Diego Areas Munhoz
@Dareasmunhoz
Technology reporter at Punchbowl News | [email protected]
If you’re keeping track at home, Sen. Cory Booker & his staff told Dem senators that Rules Cmte Dems approved idea of aides using personal phones to set up official TikTok accounts for their boss to circumvent the federal ban on gov devices The cmte’s top D & R say this is false
SCOOP: THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE says that, despite Senate Dems’ insistence at a recent briefing that it approved the creation & management of official TikTok accounts from personal devices, this is NOT TRUE Letter from Chairman Mitch McConnell & ranking member Alex Padilla
Scoop from me and @BenBrodyDC this bill has been followed very closely in chips circles. Not only chip groups in this letter though, other tech groups too. One issue for the opposing companies? Hawks are feeling empowered by the chip tracking provision in the AI action plan
Chipmakers are objecting to a proposal to crack down on smuggling, despite lawmakers saying they made changes to a bill to appease industry concerns. More from @BenBrodyDC and @Dareasmunhoz: punchbowl.news/article/tech/c…
What a tremendous scoop by @AndrewDesiderio @bresreports and @sn_handler COLLINS accuses Ron Johnson of sexism
SCOOP: Yesterday’s GOP lunch got testy when Susan Collins accused Ron Johnson of sexism & trying to undermine the appropriations process Collins invoked ex-Approps chairs Shelby/Cochran, saying they were never treated with the same level of “disrespect” punchbowl.news/archive/72425-…
This is a huge rebuke of Bookers attempt to get more of his colleagues on the Chinese platform, as we reported in Midday. Sets up a big clash in the Dem side
SCOOP: THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE says that, despite Senate Dems’ insistence at a recent briefing that it approved the creation & management of official TikTok accounts from personal devices, this is NOT TRUE Letter from Chairman Mitch McConnell & ranking member Alex Padilla
SCOOP: Sen Booker brought Aaron Parnas to Dem lunch to push them to join TikTok. Staff were encouraged to use personal devices to create official accts to circumvent federal ban on gov devices Booker staff said Rules Cmte OK’d, but many left mtg alarmed punchbowl.news/archive/72325-…
In @PunchbowlNews Midday: Cory Booker is pushing Senate Dems to create TikTok accounts for official purposes, despite a federal law banning the social media app on government devices. Plus, Huizenga passes on Senate after Trump talk: punchbowl.news/archive/72325-…
who could blame the Utah senator? These fakers really nailed the seal of the "Elerebal Reserve Oedo of Goveryaeb"
Lee just now re why he posted it: “There appeared to be one, and it occurred to me seconds after I posted it that I hadn’t seen it anywhere else, so I deleted it out of an abundance of caution. I don’t know whether it’s legit or not.”
Bill Gates is in the Senate. Declined to answer my complex question, “What are you up to on the Hill?”
But Thune said members want to go home to sell OBBB “This is time of year when they go back and interact with their constituents” “I think the message about delivering the message about our accomplishments is something that our members are anxious to get out there and do”
Thune latest on canceling August recess, per Trump’s request: “We’re thinking about it. We want to get as many noms through the pipeline as we can.” “we're going to be looking at all the options in the next weeks to try and get as many of those across the finish line as we can”
On our top yesterday we wrote about the rising factions in the AI policy debate in Washington, taking a particular look at the chips export control debate. It's one of the most interesting things going on in Washington, and it blurs the political lines punchbowl.news/article/tech/t…
From TECH: The AI debate’s warring camps, what tech cares about in the Brazil trade dispute, the Business Software Alliance wants the government to help you use AI and more. @Dareasmunhoz and @BenBrodyDC in the Lookahead: punchbowl.news/archive/72025-…
The debate over how many chips American companies should be allowed to sell to China is breaking Capitol Hill in two. @Dareasmunhoz with more: punchbowl.news/article/tech/t…
President Donald Trump says his trade feud with Brazil is about the country’s controversial former president, but the tech industry also has lots at stake in this fight. @Dareasmunhoz with more: punchbowl.news/article/tech/w…
The Chips Security Act has been a very hot bill in chips circles. It looks like the House is softening it up to garner support from businesses. Let's see what some of the China hawks will say about this
Scoop from @Dareasmunhoz and me: Advanced AI chip-makers are getting their say in how to track shipments under the Chips Security Act and whether they'll need "kill switches" if China steals the tech
👀House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole appears to have a new plaque below his nameplate emphasizing Congress' power of the purse. Second photo is from a recent markup; the plaque was not there. Comes hours ahead of House vote on White House's requested funding rescissions.
The PEPFAR cut is being removed from the rescissions package, per Sen. Schmitt. Reduces the size of the overall cut by $400 million.
Big win for NVIDIA on H20 sales to China. Jensen Huang has been working Washington very hard this year and it looks like it’s paying off for now. News of a new GPU for China also huge for the AI market there. The company’s trying to keep huawei at bay blogs.nvidia.com/blog/nvidia-ce…
AMD also expects export licenses for MI308 sales to China — restricted in April alongside Nvidia H20 sales — to move forward for review, based on conversations with US officials, the company confirms AMD plans to resume shipments as licenses are approved, company says
For Top, @BenBrodyDC and I wrote about the rift on the right over whether to regulate AI. Plus, an exclusive interview with Gov @SarahHuckabee, who was key in defeating the AI moratorium. She argues the GOP can both beat China on AI while regulating its "worst excesses"
From TECH: The Republican rift on AI heats up, the debate over who should pay for rural broadband continues, CISA may have a Sen. Rand Paul problem and more. @BenBrodyDC and @Dareasmunhoz in the Lookahead: punchbowl.news/archive/71325-…