As wildfires devastate the Los Angeles region, TikTok faces criticism for requiring local employees to use personal or sick leave if unable to work remotely. The ongoing wildfires have destroyed over 1,300 structures, burned more than 45 square miles, and forced nearly 180,000 people to evacuate. Despite these dire conditions, the social media giant has been accused of inadequate support for its workforce during this crisis.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) suffered a significant setback in her congressional career, losing her bid to become the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. In a vote among House Democrats, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) defeated Ocasio-Cortez 131-84 for the prominent role. The defeat highlights ongoing tensions between Ocasio-Cortez’s progressive approach and the Democrat establishment.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during an interview with Joe Rogan that Biden administration staff called the company to demand they censor content pertaining to COVID-19.
California’s insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, issued a one-year moratorium on non-renewals and cancellations in areas affected by the state's fires.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against social media platform TikTok, alleging it has exposed children to "inappropriate and explicit material," a press release says.
Ice cream company Ben and Jerry's is joining a protest to "send an urgent message to the incoming administration," according to a newsletter shared on social media.
