The political landscape in Washington is grappling with two significant developments: the stalled response to warnings about the risks of artificial intelligence and the early signs of the 2028 presidential campaign.
As the technology industry’s warnings about AI’s potential harm grow more urgent, Washington’s political intransigence is putting the federal government’s ability to confront this issue to the test.
Washington’s Slow Response to AI Warnings
In September 2023, tech titans like Elon MuskMark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman met with senators to discuss the civilizational risk posed by AI. However, three years later, Congress has yet to pass any comprehensive legislation to regulate or create guardrails for this fast-moving technology.
Despite countless committee hearings and the formation of various commissions, there is still no consensus in the House or the Senate about how to tackle the issue. The latest warnings from Anthropic whistleblower Jacob Coxon have set off fresh alarm bells, but it’s unlikely that lawmakers will act before the upcoming election.
Trump and Congress’s Stance on AI Regulation
President Donald Trump has downplayed the need for congressional action, calling the idea of AI posing a threat a hoax. He has issued a series of executive orders on AI, including one that outlines a way for the federal government to conduct voluntary tests of powerful new AI systems before they are deployed.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has shown little urgency in prioritizing sweeping AI regulations, deferring to Trump’s leadership on the issue. Johnson has called AI an important issue but has cautioned against rushing into regulation.
Democrats Push for Robust AI Regulation
Democrats, on the other hand, are pressing for a more robust response to the growing concerns about AI. They have convened in private to discuss the issue and are calling for sweeping action in Washington. Former President Barack Obama has encouraged those with White House aspirations to develop a very clear plan to address AI concerns.
Despite the partisan divide, there are some signs of renewed urgency. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Amy Klobuchar are working on legislation to address AI concerns. Senator John Kennedy plans to offer a kill switch measure that would require developers to have the capacity to shut down their systems if needed.
Early Signs of the 2028 Presidential Campaign
With the midterm elections just around the corner, some on the left are already looking ahead to the 2028 presidential campaign. Two progressive groups, Progressive Democrats of America and RootsAction have revealed their support for Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna as potential Democratic presidential nominees.
Ocasio-Cortez and Khanna have been drawing notice with trips to the South and stops speaking before Black voters. The groups pushing for either or both to run hope that they can help push the national conversation to the left, with a focus on issues like healthcare, jobs, AI, militarism, and the U.S. relationship with Israel.
Coming out this early to elevate Khanna and Ocasio-Cortez works to pre-empt the party establishment from locking in more moderate Democratic front-runners. It’s a strategy that has been used before, with early polling creating an impression of an inevitable nominee.
The joint statement from RootsAction and Progressive Democrats of America says that most of the Democrats whose names now crowd the field have been war enablers, go-slow reformers or status quo protectors.
