The law forcing TikTok's sale or ban, from Congress to the 2025 deal

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

24% left · 65% center · 11% right of 434 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 84 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. February 2024

   Feb 12– 16Americans divided on TikTok ban even as Biden campaign joins the app, AP-NORC poll shows53 articles · 36 independent sources

   6 left, 11 center, 8 right
2. Feb 12Biden's campaign joins TikTok, even as administration warns of national security concerns with app8 articles · 6 independent sources

   2 left, 1 center, 2 right

3. March 2024

   Mar 5– 6US lawmakers push for TikTok to cut ByteDance ties or face ban9 articles · 7 independent sources

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4. Mar 6– 8House panel unanimously approves bill that could ban TikTok51 articles · 32 independent sources

   3 left, 16 center, 5 right
5. Mar 6– 9Biden says he’ll sign bill that could ban TikTok if Congress passes it20 articles · 17 independent sources

   5 left, 5 center, 4 right
6. Mar 7– 12House Republicans move ahead with TikTok vote even as Trump voices opposition to possible ban27 articles · 21 independent sources

   4 left, 8 center, 5 right
7. Mar 7– 13Everything You Need to Know About the Proposed TikTok Ban79 articles · 49 independent sources

   14 left, 22 center, 5 right
8. Mar 8– 11Trump Says TikTok Ban Could Make Facebook Bigger—Slams Meta As ‘Enemy Of The People’25 articles · 19 independent sources

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9. Mar 12– 15What a TikTok ban would look like for users30 articles · 19 independent sources

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10. Mar 12– 15House passes ban of TikTok227 articles · 103 independent sources

    25 left, 38 center, 18 right
11. Mar 12– 15US lawmakers see TikTok as China’s tool, even as it distances itself from Beijing23 articles · 20 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 4 right
12. Mar 12– 13US House poised to pass TikTok crackdown bill forcing it to cut ties with Chinese owner5 articles · 4 independent sources

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13. Mar 14– 16Mnuchin’s interest in TikTok and distressed NY bank echoes his pre-Trump investment playbook69 articles · 50 independent sources

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14. Mar 15– 18A U.S. congressman takes to TikTok to apologize about voting to ban TikTok8 articles · 8 independent sources

    3 left, 2 center, 1 right
15. Mar 25TikTok bill faces uncertain fate in the Senate as legislation to regulate tech industry has stalled29 articles · 22 independent sources

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16. April 2024

    Apr 9Sen. McConnell backs TikTok bill, Pence worries it’ll get lost amid ‘the fog of presidential politics’5 articles · 5 independent sources

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17. Apr 17– 18China lobbying members of Congress against TikTok divestment bill7 articles · 7 independent sources

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18. Apr 18– 20House approves sell-or-be-banned TikTok measure, attaching it to foreign aid bill16 articles · 13 independent sources

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19. Apr 18– 24Potential TikTok ban, $95B foreign aid bill approved by Senate34 articles · 23 independent sources

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20. Apr 18– 21The House votes for possible TikTok ban in the US, but don't expect the app to go away anytime soon - The Daily Reporter67 articles · 41 independent sources

    8 left, 13 center, 6 right
21. Apr 18– 24Congress seems poised to pass potential TikTok ban in US. How would it work?60 articles · 40 independent sources

    7 left, 15 center, 7 right
22. Apr 21– 26These are the countries where TikTok is already banned74 articles · 45 independent sources

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23. Apr 22– 23Trump's Partisan Spin on TikTok6 articles · 6 independent sources

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24. Apr 23– 25Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with Big Bipartisan Vote148 articles · 74 independent sources

    14 left, 23 center, 13 right
25. Apr 24Biden signs Israel, Ukraine, TikTok bill into law5 articles · 3 independent sources

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26. Apr 24– 26Who could buy TikTok?139 articles · 70 independent sources

    13 left, 25 center, 7 right
27. Apr 24– 25The TikTok law kicks off a new showdown between Beijing and Washington. What's coming next?10 articles · 8 independent sources

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28. May 2024

    May 7– 8TikTok sued the U.S. government to block a ban. Here's what happens now111 articles · 70 independent sources

    12 left, 24 center, 12 right
29. May 14– 15TikTok content creators sue the U.S. government over law that could ban the popular platform40 articles · 25 independent sources

    5 left, 7 center, 3 right
30. May 15Billionaire Frank McCourt says he’s putting together a consortium to buy TikTok11 articles · 10 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 2 right

31. June 2024

    Jun 2– 3Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok, has now joined TikTok33 articles · 31 independent sources

    9 left, 9 center, 6 right
32. Jun 20TikTok asks for ban to be overturned, calling it a5 articles · 4 independent sources

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33. Jun 24– 25Oracle warns that a TikTok ban would hurt business6 articles · 5 independent sources

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34. July 2024

    Jul 27– 28Justice Department says TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun control47 articles · 38 independent sources

    5 left, 8 center, 3 right

35. September 2024

    Sep 16– 17TikTok, US battle over potential ban50 articles · 34 independent sources

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36. December 2024

    Dec 6– 7Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US124 articles · 75 independent sources

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37. Dec 9– 16TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's sold54 articles · 36 independent sources

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38. Dec 13Apple and Google instructed by House committee to prepare to dump TikTok next month10 articles · 7 independent sources

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39. Dec 14– 19Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments over TikTok ban128 articles · 74 independent sources

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40. Dec 16– 17Trump meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at Mar-a-Lago15 articles · 11 independent sources

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41. Dec 27– 28Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office63 articles · 42 independent sources

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42. Dec 28– Jan 4DOJ calls on Supreme Court to deny Trump’s request to delay TikTok ban32 articles · 26 independent sources

    4 left, 9 center, 2 right

43. January 2025

    Jan 5– 6TikTok creators left in limbo while awaiting decision on potential platform ban27 articles · 17 independent sources

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44. Jan 9TikTok's fate arrives at Supreme Court in collision of free speech and national security16 articles · 12 independent sources

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45. Jan 9– 11Justices hear arguments on TikTok ban153 articles · 65 independent sources

    12 left, 28 center, 9 right
46. Jan 10– 17These lawmakers actively use TikTok even after voting to ban it60 articles · 33 independent sources

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47. Jan 11– 14TikTok ban would be delayed under proposal by Massachusetts senator7 articles · 5 independent sources

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48. Jan 11– 18TikTok ban upheld by US Supreme Court224 articles · 123 independent sources

    22 left, 39 center, 25 right
49. Jan 12– 19What Time Will The TikTok Ban Start In The U.S.? Here’s What Could Happen49 articles · 24 independent sources

    5 left, 12 center, 1 right
50. Jan 13– 14US TikTok users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest with TikTok ban looming30 articles · 23 independent sources

    5 left, 6 center, 2 right
51. Jan 14China considers selling TikTok U.S. operations to Musk, Bloomberg reports36 articles · 27 independent sources

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52. Jan 14– 18‘Red Note,’ a Chinese app, is dominating downloads, thanks to TikTok users.68 articles · 37 independent sources

    14 left, 14 center, 4 right
53. Jan 14– 16TikTok ban latest: Trump is exploring ways to ‘preserve’ app, adviser says34 articles · 22 independent sources

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54. Jan 15– 18TikTok says it will go dark on Sunday without additional assurances from the Biden administration on ban enforcement44 articles · 27 independent sources

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55. Jan 16– 22Trump issues an executive order to suspend the US TikTok ban. But can it stick?99 articles · 55 independent sources

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56. Jan 16– 17Biden won't enforce TikTok ban, official says, leaving fate of app to Trump48 articles · 26 independent sources

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57. Jan 16TikTok CEO Shou Chew expected to attend Trump's inauguration with other tech leaders13 articles · 11 independent sources

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58. Jan 18Perplexity AI makes a bid to merge with TikTok U.S.8 articles · 4 independent sources

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59. Jan 18– 20Content creators respond to TikTok's uncertain future in the US19 articles · 14 independent sources

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60. Jan 19– 20TikTok restores service for US users based on Trump's promised executive order197 articles · 88 independent sources

    18 left, 35 center, 9 right
61. Jan 21– 22Trump says he's open to TikTok sale to Elon Musk or Larry Ellison11 articles · 8 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 4 right
62. Jan 22MrBeast not quite in the bidding race for TikTok just yet, rep says12 articles · 6 independent sources

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63. Jan 25– 26Trump’s White House in talks to have Oracle, US investors take over TikTok7 articles · 6 independent sources

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64. Jan 26– 27Latest on TikTok bid could involve 50% government stake28 articles · 21 independent sources

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65. Jan 28Trump says Microsoft in talks to acquire TikTok31 articles · 18 independent sources

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66. February 2025

    Feb 3– 4Trump signs order to create sovereign wealth fund in United States, possibly to buy TikTok33 articles · 24 independent sources

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67. Feb 3– 4Executive order would establish US sovereign wealth fund8 articles · 8 independent sources

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68. Feb 14TikTok returns to Apple, Google app stores in U.S.80 articles · 46 independent sources

    9 left, 12 center, 3 right

69. March 2025

    Mar 6– 10Trump says US in talks with four groups over TikTok sale9 articles · 7 independent sources

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70. Mar 31– Apr 7Trump says China would approve TikTok deal in '15 minutes' if he cut tariffs103 articles · 64 independent sources

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71. Mar 31– Apr 2Trump to review potential deals for TikTok on Wednesday28 articles · 20 independent sources

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72. April 2025

    Apr 2Why no one is challenging Trump's executive order that keeps TikTok running8 articles · 8 independent sources

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73. Apr 2– 3Amazon's last-minute bid for TikTok comes as a US ban on the platform is set to take effect Saturday47 articles · 36 independent sources

    7 left, 12 center, 3 right

74. May 2025

    May 4– 5Trump says he would extend TikTok deadline if no deal reached by June 1913 articles · 13 independent sources

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75. June 2025

    Jun 17– 20President Trump extends TikTok ban deadline amid legal questions29 articles · 15 independent sources

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76. Jun 29– 30Trump says he has a TikTok buyer. Here are the players who have been vying to buy the app23 articles · 16 independent sources

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77. July 2025

    Jul 6– 7TikTok reportedly prepping new app in the U.S. as potential sale looms8 articles · 8 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 2 right

78. August 2025

    Aug 20– 21The White House Just Joined TikTok, Five Years After Trump First Tried To Ban It22 articles · 19 independent sources

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79. Aug 22Trump says he’ll keep extending TikTok shutdown deadline15 articles · 9 independent sources

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80. September 2025

    Sep 21– 22Trump reveals Murdochs and Dell could potentially take part in TikTok deal40 articles · 26 independent sources

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81. Sep 22– 23White House says Oracle will manage TikTok for US users under proposed deal34 articles · 24 independent sources

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82. December 2025

    Dec 19TikTok signs deal to sell US unit to 3 investors, including this Bay Area company57 articles · 43 independent sources

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83. January 2026

    Jan 23TikTok finalizes deal to form new American entity47 articles · 32 independent sources

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84. July 2026

    Jul 18– 20The U.S. Government Banned TikTok. Now It’s Back6 articles · 6 independent sources

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