As Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency pursue sweeping cuts across federal agencies, the Trump administration is also scaling back efforts to confront election disinformation. Several officials in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a political target of Republicans since the 2020 election, were recently put on leave. On POLITICO Tech, cybersecurity reporter Maggie Miller joins host Steven Overly to detail the quiet cuts and why others at the agency are worrie...
Feb 10, 2025•12 min
World leaders and tech luminaries will be flocking to Paris in the days ahead for the AI Action Summit. These global gatherings started over a year ago, but since then, the international AI agenda has shifted dramatically. The focus on mitigating the technology’s risks is now all about rolling it out fast. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly talks to AI pioneer and professor Yoshua Bengio about the state of the AI safety debate, and why he’s urging leaders not to give up on it. Learn more about...
Feb 07, 2025•20 min
President Donald Trump may have hit pause on tariffs against Mexico and Canada, but his trade penalties on China are still in place. That includes a 10 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports, including consumer electronics and other tech products. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly talks to Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, about the implications for tech companies and online retailers in both the U.S. and China. Learn more about your ad choices....
Feb 06, 2025•17 min
Elon Musk is moving fast to dismantle and downsize federal agencies. But his Department of Government Efficiency is drawing scrutiny from privacy and cybersecurity advocates, not to mention Democrats, who fear its employees may be mishandling government data. On POLITICO Tech, Alan Butler, president and executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, breaks down his concerns about DOGE and whether it could be breaking privacy laws. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
Feb 05, 2025•17 min
DeepSeek has stoked fresh concerns in Washington about America’s standing in the AI race. But the real policy action is happening in the states, where legislatures are moving faster than Congress to regulate. Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley investment firm with ties to the Trump administration, is now warning against a medley of AI laws — and wants the federal government to preempt states when it comes to regulating the technology’s development. On POLITICO Tech, the firm’s head of AI po...
Feb 04, 2025•17 min
Everytown for Gun Safety is deploying artificial intelligence in the divisive debate over gun control. And its newly launched chatbot, “Ask Everytown,” will answer questions about gun violence prevention. But research shows AI not only has the power to inform people, but to persuade them — even people with entrenched political views. On POLITICO Tech, Everytown’s senior vice president of law and policy, Nick Suplina, joins host Steven Overly to discuss the advocacy group’s AI ambitions. Learn mo...
Feb 03, 2025•19 min
In order to satisfy AI's big energy demands, President Donald Trump wants data centers to connect directly to power plants. But his plan could face problems because of a wonky federal energy regulatory agency: the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. On POLITICO Tech, guest host Nirmal Mulaikal and POLITICO energy reporter Catherine Morehouse discuss why Trump could have trouble getting regulators on board with his plan and what’s at stake in the global AI race. Catherine Morehouse is an energy...
Jan 31, 2025•18 min
President Donald Trump is expected to begin his global trade war as soon as Saturday, and the tech industry will surely find itself in the crossfire. His promise to slap new tariffs on China, in particular, could leave some tech companies vulnerable to retaliation from Beijing. On POLITICO Tech, longtime journalist and POLITICO contributor Bob Davis joins host Steven Overly to discuss how U.S.-China tech competition will be a defining dynamic in Trump’s coming trade war. Learn more about your ad...
Jan 30, 2025•18 min
Three tech executives stood beside President Donald Trump at the White House last week and pledged to spend $500 billion to build AI data centers. Two of them are household names in the U.S. The third isn’t as well known: Masayoshi Son, the chairman and CEO of SoftBank. But Son has long been a global power player in tech and, when it comes to Trump, a shrewd political player as well. On POLITICO Tech, journalist Lionel Barber, who wrote a biography about Son called “Gambling Man,” joins host Ste...
Jan 29, 2025•16 min
Over the weekend, Silicon Valley had a collective freakout. A Chinese company called DeepSeek released a new artificial intelligence model on par with American rivals, and appeared to do so at a fraction of the cost. For Washington and Wall Street, it’s a major wake up call that China’s AI ambitions haven’t been stifled. On POLITICO Tech, Center for a New American Security fellow Bill Drexel joins host Steven Overly to break down the significance of DeepSeek — starting with whether it’s a sign t...
Jan 28, 2025•19 min
President Donald Trump’s first week in office was a fire hose of tech policy news, from executive orders to AI initiatives. To help break down Trump’s tech agenda so far, POLITICO Tech host Steven Overly called up former Congressman Will Hurd. The Texas Republican was at the forefront of tech and cyber issues in Congress, and he’s now the chief strategy officer at a defense tech firm. Though Hurd wasn’t supportive of Trump’s return — and even ran against him — he explains why he sees a lot of co...
Jan 27, 2025•19 min
A lot has been written about billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire. But his wealth and influence is now greater than ever as he entered the White House this week with President Donald Trump. POLITICO senior staff writer Michael Kruse set out to understand Musk through 199 of his own quotes, words that offer insight into his upbringing, his career and his outlook. On POLITICO Tech, Kruse joins host Steven Overly to lay out what he learned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
Jan 24, 2025•19 min
President Donald Trump brought the leaders of OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank to the White House this week, and announced they will spend $500 billion to build AI data centers. But Trump’s photo-op moment was quickly dissed online… by his Silicon Valley confidante, Elon Musk. On POLITICO Tech, E&E News energy technology editor Christa Marshall joins host Steven Overly to discuss the new AI initiative, called Stargate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jan 23, 2025•14 min
President Donald Trump kicked off his return to the White House with a spate of executive orders aimed at the tech sector — and marked a new era for tech in Washington. But the industry’s big show at the inauguration doesn’t mean the next four years will be easy. On POLITICO Tech, the president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Rob Atkinson, joins host Steven Overly to discuss Trump’s initial actions and why the industry should still have its guard up. Learn more about you...
Jan 22, 2025•19 min
In Washington, seating charts are not left to chance. And yesterday’s inauguration sent a message that Big Tech not only has a seat at President Donald Trump’s table — but a really good one. And that industry leaders are more than happy to have it. Digital Future Daily author Derek Robertson joins host Steven Overly to discuss Trump’s brand of digital populism, and why his campaign rhetoric and embrace of wealthy technocrats may not be as incongruent as it seems. Learn more about your ad choices...
Jan 21, 2025•17 min
Donald Trump officially becomes president today and he’s pledged to save TikTok upon taking office. The app is now technically banned in the U.S., though after much turmoil this weekend, users can still log into their accounts. Trump said he not only wants to delay the ban, but work out a deal that would make the U.S. a partial owner in TikTok. On POLITICO Tech, law professor and former DOJ attorney Alan Rozenshtein returns to break down what could happen next in this saga. Learn more about your...
Jan 20, 2025•17 min
Inauguration festivities get underway in Washington this weekend — and tech executives will be making a splash. They’re hosting lavish balls and intimate receptions, and sitting behind President-elect Donald Trump as he gets sworn into office on Monday. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly and POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns delve into Silicon Valley’s brazen efforts to court the incoming administration, and whether the party can last as Trump gets back to governing. Learn more abo...
Jan 17, 2025•21 min
In his new book, “It Takes Chutzpah,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) reflects on his 44-year career in Washington, including a pivotal law he co-authored that gave rise to the modern internet. And as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, Wyden says he’s still mustering chutzpah. On POLITICO Tech, Wyden joins host Steven Overly to discuss the incoming administration’s plans for sweeping tariffs, Elon Musk’s growing influence and Silicon Valley’s alignment with Trump. Learn more about ...
Jan 16, 2025•24 min
The devastating wildfires burning across Los Angeles have prompted plenty of finger pointing — and artificial intelligence is catching some of the blame. Data centers consume large amounts of water and electricity, and critics have been quick to pounce on the industry’s environmental footprint. Now, California lawmakers are looking for ways to make AI more sustainable. POLITICO’s California tech reporter Tyler Katzenberger joins host Steven Overly to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Jan 15, 2025•15 min
Just a couple years ago, the crypto industry was a pariah among politicians. Now, it’s poised to have a big year in Washington. And how it got here is no fluke. Industry leaders shelled out massive sums of money to elect crypto-friendly candidates, and the result is a Congress and incoming administration primed to carry out their policy goals. On POLITICO Tech, Coinbase president and chief operating officer Emilie Choi joins host Steven Overly to break down crypto’s political strategy and what i...
Jan 14, 2025•21 min
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg offered a sharp critique of the fact checkers on his social media platforms last week, saying he will no longer use them because they were too politically biased and undermined public trust. That didn’t sit well with Alexios Mantzarlis at Cornell Tech. Mantzarlis is the former founding director of the International Fact-Checking Network, where years ago he helped set up Meta’s fact-checking program. On POLITICO Tech, Mantzarlis joins host Steven Overly to offer a rebutta...
Jan 13, 2025•15 min
TikTok is set to be banned in the U.S. in just nine days. Today, the company will try to convince the Supreme Court to strike the ban down — or at least put it on ice. And President-elect Donald Trump has requested the Supreme Court punt the ban until after he’s taken office and can try to broker some sort of solution. Still, TikTok has some long odds. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly talks with Alan Rozenshtein, a law professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and former lawyer in ...
Jan 10, 2025•19 min
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced major changes this week to how his company will moderate posts on Facebook and Instagram. Meta’s current fact-checking system resulted in political bias and censorship, Zuckerberg said, so the company is moving to a looser model — just as President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Cato Institute scholar and Meta Oversight Board member John Samples joins host Steven Overly to explain why he thinks the changes are necessary, if imperfect, and why more are likely ...
Jan 09, 2025•19 min
Tech companies have long struggled to hire enough Americans with technical expertise, and to fill that shortfall, they’ve often hired immigrants with green cards or H-1B visas. Now, Silicon Valley leaders — with Elon Musk at the helm — see an opportunity to recruit even more foreign-born workers. But that doesn’t sit well with the immigration restrictionists in Trump’s camp, which amounts to a political showdown for Republicans, especially as Congress looks to tackle immigration when Trump takes...
Jan 08, 2025•15 min
Policymakers around the world are debating how to regulate our use of technology, from addictive algorithms to harmful content. But often missing from the conversation is the control that everyday people wield over how much technology is let into our lives. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly calls up digital minimalism advocate Jose Briones to talk about breaking up with smartphones and social media, and embracing a low-tech lifestyle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Jan 07, 2025•20 min
The new year may have just begun, but policy divisions have already emerged — with tech leaders at the center. Elon Musk tanked a bipartisan spending agreement in the House, causing Congress to scramble to avoid a government shutdown. And Trump’s Silicon Valley supporters faced off against his longtime MAGA base over visas for highly skilled immigrants. On POLITICO Tech, Digital Future Daily author Derek Robertson joins host Steven Overly to discuss the personalities driving the policy and the t...
Jan 06, 2025•22 min
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is already an influential voice on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity on Capitol Hill. And his power will only grow in the new year with Republicans taking control of the Senate. On POLITICO Tech, Rounds tells host Steven Overly how he expects Congress to tackle both issues once President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2024•27 min
Tech companies are laying out their wish lists for President-elect Donald Trump. And the ride-sharing company Lyft has two big asks: nationwide benefits for gig workers and national standards for autonomous vehicles. Lyft CEO David Risher says he’s optimistic about the incoming Trump administration and its deregulation agenda. On POLITICO Tech, Risher tells host Steven Overly why Washington should embrace both the gig economy and robot drivers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...
Dec 20, 2024•19 min
President-elect Donald Trump’s return is making waves in Canada. This week, tensions over how Ottawa should fight a looming trade war with the U.S. prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s deputy to resign. But Canada has been responding to Trump’s tariff threats by making the case that the two countries have intertwined economies, especially in key areas like critical minerals, artificial intelligence and energy. On POLITICO Tech, François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of innovation, sc...
Dec 19, 2024•24 min
Lately, the guest book at Mar-a-Lago reads like a Silicon Valley roll call — from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Apple CEO Tim Cook — as tech leaders visit President-elect Donald Trump for private dinners and closed-door conversations. Some are also cutting big checks for his inauguration fund. Their goal is clear: win Trump’s favor in hopes his administration will be kind. On POLITICO Tech, Morning Tech author Gabby Miller joins host Steven Overly to break down Big Tech’s charm offensive. Learn mo...
Dec 18, 2024•18 min
