Dana Mattioli

And what we saw was this million dollar check from Meta for the inauguration. He went to the inauguration and sat on the dais with all the other prominent CEOs, which was not something you would have seen In 2016, he settled a $25 million lawsuit with Donald Trump, which lawyers viewed as kind of a frivolous lawsuit. And then he made policy changes at Meta. You know, he relaxed content moderation.

And what we saw was this million dollar check from Meta for the inauguration. He went to the inauguration and sat on the dais with all the other prominent CEOs, which was not something you would have seen In 2016, he settled a $25 million lawsuit with Donald Trump, which lawyers viewed as kind of a frivolous lawsuit. And then he made policy changes at Meta. You know, he relaxed content moderation.

There had been a lot of concern from conservatives about the suppression of Republican voices on his platform. So we saw a lot of actions like that. There was a lot of... kissing the ring, that we think that Meta was hoping would go a long way.

There had been a lot of concern from conservatives about the suppression of Republican voices on his platform. So we saw a lot of actions like that. There was a lot of... kissing the ring, that we think that Meta was hoping would go a long way.

There had been a lot of concern from conservatives about the suppression of Republican voices on his platform. So we saw a lot of actions like that. There was a lot of... kissing the ring, that we think that Meta was hoping would go a long way.

Not only were they lobbying the White House to intervene on their behalf, but they were also trying to settle the lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission. And we had some very exclusive details on how that went down. Please share. Yeah.

Not only were they lobbying the White House to intervene on their behalf, but they were also trying to settle the lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission. And we had some very exclusive details on how that went down. Please share. Yeah.

Not only were they lobbying the White House to intervene on their behalf, but they were also trying to settle the lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission. And we had some very exclusive details on how that went down. Please share. Yeah.

So, you know, the way these things are done is typically a CEO and his general counsel and, you know, other lawyers will have meetings with the FTC ahead of a trial and they might be able to hash out a deal. Right. What we learned was that Meta offered a settlement of $450 million to the FTC, which is a very small amount.

So, you know, the way these things are done is typically a CEO and his general counsel and, you know, other lawyers will have meetings with the FTC ahead of a trial and they might be able to hash out a deal. Right. What we learned was that Meta offered a settlement of $450 million to the FTC, which is a very small amount.

So, you know, the way these things are done is typically a CEO and his general counsel and, you know, other lawyers will have meetings with the FTC ahead of a trial and they might be able to hash out a deal. Right. What we learned was that Meta offered a settlement of $450 million to the FTC, which is a very small amount.

And the FTC said they were thinking that it should be more of like a $30 billion settlement. When you think about the number that was on offer... For a company as big as Meta's, you know, some might find it insulting. I spoke to FTC's former chair, Lena Kahn, for my story, and she told me that the $450 million settlement offer was, quote-unquote, delusional.

And the FTC said they were thinking that it should be more of like a $30 billion settlement. When you think about the number that was on offer... For a company as big as Meta's, you know, some might find it insulting. I spoke to FTC's former chair, Lena Kahn, for my story, and she told me that the $450 million settlement offer was, quote-unquote, delusional.

And the FTC said they were thinking that it should be more of like a $30 billion settlement. When you think about the number that was on offer... For a company as big as Meta's, you know, some might find it insulting. I spoke to FTC's former chair, Lena Kahn, for my story, and she told me that the $450 million settlement offer was, quote-unquote, delusional.

And she said, you know, Mark bought his way out of competing, so I'm not surprised that he thinks he can buy his way out of law enforcement, too. What came across in our reporting was that Zuckerberg felt confident that the White House would intervene on his behalf.

And she said, you know, Mark bought his way out of competing, so I'm not surprised that he thinks he can buy his way out of law enforcement, too. What came across in our reporting was that Zuckerberg felt confident that the White House would intervene on his behalf.

And she said, you know, Mark bought his way out of competing, so I'm not surprised that he thinks he can buy his way out of law enforcement, too. What came across in our reporting was that Zuckerberg felt confident that the White House would intervene on his behalf.

In the end, they didn't work. And there was a big meeting held in the Oval Office a week prior to the trial starting where aides and advisors met with Trump in the Oval Office and just said, you know, that this is an important lawsuit and it should move forward. And he got his blessing.

In the end, they didn't work. And there was a big meeting held in the Oval Office a week prior to the trial starting where aides and advisors met with Trump in the Oval Office and just said, you know, that this is an important lawsuit and it should move forward. And he got his blessing.

In the end, they didn't work. And there was a big meeting held in the Oval Office a week prior to the trial starting where aides and advisors met with Trump in the Oval Office and just said, you know, that this is an important lawsuit and it should move forward. And he got his blessing.