Ticktock, TikTok?

Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY
·4 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

The House approved a bill that would force TikTok's parent company to sell or be banned. A new poll shows Joe Biden and Donald Trump in a practical dead heat for the White House. The Iditarod dog sled race is under scrutiny again after the deaths of multiple dogs.

👋 Hey, hey! Laura Davis here, writing from Denver, Colorado, and wondering if we’ll be getting a whole foot of snow tomorrow. I've got a pot of chili going, just in case. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods! Here's Wednesday's news.

But first: 500 pounds of snakes. 🐍 A massive nest of pythons was discovered in Southwest Florida. See the pics (if you dare).

Could time be running out for TikTok? 

The House approved a bill Wednesday that would force TikTok’s parent company to sell the social media app or face a practical ban in the U.S. President Joe Biden has said he would sign it if it makes it to his desk, but the legislation’s fate is uncertain in the Senate, where the bill has proved much more divisive. The bill cleared the House with strong bipartisan support.

Why the concern? The legislation’s proponents argue the app, immensely popular with teens and young people, poses national security risks. TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing and may expose American user data to Chinese government surveillance. 📲 Here's what to know.

Protesters gathered outside of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as the House approved a bill aimed at forcing TikTok’s parent company to sell the app.
Protesters gathered outside of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as the House approved a bill aimed at forcing TikTok’s parent company to sell the app.

Exclusive poll shows tight presidential race

Donald Trump edged Joe Biden 40%-38% in an exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll, a near-tie in a fluid electorate as the candidates head out of the starting gate. The first USA TODAY survey since the two contenders effectively clinched their presidential nominations found a significant group of voters who were unhappy with their options and open to being persuaded, ingredients for a turbulent campaign ahead.

Good news for Biden? An increasing number of Americans said the economy is in recovery, the rosiest assessment of where it stands since the early days of his presidency.

On the other hand: Nick Garcia, 40, a mechanic from Cadiz, Kentucky, who plans to vote for Trump, blamed Biden for the downturn he sees. "I think it's just struggling to hang on," he said of the economy. "When Trump was in office, I was doing really good."

Don't bet the farm yet: With nearly eight months until Election Day, 1 in 4 of those surveyed said they might change their minds before November. 📊 Here's a closer look at the poll results.

🗳️📱 Text with USA TODAY politics: Elections news right on your phone. Text 301-888-6791 to sign up.

Real quick

Support the Short List and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

1,000-mile Iditarod marred by 3 sled dog deaths

Alaska’s annual Iditarod dog sled race ended with a victory for the ages: One of the biggest names in the sport came from behind after a moose attack to win the grueling contest for an unprecedented sixth time, in nine days, two hours, 16 minutes and 8 seconds.

Shut it down? Dallas Seavey’s record-setting win late Tuesday was overshadowed by the deaths of three dogs in this year’s storied endurance race across the Alaska wilderness, ending a five-year streak without a dog death and renewing calls from an animal rights group to shut down the race once and for all. A fourth dog, one of Seavey’s, was severely injured by a moose on the trail. 🐾 The controversy at this year's race.

Dogs in Riley Dyche's team mush along during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race on March 2 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Dogs in Riley Dyche's team mush along during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race on March 2 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Israeli strike kills aid worker, damages relief center

At least one humanitarian aid worker was killed and 22 others were injured when Israeli forces struck an aid distribution center in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, U.N. officials said Wednesday.

🗣️ What they're saying: “Today’s attack on one of the very few remaining UNRWA distribution centers in the Gaza Strip comes as food supplies are running out, hunger is widespread and, in some areas, turning into famine," said Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians, who added that the Israeli army was provided with coordinates of the facility a day earlier so it would not be hit. 📍 More updates from the conflict.

A Lebanese army officer stands next to a car destroyed in a drone strike that killed a Hamas leader in the southern outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon, on Wednesday.
A Lebanese army officer stands next to a car destroyed in a drone strike that killed a Hamas leader in the southern outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com.  Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok ban bill, Iditarod, 2024 election: Wednesday's news