David’s view I doubt that anybody who bundled up for “Menorah in the D,” the 2023 kickoff of Hanukkah in Detroit, knew how much it would end up shaping the 2026 Senate primary. The event took place two months after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel — in hindsight, a ...
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Public records laws must modernizePublic records laws must modernize
Surveillance technology without accountability is a recipe for authoritarianism, but with strong guardrails and transparency, it can help stop crime, including crimes committed by law enforcement. An article in the Washington Post chronicled how police officers were caught abusing surveillance technology to stalk ex-wives and, in at least one case, ...
The White House maintains a little obscurity for AI securityThe White House maintains a little obscurity for AI security
Reed’s view The White House says it discussed a framework for evaluating the cybersecurity risks of frontier AI models with OpenAI and Anthropic, but it doesn’t plan to release details publicly. The secrecy (frontier labs are being asked to submit the most powerful models for assessment 30 days before releasing ...
Google DeepMind boss steps downGoogle DeepMind boss steps down
The head of Google DeepMind is stepping down from his role and moving into a chairman position, in a major shakeup at the AI research lab. Demis Hassabis, who founded DeepMind in 2010 before it was acquired in 2014, will also become chief scientist at Google parent company Alphabet. Other ...
Trump’s costly visa bond program is now permanentTrump’s costly visa bond program is now permanent
The News The US has made permanent a pilot program requiring citizens of 50 countries — 30 of them African — to post bonds to obtain US tourist and business visas. Launched 12 months ago, the program instructed consular officers to set a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, “based ...
Trump hits the campaign trail in Las VegasTrump hits the campaign trail in Las Vegas
President Donald Trump is spending his second day out west on Wednesday, with a planned speech in Las Vegas highlighting his administration’s efforts to address the cost of living. The trip, which began with an Republican National Committee fundraiser in California on Tuesday, comes at a dire time for the ...
White House’s AI framework close-hold fuels industry concernsWhite House’s AI framework close-hold fuels industry concerns
The Trump administration told a handful of tech firms Tuesday that it will not publicly release its new framework for voluntary government reviews of advanced AI models, people familiar with the meeting told Semafor. The decision, reported first by Axios, is fueling industry concerns that firms not briefed on the ...
After tough Michigan primary, Democrats set sights on RogersAfter tough Michigan primary, Democrats set sights on Rogers
The News With the brutal Michigan primary behind them and Abdul El-Sayed looking likely to be their nominee, Senate Democrats are immediately refocusing on Republican nominee Mike Rogers, according to new details shared first with Semafor. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is out with a six-figure ad buy starting Wednesday ...
Africa’s funding reset leaves early-stage tech founders behindAfrica’s funding reset leaves early-stage tech founders behind
The News Africa’s early-stage startups are facing a new funding squeeze as venture capital firms increasingly prioritize backing proven companies over riskier young ventures in a bid to deliver returns to investors. In the first half of the year, African startups raised around $1.4 billion, on par with the same ...
An inconclusive Tuesday, in Michigan and beyondAn inconclusive Tuesday, in Michigan and beyond
The News The Democratic establishment couldn’t get some of its candidates over the line. The party’s rising left wing couldn’t win some key races. Republicans in two red states couldn’t convince voters to change election rules to make their party stronger. Tuesday’s primaries refused to settle into one of the ...