Politics
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WIRED Podcasts
Far-Right Militias Are Back
As the US election approaches, one armed militia organized by a January 6 rioter is spreading its message across the country.
Leah Feiger
WIRED Politics Lab
Big Tech Is Giving Campaigns Both the Venom and the Antidote for GenAI
Makena Kelly
Secrecy Concerns Mount Over Spy Powers Targeting US Data Centers
A coalition of digital rights groups is demanding the US declassify records that would clarify just how expansive a major surveillance program really is.
Dell Cameron
The Affordable Connectivity Program Has a Lifeline in the Senate
The ACP provided a broadband subsidy for millions of Americans. Now Congress has a plan to reinstate it.
Makena Kelly
FCC Closes ‘Fast Lane’ Loophole in Final Net Neutrality Order
The agency released a final order clarifying that pay-to-play internet “fast lanes” for consumers violate its net neutrality rules. It also guarantees the new rules won't preempt state broadband affordability programs.
Makena Kelly
Meet the Woman Who Showed President Biden ChatGPT—and Helped Set the Course for AI
Arati Prabhakar has the ear of the US president and a massive mission: help manage AI, revive the semiconductor industry, and pull off a cancer moonshot.
Steven Levy
ISIS Created Fake CNN and Al Jazeera Broadcasts
One video focused on giving ISIS credit for a terror attack that Russian disinformation blamed on Ukraine. “It was essentially fake news to debunk fake news,” says an expert.
David Gilbert
Alex Jones Is Now Trying to Divert Money to His Father’s Supplements Business
Conspiracist Alex Jones has responded to his bankruptcy proceedings by urging viewers to spend money with his father’s company—which isn’t answerable to the Sandy Hook families.
Anna Merlan
A January 6 Rioter Is Leading an Armed National Militia From Prison
As the US election approaches, Edward “Jake” Lang says that the militia will focus on potential “civil unrest” around the vote and will be ready to activate at a moment’s notice.
David Gilbert
US Leaders Dodge Questions About Israel’s Influence Campaign
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has joined US intelligence officials in ignoring repeated inquiries about Israel’s “malign” efforts to covertly influence US voters.
Dell Cameron
There’s an AI Candidate Running for Parliament in the UK
If it wins, “AI Steve” will be represented by businessman Steve Endacott in Parliament. Endacott says he’ll merely be a conduit, and the AI will make the policy decisions.
Vittoria Elliott
Russia Is Targeting Germany With Fake Information as Europe Votes
A European Commission spokesperson says Russia is focusing on Germany more than any other EU country—and estimates the Kremlin is spending €1 billion on disinformation campaigns.
Morgan Meaker
The Pirate Party Survived Mutiny and Scandal. Now It’s Trying to Rewrite the Rules of the Web
File-sharing site The Pirate Bay sparked a copyright revolution. Twenty years on, the political movement it inspired is pitching for power in the European elections. If it succeeds, it could reshape the internet.
Morgan Meaker
How Donald Trump Could Weaponize US Surveillance in a Second Term
Donald Trump has vowed to go after political enemies, undocumented immigrants, and others if he wins. Experts warn he could easily turn the surveillance state against his targets.
Thor Benson
Crypto Scammers Are Targeting Trump’s MAGA Supporters
After Donald Trump’s campaign announced it would accept cryptocurrency, the operators of a host of fraudulent websites have sought to hustle his supporters.
Vittoria Elliott
AI Chatbots Are Running for Office Now
Meet AI Steve and VIC, the chatbots running for office in 2024.
Leah Feiger
Supreme Court Upholds Access to Abortion Pill in Unanimous Vote
The biggest battle over abortion rights since Roe v. Wade is over for now—and the Supreme Court has averted a major crisis for reproductive health care.
Kate Knibbs and Emily Mullin
An AI Bot Is (Sort of) Running for Mayor in Wyoming
Wyoming’s secretary of state wants the county to reject its candidacy, but the AI bot’s human “meat puppet” says everything is in order.
Vittoria Elliott
Latest
WIRED Politics Lab
A Billionaire Has a Plan to Save the Internet—Buying TikTok Is the Next Step
Makena Kelly
WINNER WINNER
Google’s and Microsoft’s AI Chatbots Refuse to Say Who Won the 2020 US Election
David Gilbert
Superspreader
A Former President’s Daughter Used X to Bombard South Africa With Conspiracy Theories
Vittoria Elliott
The WIRED AI Elections Project
Vittoria Elliott
AI Election Project Methodology and Submission Information
Vittoria Elliott
Fact Check
A Far-Right Indian News Site Posts Racist Conspiracies. US Tech Companies Keep Platforming It
Vittoria Elliott and David Gilbert
Ballot Bots
Indian Voters Are Being Bombarded With Millions of Deepfakes. Political Candidates Approve
Nilesh Christopher and Varsha Bansal
FROM RUSSIA
Russian Disinfo Campaign Blames Ukraine for Shooting of Slovakia’s Prime Minister
David Gilbert and Morgan Meaker