Topic: political influence
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TikTok's Freedom Edition: What You Need to Know
A tentative agreement has been reached for the sale of TikTok's US operations to a consortium of investors, though final approval from the Chinese government is still pending, with the US government not holding a stake in the new entity. TikTok's value is seen in its user base and data by investo...
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Meta Forms Super PAC to Thwart AI Rivals in Political Arena
Meta has established its own state-level super PAC in California, funded solely by the company, to influence AI policy and elections using corporate funds. The initiative grants Mark Zuckerberg significant control over political spending, aiming to support candidates who favor AI development and ...
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Inside the Engine Room of the Internet: How Data Centers Work
Hyperscale technology companies like Meta and Google are driving explosive growth in data center infrastructure as a core competitive strategy, using their immense financial resources to build at a rapid pace and scale. The expansion of data centers faces a complex political landscape, with feder...
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NIH Director Joins MAHA, Replaced by JD Vance Ally
Richard Woychik is stepping down as director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to join the Make America Healthy Again movement, while his replacement, a close associate of Vice President JD Vance, was appointed through an irregular process, raising concerns about politica...
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The EV Tax Credit Is Gone: What's Next for Buyers?
The federal electric vehicle tax credit has expired, removing a key $7,500 incentive and likely causing a sales dip and higher effective prices for EVs. Prior to expiration, EV sales surged to a record high as consumers rushed to take advantage of the credit, which helped bridge the price gap wit...
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Karen Hao: The True Cost of AI's Empire and AGI Belief
The AI industry, led by OpenAI, is driven by the ideology of achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), which promises global benefits but operates with imperial-scale influence and power. Critics highlight significant costs, including environmental strain, ethical oversights, and social ha...
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NASA Chief Overhauls Moon Landing Strategy
NASA's acting administrator Sean Duffy announced that the 2027 crewed Moon landing goal is unachievable due to SpaceX's Starship delays, and he plans to broaden lunar lander competition to outpace China. Duffy is opening up the contract process to include companies like Blue Origin, moving beyond...
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NASA Chief Shakes Up Moon Landing Plans
NASA's acting administrator announced delays in the crewed Moon landing timeline, citing SpaceX's Starship setbacks and abandoning the 2027 target. The agency plans to foster competition by involving other companies like Blue Origin to accelerate lunar lander development and beat China to the Moo...
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Facebook Removes ICE-Tracking Page After U.S. Government Request
Meta removed a Facebook page tracking ICE activities in Chicago after a DOJ request, citing policy violations against coordinated harm, following similar actions by Apple and Google. The removal has sparked debate over potential government overreach and "jawboning," raising constitutional questio...
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Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao
President Donald Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, following his support for a Trump-affiliated crypto initiative and advocacy from the company. Zhao had previously received a four-month prison sentence and Binance paid a $4.3 billion fine for anti-money laundering failures a...
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Retina Implants Advance as Climate Change Alters Flowers
Amazon Web Services is restoring hundreds of applications after a significant outage, highlighting widespread reliance on cloud infrastructure for essential digital operations. OpenAI faced scrutiny for retracting a statement about a mathematical breakthrough, sparking debate on AI's realistic ca...
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How K-Pop Fans Fueled the U.S. TikTok Ban
K-pop fan communities and digital activism unexpectedly influenced U.S. political outcomes regarding TikTok's potential ban, with former President Trump proposing a transfer of control to allies instead of a shutdown. TikTok's grassroots origins and user-driven content have challenged power struc...
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Elon Musk Pressures Netflix to Drop Woke Content
Elon Musk has publicly canceled his Netflix subscription and urged others to do the same, criticizing the platform for including transgender characters in shows like *Dead End: Paranormal Park* and labeling the content as harmful for children. His actions are part of a broader movement by right-w...
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Larry Ellison's Global Ambition: TikTok's Role in His Empire
Larry Ellison has transitioned from a low-profile tech leader at Oracle to a dominant media titan, with Oracle providing foundational cloud and database services to major corporations. He has aggressively expanded his media empire through personal investments, debt settlements, and major acquisit...
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AI's Retraction Crisis: The Rise of Faulty Research
The reliability of AI research is under scrutiny due to a rise in retractions caused by faulty methodologies, irreproducible results, and data manipulation. Intense competition, pressure to publish quickly, and the complexity of AI models create incentives for overstating findings and hinder repl...
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California's AI Safety Law: Proving Innovation and Regulation Can Coexist
California's SB 53 mandates that major AI labs disclose safety protocols and adhere to security standards, particularly for catastrophic risks, enforced by the Office of Emergency Services. The law reinforces existing industry practices to uphold corporate safety commitments and prevent cutting c...
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AI Companionship Faces a Regulatory Crackdown
Regulatory scrutiny of AI companionship is intensifying in the U.S., with lawmakers focusing on safety and ethical concerns, especially for vulnerable users like minors. California has passed a pioneering bill requiring AI developers to notify minors of AI interactions, handle crisis conversation...
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Trump's YouTube Ballroom Deal: How He Made Them Pay
YouTube settled a $24.5 million lawsuit with Donald Trump and allied MAGA channels over alleged First Amendment violations, without admitting wrongdoing, despite legal experts deeming the case meritless. Trump directed $22 million of the settlement to fund a new White House ballroom project, with...
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Mark Cuban Would Still Dine With Donald Trump
Mark Cuban advocates for open AI development, arguing that rapid technological obsolescence makes secrecy counterproductive and that companies should share research freely. He emphasizes the urgency of accelerating AI development to maintain American competitiveness against China, while acknowled...
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Ted Cruz Bill Grants AI Firms 10-Year Self-Regulation Window
Senator Ted Cruz has proposed the SANDBOX Act, which would allow AI companies to operate with reduced federal oversight for up to ten years by granting them waivers from certain regulations. The bill includes provisions for automatic approval if agencies do not respond to waiver requests within 9...
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Toyota Invests $1.5 Billion in Mobility Startups
Toyota is investing $1.5 billion in mobility startups through two new funds to support innovation from early concepts to scalable businesses. The automotive industry saw a surge in EV sales before a key tax credit expired, with Tesla reporting record deliveries, but now faces challenges sustainin...
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Trump Delays TikTok Ban Again, Claims Deal With China to Sell US Operations
President Trump announced a tentative agreement to restructure TikTok's U.S. ownership, extending the divest-or-ban deadline to December 16. A consortium of U.S. investors would hold an 80% stake in TikTok's U.S. operations, with a U.S.-dominated board and Oracle managing user data for compliance...
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