Australia Moves To Tax Meta, Google, and TikTok To Pay for Journalism

Listen To This Story

Australia Moves to Tax Meta, Google, and TikTok To Pay for Journalism (Maria)

The author writes, “Australia has proposed taxing digital giants Meta, Google, and TikTok to pay for news reporters. The government released draft legislation Tuesday it intends to introduce to Parliament by July 2 that would create a financial incentive for social media companies to strike deals with news organizations to pay for journalism. … Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a monetary value needed to be attached to journalists’ work. ‘It shouldn’t just be able to be taken by a large multinational corporation and used to generate profits with no compensation,’ he added.”

The Comey Threat Indictment Is a Grave Embarrassment to the United States Department of Justice and the Rule of Law (DonkeyHotey)

The author writes, “On April 28, 2026, the United States Department of Justice indicted former FBI Director James Comey over a mildly sassy arrangement of seashells. The charge is preposterous and no competent or honest prosecutor would bring it. It represents a betrayal of the professional and ethical obligations of every US Department of Justice attorney involved, and reflects the complete collapse of the Department’s credibility and independence in favor of a cultish and cretinous devotion to Donald Trump. The indictment concerns James Comey’s May 25, 2025 post to his Instagram account remarking ‘Cool shell formation on my beach walk’ and showing shells arranged to spell out ‘86 47.’”

US State Department Orders Global Warning About Alleged China AI Thefts by Deepseek, Others (Sean)

From CNBC: “The US State Department has ordered a global push to bring attention to what it says are widespread efforts by Chinese companies, including AI startup DeepSeek, to steal intellectual property from US artificial intelligence labs, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters. The cable said its purpose was to ‘warn of the risks of utilizing AI models distilled from US proprietary AI models, and lay the groundwork for potential follow-up and outreach by the US government.’”

With Kimmel Under Fire, FCC Moves To Review ABC’s TV Station Licenses (Reader Steve)

The author writes, “The Federal Communications Commission is ordering an early review of Walt Disney Co.’s broadcast TV licenses amid criticism of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s provocative jokes ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Assn. dinner. The FCC said it has been investigating ABC stations over whether the company’s diversity and inclusion policies are in violation of the Communications Act of 1934 and the agency’s rules, including its ‘prohibition on unlawful discrimination.’ The move is by far the most aggressive attempt by the White House to target President Trump’s media critics. Trump has frequently threatened to have TV station licenses pulled when he is unhappy over their coverage, but the order is the first time the government has acted on his wishes, sparking anger from free speech advocates.”

The Trump Administration Should Confront Reality on Its Psychedelics Agenda (Russ)

From The Washington Post: “President Donald Trump’s executive order to fund research into psychedelic therapies and fast-track their review has been widely lauded, and for good reason. Drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA have demonstrated striking results in clinical trials to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious mental health conditions. The order injects momentum into this burgeoning field and opens the door for eager patients to try these therapies. Still, the announcement should be viewed with caution. The research underpinning these drugs is complicated by unresolved methodological issues, and regulatory policy and public opinion should not get ahead of the science.”

This Common Plant Could Clean Microplastics From Your Drinking Water (Mili)

The author writes, “Scientists have discovered that moringa seeds can help pull microplastics out of water, rivaling standard chemical treatments. The plant-based extract causes plastic particles to clump together, making them easier to filter away. In some conditions, it even outperformed conventional chemicals. This low-cost, natural solution could be a game-changer for cleaner drinking water, especially in smaller communities.”

A Barge Carrying Timmy the Humpback Whale Journeys to the North Sea (Dana)

From the AP: “A barge carrying a humpback whale that had been stranded in shallow waters near Germany since March has begun its journey toward the North Sea. It reached Danish waters on Wednesday, German authorities said. Nicknamed Timmy by German media, the whale was spotted swimming near Germany’s Baltic Sea coast on March 3, far from its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it toward deeper seas were livestreamed across the globe. Rescuers on Tuesday pulled the whale to a flooded barge using straps and a channel previously dredged to create a passage to the vessel, the Germany press agency dpa reported. The barge is now expected to go around the northern tip of Denmark via the strait of Skagerrak toward the North Sea.”