Ben Brody

Tech: A Democratic plan on DOGE data Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) is calling for a future Democratic Congress to fix a half-century-old law in a bid to update the W.H.’s access to information.

TECH: Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) is calling for a future Democratic Congress to fix a half-century-old law in a bid to update the White House’s access to information in the era of advanced technology.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social has the details:
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Tech: Sarandos to stress Netflix plans for U.S. Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos will have a message for lawmakers on Tuesday: His company’s purchase of Warner Bros. will further its investments in the U.S.

TECH: Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos is heading to Capitol Hill Tuesday with a pitch: His company’s $83 billion purchase of Warner Bros. puts America First. DOJ enforcers and some lawmakers aren’t convinced.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social previews what to expect:
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Trump has no signings on his schedule and our sources didn’t expect the order to get signed today, despite reports to the contrary. The order wasn’t a final draft anyway.

(I need to start putting more of my scoops on here! Text subscribers saw it last night btw.)

House leaders urge Trump to wait on AI order House GOP leaders are urging the White House to hold off on an executive order targeting state AI laws.

From @punchbowlnews.bsky.social: House GOP leaders urged the White House to hold off on a leaked draft order to push back on states regulating AI

Scalise et al want more time for Hill work. He’s still trying to preempt state AI rules in NDAA

punchbowl.news/article/tech...

Google backs three bills on scams Google is backing three bipartisan bills today designed to combat scams, two of which have advanced on the Hill in recent weeks.

TECH: Google is backing three bipartisan bills today designed to combat scams, two of which have advanced on the Hill in recent weeks.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social has the details—
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We all talk about prestige TV but there are actually only two shows called “Chicago Helicopter Ambulance Pilot who’s Also a Single Dad on CBS” and “A Woman is a Lawyer?!”

Smartphone bill backers ramp up The bipartisan House duo behind a bill that would take on Apple’s and Google’s smartphone app stores is ramping up their push to get support.

TECH: A bipartisan duo are ramping up support for their App Store Freedom Act, taking aim at Apple & Google’s control over smartphone apps.

Three more lawmakers joined this week as momentum builds.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social has the details—
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Democratic senators embrace TikTok Top Senate Democrats are learning to stop worrying and love TikTok.

I wrote about how Democratic leaders in the Senate are moving onto TikTok, as the political megaphone becomes too crucial to ignore and the platform’s future in the U.S. firms up punchbowl.news/article/tech...

What’s next on the AI rules freeze The battle over using reconciliation to stop states from regulating AI is over. That doesn’t mean key Republicans are giving up on the idea.

The battle over using reconciliation to stop states from regulating artificial intelligence is over. That doesn’t mean key Republicans are giving up on the idea.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with more:
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What Krishnamoorthi wants on AGI Krishnamoorthi said during a panel hearing last week, he was looking to make sure such artificial general intelligence, or AGI, would be kept in line with human goals like peace.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi wants the Hill to get ready for machines that can match human cognitive abilities across a variety of domains.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with details:
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The coming split between creators and platforms Digital creators are ready to make their mark in Washington, and platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram shouldn’t expect they’ll always get along with the professional posters when it comes to p...

Digital creators are ready to make their mark in Washington, and platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram shouldn’t expect they’ll always get along with the professional posters when it comes to policy.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with details:
punchbowl.news/article/tech...

Dealing with AI’s ‘idiot savants’ AI systems are “idiot savants,” and maximizing what models do well while minimizing screwups will be crucial to adoption of AI into the U.S. government’s defense functions.

Artificial intelligence systems are “idiot savants,” and maximizing what models do well while minimizing screwups will be crucial to adoption of AI into the U.S. government’s defense functions.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with more from DARPA's Kathleen Fisher:
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Google is ‘getting to yes’ This past week, a top policy official at Google’s YouTube testified at a Senate hearing on a bill the company supports to extend voice and likeness rights in the age of artificial intelligence.

Last week, a top policy official at Google’s YouTube testified at a Senate hearing on a bill the company supports to extend voice and likeness rights in the age of artificial intelligence.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with more:
punchbowl.news/article/tech...

Slotkin wants tech in war games Sen. Elissa Slotkin wants business leaders and tech experts to be working hand in hand with the Pentagon on confronting China.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin wants business leaders and tech experts to be working hand in hand with the Pentagon on confronting China.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with details:
punchbowl.news/article/tech...

The latest on the House privacy working group The House’s privacy working group has now received written input from industry and consumer groups. But the ad hoc collection is going to take its time before producing a bill.

The House’s privacy working group has now received written input from industry and consumer groups. @benbrodydc.bsky.social takes you behind the scenes:
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The odd-couple coalition backing Hill’s app store push Making Google and Apple verify users’ ages on their app stores is an idea supported by an unlikely coalition of child-safety advocates, Meta and other social media services.

Making Google and Apple verify users’ ages on their app stores is an idea supported by an unlikely coalition of child-safety advocates, Meta and other social media services.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with details:
punchbowl.news/article/tech...

What the White House is hearing on AI The White House gave the public until last night to weigh in on how the administration should handle artificial intelligence.

The White House gave the public until last night to weigh in on how the administration should handle artificial intelligence. And weigh in they did.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social details what AI players are telling the administration.
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Purim, or as it’s called in my family, the beginning of the Passover RSVP guilt season

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From TECH: Lutnick does the rounds as tariffs terrify the tech world, the Republican split on spectrum widens, lawmakers worry about tech billionaires and more.

Diego, @benbrodydc.bsky.social & @andrewdesiderio.bsky.social in the Lookahead:
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Wyden prepares to defend Section 230… again Wyden has been instrumental in saving Section 230 from these efforts with help from the industry and civil liberties advocates.

The Senate Judiciary Committee made clear that it’s launching back into the tech regulatory debates with bills that modify Section 230. Sen. Ron Wyden is preparing to defend it.

@benbrodydc.bsky.social with details:
punchbowl.news/article/tech...

This feels like the most Bluesky story I’ve written in a while

I’ll admit, I’m butter-nuts for it

Ted Cruz brings back deepfakes bill that almost passed If it were to pass, the measure known as the Take It Down Act, would represent a rare success among lawmaker efforts to regulate social media.

NEWS: Cruz reintro'd his bipartisan bill on deep fake nudes. The Take It Down Act came about as close to passing last year as it could without becoming law, but it's in a great position for this year. Rare issue where most everyone agrees

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Senate Dem leaders push for last-minute TikTok delay The looming deadline to bar the popular app is getting the attention of Democrats worried about the political fallout with its users.

How does Bluesky feel about the TikTok ban? Here’s our wrap on the sudden right turn this took on the Hill today punchbowl.news/article/tech...

It’s been a crazy week for me, but you can catch up on some of it here!

Ten years ago today, I arrived in DC for a three-month internship. May my plans continue to go wrong in the most wonderful of ways!

INBOX earlier today: incoming Energy and Commerce Chair Rep Brett Guthrie announces Joel Miller, his former deputy CoS, as committee chief counsel. Jessica Donlon will be general counsel, Chris Sarley senior advisor, Matt VanHyfte as comms director

Punchbowl's @benbrodydc.bsky.social got a copy of FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson's pitch to be chair under Trump: