This is Lever Weekly , a recap of our work from the past week. If you only read one email from us all week, this should be it.
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Here’s what The Lever published this week:
LEVER SCOOPS OF THE WEEK
Under Cover Of AI Doomsday, Big Tech Is Writing Its Own Rules. Silicon Valley says its machines could destroy humanity. The more immediate danger is letting the people building AI decide how they’re governed.
Cruz-Linked PAC Targets El-Sayed In “Death To America” Ad. The group, founded by allies of the Texas senator, spent $90K on an AI-generated ad featuring the Michigan Democrat laughing next to the words “celebrate 9/11.”
Is The AI Threat ‘The Terminator’ or ‘The Big Short’? An article for paid subscribers from David Sirota: An AI apocalypse involving killer robots is terrifying, but don’t overlook a speculative bubble whose collapse will reverberate across the economy.
The Quiet Corruption Behind Washington’s AI Inaction. How the “corruption of inaction” in both parties is helping AI oligarchs avoid accountability and endanger the world.
The Curious Data Center “Gift” Haunting Ken Paxton’s AI Crackdown. Before vowing to end data center tax breaks, the Texas Senate candidate voted to create them after accepting 100,000 shares in a server company.
Big AI’s Favorite Democrats Are Writing The Party’s AI Plan. Hakeem Jeffries’ five-member AI commission is stacked with lawmakers backed by industry super PACs seeking to shape federal policy.
AI’s Dela-Win. Delaware's surprisingly powerful attorney general just got one step closer to reelection — with the help of Big Tech.
Why Are Dems Touting Their Capture By AI Oligarchs? Weeks before the midterm elections, the Democrats’ highest-profile icons are publicly celebrating the AI industry’s revolving-door corruption aiming to infiltrate the party.
Trump Freed Bad Bots. Before artificial intelligence became a midterm elections issue, Trump regulators erased consequences for an AI firm linked to fake customer reviews.
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THIS WEEK ON LEVER PODCASTS AND VIDEO
LIVE REPLAY: Can Democrats Unite On AI Regulation? David Sirota speaks with NY Assemblymember Alex Bores, who has a plan to make AI safeguards a central issue in the 2028 Democratic presidential primaries.
What Tech Oligarchs Gain From AI Doomerism. David Sirota speaks with Ed Zitron and Matt Stoller about the AI panic sweeping Wall Street and Washington — and what Big Tech CEOs really want.
Cutting Through the AI Doomsday Noise. More from Stoller and Zitron about whether we’re staring down an AI apocalypse.
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MIDTERM MADNESS
Your weekly essential midterm elections update from The Lever newsroom. Midterm Madness brings you the races worth watching, the money trails worth following, the numbers that cut through the spin, and the campaign moments that say more than the official talking points ever will.
Every Wednesday, paid subscribers get essential election updates , reporting, and insights like:
- Was AIPAC involved in the cancellation of Macklemore?
- Elon Musk’s legislative allies just got a rude awakening.
- One candidate’s defense of Epstein associates starts to make sense.
Don’t miss out on the conversation: Upgrade now .
Read Midterm Madness
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LEVERMIND
Why are stadium owners angry? Is the Strait of Hormuz still blocked? And whose campaigns are funded by Big Tech?
The answers to these questions and many more can be found in LeverMind , our weekly news quiz for paid subscribers that tests your knowledge of the developments that really matter — and who needs to be held accountable.
Find out if you’re a true LeverMind:
Start The Quiz Now
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FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS
Every week, You Love To See It rounds up important policy wins, environmental victories, and social initiatives improving people’s lives, exclusively for paid subscribers.
A taste of this week’s good news :
- AI Gets Detention
- Voting rights get legal enforcements
- Court power stops coal power
- A kid takes on Big Hospital — and wins
Read You Love To See It
You Love To See It is one of many exclusive benefits we provide to our paid subscribers. To gain access and loads of other perks, upgrade now !
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THANK YOU TO OUR LEVER LEADERS
Lever Leaders provide our highest level of support and receive additional perks in return, including a yearly gift subscription for friends and family, access to an exclusive Lever staff meeting for a sneak peek at our future plans, and an annual gift of limited-edition Lever merchandise.
Join readers like Jerold M. , who had this to say about becoming a Lever Leader:
“Independent investigative journalism is a cornerstone of a healthy, thriving democracy”
Become A Lever Leader Today
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LEVER IN THE NEWS
Alaska Native News — The outlet highlighted Sirota’s argument that making AI executives financially and criminally liable for the destruction their technology causes would force companies to make AI safer.
Working Families Party — The political organization featured our reporting in an ad opposing Delaware state Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha as an Elon Musk ally.
Feeling overwhelmed by the news onslaught? We’ve got you covered. Become a paid subscriber to help us sort through the noise and provide you with the information you need to understand what’s really going on.
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Lever Weekly: Everybody Panic, Nobody Regulate
Aggregated summary from an independent source. Read the original at LeverNews.