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150. Who Controls the Future? Pentagon AI, Agent Leaks, Tariffs Hitting Allies, and China’s Export Curbs
21:56||Ep. 150Two fronts are breaking at once. On AI: Anthropic’s Pentagon fight escalates as enterprise AI agents show real-world leak paths—from Copilot exposing email content to prompt injection risks in coding tools. On trade: tariffs keep ricocheting into allies, Europe moves toward “Made in Europe,” and China retaliates against Japan with export curbs tied to rare-earth leverage.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN- Why Anthropic’s Pentagon standoff is an existential test of “safety limits” in AI- Why Anthropic vs OpenAI rivalry is escalating ahead of IPO season- How Meta & Big Tech’s election-cycle spending is shaping state-level AI rules—and why data centers and power pricing are part of the fight- What Utah’s HB 286 signals about where “serious” AI oversight might actually come from- Why AI agents are structurally an insider-risk problem - How Section 122 tariffs create short-term whiplash and long-term legal exposure (and why stability isn’t coming soon)- Why tariff policy can end up helping adversaries while raising costs for allies- What Europe’s “Made in Europe” push is trying to do—and why the internal EU fight matters- Why China’s export curbs on Japan are a preview of the next phase of rare-earth leverageTIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS)00:00 – Two fronts: AI security + trade escalation00:47 – Anthropic vs Pentagon: DoD contract pressure and safety red lines02:11 – Supply-chain risk threat: why it’s the “nuclear option”03:09 – Anthropic vs OpenAI rivalry + IPO positioning06:18 – Big Tech vs state AI regulation: campaign spending and PAC wars08:34 – Utah HB 286: what “real” AI oversight could look like09:56 – AI agent security: why agents are insider risk by design10:56 – Copilot leak mode: emails + drafts exposed via agent behavior11:25 – Prompt injection in coding workflows: how “inputs become instructions”13:45 – Trade update: post-ruling tariff whiplash and looming lawsuits14:41 – Section 122: 150-day emergency tariffs and legal contradictions17:10 – Refund lawsuits begin: who sues first and why others follow17:48 – EU pauses the U.S. trade deal again18:28 – “Made in Europe”: sector focus + origin thresholds + EU internal fractures20:35 – China escalates against Japan: export curbs + rare-earth pressure21:51 – Closing
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149. Tariff Whiplash: FedEx Sues for Refunds, Made in Europe & China Hits Japan
08:27||Ep. 149The Supreme Court’s ruling against the administration’s emergency tariff strategy didn’t bring stability. It triggered new chaos. We break down the new 10% Section 122 “stopgap” tariff, the refund wars that are now starting, Europe’s “Made in Europe” turn, and China’s escalation against Japan.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN- What the Supreme Court ruling changed and what did not- Why Section 122 is now the administration’s 150-day workaround, and why lawsuits may follow - Why FedEx’s refund lawsuit matters (and why it likely won’t be the last)- How “Made in Europe” could help specific sectors, and why the UK is mad- Why EU–U.S. trade politics are freezing again - How China’s new rare earths export curbs escalate tensions with JapanTIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS)00:00 – The post-SCOTUS tariff week: chaos, not clarity00:55 – Section 122: the 150-day “emergency” tariff workaround02:13 – Who wins/loses under the new tariff structure (allies vs rivals)03:25 – Refund wars begin: FedEx files first major refund lawsuit04:03 – EU–U.S. trade deal put on ice again (ratification pauses) 04:42 – “Made in Europe”: sectors + origin thresholds in the leaked draft 06:50 – China escalates against Japan: export curbs + supply-chain pressure 08:06 – ClosingSOURCES- Supreme Court Ruling on Illegal Tariffs: https://youtu.be/ztIxnDtWI5s- Top 20 Tariff Impact Chart — Global Trade Tracker: https://globaltradealert.org/reports/S122-US-Tariff-Estimates- FedEx Sues Over Trump Tariffs in Federal Court: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/23/fedex-lawsuit-trump-tariffs- New Legal Battles Challenge Trump Tariff Policies: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/us/politics/trump-tariffs-new-legal-challenges.html- EU Freezes Trade Deal with U.S. Over Tariff Threats: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/02/23/meps-freeze-eu-us-trade-deal-over-latest-trump-threats- Tariffs Benefit China and Brazil, Hurt U.S. Allies: https://www.ft.com/content/a12657e5-e160-444d-9b4e-87e89480e625?accessToken=zwAAAZ0iQ0vjkdOhJlfl4WBETdObTofolIDmJQE.MEYCIQDqQa6GOO34kyaEq-5KAK0k4u8V4-9f5Kwhk54b1WPWsQIhAOZCATZkLvqOHsewOGguDp_xMwdgsjOLMYZzclfdPIKJ&segmentId=a12657e5-e160-444d-9b4e-87e89480e625- “Made in Europe” Plan Sparks Brussels Lobbying Battles: https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/02/19/made-in-europe-plan-sparks-intense-brussels-lobbying- China Imposes Export Curbs on Japanese Companies: https://ft.trib.al/BjHpViR
148. Anthropic Fights Pentagon Blacklist, Meta Attacks AI Safety & Copilot Leaks Your Emails
13:11||Ep. 148This episode tracks three converging fault lines in AI: a Pentagon dispute that could brand Anthropic a “supply chain risk,” a state-level regulatory war fueled by Big Tech PAC money, and fresh evidence that AI agents can leak sensitive enterprise data through tooling and prompt injection.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN- Why Anthropic is battling DOD, and the implications of the Pentagon's "supply chain risk" threat- How the Anthropic vs OpenAI rivalry is spilling into brand warfare and IPO narratives- What Meta’s $65M state-campaign plan signals about the next phase of AI regulation- Why Utah’s HB286 is being treated as a national “test case” for AI oversight - Why AI agents structurally resemble “insider risk” in enterprise security programs- How AI agents like Microsoft's Copilot can leak confidential data despite intended controls TIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS)00:00 – What this episode covers: DoD, state oversight, and enterprise AI risk 00:20 – Anthropic vs Pentagon: contract pressure and “supply chain risk” threat 02:18 – Anthropic vs OpenAI rivalry and the IPO race framing 05:31 – Meta’s $65M push and the PAC war over state AI regulation 07:27 – Utah HB286: what “serious oversight” looks like at the state level 09:09 – AI agent security: why agents behave like insider risk 10:09 – Copilot leak: email and draft exposure risk 10:37 – Aikido prompt-injection finding: commits and PRs as attack channels 12:56 – ClosingSOURCES- Anthropic’s Growing Pentagon Partnership Explained: https://www.axios.com/2026/02/16/anthropic-defense-department-relationship-hegseth- Anthropic and Pentagon Collaboration on AI Defense Tech: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/18/anthropic-pentagon-ai-defense-war-surveillance.html- Inside the Sam Altman vs Dario Amodei AI Rivalry: https://www.msn.com/en-in/technology/artificial-intelligence/when-rivals-won-t-hold-hands-inside-the-sam-altman-dario-amodei-ai-rivalry/ar-AA1WF5tk- OpenAI Revenue Surge Forecast Tops $280 Billion: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/openai-forecasts-revenue-top-280-230738108.html- AI-Driven Ad Blitz Dominates 2026 Political Campaigns: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/technology/ai-pac-ad-blitz.html- Meta Invests $65 Million in Election AI Tools: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/technology/meta-65-million-election-ai.html- Secret AI Energy Deals?! How Big Tech Drives Up Your Power Bill: https://youtu.be/4vr0TL6Mu70 - Democrats Debate Role of AI in Progressive Campaigning: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/opinion/alex-bores-ai-democrats.html- Microsoft Copilot Bug Exposes Confidential Emails: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-says-bug-causes-copilot-to-summarize-confidential-emails/- AI Agents Ignoring Security Rules Raise Enterprise Risks: https://www.darkreading.com/application-security/ai-agents-ignore-security-policies- Prompt Injection Threat: AI Coding Tools Turned Against Users: https://cyberscoop.com/ai-coding-tools-can-be-turned-against-you-aikido-github-prompt-injection/
147. Court Rules Most Trump Tariffs Illegal, Refunds Coming?
07:18||Ep. 147The courts just kneecapped the emergency-tariff playbook. We cover what’s invalidated, what’s still legal, and why refunds may become the real war of 2026.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN- What the court actually blocked and why IEEPA authority was found insufficient for sweeping tariffs- Which tariffs likely remain in place (notably Section 232 steel/aluminum) versus those at risk- Why the court decision does not automatically create a clean refund process- Who can plausibly seek refunds (importers who paid duties) versus who likely cannot (most consumers)- The scale of tariff revenues collected and why refund mechanics could be slow and litigious- Why mid-size firms often feel tariff pain more acutely than giants (pricing power and absorption)- What the latest trade deficit data implies about whether tariffs achieved stated goals- How a temporary, time-limited tariff tool (Section 122) can be used as a workaround and why it mattersTIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS)00:00 – What changed: courts vs “Liberation Day” tariffs00:54 – Update 1: Broad reciprocal tariffs ruled outside emergency authority01:51 – Update 2: Canada/Mexico/China fentanyl-linked tariffs swept into the same problem02:15 – Update 3: What stays (sector tariffs like steel/aluminum) and why02:38 – Update 4: Refunds: the ruling didn’t define the process03:53 – Update 5: Importers paid first; consumers paid indirectly (sometimes)04:35 – Update 6: Why mid-size companies bore the brunt04:58 – Update 7: Trade deficit reality check05:50 – Update 8: Retaliatory/temporary tariff workaround and why it’s time-limited06:39 – What to watch next in 2026SOURCESBreaking: Supreme Court Rules on Trump Tariffs Impact: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9Read the Full Supreme Court Opinion on Tariffs (PDF): https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdfSupreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariff Policy: https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/02/supreme-court-strikes-down-tariffs/Congressional Research Report: U.S. Tariff and Trade Policy Overview: https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48549Tariffs Hit Midsized U.S. Companies and Consumers Hard: https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-midsized-companies-costs-consumers-2a25158ff1d06bd7f72d909a8ec64f25?__vfz=medium%3Dstandalone_top_pagesTariffs Deepen U.S. Trade Deficit and Impact Imports: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/business/economy/imports-tariffs-trade-deficit.htmlTrump Escalates U.S.–China Trade War with New Tariffs: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/31/trump-china-trade-war-tariffs.htmlInside Trump’s New Tariff Strategy on Trade, Customs, and Imports: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/15/trump-tariffs-trade-customs-imports.htmlPresident Seeks New 10% Tariffs After Supreme Court Loss: https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-whats-next-b8b6d5d44ebb3640a88f7202754cb361
146. Hostile AI, Tech Tax Windfall, CEO Churn & Who Pays for Data Center Power
22:13||Ep. 146AI is acting up, Big Tech is cashing in, and the human systems are straining. We cover hostile AI, deepfakes, privacy, tax breaks and century bonds, Gen Z cognition, CEO churn, defense pressure, and the fight over data center power costs.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN- What the “hostile AI” incident suggests about alignment, behavior drift, and reputational risk- Why an Anthropic safety leader resignation matters, and what questions remain unanswered- How Hollywood deepfakes are accelerating the IP and authenticity crisis- What a Google privacy settlement implies about always-on assistants and inadvertent recording- Why “private conversations” are now a recurring legal and business-risk category- How 2025 tax changes rewarded AI capex and why that raises sustainability questions- Why a 100-year corporate bond is a signal of confidence and risk transfer at the same time- What the Gen Z cognition testimony argues about screens, edtech, and learning outcomes- Why ultra-processed food is being compared to nicotine in addiction and regulation debates- What Moderna’s blocked mRNA flu shot could mean for access in the 2026 season- What record CEO turnover suggests about succession planning and board stress- Why defense contractors face a two-front squeeze (allied procurement shifts + U.S. enforcement)- How data centers can raise power bills, and why “who pays” is becoming a policy fight- Why balcony solar proposals could be a practical consumer response to energy inflationTIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS)00:00 – What this episode covers: AI hostility, tax breaks, Gen Z cognition, CEOs, energy, defense 00:37 – AI turns hostile: bots bullying humans and what it signals 01:00 – Hostile AI incident: developer clash and escalation to personal attacks 02:26 – Anthropic safety resignation: “world in peril” warning and open questions 03:19 – Deepfakes hit Hollywood: IP rights, stewardship, and the reality gap 04:57 – Privacy: Google Assistant recording settlement and why it keeps happening 06:02 – Tech tax breaks: why AI capex is being rewarded by the tax code 07:22 – 100-year bond: AI debt, bubble echoes, and who carries the downside 08:21 – Gen Z cognition + screens: testimony and policy intervention debate 10:48 – PFAS at the Olympics: health, environment, and contamination in remote places 12:12 – Ultra-processed foods vs nicotine: addiction design and regulation argument 13:24 – Flu shot risk: Moderna mRNA blocked and potential 2026 access issues 14:38 – Record CEO turnover: younger, first-time CEOs and succession stress 16:52 – Defense contractors squeezed: Canada shift + U.S. executive order pressure 18:52 – AI energy costs: data centers, ratepayers, and a possible White House order 21:24 – One good thing: balcony solar policy spreading across states 23:09 – Closing
145. Record CEO Turnover, Defense Contractor Squeeze & Will Tech Pay for AI Energy?
09:18||Ep. 1451 in 9 CEOs axed in 2025 — replaced by rookies. Defense giants squeezed by allies and audits. AI data centers spiking your power bill. Who's paying? Watch now.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN- What the data suggests about record CEO turnover and why it matters- Which major brands are seeing leadership changes and what that signals about board priorities- Why the new CEO cohort is younger and more often first-time public company leaders- How stopgap “board member” CEO selections can reflect succession planning failures- Why defense contractors face a two-front squeeze: allied procurement shifts and U.S. contract discipline- What the executive order restrictions on buybacks, dividends, and executive pay aim to change- How AI data centers can raise consumer energy costs and why “secret power deals” matter- What Anthropic’s “pay the full freight” pledge could imply, and why skepticism is warranted- What a broader executive order on energy cost responsibility could look like- Why balcony and plug-in solar proposals in 24 states could be a practical consumer response- The realistic tradeoff of small systems: meaningful savings, not whole-home powerTIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS)00:00 – What this episode covers: CEO churn, defense pressure, AI energy costs 00:17 – Record CEO turnover: key findings and what boards are signaling 02:31 – Defense contractors squeezed: Canada procurement shift and U.S. enforcement push 04:31 – AI and energy bills: data center demand, “fair share” debate, and policy response 07:04 – One good thing: balcony solar laws and consumer-friendly micro-generation 08:52 – ClosingSOURCESRecord CEO Turnover: https://www.wsj.com/business/c-suite/new-ceo-replacements-age-young-5c503b88 Pentagon Puts Defense Contractors on Notice — Stock Buybacks Under Review: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/pentagon-needs-more-time-to-finalize-defense-firms-on-naughty-list-after-initial-review/Secret AI Power Deals Exposed — Why Your Power Bill Skyrocketed: https://youtu.be/4vr0TL6Mu70Anthropic Pledges Power Bill Relief Amid AI Data Center Expansion: https://www.reuters.com/technology/anthropic-shoulder-some-costs-data-center-expansions-threaten-raise-power-bills-2026-02-11/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-usAnthropic Covers Power Bill Hikes from AI Growth: https://www.anthropic.com/news/covering-electricity-price-increasesU.S. Data Center Agreements Amid Energy Price Spikes: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/09/trump-administration-eyes-data-center-agreements-amid-energy-price-spikes-00772024States Push “Make Your Own Electricity” Legislation — Plug-In Solar Gains Traction: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/climate/plug-in-solar-power-bills.html
144. School Screens Destroyed Gen Z Brains, Plus Why Food Addicts You Like Nicotine
06:14||Ep. 144New evidence suggests a decline in Gen Z's cognitive abilities, raising concerns about gen z mental health and factors like "brain fog." Simultaneously, research highlights the significant risks associated with ultra processed food and its impact on overall well-being. Adding to these concerns, there's a potential shortage of the influenza vaccine in 2026, posing a serious challenge to public health.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN- What recent congressional testimony says about Gen Z cognitive trends- How classroom screen exposure and digital multitasking affect attention and memory- Why some researchers are calling for limits on edtech in schools- Why PFAS were banned at the Winter Olympics and what that signals- How ultra-processed foods are being compared to nicotine in new research- Why scientists argue ultra-processed foods should face stricter regulation- Why the FDA blocked Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine despite positive efficacy data- What vaccine delays could mean for seniors, children, and vulnerable populationsTIMESTAMPS (CHAPTERS)00:00 – Overview: cognition, food addiction, vaccine risk00:22 – Congressional testimony on Gen Z cognitive trends01:22 – Screens, edtech, and attention decline02:26 – PFAS Olympic ban and environmental health03:50 – Ultra-processed foods compared to nicotine05:02 – FDA blocks Moderna mRNA flu vaccine05:34 – Public health implicationsSOURCESGen Z IQ Drop — Senate Report Blames Screens & Social Media: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/A19DF2E8-3C69-4193-A676-430CF0C83DC2PFAS Banned at the Olympics — Climate Win or Overreach?: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/climate/olympics-ski-snowboard-wax-pfas-forever-chemicals.htmlPFAS Deep Dive Explained: https://youtu.be/Pwa84INRIiMThe Ultra-Processed Food Addiction Debate — Like Cigarettes 2.0?: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/feb/03/public-health-ultra-processed-foods-regulation-cigarettes-addiction-nutritionFlu Vaccine Shortages Spark FDA Controversy: https://apnews.com/article/moderna-vaccine-flu-mrna-2fc551cb2fb45735e67db0a4e2e2b0fbGlobal Perspectives on mRNA Vaccine Development: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41541-024-01019-3