Tangle

On Friday, July 24, Reuters reported that an OpenAI autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent broke out of a contained environment and hacked a popular AI development website. The hack began on July 11 and lasted until July 13, when it was detected by an AI at the targeted company, Hugging Face. OpenAI remained unaware of the incident for days, and the two companies did not communicate directly until July 20, well after Hugging Face had alerted the FBI of an intrusion. Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership!We won!A few weeks back, we asked Tangle readers to support our nomination for the inaugural Newsletter Awards. On Friday, we learned we won the top prize — the People’s Choice award — for receiving the most votes among over 100 nominees. Thanks so much for voting for us; every bit of recognition like this helps spread the word about our work. It’s a proud day for the entire Tangle community. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: How concerned are you about AI development? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.

On Wednesday, July 22, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civil nuclear-cooperation agreement. The deal is a “123 Agreement,” named after Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, outlining a partnership between the two countries to establish a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia. However, the status of the deal is now in question after President Donald Trump said on Thursday that it was conditional on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership!We won!A few weeks back, we asked Tangle readers to support our nomination for the inaugural Newsletter Awards. On Friday, we learned we won the top prize — the People’s Choice award — for receiving the most votes among over 100 nominees. Thanks so much for voting for us; every bit of recognition like this helps spread the word about our work. It’s a proud day for the entire Tangle community. You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of the deal? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Will Kaback and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.

On Tuesday, July 21, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) announced that an error in the state’s motor-vehicles system software resulted in approximately 6,600 noncitizens being registered to vote, and a preliminary assessment showed roughly 400 of them cast a ballot in at least one election. Sherrill said the improper registrations occurred during former Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) term and ordered an investigation into the error.Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership!A guest essay.Megan Phelps-Roper was raised in the Westboro Baptist Church, a group widely condemned by other Christian churches and organizations for its extreme, vulgar rhetoric. As an adult, Phelps-Roper left the congregation and became one of its chief critics, as well as a writer and activist. In a guest essay for Tangle, she wrote about what she lost when she left — and what aspects of her upbringing she’s now reclaiming. You can read it here.You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: Should the noncitizens who voted be prosecuted? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.

A guest column from Megan Phelps-Roper.Dear readers,As Tangle continues to grow, one of my goals is to expand our stable of writers. We want more people writing under the Tangle banner who can represent the center, center-left, center-right, the progressive left, the MAGA right, and those of us (like me) who just find ourselves complicated, confused, and mixed up in today’s political alignment. One such fascinating person is Megan Phelps-Roper, the political activist and writer who is best known for leaving the Westboro Baptist Church. The church, founded by Phelps-Roper’s grandfather, is widely regarded as a hate group. Her departure from the church — and then role as one of its chief critics — became a national news story. A few weeks ago, Phelps-Roper and podcast producer Andy Mills reached out to me about a new show they were working on — one in which she revisits her childhood upbringing and reflects on what she’s lost by leaving the church. I was fascinated by the pitch, and excited to learn that Phelps-Roper was interested in writing about it for Tangle.So, today, I’m thrilled to share her essay reflecting on her departure from the Westboro Baptist Church, but also the ways in which she feels like her religious upbringing has never left her — and how she’s trying, in some ways, to return to it. I hope you enjoy.Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!A new Suspension of the Rules.This week, Isaac, Kmele, and a fresh-faced Ari reunite to talk election integrity, Bill O’Reilly, a twist in an old Hunter Biden story, and the challenge of separating political rhetoric from reality. Check it out here.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Megan Phelps-Roper and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Jon Lall.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.

Over the past week, smoke from wildfires in Canada (as well as northern Minnesota) has affected air quality and visibility across the Midwest and East Coast of the United States. As of Monday, air-quality alerts remained in place for a large portion of the country, and experts expect wildfire smoke to remain prevalent through August. The fires have raised concerns about climate-related catalysts of extreme environmental events, as well as scrutiny of Canada’s forest management. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!A new Suspension of the Rules.This week, Isaac, Kmele, and a fresh-faced Ari reunite to talk election integrity, Bill O’Reilly, a twist in an old Hunter Biden story, and the challenge of separating political rhetoric from reality. Check it out here.You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What’s responsible for Canada’s wildfires? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Ari Weitzman and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.

Coming up on today's episode of Suspension of the Rules, Isaac and Kmele are joined by Ari Weitzman once again. They get into election fraud, data centers, the kind of cover up happening right now in Iran and then Isaac and Kmele take a victory lap about all the things they have been right about. Last but not least, our grievances. It's a spicy good one!Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up! Click HERE to get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle’s podcast membership.ICYMI.Tuesday, we released our report on the fight over Alaska’s novel election system, which uses a top-four primary and ranked-choice voting in the general election. Senior Editor Will Kaback traveled to the state to talk with proponents and opponents of the system — and how it’s already changed Alaskan politics. What he found might surprise you. Check it out here.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was hosted by: Isaac Saul and audio edited and mixed by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Jon Lall.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead.

On Monday, Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) said she will run for a full, six-year term to succeed her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), who passed away suddenly on July 11 after suffering an aortic dissection. Republicans will hold a special primary on August 11 to select a new candidate to run against physician Annie Andrews (D) in the general election. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!ICYMI.Yesterday, we released our report on the fight over Alaska’s novel election system, which uses a top-four primary and ranked-choice voting in the general election. Senior Editor Will Kaback traveled to the state to talk with proponents and opponents of the system — and how it’s already changed Alaskan politics. What he found might surprise you. Check it out here.You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of family members filling deceased relatives’ seats? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.

On Tuesday, July 14, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed an executive order pausing construction of new large-scale data centers in the state for up to one year. Hochul said the moratorium is intended to allow policymakers to study the economic and environmental effects of new data centers and consider regulatory action. The governor’s order went into effect immediately, making New York the first state to halt data center construction. Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!What happened to Alaska’s election reform?In 2020, Alaskans voted to adopt a first-of-its-kind election system — top-four open primaries with ranked-choice voting in the general election — which advocates said would expand voter choice and boost consensus-minded candidates. In 2024, an initiative to repeal that system narrowly failed, but a new repeal measure is on the ballot this year. Ahead of that critical vote, Senior Editor Will Kaback traveled to Alaska to speak with the leading voices on each side of the issue about the impact of the state’s election reform — and whether it will survive another challenge. Check it out here.You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of Hochul’s order? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Ari Weitzman and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.

On Thursday, July 9, President Donald Trump fired the two Democratic commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and the agency’s final commissioner, a Republican, resigned. Without commissioners, the agency can still distribute election funding to states, but some of its functions will be impacted, such as establishing new programs or carrying out the appeals process for decertified voting systems. President Trump has not indicated whether he plans to nominate replacements. The White House said the Supreme Court’s recent ruling affirming the president’s power to remove leaders of independent agencies established precedent for the firings.Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today’s “Under the radar” story ⁠here⁠ and today’s “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: How concerned are you about these firings? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco.