Uncanny Valley | WIRED

The midterm results delivered a rebuke not just to the Trump administration, but also to Big Tech. This week, the WIRED’s politics team takes over to break down how Democrats flipped both the House and the Senate, and why the MAGA base is pinning the losses on Trump and the Iran war. We look at how more than $400 million from Elon Musk’s super PAC largely came up empty, and why voters restricted 39 of 40 data center ballot measures in what WIRED called the data center referendum. Plus — why election deniers suddenly went quiet, and what it all means for 2028.
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Ahead of the midterms, WIRED talked with New York City’s mayor about data centers, AI in schools, and the future of the Democratic party.

Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.

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This week, we have a scoop on how a defense contractor connected their Claude Code commercial account to a secure Department of Defense system, exposing sensitive information. We also discuss the green, yellow, and red flags we have in Anthropic’s IPO filing and explain why it’s a test not just for the entire AI industry but for the entire US economy. Plus — how volunteers nationwide are preparing for ICE agents potentially showing up at polling sites in the midterms.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

A Defense Contractor Gave Their Personal AI Agent Access to a Secure Pentagon System

The Anthropic S-1 Filing Is Also an AI Doomsday Primer

What’s Worth More Than Cash in San Francisco Real Estate? Anthropic Stock

Massive Groups of Volunteers Are Ready to Face Down ICE at the Polls

Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.
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Jess Asato’s public campaigning for victims of online abuse put her in the crosshairs of Grok’s deepfake scandal. Then the UK Member of Parliament became a victim of the abuse herself.

Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the team speaks with Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to go behind the scenes of her viral interview with Nathan Fielder about his latest documentary, You Can See Everything — she tells us why she had to keep it a secret, and how it felt to interview a man who hates being interviewed. We also discuss why tech billionaires are feeling generous all of a sudden — Anthropic pledged to commit 5 percent of its shares to a public benefit fund, and Elon Musk promised to give a SpaceX share to every child in America. Plus: a WIRED investigation found that election offices in at least 32 states received suspicious letters, some containing white powder, just two weeks before the midterms.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything

How Elizabeth Holmes Tricked WIRED—and Everyone Else

Election Offices in at Least 32 States Have Received Suspicious Letters

They Fled Trump’s America. Now They Regret It

Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices