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This Machine Kills - 421. To AGI, or Not to AGI, That is the Question

With the announcement of a new $100 million Super PAC for pro-AI political influence, lines are being drawn between different styles of AI boosterism in Silicon Valley. There are those who worship at the altar of AGI and believe any other position is an intolerable impediment to innovation. There are those who want the tech sector to focus on using existing AI systems for everyday economic applications. And there are those who see AI as a techno-realpolitik power struggle over who is gonna kick whose ass: America or China? And then there’s Eric Schmidt, who holds all three positions — and writes op-eds touting each one — at the same exact time. ••• Silicon Valley Launches Pro-AI PACs to Defend Industry in Midterm Elections https://www.wsj.com/politics/silicon-valley-launches-pro-ai-pacs-to-defend-industry-in-midterm-elections-287905b3 ••• Silicon Valley Is Drifting Out of Touch With the Rest of America https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/opinion/artificial-general-intelligence-superintelligence.html ••• AI Could Usher In a New Renaissance https://www.wsj.com/opinion/agi-could-usher-in-a-new-renaissance-physics-math-econ-advancement-ed71a02a Standing Plugs: ••• Order Jathan’s new book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite ••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble ••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)
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PBS News Hour - Science - As rising sea levels swallow Bangladesh’s land, its climate refugees are forced to adapt

Few countries in the world are considered more vulnerable to the impact of rising sea levels and climate change than Bangladesh, a nation of 175 million people squeezed into a landmass the size of Iowa. In partnership with the Pulitzer Center, Fred de Sam Lazaro traveled to Bangladesh to look at efforts to build resilience in the face of the escalating consequences. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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PBS News Hour - Art Beat - Museum exhibit showcases the pets who have lived in the White House

Since the nation’s founding, pets have played an essential role in the lives of many U.S. presidents. A new exhibition at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston tells the story of the pets that called the White House home. Special correspondent Jared Bowen takes us there for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
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The Gist - Miles Taylor on Resistance Cascades, Rubio’s Turn, and Testing the Judiciary

Former DHS official Miles Taylor, author of the “Anonymous” op-ed, returns to discuss Trump’s second term agenda, the courts, and the missing “axis of adults.” Pesca opens with a theory on why deportees landed in Eswatini, then closes with a spiel on the immigration conundrum: border deterrence versus humane policy. Taylor explains “permission structures,” why resistance cascaded in 2020 but not 2024, how this White House could test the judiciary, what Rubio’s evolution signals, how patronage is used to quiet critics, and why satire can move persuadables better than lectures.

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Marketplace All-in-One - Slo-mo jobs growth

Job growth has slowed this summer as employers ride out President Trump's economic shakeups. Thanks to uncertain tariffs, funding cuts, and the immigration crackdown, most companies aren’t eager to hire right now. Even the health care sector is showing some cracks. Also in this episode: The number of American homeowners fell for the first time in a decade, economists explain how the U.S. became the economic data gold standard, and revenue from website ads grow more popular among retailers.


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Consider This from NPR - Your covid vaccine questions answered

The one thing certain about the COVID vaccine right now is that everything about it is changing.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the next round of COVID-19 vaccines for the fall season, but it’s significantly changed just WHO can get it.

That move comes amidst a broader effort by the Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to change policy and guidance around many vaccines. 

At this point — we’re guessing you have lots of questions about vaccination in general, but especially around COVID shots.

That’s why we asked our NPR listeners to submit their questions about the FDA’s new COVID vaccine guidance.

UCSF infectious disease doctor Dr. Peter Chin-Hong answers your questions. 

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Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Brianna Scott. It was edited by Courtney Dorning.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Serious Inquiries Only - SIO489: TikTok Banned #Skinnytok and It Was Right to Do So

Dr. Jenessa Seymour joins to discuss why TikTok's move here is aligned with what we know about eating disorders from the literature, and what happens when the internet doesn't draw a line like this.

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WSJ What’s News - Why Rising Global Bond Yields Are Worrying Investors

P.M. Edition for Sept. 3rd. Global bond yields are climbing; yields on U.K. 30-year gilts this week hit their highest level since 1998. WSJ columnist Spencer Jakab explains what this means for investors. Plus, Florida is pushing to repeal all vaccine mandates, a move that would make it the first state to end such rules. And the U.S. now has over 1,100 billionaires, but where do they live, and what industries built their fortunes? WSJ data reporter Inti Pacheco shares what he learned from the data. Alex Ossola hosts. 


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The Daily Signal - Victor Davis Hanson: Democrats Deflect From Truth About Minnesota Trans School Shooter 

Victor Davis Hanson explains why this was not simply a tragedy, but an act of evil, and why the media and political leaders refuse to have an honest discussion about the factors behind it on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”


“They won't have any discussion over transgenderism. This falls in the broader category of exempt DEI woke topics, but I think we should talk about this. This is the fourth or fifth incident—I don't even like the word "incident"—occurrence of transgendered shooters who are protected by authorities.


“We were told, "Be careful about Big Pharma. Be careful about Big Med." All of those worries and prohibitions and cautions were thrown out the window, as were SSRI antidepressants. These were selective serotonin prohibitors. In other words, they altered the chemistry of the brain, supposedly, to correct mental disturbances, depression, bipolarity. But they're very dangerous drugs. But when it came to the exempt topic of transgenderism, suddenly the society was supposed to accept that this was not a mental disorder. It was not a rare occurrence. It was a national crisis where large percentages of the population were transgendering.”



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(0:00) Introduction

(1:49) Democrat Hypocrisy on Politicization of Tragedy

(2:49) They Won’t Touch DEI

(4:13) Democrats’ Reactions Miss the Point

(4:53) Gender Dysphoria Erasure

(6:24) Medication’s Role in Transgenderism

(8:48) DEI Censorship

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WSJ Minute Briefing - U.S. Stocks Mixed But Tech Rallies

Nasdaq leads the major indexes. Plus: Macy’s shares rally on improved outlook. And Dollar Tree warns of tariff costs. Katherine Sullivan hosts.


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An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor.

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