In the Making: Meta, TikTok, and Internet Safety

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This week, as Meta are handed another fine, we take a closer look at what it means, and the wider issues around child safety on the internet... and why social media companies are actively trying to shut down legislation that could help.

Plus, Trump's approval ratings continue to fall, the midterms heat up as more candidates are confirmed, and an art installation in Chicago reignites conversations about US monuments.

Joining me this week is Corbin Trent, former comms guy for both AOC and Bernie Sanders, and now writer at America’s Undoing and the Founder of A Fight Worth Having.

America's Undoing: https://www.americasundoing.com/

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03:20 - Katie Hobbs

14:32 - Trump's Approval Rating

20:49 - Child Safety on the Internet

43:00 - Other Washingtons

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News Sources:

• America’s Undoing: https://www.americasundoing.com/ 

• Meta’s record child safety fine: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7lz3wr2rlo 

• Perez Hilton’s infamous livestream: https://thetab.com/2026/08/06/a-four-hour-911-call-and-hospital-updates-the-latest-details-we-know-about-perez-hilton 

• How TikTok Failed to Act on Perez Hilton: https://www.vanityfair.com/story/perez-hilton-tiktok-livestream-policy?srsltid=AfmBOopxRRQ7Gu9G3bJj-C25b1P3r5zN2oHRaAT_Ui3sipVOy3Pk20Is 

• Kids Online Safety Act: https://issueone.org/press/big-tech-companies-pump-more-than-51-million-into-lobbying-this-year-as-industry-seeks-to-thwart-passage-of-kids-online-safety-and-privacy-act/ 

• Arizona Governor Race: https://apnews.com/article/katie-hobbs-john-giles-lieutenant-governor-arizona-3d7d3b6ed775c18025263d8d3c430f55 

• Chicago Monument Protest: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/11/style/chicago-washington-monument-amanda-williams 

• Trump’s approval rating hits new low: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/11/trump-approval-rating-hits-new-low-latest-poll/91260164007/

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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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