This week in Washington, the intersection of technology, politics, and policy is once again front and center. From high-profile hearings on AI chatbots and the future of artificial intelligence to renewed legislative battles over kids’ online safety, lawmakers are wrestling with how to respond to fast-moving developments in tech. Meanwhile, new fault lines are emerging within the GOP over AI, California is testing the limits of state authority over social media platforms, and U.S.-China negotiations on TikTok inch closer to resolution. Below, we break down the key debates and decisions shaping the week ahead.

In this week’s Nimitz Tech:

• MAGA: Trump wants to supercharge AI—his populist allies fear he’s summoning demons instead.

• Cali: California just sent Big Tech a billion-dollar question—will Gavin Newsom sign a law making them pay for promoting hate?.

• TikTok: TikTok’s fate looks sealed—now the world waits to see if China’s algorithm is part of the package.

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

September 16, 2025

Senate Judiciary: “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots,” at 2:30 pm. Watch here.

September 10, 2025

House Oversight: “Shaping Tomorrow: The Future of Artificial Intelligence,” at 10:00 am. Watch here.

TECH NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

In Washington

• Melania Trump, long known for her absence from the public spotlight, has reemerged to champion a new cause: artificial intelligence for children’s education. Her initiative, though vague in detail, includes a student AI competition and echoes her interest in emerging technologies, first sparked by blockchain and NFTs. Backed by tech leaders who see her involvement as a boon for industry credibility, Melania has positioned herself as an AI accelerationist, calling for rapid advancement tempered by some restrictions against harmful uses like deepfakes. While insiders remain unsure of the program’s scope, her return to public life signals a calculated move to insert herself into Trumpworld’s broader AI agenda.

• Donald Trump’s aggressive push to cement U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence has sparked a rift inside the Republican Party, as populist figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Steve Bannon, and Josh Hawley warn that AI threatens jobs, human dignity, and traditional values. While the White House touts AI as a tool to boost productivity and outpace China, many in the MAGA base mistrust Silicon Valley’s influence and decry policies like loosening copyright rules or enabling “transhumanism.” This growing divide highlights a core GOP tension: Trump’s embrace of Big Tech–driven innovation colliding with a grassroots conservative movement wary of AI’s social, moral, and economic fallout.

• Revelations about unsafe AI chatbot interactions with children and new whistleblower allegations against Meta have reignited bipartisan efforts to pass the long-stalled Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Lawmakers from both parties, alarmed by reports of chatbots enabling harmful conversations and lawsuits linking AI to teen deaths, are pressing for stronger protections even as the FTC launches an inquiry into industry practices. While senators like Marsha Blackburn, Richard Blumenthal, and Amy Klobuchar demand urgent action, political divides that derailed KOSA in the House last year still loom large, leaving its future uncertain despite heightened public outrage.

National

• California lawmakers have approved a first-of-its-kind bill that would fine major social media companies up to $1 million if their algorithms knowingly promote violent or extremist content in violation of state civil rights laws, leaving the decision now in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s hands. Authored by Sen. Henry Stern, the legislation follows Big Tech’s rollback of moderation policies and rising concerns about harmful online content, particularly after the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk. While supporters frame it as a way to hold platforms accountable for algorithmic amplification, industry groups argue it amounts to unconstitutional speech suppression, setting the stage for a likely legal battle.

International

• U.S. and Chinese negotiators have reached a framework agreement to resolve the TikTok standoff, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying the commercial terms for shifting ownership are set pending confirmation in a Friday call between President Trump and President Xi. Beijing’s newfound flexibility—after long resisting demands that ByteDance divest—appears tied to its push for a Trump state visit and was paired with a fresh antitrust move against Nvidia, seen as giving Xi domestic political cover. Key details remain undisclosed, including whether TikTok’s recommendation algorithm is part of the deal, and officials hinted a short deadline extension may be needed to finalize terms even as they insisted, “We have a deal.”

FOR FUN

• 📸 Photography 2025 Opening Reception at the Hill Center (Capital Hill) (9/16)

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