What Next: TBD | TikTok: Somehow Also Affected by the Tariffs

Slate News

Slate Podcasts

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.6 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 13 April 2025

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

TikTok was on the verge of being sold to a non-Chinese company when Trump rolled out his new tariff plans. Now everything is thrown into uncertainty and the company has until mid-June to find another buyer—or be banned in the United States. Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times reporter covering TikTok, technology and emerging media companies. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Adobe Express is the quick and easy Create Anything app.
0:05.0	It has taken my content to the next level,
0:08.0	making it simple to create everything I need to promote my business.
0:11.0	From Instagram and TikTok posts to logos and flyers,
0:15.0	all in just a few clicks.
0:17.0	Build your brand with Adobe Express.
0:20.0	Search for Adobe Express to find out more and get the app for free.
0:23.6	Adobe Express, the quick and easy create anything app.
0:27.6	The new five-pound meal deal from McDonald's.
0:32.6	Get a cheeseburger or mayo chicken, medium fries, four McNuggets, and a medium soft drink.
0:37.8	But guess what? That's right, five pounds.
0:41.4	It's not called the five pound meal deal for nothing.
0:44.9	From 11 a.m. Not available on delivery. Carbinated soft drink upgrade fees apply.
0:48.4	Participating restaurants, subjects of availability.
0:58.7	On April 3rd, TikTok was close to a deal.
1:04.6	This was two days before the social media company faced a federal deadline, sell to a non-Chinese company, or get banned in the U.S.
1:07.6	New York Times reporter Sapna Maheshwari says the pieces were moving into place for a sale.
1:13.7	From what we've heard, this deal was on paper. There was a really long document that laid out
1:21.4	terms and conditions, investors had said they were on board. The Trump administration, most importantly,
1:28.4	thought this thing was buttoned up
1:30.3	and thought that they would be announcing a deal
1:32.7	by the end of the week.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 12 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Slate Podcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Slate Podcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.