Political strategists on calls for AI regulation

So we do nothing? I think the reality is, you look at the data centers. And much of the misinformation that's being spread about data centers is often on TikTok, social media outlets that are owned by China. Which President Trump allows. Well, he shouldn't. I mean-- He did. His first defiance of the law. In total defiance of law, and his first administration unilaterally recommended that it should be banned. So I agree with his position on--

His original position. He should be-- he should be not allowing TikTok to spread misinformation. Emily, your thoughts on this. I think that the fact that it took an employee of Anthropic to resign and tell us humanity is going to be over for elected leaders to move on this is bananas. So, yeah, I think we should--

Quickly. Yeah, we should have been talking about this two years ago. And I guess--

He's not the only voice. Lots of others have expressed fears and anxieties before this.

And the ones that the regulations are going to help the most are the ones who are already there. It crowds out competition. So I certainly am opposed to that. I know, but Emily, do you believe this is a cutting issue in this-- I think it's a crucible moment. It requires political leadership. And I think our elected leaders have to really think about accountability and what it means to regulate this industry and how to really think about making sure we're not extinct as a human race. And globally-- he didn't just say Americans are going to be extinct. He said, the world, human extinction. So, yeah. Do you think there's any possibility-- it's not going to happen before the midterms. Do you think there's anything in the AI regulation space that gets done in the lame duck?

No. No? Neither one? I'm always someone who doesn't think much will ever happen to the lame duck. Because if the Democrats have a really good election night, what's their incentive to compromise, to cut a deal?

Exactly. Speaking of the midterms and the convention in Dallas, which we did at the beginning of the show, the president surprised lots of people with a $5,000 dividend offer. I made clear that it sounds very much like the DOGE checks that never arrived and the tariff checks that never arrived. Nevertheless, maybe it's a gimmick. Maybe it's a bribe. What is it, Marc Short? Look, I mean, it's a little bit much to say it's a bribe. I mean, does the media calling Obamacare a bribe when there's a promise of free health care? But at the same time, Major, I feel like--

The promise was access to health care, not that it would be free. I think there are a lot of promises made, Major. But look, my concern is that I think there's a legitimate rise of Democratic Socialists on the left that pose a significant threat. But if you look at the policies we're pushing right now, Republicans--

The Republican policies. --are pushing-- yes, or pushing state-owned enterprises, pushing price controls, pushing credit card caps. They're pushing new entitlement expansion just last weekend for child welfare, and now free money of $5,000 a check per person when you have a $40 trillion deficit, it's like we're actually blurring the distinction that we should be having with the radical left.

Emily? Well, I think, too, the juxtaposition of, like, James Talarico doing a food drive during the convention--

In Dallas. Yeah, and putting literally food in people's homes. I think the party-- the Republican Party is the party of lip service, and the Democrats are becoming the party of service and action. However, I think the Democrats better take Trump seriously when he says, I'm going to give you $5,000 because voters are going to believe that. He has-- What's the Democratic response? What should it be? Well, it should be, this is not true. This is not going to happen. Because if they laugh it off and think it's just a crazy thing that the president said, I think they're underestimating how desperate people are, how much they need money and resources, and they better get in front of it. How much it might cut well to the Republican event. We're never going to outbid the Democrats on giving away free money. Marc Short, as frequently happens on this program, you get the last word. Emily Cherniack, Marc Short, it's been a pleasure. Please come back.