Taiwan opposition leader's view of China

Plus: Big Tech’s legal headache  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Ruairi Arrieta-Kenna | August 11, 2026   Good morning! In today’s The Brief, we bring you TIME editor-at-large Charlie Campbell’s interview with Taiwan’s new opposition leader. In the U.S., a federal appeals court has ruled that thousands of lawsuits can go forward against social media companies over their alleged addictiveness to young people. Plus: A new study on dogs’ ability to discern humans’ moods—and don’t miss today’s Linked. IN TODAY’S BRIEF Big Tech’s big legal headache An earthquake in Colombia Democrats’ primary in Wisconsin Canine perceptiveness Cheng’s view of China Visa sweep Trump’s safety stunt     READ THIS FIRST Tech firms to face thousands of lawsuits over social media addiction Oscar Wong—Getty Images The world’s biggest social media companies are set to face thousands of lawsuits over allegations that they have deliberately made their platforms addictive to young users. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday ruled that more than 3,000 lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Google, Snap, and other tech firms can move forward. The lawsuits were filed by states, municipalities, school districts, and individuals. The suits come amid an emerging critique of social media companies’ role in social media addiction and broader mental health crisis among youth. The plaintiffs allege that addictive algorithms and a lack of guardrails around harmful online content have led to a rise in depression, anxiety, and body image issues. —Miranda Jeyaretnam     PRESENTED BY Get 15% Off Coffee Pods Roasted Days Ago Angelino's roasts, grinds, and seals 50+ specialty coffees in-house at their LA roastery, then ships within days. Mix and match to unlock up to 34% off — and new customers get 15% off on top, applied automatically. No code, no subscription required. Get 15% Off Today     IN THE NEWS What to know about the earthquake in Colombia Joaquin Sarmiento—AFP/Getty Images A 7.4-magnitude earthquake rattled western Colombia on Monday, causing widespread destruction and leaving more than 100 people dead and hundreds more injured. The death toll is still expected to rise, as local officials said that they had received reports of many people trapped under buildings that had collapsed. The Colombian Geological Service reported that the quake had a depth of about 103 km and said it was the largest seismic event recorded in the country in this century. Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, who was sworn into office just days before the disaster struck the nation, declared an emergency. Other nations across Latin America and the world have offered response assistance. —Chantelle Lee     VIEW FROM D.C. Moderate Democrats scramble to block a socialist from winning in Wisconsin Sara Stathas—The Washington Post/Getty Images; Daniel Boczarski—WisDems/Getty Images Tuesday’s contest to become Wisconsin’s Democratic nominee for Governor has unexpectedly become one of the most chaotic stories of the 2026 cycle. First, the popular incumbent Governor said he wouldn’t seek a third term. His Lieutenant Governor jumped in the race. So did his former Lieutenant Governor. Both have since dropped out. It’s now down to two unlikely candidates: Francesca Hong, a self-described socialist, has ignited the interest of many of the state’s Democrats, while terrifying others who fear she’s unelectable. David Crowley, a steady-as-she-goes county bureaucrat who suspended his campaign and booked a vacation to Jamaica before canceling the trip and re-joining the race 10 days later, is casting himself as the kind of responsible pragmatist that fits the Upper Midwest ethos.  Hong has rocketed in the polls despite concerns about her viability in November. Crowley is campaigning like the underdog that he is, and hoping that the recent tighter-than-expected outcome in Michigan is a sign that the race in Wisconsin isn’t what it seems. —Philip Elliott     HEALTH CHECK Your dog really can tell when you’re happy Photo by Laura Cuaya If you’ve ever suspected your dog can read your mind—sussing out through some canine intuition when you’re happy, sad, scared, or cross—you’re half right. Many dogs can do exactly that, but it’s not mind-reading that’s involved: it’s face-reading. That’s the word from a new study in the journal iScience, in which researchers not only established dogs’ ability to discern human moods by examining our facial expressions, but also pinpointed the spots in the brain where that processing takes place. They did this by scanning canine brains with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). —Jeffrey Kluger     PRESENTED BY Short on cash? Get up to $750, no credit check. Access up to $750* from your upcoming paycheck within minutes for a small fee, or wait 3 days and get it for free. No credit check. No late fees.  Get Started Now *Not all users will qualify. Advances range from $25–$750; average advance is $170. Express transfer fees may apply.     IN FOCUS Taiwan’s opposition leader says talking to China is the island’s best defense Cheng Li-Wun at the KMT headquarters in Taipei on April 30, 2026. AN RONG XU—BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES Taiwan is so hot right now. Thanks to soaring AI and memory chip stocks, the tiny island’s bourse has skyrocketed to No. 5 globally, behind only the U.S., mainland China, Japan, and Hong Kong. But Taiwan is feeling another kind of heat: the looming threat of invasion by China, regarding which policymakers are desperate to dial down the temperature. Enter Cheng Li-wun, the new chairperson of Taiwan’s opposition Nationalist Party, or KMT. Cheng is a fascinating character: As a student radical she was a diehard Taiwan independence advocate, but today embraces shared Chinese identity with the zeal of a convert. Her transformation reflects Taiwan’s dilemma: whether security comes from distancing itself from China—which claims sovereignty over the self-ruling island of 23 million—or engaging it to reduce the risk of war. Cheng is betting the house on the latter. In April, she traveled to Beijing and met Chinese strongman Xi Jinping, who “expressed real, authentic sentiment toward us and goodwill,” she told TIME in her Taipei office. That might surprise Taiwan’s citizens facing constant military drills, trade restrictions, strangled tourism, and diplomatic isolation. Taiwan’s importance extends beyond the Strait. A conflict could devastate global supply chains at a cost of $10 trillion, estimates Bloomberg Economics, and any Chinese victory that hands control of Taiwan’s advanced foundries could also pass Beijing an insurmountable lead in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Cheng’s pitch is that engagement with the threatening power is the best way to avoid absorption by it. She has opposed what she calls an arms race and helped reduce a proposed special defense budget, though still insists the KMT supports defense spending. Critics counter that China wages gray-zone coercion and may use dialogue to strong-arm Taiwan toward political integration. Cheng’s leadership also faces allegations of Beijing-backed support—which she vehemently denies—along with concerns about her limited electoral experience, weak Washington ties, and controversial remarks abroad. Cheng insists she understands the stakes: “I want to do away with the Cold War thinking,” she says. Though that only works if China isn't busy writing the conflict’s next chapter. —Charlie Campbell     ONE NUMBER 175,000 The State Department announced on Monday that it has revoked over 175,000 visas since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. The Administration’s sweeping cancellations have included people accused of “criminal activity,” people who “celebrated” Charlie Kirk’s death, people deemed deportable on “foreign policy grounds,” so-called “birth tourists,” and thousands of international students. SOURCE: STATE DEPARTMENT     A VIRAL MOMENT Secret flight The Washington Post’s latest scoop reads like a spy thriller: the President secretly switched planes on his way back from a NATO summit last month to evade an Iranian threat. One of the reporters shared his “favorite part” on social media: a clip from the tarmac of the Turkish airport catering truck that reportedly shuffled Trump from Air Force One to the other plane.     PRESENTED BY Tired of news that feels like noise? Every day, 4.5 million readers turn to 1440 for their factual news fix. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you a complete summary of politics, global events, business, and culture — all in a brief 5-minute email. No spin. No slant. Just clarity. Join for free today!     Linked In this addictive word-association game, find the steps that will unite two seemingly unrelated words in just four moves. 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