Summary

X, owned by Elon Musk, is suing to block California’s AB 2655, a law requiring social media platforms to remove “materially deceptive content” like deepfakes about politicians within 120 days of an election.

The lawsuit argues the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, claiming it would lead to broad censorship of political speech to avoid enforcement costs.

A similar California law, AB 2839, was blocked last month for overreaching into constitutionally protected speech, including parody and satire.

AB 2655 is set to take effect in 2024.

Summary

The University of North Texas Health Science Center was ordered by Texas regulators to stop using illegal water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) for disposing of human remains.

This eco-friendly but controversial method, illegal in Texas, was used without donor or family consent, raising ethical and legal concerns.

The center halted the practice in September following an NBC investigation revealing its unauthorized dissection and leasing of unclaimed bodies.

Contracts with counties and consent forms mandated traditional cremation, making the undisclosed use of water cremation a potential violation of trust and dignity for donors and families.

Summary

Some women are being asked to prepay for their baby, a practice that is legal but considered unethical by patient advocacy groups.

The practice is driven by the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed in the U.S., where bundled billing has become outdated.

Critics say this exacerbates maternity care inequities, with families left to navigate unclear costs and insurance complexities amid rising healthcare expenses.

Summary

Cruise, GM’s autonomous vehicle unit, admitted to submitting a false report to influence a federal investigation into a 2022 incident where a robotaxi dragged a pedestrian after a collision.

The company will pay a $500,000 criminal fine under a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ, requiring safety compliance and annual progress reports.

Cruise has faced multiple penalties, including a $1.5M NHTSA fine and losing operating permits in California.

Amid leadership changes and layoffs, Cruise is relaunching supervised autonomous driving and plans to partner with Uber in 2025.

“America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” said O’Brien in the announcement from the Academy."

Hell yeah! Might actually watch this one

Summary

Stephen King announced his departure from X (formerly Twitter), calling the platform “too toxic” and urging followers to join him on Threads.

King has frequently clashed with X owner Elon Musk over verification charges and political disputes, including Musk’s support for Donald Trump.

Other entities, including The Guardian, German football club St Pauli, and actor Jamie Lee Curtis, have also left the platform, citing concerns over toxic content, misinformation, and hate speech.

Rival platforms like Threads and Bluesky are gaining traction, with Bluesky reporting nearly 15 million users globally.

Summary

State and federal regulators are failing to address "ghost networks" in health insurance, where insurers list unavailable mental health providers as in-network, misleading patients and denying them critical care.

Investigations in states like New York, Arizona, and California found error rates as high as 86%, but enforcement is weak, with few fines issued and penalties too small to deter violations.

This issue is significant because it worsens the mental health crisis, undermines trust in the system, and has led to tragic outcomes, including preventable deaths.

Efforts to strengthen regulations face political resistance and underfunding.

Summary

Donald Trump, the president-elect and convicted felon, has escalated his legal attacks on media outlets critical of him, sparking fears for press freedom under his second term.

His lawyer recently demanded $10 billion in damages from The New York Times and Penguin Random House over alleged “defamatory” content.

Similar lawsuits target the Daily Beast, CBS News, and others, accusing them of “malicious” reporting and election interference.

Media groups and watchdogs, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, warn these actions threaten press freedom and the public’s right to information.

It does indeed look like the social media landscape is fracturing into separate tribes. Whether this is good, who knows.

One quote from the article is this: "X for the rightwing and the raging; centrists and policy nerds on Bluesky; people who hate politics on Threads or Instagram; Gen Z on TikTok; boomers on Facebook".

Thousands of people joined a march towards New Zealand's national capital on Friday after a contentious bill that would reinterpret the country's 184-year-old founding document passed its first hurdle in parliament.

Several rallies against the Treaty Principles Bill are being staged in towns across the country as a nine-day march, or hikoi, moves to Wellington. It is expected to reach the national capital on Tuesday.

An estimated 10,000 people marched through Rotorua, about 450 km (280 miles) north of Wellington, New Zealand police said in a statement. Protesters, some wearing traditional clothing, were greeted by hundreds waving the Maori flag and chanting.

Summary

Former McNairy County Sheriff’s deputy Connor Brackin, 24, has been fired and charged with seven counts of aggravated animal cruelty and eight counts of reckless endangerment after allegedly shooting seven dogs during an animal welfare check in Bethel Springs, Tennessee.

Brackin, who had been on the job for less than a month, reportedly released one dog to the welfare caller before killing the others for unknown reasons.

Following a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe, Brackin turned himself in and was released on bond.

Summary

The "Department of Government Efficiency" won't be a real government agency. In fact, it won't even be part of the federal government.

Led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the advisory commission aims to cut $2 trillion in spending, reduce regulations, and downsize the federal workforce.

Critics question its effectiveness, given its outsider status, potential conflicts of interest with Musk's businesses, and Ramaswamy's focus on mass layoffs and agency eliminations.

While some praise its potential for reforms, others warn it may undermine civil service and prioritize "slash-and-burn" cuts over thoughtful changes.

17 retailers receive failing grades—including 7-Eleven, Five Below, LL Flooring, McDonald’s, and Sally Beauty

Apple, Sephora, Target, and Walmart lead the way, achieving high scores for commitment to restricting toxic chemicals and advancing safer products