There’s a lot happening tomorrow.
The Supreme Court is set to deliberate on the future of TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media platform with over 170 million American users. At the same time, former President Donald Trump will face sentencing in the hush-money criminal case tied to payments made during his 2016 presidential campaign.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could determine whether TikTok will be forced to cease operations in the United States by January 19, 2025, or divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
The case centers on national security and data privacy concerns, with lawmakers and intelligence agencies arguing that TikTok’s ownership poses risks of surveillance and manipulation by the Chinese government.
TikTok has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The case also pits issues of free speech and information access against national security concerns. TikTok’s advocates argue that banning the platform would infringe on First Amendment rights and limit Americans’ access to a diverse digital ecosystem.
Adding to the complexity, Trump has urged the court to delay its decision, signaling his administration’s intent to seek a political resolution that could avoid a complete ban or forced sale.
In a separate high-stakes development, Trump will face sentencing in Manhattan for his role in falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payment was made to suppress claims of an alleged affair during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump was found guilty earlier this year of disguising reimbursement payments as legal expenses.
Justice Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, has indicated he does not intend to impose a jail sentence on Trump. However, the sentencing could still carry consequences, including probation and fines.
Trump’s last-minute appeal to the Supreme Court for a delay in sentencing was rejected in a narrow 5-4 decision.
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