New Hampshire jury acquits consultant behind AI robocalls mimicking Biden on all charges
A political consultant who sent artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking former President Joe Biden to New Hampshire Democrats last year was acquitted Friday of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate.
Steven Kramer, 56, of New Orleans, admitted orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before the state's Jan. 23, 2024, presidential primary. Recipients heard an AI-generated voice similar to the Democratic president's that used his catchphrase 'What a bunch of malarkey' and, as prosecutors alleged, suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November.
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Hamilton Spectator
26 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Democrats squaring off in Virginia primaries say one name a lot: Trump
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two Virginia Democrats are battling Tuesday to be their party's nominee for attorney general. Yet, the name mentioned most in their campaigns is not that of their opponent, but rather a man who lives just over the Arlington Memorial Bridge: President Donald Trump. The barrage of changes Trump has wrought to American culture in the first few months of his second White House residency has ignited the campaigns of Virginia Democrats Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor as they appeal unrelentingly to the most devout swaths of their base ahead of down-ballot primary elections. The primary will also determine the party's nominations this year for lieutenant governor and some contested seats in the House of Delegates. In one of only two states electing governors in November — the other is New Jersey — the caustic anti-Trump rhetoric could be a hint of what voters nationwide will hear from Democrats in next year's midterm elections, when the stakes will be higher. Virginia's nominees for governor have been settled by default. Democrat Abigail Spanberger became her party's nominee after running unopposed, and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears was the only contender who gathered enough signatures to be on the ballot. The other statewide races are for attorney general and lieutenant governor, and Democrats in both contests seem to be vying to top each other with anti-Trump rhetoric and caustic ads. Republicans are not hosting statewide primaries this year, so only Democrats will pick a nominee for lieutenant governor. It's a part-time position that pays about $36,000 a year but is often a stepping stone to higher office. Six Democrats want the job , and most of them have pushed ad after ad on the airwaves and online about their commitment to taking on Trump if elected to the mostly ceremonial role. In the contest for attorney general, Jones and Taylor are competing in much the same way. Turnout is likely to be sluggish, which means firing up base voters is widely seen as the way to go. The last time a left-wing candidate for governor ran unopposed, roughly 142,000 Democrats voted for an attorney general nominee compared with more than 485,000 this past election cycle. Still, the AG's race has been spicy, more so when the candidates' criticism isn't directed at each other. Jones and Taylor have lambasted the White House and argued that the administration's actions should be litigated in court. When they are not lamenting Trump, their attacks are directed toward incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking reelection. In their respective campaigns, the Democrats argue that Miyares submits to the president by not suing him. They say that sets him apart from more progressive attorneys general across the United States, who are going to court over such things as birthright citizenship and elections . Their main message: A Democrat will take the White House to trial when Miyares won't — and saving democracy starts there. 'The job is to protect Virginians, to fight for them, to work for them, to keep us safe,' Jones said while campaigning in June in Falls Church, Virginia, adding, 'I don't understand why he is not going after them.' Last month, Taylor told a room full of Democratic voters that Miyares would enable Trump's overreaches in Virginia, and potentially double down on institutions that don't comply with the president. Either way, 'the result is the same for Virginians: getting hurt,' she said. In a wide-ranging interview in May, Miyares said he identifies as a balls-and-strikes Republican. The former Virginia Beach state delegate, elected top prosecutor in 2021, worked to reduce violent crime. He sought settlements from Big Pharma. When he felt President Joe Biden's administration overstepped, he went to court . But as Trump was ushered into office for a second term, Miyares entered new political terrain. Unlike most other states, Virginians will elect their attorney general this November, nearly a year after the country voted for the president and his consequential agenda. Miyares has waded into the political arena. He often spars on social media with progressive prosecutors throughout Virginia for being too lenient in prosecuting criminal cases. Still, Miyares rebuffed the notion that suing Trump is his top concern. He said the Democrats looking to replace him fail to understand the nature of his position. The attorney general touted meaningful work his office has shouldered: holding listening sessions for crime victims, designating resources to support law enforcement and beefing up his office's prosecutions of child support cases. He flashed his law enforcement badge, tucked within a leather wallet, and described the emblem as a guidepost for being an effective people's prosecutor. 'They seem very obsessed with Donald Trump, whereas I'm obsessed with how am I going to keep Virginians safe?' Miyares said. ___ Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Washington Post
26 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Live updates: Nationwide protests planned ahead of Trump military parade for Army's birthday
Thousands of Americans are gathering Saturday in cities across the country for an organized day of protests — dubbed 'No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance' — ahead of President Donald Trump's grand military parade in Washington. The parade celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and falls on Trump's 79th birthday. It is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time after other festivities. Weather could be an issue both in Washington and at protests across the nation. Roads in Washington will be closed to vehicles roughly between Seventh Street NW and the Potomac and from E Street to Independence Avenue. That includes the entire area encompassing Lafayette Square, the White House, the Ellipse, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and West Potomac Park. For more details on street, Metro and waterway closures, click here. Roads in Washington will be closed to vehicles roughly between Seventh Street NW and the Potomac and from E Street to Independence Avenue. That includes the entire area encompassing Lafayette Square, the White House, the Ellipse, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and West Potomac Park. For more details on street, Metro and waterway closures, click here. Nearly two-thirds of American adults, 64 percent, oppose using government funds to throw a military parade to celebrate the Army's 250th anniversary on Saturday, according to a new poll from NBC News Decision Desk and SurveyMonkey. Opinions differed sharply between parties. Most Democrats and independents — 88 percent and 72 percent, respectively — said they opposed the use of government funds for the parade, while 65 percent of Republicans said they supported it. In the hours before tanks barrel down the streets of Washington for President Donald Trump's grand military parade Saturday, thousands of Americans will gather across the country in defiance of what they call his dangerous brand of authoritarianism. A little over a week ago, thousands of veterans from across the country poured onto the National Mall to rally against the Trump administration's slashing of staff throughout the government and handling of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mentions of today's parade largely stirred frustration among the crowd. Among the event's speakers was Cecil Roberts, a sixth-generation coal miner and combat veteran of the Vietnam War.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Poll: Americans disapprove of spending public funds to put on military parade in Washington
Nearly 2 in 3 U.S. adults — 64% — oppose the use of government funds for this weekend's military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army's 250th birthday, according to new data from the NBC News Decision Desk Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey. Majorities of Democrats (88%) and independents (72%) oppose the use of government funds to put on the parade, while 65% of Republicans support it. Spending public funds on the parade is more popular among supporters of the MAGA movement (75% support), compared to Republicans who identify more as supporters of the party itself (56% support). The poll was conducted May 30-June 10 and surveyed 19,410 adults nationally, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. The Saturday parade to celebrate the Army, which also falls on both Flag Day and President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, will include about 6,600 soldiers, 50 aircraft and 150 vehicles, according to defense officials. There will be different sections for different portions of the Army's history, and the event is expected to feature an air show with flyovers and a demonstration by the Army's Golden Knights parachute team. But it's not clear how possible storms forecast for Saturday in the Washington area could affect those plans. The event could cost as much as $45 million, a price tag that includes up to $16 million for costs associated with potential damage to city streets caused by tanks driving on them. Respondents in the Decision Desk Poll were asked: "As you may know, President Trump has ordered a military parade in Washington D.C. on June 14th to commemorate the U.S. Army's 250th Birthday. Defense officials estimate the cost for this parade could be as much as 45 million dollars. Do you support or oppose the use of government funds for the parade?" Overall, 14% of adults said they strongly supported the use of government funds for the parade, and another 22% said they somewhat supported it. Meanwhile, 44% were strongly opposed and another 20% were somewhat opposed. In early May, Trump defended the cost of the parade by arguing on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that the total was 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' 'We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest Army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it,' he said. Democratic politicians have criticized Trump over the parade spending, saying the money could go to other causes. "You're not doing it to celebrate the Army's birthday, you're doing it to stroke Donald Trump's ego," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said last week during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to Army leaders discussing its budget. "There are lots of ways to celebrate the Army's birthday without blowing it all on a parade," she added. Others, including groups aligned with Democrats, are planning protests around the event in Washington and across the country, along with ongoing protests about Trump's immigration policy happening around the U.S. The NBC News Decision Desk Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey, was conducted from May 30-June 10 among a national sample of 19,410 adults aged 18 and over. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. This article was originally published on
