News/Politics
“Adapt to AI or lose”: GOP uses deepfake video of Chuck Schumer in new attack ad
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has released an attack ad featuring a deepfake video of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, marking a new escalation in the use of AI-generated content for political campaigns. The synthetic video shows an artificial version of Schumer robotically repeating "every day gets better for us" in reference to the ongoing government shutdown, despite the quote being from a real interview where Schumer was discussing Democratic strategy. What you should know: The deepfake represents the GOP's latest venture into AI-generated political content, following similar moves by Donald Trump. The video was posted to the Senate Republicans'...
read Oct 14, 2025OpenAI research shows ChatGPT reduces political bias if not inaccuracy
OpenAI has released a new research paper revealing its efforts to reduce political "bias" in ChatGPT, but the company's approach focuses more on preventing the AI from validating users' political views than on achieving true objectivity. The research shows that OpenAI's latest GPT-5 models demonstrate 30 percent less bias than previous versions, with less than 0.01 percent of production responses showing signs of political bias according to the company's measurements. What you should know: OpenAI's definition of "bias" centers on behavioral modification rather than factual accuracy or truth-seeking. The company measures five specific behaviors: personal political expression, user escalation, asymmetric...
read Oct 14, 2025Democrats, Republicans on same page as data centers become bipartisan political target
Local and state candidates across both parties are increasingly targeting data centers as a key campaign issue, blaming them for rising electricity bills as AI investments drive massive energy demands. The bipartisan backlash is particularly intense in Virginia's suburbs, where voters are becoming single-issue opponents of data center expansion despite the industry's economic benefits. The big picture: Data centers have become an unexpected political lightning rod, uniting Republicans and Democrats in opposition to what they see as corporate freeloading on local energy infrastructure. In Prince William County, Virginia, both Republican Patrick Harders and Democrat George Stewart agreed to block future...
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Maryland lawmakers prepare AI regulation bills targeting housing, employment
Maryland lawmakers are set to consider multiple AI regulation bills during the January legislative session, addressing concerns about misuse in industries, privacy violations, and misinformation. The proposed legislation reflects growing recognition that artificial intelligence requires comprehensive oversight, with state officials comparing its transformative potential to electricity while acknowledging similar risks. What you should know: Maryland's General Assembly will weigh several AI-focused bills covering education, employment screening, and consumer protection. State Del. Caylin Young, a Baltimore Democrat, views AI as "transformational" and comparable to "the wheel, like electricity, like the computer and the semiconductor." Young's proposed education bill would require the...
read Oct 9, 2025Hard hats over hard tech: Sanders proposes robot tax as AI threatens 100M US jobs
Bernie Sanders has proposed a "robot tax" on corporations to address potential job displacement from AI automation, warning that artificial intelligence could eliminate nearly 100 million US jobs within a decade. The Vermont senator's plan would redistribute wealth created by AI technologies back to affected workers, addressing what he sees as a growing productivity-wage gap that has left American workers behind despite massive corporate profit increases. What you should know: Sanders' report outlines a dire scenario where AI automation could devastate employment while corporations pocket the benefits. The report warns that "AI and automation could destroy nearly 100 million US...
read Oct 7, 2025Not all GOP are gung-ho on AI: Florida’s DeSantis pushes insurance regulation, industry resists
Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing for AI regulation in Florida despite insurance industry lobbyists arguing that existing state laws already adequately govern artificial intelligence use in their sector. The debate highlights a growing tension between proactive AI oversight and industry claims that current regulatory frameworks are sufficient to manage emerging technologies. What you should know: Insurance industry representatives told a Florida House subcommittee that AI tools are already subject to the same legal standards as human decision-makers. "Any decision made or any action taken by an insurance company, be it by a person, a human, an AI platform, all of...
read Oct 7, 2025White House unveils AI action plan prioritizing innovation over regulation
The White House has released an artificial intelligence "action plan" that consolidates pro-innovation executive orders issued since January 2025, explicitly prioritizing American AI superiority through deregulation and reduced oversight. The plan represents a significant departure from the Biden administration's approach, which emphasized bias reduction and regulatory safeguards, instead favoring rapid private-sector development and market-driven innovation. The big picture: The action plan is built around three strategic pillars designed to maintain America's competitive edge in AI development. Accelerating AI innovation focuses on removing regulatory barriers, promoting open-source AI development, and expanding workforce training programs. Building American AI infrastructure targets energy systems,...
read Oct 6, 2025Sen. Chuck Grassley demands answers from federal judges over AI court ruling errors
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is demanding answers from two federal judges about whether they used artificial intelligence to draft court rulings that contained serious errors. The Republican senator from Iowa sent letters Monday to judges who withdrew flawed orders in July, marking the first high-profile congressional inquiry into potential AI misuse by the federal judiciary itself. What you should know: Grassley targeted U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals in New Jersey and U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate in Mississippi, both of whom withdrew written rulings after lawyers identified factual inaccuracies and other serious errors.• The senator asked...
read Oct 3, 2025Cuomo faces backlash for AI-generated mayoral ad in NYC race
Not all new tech is wielded most vociferously by the young. Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign launched an AI-generated advertisement showing the former New York governor performing various New York jobs, including driving the subway and washing windows. The ad drew sharp criticism from opponent Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman, who mocked Cuomo for using artificial intelligence instead of hiring local talent in a city full of world-class artists and production crews. The big picture: This marks another instance of Cuomo relying on AI technology for campaign materials, following earlier embarrassment when his housing plan showed clear signs of being produced...
read Sep 30, 20252 Southern Republican governors and a Midwestern one embrace AI data centers as revenue jackpot
Three Republican governors from Southern states embraced artificial intelligence data centers as economic game-changers while rejecting government subsidies for clean energy during a panel at the Southern States Energy Board conference. The governors of Mississippi, Georgia, and Missouri advocated for market-driven energy solutions as Southern states compete to attract AI data center investments that could generate substantial tax revenues and transform rural economies. What you should know: Southern states are aggressively pursuing AI data center investments as major tech companies expand their infrastructure footprint. Meta announced a $1.5 billion investment in a 1.3 million square foot data center in Montgomery,...
read Sep 29, 2025e-LOPE: Ohio Republican introduces bill that would ban humans from marrying AI
Ohio state Representative Thad Claggett has introduced legislation that would ban humans from marrying artificial intelligence systems and strip AI of any legal personhood status. The Republican lawmaker's House Bill 469, filed September 25, aims to establish clear legal boundaries as AI technology advances and sparks nationwide debates about the relationship between humans and machines. What you should know: The proposed law would explicitly classify AI systems as nonsentient and block them from gaining human-like legal rights. House Bill 469 would prohibit AI systems from being recognized as spouses, owning real estate, controlling intellectual property, or holding financial accounts. The...
read Sep 29, 2025California AI chatbot safety bills are up against Newsom’s mid-October deadline
California Governor Gavin Newsom faces a mid-October deadline to decide whether to sign two AI chatbot safety bills into law, amid intense opposition from tech companies who argue the restrictions would stifle innovation. The legislation comes as parents whose teenagers died by suicide have sued major AI companies including OpenAI and Character.AI, alleging their chatbots encouraged self-harm and failed to provide adequate mental health safeguards. What you should know: Two bills targeting AI chatbot safety have reached Newsom's desk after passing the California legislature, despite aggressive lobbying from the tech industry. Assembly Bill 1064 would bar companies from making companion...
read Sep 29, 2025Trump embraces outlandish AI-generated portraits as White House communication strategy
President Donald Trump's administration has embraced AI-generated imagery as a core communication strategy, with Trump and his team regularly posting artificial portraits depicting him in fantastical scenarios—from a Star Wars Jedi to the Pope. This marks a significant shift in presidential communication, leveraging AI's viral potential to capture attention and drive engagement across social media platforms, with the administration's official accounts gaining over 16 million new followers since Inauguration Day. What you should know: Trump's AI portraits consistently portray him in heroic or powerful roles, ranging from religious figures to fictional characters. The images include Trump as Pope Francis, a...
read Sep 26, 2025Former Texas governor Rick Perry’s data center startup eyes $13B IPO amid AI boom
Rick Perry's data center company Fermi America is preparing to go public at a valuation of up to $13 billion, positioning the former Texas governor and Trump energy secretary to earn hundreds of millions from his 3% stake. The company, founded just this year, plans to build the world's largest private electric grid and data center complex in Texas, named after President Trump and powered by nuclear, natural gas, wind, and solar energy. What you should know: Fermi America aims to raise up to $550 million through its IPO, with shares expected to list between $18-$22 on both Nasdaq and...
read Sep 25, 2025MIT study shows AI models behave like swayable voters during elections
A groundbreaking study from MIT and Stanford researchers tracked 11 major AI language models—including GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini—throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, revealing that these systems behaved more like swayable voters than neutral information sources. The findings expose how AI models can shift their responses based on real-world events, demographic prompts, and public narratives, raising significant concerns about their reliability and potential influence on democratic processes. What you should know: The study conducted over 12,000 structured queries between July and November 2024, marking the first rigorous examination of how AI models behave during a live democratic event. Models demonstrated measurable...
read Sep 25, 2025Senators probe Big Tech over H-1B hiring amid US layoffs
Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin are demanding answers from Amazon, Meta, Apple, Google, and Microsoft over allegations that these companies laid off American workers while simultaneously hiring thousands of foreign H-1B visa holders at potentially lower wages. The bipartisan inquiry comes as President Trump has imposed a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, fundamentally reshaping how tech companies access foreign talent. What you should know: Amazon faces the heaviest scrutiny for allegedly blaming AI adoption for massive layoffs while hiring over 10,000 H-1B workers. Amazon sponsored the most H-1B visas in 2024 at 14,000, compared to Microsoft and...
read Sep 25, 2025Americans left and right want child protection over AI innovation by 9-to-1 margin, reveals poll
A new YouGov poll reveals overwhelming bipartisan support among Americans for prioritizing child protection over tech industry growth in AI policy, with voters supporting protective measures by a 9-to-1 margin. The findings expose a stark disconnect between public sentiment and ongoing Republican divisions in Congress, where lawmakers remain split between promoting AI innovation and implementing stronger regulations. The big picture: Americans across all age groups, income levels, and political affiliations want Congress to focus on safeguarding children from AI-related harm before fostering tech industry growth. 89% of Trump voters and 95% of Harris voters agree that Congress should prioritize safeguards...
read Sep 23, 2025Melania Trump launches children’s AI safety coalition at UN amid Ukraine crisis
Melania Trump announced a new coalition focused on children's well-being and AI safety during a reception for world leaders' spouses at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska attended the event hoping to secure Trump's support for raising awareness about thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the ongoing war. What you should know: Trump's four-minute appearance marked the launch of her "Fostering the Future Together" initiative, aimed at protecting children through technology safeguards.• The first lady, wearing an off-white Dolce & Gabbana cashmere pantsuit, called on leaders to help impose safeguards on new technology...
read Sep 23, 2025Meta invests tens of millions in super PAC targeting state AI laws
Meta is launching a national super PAC called the American Technology Excellence Project to combat state-level AI regulation across the United States. The company is investing "tens of millions" of dollars into the effort, which aims to elect pro-AI candidates from both parties who will champion American technology leadership and resist what Meta considers "onerous" AI restrictions. Why this matters: With over 1,000 state-level AI policy proposals introduced this year, Meta views excessive regulation as a threat to America's competitive position against China in the global AI race. How it works: The super PAC will target state elections to support...
read Sep 19, 2025Ex-Andreessen Horowitz leader replaces Musk’s DOGE with relatively gentle federal job cuts
Scott Kupor, former managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, has been sworn in as director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where he's now overseeing the Trump administration's plan to eliminate 300,000 federal jobs by the end of 2025. Taking over after Elon Musk's chaotic DOGE initiative effectively disbanded, Kupor represents a more diplomatic approach to federal workforce reduction—though the scale of cuts remains just as ambitious. What you should know: Kupor expects to cut 300,000 federal roles by the end of 2025, with approximately 50,000 positions already eliminated through resignations, early retirement, and buyouts rather than layoffs. DOGE "as...
read Sep 18, 2025Michigan Republicans propose a ban on VPN usage statewide, restricting adult manga and more
Michigan Republicans have proposed sweeping legislation that would ban not only adult online content but also prohibit all VPN usage throughout the state. The Anticorruption of Public Morals Act represents one of the most comprehensive internet restriction bills in the U.S., targeting everything from AI-generated content to manga and potentially criminalizing privacy tools that millions of Americans use daily. What you should know: The bill goes far beyond typical content restrictions, creating a framework that could fundamentally alter internet access in Michigan. Six Republican representatives introduced the legislation on September 11, seeking to ban adult content ranging from ASMR and...
read Sep 17, 2025Anthropic refuses federal surveillance requests, sparking White House tensions
Anthropic has clashed with the Trump administration over its refusal to allow federal law enforcement agencies to use its AI models for surveillance activities, creating tensions as the company conducts a high-profile media tour in Washington. The dispute highlights growing friction between AI safety advocates and the Republican administration, which expects American AI companies to support government operations without restrictions. What you should know: Anthropic declined requests from federal contractors because its usage policies prohibit surveillance activities, affecting agencies like the FBI, Secret Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The company's Claude models are sometimes the only top-tier AI systems...
read Sep 17, 2025Meta launches $10M+ super PAC to influence AI politics in California
Meta has created its own California-focused super PAC called "Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California," allowing Mark Zuckerberg to spend unlimited corporate funds on political campaigns supporting the company's AI interests. This unprecedented move gives Zuckerberg essentially personal control over a corporate super PAC, enabling Meta to spend tens of millions defending its priorities in the heart of the tech industry—potentially even against AI-friendly candidates who might favor competitors. What you should know: Meta's super PAC represents an unusually direct corporate political intervention, distinct from typical industry coalitions. Campaign finance experts tell The Verge that companies rarely create their own...
read Sep 12, 2025Anthropic moves on inner circle, doubles DC workforce as AI policy chief warns of massive change ahead
Anthropic is planning a major Washington D.C. expansion, doubling its employee count and opening an official office by 2026 to prepare lawmakers for AI's accelerating impact on American industries. The company's head of policy Jack Clark warns that current AI developments are "small potatoes compared to where it'll be in a year," positioning this as a critical moment for policymaker education ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election. Why it matters: Anthropic believes AI is moving too fast for policymakers to keep up, with Clark describing the challenge of communicating exponential technological change as "almost without precedent." Clark...
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