Slate Daily Feed What Next: TBD | ChatGOP?
Dec 7, 2025
Gerrit De Vynck, a tech reporter for The Washington Post, dives into the complex intersection of AI regulation and politics. He discusses the conflicting views of Republicans on AI deregulation, sparked by Trump's tech ties. The patchwork of state laws versus a lack of federal legislation raises eyebrows. Voter skepticism towards AI, fueled by job fears and political populism, signals a shifting landscape. Gerrit also contemplates the potential repercussions of an AI market crash on public opinion and Trump's political future.
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State Patchwork Sparks Federal Preemption Push
- States have raced to regulate AI with dozens of varied laws addressing child safety, deepfakes, and other harms.
- That patchwork drove tech firms to push for federal preemption to avoid compliance complexity.
Real Harms Turn Abstract Fear Into Political Risk
- Public sentiment shifted from techno-skepticism to acute worry as AI stories highlighted job risk and teen harm from chatbots.
- These tangible concerns made voters and politicians more receptive to regulating AI.
Federal AI Rules Are Still Missing
- Federal AI regulation is largely absent despite many state laws and proposals across sectors like cybersecurity and child safety.
- Passing meaningful federal tech rules has proven difficult, mirroring past failures on social media and privacy.