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Florida: 2 Big Injury Updates Before Auburn Game
The Gators face a tense wait as key playmakers Eric Singleton Jr. and Emmanuel Oyebadejo head toward game-time decisions for a high-stakes SEC road test at Auburn.
Orlando Health grant assists Early Learning Coalition Brevard
The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County (ELCB) recently announced it has been awarded more than $250,000 from the Space Coast Health Foundation to expand evidence-based social-emotional learning supports for preschool children across Brevard County.
FDEM spent about $1 billion on immigration last year, now it'll get more
State legislators approved $250 million for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Some will go toward hurricane relief, but a large portion will pay vendors for completed work at the immigration detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."
Personnel note: Alex Barrera joins Ballard Partners’ Miami, Tallahassee offices
' … few people understand as well as he does how priorities move through the Legislature and how state and local government works.'
The science behind Florida football’s physical transformation starts with Jake Sankal
Nutritionist Jake Sankal is the science behind some of Florida football's body transformations. Here's how it works.
The science behind Florida football’s physical transformation starts with Jake Sankal
Nutritionist Jake Sankal is the science behind some of Florida football's body transformations. Here's how it works.
Panthers Have Little Room for Error After 2025-26 Collapse
The market is hardly bullish on the Florida Panthers getting back to its Stanley Cup-winning form this season. The post Panthers Have Little Room for Error After 2025-26 Collapse appeared first on HEAVY.
From mother to son: The Jamaican values that shaped Byron Donalds’ path to Florida politics
Whether Donalds wins will be decided by voters. But the journey that brought him to the ballot began with the expectations of an immigrant family.
Political Connections Florida September 16 2026
Political Connections airs each weeknight at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News.
Florida Democratic governor hopeful David Jolly says politics are at a "1974 post-Watergate moment"
Florida high school football rivalry prank turns into police investigation
Five Florida high school students were trespassed after a failed pregame prank at a rival school.
Trio of powerful DeSantis appointments will face voters for the first time
Florida voters will decide in November whether to elected three powerful politicians appointed to their positions by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Health First announces layoffs of 214 workers
Health First is cutting 214 jobs across its Brevard County operations, impacting administrative and patient programs.
Florida Climate Week returns with hands-on science in North Palm Beach
Florida Climate Week returns Oct. 5 to 11 with events like a research vessel tour to promote sustainable solutions.
Florida Climate Week returns with hands-on marine science
Florida Climate Week returns Oct. 5 to 11 with events like a research vessel tour to promote sustainable solutions.
Florida Climate Week returns with hands-on marine science
Florida Climate Week returns Oct. 5 to 11 with events like a research vessel tour to promote sustainable solutions.
Five reasons why Auburn could struggle with Florida on Saturday
The Auburn Tigers need these five factors to bounce their way against the Florida Gators on Saturday.
Rep. Kamlager-Dove Launches Caucus Focusing on Entertainment, Sports Economy
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, launched a bipartisan caucus Wednesday to “educate and engage” members of Congress on issues affecting the nation’s entertainment and sports economy. The Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports (MoMEntS) Caucus will be co-chaired by Kamlager-Dove, Rep. MarÃa Elvira Salazar, R-Florida, and Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana. Other members include Rep. Ted Lieu, […]
Caucus Will Focus on Entertainment, Sports Economy
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, launched a bipartisan caucus Wednesday to “educate and engage” members of Congress on issues affecting the nation’s entertainment and sports economy. The Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports (MoMEntS) Caucus will be co-chaired by Kamlager-Dove, Rep. MarÃa Elvira Salazar, R-Florida, and Rep. Troy Carter, D-Louisiana. Other members include Rep. Ted Lieu, […]
Michigan State Sets Official Visit With Top-60 Center
Tom Izzo targets another elite anchor for the Spartans' future as New Jersey’s top-ranked prospect brings his recruitment to East Lansing following visits to UConn and Florida.
Palm Beach business PAC backs Christina Romelus in School Board runoff
‘Her experience in education, public service, and the private sector gives her a valuable perspective.’
Florida holds steady in ESPN's latest bracketology update
With less than two months before the start of the college basketball season, the Florida Gators remain a top seed in ESPN's latest bracketology update.
Gators could crack AP Top 25 with win over Auburn
The Florida Gators are on the outside looking in on the AP Top 25 poll, but have played solid football so far. Here's what they have to do next.
Debate about data centers emerges in Donalds-Jolly gubernatorial race
Grassroots opposition to AI infrastructure because of its huge demand on local water supplies and the electrical grid had been growing more pointed since early this year, turning into an issue David Jolly and the Florida Democratic Party are using to attack Republican Byron Donalds in the Florida gubernatorial race.
Health Foundation of South Florida Invests $225,000 to Establish Overtown Youth Center as a Community Health Access Hub
/PRNewswire/ -- The Health Foundation of South Florida today announced a $225,000 investment over three years to support the Overtown Youth Center (OYC) as it...
4 Central Florida restaurants shut down after health inspections last week
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shut down four Central Florida restaurants during the week from Sept. 6-13 after conducting health inspections.
These are the best things to do in Brevard this weekend, Sept. 18-24
Find your weekend adventure! Print fest, coastal cleanup and live music top our list of Brevard's best things to do.
These 7 Central Florida eateries were shut down over health issues last week
Seven more Central Florida eateries were forced to close their doors (at least temporarily) over reported health code violations, according to state records.
Norvell is Still Coaching FSU But Auditioning for His Future
Mike Norvell’s future at Florida State has never felt more uncertain. With Michael Alford gone and a new era of leadership beginning, Norvell is no longer just coaching to save his job. He’s coaching to prove he still has a future.
Florida State Volleyball Splits Matches; Prepares for Gators
Florida State volleyball got swept by FIU, then swept North Alabama. With conference play fast approaching, Florida State turns its attention to the No.10 Florida Gators.
Political Connections Florida September 15 2026
Political Connections airs each weeknight at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News.
FSU’s Path to Beating Alabama Offensively Starts in the Trenches
Florida State’s rematch with Alabama starts in the trenches, where improved run blocking has helped Ousmane Kromah emerge as a dynamic weapon.
Man says $9k business program failed to deliver
A South Florida man says he paid $9,000 to learn and start his epoxy flooring business, but claims much of what he paid for wasn’t delivered. NBC6’s Myriam Masihy reports
Florida Panthers Announce Training Camp Roster, Add PTO
The Florida Panthers announced their official training camp roster on Tuesday night with one of the 51 players attending on […]
What comes next? Sports attorney weighs in after FSU athletic director fired
One day after the surprise firing of Florida State University’s athletic director Michael Alford, speculation is swirling around what happens next.
Florida Panthers Announce 2026-27 Training Camp Roster Presented by Baptist Health
Cats to Host 'Fan Fest’ on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Baptist Health IcePlex
Athlon Sports now has Florida projected for this familiar bowl game
Following Florida football's Week 2 win over Campbell, Athlon Sports has changed its projected bowl game and opponent for the Gators this postseason.
ESPN's bowl projections for Florida remain unchanged after Week 2
After Florida's Week 2 win over Campbell, ESPN's Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach did not change their bowl game prediction for the Gators.
It took 3.7 billion years for this genome to evolve. UF students assembled it in one semester
Key points Eleven undergraduate students at the University of Florida are the first to assemble the pignut hickory tree genome. The work was done as part of a hands-on research course open to all majors and taught by instructors at the Florida Museum of Natural History. The hickory tree s
Florida drops in CBS Sports re-rank after Week 2 romp over Campbell
Florida football is out to its first 2-0 start since 2021, but its Week 2 win over Campbell wasn't enough to hold ground in CBS Sports' latest re-rank.
Florida's Jadan Baugh Receives High Praise From Auburn's DC
DJ Durkin brands the explosive playmaker a nightmare to tackle as the undefeated Gators head to Auburn, seeking their most dominant start to a season since 2019.
Brevard County HS Sports Weekly Results, Week of Sept. 14-19
Brevard County HS Sports Weekly Results, Week of Sept. 14-19
Florida's success starts with Jaden Baugh says DJ Durkin
Auburn defensive coordinator DJ DJ Durkin knows Florida running back Jaden Baugh will be tough to handle on Saturday.
Personnel note: Angela Bonds joins Better Together
'Better Together has built an incredible model that brings people together to strengthen families before they reach a crisis.'
From Lake Erie’s Algae to Florida’s Coral Reefs, UToledo Senior Chases a Career in Marine Science
Environmental science major Emily Wagner turned a rejection into a return offer and a childhood aquarium visit into a summer researching coral reef restoration in the Florida Keys.
Prospect Watch: Marlins Affiliate on Verge of Championship
The Jupiter Hammerheads sit one win away from Florida State League glory, while the Blue Wahoos prepare for postseason action behind a wave of surging power prospects.
Political Connections Florida September 14 2026
Political Connections airs each weeknight at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News.
Millions in health care funding could be lost under Amendment 3
Amendment 3 could strip millions from Central Florida hospital districts that help low-income and uninsured residents get care.
UF Health to host seminars on platelet-rich plasma therapy and brain tumor care
Seminar to be held on Wednesday at Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.
Northwest Florida lawmakers, business leaders weigh in on AI power and safety
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Northwest Florida lawmakers and business leaders are weighing in on the power of artificial intelligence.
Rising energy costs have major impact on small business owners
For small business owners like Xavier Miranda of Top Florida Roofing out of Cutler Bay, Florida, rising energy costs have a multi-pronged impact.
Monstropolis Under Construction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — Entertainment & Lifestyle
Monstropolis Under Construction at Disney's Hollywood Studios by James Coulter Get ready to scream for excitement! Because monsters are expected to arrive real soon at Walt Disney World now that a new Monsters, Inc.-themed land is being constructed. Monstropolis Under Construction Several news outlets and social media accounts have shared photographs of construction currently underway — Local reporting from Polk County, Florida.
FSU athletics in upheaval, and Alabama has been there
Florida State is changing athletic directors again, and that's one carousel Alabama athletics is glad to be off of.
Science-Rooted Tips for Optimal Aging
WFLA News Channel 8 On Your Side in Tampa Bay Florida
Florida Receives Interesting Outlook Heading Into Auburn Showdown
The Florida Gators will be coming into their game with the Auburn Tigers as underdogs.
Lickety Split AC, Plumbing & Electric Built Its Business Around Florida’s Most Urgent Home-Service Problems
Lickety Split AC, Plumbing & Electric built its operating model around shortening the time between a customer’s call, a technician’s arrival and a completed repair.
Florida HC Jon Sumrall Has Several Worries Before Auburn Game
Despite a dominant 2-0 start, Coach Sumrall warns of a potential SEC embarrassment as undisciplined penalties and inconsistent execution threaten to derail the Gators' looming clash at Auburn.
Florida State firing AD could spell doom for Mike Norvell
The Seminoles may have a decision to make about football coach Mike Norvell in the coming weeks, and Michael Alford won't be making that call.
Police Benevolent Association, NRA Political Victory Fund back Byron Donalds in Governor's race
Significant endorsements continue to come in as the campaign heads toward the stretch run.
New Miss America said dad sent daily questions about current events
Regan Hutsell won the Miss America pageant on September 6 in Florida. She told Business Insider her dad was her "toughest interview coach."
‘Alligator Alcatraz’ put detainees in metal cages labeled ‘calming areas,’ watchdog finds
Nearly 80 immigrant detainees who were held at Florida’s makeshift detention center, known as Alligator Alcatraz, were briefly held in small metal enclosures for “periods ranging from several minutes to nearly 2 hours,” according to a federal watchdog report
Florida lands just outside top 25 in USA TODAY Sports' Week 2 re-rank
Florida football gained some ground in USA TODAY Sports' re-rank after its Week 2 win over Campbell, now sitting just outside the top 25.
Charlie Crist PC banks another $50K as Ken Welch’s comes up with nothing
Welch's available cash is quickly dwindling even as Crist maintains nearly $383K.
FSU fires athletic director amid football program’s struggles
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State fired athletics director Michael Alford on Monday morning, school president Dr. Richard McCullough announced.
Worrell’s Case Highlights the Reach of the Governor’s Power
From elected officials to justices, the governor’s appointments raise questions about the reach and impact of gubernatorial power in Florida.
Florida State has fired athletic director Michael Alford
The Florida State Seminoles will be going in a new direction as they have fired athletic director Michael Alford.
Louisville rises in new AP poll
After an eventful week two in the college football world, the Louisville Cardinals are up a spot to No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. U of L’s Saturday opponent, SMU, checks in at No. 16. Here’s the poll as we prepare for week three: Others receiving votes: Washington 172, Florida 83, Boise […]
NE Kansas man jailed in Florida, accused of death threats toward President Trump, other political figures
A 29-year-old man from northeast Kansas is in the Palm Beach County, Fla., jail, facing more than 20 counts in connection with online threats against President Donald Trump and other political figures.
FSU Jim Moran Institute receives grant from Bank of America aimed at driving small business growth
By AnnMarie McDonald, Bank of America Bank of America has announced a $16,000 grant to the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida
Siding with Ron DeSantis, Byron Donalds bucks Donald Trump on paying voters if GOP holds Congress
Trump's candidate wants to put the brakes on payouts based on political outcomes.
FSU vs. Alabama lands among Week 3’s most intriguing matchups
On3’s Wilson Alexander ranked Florida State’s road matchup against Alabama as the No. 6 game to watch in Week 3 of the college football season.
Florida governor’s race: Donalds wrong that Jolly wants tax hikes, ignores Florida has no income tax
Jolly, the Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee, isn’t advocating for tax increases on Social Security or wages. He says it’s fair to tax wages, but he’s open to tax breaks for some tipped income.
Florida governor’s race: Donalds wrong that Jolly wants tax hikes, ignores Florida has no income tax
Jolly, the Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee, isn’t advocating for tax increases on Social Security or wages. He says it’s fair to tax wages, but he’s open to tax breaks for some tipped income.
How the sisters behind Golden Gems built a global retail business from St. Louis
Ten years ago, two sisters with separate Etsy shops came together to form a single business. They called it Golden Gems after Golden Gem Road, where they’d grown up in Florida, and both Susan Logsdon and Amanda Helman almost immediately understood what the brand was about and what they wanted to do with it. One […]
Cancer advocates join physician groups to defend Florida vaccine mandates
Monday is the deadline to comment on the health department's plan to strike four longstanding immunization requirements that the advocates say are safe and lifesaving.
3 Things Seminoles Must Do to Beat Alabama, Redefine Season
Florida State enters Week 3 as a 17.5-point underdog against Alabama, but the Seminoles have a chance to flip the script. If FSU wants its “Why not us?” moment, three things must change.
3 Alabama Defensive Stats That Should Worry Florida State
Coming off a bye week, coach Mike Norvell is putting his team through its paces as they prepare for what could be the most talented and dominating defense they will face all season.
Wyman Duggan committee picks up six-figure check from Aubrey Edge ahead of potential Jax mayoral run
Rep. Wyman Duggan is expected to run for Jacksonville Mayor, and he just got a big contribution from the company of a local CEO who would like to see
Florida's Jadan Baugh Remains True Contender for Doak Walker Award
Florida Gators star running back Jadan Baugh is off to a great start in the 2026 season.
UF Health Jacksonville introduces mobile unit to expand patient access across Northeast Florida
A new UF Health Jacksonville mobile medical unit will offer health screenings and primary care in pilot locations across Duval, Clay, Nassau and Baker counties.
Former FSU playmakers power Tulane comeback
Former Florida State players Jaylin Lucas and Destyn Hill played starring roles in Tulane’s comeback win.
How the rise of AI music has reached students at Florida State
The increased use of AI has resulted in an increase of AI-generated music. This content has reached the classrooms and airpods of FSU students.
Miami real estate broker nears $1 billion in deals
Jordan Karp started his own real estate brokerage at 26. Now, he's nearing $1 billion in deals and works nonstop in Miami, Florida.
Meet new Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley
Jeff Hafley, who had been the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator, was introduced to South Florida on January 19, replacing the fired Mike McDaniel.
Ron DeSantis endorsed a state Senate candidate on 9/11. It could have waited.
Campaigns have mostly learned to leave the logos off 9/11. The Governor hasn't learned to leave the day alone.
Five key takeaways from Florida's dominating win over Campbell
Florida football defeats the Campbell Camels in Week 2 of the college football season, 52-3. Here are five key takeaways.
UB Bulls change QBs in loss at Florida International
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — University at Buffalo’s football team took its first loss of the season but got an encouraging performance from sophomore quarterback Jason Wright in the second half of Saturday night’s 33-20 defeat against Florida International at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. Wright was 13 of 27 passing for 186 yards with two touchdowns […]
USF outlasts Army in last-minute American Conference thriller
Ahead of Saturday’s game at Army, South Florida acknowledged that offensive possessions could prove to be precious. “We’ve talked about that a lot.
South Florida family adds their love of tea to growing side-hustle ranks in U.S.
A survey found 28% of Americans have other gigs.
Orange County School Board candidate Diana Moore faced parent and colleague complaints, suspensions as teacher
Her co-workers call her confrontational and combative. Moore says she's just asking questions.
In 1996, NOAA scientists pumped 2 dyes beneath Key Largo to learn where groundwater went; 18 days later, 2 bay-side wells showed it flowed toward the Atlantic
By the mid-1990s, seagrass die-offs and deteriorating water quality had caused coral reefs throughout the Florida Keys to show signs of decline for years, leading scientists to search for explanations other than the apparent ones like boat traffic and coastal development. One notion that kept coming up among academics investigating the region was that contaminants and nutrients could be carried directly into the reef tract by groundwater seeping silently beneath the islands, where no one could witness it.
Ashley Moody already has 50% support in new poll of Senate race
Nixon has a narrow path to close the gap, given most voters know who they like already.
Up, up, and away: Are double-digit health insurance rate increases ahead?
The Sunshine State also led the nation in the number of people who fell off Obamacare plans last year.
José Javier Rodríguez, Annette Taddeo to spend weekend courting South Florida labor, faith base
Both Democrats are running against incumbents appointed by Gov. DeSantis who hold hefty fundraising edges.
After questions about Black support, Black leaders surge to boost David Jolly
'This team is stacked with talent and wisdom, and it’s connected to every part of Florida.'
Edward Waters football to face SIAC opponent Miles
There's a road trip ahead for Edward Waters University football this week. Here's what fans need to know about the Tigers' next matchup.
The politics and possibilities of ‘AI could kill us all’
I found myself fielding a lot of questions from folks who don’t usually talk much about AI this week. They were mostly along the lines of “do you think AI is going to kill us all?” or “how worried should I be about this human extinction stuff?” Motivating this wave of existential anxiety was the highly dramatic resignation of now-former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who quit his job while publicly sharing his concerns about safety practices at the leading AI companies. More specifically, he declared that almost everyone at OpenAI and Anthropic, the leading AI labs, believes that there’s a decent chance the AI systems they’re producing could “kill us all” by the end of the decade, and the companies aren’t “acting responsibly.” Other AI safety researchers, including those still employed at Anthropic and OpenAI, all confirmed that yes, Coxon is correct, they’re all worried that their company’s products might prove fatal for the entire human race as well. Two more AI employees quit and joined the chorus. Now, the warning shot has been covered everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to Fox News to WIRED to the Guardian. I understand why all this sounds scary, but my response to those who have asked, has generally been: No, you don’t need to worry that AI will kill go rogue and kill us all. But that does not mean we shouldn’t worry, period. Far from it. The companies building AI products are now among the wealthiest and most powerful entities in the world. And they very much are building enormous engines of mass surveillance, extraction, and automation. They can and have allowed their AI systems to carry out felony hacks of other companies, provided the government with autonomously generated kill lists, and sold enterprise technology to firms around the world that is explicitly intended to replace jobs. But “AI” has done these things not because they have all-powerful minds of their own but, ultimately, because people have programmed, calibrated, and directed them to. In other words, it’s not AI we need to worry the most about. It’s the people and corporations working to profit from and gain power by deploying it. The technology is sophisticated, sure, and, especially in cybersecurity contexts, potentially disruptive to plenty of existing systems. But if we want to stop this predatory, profiteering, and extractive form of AI—and it’s worth noting that at this point, most people do—we absolutely can. A quick note/plea: I can only do all of this with the support of readers like you, so if you find value in independent, critical tech journalism and analysis, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. I want to keep as much of this un-paywalled as absolutely possible, and I need your support to do so. Many thanks to all who continue to chip in, it’s very much appreciated. Onward. Subscribe First, some context: AI industry folks like Coxon have been discussing the prospect that AI will destroy humanity for years. Even before the beginning of the AI boom, many working in the industry, from the executive staff to the rank and file researchers, have obsessed over ‘x-risk’, or the possibility that AI will become sentient or semi-sentient and move one way or another to exterminate humanity. This is ostensibly why Elon Musk bankrolled OpenAI in the first place, and is the grounds for his lawsuit alleging OpenAI betrayed its charter by abandoning its nonprofit status to become a commercial enterprise. Many AI engineers and startup founders have calculated their own personal p(doom), or the probability that the tech product they are working on will initiate an actual humanity-extinguishing apocalypse. 10-25% p(doom)s are pretty common. (I wrote about a long weekend I spent among these folks at one of their top conferences here, to give you an idea of their ideas and belief systems.) Sam Altman himself drove the narrative of the imminent rise of a super-powerful AI, or artificial general intelligence, to prominence by declaring that the technology he was building posed an existential risk to humanity. This idea is in other words baked into the DNA of modern AI companies and into the products they engineer. It’s also why the industry is routinely accused, by myself and others, of “doom marketing,” ie, using such proclamations and framings to impart the sheer power of the technology behind your product onto investors, partners, consumers, and the state. Some ambient understanding of this tendency may have helped prevent the press from repeating the claim every time one of the x-risk folks made it over the years, including when they quit their jobs at AI companies while doing so. Yet Coxon’s AI x-risk alarm has broken containment, as they say, and has exposed the idea to the mainstream media once again. This has happened, I think, for a number of reasons. First, when AI CEOs were going around saying AI might kill everyone in 2023, their companies were well-capitalized, but not nearly to the extent they are today. They were more easily dismissed as eccentric geeks of the sort that Silicon Valley is supposed to produce. Now, not only do their products have much greater market saturation, but people are more aware of a) the often unethical ways the executives and companies comport themselves b) the other adverse impacts of AI that have already arrived, and c) the physical cost of building these systems, particularly when it comes to data centers. Finally, toss in the constant stream of headlines in 2026 about AI models going rogue or potentially upending the world’s infrastructure. [ ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) [ With the backlash to data centers, Flock and AI glasses, a mass opposition to big tech is underway. Silicon Valley is in denial. ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) Brian Merchant · Aug 27 [ Read full story ](https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/with-the-backlash-to-data-centers) As a result, general sentiment was already overwhelmingly skeptical of AI and its overlords, so the table was pretty well set for someone to come along and say ‘just a reminder, the companies that are building the product that promises to take your job and leave a data center in your neighborhood also think that it might exterminate the human race’ and get a strong reaction from the media and the public. The question is: Should we understand this stuff as hype, strategically fanned to feed already swelling valuations? Is it doom marketing? Genuine cause for alarm that the infrastructure that undergirds modern life is facing a novel threat vector? Or reason to be sincerely worried that AI companies are amassing too much power, and that their products are genuinely dangerous? The answer, I’m afraid, is “yes.” Let me try to untangle all of this a bit, because arguments over how to navigate this moment are extremely heated right now, as they are essentially arguments over how to approach the politics of AI at a moment where there may be a unique opening for action. Those sympathetic to AI alignment concerns and x risk arguments—which increasingly includes a faction on the left who want to shut down AI over safety concerns—argue that people who dismiss AI as all hype have their heads in the sand. Meanwhile, critics of the x-risk narrative—which I might note includes a cadre of investors and tech folks on the right, too—argue that it is hype and can be used to further inflate valuations or for pursuing regulatory capture. The challenge is that many feel that dismissing AI as just hype or purely marketing also diminishes the urgency of taking on the AI industry as the novel and threat to labor, civil society, and the public sphere it is; others that by accepting the industry’s own terms, we imbue it with undue power and enable it. But let’s be clear: Declarations that AI is so powerful it might end the world are a kind of marketing, and anyone who says otherwise is just as off base as those who say that’s all that it is. If you don’t think that these sub-trillion dollar companies have higher-ups who noticed that when their founders talked about super-powerful dangerous AI they got spikes in media interest and phone calls from investors, or that those founders didn’t notice that themselves, and lean into certain narratives to advantage their products, then I don’t know what to tell you. Not all marketing is a Pepsi ad campaign with a celebrity spokesperson. Yet confronting the AI industry should certainly be considered an urgent project. Do I share the x-riskers’ fear that out-of-control, super-intelligent AI agents might end the world? I do not. I’ve read a good deal of AI extinction literature over the last couple of years and I have not come across a credible, step-by-step documentation of how exactly AI might move from self-recursively improving AI to killing every single human on the planet. Most of what I’ve read seems predicated on a sort of reverse Ian Malcolmian logic: Eventually, it becomes smart enough and AI, uh, finds a way (to exterminate humanity). Are the AI companies also overstating and dramatizing what their products can do? Yes, pretty much all the time. They’re in a knife fight for market share and are trying to win customers and government contracts before their investors come knocking. And yet. They have concentrated enormous amounts of compute, have extensive data collection and surveillance capacities, have inserted themselves into the state in numerous capacities, including military kill chains, and they are being run by egomaniacal billionaires who are rushing to monopolize an entire new market. The way I think about their most recent frightening-seeming exploits is not as a “swarm of rogue AI agents building a new civilization” or whatever, but as corporations with a hitherto-unimaginable amount of compute at their disposal recklessly experimenting with automation programs, completely unafraid of any repercussions because we have been unwilling or unable to impose any on them. So I think we should welcome any newfound imperative to hold them accountable. I also think that ultimately, the AI critics, Pause AI folks, leftists, doomers, effective altruists, and, honestly, most of the public, want a lot of the same things: legitimate checks and limits on AI companies’ power, actual transparency into what the companies are doing, and for more of AI to be under public control. (Ultimately, a lot of what animates the x-risk fears are rooted in just that: a fear of losing control.) How we move towards all this, exactly, is the question of the day, and while there’s much to be argued over in terms of building a viable political platform to challenge the AI industry’s power, I do want to cast a vote against one particular approach. Not to pick on Chris here, as there are a lot of folks out there proposing stuff like this, and the policy ideas actually stem from AI safety groups. But not only would this be challenging to land politically (I can already hear the ‘China will beat us to AGI’ calls) and all but unworkable in practice, this approach is a) far too limiting, b) fails to address the current harms caused by AI and c) would likely only wind up serving Anthropic and OpenAI; it’s what regulatory capture looks like in action. Full model transparency is the floor for what should be on offer here. If these companies believe their products will kill us, the very least we deserve is to know how. It’s in the public interest. I would also argue we might get a lot of the way to stopping any currently envisioned robot apocalypse simply by forcing AI companies to assume liability, and to submit to the full brunt of the law. If Sam Altman were liable to be charged with a felony for approving the hack on Hugging Face1, if Google was forced to pay defamation fines each time it published a false and injurious AI Overviews, these companies might suddenly find cause to restrain their models’ output, and we might hear less about rogue AI. We would need to introduce new frameworks and available tools for tracking automated lawbreaking, to be sure, but I’d wager that little would frighten the AI companies more than actually being held accountable for what their products enable. To that end, Illinois has passed an AI liability law, which the industry fought tooth and nail, and Florida is considering one. The next steps would be towards moving AI under public control; again, it’s only reasonable, since everyone, not just AI insiders, should get a say over how a technology whose developers say might kill us is developed and deployed. Dismantling the whole industrial project as currently structured should be on the table, too, pending democratic input. But that’s for another post. For now, suffice to say that while I won’t be losing any sleep about an AI-enabled extinction event, Mr. Coxon and co. have given us an opportunity to underscore the urgency of the clear and present damage AI companies are doing, the extreme power they wield and the extent to which they hold themselves unaccountable, and the abundance of political capital there is out there for taking them on. Subscribe 1 Purely speculative! I do not know if he did or not.
Political Connections Florida September 11 2026
Political Connections airs each weeknight at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News.
DOH-Miami-Dade Issues Water Quality Health Advisory - Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County
Tests completed on Friday, September 11, 2026, indicate that the water quality at Dog Beach (Virginia Key Beach south side) does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria.