Mark Zuckerberg says he's done apologizing

On a Tuesday evening, the Chase Center in San Francisco was filled with fans not for a basketball game, but to hear Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speak with Acquired podcast hosts David Rosenthal and Ben Gilbert. During the conversation, Zuckerberg humorously declared that he was done apologizing, referencing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's earlier comments on the same podcast. This remark highlighted Zuckerberg's recent rebranding efforts, which include a more casual appearance and a focus on personal interests like cattle ranching in Hawaii. Zuckerberg reflected on his past mistakes, particularly a significant political miscalculation he described as a '20-year mistake.' He acknowledged that he had taken too much responsibility for issues beyond Facebook's control, especially regarding foreign interference in elections. This miscalculation led to extensive negative press and his testimony before Congress following the 2016 election. In a notable shift, Zuckerberg mentioned that he has found a better balance on political matters. He previously apologized to House Republicans for censoring COVID-19 misinformation and indicated he would resist similar pressures in the future. Additionally, he announced the removal of restrictions on Donald Trump's social media accounts, which had been imposed after the January 6 insurrection. Zuckerberg expressed enthusiasm for projects beyond social media, emphasizing that Meta is fundamentally about human connection. When questioned about the company's name change to Meta, he affirmed that it was a good choice, signaling a commitment to the metaverse while acknowledging the ongoing significance of Meta's social media platforms.