The Trump administration has been trying for months to ban AI regulations at the state level. And its latest gambit to roll such a measure into the congressional National Defense Authorization Act appears to have failed. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Tuesday that GOP leadership is now “looking at other places” to include that measure after reportedly facing pushback from both parties.
Plus, New York recently became the first state to enforce an AI law designed to protect consumers from "algorithmic pricing." And Amazon pulled back on AI dubbing for some international content after anime fans complained.
In the inaugural independent episode of "Getting Hammered," Vic and MK decide to bring back the show at least once a week this holiday season, with thanks to all you listeners who have stuck around during hiatus season. In the near future, we'll concoct some ways for you to support the show as we head toward the new year, whether it's premium content, subscriptions, or contributing to our holiday cocktail fund. In the meantime, you can help by subscribing, listening, reviewing, and spreading the word. Today, Vic and MK do a review of Thanksgiving health damage, Christmas traffic, and MK's kids destroying decor before diving into U.S. military attacks on alleged drug-trafficking boats near Venezuela, the law of the sea, Franklin memes, Aftyn Behn, midterm forecasts, special elections, and people who should not sing on stage, the Minnesota massive fraud story, and the drama, drama, drama of Lane Kiffin.
A Pentagon watchdog report and video of a deadly boat strike in the Caribbean deepen scrutiny of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions.
Federal agents arrested a Virginia man accused of planting the Jan. 6 pipe bombs after a years-long investigation that uncovered new forensic leads.
And the Supreme Court cleared Texas to use a Republican-drawn congressional map that could shift multiple House seats and reshape the 2026 midterms.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Anna Yukhananov, Ben Swasey, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from David Greenburg. And our technical director is Stacey Abbott.
Plus: Meta cuts spending on the metaverse, betting big on AI wearables instead. And stock markets gain ahead of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. Daniel Bach hosts.
Warning: This episode contains strong language and mentions of suicide.
Over the past year, the federal government has taken a series of actions widely seen as attacks on the First Amendment.
Greg Lukianoff, the head of a legal defense group called the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, speaks to Natalie Kitroeff about what free speech really means and why both the left and the right end up betraying it.
Guest: Greg Lukianoff, the president and chief executive of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
A grand jury has rejected a new indictment of New York’s attorney general, Letitia James. Over four years later an arrest has been made in connection with the pipe bombs placed outside the Republican and Democratic National Committees. And several countries are boycotting Eurovision next year over Israeli participation.
The Economist’s editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes met Sir Keir Starmer for “The Insider”, our new video offering. We bring you the analysis. Why executions in America are surging, despite declining support for the death penalty. And Tom Stoppard, one of Britain’s most challenging playwrights, is remembered by his Russian translator.
A teddy bear launched into the upper atmosphere as part of a school science project has gone missing! Inspired by this story, the Unexpected Elements team look into how bears could help improve astronauts’ health on long-term space flights. Next, how has a US Air Force site delivered an unexpected conservation win for an endangered species?
We’re then joined by Justin Gregg, a professor of animal behaviour and cognition. He reveals why we anthropomorphise cuddly toys – such as teddy bears – and why this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
We meet Alan Turing’s teddy bear, before finding out why it’s good to get lost.
All that, plus many more Unexpected Elements.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton, with Andrada Fiscutean and Chhavi Sachdev
Producers: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins, with Alice Lipscombe-Southwell, Alice McKee and Robbie Wojciechowski
One of the most ubiquitous items of clothing in formal and business attire is the necktie.
Yet even a cursory check of paintings from several centuries ago shows that neckties have not been around forever. They are, in fact, a relatively recent invention.
Over the last century, neckwear has both defined fashion and changed with the times.
Learn more about neckties, how they developed, and why they exist in the first place on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
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