AI “Kill Switch” Bills; Kennedy Center Closing; Ed Sheeran Opener Controversy

Mosheh Oinounou (0:04)

Hey, everybody, it is Wednesday, September 16th. You're listening to the Mo News podcast. I'm Moshe Oinounou.

Jill Wagner (0:08)

And I'm Jill Wagner. This is the place where we bring you just the facts.

Mosheh Oinounou (0:12)

And where we read the news and read between the lines so you don't have to.

Jill Wagner (0:16)

Moshe, I know you just wrapped up a conversation with Jim VandeHei, the founder of Axios, and he also has a new book out called Simplify. I think something all of us could probably use.

Mosheh Oinounou (0:27)

Yeah, you know, it's funny, you know, what our tagline here, right, is we read all the news and read between the lines so you don't have to. That's been something, a version of that, that they've been doing at Axios for a while. Since they founded it, you might be familiar with it.

A lot of newsletters come out of there. They cover politics very well. They are the creators of what they call Smart Brevity, you know, putting stuff in bullet point form for you to be able to run through various things and they have a new book out. The co-founders Roy, Mike Allen, and Vande Hei have a new book out called Simplify, where you can cut down on 50% of what you do and actually be 50% more productive. And so part of that, you know, an element of that is certainly AI and that was subject of the conversation we just had. So that whole conversation, I think you guys will find fascinating.

Jim and I actually went through about 250 years of American history, the history of media, the future of media, AI, whether AI is going to kill us or not. He has interesting thoughts having just spent some time with Anthropic and OpenAI, so a lot there. We actually took a deep breath after the conversation. We're like, wow, we just talked about a lot. So it'll be, as always, conversation put out first to you, premium members, look for that in the next 48 hours. And then everybody else, we will get on the general feed at some point, we'll let you know when, but if you're looking for some peace of mind actually on the AI conversation, get another reason to join Mo News Premium, become a member today, 30-day free trial, mo.news.premium to get access to that conversation I just taped.

Jill Wagner (2:01)

250 years plus AI plus everything else. Hopefully, Mosheh, you guys had a lot of smart brevity there.

Mosheh Oinounou (2:08)

Yeah, we did it in 60 minutes or less, Jill. You can listen to it as you put your weighted vest on and walk through the neighborhood tomorrow.

Jill Wagner (2:18)

At 1.25 speed.

Mosheh Oinounou (2:20)

Because you know folks, Jill is a premium member. She's grandfathered in because she works here.

Jill Wagner (2:24)

I certainly hope so.

Mosheh Oinounou (2:28)

Jill is like, what's the code for me to get premium?

Jill Wagner (2:31)

All right, let's get to the headlines. Speaking of AI, the race to regulate AI before it regulates us. A few proposals on the table, what they're calling for and do any have a chance of passing?

Mosheh Oinounou (2:43)

Yeah, things like the Kill Switch Act will explain what that is. Plus, the Pro Human Conference, this is where we're at folks in the year of early 2026, the Pro Human Conference that took place in DC that included Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon.

Jill Wagner (2:58)

Less than 50 days until the midterms, the fight over mail-in ballots, President Trump criticizing three Supreme Court justices that he himself nominated because they voted against him when it comes to mail-in votes.

Mosheh Oinounou (3:12)

He doesn't even know them anymore, he says. They've also voted against him, several of them on tariffs, on his birthright citizenship. So, some of you have been like, oh, the Supreme Court's a rubber stamp, it is certainly not, and well, yesterday was another example of that.

Jill Wagner (3:26)

The Kennedy Center is closing, what's behind it?

Mosheh Oinounou (3:29)

And frankly, what's falling inside it? Made that literal there, Jill.

Jill Wagner (3:33)

I know, I like it.

FBI Chief Cash Patel testifying in front of Congress and he defended loosening of employment standards when it comes to things like prostitution and bestiality. Well, explain.

Mosheh Oinounou (3:49)

Yeah, I was not expecting this yesterday, Jill, coming from a Republican on Capitol Hill asking questions about this. We'll break it down for you.

Jill Wagner (3:55)

The Ed Sheeran Macklemore concert controversy. Sheeran finally speaking out about why Macklemore was dropped from his tour.

Mosheh Oinounou (4:03)

And all the artists coming out to support Macklemore saying they will no longer perform as part of this tour. The latest controversy related to the war in Gaza.