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Exploring data and its influence on political behavior

Exploring data and its influence on political behavior

The course Data and Politics, led by Professor Daniel Hidalgo, equips students with essential skills to analyze electoral behavior using real-world datasets, enhancing their understanding of data's role in modern political campaigns and fostering civic engagement.


What skills do students gain from the Data and Politics course led by Professor Daniel Hidalgo?
Students learn to analyze electoral behavior using real-world datasets, understand the role of data in modern political campaigns, and develop statistical and computing skills to interpret political data. The course culminates in a capstone project involving original survey data collection and analysis.
Sources: [1]
How has data changed the way political campaigns operate today?
Data-driven campaigning uses extensive databases to gain detailed insights into voters’ demographics, preferences, and psychological profiles. This information guides strategic decisions on messaging, targeting, and communication channels, often relying on algorithms and automated systems rather than solely human judgment.
Sources: [1], [2]

07 July, 2025
MIT News - Artificial intelligence

Sam Altman Feels ‘Politically Homeless’ As Frenemy Musk Proposes Third Party

Sam Altman Feels ‘Politically Homeless’ As Frenemy Musk Proposes Third Party

The article explores the intriguing dynamics of political alliances, highlighting how unexpected partnerships can emerge in the political landscape. It emphasizes the complexities and surprises that often characterize relationships among political figures and parties.


Why does Sam Altman feel 'politically homeless' in the current political landscape?
Sam Altman feels 'politically homeless' because he does not align comfortably with existing political parties or factions, especially as Elon Musk, a former collaborator turned rival, proposes creating a new third party. This situation highlights the complexities and shifting alliances in politics where traditional affiliations may no longer represent individual or emerging viewpoints.
Sources: [1]
What is Elon Musk's proposal for a new political party, and how does it relate to existing parties?
Elon Musk has proposed forming a new political party called the 'American Party' aimed at representing the political center, which he believes is underserved by the current two-party system. However, this proposal has been met with skepticism, including advice from the Libertarian Party, which suggests Musk should join their established party instead of creating a new one, citing the challenges of building a new political entity from scratch.
Sources: [1], [2]

04 July, 2025
Gizmodo

Senator Wants to File Bribery Charges Over Paramount’s Hush Money to Trump

Senator Wants to File Bribery Charges Over Paramount’s Hush Money to Trump

The article discusses the challenges facing the Democratic Party in regaining power, highlighting the current political landscape and the obstacles that may hinder their efforts. The authors analyze the implications for future elections and party strategy.


What is the 'hush money' case involving Donald Trump and Paramount?
The 'hush money' case refers to legal proceedings concerning payments made to silence individuals about potentially damaging information related to Donald Trump. In this context, Paramount is implicated in providing such payments, which have led to criminal charges and a sentencing of Trump in New York. The case highlights allegations of financial misconduct and attempts to influence or conceal information through these payments.
Sources: [1]
Why is a senator seeking to file bribery charges related to Paramount’s payments to Trump?
A senator is pursuing bribery charges because the payments from Paramount to Trump are viewed as potentially illegal attempts to influence or corruptly affect Trump’s actions or decisions. Bribery charges would imply that these payments were made with the intent to secure favorable treatment or silence, which is a serious legal and ethical violation. This move reflects ongoing political and legal scrutiny surrounding the case.
Sources: [1]

02 July, 2025
Gizmodo

Schumer Interrupts Crypto Debate to Announce Sen. Padilla Was Roughed Up by Federal Thugs in California

Schumer Interrupts Crypto Debate to Announce Sen. Padilla Was Roughed Up by Federal Thugs in California

The article boldly labels current political trends as fascism, sparking a critical discussion on the implications of such ideologies. The authors delve into the characteristics and dangers of fascism, urging readers to remain vigilant in today's political climate.


What happened to Sen. Alex Padilla?
Sen. Alex Padilla was involved in an incident where he was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) event. The details of the incident are not fully specified in the available information, but it has been mentioned by Sen. Chuck Schumer during Senate remarks.
What does the term 'fascism' imply in the context of political trends?
In the context of political trends, fascism refers to a form of authoritarian nationalism characterized by suppression of political opposition and often involving aggressive militarism. The term is used to highlight dangers such as erosion of civil liberties and the concentration of power.

12 June, 2025
Gizmodo

Politico’s Newsroom Is Starting a Legal Battle With Management Over AI

Politico’s Newsroom Is Starting a Legal Battle With Management Over AI

Politico's newsroom faces internal conflict as staffers claim violations of established AI rules. Tensions rise as employees prepare to challenge the management's adherence to these guidelines, highlighting the ongoing debate over AI's role in journalism.


What are the AI provisions in Politico's union contract that staffers claim have been violated?
Politico's newsroom union contract was one of the first to include specific rules governing how artificial intelligence can be used in the newsroom. Staffers allege that management has violated these AI-related provisions, which were designed to regulate the deployment of AI tools in journalism, such as AI-generated news summaries. The dispute centers on whether management has adhered to the agreed-upon guidelines for AI use, prompting the union to prepare for a legal challenge that could set a precedent for journalists' input on AI in newsrooms.
Sources: [1]
Why is the legal battle over AI use in Politico's newsroom significant for journalism?
The legal battle is significant because it could establish a precedent for how much control journalists have over the use of AI technologies in their work environments. As one of the first newsrooms to negotiate AI rules in a union contract, Politico's case may influence future agreements and policies across the media industry regarding transparency, ethical use, and employee involvement in AI deployment in journalism.
Sources: [1]

22 May, 2025
WIRED

Silicon Valley's Shifting Politics—and The One Thing Uniting Them

Silicon Valley's Shifting Politics—and The One Thing Uniting Them

Silicon Valley's political landscape has evolved from free-market conservatism to a divided perspective, with stakeholders now united in a pressing and complex discussion surrounding the regulation of artificial intelligence.


What is the current political landscape in Silicon Valley regarding AI regulation?
Silicon Valley's political landscape has shifted from a predominantly free-market conservative stance to a more divided perspective. However, stakeholders are now united in discussions surrounding AI regulation, with significant efforts from both sides to influence federal and state policies. For instance, there are ongoing debates about federal legislation that could block state-level AI regulations, such as those in California, which are seen as pioneering in AI transparency and safety[1][2][3].
Sources: [1], [2], [3]
How are federal and state governments interacting on AI regulation, particularly in California?
There is a significant interaction between federal and state governments regarding AI regulation. Federal legislation has been proposed to block state-level AI regulations for a period of ten years, which could impact California's pioneering efforts in AI transparency and safety. California has been at the forefront of AI regulation with initiatives like the California AI Transparency Act and the Physicians Make Decisions Act. However, these efforts are being challenged by federal proposals that aim to limit state-level regulation[2][3][4].
Sources: [1], [2], [3]

20 May, 2025
Forbes - Innovation

I bet it will take a law to make third-party app stores the norm in the US

I bet it will take a law to make third-party app stores the norm in the US

The article discusses the challenges faced by positive political legislation in the US, highlighting the difficulties of passing idealistic bills through Congress and the potential for Presidential vetoes, emphasizing a cautious outlook on legislative progress.


What is the App Store Freedom Act, and how does it aim to promote competition in the app store market?
The App Store Freedom Act, introduced by Representative Kat Cammack, aims to promote competition by requiring major app stores to allow third-party app stores, enable users to set them as defaults, and provide developers with equal access to system features and APIs. It also prohibits forcing developers to use the company's in-app payment systems[1][2][4].
Sources: [1], [2], [3]
What are the challenges faced by bills like the App Store Freedom Act in becoming law?
Bills like the App Store Freedom Act face significant challenges in becoming law, including resistance from major tech companies, potential vetoes by the President, and the need to pass through both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Additionally, even if passed, enforcement and compliance can be complex[1][2].
Sources: [1], [2]

19 May, 2025
Pocket-lint

‘Textbook Case of Corruption’: Democratic Senators Call for Ethics Investigation Into Starlink’s Recent Trade Deals

‘Textbook Case of Corruption’: Democratic Senators Call for Ethics Investigation Into Starlink’s Recent Trade Deals

In an open letter, senators raised concerns about the Trump administration potentially providing tariff relief to countries engaging in business with Elon Musk, highlighting the implications of such actions on international trade and economic policy.


What are the specific allegations made by Democratic Senators regarding the Trump administration's involvement with Starlink's trade deals?
Democratic Senators allege that the Trump administration may have engaged in unethical conduct by conditioning tariff relief for certain countries on their approval or adoption of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service. This suggests that trade negotiations were potentially manipulated to benefit Starlink, raising concerns about corruption and conflicts of interest. The Senators have called for investigations by multiple ethics and oversight bodies to examine whether federal ethics laws were violated and if government officials abused their roles to favor Starlink at the expense of the American public.
Sources: [1]
Why is the potential tariff relief linked to Starlink's approval considered a 'textbook case of corruption'?
Linking tariff relief to the approval of a private company's product, such as Starlink, implies that government trade policy is being used to coerce foreign governments into favoring a specific private enterprise. This undermines fair trade practices and suggests an abuse of official power for private gain. Such actions can distort international trade relations and violate ethical standards that require government decisions to be made impartially and in the public interest, not to benefit individual companies or their owners.
Sources: [1], [2]

17 May, 2025
Gizmodo

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