Tim Pierce

What's the latest there? Yeah, last week, Sarah Wynne-Williams testified to Congress about allegedly illegal ties Facebook has developed with the Chinese Communist Party. Wynne-Williams served as Meta's Director of Global Public Policy for nearly seven years until she was fired from the company in 2017. Here's some of her whistleblower testimony.

Senator Chuck Grassley sent a letter to Zuckerberg Tuesday demanding answers about allegations that Meta tried to silence and retaliate against Wynne Williams and how those allegations could amount to trouble for Facebook from the Security and Exchange Commission. So a lot of pressure on Meta and Zuckerberg right now.

Senator Chuck Grassley sent a letter to Zuckerberg Tuesday demanding answers about allegations that Meta tried to silence and retaliate against Wynne Williams and how those allegations could amount to trouble for Facebook from the Security and Exchange Commission. So a lot of pressure on Meta and Zuckerberg right now.

The Federal Trade Commission accused the Facebook parent company of monopolizing the social networking market by acquiring rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp, a strategy it calls buy or bury.

The Federal Trade Commission accused the Facebook parent company of monopolizing the social networking market by acquiring rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp, a strategy it calls buy or bury.

Zuckerberg pushed back and said Facebook competes with a broader field that includes companies such as TikTok, YouTube, and X. But prosecutors pointed to internal emails where Zuckerberg called Instagram a threat and wrote, "'It's better to buy than compete.'" If the FTC wins, it could force Meta to part with both Instagram and WhatsApp.

Zuckerberg pushed back and said Facebook competes with a broader field that includes companies such as TikTok, YouTube, and X. But prosecutors pointed to internal emails where Zuckerberg called Instagram a threat and wrote, "'It's better to buy than compete.'" If the FTC wins, it could force Meta to part with both Instagram and WhatsApp.

The divestment would be a major blow, especially with Instagram projected to generate over half of Meta's ad revenue this year.

The divestment would be a major blow, especially with Instagram projected to generate over half of Meta's ad revenue this year.

Me too.

Me too.

Well, they're pretty significant. Morning Wire spoke to Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union. He's a big proponent of making the Trump tax cuts permanent, which they would be if Congress passes this budget bill. He says, quote, virtually every American family would benefit.

Well, they're pretty significant. Morning Wire spoke to Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union. He's a big proponent of making the Trump tax cuts permanent, which they would be if Congress passes this budget bill. He says, quote, virtually every American family would benefit.

Now, if the bill isn't passed, Americans will face around a $4 trillion tax hike. Unsurprisingly, Sepp says that's bad news.

Now, if the bill isn't passed, Americans will face around a $4 trillion tax hike. Unsurprisingly, Sepp says that's bad news.

Well, Sepp said opponents claimed that the bill would benefit the rich without helping the poor. That's been the mantra from Democrats and part of their rationale for voting against the budget reconciliation last week. But of course, there could also be a predictable political angle to this. Democrats may want to jam up the vote to make the other side look incompetent.

Well, Sepp said opponents claimed that the bill would benefit the rich without helping the poor. That's been the mantra from Democrats and part of their rationale for voting against the budget reconciliation last week. But of course, there could also be a predictable political angle to this. Democrats may want to jam up the vote to make the other side look incompetent.

Journalist Mark Halperin touched on that type of thinking earlier this week by noting just how little press has been given to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans for successfully getting the budget through the big hurdle last week.

Journalist Mark Halperin touched on that type of thinking earlier this week by noting just how little press has been given to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans for successfully getting the budget through the big hurdle last week.

Well, we continue to have what many believe to be the most complicated tax system in the world. The National Taxpayers Union just released its annual tax complexity study, which breaks down how much it costs Americans to pay taxes every year. And the cost is massive in both time and often money, especially when you talk about private businesses. Here's Sepp's summary of their findings.