Trump Administration Faces Criticism on Multiple Fronts
President Donald Trump's administration faced criticism on multiple fronts this week, ranging from accusations of racism to concerns over immigration policies and the impact of artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, President Trump shared an AI-generated video on his Truth Social account depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes, according to Variety. The 62-second video, posted at 11:44 p.m. ET, promoted a conspiracy theory about the 2020 election. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the video as "disgusting behavior by the President," Variety reported.
Trump's focus on securing American primacy in artificial intelligence also drew scrutiny. Time magazine reported that the administration rolled back AI safety regulations and guardrails established during the Biden era, prioritizing innovation and infrastructure development over regulation. The administration's objectives include preserving America’s lead in AI, spreading its preferred AI stack, and extending the country’s military, intelligence, and economic edge, according to Time.
Meanwhile, the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis led to the closure of a long-standing community business. Dan Swenson-Klatt, owner of the Butter Bakery Cafe, was forced to close his business after the Administration launched Operation Metro Surge in early December, Time reported. The campaign brought an influx of federal immigration officers to the Twin Cities, leading to a decline in Latino and Somali customers, who accounted for a large portion of the cafe's business. Swenson-Klatt had planned to sell the cafe, but the prospect disappeared after the crackdown began.
In other news, concerns were raised about the quality of advertising on Apple News. Hacker News reported that ads on the platform, particularly those served by Taboola, were increasingly resembling scams. John Gruber of Daring Fireball noted that the ads in Apple News "already look like chumbox Taboola ads" and were "incredibly repetitious." Gruber also expressed reluctance to pay for Apple News due to the presence of ads, which he described as potentially fraudulent.
Additionally, Vox published an investigation into "bird mills" that breed tropical parrots for the pet store industry. The report detailed unhygienic and inhumane conditions in these large-scale operations. According to Vox, about one in 20 U.S. households owns at least one pet bird.
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