Novara Live President Trump’s Historic Second State Visit To The UK
Sep 17, 2025
Bhargav Srinivasa Desikan, AI and tech lead at the Autonomy Institute, discusses the implications of the US–UK tech prosperity deal and how it affects AI infrastructure and public ownership in the UK. Journalist Will Sommer delves into the troubling details surrounding the Charlie Kirk killing, analyzing circulating conspiracy theories and the political fallout. The episode also touches on the royal pageantry and protests during Trump’s historic state visit to the UK.
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Controversial Second State Visit
- The UK granted Donald Trump a rare second state visit despite widespread controversy over his support for Israel's actions in Gaza.
- The visit combined lavish pomp with security measures designed to keep the Trumps shielded from public protest.
Tech Deal’s Uneven Benefits
- The state visit yielded a UK–US tech prosperity deal promising £31bn and major investments from Microsoft, NVIDIA and Google.
- Bhargav warns the deal mainly benefits US tech firms and may not deliver true UK digital sovereignty.
Protect Digital Sovereignty
- Prioritise public ownership when investing in critical AI infrastructure to retain control and shape uses for public benefit.
- Avoid relying solely on private foreign-owned data centres if you want democratic oversight of AI.