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US top court leans towards TikTok ban over security concerns Getty ImagesTikTok users gathered outside the Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court appears poised to uphold a law that bans TikTok in the US over national security concerns unless its China-based parent company sells the platform ahead of a 19 January deadline.The Court's nine justices heard from lawyers representing TikTok, and content creators that the ban would be a violation of free speech protections for the platform's more than 170 million users in the US.The US government argued that without a sale, TikTok could be used by China as a tool for spying and political manipulation. A decision by the top court has to be made within days. President-elect Donald Trump - who returns to the White House in just over a week - now argues against the ban.The law requires TikTok's parent company ByteDance to sell it in the US or cease operations on 19 January. The company has said it will not sell the short-form video platform.Congress passed the law with support from both the Democratic and Republican parties - a moment that marked the culmination of years of concern about the widely popular platform, which is known for its viral videos and traction among young people.The legislation does not forbid use of the app, but would require tech giants such as Apple and Google to stop offering it and inhibit updates, which analysts suggest would kill it over time. TikTok has repeatedly denied any potential influence by the Chinese Communist Party and has said the law violates the First Amendment free speech rights of its users. Noel Francisco, a former US solicitor general appearing for the platform, stressed the ban on the most popular speech platform for Americans could also open the door to a dangerous form of censorship.He argued that "the government cannot restrict speech in order to protect us from speech". "That's precisely what this law does from beginning to end."A representative for platform creators argued they should be free to use the publisher of their choice.Jeffrey L Fisher, a Stanford University law professor representing creators who sued over the law, told the court on Friday that the country has historically faced "ideological campaigns by foreign adversaries".But he said that under the First Amendment, mere ideas do not represent a national security threat.Justice department lawyer Elizabeth B Prelogar told the court that ByteDance's ties to the Chinese government made it a national security risk.She told the court that Beijing "could weaponise TikTok at any time to harm the United States".During nearly three hours of arguments, the nine justices returned time and again to the national security concerns that gave rise to the law in the first place, while also probing free speech questions."Are we supposed to ignore the fact that the ultimate parent is, in fact, subject to doing intelligence work for the Chinese government?" conservative Chief Justice John Roberts asked TikTok lawyer Mr Francisco.Justice Brett Kavanaugh drilled into concerns the US government has raised about the data the app collects on its users and how that data might be used.The risks seem like a "huge concern for the future of the country", he said.US TikTok ban: When could the app be banned and will Trump save it?The Trump questionIn December, US President-elect Donald Trump urged the court to delay its decision until he returns to the White House to enable him to seek a "political solution" to resolve the issues at hand.TikTok's lawyer told the court on Friday that, as he saw it, the platform would "go dark" on 19 January without intervention.Ms Prelogar, arguing for the US justice department, said "nothing permanent" had to happen on that day and there was still time for a sale. Forcing the app to go dark could be just the "jolt" ByteDance needs to seriously consider a sale, she said."It will fundamentally change the landscape with respect to what ByteDance might consider," she said, comparing the situation to "game of chicken" and one in which the US should not "blink first".After the hearing, legal observers predicted that the Supreme Court's justices appeared to be swayed by the government's concerns."Traditionally the Supreme Court has been willing to defer somewhat when national security is at stake," said University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias."I expect that the justices by a majority will side with the government," he added. Jacob Hubert, a lawyer and the president of the Liberty Justice Center - which represents BASED Politics, an internet content creator - said it was still difficult to predict how the court would rule. But he says the ban would violate the freedom of speech of millions of Americans - a point he believes was effectively made by TikTok's lawyers. "It's not about China's rights, or the Communist Party's rights," he said. "It is about the rights of Americans who use TikTok to, largely, speak with other Americans."More than a hundred people braved freezing conditions in Washington DC to attend the hearing in person.Chloe Joy Sexton - one of the TikTok creators named in the suit - said that the platform brought many creators "financial independence", including many mothers. "A TikTok ban would place these women, myself included, in true financial jeopardy," she told reporters. "It would destroy both my business and the community that means so much to me." Danielle Ballesteros, a student at UC San Diego, said had been waiting outside the court since 06:30 local time."I feel like TikTok doesn't deserve to be banned," she told BBC News.While admitting to using it "probably too much", she said she believes the app to be an important news source for her generation.Watch: Can young Americans live without TikTok?TikTok is already banned from government devices in many countries, including in the UK. It faces more complete bans in some countries, including India. Last December, a three-judge appeals court decision upheld the law, noting China's record of acting through private companies and saying the measure was justified as "part of a broader effort to counter a well-substantiated national security threat posed" by the country.

close Chinas newest humanoid robot is ready to serve like never before The new robot is designed to revolutionize the way we work and interact with machines. Chinese startup Pudu Robotics has unveiled its latest creation, the D9 humanoid robot, designed to revolutionize the way we work and interact with machines.Standing at an impressive 5.57 feet tall, this bipedal machine is not just another robot it's a versatile assistant ready to tackle a wide range of tasks in various settings. D9 humanoid robot. (Pudu Robotics)Capabilities and features of the humanoid robotThe D9 is no ordinary robot. With its ability to walk upright and carry loads up to 44 pounds, it's built to handle real-world challenges. But what sets it apart from its predecessors?Advanced mobility:The D9 can walk at speeds of up to 4.5 mph, outpacing the average human stroll. It's not just about speed, though. This robot can navigate stairs, slopes and even maintain balance when knocked off-kilter.Intelligent navigation: Equipped with high-accuracy sensors, the D9 creates real-time 3D semantic maps of its surroundings. This allows for autonomous route planning and precise self-positioning.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREVersatile applications:From performing ground cleaning tasks with the Pudu SH1 to carrying boxes in warehouses and stocking shelves in stores, the D9's potential applications are vast.Natural interaction: Perhaps most impressively, the D9 boasts "human-level multimodal natural interactions," thanks to its sophisticated artificial intelligence processing frameworks. D9 humanoid robot. (Pudu Robotics)The evolution of Pudu roboticsThe D9 isn't Pudu's first foray into robotics. In September, they introduced the D7, a semi-humanoid robot on wheels designed for tasks like sorting components, serving in restaurants and operating elevators. The D9 builds on this foundation, expanding the range of possible applications.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? D9 humanoid robot. (Pudu Robotics)Competitive landscapeWith the introduction of the D9, Pudu Robotics enters a competitive field alongside giants like Tesla and Unitree. While pricing details for the D9 are yet to be announced, it's speculated to fall in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, similar toTesla's Optimus. D9 humanoid robot. (Pudu Robotics)Kurt's key takeawaysThe Pudu D9 showcases advanced mobility and intelligent interaction capabilities. As it prepares to enter the market, its potential impact on various industries could be profound, transforming how we approach tasks across sectors. The future looks promising for humanoid robots like the D9 as they pave the way for more efficient and interactive work environments.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWhat concerns do you have about the potential impact of humanoid robots like the Pudu D9 on the future of work and everyday life?Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterFollow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. Related Topics

New Samsung attack threat revealedAFP via Getty ImagesExciting times for Galaxy flagship owners, with the excellent Android 15 upgrade due to be released in just a few weeks, alongside the launch of the new S25. The new OS brings a raft of security and privacy enhancements as Samsung narrows the gap to iPhone, some are general Android enhancements and some are specific to Samsung.One area that is still very much work in progress, though, is the painful monthly process to patch security vulnerabilities, again whether thats across Android or is specific to Samsung. Weve seen multiple delays in recent months, as Samsungs have lagged behind Pixels in getting critical OS fixes. The new S25 looks likely to move to Androids seamless update process for the first time, which will help, but that wont in itself resolve the monthly merry-go-round.While most of the recent dangerous vulnerabilities have either related to Androids OS or Qualcomms chipsets, there were some Samsung-specific critical issues patched last month. As I reported in December, one vulnerability in particular CVE-2024-49415 which was a Samsung memory issue was addressed to stop potential attacks from executing remote code on Galaxy devices. Now a Google Project Zero researcher has unrestricted this issue, which shows a fun new attack surface. Android RCS locally transcribes incoming media, making vulnerabilities audio codecs now fully-remote.MORE FOR YOUThe threat is an out-of-bounds write in the Monkey's Audio (APE) decoder on the Samsung S24. The function saped_rec in libsaped.so writes to a dmabuf allocated by the C2 media service, which always appears to have size 0x120000. While the maximum blocksperframe value extracted by libsapedextractor is also limited to 0x120000, saped_rec can write.In real-world terms, this relates to the S24s transcription service transcoding audio attached to an RCS message. Note that this is a fully-remote (0-click) bug on the Samsung S24, the write-up warns. If Google Messages is configured for RCS (the default configuration on this device), as the transcription service decodes incoming audio before a user interacts with the message for transcription purposes the device can be attacked.The vulnerability can be exploited by writing up to three-times the allowable data size, risking memory corruption and potentially leaving the advice open to a fully remote attack. A likely attack would combine this vulnerability with others, to plant malware, exfiltrate data or seek to take over a device. The write-up includes details of a demonstrable S24 attack, albeit the bug was tested a Samsung S23 and S24 and both appear to be affected. It was not tested on other devices.If you have installed Decembers security release, then your device is secure against this threat. You should check your phone now and make sure thats the latest update you're running. But not all affected devices will have bene updated, and while newer flagships are usually patched early in the month, the update schedule runs to the month-end and sometimes beyond. All the more reason to check for updates and install as soon as available.

From the streets of Moscow to the stars: Laika, the soviet space dog, pioneered a voyage into space ... [+] that was both groundbreaking and heartbreaking.Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesOn November 3rd, 1957, the Soviet Union made history by launching the first living creature into Earths orbit: not a human, but a dog. This journey aboard the Soviet spacecraft, Sputnik 2, marked a monumental milestone in space exploration, yet it came at a profound cost.Laika, a stray plucked from the streets of Moscow, became a symbol of both scientific progress and the ethical complexities of animal testing. Her voyage to space, as the scientists who worked with her knew, was only ever meant to be a one-way trip.Her storyor, rather, her tragedyis perhaps one of the greatest reminders of the many sacrifices made in the name of humanitys quest for knowledge.Laika Was A Stray With A Cosmic DestinyLaika was but one of many stray dogs recruited from Moscows streets for the space program. Soviet scientists at the time believed that strays, given that they were already accustomed to harsh conditions, would be better suited to the extreme environments of space.The Soviet Unions reliance on stray dogs was practical in retrospectand, in hindsight, incredibly symbolic. These animals were viewed as resilient survivors; they boldly represented the Soviet spirit. Moreover, they were believed to have a natural adaptability to harsh conditions, as strays were already well-acquainted with extreme cold, heat and hunger.MORE FOR YOUIn this way, Laika and her stray comrades embodied the determination and sacrifice that characterized the eras space race. However, her selection was due to far more than her just being a stray. Ultimately, it came down to a dog who was capable of enduring complete isolation and immense stress.Laika, as well as her fellow canine candidates, underwent rigorous training to prepare for the unprecedented journey.The training was, by modern standards, inhumane and grueling. Each of the strays were confined to cages, which were progressively swapped out for smaller and smaller cages to acclimate them to the cramped conditions of the Sputnik 2 spacecraft. This confinement often lasted up to 20 days, which undoubtedly resulted in immense psychological stress and physical discomfort.Beyond the spacecraft itself, the dogs also needed to be prepared for the physical conditions of the launch. Thus, in addition to confinement, the dogs were placed in centrifuges to simulate the intense G-forces one would experience during a rocket launch. Additionally, they were exposed to deafening noises designed to replicate the sounds of a spacecraft blasting off. These simulations were critical for preparing the dogs, but each came at a significant cost to their well-being.LaikaThe Little Bug Beloved By AllDespite the cruel nature of her training, Laika was adored by the scientists and technicians who worked with her. Her name, meaning Barker in Russian, was initially as Kudryavka (Little Curly). The same scientists who sent her on her way were the ones to give her these affectionate nicknameslike Little Curly and Little Bugand many grew deeply attached to her.Yet, simultaneously, these professionals were acutely aware of the fate that awaited her.She was described as quiet and charming, an unassuming dog with a calm demeanoraccording to Dr. Vladimir Yazdovsky, one of the Russian physicians part of the Soviet space program, in his novel outlining the intersection of biology and medicine in space travel. Ironically, these are the lovely qualities that made her fit for such a grim mission; her calm temperament is likely what allowed her to endure the challenges of training better than many of her peers.The night before her launch, Dr. Yazdovsky reportedly spent extra time with Laikaas he knew it would be her last. He describes taking her home to play with his children, which allowed her a brief moment of normalcy and joy. Reflecting, he explained, I wanted to do something nice for her. She had so little time left to live.On October 31st, 1957, Laika was placed in the satellite capsule; she was groomed carefully, and sensors were placed on various areas of her body to monitor her heart-rate and breathing during the trip. Before finally closing the hatch of her capsule on November 3rd, Russian engineer Yevgeniy Shabarov shared in Roads to Space: An Oral History of the Soviet Space Program, We kissed her nose and wished her bon voyage, knowing that she would not survive the flight.Sputnik II And The Undying Legacy Of Laikas SacrificeLaikas voyage aboard Sputnik 2 was objectively a monumental achievement in space exploration. Launched just a month after the success of Sputnik 1the first satellite launched into Earths orbit, in October of 1957this second mission was designed to study the effects of space travel on a living organism.However, the spacecraft was hastily constructed, and the timeline was tight; they had only four weeks to build it based on a few rough sketches. Naturally, this race was driven by the Soviet Unions desire to demonstrate its technological superiority during the Cold War.This was the launch of Sputnik 2. The spacecraft carried the dog Laika, the first living creature in ... [+] space. Due to tight timelines, the spacecraft was hastily constructed, and they had only four weeks to build it based on a few rough sketches.Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesThe mission was groundbreaking, but it was also inherently flawed. The technology for a safe re-entry did not yet exist, and Soviet officials were well aware of the fact that Laikas mission would end in her death. Hence, they only provided Laika with a weeks worth of food and life-support technology, according to reports from NASA. Initially, however, reports from Soviet sources claimed that Laika survived for several days in orbit.Decades later, in 2002, the truth was revealed at The Second World Space Congressthat is, Laika perished within hours of launching. Due to overheating, and likely stress, she is said to have died of hyperthermia during Sputnik 2s fourth orbit of Earth. The spacecrafts thermal control system failed, which caused the cabin temperature to rise to fatal levelsexactly as they knew it would.Laikas death was both tragic and avoidable. The rushed timeline and technical shortcomings of the mission emphasizes the many ethical compromises that we, as humans, have made in the name of progress. Yet, despite her short time in orbit, Laikas sacrifice nevertheless provided invaluable data on the physiological effects of space travel.Overall, her mission yielded critical insights into how living organisms respond to the conditions of space, according to research from Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Her voyage demonstrated that, indeed, it was possible for a living being to survive launch and zero-gravityat least temporarily. These findings were instrumental in advancing space exploration, which ultimately led to Yuri Gagarins historic flight as the first human in space, in 1961.In all, the data collected from Laikas mission aided scientists understanding of the impact of microgravity (weightlessness) on the cardiovascular system, respiratory functions and stress responses. This knowledge was crucial for designing life-support systems and protocols for human astronauts. In many ways, Laikas sacrifice laid the groundwork for the successes of the many space programs that followed.The Ethics Of Animal TestingLaikas story invites reflection on the ethics of animal testing. Her death sparked mass outrage and debate around the world, with animal welfare groups condemning the use of living creaturesespecially in experiments that offered no possibility of survival. While her story inspired awe and admiration, it also reflects the astute moral dilemmas inherent in our use of animals for the sake of scientific progress.In the decades since her mission, advances in technology have reduced the need for such sacrifices. Simulations, robotics and other innovations now allow scientists to conduct experiments without relying on living subjects. These advancements are a testament to how far we have come, but they also remind us of the cost of our earlier achievements.Yet, Laikas legacy endures. She is remembered fondly in many waysfor her contributions to science, but also as a symbol of the ethical challenges that come with exploration and discovery. Various monuments, memorials and artworks around the world honor her. Most aptly, she has a statue in Moscow, depicting her standing atop a rocket.Does Laikas story sadden you more than it inspires you? Take this science-backed test, and discover the extent of your attitudes towards animals: Animal Attitude Scale

Forward-looking: While commercial aviation has made incredible strides in safety and efficiency over the decades, passenger jets have stubbornly adhered to the same fundamental tube-and-wing configuration for nearly a century. While this architecture has proven reliable, it is reaching the limits of its potential. With aviation contributing approximately 2.5% of global carbon emissions, many startups are now exploring radical alternatives. One such company is JetZero, which, in partnership with engineering giants Siemens and Northrop Grumman, is developing a revolutionary passenger jet design that seamlessly blends the wings into the fuselage.This concept, known as the "blended wing body," isn't entirely new. It was first proposed over a century ago by Russian aviator Nicolas Woevodsky. However, it has largely remained theoretical, appearing only in a handful of military drone designs.Once conventional tube-and-wing airliners became the standard, the industry resisted change due to the challenges of certifying a new aircraft shape for passenger use. But JetZero believes the potential benefits of the blended wing body design are too compelling to ignore.The biggest perk of a blended wing body is its wider, shorter fuselage, which transitions smoothly into the wings to create a single lifting surface. The startup says this reduces aerodynamic drag by up to 30% compared to a traditional tube fuselage. When combined with lighter weight and improved engine integration, JetZero claims their design could slash fuel consumption by 50% compared to today's jets. That's massive.The blended shape also allows for more interior space. JetZero's concept seats 250 passengers while maintaining a smaller overall footprint than existing single-aisle planes like the Boeing 737, which holds 215. Noise levels are expected to be significantly lower as well. // Related StoriesPerhaps most importantly, JetZero's design is fully compatible with sustainable aviation fuels and has the potential to run on hydrogen, achieving zero emissions as that technology matures.JetZero plans to conduct its first test flight by 2027 and aims to enter commercial service by 2030. However, the company acknowledges that this is an ambitious timeline for bringing such an unconventional design to market. Notably, JetZero has yet to establish a manufacturing facility for the aircraft.This is where Siemens comes into play. Announced at CES 2025, the partnership with Siemens will leverage the company's automation hardware, software, and services to create a "Factory of the Future," where the aircraft will be designed, tested, and iterated upon before final production.In parallel, JetZero is collaborating with Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force to develop a subscale prototype called "Pathfinder." This 23-foot test aircraft has already validated key aerodynamic principles and begun real-world flight control testing. Data from Pathfinder will inform the development of the full-scale aircraft, which will be eight times larger.

What just happened? Two hackers have successfully extended the range of Toslink optical audio cables, enabling data transmission over unprecedented distances. While the practical applications may be limited, their efforts could pave the way for future advancements in optical data transmission and networking technologies. Their ingenuity exemplifies the hacker ethos: continuously questioning, exploring, and pushing the limits of what technology can achieve. Two hackers have challenged the boundaries of optical data transmission, demonstrating that even outdated technology can be repurposed in unexpected ways. At the 38th Chaos Communication Congress (38C3) in Germany, a gathering known for attracting tech enthusiasts and hackers, Benjojo presented his work on extending Toslink traffic far beyond its intended range.Toslink, an optical fiber connection primarily used for audio transmission, is typically limited to distances of around 10 meters. However, Benjojo's experiment stretched this distance to an astonishing 143 kilometers.Building on Benjojo's work, another hacker, known as Manawyrm, took the concept further. Just one day after Benjojo's presentation, Manawyrm demonstrated the transmission of IP data over Toslink, effectively creating a basic fiber optic network using audio cables.Benjojo's experiment involved a complex setup of data center equipment and various contraptions to achieve the extended range. This included Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) ports, Toslink analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, and an oscilloscope.The long-distance test connected two data centers in London's Docklands area Telehouse North and IP House which are approximately 650 meters apart. The setup also utilized a fiber pair linking the data centers, a CWDM multiplexer to maximize the inter-building fiber connection, and a fiber loop installed at the Telehouse end to enable testing from a single location. Benjojo documented the entire process in a detailed blog post and a YouTube video.While the speeds achieved were far from competitive with modern networking standards, the proof of concept was significant. Manawyrm's IP-over-Toslink hack achieved real-world transmission speeds of approximately 1.47 Mb/s (0.18 MB/s), just shy of Toslink's maximum theoretical limit.It's important to note that these experiments don't herald a revolution in networking technology. The speeds achieved are impractical for modern data transmission needs, with Toslink cables capping out at roughly 1,536 kbit/s (0.19 MB/s). // Related StoriesNonetheless, these experiments underscore an important principle: with the right modifications, cables designed for specific purposes can be adapted for uses far beyond their original intent. This flexibility in optical data transmission could inspire new approaches to networking in unconventional environments.While these Toslink experiments are unlikely to replace conventional networking cables, they highlight the innovative potential hidden within seemingly obsolete technology.

TikTok is currently fighting an existential battle in the U.S. Supreme Court, and so far, it appears that the companys arguments might not be enough to avoid a ban in the country. The arguments have mostly focused on concerns around national security and free speech, but there is another aspect that could hurt the social media giant.According to fresh research from the University of California San Francisco, a majority of children are using TikTok against the platforms age-related policies. It further adds that 11- and 12-year-olds also show signs of addiction, and some hide social profiles from their parents.Recommended VideosThe study, which sourced data from 10,000 children across the country in the age group of 10-15 years, focused on the usage of TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, among other platforms.Please enable Javascript to view this contentJason Nagata (MD), a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospitals, noted that TikTok is the most popular social app among children (67.1%), highlighting its harm potential.A quarter of the children who participated in the study said they often thought about social media platforms, and an equal number also mentioned that these apps help them forget about their problems.Notably, 17% of the children reported that they wanted to cut down on social media usage, but they simply couldnt pull it off, while a healthy 11% labeled it as detrimental to their academic activities.The research, which has been published in the Academic Pediatrics journal, also underlines how social media usage among underage children, some as young as 11 years old, is linked to elevated depression, disruptive behavior, and eating disorders. The findings are not surprising.The likes of Instagram have received flak for aggravating body image issues among young users. Digital Trends investigation also unearthed a dark underbelly of drugson the Meta-owned platform. Amnesty Internationals research recently uncovered how TikTok was serving harmful mental health content to children.Policymakers need to look at TikTok as a systemic social media issue and create effective measures that protect children online, Nagata, who is also the lead author of the study, was quoted as saying.The research paper suggests policymakers should also focus on how platforms like TikTok are harming children. Moreover, the experts recommend stronger age verification on social media platforms, more robust parental control tools, and tighter privacy protocols.Editors Recommendations

Gov. Newsom has expressed concern that Trump would withhold disaster aid."He's tried to do it in the past," Newsom said during a recent taping of "Pod Save America."Los Angeles is fighting multiple devastating wildfires.Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said President-elect Donald Trump may seek to withhold federal disaster aid to California as multiple wildfires rage in and around Los Angeles."He's been pretty straightforward about that," Newsom said on the "Pod Save America" podcast, which was posted Saturday morning. "He's tried to do it in the past. He's not just done it here in California.""He's done it in states all across the country," Newsom continued. "In 2018, even before I was governor of California, he tried to withhold money down in Orange County until apparently a staff member and this has been well reported said there were a lot of Trump supporters. And, then, he decided to change his mind."Former Trump White House official Mark Harvey told Politico last year that Trump initially declined to authorize disaster aid for California because it leans Democrat but reversed his position after learning that the affected area was in Orange County, which for generations had been a GOP stronghold."We went as far as looking up how many votes he got in those impacted areas to show him these are people who voted for you," Harvey told the outlet ahead of the November 2024 election.JPMorgan analysts said the blazes tearing through the Los Angeles region could lead to over $20 billion in insured losses and about $50 billion in total economic losses. That would make these conflagrations "significantly more severe" than the Camp Fires that struck the state in 2018 and racked up $10 billion in insured losses, the current record.During the podcast on Saturday, Newsom also called out Trump for spreading what he called "indelible misinformation." Trump has blamed the governor's water policies for the devastating fires."What the president-elect was saying about State Water Project and the Delta smelt somehow being culpable of somehow leading to some of the challenges that we face down hereit's delusional," he said.Emergency workers fighting the LA fires have reported fire hydrants running dry after unprecedented demand on the water system. Newsom on Friday ordered a probe into the source of the water supply issues."I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir," he wrote in a post on X. "We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to fight these catastrophic fires."More than 150,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes and over 38,000 acres have so far burned in the fires. The death toll has risen to 11 as of Saturday, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that the federal government would cover 100% of the cost of disaster aid for 180 days.Trump, meanwhile, has been relentless in his criticism of both Newsom and Biden."The fires in Los Angeles may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country," he said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. "Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo."In a statement to Business Insider, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said Newsom "should be doing his fucking job and actually help people who continue to suffer under his terrible leadership."

A Los Angeles County official criticized GoFundMe, citing a large fee for a donation she made.The official, however, was likely mistaken about the size of the fee.The moment illustrated the heightened emotions among those fighting the fires in Los Angeles County.A Los Angeles County official publicly criticized GoFundMe on Saturday for charging people high transaction fees for fire-related fundraisers.The official, however, was likely mistaken about the size of the fee.It was an emotionally charged moment that brought home the stress and financial pressure facing many residents of Los Angeles County as the fires raged for the fifth consecutive day.Thousands have lost their homes, and hundreds of thousands have been ordered to evacuate or warned they may need to at any moment.During a press conference updating the public on the scale of the disaster and what emergency crews and officials were doing to help,"Let me go off-script for a minute," Barger said. Barger said she intended to donate $500 through GoFundMe to a friend who had "lost everything" in the fires."I was shocked to find out that to give $500, they were going to charge me $95," she said. "So, I'm going to be reaching out to the CEO of GoFundMe to find out if, at the very least, they can cut the cost in order to ensure that the money goes directly to the family."Barger said she understood that GoFundMe is a company and "they deserve to be able to pay for their overhead, but at the same time, we are in a crisis.""These families are suffering," she said.Barger did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment, but she was likely mistaken about the size of the fee.GoFundMe charges 2.9% plus $0.30 for each transaction, which "helps us pay our payment processors and safely deliver funds," the company said in a statement to Business Insider. There is also an option "tip" that users can leave that goes to the platform.According to the above numbers, a $500 donation would incur less than $15 in required fees."The comments made at the press conference were inaccurate," the spokesperson said. "GoFundMe is primarily powered by voluntary tips and relies on these completely optional contributions from donors to maintain our quality customer service, trust and safety protections, and world-class fundraising technology."GoFundMe has become the default fundraising platform for those suffering from disasters in the United States, as well as elsewhere in the world. When fires tore through Maui in 2023, users donated some $30 million to relief efforts, GoFundMe told Fox Business at the time.Many of the residents who have lost their homes will be forced to scramble to find new ways to pay for housing and rebuild after insurance companies, since 2022, stopped writing new policies for fire coverage, pulled back coverage, or dropped residents altogether.In March, State Farm, the state's largest home insurance provider, dropped 72,000 property policies in the state, including 69% of policies in Pacific Palisades. The recent fires hit Pacific Palisades hard, burning thousands of homes, including those of many celebrities.