Why is it so hard to persuade lawmakers to protect children online?

Published June 10, 2026 11:45am ET | Updated June 10, 2026 2:41pm ET



Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of Washington Secrets. Today, we hear from Rep. Erin Houchin about why it is so hard to protect children when they are online (spoiler alert: it’s Big Tech billionaires). And there’s good news (sort of) for Donald Trump: Voters don’t care much about the changes he is making to the White House.

No one is who they seem online. Adults pose as children. Kids pose as adults. Children are bullied by other kids, and creeps offer advice to vulnerable teens on suicide.

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