🧠 Breaking News

TikTok ban deadline extended by *another* 90 days

President Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok app to an American owner by another 3 months.

Trump said on Truth Social: “I’ve just signed the Executive Order extending the Deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days (September 17, 2025). Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Karoline Leavitt stated, “As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark. This extension will last 90 days, which the administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure”

The position to keep TikTok in the U.S. is a complete turnaround from Trump’s first term, during which he signed an executive order banning the short form video app, which was later overturned.

📡 Week in Tech

A short roundup of notable updates in tech

News galore!

• Social media now main source of news in US, research suggests

  • According to a study conducted by Reuters Institute, more than half of people get news from networks like Facebook, X and YouTube

    • overtaking TV (50%) and news sites and apps (48%)

  • A report found that the rise of Social Media is not unique to the US, but change seems to be happening faster than in other countries

  • TikTok is the fastest-growing social and video network

    • used for news by 17% of people around the world up 4% since last year

  • Most people think AI will make news less transparent, accurate and trustworthy

  • The report is in its 14th year and surveyed almost 100,000 people in 48 countries

• Trump-branded cell phone service launches… with a gold phone

  • The service will be known as ‘Trump Mobile’ & is described as “real Americans” seeking “true value from their mobile carriers

  • The TrumpMobile.com website shows that plans start at $47.45 a month

    • reference to the elder Trump having served as the 45th & 47th president of the US

  • Other carriers, Boost Mobile and Verizon’s Visible offer unlimited service for $25 per month

    • T-Mobile, Verizon, Spectrum, and other large carriers offer unlimited plans for $30

  • The service offers a BYOD program as well as a $499 gold-colored phone, which will be released later this year

    • named the ‘T1’

  • Trump Mobile will operate as a MVNO, or Mobile Virtual Network Operator

    • meaning it will rely on leasing network access from network operators

  • Announcement comes as the president seeks to bring more production of electronics to the US

    • Trump has threatened Apple with tariffs for importing iPhones from foreign

  • Trump would like to have a strong influence over the telecom industry through the Brendan Carr, the attorney he appointed to lead the Federal Communications Commission

  • According to its website, users would be able to receive telemedicine on their phone, roadside assistance, & unlimited texting to 100+ countries

  • Trump & his company will not be actually making the service or phone, they will be outsourced

• Liquid Glass & everything else coming in iOS 26

  • Transparent design “Liquid Glass” will extend to all Apple products and operating systems

    • will have a frosted-glass appearance with subtle touches of color

    • many elements are more rounded and have a subtle sense of depth

    • first total redesign across all Apple devices

    • real-time text & call translation

      • available only for iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence

        • iPhone 15 Pro and later models

    • photos app is coming back with familiar button designs

      • tabs for collections & library are coming back

        • reversing changes from iOS 18

    • group chats are getting upgrades with backgrounds and polls

      • can choose from Apple’s premade backgrounds or your own

      • backgrounds sync between devices

      • typing indicators are coming to GC’s as well

    • new Messages app spam category/section

    • Hold Assist (basically a replica of Google’s Pixel Hold for Me

      • iPhone will detect hold music and offer to hold for you, so you won’t have to listen

    • iPads are getting more mac-like powers, like windowing, menu bars, and traffic light controls.

    • new all-in-one gaming app

    • public betas will be released next month

  • Will be released this fall

  • New names! Apple is jumping from iOS 18 to 26, named by the year of the Operating System release

    • continued tradition of naming operating systems after California locations

      • macOS 26 > Tahoe

🌐 Around the Web

We went down some rabbit holes so you didn’t have to.

🌍 World Culture

Food for thought…

• Borders are more psychological than geographical

  • Most modern borders were drawn by colonizers or victors of wars, not by the people who live there.

  • Much of today’s conflict stems from these artificial lines. Understanding this reframes nationalism, ethnic tension, and territorial disputes.

• Energy = leverage

  • Control energy, and you control geopolitics.

  • From oil in the 20th century to rare earth metals and lithium today, whoever powers the grid holds global leverage.

  • The green energy race is a modern arms race.

• What if climate change isn’t a crisis, but an empire killer?

  • Rising seas and failing crops won't just damage the planet… they will collapse governments, redraw maps, and spark wars.

  • Climate is the new geopolitics.

• The world is being reshaped more by networks than nations

  • Think: social media empires, global supply chains, or decentralized currencies.

  • Power is shifting from governments to networked groups, from activist movements to multinational corporations to online communities.

• Data is the new oil, but we’re giving it away for free.

  • You don’t own your digital self.

  • Every click, scroll, and pause is mined by someone else to predict and shape your behavior.

🤔 Life hacks

Tips, hacks, & surprises

We guarantee you didn’t know (at least one of) these life hacks.

• 1. The Two-Minute Rule (Productivity Hack)

  • If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it immediately.

    • It kills procrastination and keeps your mental to-do list clean.

    • Shockingly effective for managing clutter- physical and mental.

• 2. Say “I don’t” instead of “I can’t”

  • “I don’t eat junk food” sounds like a principle.

  • “I can’t eat junk food” sounds like a restriction.

  This subtle language shift dramatically improves self-control and willpower.

• 3. Use your phone camera like a second brain

  • Taking photos of parking spots, receipts, recipes, book pages, or Wi-Fi passwords turns your camera into a memory storer.

  • It relieves mental load and keeps you from forgetting things you normally would.

• 4. In conversations, say “Tell me more.”

  • It invites depth and trust instantly,without interrogating or interrupting.

  • This small phrase improves relationships fast and makes you a better listener than 90% of people.

• 5. Assume positive intent (even if it’s fake)

  • Start acting as if the person cutting you off in traffic is rushing to help someone in need.

  • This mindset shift reduces anger and makes you happier- without changing the world, just how you see it.

In case you missed it

SpaceX Starship rocket explodes in setback to Musk's Mars mission

• SpaceX's massive Starship spacecraft exploded into a dramatic fireball during testing in Texas late on Wednesday.

• The explosion occurred around 11 p.m. local time while Starship was on a test stand at its Brownsville, Texas Starbase.

• All personnel are safe, as reported by SpaceX.

• The Starship rocket appeared to experience at least two explosions in quick succession, lighting up the night sky and sending debris flying, according to video capturing the moment it exploded.

Pingkerly speaking…

“Rate your experience!”

If we open one more app and get blasted with “rate your experience!” before we’ve even had an experience… we’re rating it 1 star out of pure spite.

Let us breathe, scroll, maybe regret our life choices a little- then we’ll think about stars.

🤣 Joke of the Week

When it’s finally your turn to be an adult, and suddenly the economy starts getting worse

⏩ Looking Forward

What’s happening this upcoming week?

• VidCon 2025 is still rolling at the Anaheim Convention Center through Sunday, June 22- perfect for creators and fans alike!

• International Symposium on Global Justice & Solidarity is taking place place June 23-24 in South Africa, with Vatican backing for speakers to advance global equity!

• FIFA Club World Cup is in Nashville at Geodis Park June 20–26, featuring top clubs like LAFC & Boca Juniors

😤 Breathe.

Quick fun fact.

Did you know? When you breathe, you don’t breath in air… technically. When you breathe, you’re actually breathing in 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. 

This week’s newsletter is brought to you by The Real Gryphon

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That’s it for this week!

Thanks for reading this week’s Pingker Newsletter. [Insert some more stuff]

-The Pingker Team

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📄 Disclaimers by Section

Pingker is committed to delivering accurate, timely, and engaging content that informs and inspires. We value your trust and strive to serve our community with integrity and care. Please read the disclaimers below to better understand the nature of the content in each section.

🧠 Breaking News Disclaimer
This section highlights political and tech news that’s developing quickly. While we strive for accuracy and clarity, some details may shift as events unfold. We present the facts as they’re available at the time of writing, along with notable statements from public figures. Always consult official sources for the latest updates if you’re acting on this info.

📡 Week in Tech Disclaimer
This section includes summaries and snapshots of emerging tech, products, and industry trends. Some items are based on early reports, leaks, or beta releases- so things may change. We highlight what’s interesting, not what’s final. Always confirm with original sources before quoting or sharing as fact.

🌐 Around the Web Disclaimer
This section surfaces weird, delightful, or thought-provoking corners of the internet. Some of it’s based on internet lore, personal anecdotes, or user-generated content- so don’t expect peer-reviewed facts. We’re sharing curiosity, not certainties.

🌍 World Culture Disclaimer
The ideas in this section are meant to stretch your thinking- not claim secret truths. They’re observations and reframes meant to explore how history, power, and culture shape the world we live in. Some points may sound bold or unconventional, but they’re here to inspire curiosity and reflection- not conspiracy or ideology. As always, question everything, think for yourself, and dig deeper.

🤔 Life Hacks Disclaimer
These tips are meant to be helpful, surprising, or just plain fun. They're not medical, legal, or professional advice. Some hacks may work for you, others won’t- and that’s okay. Try what resonates, ignore the rest, and don’t sue us if your to-do list still doesn’t get done.