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Senate Democrats want to know: was YouTube’s Trump settlement a bribe?

Senate Democrats want to know: was YouTube’s Trump settlement a bribe?

In a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, five Senators — Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — asked for details about any settlement talks between those companies and the Trump administration. They’re interested in whether Google secured favorable treatment as a result of the payout, including leniency in multiple ongoing antitrust lawsuits, something they warn could constitute an illegal bribe.

The deal between Trump and YouTube settles a lawsuit Trump filed in 2021 after he was suspended from the platform. It’s raised eyebrows thanks to the weak legal rationale (courts have all but unanimously declared social media companies can ban users) and the fact that YouTube’s parent company would benefit greatly from winning Trump’s favor.

Google is entangled in multiple antitrust suits

Google recently appeared in court to determine how a judge should neutralize its monopoly in the ad tech sector — with the Department of Justice arguing for a dramatic breakup. The government could still choose to settle that case with far less drastic remedies. Google is also entangled in a search antitrust suit, where a judge proposed milder remedies than the preceding Biden administration asked for, and the Trump administration will be in charge of deciding how hard to push an appeal.

“The public deserves to know whether YouTube’s settlement will influence the Trump Justice Department’s decision regarding whether to appeal and seek the stricter remedies DOJ had originally sought against Google,” the letter says. If YouTube settled a “legally dubious lawsuit” to avoid those remedies, “the company and its executives may have run afoul of the law,” it says, citing the federal anti-bribery statute as well as California’s Unfair Competition Law.

The vast majority — $22 million — of YouTube’s payment was earmarked to support the construction of a new White House ballroom. Trump is reportedly scheduled to hold a fundraising dinner for the ballroom later today, according to CBS News.

Several of the senators previously wrote to Google and YouTube in August, before the settlement was announced, warning them against paying for favorable treatment. As noted in this latest letter, the companies responded saying they’d had “no discussion tying any potential settlement of the case to any official action or to any pending or potential future matters involving Alphabet or any of its affiliates, and there will be no such discussions.” The lawmakers are pushing to determine whether this was the truth.

YouTube isn’t the only company that has settled a spurious Trump lawsuit. The president extracted $16 million from Paramount as it sought merger approval from the government, and Xand Meta respectively paid “about $10 million” and $25 million to settle suits similar to the YouTube ones. Earlier this year, Warren said that the Meta settlement “looks like a bribe.”

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#Senate #Democrats #YouTubes #Trump #settlement #bribe

Have you ever had the desire to see Sam Altman and Palmer Luckey square off over a moderately suspenseful card game? If so, you are in luck.

Silicon Valley’s leaders are rushing to embrace the power of media for the purposes of marketing and political capital. Now, in a sign of the times, Founders Fund, the venture capital firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, has launched its own game show.

MAFIA the GAME, will apparently be an ongoing thing, where prominent tech luminaries get together and face off over a game of cards (the show is named after the party-game favorite).

The spectacle is moderated by Pirate Wires editor Mike Solana (who is also the chief marketing officer at Founders Fund). The debut episode includes a who’s who of players, Altman, Luckey, Bryan Johnson, the famed biohacker who will (according to him) live forever, and Moxie Marlinspike, the founder of encrypted chat app Signal.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDCwQe7P8T0[/embed]

“I’m so f*cking bored with VC content,” Solana told Newcomer, which originally reported the show’s existence. “There has to be a more interesting way to get to know someone, and I think that this is a way more interesting way to get to know someone.”

TechCrunch reached out to Founders Fund for more information on the program.

In many ways, having a reality-TV-esque platform is just good business these days. The internet has turned the world into a population of chronic media consumers, and the average American spends around 2.5 hours on social media per day. Much of that time is spent scrolling through an endless flood of advertising-laced memes and videos.

In the modern era, the road to power and influence is paved by infotainment.

Companies and executives have sought to take advantage of this new reality in different ways. OpenAI recently raised some eyebrows when it procured TBPN, the buzzy founder-led podcast. Meanwhile, a number of tech’s most prominent players have leveraged virality to their advantage. Johnson, for instance, has managed to grow his following through a very active (and quite bizarre) social media presence. Elon Musk, meanwhile, has also managed to leverage his public persona to go viral (although arguments could be made that his online presence has sometimes hurt rather than helped his businesses).

This trend has also spread to the startup space, where people like Cluely CEO Chungin “Roy” Lee have demonstrated the power of being a one-man viral hype machine.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Founders #Fund #launches #game #show #starring #Sam #Altman #Palmer #Luckey #tech #elites #TechCrunchbryan johnson,Founders Fund,media,Palmer Luckey,sam altman">Founders Fund launches game show starring Sam Altman, Palmer Luckey, and other tech elites | TechCrunch
Have you ever had the desire to see Sam Altman and Palmer Luckey square off over a moderately suspenseful card game? If so, you are in luck. 

Silicon Valley’s leaders are rushing to embrace the power of media for the purposes of marketing and political capital. Now, in a sign of the times, Founders Fund, the venture capital firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, has launched its own game show.







MAFIA the GAME, will apparently be an ongoing thing, where prominent tech luminaries get together and face off over a game of cards (the show is named after the party-game favorite).

The spectacle is moderated by Pirate Wires editor Mike Solana (who is also the chief marketing officer at Founders Fund). The debut episode includes a who’s who of players, Altman, Luckey, Bryan Johnson, the famed biohacker who will (according to him) live forever, and Moxie Marlinspike, the founder of encrypted chat app Signal.


[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDCwQe7P8T0[/embed]


“I’m so f*cking bored with VC content,” Solana told Newcomer, which originally reported the show’s existence. “There has to be a more interesting way to get to know someone, and I think that this is a way more interesting way to get to know someone.”

TechCrunch reached out to Founders Fund for more information on the program. 

In many ways, having a reality-TV-esque platform is just good business these days. The internet has turned the world into a population of chronic media consumers, and the average American spends around 2.5 hours on social media per day. Much of that time is spent scrolling through an endless flood of advertising-laced memes and videos. 


In the modern era, the road to power and influence is paved by infotainment.

Companies and executives have sought to take advantage of this new reality in different ways. OpenAI recently raised some eyebrows when it procured TBPN, the buzzy founder-led podcast. Meanwhile, a number of tech’s most prominent players have leveraged virality to their advantage. Johnson, for instance, has managed to grow his following through a very active (and quite bizarre) social media presence. Elon Musk, meanwhile, has also managed to leverage his public persona to go viral (although arguments could be made that his online presence has sometimes hurt rather than helped his businesses).

This trend has also spread to the startup space, where people like Cluely CEO Chungin “Roy” Lee have demonstrated the power of being a one-man viral hype machine. 








When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#Founders #Fund #launches #game #show #starring #Sam #Altman #Palmer #Luckey #tech #elites #TechCrunchbryan johnson,Founders Fund,media,Palmer Luckey,sam altman

power of media for the purposes of marketing and political capital. Now, in a sign of the times, Founders Fund, the venture capital firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, has launched its own game show.

MAFIA the GAME, will apparently be an ongoing thing, where prominent tech luminaries get together and face off over a game of cards (the show is named after the party-game favorite).

The spectacle is moderated by Pirate Wires editor Mike Solana (who is also the chief marketing officer at Founders Fund). The debut episode includes a who’s who of players, Altman, Luckey, Bryan Johnson, the famed biohacker who will (according to him) live forever, and Moxie Marlinspike, the founder of encrypted chat app Signal.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDCwQe7P8T0[/embed]

“I’m so f*cking bored with VC content,” Solana told Newcomer, which originally reported the show’s existence. “There has to be a more interesting way to get to know someone, and I think that this is a way more interesting way to get to know someone.”

TechCrunch reached out to Founders Fund for more information on the program.

In many ways, having a reality-TV-esque platform is just good business these days. The internet has turned the world into a population of chronic media consumers, and the average American spends around 2.5 hours on social media per day. Much of that time is spent scrolling through an endless flood of advertising-laced memes and videos.

In the modern era, the road to power and influence is paved by infotainment.

Companies and executives have sought to take advantage of this new reality in different ways. OpenAI recently raised some eyebrows when it procured TBPN, the buzzy founder-led podcast. Meanwhile, a number of tech’s most prominent players have leveraged virality to their advantage. Johnson, for instance, has managed to grow his following through a very active (and quite bizarre) social media presence. Elon Musk, meanwhile, has also managed to leverage his public persona to go viral (although arguments could be made that his online presence has sometimes hurt rather than helped his businesses).

This trend has also spread to the startup space, where people like Cluely CEO Chungin “Roy” Lee have demonstrated the power of being a one-man viral hype machine.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Founders #Fund #launches #game #show #starring #Sam #Altman #Palmer #Luckey #tech #elites #TechCrunchbryan johnson,Founders Fund,media,Palmer Luckey,sam altman">Founders Fund launches game show starring Sam Altman, Palmer Luckey, and other tech elites | TechCrunch

Have you ever had the desire to see Sam Altman and Palmer Luckey square off over a moderately suspenseful card game? If so, you are in luck.

Silicon Valley’s leaders are rushing to embrace the power of media for the purposes of marketing and political capital. Now, in a sign of the times, Founders Fund, the venture capital firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, has launched its own game show.

MAFIA the GAME, will apparently be an ongoing thing, where prominent tech luminaries get together and face off over a game of cards (the show is named after the party-game favorite).

The spectacle is moderated by Pirate Wires editor Mike Solana (who is also the chief marketing officer at Founders Fund). The debut episode includes a who’s who of players, Altman, Luckey, Bryan Johnson, the famed biohacker who will (according to him) live forever, and Moxie Marlinspike, the founder of encrypted chat app Signal.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDCwQe7P8T0[/embed]

“I’m so f*cking bored with VC content,” Solana told Newcomer, which originally reported the show’s existence. “There has to be a more interesting way to get to know someone, and I think that this is a way more interesting way to get to know someone.”

TechCrunch reached out to Founders Fund for more information on the program.

In many ways, having a reality-TV-esque platform is just good business these days. The internet has turned the world into a population of chronic media consumers, and the average American spends around 2.5 hours on social media per day. Much of that time is spent scrolling through an endless flood of advertising-laced memes and videos.

In the modern era, the road to power and influence is paved by infotainment.

Companies and executives have sought to take advantage of this new reality in different ways. OpenAI recently raised some eyebrows when it procured TBPN, the buzzy founder-led podcast. Meanwhile, a number of tech’s most prominent players have leveraged virality to their advantage. Johnson, for instance, has managed to grow his following through a very active (and quite bizarre) social media presence. Elon Musk, meanwhile, has also managed to leverage his public persona to go viral (although arguments could be made that his online presence has sometimes hurt rather than helped his businesses).

This trend has also spread to the startup space, where people like Cluely CEO Chungin “Roy” Lee have demonstrated the power of being a one-man viral hype machine.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Founders #Fund #launches #game #show #starring #Sam #Altman #Palmer #Luckey #tech #elites #TechCrunchbryan johnson,Founders Fund,media,Palmer Luckey,sam altman
announced a new line of Windows PCs equipped with NVIDIA RTX Spark, designed to enhance AI computing experiences. They’re targeting creators, gamers, and developers who need to run intense apps and use new AI workflows. HP wants these PCs to be super capable, ultra-responsive, and ready for what’s ahead.

The new lineup includes the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14. Both come with NVIDIA RTX Spark tech, which blends AI and superior graphics while boosting battery efficiency. So, HP is all about amazing performance without sacrificing battery life or mobility. The company claims these laptops will rank among the world’s thinnest models without compromising battery life.

Built For Creators, Gamers, And AI Developers

HP Introduces Next-Generation AI PCs With NVIDIA RTX Spark
	
HP has announced a new line of Windows PCs equipped with NVIDIA RTX Spark, designed to enhance AI computing experiences. They’re targeting creators, gamers, and developers who need to run intense apps and use new AI workflows. HP wants these PCs to be super capable, ultra-responsive, and ready for what’s ahead.



The new lineup includes the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14. Both come with NVIDIA RTX Spark tech, which blends AI and superior graphics while boosting battery efficiency. So, HP is all about amazing performance without sacrificing battery life or mobility. The company claims these laptops will rank among the world’s thinnest models without compromising battery life.



Built For Creators, Gamers, And AI Developers







The platform gives us the computing power for video production, digital design, and content creation. Plus, gamers get better graphics and a more responsive experience. AI developers can make and test AI models right on their computers, too. This mix of AI and graphics tech makes advanced computing easier for a lot more people to use.



Along with its new AI laptops, HP is expanding into desktops, workstations, and enterprise systems. The company is preparing a compact RTX Spark-powered desktop that combines strong AI performance with a space-saving design. HP is also building advanced systems using NVIDIA GB300 technology for demanding business tasks. Furthermore, for those needing more security, there’s the ZGX Nano. It provides a safe space to develop and deploy AI without worries.



Expected Price and Availability 



HP plans to launch the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 later in 2026. The company has not revealed pricing details for either laptop yet. More details about the devices are expected closer to release. HP also plans to launch the OmniDesk Mini Desktop PC in August 2026. Buyers can expect further information about features and pricing before the products reach the market.





#Introduces #NextGeneration #PCs #NVIDIA #RTX #SparkHP

The platform gives us the computing power for video production, digital design, and content creation. Plus, gamers get better graphics and a more responsive experience. AI developers can make and test AI models right on their computers, too. This mix of AI and graphics tech makes advanced computing easier for a lot more people to use.

Along with its new AI laptops, HP is expanding into desktops, workstations, and enterprise systems. The company is preparing a compact RTX Spark-powered desktop that combines strong AI performance with a space-saving design. HP is also building advanced systems using NVIDIA GB300 technology for demanding business tasks. Furthermore, for those needing more security, there’s the ZGX Nano. It provides a safe space to develop and deploy AI without worries.

Expected Price and Availability

HP plans to launch the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 later in 2026. The company has not revealed pricing details for either laptop yet. More details about the devices are expected closer to release. HP also plans to launch the OmniDesk Mini Desktop PC in August 2026. Buyers can expect further information about features and pricing before the products reach the market.

#Introduces #NextGeneration #PCs #NVIDIA #RTX #SparkHP">HP Introduces Next-Generation AI PCs With NVIDIA RTX Spark
	
HP has announced a new line of Windows PCs equipped with NVIDIA RTX Spark, designed to enhance AI computing experiences. They’re targeting creators, gamers, and developers who need to run intense apps and use new AI workflows. HP wants these PCs to be super capable, ultra-responsive, and ready for what’s ahead.



The new lineup includes the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14. Both come with NVIDIA RTX Spark tech, which blends AI and superior graphics while boosting battery efficiency. So, HP is all about amazing performance without sacrificing battery life or mobility. The company claims these laptops will rank among the world’s thinnest models without compromising battery life.



Built For Creators, Gamers, And AI Developers







The platform gives us the computing power for video production, digital design, and content creation. Plus, gamers get better graphics and a more responsive experience. AI developers can make and test AI models right on their computers, too. This mix of AI and graphics tech makes advanced computing easier for a lot more people to use.



Along with its new AI laptops, HP is expanding into desktops, workstations, and enterprise systems. The company is preparing a compact RTX Spark-powered desktop that combines strong AI performance with a space-saving design. HP is also building advanced systems using NVIDIA GB300 technology for demanding business tasks. Furthermore, for those needing more security, there’s the ZGX Nano. It provides a safe space to develop and deploy AI without worries.



Expected Price and Availability 



HP plans to launch the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 later in 2026. The company has not revealed pricing details for either laptop yet. More details about the devices are expected closer to release. HP also plans to launch the OmniDesk Mini Desktop PC in August 2026. Buyers can expect further information about features and pricing before the products reach the market.





#Introduces #NextGeneration #PCs #NVIDIA #RTX #SparkHP

a new line of Windows PCs equipped with NVIDIA RTX Spark, designed to enhance AI computing experiences. They’re targeting creators, gamers, and developers who need to run intense apps and use new AI workflows. HP wants these PCs to be super capable, ultra-responsive, and ready for what’s ahead.

The new lineup includes the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14. Both come with NVIDIA RTX Spark tech, which blends AI and superior graphics while boosting battery efficiency. So, HP is all about amazing performance without sacrificing battery life or mobility. The company claims these laptops will rank among the world’s thinnest models without compromising battery life.

Built For Creators, Gamers, And AI Developers

HP Introduces Next-Generation AI PCs With NVIDIA RTX Spark
	
HP has announced a new line of Windows PCs equipped with NVIDIA RTX Spark, designed to enhance AI computing experiences. They’re targeting creators, gamers, and developers who need to run intense apps and use new AI workflows. HP wants these PCs to be super capable, ultra-responsive, and ready for what’s ahead.



The new lineup includes the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14. Both come with NVIDIA RTX Spark tech, which blends AI and superior graphics while boosting battery efficiency. So, HP is all about amazing performance without sacrificing battery life or mobility. The company claims these laptops will rank among the world’s thinnest models without compromising battery life.



Built For Creators, Gamers, And AI Developers







The platform gives us the computing power for video production, digital design, and content creation. Plus, gamers get better graphics and a more responsive experience. AI developers can make and test AI models right on their computers, too. This mix of AI and graphics tech makes advanced computing easier for a lot more people to use.



Along with its new AI laptops, HP is expanding into desktops, workstations, and enterprise systems. The company is preparing a compact RTX Spark-powered desktop that combines strong AI performance with a space-saving design. HP is also building advanced systems using NVIDIA GB300 technology for demanding business tasks. Furthermore, for those needing more security, there’s the ZGX Nano. It provides a safe space to develop and deploy AI without worries.



Expected Price and Availability 



HP plans to launch the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 later in 2026. The company has not revealed pricing details for either laptop yet. More details about the devices are expected closer to release. HP also plans to launch the OmniDesk Mini Desktop PC in August 2026. Buyers can expect further information about features and pricing before the products reach the market.





#Introduces #NextGeneration #PCs #NVIDIA #RTX #SparkHP

The platform gives us the computing power for video production, digital design, and content creation. Plus, gamers get better graphics and a more responsive experience. AI developers can make and test AI models right on their computers, too. This mix of AI and graphics tech makes advanced computing easier for a lot more people to use.

Along with its new AI laptops, HP is expanding into desktops, workstations, and enterprise systems. The company is preparing a compact RTX Spark-powered desktop that combines strong AI performance with a space-saving design. HP is also building advanced systems using NVIDIA GB300 technology for demanding business tasks. Furthermore, for those needing more security, there’s the ZGX Nano. It provides a safe space to develop and deploy AI without worries.

Expected Price and Availability

HP plans to launch the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 later in 2026. The company has not revealed pricing details for either laptop yet. More details about the devices are expected closer to release. HP also plans to launch the OmniDesk Mini Desktop PC in August 2026. Buyers can expect further information about features and pricing before the products reach the market.

#Introduces #NextGeneration #PCs #NVIDIA #RTX #SparkHP">HP Introduces Next-Generation AI PCs With NVIDIA RTX Spark

HP has announced a new line of Windows PCs equipped with NVIDIA RTX Spark, designed to enhance AI computing experiences. They’re targeting creators, gamers, and developers who need to run intense apps and use new AI workflows. HP wants these PCs to be super capable, ultra-responsive, and ready for what’s ahead.

The new lineup includes the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14. Both come with NVIDIA RTX Spark tech, which blends AI and superior graphics while boosting battery efficiency. So, HP is all about amazing performance without sacrificing battery life or mobility. The company claims these laptops will rank among the world’s thinnest models without compromising battery life.

Built For Creators, Gamers, And AI Developers

HP Introduces Next-Generation AI PCs With NVIDIA RTX Spark
	
HP has announced a new line of Windows PCs equipped with NVIDIA RTX Spark, designed to enhance AI computing experiences. They’re targeting creators, gamers, and developers who need to run intense apps and use new AI workflows. HP wants these PCs to be super capable, ultra-responsive, and ready for what’s ahead.



The new lineup includes the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14. Both come with NVIDIA RTX Spark tech, which blends AI and superior graphics while boosting battery efficiency. So, HP is all about amazing performance without sacrificing battery life or mobility. The company claims these laptops will rank among the world’s thinnest models without compromising battery life.



Built For Creators, Gamers, And AI Developers







The platform gives us the computing power for video production, digital design, and content creation. Plus, gamers get better graphics and a more responsive experience. AI developers can make and test AI models right on their computers, too. This mix of AI and graphics tech makes advanced computing easier for a lot more people to use.



Along with its new AI laptops, HP is expanding into desktops, workstations, and enterprise systems. The company is preparing a compact RTX Spark-powered desktop that combines strong AI performance with a space-saving design. HP is also building advanced systems using NVIDIA GB300 technology for demanding business tasks. Furthermore, for those needing more security, there’s the ZGX Nano. It provides a safe space to develop and deploy AI without worries.



Expected Price and Availability 



HP plans to launch the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 later in 2026. The company has not revealed pricing details for either laptop yet. More details about the devices are expected closer to release. HP also plans to launch the OmniDesk Mini Desktop PC in August 2026. Buyers can expect further information about features and pricing before the products reach the market.





#Introduces #NextGeneration #PCs #NVIDIA #RTX #SparkHP

The platform gives us the computing power for video production, digital design, and content creation. Plus, gamers get better graphics and a more responsive experience. AI developers can make and test AI models right on their computers, too. This mix of AI and graphics tech makes advanced computing easier for a lot more people to use.

Along with its new AI laptops, HP is expanding into desktops, workstations, and enterprise systems. The company is preparing a compact RTX Spark-powered desktop that combines strong AI performance with a space-saving design. HP is also building advanced systems using NVIDIA GB300 technology for demanding business tasks. Furthermore, for those needing more security, there’s the ZGX Nano. It provides a safe space to develop and deploy AI without worries.

Expected Price and Availability

HP plans to launch the OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 later in 2026. The company has not revealed pricing details for either laptop yet. More details about the devices are expected closer to release. HP also plans to launch the OmniDesk Mini Desktop PC in August 2026. Buyers can expect further information about features and pricing before the products reach the market.

#Introduces #NextGeneration #PCs #NVIDIA #RTX #SparkHP

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