Samuel Larreal

Child’s Play, by Sam Kriss Tech’s new generation and the end of thinking

“We need to ban the word ‘agency.’ I’m a dog.”

harpers.org/archive/2026...

Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi Owned Palantir Stock While Voting to Fund Homeland Security Palantir is doing huge business with the federal government as its share price soars.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) has quietly watched the value of his Palantir stock soar.

This year, Suozzi voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has done massive business with Palantir.

From @bueninvierno.bsky.social of @notus.com: www.notus.org/money/tom-su...

Trump Loves Data Centers. Many Republican Lawmakers Don’t. Some state lawmakers are mulling legislation that would pause the construction of new data centers in their states altogether.

Some Republicans are increasingly baffled with Trump’s support of data centers.

“It’s filling our acreage. It’s sucking all the good out of our state, and it’s all done by taxpayer dollars,” OK State Sen. Kendal Sacchieri, who supports a data center moratorium, said.
www.notus.org/technology/t...

Dozens of Kids Entered Foster Care After Immigration Agents Detained Their Parents States are taking custody of kids separated from their parents in Trump's push for mass deportations. No one knows exactly how many.

At least 32 kids entered foster care in 2025 after immigration agents detained their parents.

That includes four toddlers ages 1-3 in Vermont.

Here’s my story on the patchy tracking of family separations through the foster care system.
www.notus.org/immigration/...

the Super Bowl so far is just one big AI ad

These Democrats Decry Trump’s Immigration Actions. They Also Invested in ICE Contractor Palantir. “I wish I could get my money back,” one liberal lawmaker said.

Oh, the quotes …

When you’re a member of Congress who keeps slamming ⁦‪ICE‬⁩ — but you personally invest in a company that powers ICE tech.

Via @bueninvierno.bsky.social of @notus.com: www.notus.org/congress/pal...

Federal Data Is Disappearing The Trump administration has disrupted data collection on everything from homeland security, maternal mortality, hunger, drug use, education, disaster preparation and the economy.

We found so many examples of missing federal government data that we couldn’t put them all in this story.

“The status quo was, the federal government is going to collect and disseminate data. That is no longer a reasonable assumption.”

The Virginia Democrat in the Middle of the Data Center Boom Wants His Party to Crack Down Rep. Suhas Subramanyam is making the case that the Democratic Party needs to show it has ideas for how to regulate this issue.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam is seeing his constituents grow frustrated with data centers firsthand.

"People are angry right now at the way data centers are being deployed," he told me, arguing that Congress needs to prevent nationwide backlash against them.
www.notus.org/technology/v...

“.. It was never a commitment,” Huang told reporters in Taipei on Sunday. “They invited us to invest up to $100 billion and of course, we were, we were very happy and honored that they invited us, but we will invest one step at a time.”

@bloomberg.com $NVDA
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

I guess some things never change

Senate Approves Spending Deal, but Brief Partial Government Funding Lapse Expected The Senate passed legislation funding multiple departments. The House is not expected to vote on it until early next week, triggering a partial shutdown.

The Senate passed legislation funding multiple departments. The House is not expected to vote on it until early next week, triggering a partial shutdown. https://bit.ly/4a3q0DI

Silicon Valley’s Favorite New AI Agent Has Serious Security Flaws The AI agent once called ClawdBot is enchanting tech elites, but its security vulnerabilities highlight systemic problems with AI.

oh, and one more thing before the weekend

AI Industry Super PAC Enters Midterm Elections With a $70 Million War Chest The super PAC, Leading the Future, is attempting to steer AI regulations in its favor.

The AI industry super PAC is walking into the midterms with $70 million in cash on hand.

Their main objective: Backing candidates that support unconstrained AI innovation and oppose state-level regulation.
www.notus.org/money/ai-sup...

Kristi Noem Is Holding Up More Than $1 Billion in Hazard Mitigation Funds Only three states have gotten through Noem’s logjam, according to data obtained by NOTUS.

scoop: Kristi Noem has more than $1 billion in disaster prevention projects piling up on her desk.

Somehow, three states w/ powerful GOP politicians have escaped the logjam — Georgia, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

Everyone else left begging for help.

Democrats Are Taking Claims of Anti-Trump Censorship on TikTok Seriously At least one governor threatened an investigation, and Democratic lawmakers renewed their calls for more regulation of social media platforms.

Trust in TikTok at a low point in Congress: Democrats seem to be taking censorship claims rather seriously.

“There’s no doubt that Trump is going to be putting calls to tell them to censor content that’s critical of him,” Sen. Chris Murphy told NOTUS.
www.notus.org/technology/d...

Nvidia Won Trump’s Favor. These Federal Lawmakers Stand to Profit. Members of Congress invested millions of dollars into the chip manufacturing giant in 2025.

Meet Congress' Nvidia stock trading club.

There are Democrats and Republicans. And there are millions of $$ at stake for these lawmakers' personal portfolios at a time when the chip maker has big business before gov't.

Via @bueninvierno.bsky.social of @notus.com: www.notus.org/money/nvidia...

Data Center Lobbying Is Booming as Tech and Energy Giants Face ‘Affordability’ Backlash Rising utility prices are in part driven by AI-driven energy demands.

New: It's a great time to be a data center lobbyist in Washington.

"Data centers," "grid modernization" and "energy permitting reform" dominated last quarter's lobbying disclosures as the issue becomes central to the midterms.
www.notus.org/technology/d...

The AI Super PAC Fight That Might Shape the Midterms Two opposing super PAC networks plan to spend tens of millions of dollars to help elect more lawmakers who support their side in the AI regulation debate.

Opposing sides in the AI regulation debate plan to spend tens of millions of dollars to help elect more lawmakers who support their policies.

Here’s how AI is already shaping the midterm elections:

www.notus.org/2026-electio...

Federal Judge Puts DOJ Back in the Crosshairs Over ‘Alien Enemy’ Deportation Flights D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg started a Wednesday hearing by saying he would explore whether to make a “contempt referral” against top Trump administration officials.

Remember when the Trump administration ignored a judge's order to return planes deporting 200+ "alien enemies" to El Salvador in March?

In DC court just now, that judge said he'll force DOJ officials to testify. And maybe top Trump admin officials.

@notus.com:

www.notus.org/courts/feder...

The Race to Replace Nancy Pelosi Could Be All About Tech Regulation Tech consumer advocacy groups hope whoever replaces her brings more skepticism toward the sector.

Consumer advocacy groups hope whoever replaces Nancy Pelosi will more aggressively regulate the tech industry.
https://www.notus.org/technology/nancy-pelosi-election-tech-regulation

The Senate Is Starting to Feel a Lot Like ‘Groundhog Day’ Bipartisan discussions are brewing, but the Senate is still headed for a week of voting on the same pair of stopgap funding measures — over and over and over.

The Senate is starting to feel a lot like “Groundhog Day” as the shutdown spills over into its second week.

Silicon Valley hospital workers train for Super Bowl threats - San José Spotlight Silicon Valley health care workers are preparing for the unthinkable when Levi's Stadium takes the global stage in 2026 — becoming the first region to host a Super Bowl and World Cup in the same year.

Amid a backdrop of escalating political violence and national instability, Silicon Valley health care workers are preparing for the unthinkable when Levi's Stadium becomes the first region to host a Super Bowl and World Cup in the same year.

California’s AI Law is Setting the Tone for Democratic Party Policy — And Gavin Newsom’s Future The governor won a legislative battle this week. It could have 2028 presidential implications.

California’s new AI law might set the baseline for what Democratic-led AI regulation looks like — It could also play a role in a hypothetical Gavin Newsom presidential run.

www.notus.org/technology/g...

Trump executive order clears way for TikTok deal - San José Spotlight President Donald Trump has signed off on an agreement on a TikTok sale he said would bring the app into compliance with U.S. law.

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed off on an agreement on a TikTok sale he said would bring the app into compliance with U.S. law.

✍️ @bueninvierno.bsky.social, @notus.com

The White House says TikTok will be sold to a U.S. joint venture - San José Spotlight After four deadline extensions to force a sale of TikTok, the U.S. is finally close to a sale agreement for the massively popular video platform, a White House official said Monday.

After four deadline extensions to force a sale of TikTok, the U.S. is finally close to a sale agreement for the massively popular video platform, a White House official said Monday.

✍️ @bueninvierno.bsky.social, @notus.com

Republicans Grapple With Content Moderation After Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Was Shared on Social Media Graphic videos of Kirk’s death were shared widely on social media, but Republicans have long advocated for looser content-moderation rules.

The video of Charlie Kirk’s assassination is all over social media. Republicans are grappling with the content moderation era they helped create.

“Shouldn’t we have some kind of rules of the road?” Rep. Chip Roy told NOTUS.

www.notus.org/technology/c...

California Dems left Trump's speech as he doubled down on cuts - San José Spotlight The president doubled down on everything from steep tariffs on American allies to the upheaval caused by his Department of Government Efficiency — and along the way earned dismal reviews from Californ...

Read the full story below for more reactions from California Democrats to Trump's joint address to Congress.

✍️ @markalfred.bsky.social & @bueninvierno.bsky.social,
@notusreports.bsky.social

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Will Congress Stop Playing ‘Whack-a-Mole’ With Chinese Apps? Lawmakers approved a ban on TikTok and are pushing to limit DeepSeek. Some members think a broader approach is needed.

First, they banned TikTok. Then they came for RedNote. Now, lawmakers are trying to ban DeepSeek on all federal devices.

“It’s what’s sometimes called whack-a-mole,” Republican Sen. John Cornyn told @notusreports.bsky.social

www.notus.org/technology/c...

DOGE put NIH grant funding on the chopping block last week. Not so fast, said some GOP Republicans.

New from me and the inimitable @benmause.bsky.social:

White House Press Secretary’s Campaign Took Illegal Donations From Businesses — And Hasn’t Returned the Money “This stuff is campaign finance 101. You don’t take freebies,” one campaign finance expert told NOTUS.

WH press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed in new campaign filings she hasn’t refunded business donations she wasn’t supposed to accept during her failed 2022 congressional campaign.

The FEC has questioned the campaign at least 8 times about illegal donations.

www.notus.org/whitehouse/w...