Morning Brew Daily Zuckerberg Answers if Social Media is Addictive & The Rich Are Having More Babies Again
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Feb 19, 2026 They break down Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony in a landmark trial over social media addiction. A legal clash over whether prediction markets are gambling or federal derivatives gets debated. India’s AI summit and big tech investments take center stage. Reports show wealthy New Yorkers are having more babies. A Louvre ticket-fraud scandal and a tax change reviving horse racing round out the news.
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Zuckerberg’s Calm Courtroom Moment
- Toby described Zuckerberg's courtroom appearance as low-drama and largely unpressured during testimony.
- The hosts noted Zuck arrived casually and courtroom rules even banned Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses to prevent recording.
Age Verification Isn't Just The Apps' Burden
- Zuckerberg shifted responsibility for underage accounts toward device-level age verification by Apple and Google.
- He argued phone-level verification should filter access before app-level checks like Meta's.
Regulatory Turf War Over Prediction Markets
- The CFTC insists prediction markets are event-driven derivatives, not gambling, and seeks federal jurisdiction.
- States like Nevada counter that the platforms operate like betting sites and require state gaming oversight.