Friday, December 12th, 2025 - IN defies Trump; Premiums spike; Noem faceplants; AI goes not woke; Disney sells out to Sora
Description
Today’s Headlines: Donald Trump had a not-so-stellar day yesterday. First, Indiana’s GOP-controlled state senate actually stood up to him and rejected his pressure campaign to pass a wildly gerrymandered congressional map. So instead of all nine districts going red, only seven will — proving that sometimes his bullying doesn’t work (shocking, I know). Then Congress did its favorite thing: nothing helpful. Both parties tanked bills that would’ve extended Obamacare subsidies, meaning everyone’s insurance premiums are about to skyrocket. Over in the House, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem got grilled during the annual “worldwide threats” hearing — mostly about immigration and the administration’s messy due-process violations. She even denied ICE had detained veterans… until a deported veteran showed up…on zoom. Meanwhile, a federal judge ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia because ICE couldn’t produce a single legal document justifying why they were trying to deport him. CBP also wants to require travelers from 40 visa-waiver countries to hand over five years of social media, emails, phone numbers, and family history before visiting the U.S. And the administration is adding another militarized zone to the southern border just because. Trump also failed yet again to manufacture a criminal case against NY AG Letitia James — the second grand jury in two weeks declined to indict her for fake mortgage fraud. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law requiring disclosure when ads use AI-generated actors and requiring consent for post-mortem likeness use. But Trump immediately tried to kneecap state AI rules with an executive order letting DOJ punish states that “restrict” AI — all part of the administration’s push for “AI neutrality” (whatever that means), including new federal guidance to ban “woke” AI. And finally, Disney struck a $1 billion deal with OpenAI to let Sora use Disney characters in AI-generated videos. So basically… they’re paying someone to copy their own IP.
Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:
NYT: Indiana Senate Republicans Reject Trump’s Redistricting Effort
CNN: Live updates: Trump administration, health care vote and latest Venezuela news
PBS News: WATCH: Noem defends Trump immigration policy in House hearing on security threats
AP News: Foreigners allowed to travel to the US without a visa could soon face new social media screening
AP News: Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along southern US border
NYT: A Grand Jury Again Resists Trump’s Push to Reindict Letitia James
WSJ: Trump Signs Executive Order to Curtail State AI Laws
Axios: White House issues federal agency guidance against "woke" AI
Axios: N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes major changes to AI bill
Deadline: Disney Inks Blockbuster $1B Deal With OpenAI, Handing Characters Over To Sora
Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson
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