This article contains full spoilers for Havoc. For all the blood and guts and general nastiness it contains, Havoc is toughest to watch in its first three minutes. That’s when we watch as Detective Walker sits pensively and thinks about what he’s done. Under a monologue about tough choices made for one’s family intercuts shots of Walker gearing up for duty, pulling out his badge and service revolver, and shots of Walker stealing cash from a drug bust and standing over a bloody victim. Right away, Havoc establishes itself as yet another movie about a morally conflicted cop, a tough guy haunted by his compromises and redeemed by the love of his family and/or some last minute moment of heroism. We’ve seen these types of stories a million times before, in the silent hagiography The Adventures of Lieutenant Petrosino (1912) and noir classics The Big Heat (1953) and Touch of Evil (1958). We saw it when The French Connection and Dirty Harry brought cops to New Hollywood in 1971 and when Lethal Weapon and 48 Hrs. gave the genre a slick ’80s sheen. We’ve seen it continue in more recent greats Heat, Training Day, and The Departed. But by the time Havoc reaches its excessive conclusion, writer and director Gareth Evans has redefined the gritty cop genre, burying any pretenses to nobility under mountains of bullet casings and oceans of blood. Havoc condenses a whole crime epic into a propulsive 105 minutes. Late in the holiday season in some undefined American city, a quartet of small-time hoods are chased down the highway by police. In desperation, two of the hoods throw their stolen merchandise at the cop car closest to them, hurling a dryer into the persuing vehicle. The appliance smashes through the cop car windshield, exploding not with just glass and plastic, but also mountains of cocaine. Upon seeing the attack upon his fellow officer, lead cop Vincent (Timothy Olyphant) and his men trace the cocaine to its source, Chinatown gangster Tsui (Jeremy Ang Jones), and open fire. The hoods escape the melee, but when when Walker (Tom Hardy) arrives, he recognizes one of them as Charlie (Justin Cornwell), son of crooked and powerful politician Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker). Beaumont offers Walker a deal. He can get Charlie out of the mess without it getting to the press, Walker will be out of Beaumont’s debt. Walker has to find Charlie before the others looking for him, including Tsui’s vengeful mother (Yeo Yann Yann), her duplicitous right hand man Ping (Sunny Pang), and Vincent and his gang of cops. Making things even harder is Walker’s idealistic younger partner Ellie (Jessie Mei Li), who doesn’t realize the depths of his darkness. That plot gives Evans plenty of space to do what he does best, craft visceral fight scenes. Evans broke out with 2011’s genre-defining martial arts movie The Raid: Redemption, which brought Indonesian action to the West and paved the way for the John Wick franchise. Certainly, that type of hand-to-hand combat occurs in Havoc, especially in a glorious extended fight sequence that occurs halfway through the film. When Walker, Vincent, a silent Chinese assassin (Michelle Waterson) and their respective gangs descend on Charlie and his friends in a club, an eight-minute fight breaks out, starting with Chinatown gang members battering cops with batons and ending with a gunfight that spills out into the streets. Evans adds to his repertoire new ways of depicting carnage, including the aforementioned movie car chase, shot with just the same immediacy as the combat scenes. But the most notable addition is the use of gun violence. Gun shots have rarely been louder in a movie, rivaling those in Alex Garland‘s Civil War and Warfare. People don’t get shot just once; they’re peppered with bullets, convulsing as they’re filled with lead. The blood appears to be digital, instead of the practical squibs of previous eras, but that allows Evans more space to show how bodies can be destroyed in various ways. As that description might suggest, Havoc makes for a bleak film, both in form and content. It’s not just that everyone in the film is a killer, it’s not just that the violence is spectacular and constant. That unpleasantness that transforms the ending from something rote to something transcendent, unique among the grittiest cop movie. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! A Violent End At Havoc‘s climax, Charlie has been caught. A battered Walker cannot stop them, so Tsui’s mother and Ping arrive to execute their vengeance. They’re halted only Beaumont, who throws himself in front of Charlie and takes the bullet for his son. The gesture pauses the action, but only enough for the truth to come out, that it was Ping who betrayed Tsui and Vincent who killed them, leading to another shoot out that even sees Charlie grabbing a machine gun and slaughtering his enemies. After the shooting stops, Walker’s left with Vincent. Although Vincent tries to get Walker to leave, pointing out that anyone who knows what he did has been killed, Walker disagrees. He shoots Vincent, the true last person who knows his guilt, and stumbles away. Havoc ends at it begins, with Walker sitting alone and contemplating what he’s done. When Ellie arrives to reassure him, Walker refuses, telling her to arrest him instead. “You’re a good cop, Ellie,” he says. “I probably should have been nicer to you.” As she takes in his words, we see flashing lights in the distance, police cars arriving to bring order to the scene. Their lights illuminate Ellie and Walker in their final moments, in which the latter promises to bring Walker’s daughter his Christmas present, a couple of trinkets he bought from a convenience store at the start of the movie, but he refuses. “I don’t want to disappoint her.” With that rejection, Havoc avoids the trite hope that even gritty cop movies embrace, the idea that redemption waits for the bad cop through some later generation, in this case Ellie or the daughter. But Havoc gives Walker no such hope, nor do we trust that Ellie will be better — after all, she’s introduced in the movie brutalizing a suspect who falls outside of her investigation. The movie ends with a push in on Walker’s face, highlighted by red and blue lights. These highlights, combined with the nastiness of the movie that preceded it, underscore Havoc‘s contribution to the canon of gritty cop movies. Walker isn’t a corruption of a noble institution. He’s the embodiment of a violent, corrupt institution, one that won’t be changed by “good cop” Ellie. All of the chaos of the movie is a standard part of Havoc’s world, a world few cop movies would dare to enter. Havoc streams on Netflix on April 25.

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Jump to:Interior design is highly intentional. Every detail of your home, from the throw pillows on your sofa to the hardware on your kitchen cabinets, is thoughtfully chosen to reflect your personal style and aesthetic. Your bathroom should be no exception. Although it’s often overlooked in the broader design process, the bathroom has the potential to shine, with even its fixtures making a statement. In particular, bathtubs can blend style and functionality seamlessly. Alcove tubs—that is, bathtubs with a skirt or surround panel—are gaining popularity for their sleek, built-in look and endless design versatility.“We’re seeing more interest in bathtubs with aprons or panels, especially from clients who value timeless design and functionality,” says Sandra Diaz-Velasco, principal architect at Eolo A&I Design, Inc. and member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). “Framed tubs give a sense of permanence and calm—they read as part of the architecture rather than something ‘placed’ into the room. That’s incredibly appealing to today’s design-conscious homeowners.”There’s a lot to know about this style of bathtub before you embark on a bathroom renovation. We tapped three NKBA members to offer their insight. Read on for everything you need to know about alcove bathtubs and how to incorporate this special update into your own bathroom at home. Related StoriesWhat Is an Alcove Bathtub?Eric PiaseckiA Robin Henry–designed bathroom with paneled tub apron.An alcove bathtub is a fixture that is surrounded by walls on three sides. Different from a freestanding bathtub unit or shower stall, an alcove bathtub is set into a niche in the wall. Master kitchen and bath designer and NKBA member Alena Capra says, “Typically, alcove bathtubs come in three sizes—60, 66, and 72 inches. In smaller bathrooms, this alcove tub installation can also be combined to have a shower as well.”What Is a Bathtub Apron?Jonathan BondIn this bathroom by designer Elizabeth Hay, the tub apron consists of blue wood paneling. Tour the entire home here.A bathtub apron is a type of paneling or covering installed over the alcove bathtub to cover the tub’s surface and add design appeal. Bathtub aprons can also be called skirts or surrounds, although surrounds often include a wall panel as well. “While some alcove-style tubs can have integral aprons on the front of the tub, another option is to order a drop-in style tub that fits in the space,” says Capra. “Then, the front of the tub can be framed out and covered with tiles or paneled with other materials to give a more ‘built-in’ and elevated look.”Can You Add an Apron to Any Kind of Bathtub?According to Diaz-Velasco, technically yes, but it’s best to ensure the bathtub you have is actually meant to be built-in. “Not all tubs are designed to be enclosed—so the structure and shape matter,” she explains. “In a recent project, we used a built-in tub and designed custom millwork around it, integrating open towel storage, which added warmth and functionality to the base while preserving clean lines.”Related StoryWhat to Know When Adding a Tub ApronHeather TalbertA bathroom designed by Claire Stazak.Waterproofing Is Non-NegotiableAdditional waterproofing measures must be taken when adding a panel on top of your bathtub. “We ensure full waterproofing membranes are applied beneath any tile or panel application, especially on horizontal surfaces around the tub to avoid moisture compromise,” says Diaz-Velasco.There’s Less Layout FlexibilityA built-in bathtub is a commitment. If you’re looking to do additional renovations down the road, it’s important to understand that the layers and installation involved with a bathtub surround are not easily undone. Remember Plumbing AccessDiaz-Velasco notes that access panels, or small openings, must be installed with the bathtub panel so plumbers, contractors, or electricians can access the essential areas. This is especially important when repairs are required or regular maintenance is needed.How Much Does Covering a Bathtub Cost?According to The Home Depot, ready-made bathtub surrounds cost on average between $40 and $3,000. However, custom fittings will cost upward of $4,000, especially when you factor in labor costs. High-end materials like stone will also raise your prices.Related StoryWhat Can a Tub Apron Do for a Space?Haris KenjarPlaster seamlessly integrates the bathtub with the surrounding walls in this Katie Hodges–designed space.Interior designer Bethany Reilly, the founder and lead designer of BR Design Group and a NKBA member, likes alcove bathtubs for their seamless integration and design possibilities. “The benefits of this type of installation include a more aesthetically pleasing finish and easier cleaning,” she explains. “It’s also a space-saving solution because built-in tubs typically take up less room than freestanding ones. And because they’re enclosed on three sides, water is less likely to spill onto the floor, making them more bathroom-friendly.” Capra agrees. “There are not many cons to alcove bathtubs, especially if that is the look a client is going for,” she says. “There are many sizes and styles for ‘drop-in’ tubs that can be used in an alcove installation, so the options are really endless.”Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Apple is reportedly preparing to give the iPhone a “Stage Manager-like interface” when connected to an external display via USB-C. But this niche iOS 19 addition is likely just setting the groundwork for a bigger update next year: true multitasking on the iPhone Fold. iPhone Fold needs multitasking, and iOS 19 lays the groundwork Next year, Apple plans to launch its first ever foldable iPhone. iPhone Fold, as I’ve been calling it, will boast a 7.8-inch inner display. That display is expected to carry an aspect ratio very similar to the iPad mini. iPad mini, by the way, used to have a 7.9-inch screen until it got bumped to 8.3 inches a few years back. Essentially, the iPhone Fold will function like an iPhone when folded, and resemble an iPad mini when unfolded. And iOS needs to adapt accordingly. Fortunately, it sounds like Apple isn’t wasting any time building multitasking support into the iPhone. iOS 19’s rumored Stage Manager-style functionality surely won’t stay exclusive to external displays. Would Apple really devote heavy engineering resources to build a new iPhone feature that will be used by almost no one? I doubt it. Instead, I suspect the groundwork is being laid for true on-device iPhone multitasking with next year’s iPhone Fold. Apple likely anticipates that some tweaks might be needed with its new multitasking system, and getting it into the world a year early will provide them the real-world data—and time—to make those changes. All with the goal of crafting an iOS multitasking system that’s perfectly suited for the iPhone Fold. How exactly will that system work? At this point that’s anyone’s guess. But with WWDC around the corner, we shouldn’t have to wait long to find out. What do you hope to see from iOS 19’s multitasking system? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's well-documented shift to the far right has proven disastrous for the carmaker's brand.On Tuesday, the company revealed that its net income had plummeted by an astonishing 71 percent. Sales have plummeted across the globe as consumers are becoming wary of being associated with the highly divisive personality.And as The Economist points out, it's not just progressive voters who've become turned off from the carmaker's offerings. Even owners in red states are returning their Teslas in record numbers.According to dealership inventory tracker MarketCheck, listings of used Teslas have risen by two-thirds since the beginning of 2025, a pattern observed in both left- and right-leaning states.In other words, the trend suggests Musk's efforts to cozy up to conservatives may have been a fool's errand: Republicans have rallied around Tesla and opposed a growing anti-Musk movement, but if they aren't continuing to buy his cars, they won't do much good for his flailing automaker.To experts, strongly affiliating yourself with one extreme end of the political spectrum is a bafflingly self-defeating approach to selling cars."When you make your product unattractive to half the market, I promise you, you won’t increase your sales," automotive research and consulting firm Strategic Vision president Alexander Edwards told the New York Times last month, weeks before Tesla released its first-quarter delivery numbers."Democrats are fleeing the brand and saying they won’t consider it in the future, so there is naturally a greater proportion of Republican and independent buyers," he told the NYT.Whether Republicans even want to go electric is a pressing question. Charging infrastructure in rural areas of the country remains woefully inadequate, making it a poor fit for many on the right."Tesla has gained a large number of Republican fans who love what Mr. Musk is doing, both politically and with the brand of vehicle and with social media," Edwards told NPR in a separate interview last month. "But they have little interest in an electrified vehicle."Put simply, just because fewer Democrats are buying Teslas doesn't mean Republicans are picking up the slack.Besides alienating half of the country, Musk's carmaker is also facing major competition that has been rapidly catching up with the brand. BYD in China and General Motors in the US are rising to the occasion, as The Economist points out.While Tesla's latest earnings don't bode well for the company's future, the EV market as a whole is rallying thanks to a slew of lower-cost, longer-range models enticing more consumers. Analysts expect US EV sales to grow three percent this year, despite a volatile political landscape.Musk is "rapidly losing the advantages in range, tech, value and convenience that drove people to Tesla," Paren chief analyst Loren McDonald told the NYT. "For a lot of people, it’s time to move on and try something new."The numbers tell a damning story. Tesla's deliveries dropped by 13 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. In the US, sales fell by almost nine percent — despite total EV sales rising 11 percent over the same period.Yet instead of heeding the words of spooked investors and getting out of politics, Musk has dug in his heels — which could spell disaster for Tesla.More on Tesla: Elon Musk May Not Be Able to Save TeslaShare This Article

Title: Work from Home Travel Planner – Help Clients Plan Their Perfect Vacations**Are you passionate about travel and helping others create unforgettable experiences? Join our award-winning travel group as a Work from Home Travel Planner and assist clients in booking the vacations of their dreams. No experience is necessary – we provide all the resources you need to succeed!About Us: We are a leading travel company offering personalized vacation planning services to clients around the world. As a Travel Planner, you’ll work remotely to help clients plan their trips, providing them with expert advice and seamless booking services. We are looking for passionate individuals who are excited about travel and helping others.What We Offer:Flexible Work Schedule: Enjoy the freedom to work part-time or full-time from home, giving you the flexibility to manage your schedule as you wish.Travel Perks: Access to exclusive travel discounts to experience destinations firsthand and enhance your knowledge of the industry.Competitive Compensation: Earn a competitive pay based on the bookings you make, with opportunities for growth as you build your career.Ongoing Support: Receive support and guidance from an award-winning travel group that values customer service and satisfaction.Advanced Software Tools: Use recently launched software that allows you to offer the best pricing and booking options, outperforming competitors in the market.Responsibilities:Plan and coordinate travel for clients, including flights, accommodations, tours, and activities.Consult with clients to understand their travel preferences and create personalized itineraries.Handle bookings, payments, and follow-ups to ensure everything is in place for a seamless travel experience.Offer excellent customer service, addressing any client concerns or inquiries in a timely and professional manner.Requirements:Passion for travel and helping others plan their dream vacations.Strong communication and organizational skills.Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.Basic computer skills and comfort with using travel booking software.No prior experience required; all necessary resources will be provided to help you succeed.How to Apply:If you’re excited about helping others plan amazing vacations and have a passion for travel, apply today to join our team as a Work from Home Travel Planner!

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 25.

Fortnite's next Lego sets include in-game skins, but can I really justify £210 for Mecha Team Leader? Bear it. Image credit: Lego News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on April 24, 2025 Fortnite's second wave of physical Lego sets will include codes for in-game character skins. The next batch of four Lego sets will drop in from the Battle Bus on 1st June - and there's a range of options to choose from. Each contains exclusive Lego Fortnite minifigures, as well codes to unlock at least one in-game skin per set - something the Lego Fortnite range did not include with its first four sets released last year. Joining the range is Peely & Sparkplug's Camp, the cheapest option at £18 for a 250-piece set. This looks to be based on the Lego Fortnite Odyssey game mode, as it features replicas of its workbench item and wolf enemy. Minifigures included are, unsurprisingly, Peely and Sparkplug. You'll also get a code for the Sparkplug in-game skin. Next up in size is the Durrr Burger Restaurant, priced at £54.99 for a 546-piece set. This includes a corner of the burger restaurant seen on various older Fortnite maps, plus minifigures for Beach Bomber, Beef Boss and Grimey. You'll also get a code for the Beef Boss in-game skin. Splash out a little more and you can buy the Klombo set, priced £89.99, which features Fortnite's lovable purple dinosaur as he appears in Lego Fortnite, plus minifigures for Oro and Adventure Peely. The in-game skin here is for Adventure Peely, which Lego Fortnite fans may have already from an earlier Lego Pass. Lastly, this wave's centrepiece set is the enormous £209.99 Mecha Team Leader model. This is one of those big Lego sets designed to sit on a shelf and look impressive, rather than actually be played with - though at 45cm tall and weighing in at 2503 pieces, you're going to need a big shelf. Mecha Team Leader has been the star of a few Fortnite live events, most notably the game's monster vs mech battle that was remixed last year in a fight sequence featuring Eminem (standard Fortnite). Included in the box are two codes each for both the Mecha Team Leader and Mecha Team Shadow skins. But is it worth £210? Hmm. You do get a Mecha Team Leader minifigure too... Lego and Fortnite's collaboration began several years ago, with the launch of its in-game Lego Fortnite mode that has since grown into several modes and a platform for hundreds of smaller community-made minigames. Nearly all Fortnite skins now also have a digital equivalent (though not Eminem, in this case). Lego Fortnite's first four Lego sets include a giant Supply Llama, a Durrr Burger, a large model of Peely Bone, and a recreation of the Battle Bus with around a dozen minifigures - that one really is very nice.

Perks: Pet-friendly, outdoor fireplace, washer and dryer, hot tubA hot tub in the middle of the desert? Sign us up. The Green House boasts 180-degree views of Joshua Tree National Park, including both the San Jacinto and Gorgonio mountain ranges. Check out the indoor and outdoor spas after your hike up Bartlett Mountain or regain your energy with a BBQ feast on the gorgeous two-story outdoor terrace. Only a short drive into nearby towns, this light-filled home is the perfect setting for a romantic weekend away. And for city-goers looking to escape extra noise, this spot is situated at the end of a quiet residential road.From $719 a night.BOOK NOWStardust Guest HousePerks: Spa access, Smart TV, rain-head shower, memory foam mattressSurround yourself with midcentury vibes in this one-bedroom casita (a two-night stay is the booking minimum). From the outdoor shower with a confetti-like backsplash, private firepit, and pool to the 1960s-inspired decor and lounge area, this hotel room–sized space is great for a solo traveler or a couple. The kitchenette isn’t set up for preparing full meals, but all the more reason to get out and explore Palm Springs’ incredible restaurants. From $536 a night.BOOK NOWMonterey MansionPerks: Pool, pet-friendly, washer and dryer, dedicated workspaceThe interior design of Monterey Manor is something that warrants a magazine home tour—an asymmetrical stone-clad fireplace, eclectic art, and furniture to inspire a redesign of your own home. Designed by architect Albert Belden Crist, this three-bedroom home has plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows to flood the interiors with light. The main bedroom has private access to the adjoining patio so you can wake up and head straight to the pool. You’ll also find bicycles (and helmets!) so you can explore the nearby neighborhood. Two nights is the minimum, but we have a hunch you might want to stay longer. From $1,732 a night.BOOK NOWMojave VillaPerks: Walking distance to a national park, EV charging, Parachute linen bedding, juicerHere’s a stunner nestled right in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park, close to downtown Palm Springs too but removed enough to enjoy the solitude and natural beauty of the park. The modern home has an airy open floor plan for chatting with your crew, plus two bedrooms for resting up. It’s tastefully decorated without sacrificing comfort, with stunning natural accents and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout. The sprawling outdoor space is where you’ll want to spend most of your time, between the plush couches, sunken conversation firepit, and wood pergola fitted with a dining area, hot tub, and cowboy pool. From $734 a night.BOOK NOWCasa MykaPerks: Pet-friendly, washer and dryer, Bluetooth sound systemLocated in Yucca Valley, just a little north of Palm Springs, Casa Myka is a boho minimalist’s ideal getaway. The desert cabin, which sits on 130 acres of private land and can comfortably fit up to six, was designed by the local interior design team Acme 5. The space is full of whimsical touches, like a light fixture crafted from a branch, bed nooks, and an expansive dining table. Step outside to enjoy the fully equipped patio area that includes a hot tub, firepit, and grill, along with lovely panoramic views of the mountains and desert. From $456 a night.BOOK NOWYucca Valley Ma Sa Ya Desert Ranch HomePerks: Home theater with projector, game room, dedicated workspace, washer and dryerEverything about this Yucca Valley adobe-style desert ranch home looks and feels like a dream. The interior is airy, bohemian, and minimalist—not unlike Casa Myka. Outside, you can find beautiful views, a firepit for late-night hangouts, a hammock for afternoon naps, loungers for tanning in the desert sun, and a private hot tub (because, why not?). You can even bask in the infrared sauna. With two bedrooms and plenty of room for up to six guests, it’s easy to see how this house became a “guest favorite.” From $1,398 a night.BOOK NOW

Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, admitted as much during more than ten hours of testimony, over three days last week, in the opening phase of the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust trial against Facebook’s parent company, Meta. The company, Zuckerberg said, has lately been involved in “the general idea of entertainment and learning about the world and discovering what’s going on.” This under-recognized shift away from interpersonal communication has been measured by the company itself. During the defense’s opening statement, Meta displayed a chart showing that the “percent of time spent viewing content posted by ‘friends’ ” has declined in the past two years, from twenty-two per cent to seventeen per cent on Facebook, and from eleven per cent to seven per cent on Instagram.The F.T.C. is arguing that Meta maintained an illegal monopoly in the “personal social networking services” industry, in part by buying up Facebook’s competitors, such as Instagram, which the company acquired in 2012, and the messaging platform WhatsApp, which it acquired in 2014. But the F.T.C.’s definition of the social-media industry is hazy, and the antitrust case was already dismissed once, in 2021, partly because the “personal social networking services” market was too loosely defined. Meta’s counter-argument is, in a sense, that social media per se doesn’t exist now in the way that it did in the twenty-tens, and that what the company’s platforms are now known for—the digital consumption of all kinds of content—has become so widespread that no single company or platform can be said to monopolize it. In one of its slides at trial, Meta exhibited a graphic of a boxing ring showing the logos of Instagram, Facebook, and the various companies that Meta argues are competitors, including TikTok, YouTube, and Apple’s iMessage, though the F.T.C. doesn’t define any of those three as such. The company also used smartphone screenshots from the various apps to demonstrate how they’ve gravitated toward common formats: short video clips look similar on both Instagram and TikTok; messages look essentially the same in Instagram DMs as on Apple’s iMessage. Even as such similarities serve as helpful evidence for Meta’s defense, they also demonstrate how stultifying the entire online ecosystem has become. While in 2012 Facebook may have seemed singular and inescapable, now it looks like part of a crowded marketplace of apps competing to serve the same purpose.The F.T.C.’s case, which originated during Donald Trump’s first term, entails reëvaluating business deals that it approved more than a decade ago, when the industry looked dramatically different. This makes the commission’s case less than airtight. Benedict Evans, an influential technology analyst, called the F.T.C.’s market definition of social networks “gerrymandering.” He told me, “By the F.T.C.’s definition, TikTok doesn’t compete with Facebook at all. Does that mean it would be O.K. for Facebook to buy TikTok?” Antitrust lawyers must prove that allegedly monopolistic practices cause consumer harm. In another antitrust case currently unfolding against Google, a court found that the company maintained a monopoly over parts of the online-advertising market by integrating its various automated advertising technologies, illegally privileging itself and harming its publishing customers by “reducing their revenue.” In the case of Meta, though, there is no price differential to point to—Meta’s platforms all allow users to access them for free—so the question of harm is less clear-cut.The F.T.C. is arguing, instead, that Meta’s purported monopoly has led to a lack of innovation and to reduced consumer choice. But that, too, is difficult to prove in the case of Meta’s WhatsApp and Instagram acquisitions, because both sales occurred early in those companies’ life spans. In 2014, when WhatsApp was acquired, it had around half a billion users; now it has more than two billion. As Evans put it, the F.T.C. is arguing that “if Meta hadn’t bought WhatsApp, it would have become this voracious competitor.” He continued, “What we all actually know from following the history is that the founders of WhatsApp didn’t want to do any of the things that Meta did to fuel its runaway expansion. One of WhatsApp’s founders once compared the service’s goals to those of Craigslist, Zuckerberg recalled during his testimony. Meta, by contrast, aggressively pursued growth, loading WhatsApp with features such as social groups and video calls. The F.T.C. notes that market competition can result in “improved features, functionalities, integrity measures, and user experiences”; it’s hard to mount a persuasive argument that an independent WhatsApp would necessarily have provided more of those things than a Zuckerberg-owned one. (Many social networks fail; Path and Google+ were two other threats that Zuckerberg perceived, but neither grew into a viable competitor. He did at one point attempt to buy Snapchat, and though that company survived, it failed to become a major rival.)One of the most surprising moments in Zuckerberg’s testimony came when the F.T.C. presented him with a memo that he sent to company executives, in 2018, suggesting that it might be better to spin Instagram into its own entity by choice. Zuckerberg wrote that Instagram was potentially undermining Facebook’s success, and that businesses that are independent often perform better than they would within a parent conglomerate. “Over time we may face antitrust regulation requiring us to spin off our other apps anyway,” he noted, with some prescience. Seven years ago, before the advent of TikTok and the diversification of content across digital platforms, that kind of split might have resulted in more varied products for users, more quickly—or it might not have. Either way, the social-media landscape today is arguably in the midst of a dramatic overhaul. TikTok may ultimately be banned; generative A.I. may supplant the existing model of an open, user-generated internet. On April 15th, the Verge broke the news that OpenAI is developing a social network of its own, to compete with the likes of Instagram and X. The F.T.C. may be chasing an old problem just as newer, bigger ones appear on the horizon.This week, the European Union fined Apple and Meta for anticompetitive practices, but the penalties—five hundred million euros and two hundred million euros, respectively—are relatively modest. If the U.S. case prevails, the F.T.C. will have to decide whether to force a wholesale breakup of Meta or seek less dramatic “remedies.” One factor in this calculus might be the wishes of President Trump. In recent months, Zuckerberg has visited the White House repeatedly, and he’s ingratiated himself to the Administration with moves, at Meta, against D.E.I. and fact-checking. So far, despite a growing closeness with Silicon Valley, Trump has nevertheless continued to back the suit against Meta. As in the Administration’s ongoing trade war, Trump appreciates a pronounced threat as a tool to force a deal. Bytedance, the owner of TikTok, has all but capitulated to a mandated sale of a majority of the company. With regard to Trump, at least, Zuckerberg might be expected to capitulate one way or another. ♦