Good Monday morning.
Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:
- The president meets with U.S. Tech Workers and signs an Executive Order on Hiring American
- President Trump has lunch with the Vice President
Microsoft negotiating to buy TikTok
Popular app TikTok is on the chopping blok here in the U.S. because the app is alleged to be a security threat. The company is owned by China. Is the app really a security threat? I don’t know but I found this interesting/horrifying:
A guy on reddit reversed engineered #TikTok
Here’s what he found on the data it collects on you
It’s far worse than just stealing what’s on your clipboard: pic.twitter.com/oqaQyYDXT2
— Dan Okopnyi ???????? (@d1rtydan) June 28, 2020
The app, which I don’t use so can’t directly describe, is a social media app where users post cute videos of themselves and pets and whatever our narcissistic culture wants to consume.
“These Chinese software companies doing business in the United States,” Secretary of State Pompeo said, “are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party, their national security apparatus. Could be [users’] facial recognition pattern, it could be information about their residence, their phone numbers, their friends, who they’re connected to. Those are the issues that President Trump’s made clear we’re going to take care of. These are true national security issues.”
“I saw statements from senior American CEOs of the big tech companies this week saying they hadn’t heard or seen about intellectual property theft in the United States. That’s crazy talk,” he said.
Technically TikTok has an American CEO. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro warned against buying into TikTok’s PR spin.
The administration official went on to denounce TikTok’s lobbying efforts, claiming that they “put a puppet” American CEO in charge of the company. Kevin Mayer, a former Disney executive, took over as the organization’s CEO in May.
“They’re going to make it sound like, oh, can’t hurt you, this, that and other thing. Don’t fall for this. Do not fall for this,” Navarro added.
Now Microsoft is in talks to buy the company.
Microsoft confirmed Sunday it is in talks with Chinese company ByteDance to acquire the U.S. arm of its popular video app TikTok and has discussed with President Donald Trump his concerns about security and censorship surrounding such an acquisition.
In a statement, Microsoft said Microsoft and ByteDance have provided notice of their intent to explore a deal resulting in Microsoft owning and operating the TikTok service in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The company said it expects those talks to conclude by Sept. 15.
“Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury,” the Microsoft statement said.
The Trump administration has cracked down on other Chinese technology/telecom providers like Huawei and ZTE as well as ordering the U.S. stop purchasing their equipment for use on U.S. networks.
So 45 more days for TikTok:
EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump has agreed to give China’s ByteDance 45 days to negotiate a sale of popular short-video app TikTok to Microsoft – sources https://t.co/2oeT3ZzjFv by @GregRoumeliotis @DEER_ECHO_ pic.twitter.com/UmTI94qUjg
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 3, 2020
Riots/protests/Black Lives Matter/War on Cops:
Dunkin’ Donuts employee arrested after cop finds ‘large, thick piece of mucus’ in his coffee
Portland woman shot in hail of 150 bullets during Black Lives Matter protest
Portland Recorded More Homicides In July Than Any Month Over Last 30 Years
Minneapolis Police Department Advises Residents to Give In to Criminals
Montana Dem Shared Messages Disparaging Police, Women, Minorities
Shakedown: BLM Demands Cut of Louisville Business Profits for Protection
Rioters Target Local Police in Portland; Wall Street Journal Says ‘Mostly Peaceful’
Navy probes event featuring military dogs attacking ‘target’ in Kaepernick jersey
NYC shootings this year, topping 777, have surpassed 2019 numbers, police say
8 dead and at least 19 wounded in weekend Chicago shootings
Coronavirus news:
California COVID-19 cases spiked after July 4th. Family gatherings helped the spread, experts say.
An Indiana school reopened for students. There was a positive COVID-19 test on day one.
‘I Have Never Been Called That’: Dr. Birx Responds To Pelosi Criticism
Trump health official: Time to ‘move on’ from hydroxychloroquine
Other morsels:
HERE IT IS: Joe Biden should not debate President Trump, Clinton’s ex-WH spokesman says
Apple Fire in California spreads to over 20,000 acres
Campaigns accuse California AG of slanted descriptions of ballot initiatives
Report: Over 125 China-Backed Companies Get Millions in U.S. PPP Loans
Clyburn: Trump doesn’t plan to leave the White House
Trump calls for death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber after appeals court vacated death sentence
Karen Bass renounces her praise for Fidel Castro
NASA astronauts splash down in SpaceX capsule as historic mission returns to Earth