How Tech Executives Limit Their Kids’ Screen Time, and Trump’s Race to Finish His Ballroom

August 19, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Tech Execs on Kids’ Screen Time, Trump’s Ballroom Race, and the Rise of Legal Funding

The New York Times’ The Headlines opens with Meta back in court this week, facing a multistate lawsuit that accuses the company of knowingly designing Facebook and Instagram to addict young users. The states—California, New Jersey, Colorado, and Kentucky—are leading the charge, arguing that Meta “harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens.” They plan to use internal documents and employee interviews to show that discussions inside the company acknowledged how features like infinite scroll and beauty filters drove compulsive use and anxiety among kids, even as Meta publicly marketed its platforms as safe. The states are seeking penalties approaching $20 billion—nearly 15% of Meta’s entire stock value. Meta has pushed back, arguing it was truthful with consumers and that it faces the same age-verification challenges as every other internet company. It also pointed to safeguards it has added for young users.

How Silicon Valley Execs Handle Screens at Home

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What you'll learn

1 (00:33) **Episode Introduction** - Tracy Mumford opens the show with the date and a preview of the day's top stories.
2 (00:45) **Meta on Trial for Addicting Kids** - A multi-state lawsuit against Meta begins, alleging the company knowingly harmed young users.
3 (02:40) **How Tech Execs Limit Their Kids’ Screen Time** - The Times reports on the strict screen-time rules Silicon Valley leaders enforce at home.
4 (04:07) **Liberia Agrees to Accept US Deportees** - The Trump administration reaches a major “third country” deportation deal with Liberia.
5 (05:02) **Race to Finish Trump’s Ballroom** - A 250-person crew works around the clock to complete a massive new White House ballroom amid a legal challenge.
6 (05:51) **The Rise of Personal Injury Lawsuit Funding** - The Times investigates the booming industry of companies that lend money to plaintiffs in exchange for a cut of their settlements.
7 (07:37) **Wall Street Bets on Injury Lawsuits** - Funders are bundling thousands of lawsuit advances into asset-backed securities for Wall Street investors.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Plus, the political emails are coming for you.

Here’s what we’re covering:

States Seek $200 Billion From Meta Over Child Social Media Addiction Claims, by Cecilia Kang, Eli Tan and Emmy Martin

Silicon Valley Executives Are Tech Fans. Just Not for Their Own Kids., by David Streitfeld

Deadly Israeli Strike on Gaza Cafe Raises Doubts About Progress on Peace Plan, by Ephrat Livni and Abu Bakr Bashir

Liberia Agrees to Take 1,200 Deportees From U.S., by Madeleine Ngo and Alan Feuer

Trump’s Ballroom Is Rising at Breakneck Speed: 20 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, by Luke Broadwater and Ann E. Marimow

How Wall St. Profits When Personal Injury Lawsuits Pay Out, by Ellen Gabler, Robert Gebeloff and Julie Tate

Google Just Made It Easier for Campaigns to Send You Fund-Raising Emails, by Shane Goldmacher

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