2026-03-04
Media companies doing AI deals are trying to learn the lessons of the early 2000s, when Google and Facebook swallowed their content and advertising model. But partnering with AI companies to improve their models seems like a devil's bargain for quick cash.
Wall Street Journal
Sources: Meta has signed a multiyear AI licensing deal with News Corp for UK and US content, worth up to $50M per year and running for at least three years
2026-03-02
The reason the Pentagon ended talks with Anthropic, creating an opening for OpenAI, was Anthropic's refusal to allow its tech to be used on unclassified, commercial bulk data on Americans, like geolocation and web browsing data, the Atlantic reports: [image]
The Verge
Sources: OpenAI agreed to follow US laws that have allowed for mass surveillance in the past, and the DOD didn't budge from its demands over bulk analyzing data
On Friday evening, amidst fallout from a standoff between the Department of Defense and Anthropic, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced …
The reason the Pentagon ended talks with Anthropic, creating an opening for OpenAI, was Anthropic's refusal to allow its tech to be used on unclassified, commercial bulk data on Americans, like geolocation and web browsing data, the Atlantic reports: [image]
The Atlantic
A source describes the failed Pentagon-Anthropic talks: through the end, the Pentagon wanted to use Anthropic's AI to analyze bulk data collected from Americans
Right up until the moment that Pete Hegseth moved to terminate the government's relationship with the AI company Anthropic …
2026-02-28
Like the MrBeast case, this style of enforcement is straightforward: an employee was sloppy or brazen about using company info for gambling. But who decides what is “material non-public information” outside the context of a company? or when the person betting isn't an employee?
Wired
OpenAI fired an employee for insider trading on prediction markets like Polymarket; Unusual Whales has flagged 77 suspected insider trades around OpenAI events
Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are big business, and some Big Tech employees are testing boundaries by making trades based on insider knowledge.
2026-02-27
OpenAI's Sam Altman is pursuing a deal with the Pentagon “that allows our models to be deployed in classified environments and that fits with our principles,” he wrote in a note to staff Thursday evening, the WSJ reports [image]
Axios
Sam Altman says OpenAI shares Anthropic's red lines with respect to AI use by the military, which are “an issue for the whole industry”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a memo to staff that he will draw the same red lines that sparked a high-stakes fight between rival Anthropic …
OpenAI's Sam Altman is pursuing a deal with the Pentagon “that allows our models to be deployed in classified environments and that fits with our principles,” he wrote in a note to staff Thursday evening, the WSJ reports [image]
Wall Street Journal
Note to staff: Sam Altman says OpenAI seeks a DOD deal, except for use cases like domestic surveillance, and wants to “help de-escalate” DOD-Anthropic fight
Keach Hagey /Wall Street Journal:
Like the MrBeast case, this style of enforcement is straightforward: an employee was sloppy or brazen about using company info for gambling. But who decides what is “material non-public information” outside the context of a company? or when the person betting isn't an employee?
Wired
OpenAI fired an employee for insider trading on prediction markets like Polymarket; Unusual Whales has flagged 77 suspected insider trades around OpenAI events
2026-02-18
The criticism of prediction markets is that Kalshi/Polymarket and their backers claim they serve a beneficial financial purpose and generate real insight. But in practice, they are platforms to sidestep sports gambling laws and serve as grey-area conduits for insider trading
Axios
CFTC Chair Mike Selig says the commission will file friend-of-the-court briefs to defend its exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets amid state lawsuits
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is launching a legal campaign to defend its regulatory turf on prediction markets …
Trump's CFTC is moving to prevent states from regulating prediction markets Chair Selig says prediction markets “provide useful functions to society” and “serve as an important check on our news media and our information streams” No mention of sports betting or insider trading
Wall Street Journal
A Las Vegas federal appeals court rejects Kalshi's emergency bid for an administrative stay on Nevada's push to block the platform, a major setback for Kalshi
A federal appeals court rejected Kalshi's bid, setting the stage for Nevada's civil-enforcement proceedings
Trump's CFTC is moving to prevent states from regulating prediction markets Chair Selig says prediction markets “provide useful functions to society” and “serve as an important check on our news media and our information streams” No mention of sports betting or insider trading
Axios
CFTC Chair Mike Selig says the commission will file friend-of-the-court briefs to defend its exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets amid state lawsuits
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is launching a legal campaign to defend its regulatory turf on prediction markets …
The criticism of prediction markets is that Kalshi/Polymarket and their backers claim they serve a beneficial financial purpose and generate real insight. But in practice, they are platforms to sidestep sports gambling laws and serve as grey-area conduits for insider trading
Wall Street Journal
A Las Vegas federal appeals court rejects Kalshi's emergency bid for an administrative stay on Nevada's push to block the platform, a major setback for Kalshi
A federal appeals court rejected Kalshi's bid, setting the stage for Nevada's civil-enforcement proceedings
2026-02-17
Trump's CFTC is moving to prevent states from regulating prediction markets Chair Selig says prediction markets “provide useful functions to society” and “serve as an important check on our news media and our information streams” No mention of sports betting or insider trading
Axios
CFTC Chair Mike Selig says the commission will file friend-of-the-court briefs to defend its exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets amid state lawsuits
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is launching a legal campaign to defend its regulatory turf on prediction markets …
The criticism of prediction markets is that Kalshi/Polymarket and their backers claim they serve a beneficial financial purpose and generate real insight. But in practice, they are platforms to sidestep sports gambling laws and serve as grey-area conduits for insider trading
Axios
CFTC Chair Mike Selig says the commission will file friend-of-the-court briefs to defend its exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets amid state lawsuits
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is launching a legal campaign to defend its regulatory turf on prediction markets …
2026-02-13
trust busting energy
Axios
US DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater says she is leaving, in a departure viewed as a victory for tech giants over some of MAGA's more populist voices
2026-02-12
trust busting energy
Axios
US DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater says she is leaving, in a departure viewed as a victory for tech giants over some of MAGA's more populist voices
Gail Slater on Thursday said she is leaving the Justice Department, where she led the antitrust division.
2026-02-09
The WSJ on crypto's large adult sons: “because they were able to extract real cash from their ventures quickly, they are far less exposed to the current crypto downturn than retail investors who loaded up on digital tokens.” The Trump sons, the Witkoff son, the Lutnick son... [image]
Wall Street Journal
Analysis: the Trump family's World Liberty Financial has earned them $1.2B+ in cash since its October 2024 launch, while the Witkoff family has earned $200M+
2026-02-08
The WSJ on crypto's large adult sons: “because they were able to extract real cash from their ventures quickly, they are far less exposed to the current crypto downturn than retail investors who loaded up on digital tokens.” The Trump sons, the Witkoff son, the Lutnick son... [image]
Wall Street Journal
Analysis: World Liberty Financial has earned the Trump family at least $1.2B in cash since its launch, while the Witkoff family has earned at least $200M
Sons of top Trump administration officials made billions for their families, but their investors didn't always fare so wellForums:r/Enough_Sanders_SpamForums:r/Enough_Sanders_Spam:...
2026-01-28
Wired: Meta has started blocking its users from sharing links to ICE List, a website that has compiled the names of what it claims are Department of Homeland Security employees, a project the creators say is designed to hold those employees accountable. [image]
Wired
Meta blocks users from sharing links to ICE List, which compiles names of DHS staffers; Meta cites a policy against “asking for personally identifiable” info
Users of Meta's social platforms can no longer share links to ICE List, a website listing what it claims are the names of thousands of DHS employees.
2026-01-27
Wired: Meta has started blocking its users from sharing links to ICE List, a website that has compiled the names of what it claims are Department of Homeland Security employees, a project the creators say is designed to hold those employees accountable. [image]
Wired
Meta blocks users from sharing links to ICE List, which compiles names of DHS staffers; Meta cites a policy against “asking for personally identifiable” info
Users of Meta's social platforms can no longer share links to ICE List, a website listing what it claims are the names of thousands of DHS employees.
2025-12-11
What's confusing about Disney partnering with OpenAI is Disney is held up as a haven from YouTube algorithmic slop and more recently AI slop. (You don't have to worry about your kids scrolling thru Disney+) This deal doesn't impact Disney's platform but it taints that dynamic [image]
OpenAI
Disney and OpenAI sign a three-year deal to bring 200+ Disney characters to Sora; Disney makes a $1B investment in OpenAI and will become a major OpenAI client
Agreement marks a significant step in setting meaningful standards for responsible AI in entertainment.