this is Shades of the Day — bringing you different shades of opinion in news & culture so that you can see the big picture quickly. We believe that seeing multiple POVs is the best way to stay informed.

It’s Saturday, January 11 — here’s what you’ll find in today’s edition:

• The end of Pax Americana?

• Alcohol & cancer risk

• TikTok’s impending ban

• 6 quick hits of news from the last 24 hours

The end of Pax Americana?

In 2025, a Fox News Op says Pax Americana -- a period of relative peace in the world under U.S. influence -- is alive and well: The U.S. still leads with 26% of global GDP and excels in innovation, especially AI and space.

On the other hand, NDTV says Pax Americana is over. Biden killed it! His reactive foreign policies and key missteps abroad weakened America's global influence.

The Atlantic offered a different take: Sure, Pax Americana is over. But Trump's policies risk damaging democracy in the U.S. -- and around the world. He could make a bad trend worse.

On a different note, a WSJ Op argues the concept of Pax Americana is flawed: America's strength isn't in its politics. The country's values and social structure are what makes the U.S. a “beacon of hope”.

Alcohol & cancer risk

The Conversation says the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a new advisory on alcohol and cancer -- highlighting the risks of booze. It argued that alcohol consumption increases cancer risk, even at levels as low as one drink per day.

Read the advisory for yourself here.

CNN says the findings are serious: It identifies alcohol as the third-leading preventable cancer cause in the U.S., following tobacco and obesity.

Wait a minute, says a WSJ Op: Murthy's report is light on the evidence against moderate drinking. The real cancer risks come with alcohol abuse, not an occasional drink. The report's conclusions are misleading!

Still, MSNBC notes the report comes with suggestions for cancer warning labels on alcohol to educate consumers about its cancer risk -- a move that several medical experts already back.

TikTok’s impending ban

Wired says a US TikTok ban seems closer. The “Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Apps Act” could make TikTok's life harder by blocking updates, not your existing app.

CNN adds that the Supreme Court's decision may force ByteDance to sell TikTok by Jan 2025—or else face the ban. Existing US users can keep their app, though it could get clunky.

Cue CBS: President-elect Trump might delay the law’s enforcement. This way, the app might not completely fade out, even if the sale doesn’t come through.

AOL info clarifies: Selling TikTok's U.S. assets might be a simple way out of this tricky situation. Even as Trump might push the pause button, legal experts remain unsure about post-January 2025 steps.

Finally, Democraticunderground.com says some folks are sick of TikTok debates—they think banning due to ‘app content’ woes is clueless and out of touch.

1) Tom Holland’s father, comedian Dominic Holland, revealed new details about the actor’s proposal to Zendaya.

2) Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records related to the 2016 election but receives an unconditional discharge.

3) Massive wildfires in Los Angeles decimate communities, destroying over 12,000 structures and displacing thousands.

4) Severe snowstorm causes major disruptions in the southern U.S., with over 900 flights canceled, 220+ cars trapped, and 34,000 without power in Arkansas.

5) Rudy Giuliani held in contempt for continuing attacks on Georgia election workers after defamation loss.

6) ATL faced weather chaos: All runways briefly closed and 1,200 flights canceled due to storm disruptions.