Rinehart's Company Donated Nearly $900,000 to Right-Wing Group Advance
Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting donated almost $900,000 to the right-wing political campaign group Advance, according to political donations data. The two donations totaled $895,000, according to The Guardian.
In other news, a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, titled "Melania," exceeded box office expectations, making an estimated $7.04 million on its opening weekend, according to TechCrunch. Amazon acquired the documentary for $40 million and is reportedly spending $35 million to promote it. Despite outperforming pre-release estimates of $3 to $5 million, it is unlikely to make a profit in theaters. Amazon's bid was $26 million higher than Disney's, leading critics to question the motivation behind the deal.
Meanwhile, Bill Gates has denied accusations contained in recently released Epstein files, calling them "absolutely absurd," according to The Verge. Reports of Gates' connections with Jeffrey Epstein have grown more lurid with each release of documents from the Department of Justice. The latest release included emails that suggested Epstein may have been drafting on behalf of someone named Boris, who worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The trend of companies citing artificial intelligence (AI) as the reason for layoffs, a practice known as "AI-washing," has also come under scrutiny, according to TechCrunch. A New York Times article questioned whether companies are genuinely adapting to AI or using it as an excuse to cover other problems, such as over-hiring during the pandemic. AI was cited as the reason for over 50,000 layoffs in 2025, with companies like Amazon and Pinterest blaming the technology for recent cuts. However, a Forrester report published in January argued that many companies announcing AI-related layoffs do not have mature AI applications ready to fill those roles.
Finally, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a power struggle over institute directorships has deepened, according to Ars Technica. When a new presidential administration takes office, it is responsible for filling approximately 4,000 jobs across the federal government. These political appointees are intended to help carry out the president's agenda and make government agencies responsive to elected officials. Science agencies like NASA and the NIH tend to have fewer political appointees than other parts of the government.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment