Jess Bravin

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Leinbaugh. It's Friday, January 10th. Coming up on the show... Will the Supreme Court uphold the TikTok ban?

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Kate Leinbaugh. It's Friday, January 10th. Coming up on the show... Will the Supreme Court uphold the TikTok ban?

After Congress passed a law last year that threatened TikTok, people on the platform had big reactions.

After Congress passed a law last year that threatened TikTok, people on the platform had big reactions.

After Congress passed a law last year that threatened TikTok, people on the platform had big reactions.

TikTok went to court to block the law. And that's how this case got to the Supreme Court today. First up was TikTok. The company's lawyer, Noel Francisco, laid out TikTok's arguments that the law was a violation of the First Amendment, of TikTok's freedom of speech.

TikTok went to court to block the law. And that's how this case got to the Supreme Court today. First up was TikTok. The company's lawyer, Noel Francisco, laid out TikTok's arguments that the law was a violation of the First Amendment, of TikTok's freedom of speech.

TikTok went to court to block the law. And that's how this case got to the Supreme Court today. First up was TikTok. The company's lawyer, Noel Francisco, laid out TikTok's arguments that the law was a violation of the First Amendment, of TikTok's freedom of speech.

How did the justices respond to the TikTok argument?

How did the justices respond to the TikTok argument?

How did the justices respond to the TikTok argument?

Here's Justice Samuel Alito in questioning, saying that because ByteDance isn't a U.S. company, the First Amendment doesn't apply.

Here's Justice Samuel Alito in questioning, saying that because ByteDance isn't a U.S. company, the First Amendment doesn't apply.

Here's Justice Samuel Alito in questioning, saying that because ByteDance isn't a U.S. company, the First Amendment doesn't apply.

Justice Elena Kagan asked TikTok's lawyer outright if ByteDance's algorithm can be separated from the platform.

Justice Elena Kagan asked TikTok's lawyer outright if ByteDance's algorithm can be separated from the platform.

Justice Elena Kagan asked TikTok's lawyer outright if ByteDance's algorithm can be separated from the platform.

ByteDance has control of the algorithm that serves TikTok users their videos. And the justices kept pressing TikTok's lawyer on whether the app could operate without that algorithm. Here's Justice Katonji Brown-Jackson.

ByteDance has control of the algorithm that serves TikTok users their videos. And the justices kept pressing TikTok's lawyer on whether the app could operate without that algorithm. Here's Justice Katonji Brown-Jackson.

ByteDance has control of the algorithm that serves TikTok users their videos. And the justices kept pressing TikTok's lawyer on whether the app could operate without that algorithm. Here's Justice Katonji Brown-Jackson.