Ted Cruz tries to slam Mark Hamill on net neutrality, probably wishes he hadn't


On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission voted along party lines to scrap net neutrality rules, allowing broadband internet providers to treat traffic to websites differently (choke certain sites, speed up others), and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai released a self-consciously geeky video through The Daily Caller in which he claimed to "restore internet freedom" by, among other things, dancing with a light saber. Mark Hamill, who knows some stuff about light sabers, was not amused, and said so.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) jumped in, trying to explain Star Wars to Luke Skywalker with a condescending tweet that presupposes people hate Google and Netflix but love Comcast and Time Warner/Spectrum.
And, well, yeah.
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"Smarm-splaining" — the neologisms are strong with this one (even if the spelling isn't). You can decide who won that spat — the iconic actor with a hit movie in theaters or the unpopular senator — and read more about what net neutrality (or lack thereof) actually means for you from The Week's Jeff Spross.
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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