The great AI debate is tormenting Democrats heading into the midterms and 2028. On the one hand, backing regulations on the rapidly evolving technology appears to be a politically shrewd move. More and more examples of AI operating at odds with human interests are coming to light. The leaders of the country’s most advanced labs have called for a national slowdown over concerns their products could destroy human civilization. And voters across the ideological spectrum see grave, existential risks posed by AI. On the other hand, money talks. Some Democratic consultants are quietly urging candidates in the toughest battleground races to stay mum on the issue — at least through Election Day — over fears that powerful and well-resourced pro-AI interest groups could spend money pummeling them in the final weeks of the midterms, POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill, Lisa Kashinsky and Jason Beeferman report. The party faces a massive financial disadvantage, and pro-AI groups already flexed their money muscle against critics during the primaries. “These AI groups — they come out and they say that they're concerned, that they want regulation. But then they spend huge amounts of money on defeating anybody who wants legislative regulation,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told Meredith and co. That hasn’t stopped other national Democrats — and potential 2028 candidates — from jumping into the fray and calling for guardrails, putting them at odds with an unpopular President Donald Trump, who’s repeatedly called the AI panic a “hoax” — a line that’s echoing outside the White House. At campaign rallies and on X, presidential prospects from Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have demanded action on AI. In a speech this afternoon, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will call for increased regulation and slam Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson for not doing enough, Playbook reported this morning. And California Gov. Gavin Newsom told POLITICO’s Chase DiFeliciantonio and Jeremy White he plans to take further action on AI safety before leaving office, potentially through a special legislative session, executive action or steps by state agencies under their existing authority. “We’re looking at across the spectrum,” the governor said. “We’re looking to see what we can do in the next few weeks — days, weeks, and months.” But the salience doesn’t appear to be breaking through yet, despite voters’ concerns. Battleground Democratic Reps. Susie Lee (Nev.) and Greg Landsman (Ohio) told POLITICO they weren’t planning ads on AI safeguards, even as they advocate for more regulations. Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping the AI super PACs might boost them in states like Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff has been aggressive in his criticism, or Texas, where GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton has trailed in most recent polls. “We could use the help in some races like that,” one GOP senator told POLITICO. Good Thursday afternoon. This is Irie Sentner. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at isentner@politico.com.
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IN MEMORIAM — “Former US Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, a ‘workhorse’ who shaped water policy, dies at 84,” via AP: “Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Arizona who shaped landmark water policies in the U.S. West and guided the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, has died. He was 84. … Kyl died Wednesday night from a neurological disorder, said Gordon James, a communications professional who is longtime friends with the Kyl family. Kyl had withdrawn from public life in December 2025 after announcing he had been diagnosed with dementia.” THAT’S DRAMATIC — President Donald Trump was photographed last night on Air Force One looking at a sign that appeared to read “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED,” per ABC’s Alex Ederson. Pool photographer Brendan Smialowski snapped the pic shortly after the president told reporters the center could be “ripped down,” one day after a judge blocked Trump’s name from appearing on its facade and its board voted to close it for two years of renovations. OUT AND ABOUT — Drinks were flowing at BGM Network’s GNO late last night, with the “Late Night Lounge” event living up to its name as a packed room of electeds and VIPs kept the party going. A go-go band hit the stage as the party hopped, and several members grabbed the night’s hottest accessory on their way out: a pair of comfy flip-flops. SPOTTED: Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Nicole Venable, Maia Hunt Estes, Heather Podesta, DNC Chair Ken Martin, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Angie Nixon, David Crowley, Chris Rabb, Omarosa Newman, Gideon Bragin, Tasia Jackson, Cassandra Fields, Monica Garay, Didier Barjon and Yebbie Watkins. — SPOTTED at French Ambassador Laurent Bili's residence for a Légion d'Honneur decoration ceremony honoring Fred Ryan yesterday: Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), UAE Ambassador Yousef Al O’Taiba, Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar, Elaine Chao, John Harris, Don Graham, James Hohmann, Charlie Rivkin, Steve Hayes, Kevin Maroni, Jason Rezaian, Cathy Merrill, Will Swenson, Sam Feist, Stewart McLaurin, Roger Zakheim, Alison Starling, Anita McBride, David Ignatius, Sarah Perot, Gloria Dittus and Lynda Carter Altman. — Dallin H. Oaks, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered a keynote address as part of the Washington National Cathedral’s “A Better Way” series last night, in which he urged listeners to be peacemakers and to be loyal to “the Constitution and its principles and processes, not to particular office-holders.” SPOTTED at an alcohol-free reception afterward hosted by the Wheatley Institute (with Latter-day Saint-friendly Coca Cola products): Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), USTR Jamieson Greer, Chris Klomp, Thomas B. Griffith, Jeff Flake, Cheryl Flake, Paul Edwards, Emma Petty Addams, Marcus Faust, Aaron Sherinian, Marianne Viray, Maury Giles, Wylie van den Akker, Tim Schultz, Robert M. Daines, Hal Boyd, Tyler Deaton, Paul Lambert, C. Shane Reese, Eboo Patel and Tomicah Tillemann. — SPOTTED at the VIP opening night of “Come From Away” at Ford’s Theatre: Mexican Ambassador Roberto Lazzeri, Portuguese Ambassador Francisco Duarte Lopes, Italian Ambassador Marco Peronaci, Dutch Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar, Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.) and Michael Turner (R-Ohio), Roy and Abby Blunt, Andy Card, Josh Eastright, Terri Fariello, Cathy and Ed Gillespie, Robert Head, Alphonso Jackson, Karen Knutson, Laura Lane, Heather Podesta, Mark Lashier, Jacqueline Badger Mars, Anita and Tim McBride, Andy Pharoah, Dina Powell McCormick, Sarah Perot and Paul R. Tetreault. TRANSITIONS — Phil Klay is joining PEN America as president and board chair. He previously directed the Fairfield University MFA in creative writing. … Alex Barrera is joining Ballard Partners as a partner in its Miami and Tallahassee offices. He most recently was deputy chief of staff to Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez. MEDIA MOVE — Nick Smith has joined DC News Now as anchor of Sunrise on The Hill. He most recently was a national correspondent and fill-in anchor at NewsNation in Chicago. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editors Giuseppe Macri, Garrett Ross and Kyler Alvord. |
