. The decision, which came after intense arguments, prioritizes national security over First Amendment rights, but leaves several paths forward.

President Joe Biden signed the law in April, stipulating that ByteDance must sell TikTok or face a ban. His administration has voiced concerns over data privacy and the potential for Chinese government influence, but with the deadline now at hand, they've hinted they might not enforce the ban, passing the decision-making to incoming President Donald Trump.

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Trump, who previously sought to ban TikTok during his first term, has since changed his stance, promising to "save" the app. Here are the options moving forward:

1. Immediate Ban: If no action is taken by Sunday, app stores and internet hosts will no longer support TikTok, effectively banning it in the U.S. However, existing users might still access the app until it becomes unsupported.

2. Biden's Last-Minute Extension: Biden could use his remaining days in office to grant a 90-day extension if there's progress toward ByteDance divesting from TikTok, though this would require ByteDance to show significant steps towards a sale.

3. Trump's Intervention: Once in office, Trump could direct the Justice Department not to enforce the ban, though this would leave companies like Apple and Google at risk of fines if they continue supporting TikTok. Alternatively, Trump could negotiate a deal for ByteDance to sell TikTok or seek a political resolution, possibly involving new legislation or a diplomatic agreement with China.

4. Congressional Action: Congress could repeal the law or pass new legislation to extend the deadline or alter the terms of the ban.

5. ByteDance Divestiture: ByteDance could comply by selling TikTok to a U.S. entity, though they've been resistant, citing the impact on the app's functionality.

The ruling marks a pivotal moment, highlighting the tension between national security and free speech, with the next moves potentially reshaping tech policy in the U.S.

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA - In a courtroom drama in the Florida Panhandle, CNN is on trial for defamation after a Navy veteran, Zachary Young, accused the network of wrongly portraying him as an "illegal profiteer" during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The trial has caught the public's eye, raising questions about media responsibility and the effects of journalism on people's lives.

Zachary Young, who runs Nemex Enterprises, a security consulting firm, claims that a CNN segment aired on "The Lead with Jake Tapper" in November 2021 wrongly linked him to a "black market" for Afghan evacuations. Young says this damaged his business and personal reputation, denying any exploitation of desperate Afghans.

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The trial has had its share of drama. The judge had to step in several times, even making CNN's lawyer apologize to Young for calling him a liar in court, saying, "This isn't kindergarten."

During the trial, CNN's chief national security correspondent, Alex Marquardt, defended the network, saying the report was truthful and aimed at highlighting the broader issues during the Afghanistan withdrawal. However, some internal CNN communications suggested a less favorable view of Young, hinting at possible bias or inadequate research.

Young's attorneys are arguing that CNN's report was not only misleading but also harmful, claiming Young became "permanently unemployable" after the broadcast. His security clearance was taken away, and his business suffered.

CNN's defense says the story reflected what was happening in Afghanistan, where private contractors were charging high for evacuations. They insist they did not directly accuse Young of wrongdoing.

The jury, coming from an area not usually supportive of big media, has been encouraged by Young's attorney to "send a message" to media outlets about being responsible in their reporting. There's talk about possibly awarding a very large sum if they side with Young.

As the trial continues, it not only scrutinizes CNN's reporting but also brings up larger questions about how media stories affect individuals. The outcome could set new standards for how similar cases are handled, especially concerning media coverage of international crises.

Everyone in the media world is watching, as this trial might change how stories are double-checked and the personal impact of being featured in news reports.

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TROY, MICH - The Troy School District adopted a new union contract with its teachers that limits and overtly discourages parents from visiting classroom.The provisions were put in place during the same timeframe when the mother of a second grade student sought but was denied permission to observe her child in the classroom.

Michigan Capitol Confidential previously reported on Michele Maleszyk, a former teacher and mother of a child with dyslexia, who was denied a request to observe her child in the classroom this school year. Her goal was to better understand her students’ reading interventions.

The district adopted a new collective bargaining agreement in June 2024, as reported by The Oakland Press, though the contract was not disclosed on the district’s website until December. A new section in the agreement makes it harder for parents to visit their child’s classroom.

Under the ‘Classroom Visits’ provision, it actively discourages parental visits. Click here to read more.

 

An Ohio school district is facing a federal complaint over a discriminatory employment program that may have illegally barred teachers from participating on the basis of their race and sex.

Parents Defending Education (PDE), a non-profit organization dedicated to opposing left-wing ideology in the education system, filed the complaint against Middletown City School District over the district’s discriminatory affinity group programming, which is open only to black male teachers.

“PDE and its members oppose racial discrimination and political indoctrination in America’s schools. Middletown City School District is offering educational and affinity group programming for Black male employees that are not offered to all employees in the District,” reads the complaint from PDE, first obtained by The Daily Wire.

The complaint comes as school districts across the country have adopted controversial diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that often discriminate against individuals on the basis of their race and sex in attempts to diversify the staff or faculty of a given institution. Click here to read more.

 

ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. - Tennessee authorities say a teacher has been arrested after cocaine was found in her classroom.

According to the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Department, sixth grade teacher Mia King is facing charges after deputies found two baggies of cocaine in her open purse which was inside a closet next to her desk.

A scooping object and a rolled-up $5 bill were also found covered in white powdery residue, an affidavit stated.

Deputies said King was being held by a school resource officer in the principal’s office and was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of narcotics while they searched her classroom at Cheatham County Middle School.

King reportedly began crying and asked for an attorney when deputies told her what they had found.

King had been an English teacher at the school since 2023. Click here to read more.

 

As Donald Trump re-enters the White House on a pledge to end national security state overreach, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is still hiding critical details on the Russia conspiracy investigation that engulfed his first term.

In response to a Freedom of Information request filed by RealClearInvestigations in August 2022, the FBI on Dec. 31, more than two years later, released a heavily redacted copy of the document that opened an explosive and unprecedented counterintelligence probe of the sitting president as an agent of the Russian government.

As Donald Trump re-enters the White House on a pledge to end national security state overreach, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is still hiding critical details on the Russia conspiracy investigation that engulfed his first term.

In response to a Freedom of Information request filed by RealClearInvestigations in August 2022, the FBI on Dec. 31, more than two years later, released a heavily redacted copy of the document that opened an explosive and unprecedented counterintelligence probe of the sitting president as an agent of the Russian government. Click here to read more.