The New York Times

Threads turns 3, tests save button and party hat

Threads marked its third birthday with several user-facing surprises: an unofficial in-feed save/bookmark button seen by some users, the return of the birthday "party hat" profile badge, and small Easter eggs such as a confetti animation tied to certain Topics. The save button (reported by a Threads user) appears beside like, comment, repost and share icons and is rolling out to a subset of users; Threads has not officially confirmed the test. The party-hat badge is being enabled server-side and can be toggled in profile settings until July 8, 2026. The article notes Threads hit 500 million monthly active users in June and is evolving into a community-focused network, a trend also observed by the New York Times.

Companies Sponsor Trump’s Freedom 250 Amid Government Business

A CNBC analysis found 14 companies listed as sponsors of both America250, the congressionally created semiquincentennial nonprofit, and Freedom 250, the Trump-backed public‑private effort running high‑profile 250th anniversary events in Washington. Sponsors named include major defense and technology contractors and corporations with active business before the federal government. Watchdogs and House Democrats raised concerns that tiered sponsorship benefits documented in fundraising materials—ranging from VIP access to private receptions and speaking roles—could create access to the president for companies with regulatory, contracting or merger interests. CNBC found no direct evidence linking sponsorships to government decisions. The article highlights operational problems at the Great American State Fair, sponsorship opacity, and reporting that the Trump-aligned effort has received substantially more 250th‑related funding through grants than America250.

States Target 'Surveillance Pricing' for Subscriptions

U.S. lawmakers and regulators are moving to curb so‑called “surveillance pricing,” the practice of using personal data to set individualized subscription prices. A June 11 class action accuses The Washington Post of collecting reader data to offer renewal prices between $60 and $170 without disclosure. New York’s legislature passed the One Fair Price Act on June 4 — which, if signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, would broadly prohibit using personally identifiable data (first- or third-party) to set prices and require disclosures for frequent dynamic pricing — joining Maryland and Connecticut, which passed similar laws earlier in the year. The FTC has been targeting surveillance/algorithmic pricing since 2024. Industry lawyers, publishers and trade groups disagree on the impact and scope; the bill allows uniform bona fide discounts and category-based promotions but threatens civil penalties for violations.