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Shannon Bond Shannon Bond is a correspondent at NPR, covering how misleading narratives and false claims circulate online and offline, and their impact on society and democracy.
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Shannon Bond

Monday

Can Facebook Still Be Trump's Fundraising Juggernaut?

Donald Trump participates in the first prime-time presidential debate hosted by FOX News and Facebook at the Quicken Loans Arena August 6, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Can Facebook Still Be Trump's Fundraising Juggernaut?

The site's parent company announced that Donald Trump would be able to return to the platform with new guardrails on his account. But will Facebook be as lucrative a fundraising tool for the former president given the new limitations on online ad targeting? And will Trump even choose to return to the site?

Can Facebook Still Be Trump's Fundraising Juggernaut?

Listen · 17:02
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Thursday

Business

Former President Trump will be allowed to return to Facebook and Instagram

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, says it will restore former President Donald Trump's accounts following a two-year suspension imposed after the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Former President Trump will be allowed to return to Facebook and Instagram

Listen · 3:39
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Wednesday

National

Former President Donald Trump can return to Facebook. Will he?

Facebook parent company Meta is letting a two-year ban on Donald Trump, imposed after the then-president's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, expire.

Former President Donald Trump can return to Facebook. Will he?

Listen · 3:59
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Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram

Suspending former President Donald Trump's account was the most high-profile and controversial content moderation decision Facebook parent Meta has ever made. Alon Skuy/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Alon Skuy/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram

The social media company is letting a two-year ban, imposed after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, expire.

Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram

Listen · 3:59
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Wednesday

The Americas

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media

The attack on Brazil's Congress was organized publicly online. Despite being on high alert, social media companies missed signs that their platforms were being used to plan violence.

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media

Listen · 3:26
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Tuesday

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media — and by Trump allies

Damage is seen at Brazil's Congress one day after supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in Brasília. The attack was planned by far-right groups on social media, according to Brazilian media and analysts. Andressa Anholete/Getty Images hide caption

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Andressa Anholete/Getty Images

Analysis

Untangling Disinformation

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media — and by Trump allies

The similarities are deep: In addition to aiming to subvert an election, some of the same U.S. voices that amplify former President Donald Trump are echoing Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro.

The attack on Brazil's Congress was stoked by social media — and by Trump allies

Listen · 7:22
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Monday

World

A look at the transnational extremism behind Brazil's unrest and the U.S. Jan. 6 riot

Sunday's riot by supporters of Brazil's former president has parallels with what happened in the U.S. on Jan. 6, 2021. But it's also part of a global far-right movement that's opposed to democracy.

A look at the transnational extremism behind Brazil's unrest and the U.S. Jan. 6 riot

Listen · 7:22
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Monday

Technology

A look at the year social media companies had

From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies had a rocky 2022.

A look at the year social media companies had

Listen · 3:56
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Sunday

Technology

Turmoil on social media sites is driving users to smaller, more private alternatives

2022 has been a tumultuous year in social media and the coming year holds more uncertainties as U.S. outlets scramble to match the popularity of apps like TikTok.

Turmoil on social media sites is driving users to smaller, more private alternatives

Listen · 3:57
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Friday

From Twitter chaos to TikTok bans to the metaverse, social media had a rocky 2022

The TikTok logo is displayed outside a TikTok office on December 20, 2022 in Culver City, Calif. Congress passed legislation to ban the popular Chinese-owned social media app from most government devices. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

Analysis

Technology

From Twitter chaos to TikTok bans to the metaverse, social media had a rocky 2022

From Facebook's troubled pivot to the metaverse to Twitter's management chaos to industry-wide layoffs, social media companies have had a rocky 2022

Friday

The Twitter Files, LGBTQ Legislation & The Definition Of Beer

The Twitter sign is seen at their headquarters on October 28, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Constanza HEVIA / AFP) (Photo by CONSTANZA HEVIA/AFP via Getty Images) CONSTANZA HEVIA/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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CONSTANZA HEVIA/AFP via Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

The Twitter Files, LGBTQ Legislation & The Definition Of Beer

In this week's roundup, we explore the political implications of Elon Musk's ownership of Twitter alongside the release of information regarding the company's moderation policies, discuss legislation concerning the LGBTQ community that took effect in 2022, and contemplate just what beer actually is.

The Twitter Files, LGBTQ Legislation & The Definition Of Beer

Listen · 27:35
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Thursday

AI-generated fake faces have become a hallmark of online influence operations

Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. The parent company of Facebook says bad actors are increasingly using realistic faces generated with artificial intelligence to run social media influence operations. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Untangling Disinformation

AI-generated fake faces have become a hallmark of online influence operations

As artificial intelligence becomes more widely available, bad actors are turning to computer-generated faces in their attempts to manipulate social media networks.

Wednesday

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories

Elon Musk while attending a conference in Norway earlier this year. The billionaire new owner of Twitter is releasing information about the company's high-profile moderation decisions. Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Untangling Disinformation

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories

The Twitter CEO's selective release of internal communications largely corroborate what is already known about the messy business of policing a large social network.

Elon Musk is using the Twitter Files to discredit foes and push conspiracy theories

Listen · 3:57
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Tuesday

Technology

Musk reveals how Twitter has handled some high-profile decisions

Elon Musk is using his selective release of internal Twitter communications to advance his own partisan causes and conspiracy theories.

Musk reveals how Twitter has handled some high-profile decisions

Listen · 3:57
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Tuesday

Facebook's own oversight board slams its special program for VIPs

Facebook parent Meta appears to be more concerned with avoiding "provoking" VIPs than balancing tricky questions of free speech and safety, its oversight board said. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Technology

Facebook's own oversight board slams its special program for VIPs

Oversight board says Facebook parent Meta appears to be more concerned with avoiding "provoking" VIPs and evading accusations of censorship than balancing tricky questions of free speech and safety.