Meta Is Dying. It’s About Time.

OPINION

GUEST ESSAY

By Julia Angwin

May 8, 2026

Ms. Angwin, a contributing Opinion writer, 

is an investigative journalist.

There is a moment when internet companies get the stink of death on them. For AOL, it was 2003, when it became clear that its users were abandoning its clunky dial-up internet service for far-faster broadband. For Yahoo, it was 2015, when its last-ditch acquisition spree failed and it sold itself to Verizon.

For Meta, that time is now. I believe the company — one of the most powerful media organizations in the world and one of the most valuable members of the S&P 500 — is at the start of a long, slow decline that will trigger aftershocks to our economy and our society.

U.S. says it struck two Iran-flagged oil tankers trying to skirt blockade

Politics
Published Fri, May 8 2026

10:23 AM EDT

Updated 26 Min Ago
Kevin Breuninger

Key Points

• The U.S. military said it struck two Iran-flagged unladen oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
• The strikes prevented the vessels from entering an Iranian port in violation of a U.S. naval blockade.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday morning that he expects Iran to respond later in the day to a U.S. proposal to end the war and tee up nuclear talks.

In Huge Blow to Democrats, Virginia Court Strikes Down House Map

The decision is a major victory for Republicans, wiping away a measure approved by voters that would allow Democrats to gain as many as four House seats in the midterms.

By Campbell Robertson, Nick Corasaniti and Reid J. Epstein

May 8, 2026 Updated 10:47 a.m. ET

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a measure allowing state Democrats to redraw congressional districts, dealing a significant blow to the party’s efforts to keep pace with Republicans in a nationwide redistricting battle.

Marco Rubio’s campaign-style video sparks presidential run speculation

David Smith in Washington
Thu 7 May 2026 16.31 BST
Comments with an optimistic tone went viral on social media, with some calling it an unofficial start to his 2028 campaign

Marco Rubio, the top US diplomat, has stoked speculation about a potential run for president in 2028 by releasing a campaign-style video that articulates a hopeful vision of America.

Trade court strikes down Trump 10% universal tariffs

Courtenay Brown

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Court of International Trade on Thursday ruled that President Trump's newest round of tariffs were illegal — but the duties will keep collecting for most importers while the administration appeals.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Trump is not getting what he initially wanted from the Iran war

Analysis by Aaron Blake
2 hr ago
It remains to be seen what, if anything, comes from the latest Iran war peace talks as the countries exchanged fire Thursday. President Donald Trump has claimed a deal was imminent before. And the potential agreement on the table seems to be preliminary, regardless. What does seem increasingly clear, though: Trump is not getting what he initially wanted from this war.

Trump shelved ‘Project Freedom’ after Saudis refused use of bases and airspace

Riyadh told White House it would deny access for operation to provide tankers military escort through strait of Hormuz

Middle East crisis – live updates

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor

Thu 7 May 2026 

A refusal by Saudi Arabia to allow the US to use its bases and airspace to provide a military escort for oil tankers passing through the strait of Hormuz lay behind Donald Trump’s decision to shelve the plan days after it had been launched.

Strange Rumblings in Aztlan

Hunter S. Thompson 

Issue #81 April 29, 1971

"Morning comes hard to the Hotel Ashmun; this is not a place where the guests spring eagerly out of bed to greet the fresh new day. But on this particular morning, everybody in the place is awake at the crack of dawn: There is a terrible pounding and shrieking in the hallway, near room No. 267. Some junkie has ripped the doorknob off the communal bathroom, and now the others can’t get in—so they are trying to kick the door down. The voice of the manager wavers hysterically above the din: “Come on now, fellas—do I have to call the sheriff?” The reply comes hard and fast: “You filthy gabacho pig! You call the fuckin sheriff, and I’ll cut your fuckin throat.” And now the sound of wood cracking, more screaming, the sound of running feet outside my door, No. 267.

Can We All Take a Minute to Acknowledge What Absolute Babies These Billionaires Are?

Fresh Hell 

Christopher Robbins

May 06, 2026
Pop quiz: Should the phrase "tax the rich" be considered "just as hateful as some disgusting racial slurs"?

If you answered, "No, of course not, I'm not an oblivious buffoon who would conflate racism with a pithy slogan for economic justice," congratulations: You have a scintilla of self-awareness and, perhaps, a soul.

How Trump’s ‘one page memo’ could take us back to square one in Iran - after thousands of lives lost and economic ruin

The US has reportedly drafted a 14-point memo to end the war and kickstart negotiations towards a nuclear deal but several issues remain unresolved

James C. Reynolds

Thursday 07 May 2026 15:01 BST

Donald Trump once more believes he is closing in on a deal to end the two-month conflict with Iran, despite both sides appearing unwilling to budge on key issues.

Iran expected to respond Thursday to US proposal for ending war, source says

Trump said the US had “very good talks” with Iran, but also issued a new threat.
Updated 2:12 AM EDT, Thu May 7, 2026

Here's the latest

• Diplomacy push: Iran is expected to respond today to the US proposal to end the war, moving closer to an agreement on a short memorandum, sources told CNN. Yesterday, President Donald Trump said the US had “very good talks” with Iran over the previous 24 hours.

• Naval standoff: Tensions at sea remain high. Yesterday, the US military fired on an Iranian-flagged tanker heading to an Iranian port, enforcing its blockade. The action came hours after Iran launched a body it said will govern traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, its latest effort to formalize control over the trade chokepoint in defiance of US warnings.

• Lebanon truce takes strain: Israel targeted a top Hezbollah commander in the first strike in Beirut since the ceasefire in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, underscoring the fragility of the truce.

Judge releases note that cellmate says he found after Jeffrey Epstein’s suspected suicide try

Published: May. 06, 2026, 4:53 p.m.

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A note Jeffrey Epstein’s former cellmate claimed he found after the financier’s first suspected jail suicide attempt was made public Wednesday after it had been sealed and locked in a courthouse vault for nearly five years as part of an unrelated legal dispute.

Democrats Achieve Significant Wins in U.S. Special Elections, While Trump Maintains Grip on GOP

The Greek Courier
Source: Associated Press
Date: May 5, 2026, 10:55 AM

Recent special elections in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan reflect growing momentum for Democrats as they gear up for the midterm elections. However, these contests also reveal that President Donald Trump continues to exert significant influence over the Republican Party.

In Indiana, Trump faced a critical test of his power when he supported primary challenges against seven Republican state senators who opposed his redistricting proposal last December. Ultimately, five of Trump's candidates emerged victorious, bolstered by substantial financial backing, including over $8.3 million invested in advertising by groups aligned with the president.

Babies Are Bleeding to Death as Parents Reject a Vitamin Shot Given at Birth

by Duaa Eldeib

May 6, 2026, 6:00 am

Illustration: Matt Rota for ProPublica

Reporting Highlights

• An Essential Shot: Vitamin K shots, which help the blood to clot, are one of three key interventions for newborns, along with an antibiotic eye ointment and the hepatitis B vaccine.
• Increasing Rejections: The government doesn’t track vitamin K rejections, but hospitals have seen a rise in parents opting out of the shots for their newborns, often driven by unfounded fears.
• Troubling Data: Hundreds of children die each year from spontaneous bleeding in the brain, a common result of vitamin K deficiency, suggesting that many related deaths go unreported.

Could Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper be dead?

Brian Entin, Tatiana Carter

Updated: May 5, 2026 / 11:14 PM CDT

(NewsNation) — One factor investigators may be considering in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie may be that her kidnapper, caught on footage from a doorbell camera, may not still be alive, according to a roundtable of law enforcement experts.

Trump says US to pause operation to guide vessels through Strait of Hormuz

Summary

• President Donald Trump says the US is pausing its operation to guide stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz
• Trump says the pause to "Project Freedom", which began on Monday, came because of "Great Progress" toward a deal with Iran
• Under "Project Freedom", the US said it would guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz and help restore the flow of oil from the region
• Iranian state media says Trump has "retreated" after "continued failures" to reopen the vital waterway for global shipping
• Iran will very likely characterise the pause of "Project Freedom" as a victory, our White House correspondent writes
• Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the offensive stage of the war with Iran is "over" as the objectives of Operation Epic Fury have been achieved

Germany news: Leipzig ramming suspect ordered to psych ward

 DEUTSCHE WELLE 

Zac Crellin | Richard Connor with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters, KNA, epd, SID

Published 10 hours ago, updated 8 minutes ago

A German man faced court on Tuesday after he was accused of a deadly car ramming in Leipzig. Prosecutors said they do not believe the suspect had a religious or political motive.

We’re about to find out whether Trump is kingmaker or lame duck

So far, his chosen candidates in several May primaries are struggling to dominate their fields.

By Liz Crampton, Lisa Kashinsky and Alec Hernandez

05/05/2026 

President Donald Trump’s power as the GOP’s kingmaker faces a major test with this month’s primaries. So far, he’s on rocky footing.