Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey and I agree it seems like democracy is on the line right now, especially around the First Amendment and the increasing pressure the Trump administration — especially FCC chair Brendan Carr — is putting on free speech. I also had a lot of questions for Sen. Markey about the supposed TikTok ban, which no one seems to know anything about, and all the other problems we’re facing in 2025.

Links: 

• Even the lawmakers behind the TikTok ban have no idea what’s going on | The Verge
• Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine | The Verge
• The FCC is a weapon in Trump’s war on free speech | Decoder
• Here’s the Trump EO that would ban state AI laws | The Verge
• Silicon Valley is rallying behind a guy who sucks | The Verge
• Silicon Valley’s man in the White House is benefiting himself and his friends | The New York Times

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Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane. 

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

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