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In one of the West's few swing races, a Democrat tries to keep a Trump district

Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is home to a tight race that will help determine the balance of power in the U.S. House.

Oct 23 • 4:27 PM EDT • Politics • latimes.com

Stories to cover as insurance costs continue to outpace wages, inflation

This year, U.S. workers are once again facing rising health insurance costs, continuing a trend that has persisted for decades, according to KFF’s 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, published yesterday, Oct. 22.

Oct 23 • 4:13 PM EDT • Health • healthjournalism.org

How Liberterian U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Laehn said he would fight political corruption

Libertarian Thomas Laehn said that he isn't running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat to be a "spoiler" in the race.

Oct 23 • 3:40 PM EDT • Politics • ktiv.com

DOJ Charges Sham SUD Network in $1.6B Fraud Scheme

U.S. Department of Justice officials in the Central District of California have charged a father-son duo in what officials say is the largest substance

Oct 23 • 2:49 PM EDT • Health • bhbusiness.com

PhD Candidate Eva Leth Sørensen Publishes on Greenland’s Predicament in Global Politics at E-IR

PhD Candidate Eva Leth Sørensen has published a new article, titled “Greenland (Still) Between Empires: Continuing Imperial Sovereignty Games” at E-International Relations. Sørensen analyzes the recently renewed trilateral Arctic security agreement among the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland against the backdrop of Greenland's long history of colonization. She shows how continued Danish sovereignty over the island...

Oct 23 • 1:16 PM EDT • Politics • politicalscience.jhu.edu

Under U.S. Watch, Venezuela Grapples With Tensions Over Democracy

President Trump says Venezuela is not ready for elections, and he focuses instead on its oil. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio is nudging talks between opposing politicians.

Oct 23 • 1:15 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

Santa Maria high school student, a U.S. citizen, is injured as ICE detains him

The student was walking to school when he was stopped by ICE agents, who badly injured him, school officials said.

Oct 23 • 12:08 PM EDT • Politics • latimes.com

Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief

End Citizens United has endorsed Democratic challenger Callie Barr for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. William Lawrence, Democratic nominee for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, has been endorsed by the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union and the Black Economic Alliance. Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has formally endorsed state Senator Chedrick Greene (D-Saginaw) in the […]

Oct 23 • 12:00 PM EDT • Politics • michiganadvance.com

10 Years of GROW: Exploring the Future of Agriculture

Death by Natural Causes is a new special exhibition coming to the Saint Louis Science Center — making its U.S. tour premiere in March 2027 — that explores the surprising science behind nature’s unexpected dangers.

Oct 23 • 11:29 AM EDT • Science • slsc.org

Trump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race

This move has sparked concerns about a lengthy battle between the U.S. government and states over election certification.

Oct 23 • 11:14 AM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Carney rejects US election interference claims, criticizes Trump\'s ambassador to Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has dismissed U.S. allegations of Canadian interference in the upcoming American midterm elections. Speaking in Istanbul, Carney expressed disappointment with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra over

Oct 23 • 10:13 AM EDT • Politics • lancasteronline.com

Carney Rejects US Election Interference Claims, Criticizes Trump's Ambassador to Canada

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday there is “no merit” to U.S. allegations that Canadian politicians are interfering in next month’s U.S. midterm elections, expressing disappointment with Washington’s ambassador over the accusations. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul,

Oct 23 • 10:13 AM EDT • Politics • usnews.com

Poll: Low-information voters have turned hardest against Trump and the GOP

In 2024, the voters who knew the least about politics were some of Donald Trump’s strongest supporters. A Data for Progress poll released just before the election found Americans who didn’t consume any news at all said they’d vote for Trump over Kamala Harris by a 20-point margin, 60%1 to 40%. In February, we reported that many of these voters had soured on Trump. Voters who couldn’t name the party in control of Congress moved away from Trump at about twice the rate as high-information voters. But approval isn’t vote choice. With the midterms less than two weeks away, it is worth asking if these voters are turning against the president’s party in federal elections, too. In our October Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll, conducted Oct. 13–19 among 2,028 U.S. adults, we asked respondents two factual questions about politics: which party has the most members in the House, and which has the most members in the Senate. I classified anyone who got at least one of these questions wrong as “low-knowledge.” About 30% of adults miss at least one question, including 25% of 2024 Trump voters, 22% of Harris voters, and more than half of people who didn’t vote in 2024. In this article, I do two things with this data. First, I repeat my February analysis and compare how these two groups feel about Trump’s job as president; then I look at each group’s voting behavior in the upcoming House midterms. Register for free to read the rest of this piece.

Oct 23 • 10:03 AM EDT • Politics • gelliottmorris.com

Fear and hope in Texas: Paxton vs. Talarico in an expensive U.S. Senate showdown

Winning Texas has been the Democratic Party's white whale for years, the much-hyped attempts repeatedly ending in disappointment.

Oct 23 • 9:59 AM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Banijay's Frederic Balmary on Expanding English-Language Drama Output

Banijay's chief business officer Frederic Balmary on scaling up english-language drama output: 'It's clear that Netflix is looking for more U.S. hits'

Oct 23 • 9:56 AM EDT • Entertainment • variety.com

Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA

Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.

Oct 23 • 9:10 AM EDT • Entertainment • pillarcatholic.com

Why Is James Talarico’s Final Message to Voters ‘Friday Night Lights’–Themed?

The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate leaves it all on the field.

Oct 23 • 6:49 AM EDT • Politics • texasmonthly.com

Muslims have always had to prove our Americanness. Enter Abdul El-Sayed

Michigan’s Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, is many things to many people.

Oct 23 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • latimes.com

Musk’s political donations top $445 million ahead of U.S. midterm elections

With a net worth of $905.8 billion, the world’s richest person’s overlapping empire of companies is heavily exposed to regulation by federal agencies.

Oct 23 • 5:22 AM EDT • Politics • japantimes.co.jp

Kansas manufacturing business responds to candidates’ conflicting accounts of tariff effects

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The two major party candidates for U.S. Senate diverged in a debate Wednesday night on whether tariffs were helping or hurting a Salina manufacturing business they both visited. A spokesperson for the business, however, denied U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s claim that tariffs were contributing to its growth. Tim Henry, chief financial […]

Oct 23 • 4:50 AM EDT • Business • kansasreflector.com

Digging Into the Money Behind the US Healthcare System

Healthcare makes up a growing share of the U.S. economy — and household budgets. We break down how much money the nation is spending and on what.

Oct 23 • 4:00 AM EDT • Health • kffhealthnews.org

New attention on Bankhead claim she was offered job to leave Senate race, DNC denies allegation

Montana’s U.S. Senate race was at the center of political controversy again this week, over an allegation from the Democratic nominee that she had been offered a job if she would drop out of the race.

Oct 22 • 10:10 PM EDT • Politics • ktvh.com

Former Vice President Harris joins campaign trail to hear rural healthcare concerns

Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom and Mississippi health care providers in Clarksdale to hear how limited access to care is affecting rural families.

Oct 22 • 8:46 PM EDT • Health • actionnews5.com

Supreme Court backs Republicans on New Hampshire voter IDs

(Bloomberg) — The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a ruling that would have allowed use of student-ID cards to help show eligibility to vote in New Hampshire, siding with Republicans in a state where Democrats are defending a Senate seat next...

Oct 22 • 8:44 PM EDT • Politics • seattletimes.com

Rep. Ilhan Omar says she will move out of her Washington, DC, home after federal search

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar will move out of her Washington, D.C., home that federal agents searched last week, she said Wednesday, noting that attention brought on by the raid has made her feel unsafe there.

Oct 22 • 8:25 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Florida resident arrested after threatening US Rep. Jared Moskowitz

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Boca Raton resident was arrested Thursday after making an alleged threat against U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, the congressman announced. Just after 2:30 p.m., Moskowitz wrote

Oct 22 • 7:21 PM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com

Bellevue-Based Business Receives National Recognition

OneFarStar LLC, the Bellevue-based parent company of Millie’s Sipping Broth, has been named among the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 CO—100.

Oct 22 • 6:37 PM EDT • Business • 425business.com

U.S. Figure Skating Partners With Feld Entertainment for Disney On Ice Programs

U.S. Figure Skating announced a partnership with Feld Entertainment, the producer of Disney On Ice.

Oct 22 • 6:30 PM EDT • Entertainment • wdwnt.com

AOC tells voters Jackson will get billionaire influence out of politics

The progressive congresswoman called on Mainers to send Jackson to the U.S. Senate.

Oct 22 • 5:35 PM EDT • Politics • pressherald.com

2 major health insurance companies cancel Medicare Advantage plans covering 1 million people

The two companies are the largest private health insurance companies for older adults in the U.S.

Oct 22 • 4:43 PM EDT • Health • cleveland.com

Kwema wins industry security award

Kwema, a Bentonville-based workplace safety company, recently won the Outstanding New Security Product at the 2026 U.S. Outstanding Security Performance Awards in Atlanta. The winning product is Kwema’s Smart Badge...

Oct 22 • 2:52 PM EDT • Business • talkbusiness.net

Tampa named best large U.S. city to start a small business

WalletHub names Tampa the best large U.S. city to start a business in 2026. Local owners share their experiences with networking, marketing, and costs.

Oct 22 • 1:23 PM EDT • Business • wmnf.org

New Report Highlights How Private Credit Powers Businesses Across America

Dunham: "Private credit direct lending plays a critical role in our economy, supporting countless small and midsized businesses across the U.S."

Oct 22 • 1:14 PM EDT • Business • investmentcouncil.org

Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas accused of leading marijuana criminal conspiracy

U.S Attorney General Todd Blanche says a powerful Democratic Virginia state senator was charged with leading a criminal marijuana enterprise.

Oct 22 • 12:54 PM EDT • Politics • abc7news.com

Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas accused of leading marijuana criminal conspiracy

U.S Attorney General Todd Blanche says a powerful Democratic Virginia state senator was charged with leading a criminal marijuana enterprise.

Oct 22 • 12:54 PM EDT • Politics • 6abc.com

United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America

The labor union representing workers in auto, aircraft and agricultural implement manufacturing and other industries in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

Oct 22 • 12:03 PM EDT • Health • uaw.org

The Politics Hour: On the road in Prince George's County with U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Council Chair Krystal Oriadha

U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks on what's at stake in the upcoming midterm elections and Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha on the widening controversy over county grant money.

Oct 22 • 11:18 AM EDT • Politics • wamu.org

Witkoff faces backlash for praising Putin as a ‘humanitarian’

The comments were swiftly condemned by U.S. lawmakers who view Russian President Vladimir Putin as responsible for the brutal war in Ukraine.

Oct 22 • 11:15 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com

CBS Sports Adds U.S. Spanish-Language Rights For Concacaf Champions Cup on Paramount+

CBS Sports Adds U.S. Spanish-Language Rights For Champions Cup

Oct 22 • 9:56 AM EDT • Sports • concacaf.com

US pulls diplomats from Saudi as Houthi and Iran tensions worsen

The U.S. ordered some diplomats and their families to leave Saudi Arabia because of the threat from Houthi militants, as the Iran-backed group carried out more strikes from Yemen. At

Oct 22 • 9:21 AM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com

Republican Senate candidate Bert Mizusawa talks energy, immigration, AI, Trump at UVA Center for Politics

With less than two weeks until Virginians hit the polls for midterm elections, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bert Mizusawa took center stage at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics Thursday evening for his “Evening with Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa” event.

Oct 22 • 9:07 AM EDT • Politics • 29news.com

Health insurance premiums jump 9%, and more Americans don’t have access to coverage

Working-age U.S. adults without health insurance rose in 2026. Half of all uninsured people did not seek needed care because of cost concerns, according to a new survey.

Oct 22 • 8:22 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com

Navvis Introduces New Solution to Help Health Systems Build the Operating Capabilities Required to Achieve High Performance in CJR-X

ST. LOUIS, October 22, 2026--Navvis, the leading value-based care enablement company, today announced a new CJR-X solution built to help health systems achieve high performance in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mandatory and newly finalized Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Expanded (CJR-X) model. Joint replacement is one of the most profitable service lines for health systems across the U.S. today, and CJR-X gives health systems a mandatory new way to protect and grow

Oct 22 • 8:05 AM EDT • Health • finance.yahoo.com

Sheba sells ARC innovation arm to Redesign Health in deal valued at tens of millions of dollars

The deal transfers management of ARC’s global network and the rights to establish new hospital innovation centers to the U.S. healthcare venture builder, while Sheba retains its stakes in portfolio companies.

Oct 22 • 8:03 AM EDT • Health • calcalistech.com

U.S. Figure Skating Announces Partnership with Feld Entertainment to Support the Future of Professional Skating Careers

U.S. Figure Skating is proud to announce its partnership with Feld Entertainment, the producer of Disney On Ice and the largest employer of professional ice skaters in the world.

Oct 22 • 8:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • usfigureskating.org

Iowa businesses recognized as top 100 US small businesses

Three Iowa businesses were named to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 CO—100: America’s Top 100 Small Businesses list. The CO—100 recognizes small businesses for their growth, innovation and commitment to their customers, according to a news release. Original Group Holdings, a woodworking equipment manufacturer in Britt, was recognized as a community champion. The company…

Oct 22 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • businessrecord.com

Replit Expands Government Business Worldwide, Taps Former Amazon Executive to Lead Corporate Affairs

Replit, the agentic software creation platform used by builders in 85% of the Fortune 500 companies, today announced the expansion of its government business and the appointment of former U.S. Treasury diplomat and Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive Michael Greenwald as President of Corporate Affairs.

Oct 22 • 7:10 AM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

Detroit Free Press politics reporter breaks down the final debate in...

Detroit Free Press politics reporter breaks down the final debate in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan hosted by WXYZ Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026....

Oct 22 • 4:42 AM EDT • Politics • facebook.com

National Color Graphics purchases new press

Spokane-based National Color Graphics Inc. has become the first commercial printer in the U.S. to install the Fujifilm Revoria Press PC2120, an advanced digital printing system designed to expand color capabilities, automate production, and improve efficiency.

Oct 22 • 3:00 AM EDT • Business • spokanejournal.com

‘Politics will care about you’: Osborn’s message to young voters

Nebraska’s independent candidate for U.S. Senate Dan Osborn encourages young voters to get involved with politics as election day approaches.

Oct 22 • 1:00 AM EDT • Politics • dailynebraskan.com

Rogers, El-Sayed battle over immigration, health care, and Iran in Michigan Senate debate

U.S. Senate candidates Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed traded sharp criticism during a debate less than two weeks before Election Day, making their closing pitches to Michigan voters on issues including the cost of living, immigration enforcement, and the war in Iran.

Oct 21 • 10:57 PM EDT • Health • clickondetroit.com

Resort Life Carts named national top-10 honoree

Madera-based Resort Life Carts earns a national top-10 honor from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its business growth.

Oct 21 • 6:14 PM EDT • Business • thebusinessjournal.com

Sports Exec Peter Kenyon looks ahead to U.S. Grand Prix

Oct 21 • 6:13 PM EDT • Sports • cnn.com

Rubio's India Trip Focuses on Business

The top U.S. diplomat’s three-day trip is focused largely on commercial interests.

Oct 21 • 5:56 PM EDT • Business • foreignpolicy.com

Michigan's 7th District House race is nation's most expensive for political ads, outraging both candidates

Political ad spending in Michigan's 7th Congressional District has topped $61 million, making it the nation's most expensive U.S. House race for advertising. Both candidates call the spending outrageous but disagree on how to rein it in.

Oct 21 • 5:55 PM EDT • Politics • wkar.org

UNMC awarded nearly $82.5 million in grants for research, public health programs

UNMC is getting nearly $82.5 million across about 151 grants and other funding allotments from the U.S. health department.

Oct 21 • 5:01 PM EDT • Health • wowt.com

Forge Nano to Trade on NASDAQ as NANO After Completing Business Combination with Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners II Co.

Forge Nano common stock and warrants expected to begin trading on NASDAQ on October 22, 2026 under the symbols “NANO” and “NANOW,” respectivelyPublic listing positions Forge Nano to accelerate growth across semiconductor manufacturing equipment and advanced battery technologies DENVER, Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forge Nano, Inc., a leading U.S.-based semiconductor equipment and advanced materials company pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD”) technology for artificial intelligence (“A

Oct 21 • 4:15 PM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

Siletz Tribe receives $11.7M USDA grant for rural broadband

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $11.7 million to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians to expand high‑speed internet access in rural Lincoln County, Ore., the agency announced. The funding comes through USDA Rural Development’s ReConnect Program, which supports broadband deployment in areas that lack reliable service. The project will build a fiber network […]

Oct 21 • 4:01 PM EDT • Business • tribalbusinessnews.com

8TH DISTRICT AD WATCH: Clearing up Bresnahan’s voting record on Epstein

Examining political ads in the race for the 8th Congressional District seat between U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti

Oct 21 • 3:50 PM EDT • Politics • thetimes-tribune.com

Tired of Being Tired? 7 Science-Backed Ways to Sleep Better

Daylight saving time starts in a few weeks, ushering in the longer nights and shorter days associated with winter. But for many people, the extra hours of darkness aren’t necessarily more restful. Experts say sleep deprivation is on the rise in the U.S. And the combination of stress, shift work and the false bravado of […]

Oct 21 • 3:02 PM EDT • Science • wordinblack.com

Coushatta Tribe to open second Feather Fuel travel plaza Oct. 30

The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will open its second Feather Fuel Travel Plaza Oct. 30 in Iowa, La., expanding its fuel and retail operations. The 14,000‑square‑foot plaza sits on an 11‑acre property at the intersection of Interstate 10 and U.S. Highway 165. In a news release, the tribe said the location is intended to serve […]

Oct 21 • 2:49 PM EDT • Business • tribalbusinessnews.com

SBA to allow Iowa businessowners to share thoughts on Fed regulations

The U.S. Small Business Association‘s Office of the National Ombudsman and Office of Advocacy announced that the SBA will host two events in Iowa early next week, allowing small business owners of the state to share their thoughts on federal regulations and how they have impacted their businesses. The first event will be hosted in […]

Oct 21 • 2:00 PM EDT • Business • corridorbusiness.com

Rep. Andy Biggs says he's been threatened: 'We're going to Charlie Kirk you'

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs called for an end to threats against politicians and revealed that he has been targeted during his run for governor.

Oct 21 • 2:00 PM EDT • Politics • ktar.com

What U.S. Senate candidates Rogers, El-Sayed said about lowering health care costs in Michigan

With Election Day less than three weeks away, Michigan U.S. Senate candidates answered a series of questions in Detroit, including one on health care.

Oct 21 • 12:09 PM EDT • Health • clickondetroit.com

U.S. Supreme Court sides with transgender prisoners for now

The justices denied the administration’s emergency request to enforce restrictions on gender-affirming care in federal prisons.

Oct 21 • 11:58 AM EDT • Politics • them.us

United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America

The labor union representing workers in auto, aircraft and agricultural implement manufacturing and other industries in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

Oct 21 • 11:56 AM EDT • Politics • uaw.org

OHIO researchers Faiz Rahman, Savas Kaya receive $550,000 NSF award for next-generation nanolithography

Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI) members Dr. Faiz Rahman and Dr. Savas Kaya recently received a new U.S. National Science Foundation award for their research.

Oct 21 • 11:22 AM EDT • Science • news.ohio.edu

Kennedy, Bean to meet Florida health leaders in Orange Park on national nutrition pledges

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean will meet with higher education and hospital leaders Wednesday for a closed roundtable in Orange Park about Florida institutions joining two federal nutrition initiatives.

Oct 21 • 11:08 AM EDT • Health • news4jax.com

Private equity and the transparency tempest in health care

Why U.S. health care needs more sources of investment, not more restrictions on private equity.

Oct 21 • 9:15 AM EDT • Health • medicaleconomics.com

FACT FOCUS: When it comes to Trump's economy, these are the numbers that matter before Nov. 3

President Donald Trump is trying to convince voters before the Nov. 3 midterm elections that the U.S. economy is rocketing upward.

Oct 21 • 7:09 AM EDT • Politics • ksat.com

Medicare for All, Medicaid cuts and rising costs: Where Flanagan and Tafoya stand on health care

The U.S. Senate candidates differ over Medicare for All, Medicaid funding and the federal government’s role in making health care more affordable.

Oct 21 • 7:00 AM EDT • Health • startribune.com

Marco Rubio and President Mirziyoyev Highlight U.S.–Uzbekistan Economic Cooperation at Business and Investment Council

To publish news and commentary - without fear or favor - in the finest tradition of independent journalism

Oct 21 • 5:24 AM EDT • Business • america-times.com

How knocking on doors can help beat measles

“As measles outbreaks spread in the U.S., it may be time to learn how other countries get their outbreaks under control,” writes Raj Panjabi.

Oct 21 • 4:30 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com

Duke Endowment makes big investment in NC Children’s hospital

By Anne Blythe Key Takeaways: On a heavily wooded tract near the intersection of U.S. 1 and N.C. 540 — a 220-acre spot in southern Apex so void of infrastructure it shows up only as GPS coordinates on a map, the Duke Endowment announced a transformative $100 million grant Tuesday morning. The investment will help […]

Oct 21 • 4:22 AM EDT • Health • northcarolinahealthnews.org

Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government

Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.

Oct 21 • 12:50 AM EDT • Business • 1011now.com

Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government

Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.

Oct 21 • 12:50 AM EDT • Business • kttc.com

Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government

Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.

Oct 21 • 12:50 AM EDT • Business • azfamily.com

Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government

Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.

Oct 21 • 12:50 AM EDT • Business • wdbj7.com

Madera County small business honored as one of the nation’s best

Madera County's Resort Life Carts named a top 10 small business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, winning a $2,000 prize.

Oct 20 • 10:27 PM EDT • Business • yourcentralvalley.com

UAB opens Shelby Biosciences Research Building to advance health

UAB has opened the Shelby Biosciences Research Building, an eight-story facility named after former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, aimed at supporting health research and creating new jobs.

Oct 20 • 9:37 PM EDT • Health • wvtm13.com

Political newcomers De La Cruz and Garcia battle for redrawn Texas 35th Congressional District

On Nov. 3, Texas voters will choose a new U.S. representative for the newly redrawn 35th Congressional District. On the ballot are Republican Carlos De La Cruz and Democrat Johnny Garcia.

Oct 20 • 8:31 PM EDT • Politics • ksat.com

Famous Dems campaign for Pappas as NH's crucial Senate race hits final stretch

Two weeks until Election Day and New Hampshire's U.S. Senate race is at a boiling point.

Oct 20 • 8:02 PM EDT • Politics • nbcboston.com

New Richland Lab Could Transform How Scientists Study Microbes and Boost Regional Jobs

The BriefGroundbreaking held Tuesday: PNNL officially began construction on the M2PC lab, a 30,800-square-foot facility funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science that will study soil microbes to improve crop productivity and develop new biotechnology applications. The facility will be open to researchers from around the nation and the world.Research timelines could shrink dramatically: The facility's automation and AI capabilities could reduce experiments that currently take six months to just 72 hours, allowing scientists to explore more possibilities faster than ever before.New jobs coming to the Tri-Cities: The project is expected to create positions for automation engineers, AI experts, roboticists, technicians, and skilled craftspeople, with the facility opening in 2029.RICHLAND, Wash. — Pacific Northwest National Laboratory broke ground Tuesday on a first-of-its-kind facility that could accelerate scientific discoveries about the microscopic organisms living in soil—organisms that may hold the key to growing more food and developing new energy technologies.The Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability, or M2PC, represents a significant investment in automation and artificial intelligence to speed up research that traditionally takes years to complete. The 30,800-square-foot facility will house more than 100 connected automated instruments designed to study microbes at a pace and scale never before possible.Reshaping Agriculture's FutureThe M2PC facility will not put a new tool directly into a farmer's hands tomorrow morning, but it is actively reshaping the commercial pipeline to solve agriculture's biggest headache with biologicals: inconsistent field performance. For years, PNNL researchers have explored how microbes work and how they might help produce useful materials, advance energy technologies, and address challenges involving critical materials and minerals. But those experiments have been limited by what researchers could accomplish by hand."They can be used to provide nutrients to a plant so that the plant would grow more. So, like increasing your crop productivity, for example," said Douglas Mans, PNNL's Associate Laboratory Director for Integrated Discovery Sciences.PNNL's own research shows soil microbes can help plants access nutrients and withstand drought—benefits that could prove crucial as farmers face growing environmental pressures. The M2PC facility will allow scientists to identify and optimize useful microbes faster than ever before, accelerating the development of biological solutions that actually work consistently in the field.What Makes M2PC UniqueThe Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability differs from traditional research labs because it operates as a first-of-its-kind, AI-enabled autonomous laboratory designed to shrink experimental timelines from years down to months or weeks. The M2PC lab will connect more than 100 automated instruments to grow microbes, prepare samples, measure their behavior, and link observations to the molecular processes behind them. Artificial intelligence will help analyze results and guide the next experiments, allowing scientists to explore more questions faster.Deb Gracio, PNNL Director, emphasized the transformative potential during Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony: "Research that has taken years will become possible in months and hopefully in weeks."That acceleration is already being demonstrated. PNNL's smaller automated lab, called the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform or AMP2, completed three experimental cycles in just 72 hours—a process that normally would have taken about six months."That normally would have taken us about six months … and we were able to do that in 72 hours," Mans said.The AMP2 laboratory is not being closed or replaced. Instead, the current 1,800-square-foot laboratory serves as an active prototype and precursor for the much larger M2PC facility. AMP2 will continue operating as a separate lab designed to run anaerobic experiments—those conducted in the absence of oxygen—while M2PC will focus on aerobic research.Broader Applications Beyond AgricultureWhile improving crop productivity is one important application, the M2PC facility is designed to support research into multiple areas critical to national priorities. The lab will advance research into biofuels, manufacturing materials, and energy technologies. It will also help researchers understand how microbes respond to environmental changes and how to design biological systems for biotechnology applications.As a flagship component of the Department of Energy's Genesis Mission, M2PC represents a significant investment in using artificial intelligence and automation to accelerate U.S. scientific discovery. Dorothy Koch, Associate Director of the DOE Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research program, highlighted the facility's importance during the groundbreaking."M2PC will accelerate biological discovery and design," Koch said, noting that the facility is expected to conduct a minimum of 500 strain experiments per week, 100 microbiome experiments per week, and take a million measurements per month.Economic Opportunity for the RegionBeyond the scientific breakthroughs, the M2PC project represents significant economic opportunity for the Tri-Cities region. The facility will require hiring automation engineers, AI experts, technicians skilled in operating robotics, and specialized craftspeople to build and maintain the sophisticated equipment."We're anticipating that type of hiring," Mans said when asked about job creation.PNNL has already begun recruiting talent nationally and internationally for positions related to the smaller AMP2 lab, bringing automation engineers from cities like Boston and San Francisco to work in the region. The M2PC facility is expected to accelerate that trend."This capability won't really exist anywhere else in the world," Mans said, suggesting the facility could become a draw for scientific talent seeking to work on cutting-edge biotechnology research.Timeline and Next StepsThe M2PC facility is expected to open in 2029. Between now and then, construction crews will level and prepare the ground, while the building takes shape. Simultaneously, Ginkgo Bio Works, the automation contractor, will build the facility's automation components off-site so they can be installed as the building is completed.In the interim, PNNL researchers and the broader scientific community will begin planning the first experiments to be conducted in the facility, ensuring research is lined up and ready to begin as soon as the doors open.The groundbreaking ceremony included representatives from the Department of Energy, PNNL leadership, and elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels, underscoring the project's significance to the region and the nation's biotechnology future. News The U.S. Department of Energy Secretary tours Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Dan Hanson, Apple Valley News Now News Beyond DNA: Scientists Explore New Frontiers in Biology Research Dan Hanson, Apple Valley News Now News TRIDEC optimistic that Hanford, PNNL will see funding in national budget Robert Desaulniers News Big picture science: monitoring the Yakima River Basin News PNNL research could shape the future of fighting fentanyl ​COPYRIGHT 2026 BY APPLE VALLEY NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

Oct 20 • 7:44 PM EDT • Science • applevalleynewsnow.com

Nancy Wyman remembered as Connecticut political pioneer

"Do you want to tell the story of why there are still millions of people in this country who have insurance?" asked U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy. "That story runs through Nancy Wyman."

Oct 20 • 7:19 PM EDT • Politics • ctinsider.com

United misses estimates, squeezed by soaring jet fuel costs

High fuel costs threaten to overwhelm the benefits for U.S. airlines of higher fares and robust spending by wealthier travelers.

Oct 20 • 6:06 PM EDT • Business • chicagobusiness.com

How governments worldwide are shaping what AI can say about politics

With the U.S. midterms approaching, about one in five voters has asked AI chatbots about elections and politics, a recent survey found.

Oct 20 • 6:00 PM EDT • Politics • phys.org

WATCH LIVE: Illinois U.S. Senate candidates face off in forum to replace Durbin

Oct 20 • 5:37 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

WATCH: Trump says U.S. has gotten 'nothing' from Ukraine other than 'high diesel,' urging deal

Oct 20 • 4:55 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

How the Trump administration’s crackdown on international students could affect the economy

A new proposed $70,000 fee for international students who are seeking to work in the U.S. after graduation is the latest Trump administration policy targeting scholars from abroad.

Oct 20 • 4:43 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Edinburg Veterans Day Parade Entry Deadline is Oct. 29th

The City of Edinburg is proud to announce the upcoming Veterans Day Parade, honoring past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The parade will take place along Closner Boulevard—affectionately known as the "Boulevard of Heroes"—on Saturday, November 7, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m.

Oct 20 • 4:12 PM EDT • Business • texasborderbusiness.com

Regional Banks Put AI Into Core Operations as Business Lending Grows

Third-quarter results from PNC, U.S. Bancorp, Truist, Fifth Third, Regions and KeyCorp show that regional banks are putting artificial intelligence into

Oct 20 • 4:07 PM EDT • Business • pymnts.com

How Democrats Might – or Might Not

Just a few months ago, it didn’t look feasible for Democrats to flip control of the U.S. Senate. Now it’s a real possibility – and this is how the party could get there. It’s all about the math. Today, Republicans control the chamber, 53-47. If Democrats can hold all four of their vulnerable seats,

Oct 20 • 3:51 PM EDT • Politics • usnews.com

Oregon to increase 2027 payments to care organizations for Health Plan members

Oregon health officials say that they expect the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to approve the rise by the end of 2026.

Oct 20 • 3:31 PM EDT • Health • oregoncapitalchronicle.com

The U.S. has never elected a Black Republican governor. Can Florida?

By many measures, Florida seems like an ideal place for Rep. Byron Donalds to make history as the first Black Republican ever elected governor.

Oct 20 • 2:15 PM EDT • Politics • wlrn.org

U.S. Postal Service says it’s business as usual for the 2026 election. Here’s what you need to know

Voters are advised to mail their ballots BEFORE Election Day, and AT LEAST ONE WEEK before they must be received by their election office.

Oct 20 • 2:03 PM EDT • Business • wbko.com

Sundar Pichai: Google’s Frontier Imperative, Compute Scarcity Dilemmas, Future AI Products and Businesses

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has little patience for doubts about Google’s willingness or capacity to compete at the frontier of AI. His company’s latest Gemini 4 Argon model — long-promised and recently delivered — beats OpenAI and Anthropic’s latest public models on coding, math, science, and knowledge-work benchmarks and has placed Google’s AI back among the world’s best. Amid chatter that Google was fine with good-enough lightweight ‘Flash’ models, Pichai pushed back hard against any suggestion that company is limiting its research ambitions. “We won’t do it any other way,” he told me in a Big Technology Podcast interview recorded this week at Google’s Mountain View headquarters. Pursuing cutting-edge research is costly for Google, requiring compute and chips that otherwise could be sold at a high markup by its cloud business. But Pichai said allocating resources to frontier AI development is “ground zero” for Google. “Our cloud business is at any given moment in time forgoing short-term revenues because we are making compute trade-offs to support frontier AI development,” Pichai told me. In our conversation, we discussed Argon (which Pichai says processed three times as many tokens as Gemini 3 in the 72 hours after launch), AI’s role in developing better models, the AI interface of the future, competition with OpenAI, Google’s partnerships with Anthropic and Apple, data centers in space, and the nature of his optimism. You can read the full conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity, below, or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your podcast app of choice. Alex Kantrowitz: Google is back at the frontier with Gemini 4 Argon, which beats OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s public models on benchmarks spanning coding, math, science, and knowledge work. The conventional wisdom was that Google had given up on the frontier to focus on fast, good-enough models for its products. That was wrong? Sundar Pichai: Very wrong. Look, we are so committed to being at the frontier. It’s in our DNA. We won’t do it any other way. We’ve been thinking about the AI frontier for well over a decade now. The frontier is very dynamic. It’s very competitive. It’s very exciting. I couldn’t be more pleased with how Argon has come together. We took our time with it. We made sure we tested it safely and deployed it carefully. We took a bit longer than our other models, given its capabilities. Across the board, be it for agentic work, knowledge work, coding, creative tasks, Argon is one of the really good frontier models. The first 72 hours since we launched, it’s almost up to 25 trillion tokens used, which is about three times what Gemini 3.0 had in the first 72 hours. And we are capacity constrained as we are serving it. Excited, but there are always areas….. You know, the frontier is very dynamic, and you have to keep evolving the models. There are areas which we can see we need to improve as well. We’ll be at work on all of that as well. Which areas? On any given model, Argon would be across the board better at everything if you just look even two months back. But the space is so evolving. Even on coding, for example, there are pockets where we know we need to do better, and there’s clear feedback. We’ll make it better. The argument for standard models is that they’re already good enough to build great products, with the frontier valuable only for certain tasks. Meta built Muse with good models rather than the best, and Google could put standard models into Maps, Gmail, and Search. Why isn’t that sufficient? It’s definitely not how I have thought about it at all. We are deeply committed to driving the state of the art and actually pushing where this technology can go, all the way from transformers. That’s a journey we’ve been on. You will see us continue to do that. When you’re at the frontier, you get an earlier look into the emerging capabilities, earlier than others, which helps you better prepare for the future. We are fortunate to have a wide set of opportunities across consumer and enterprise. Some of our cloud customers, for sure, want the model at the frontier. The frontier models will be better at developing the next set of models in an era of recursive self-improvement. I would argue it matters there. Internally, we have definitely seen a steep point of inflection by deploying Argon to our developers. It definitely tackles problems which our previous models could not do. Being at the frontier puts you at the innovation frontier and helps you drive that as well. There is room for models of all sizes and capabilities. That’s why we did Flash, Flash-Lite, etc. I agree with you that you can develop very good product experiences with not necessarily the most frontier model, because they tend to be slower and more expensive too. But we care about the Pareto frontier, and we’re committed to doing all of that. You said developing frontier models gives you a look at what’s coming. What do you see on the horizon? What makes this moment so exciting is you build something which you think is a culmination of months of work, and you put it out. You already see clear headroom ahead. We’ve all been working on these agentic, long-horizon capabilities, but clearly the frontier is going to have multiple of these agents working together to do things. That’s an example of an exciting paradigm underway. It’s also clear to me that users, both in consumer and enterprise, will have access to some multi-agent framework for them, working all the time doing things. It feels like a moment of infinite possibilities. Sergey Brin said one of Argon’s core innovations was relying more on the model to help develop the model. Yet incidents involving OpenAI’s bots breaking containment and Google’s bots accessing a site they shouldn’t have suggest these systems still aren’t perfectly aligned. Isn’t there reasonable cause for concern about accelerating toward recursive self-improvement? There are three parts to your question. Let’s first talk about RSI itself. You’re right, Sergey mentioned RSI being a critical contributor as we are developing Argon. But to be very clear, today, in a continuum, we are pretty far from the end state of RSI or something like that. The right way to describe it is you have RSI loops along with AI researchers in various aspects of model development. You almost have agents helping AI researchers in some automated way work together to build these models. It’s good to at least understand where we are today, and it’s super exciting. I expect that continuum to keep making progress as we go into next year. The second question is around safety. Security comes from defense in depth. You’re talking about alignment, obviously. We all are doing a lot of work to make sure the models are as aligned as possible. But it’s an active area of research, and there are clear gaps. That’s not the only thing we rely on. You have the work you do on alignment, but beyond that, we put a lot of effort into real-time monitoring as these models are working. Making sure you have good telemetry into what’s happening so that you can intervene in real time if you see unexpected behaviors. How you do that, the architecture with which you do that, how you make sure it’s all sandboxed and isolated in a way that it can continue doing its job during real-time monitoring — these are all areas of investment. Obviously, when we deploy these models, giving customers, enterprises, control, both with real-time monitoring, but their ability to decide where they deploy, what type of data which models ever have access to, etc. All that work is very, very important, and we are doing a lot of that. As an industry, we need to constantly up our game and take the time to do all this stuff, including dedicating the compute required to make sure you can safely deploy these models. The third part is: Is it all enough? This is why there are a lot of conversations in the industry, and I think it’s reasonable to be worried. The right way to approach something you worry about is early on thinking about what more we can do. As an industry, you’re definitely seeing increased levels of work on alignment, testing for safety, etc., as we deploy these models. The next step would be developing better standards so there are cross-industry standards of how we do these things, including the ability to evaluate using independent evaluators. If you look at areas like financial controls, we have accounting standards, we have independent auditors. Those are all the next natural steps for us as an industry to work toward, and regulation will end up playing a role as we go through all of that as well. Google pursues both language models and world models, while some other AI companies like OpenAI have focused more heavily on LLMs as the path to AGI. Why is world-model research important to you? As humans, you obviously perceive the world around you, and you’re taking all those inputs. Making sure these models are able to understand the laws of physics, simulate the world in high fidelity. All that, I think, are key enabling blocks for intelligence. We are working across all possible applications of this. Take an area like robotics. It’s not an accident: If you look at embodied reasoning benchmarks, Argon is state of the art. That all comes from our experience building world models. Inherently, I would expect there will be architectures which will converge all of this in the future. But for us, we view this as, today, this jagged frontier that is intelligence. We want to be at the frontier of all the possible approaches, and that will help us both drive better research, better insights, and develop a much better AGI model, is how we think about it. Some people argue Google should focus on selling its computing resources rather than using them for AI research. Cloud wants to sell compute at a high markup, while researchers need a very big computer to build the best models. How do you balance those demands? Ground zero for us is making sure we are investing in the compute that’s needed to be at the AI frontier. In 2015, I set the company to be AI-first. AI is that key horizontal ingredient across everything we do, all the way from Search to Cloud to Waymo. That is ground zero for us, making sure both for research and developing the models that we have enough compute needed. Beyond that, we have these independent businesses which each have their own long-range plans. They’re using those long-range plans to project forward, and we plan for compute for all of them. The cloud team, they have a business and they have a projection and they have demand signals. They have committed contracts. With that help, we can plan on a long-term compute trajectory for them. We’re fortunate to have this wide set of opportunities. There’s no company in the world which isn’t making trade-offs at any given moment in time. But the first principles we operate on is making sure we have enough compute to invest in the frontier, and that’s non-negotiable, and everything else works on top. Remember, we are building our own compute, our own data centers. There are long lead times. The compute we have today is a function of decisions I made in 2024. Even if you think back to a year from today, last year the agentic coding takeoff hadn’t happened. Today, obviously, when you sit and look at anything, everyone is short—not just us, other companies—and everyone wishes you had two times what you had planned for. That comes with the territory. At any given moment in time, we are planning for what we would need two to three years out in the future. You’re going to find some decisions you make may look suboptimal two years out, depending on where the state of the art is. I don’t spend too much time thinking about it. The way I think about compute allocation is making sure Google DeepMind, both for research and frontier model development, is cutting edge in terms of compute access. After that, we plan for all our businesses. It’s great we can provide our compute to other people too, like we have done. It allows us to scale that up, get real tests for it in the widest application set possible, test it in the real world, and make sure we are at the cutting edge of technology at every layer of our AI stack as well. Ben Horowitz relayed on a podcast that Andy Jassy had said compute was sold out until 2028. Are you seeing the same thing? If today a customer is coming out and asking us for compute in ’27, that is incredibly difficult to do. Even last year we went out and leased some short-term compute to accommodate some customers and help them out. But yes, we are all dealing with similar timelines. Every major technology shift seems to involve overbuilding, from railroads to fiber. Do you think that’s happening here? It depends on the time frames you’re looking at. This level of build, if I take a long enough time frame, it makes complete sense to me. We are at early stages of the most consequential technology ever, and this is not like fiber. It’s not dark. We are using it. We are capacity constrained on a daily basis. The applications, the underlying technology is improving rapidly. But running a company, the way I work through the moment is you look at your demand signals. You look at your committed revenue opportunities that you’re getting in the form of contracts. You balance that with the underlying technical capability, or internally you balance how we are using it internally, the model trajectories. Based on all that, you take a disciplined approach—a confident, aggressive, but disciplined approach—to plan out compute. But when you talk about the broader economy as a whole, you’re having people operate with various levels of risk. I focus on what I can control as a company and plan through it. If your question is, can there be an overbuild? Yes, because you can have some constrained components. Remember, what matters is a set of everything you need to build out that compute. Memory, electricity, electricians…. Land. Like 2,000 components or more. You could get constrained at some point. There could be things which cause bottlenecks, and then you could have overbuilds. There could be external shocks to the economy. There are macro risks. All that is possible at any given time. But am I confident that the compute we are planning for, we will have uses for it given enough time? Absolutely, yes. I was in the room when you said AI would be as profound as fire and electricity. If you believe that, shouldn’t you give researchers the biggest possible computer, even at the expense of today’s cloud profits? We’re all doing some form of that. Our cloud business is at any given moment in time forgoing short-term revenues because we are making compute trade-offs to support frontier AI development. What you’re seeing is true already. But you want to be thoughtful. Even our AI researchers have some constraints, which are also good. That’s what inspires creativity. That’s what helps you come up with a more efficient algorithmic breakthrough, maybe to use less memory. What we are committed to is to invest what’s needed to stay at the frontier. OpenAI President Greg Brockman told me a few months ago that the ideal AI product might have no interface at all—just as natural as conversation. What do you think the interface looks like in the age of AI? Computing historically has been humans adapting to computing. With AI, it’ll be the other way around. The technology will adapt seamlessly to how humans live and go about their day-to-day life. You want to be able to speak to that AI when you want to. It has context. It can be persistently running somewhere, give you continuity. You’re not dealing with a lot of complexity. It’s natural. All that makes sense to me. That doesn’t mean it won’t have any interface, however. Nowadays, even on my phone, Gemini voice models are so good. I can just press the microphone button. I can just ramble. That’s why we call it Rambler. I can ramble. It intelligently corrects with my personal context. Even my friends’ names, weird names, it gets it right, even if it first guesses it wrong. It’s amazing. I’m not going in, backspacing, editing once I finish saying it. It’s remarkable how good it’s gotten. But there are going to be moments you will need an interface. You may want to entertain yourself. You may want to watch a video. You may ask your AI to create something, and you want to watch it, consume it. The way I think about it is, you want it to be as seamless and as natural as possible, and that you are not doing the hard work adapting to whatever the interface is. The technology is adapting to how you’re working at any given moment in time. When I asked Sam Altman about competition from Google, he argued that OpenAI was building AI-native products and implied Google was bolting AI onto existing ones. Do you accept that framing, and can a “bolt-on” compete with an AI-native product? First of all, it’s a very dynamic moment. We are all pushing each other. OpenAI has pushed us as a company too. This is not just we are doing something to them. Far from it. Yes, Google went into its own version of a code red too. In the AI moment, all of us have to respond with varying levels of urgency at any given moment in time. We are constantly building new products as well. Gemini was built from the ground up as a product—the Gemini app I’m talking about. Or tomorrow, as all of us are adapting to agents, are you bolting agents onto ChatGPT, or are they building it natively? How would you think about that? You can always put these questions back. I don’t think of it that way. I think of it as you want to build world-class product experiences that are AI-native and they are winning. Some of it is adapting products, some of it is rethinking new experiences. They will all be part of how you approach this moment. How do you expect to make money from these AI interfaces? If an agent recommends a product and I buy it, should it take a cut of the sale, even if that’s disclosed? I’m going to put enterprise aside. Consumers are going to increasingly value this technology. Take software developers today. Developers are willing to pay for these coding models because it really helps make them more productive. Nobody would want to code the way they were coding three years ago, or even the same time last year. When you’re delivering value, there’s value to be had. I’ve never seen examples where consumer products really scale to billions of users, where people are using it intensely, and haven’t had monetization to go along with it. If you’re providing value to people, there is inherent value to be had. The nature of it may change. You’re asking a scenario in which agents are doing stuff for you. At the end of the day, you will have commercial needs. The agents need to fulfill those commercial needs. The providers on the other side are going to see value in that. There’s going to be some mechanism by which it gets fleshed out. That’s what an efficient system does. But what matters is that you’re building those world-class consumer experiences. I promised myself one product feature request: Can you make Gemini-powered search in Gmail as good as searching Gmail through ChatGPT? What’s going on here? One of the exciting things we announced recently is the unified Gemini agent for enterprise, and we’re bringing that to consumers. These are persistent agents which run 24/7 in the cloud. We’re spinning up a micro VM effectively for every query, and from the runtime, the harness, the model—it’s all a headless service. It’ll work everywhere, and it has your context with you. You can address this agent whether you’re in Workspace, in Search, in Gemini. Agents are going to drive this unification from a customer experience, which people are looking for. When you have a broad product portfolio and you’re moving forward fast, there are always areas where you’re moving forward faster than some other areas. That’s valid feedback. But we are putting a lot of time and effort into making sure, as we build out our agentic experience, that unification and that capability works well across all these services. People have asked where Google’s equivalent of Muse or Dots is. Do you anticipate creating a new product to compete with them? Our goal with Gemini is to be a personal, proactive, and powerful assistant. That’s what we are working toward. You saw us describe the early versions of it at Google I/O this year with Spark. Effectively, already, if you open the Gemini app as a Pro or an Ultra user, you see Chat and Task, and they start giving you that agentic experience. With Argon now, that capability is dramatically accelerated. What we announced recently in our enterprise event, we are bringing that to consumers as well. Soon in Gemini, you will be able to ask something, and it’s a continuum. You don’t need to think about whether you’re asking a chat or an agentic task. It’ll just automatically do the right thing, and it can work persistently in the background securely and get things done for you. Already, empirically, when I look at what’s coming into Gemini in our app, last year you would have tagged them and most of them would have been chats. But a steadily growing percentage is already agentic tasks in Gemini. Yes, we are going to bring personal agents to our consumers. It’ll work in the Gemini app. It’ll work in Google Search. It’ll work in Gmail. You can address it, call it, etc. We want to make sure we’re getting it right. It’ll be powered by Argon, and we are very excited to bring it to our users. Google has invested and committed tens of billions of dollars to Anthropic. What do you see in Dario Amodei that makes you want such a deep investment and partnership? Very early on, when we looked at the founding team of Anthropic, it was very clear to us this was a world-class team which was involved in some of the earliest GPT models. We were quickly able to assess that they would be at the frontier. We’ve always tried to identify and partner with companies which would be at the cutting edge of technology. We’ve done that with SpaceX. We’ve done that with Anthropic. That’s what we saw, and we had a chance to partner. Is your partnership with Apple to license Gemini for Siri expanding, contracting, or standing still? For both us and Apple, that partnership was about translating the capabilities of AI into better experiences for users. I thought Apple has done a phenomenal job of incorporating—they customize these models and build it into Siri—and it’s been great to see the reception. We are committed to doing more. You’re going to do more with them? There’s nothing specific to comment, but it’s a partnership. It’s working well. What have you learned so far about the feasibility of data centers in space? It’s a very exciting project. Projects like this remind me—I still recall that moment in the desert for the DARPA Grand Challenge, watching the Stanley car compete in it, which ended up being the basis for Waymo. With all these technologies, you’re at a moment in time where it looks a bit like sci-fi, but 10 to 20 years down the line, it’s actually working in a meaningful way. I feel the same in space. We’ve always believed in betting big on these technologies. Quantum has been a great example of it. We’re probably 10 years into the journey. Waymo, we are almost 20 years into the journey. Space, we are two to three years into the journey. It’s clear to me that it’s an approach which will make a lot of sense in the future. Being in sub-synchronous orbits with 24/7 access to the most abundant form of energy we have access to will make a lot of sense for this exponential increase in compute that we are going to need. Having said that, this is a challenging project. The team has disciplined milestones. It was a super exciting milestone to send the TPUs up to space. Sometime, as we are speaking, we are expecting a “hello world” moment from them. I look forward to seeing that happen, and we’ll continue investing here too. You previously said 25% of the code written within Google was written by AI. What’s the number today? That number in our world today is meaningless in the sense that every part of what we now touch is influenced by AI deeply. What we are tracking with Argon, for example, it’s been a point of inflection. People are using Argon to really go tackle complex projects, including projects which affect millions of lines of code. In the four weeks since we have launched Argon, we have seen a 30% increase in CLs, and more importantly, almost a similar increase—a one-third decrease in rollbacks. People are writing code more productively and better code with it. We are tracking it with newer metrics now. How are you dealing with opposition to data centers? If you can’t build in the U.S. the way you want to, where else do you go? We’re very committed to building our data centers very responsibly. When I look at our largest data centers in some of the communities where we have been the longest, I visit them, I talk to people. There are people who come and tell us their kids have gone to college because of our investments in these communities, and we’ve grown in those communities. To me, this is about doing it right. Engaging with the communities early, doing it transparently. We are committed to making sure we are bringing incremental power, and we cover 100% of the cost of our power needs for these projects. It’s understanding the impact on neighborhoods and making sure you’re working thoroughly to address them. Done rightly, you can continue making progress. But we are constantly taking feedback into account. I do worry not everyone operates the same way. People have been surprised by data centers showing up in their backyard. Those are all important. As an industry, we should continue to do better. But part of the reason, in a 20-year time frame, we are thinking about things like data centers in space is making sure we are able to put these data centers where maybe the trade-offs will be different. What unproven area of AI is Google working hardest to crack? Is it continual learning—getting models to keep updating after release—or something else? There are multiple parallel paths. You saw with Argon we have a million output tokens. With our Gemini models early on, we had a one-million context window on the input side. These are all examples of breakthroughs we are constantly working on. How do you think about synthetic data? How do you think about continual learning? How do you think about more efficient architectures? We do dedicate a meaningful percentage of our compute to these research bets too. It always goes hand in hand, including our world models. Those are all bets we are placing. Sometimes, as part of these bets, there are ideas that emerge which just make their way into the mainline models. Maybe we don’t fully talk about it, but we have multiple steps in these areas. Working in technology requires optimism that building something will improve the world, but those bets can leave real consequences when they fail. I recently returned to a town in El Salvador where enthusiasm for Bitcoin had given way to unfinished construction and something resembling a ghost town. How do you maintain the optimism you spoke about in your Stanford commencement address while accounting for those risks? I genuinely have a deep conviction that improving technology and improving access to technology makes people’s lives better. It’s been my personal experience in my life, out of which comes that deep conviction, optimism. But with that, I’ve always felt humanity’s journey is always about working hard to harness that technology to make it work well for society. The optimism is not an optimism that you just build whatever you want, whenever. You work hard to make sure you’re building technology in the service of humanity, to make the human condition better. That’s got to be the defining goal as we are approaching it. With that framework, I’m very, very optimistic. We are in very early stages of the kind of progress that we are going to see on many areas. We’re all talking about areas like healthcare. A lot of the progress is ahead. The ability to make things in a fundamentally cheaper way on many things where things have been getting expensive for a long, long time, discovering new materials, etc., which really bend the curve—it’s tough to step today and understand the impact of all that, but they’re going to be very profound. I’m very optimistic, but we have to be rightfully concerned about all the ways this technology can go wrong. Sundar, I know you don’t do many of these. Thank you. Thanks, Alex. Appreciate it.

Oct 20 • 1:47 PM EDT • Technology • bigtechnology.com