#1773 How Big Tech Captured Attention, Kids, and Democracy

<p><strong>Air Date: 2/23/2026</strong></p> <p>Today we examine how the platforms that monetize your attention are merging with state power. We'll hear how TikTok's new owners include Trump ally Larry Ellison, how DHS sent hundreds of subpoenas to unmask anonymous ICE critics, how Ring's Super Bowl ad cheerfully introduced AI-powered neighborhood surveillance, and how the social media addiction trials that are being likened to the Big Tobacco settlement of the 90s, are finally exposing what these companies knew about the harmful nature of their products all along.</p> <p>Be part of the show! Leave a <a href="https://podline.fm/best-of-the-left">voice message</a>, message us on Signal at the handle <a href="https://signal.me/#eu/62GSpPKEljyYCb0TuYTEUm3D6Nv8G0xSV_GVP8Q13TkQxVeP04lJ8pGOUEqUdHdn"> bestoftheleft.01</a>, or email <a href="mailto:Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com">Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1773">Full Show Notes</a></p> <p><strong>Check out our new show, SOLVED! on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BestOfTheLeft">YouTube</a>!</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/support" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BestOfTheLeft.com/Support</a> (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)</strong></p> <p><strong>Use our links to shop <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/bookshop">Bookshop.org</a> and <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&amp;awinaffid=262399&amp;ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Fswitch"> Libro.fm</a> for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://discord.gg/dhyZE3WMJn" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Join our Discord community</a>!</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>TOP TAKES</strong></p> <p>KP 1: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chris-hayes-in-conversation-with-jonathan-haidt-about/id1382983397?i=1000749024896"> Chris Hayes in Conversation with Jonathan Haidt About The Sirens Call Part 1 - All In W Chris Hayes - Air Date 2-10-26</a></p> <p>KP 2: <a href="https://www.vox.com/podcasts/478045/truth-new-tiktok-conspiracy-trump"> Trouble at TikTok Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 2-4-26</a></p> <p>KP 3: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct717s">Is Social Media Having Its Big Tobacco Moment Part 1 - The Global Story - Air Date 2-16-26</a></p> <p>KP 4: <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/the-social-media-addiction-trials-begin"> The Social Media Addiction Trials Begin Part 1 - On The Media - Air Date 2-13-26</a></p> <p>KP 5: <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-muckrake/rings-lost-pet-ad-fetching-a-sB7ARE_xyVi/"> Ring's Lost Pet Ad Fetching a Surveillance State - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 2-10-26</a></p> <p>KP 6: <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-muckrake/dms-my-kingdom-for-dms-2NcB6hQXuGO/"> DMs! My Kingdom For DMs! - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 2-17-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(00:53:14) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>Big Tech is the New Big Tobacco - Here's what that means for our future</p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(01:01:11) SECTION A: LAWSUITS</strong></p> <p>A1: <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2026/2/19/social_media_addiction">Predatory Tech Silicon Valley on Trial in Landmark Youth Social Media Addiction Case Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 2-19-26</a></p> <p>A2: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/05/nx-s1-5702704/why-new-mexico-is-taking-meta-to-court"> Why New Mexico Is Taking Meta to Court - Here & Now Anytime - 2-5-26</a></p> <p>A3: <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/the-social-media-addiction-trials-begin"> The Social Media Addiction Trials Begin Part 2 - On The Media- Air Date 2-13-26</a></p> <p>A4: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct717s">Is Social Media Having Its Big Tobacco Moment Part 2 - The Global Story - Air Date 2-16-26</a></p> <p>A5: <a href="https://www.vox.com/podcasts/478045/truth-new-tiktok-conspiracy-trump"> Trouble at TikTok Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 2-4-26</a></p> <p>A6: <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2026/2/19/social_media_addiction">Predatory Tech Silicon Valley on Trial in Landmark Youth Social Media Addiction Case Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 2-19-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(01:44:53) SECTION B: TIKTOK</strong></p> <p>B1: <a href="https://citationsneeded.medium.com/episode-234-tiktok-gen-zs-move-to-social-media-and-elite-panic-over-unsanctioned-news-076b2a1a4bde"> TikTok, Gen Z's Move to Social Media and Elite Panic Over Unsanctioned News Part 1 - Citations Needed - Air Date 2-4-26</a></p> <p>B2: <a href="https://www.wnyc.org/story/tiktoks-new-trumpapproved-us-owners/">TikTok's New Trump-Approved US Owners Part 1 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-28-26</a></p> <p>B3: <a href="https://citationsneeded.medium.com/episode-234-tiktok-gen-zs-move-to-social-media-and-elite-panic-over-unsanctioned-news-076b2a1a4bde"> TikTok, Gen Z's Move to Social Media and Elite Panic Over Unsanctioned News Part 2 - Citations Needed - Air Date 2-4-26</a></p> <p>B4: <a href="https://www.wnyc.org/story/tiktoks-new-trumpapproved-us-owners/">TikTok's New Trump-Approved US Owners Part 2 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-28-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(02:19:50) SECTION C: PLATFORM POWER</strong></p> <p>C1: <a href="https://headgum.com/factually-with-adam-conover/tech-giants-are-nothing-but-middlemen-with-tim-wu"> Tech Giants Are Nothing But Middlemen, with Tim Wu Part 1 - Factually! with Adam Conover - Air Date 2-18-26</a></p> <p>C2: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wE8G-d7SnY">The Plan Is to Make the Internet Worse Forever with Cory Doctorow Part 1 - Downstream - Air Date 12-8-25</a></p> <p>C3: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/879203/ring-search-party-super-bowl-ai-surveillance-privacy-security"> Let's Talk About Ring, Lost Dogs, and the Surveillance State - Decoder with Nilay Patel - Air Date 2-16-26</a></p> <p>C4: <a href="https://headgum.com/factually-with-adam-conover/tech-giants-are-nothing-but-middlemen-with-tim-wu"> Tech Giants Are Nothing But Middlemen, with Tim Wu Part 2 - Factually! with Adam Conover - Air Date 2-18-26</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(02:56:37) SECTION D: ATTENTION HARMS</strong></p> <p>D1: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chris-hayes-in-conversation-with-jonathan-haidt-about/id1382983397?i=1000749024896"> Chris Hayes in Conversation with Jonathan Haidt About The Sirens Call Part 2 - All In W Chris Hayes - Air Date 2-10-26</a></p> <p>D2: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/04/nx-s1-5699470/ai-chatbots-upended-their-lives-then-they-turned-to-each-other"> AI Chatbots Upended Their Lives. Then They Turned to Each Other - Consider This - Air Date 2-4-26</a></p> <p>D3: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wE8G-d7SnY">The Plan Is to Make the Internet Worse Forever with Cory Doctorow Part 2 - Downstream - Air Date 12-8-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>SHOW IMAGE CREDITS</strong></p> <p>Description: Photo of a pre-teen girl leaning on a table holding a phone in her hands that she looks at so closely it covers her entire face.</p> <p>Credit:"<a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/teen-iphone-smartphone-girl-5224456/">teen iphone smartphone girl</a>" by cyndidyoder83, Pixabay | <a href="https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/">Pixabay License</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Produced by Jay! Tomlinson</p> <p>Visit us at <a href="http://www.bestoftheleft.com/">BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p>Listen Anywhere! <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/listen">BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen</a> Listen Anywhere!</p> <p>Follow BotL: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bestoftheleft.bsky.social">Bluesky</a> | <a href="https://mastodon.social/@bestoftheleft">Mastodon</a> | <a href="https://www.threads.net/@bestoftheleft">Threads</a> | <a href="https://x.com/BestOfTheLeft">X</a></p> <p>Like at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft</a></p> <p>Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</p>