The Download: deepfake porn’s stolen bodies and AI sharing private numbers

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. The shock of seeing your body used in deepfake porn When Jennifer got a research job in 2023, she ran her new professiona…

Who are the US CEOs in China with Trump, and what’s in it for them?

Top executives hope to expand their businesses in China as Trump aims for win ahead of midterm vote.

WATCH: Students raise money to protect eagle habitat

Elementary school students are holding lemonade stands and bake sales to help save an eagle habitat from being developed into luxury homes.

In pictures: Trump hosted by Xi Jinping in Beijing on two-day summit

President Trump was welcomed by President Xi Jinping in Beijing for what will be a whirlwind tour.

49 Real Names That Parents Gave Their Children That Should Have Stayed Inside Their Heads

Remember when kids had normal names? Like Michael, James, Sarah, Michelle or Mark... Nowadays, it seems like new parents aren't just thinking outside the box when it comes to naming their babies, they're burning the box altogether.

I wanted an adventure after college, so I traveled abroad. Now I feel pressure to match my family's success.

A GenZer left high school early, ice climbed professionally, and interned at Tesla before starting her own company. Now she feels pressure to succeed.

WATCH: China's humanoid robots new technological advances amid global AI race

With the global race for artificial intelligence and robotics technology in full swing, David Muir takes a closer look at the humanoid robots being built in China – and how it could help humans.

WATCH: The rise in popularity of Americans getting 2nd passports

Maggie Rulli reports from Florence, Italy, as more Americans are leaving the U.S. behind and starting over overseas because of burnout, political views or their dream of living “la dolce vita.”

WATCH: Video shows Chattanooga officer save child from burning apartment

The four-year-old girl and her family are safe.

WATCH: Remarkable rescue after plane crashes in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida

With limited fuel, an Air Force combat rescue helicopter found all 11 victims and hoisted them to safety – completing the mission with just minutes to spare.

Sean Duffy Wants You to Take a Road Trip While Gas Prices Skyrocket

The transportation secretary’s new reality show comes at an inopportune time.

What Is Truth in a Post-Photography World?

In March 2026, the National Republican Senatorial Committee released an online ad featuring a minute-long video of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico speaking into the camera, reading statements the real Talarico had not spoken on camera. The Talarico…

At The Money: Is SpaceX IPO Breaking Capitalism?

     At The Money: Is SpaceX IPO Breaking Capitalism? (May 13, 2026) Once upon a time, companies went public to raise money. Road shows, pitch decks, investor meetings — and eventually, you’d float some stock and IPO. That’s not the case anymore. Full transc…

WATCH: NHL star Matthew Schaefer gets big surprise

The New York Islanders defenseman was named the winner of the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year.

Elon Musk Said He’d Stop Political Spending. He’s the Third-Largest Donor in the Midterms

And now he's accompanying Trump as a guest of honor in China.

Elon Musk Claims ‘The Odyssey’s Christopher Nolan Cast Lupita Nyong’o As Helen Of Troy Because “He Wants Awards”

Elon Musk is back to bashing The Odyssey and Christopher Nolan’s decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o in the epic film. In several new messages on the microblogging platform, the controversial figure took aim at Nolan’s upcoming film, something he has griped about…

OpenAI exec recalls 'tense exchange' where Elon Musk called him a 'jackass'

OpenAI's chief futurist told the federal jury in the Musk v. Altman trial that Elon Musk "snapped and called me a jackass" at a 2018 company meeting.

Does Trump need China to end the war in Iran?

What you need to know about Donald Trump vs President Xi

Digg Is Back Again, but With a New Format and Focus on AI

Using the 1,000 most influential voices in AI that also happen to be on X, Digg wants to be your source of AI news.

‘Maybe me too’: Elon Musk accepts some of the blame for Claude learning to blackmail users from ‘evil’ online AI stories

Anthropic recently released a report saying it had solved Claude’s “agentic misalignment,” or the bot’s behaviors that deviated from humans’ best interests.

Kickstarter Is The Latest Platform Seemingly Forced To Ban Adult Content By Payment Processors

Kickstarter has updated its content guidelines to prohibit several forms of NSFW content, and payment processor Stripe may be to blame

Trump's China summit is about to kick off. Here's what's at stake for markets.

Trump's China summit marks the first time a US president has visited the country in nearly a decade. Trade, AI, and the Iran war are likely talking points.

“FIRE THE BUM”: Trump Torches Mitch McConnell Aide for Wild Reason

President Donald Trump demanded a congressional aide be fired Wednesday for making Senator Mitch McConnell look “completely out of it” during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. The staffer approached McConnell after the Kentucky Republican attempted t…

Democrat Immediately Promises to Drop Out After Winning Weird Primary

The state Democratic Party favorite won Nebraska’s senatorial primary Tuesday evening—though she has no plans to make it to the general election.Cindy Burbank actually campaigned on exiting the race. The retired pharmacy technician easily won over the state’s…

What to know as Trump visits Xi in China

Trump has landed in Beijing for the first visit by a US leader since his own in 2017.

The Download: making drugs in orbit and NASA’s nuclear-powered spacecraft

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. A plan to make drugs in orbit is going commercial A startup called Varda Space Industries is betting that the future of p…

‘He needed to have total control over it’ — Altman testifies Musk never trusted shared leadership during OpenAI trial

Sam Altman’s testimony in the high-stakes OpenAI lawsuit paints Elon Musk as focused on personal control.

Trump lands in China for Xi summit with Nvidia CEO in tow

By Laurie Chen, Trevor Hunnicutt and Heejin Kim BEIJING/SEOUL, May 13 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump landed in Beijing accompanied by an entourage that...

Links 5/13/2026

Our controversial daily Links: great bookshops, young people suck? hantavirus watch, global fire risk ship fuel scarce, data center con? Trump's Xi leverage fantasy, Starmer finally sinking, Europe to nix Brazil beef, Russia defends Paciific assets, Trump's d…

Jensen Huang Joins Trump’s Tycoon Entourage in China

Dry your eyes. The billionaire CEO of the world's most valuable company gets to go on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Sam Altman Testifies That Elon Musk Wanted Control of OpenAI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took the stand Tuesday in Elon Musk's trial against the company, testifying that Musk repeatedly sought control of OpenAI before leaving in 2018. Altman said he opposed putting AI "under the control of any one person," while Musk's lawye…

“Mckelteigh And Lintleighmaye”: 58 Times Parents Didn’t Think Straight When Naming Their Kids

Remember when kids had normal names? Like Michael, James, Sarah, Michelle or Mark... Nowadays, it seems like new parents aren't just thinking outside the box when it comes to naming their babies, they're burning the box altogether.

Sam Altman was winning on the stand, but it might not be enough

After two weeks of hearing from assorted witnesses that he was a lying snake, the jury finally heard from the lying snake himself: Sam Altman. At the end of the testimony, his lawyer William Savitt asked him how it felt to be accused of stealing a charity. "W…

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies in high-stakes court bout with Elon Musk

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took the witness stand Tuesday to defend his business record in a trial pitting him against Elon Musk, rebutting testimony that disparaged his leadership at a pivotal time for the ChatGPT maker. Musk, the world's richest man, is seeking …

Sam Altman's court appearance shines a light on his billions in tech investments

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's investments in Helion Energy, Cerebras, and other companies were shown in trial on Tuesday.

Sam Altman says Elon Musk wanted 90 percent of OpenAI in high-stakes trial

Landmark trial could shape future and leadership of OpenAI as company prepares for possible initial public offering.

OpenAI's Sam Altman takes the stand to fend off Elon Musk's accusations he 'stole a charity'

The trial pits two of tech's most famous personalities against each other and could lead to seismic changes for the maker of ChatGPT.

RNC Launches Sinister Plan as Trump Threatens to Send Troops to Polls

The Republican National Committee announced Tuesday that it has deployed poll watchers and election observers in at least 17 states for the midterm elections.In a post on X, RNC Chairman Joe Gruters posted an audio clip where he said, “We’ve already deployed …

Trump downplays US-Iran differences as he heads to Beijing to meet with Xi

Trump gives conflicting messages on prominence of Iran war in upcoming talks, with his administration emphasising trade.

Brett Ratner, Tim Cook And Elon Musk Join Donald Trump As He Visits China For Summit With Xi Jinping

As President Donald Trump embarks on a trip to China for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, among those spotted was director Brett Ratner. Ratner most recently directed the Amazon Prime documentary Melania, with First Lady Melania Trump as execut…

Elon Musk said control of OpenAI should go to his children, Sam Altman tells jury

PayPal Reaches $30M Settlement Over So-Called ‘DEI Program’ That Helped Black-Owned Businesses

PayPal was engaging in "illegal DEI," according to Trump's DOJ.

Sam Altman faces awkward grilling over 'toxic culture of lying'

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was bombarded with questions from Elon Musk's attorney over whether he lies to advance his business interests.

Grok Is a Flop, But It May Not Matter to Elon Musk

Get ready to hear a lot more about data centers in space.

Sam Altman: Elon Musk wanted control of OpenAI even after death

Sam Altman said Elon Musk tried many times for total control of OpenAI, which he's now suing.

Sam Altman says Elon Musk’s mind games were damaging OpenAI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Elon Musk did "huge damage" to the culture of the AI startup. During testimony as part of Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman said Musk required OpenAI president Greg Brockman and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever to rank rese…

A Hackers Guide to Circumventing Internet Shutdowns

Internet shutdowns are devastating for human rights. When people are disconnected from the internet and digital services, it impacts all aspects of their life—from accessing essential information, to seeking medical care, or communicating with loved ones, bot…

Transcript: Trump’s Sunsetting Visibly Worsens as MAGA Cult Cracks Up

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the May 13 episode of The Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here.Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent.The cult-like …

Guess Who Canceled U.S. Hantavirus Research Last Year, at the Height of DOGE?

Researchers would have been studying this exact Andean strain of hantavirus already, until the Trump administration revoked their funding.

Links 5/12/2026

Our tweety daily links: Monkey extortion, poor hantavirus containment, American stupidity, moar shortages, moar Trump Iran threats, Antarctic worries, US overreach in China sanctions? German rearmament, NZ considers rationing, Starmer agonistes, Finland v Rus…

SpaceX and Anthropic, xAI’s Two Companies, Elon Musk and SpaceXAI’s Future

The Anthropic xAI deal is shocking but not surprising: Musk should double down on serving other companies.

The Stealthy Rise of the Business Court

How familiar are you with business courts? They may be flying under your radar, but your lives are deeply entangled. Nearly two-thirds of Americans live in a state with a business court. And some workers or consumers in those states—whether they like it or no…

"It was sort of amateur city": Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes Sam Altman was fired out of jealousy, not for being consistently candid in his communications

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified in the ongoing Musk v. Altman trial, indicating that the billionaire didn't raise any issues about the partnership and investments despite having his phone number.

Trump goes to China as Iran war smolders

President Trump says he has a great relationship with President Xi. His trip to China will provide a temperature check.

Britain pays Starlink millions despite Musk's calls to overthrow UK government

Satellite service supports troops and Ukraine, but payments may raise eyebrows after boss's political broadsides

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Testifies In OpenAI Trial

The Musk v. Altman trial entered its third week Monday, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and former OpenAI co-founder and renowned AI researcher Ilya Sutskever taking the stand. Nadella testified that Elon Musk never raised concerns to him that Microsoft's in…

In a trial pitting him against Elon Musk, nobody has more to lose than OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

OpenAI co-founder and Microsoft CEO testify in Elon Musk v OpenAI trial

Ilya Sutskever Stands by His Role in Sam Altman’s OpenAI Ouster: ‘I Didn’t Want It to Be Destroyed’

The former OpenAI chief scientist may be estranged from the company, but he still came to its defense as he testified on Monday.

Tim Cook among CEOs confirmed for President Trump’s China trip

The White House has reportedly confirmed that Apple CEO Tim Cook will be among the executives accompanying President Trump on his trip to China this week. Here are the details. more…

OpenAI board member didn't look at the internet after firing Sam Altman

As a member of OpenAI's board, Ilya Sutskever voted to fire Sam Altman — but later changed his mind.

Elon Musk and other CEOs invited to be in Trump's delegation to China

From Elon Musk to Tim Cook, here's the full list of top execs joining Trump on his China trip this week

New Yorkers exposed to deadly hantavirus quarantined in Nebraska

Passengers who have disembarked from the stricken MV Hondius head by coach to the airport at Granadilla Port in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, on May 10, 2026. One of the three is from New York City, and the others are from Orange and Westchester countie…

Elon Musk Settles SEC Lawsuit For Spare Change, Proving Once Again That Rules Are For Other People

There are perks to spending over a quarter of a billion dollars getting your preferred candidate elected. A multi-month free pass to take a sledgehammer to the federal government, for starters. And, apparently, a sweetheart deal when the SEC comes knocking wi…

Apple, Boeing, Citi, Tesla, Meta executives to join Trump's China trip

WASHINGTON, May 11 () - More than one ‌dozen CEOs ‌and top executives will join ​the U. delegation as President Donald Trump travels to ‌China this ⁠week...

She had four kids with Elon Musk. Now she’s central to his courtroom fight.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. OAKLAND, Calif. - Shivon Zilis had her back...

White House invites Musk, Cook for Trump China trip, Bloomberg reports

May 11 () - The White House is inviting Tesla's Elon Musk ‌and Apple's Tim Cook to accompany ‌President Donald Trump on his trip to China ​this week, Bloomberg...

9 Most Chaotic Celebrity Posts For Mother’s Day 2026 As Stars Totally Fail To Read The Room

Making things super awkward online, these celebrities used Mother’s Day for their PR cleanups, for brand promotions, and even to throw shade at each other.

Joanna Stern is not a robot, but she lived with them

My guest today is longtime friend of the show Joanna Stern. You all know Joanna: she is the former senior personal technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, a former Decoder guest host, one of my cofounders here at The Verge, and also just one of my v…

Trump, 79, Forgets He Accused Army of Stealing Gold From Fort Knox

President Donald Trump can’t even keep track of his own conspiracy theories. During an interview on Full Measure, host Sharyl Attkisson pressed Trump about his allegations that someone had stolen from the country’s gold reserve at Fort Knox. “What happened to…

Microsoft feared that OpenAI might jump to Amazon and badmouth Azure "on the way out" — internal emails revealed in court

Microsoft feared OpenAI might bolt to Amazon and publicly trash Azure, according to newly unsealed court filings

The Musk-Altman trial is in the final stretch. These big questions still remain.

As the Musk-OpenAI trial nears its end, major questions remain about Sam Altman, Ilya Sutskever, and what comes next.

Trump’s war against wokeness has a long history

Only the acronyms have changed in the fight to purge the National Endowment for the Humanities and "woke" education

Yes, local LLMs are ready to ease the compute strain

Anthropic might be thinking about space to ease its computing burden, but Claude Code on your laptop is way more practical

NY Sen. Schumer says hantavirus outbreak underscores dangers of CDC staffing cuts

Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference. The lawmaker says the White House should restore funding and rejoin the World Health Organization. [ more › ]

Links 5/10/2026

Our strategic daily links: terminal weirdness, UFO files, hantavirus, China charging, UK elections, Mideast war, Ukraine burning, vanishing privacy, Trumpishness, Musk world, hapless Democrats, immigration troubles, Mr. market, AI, and wretched excess

What Sam Altman's lawyer learned from RBG and driving a cab

William Savitt drove a cab before clerking for Ruth Bader Ginsburg and taking on Elon Musk in court. Here's his advice for young lawyers.

Last Tesla Model S and X Roll Off Production Line

The quiet death of Tesla's high-end models marks the end of Tesla as a relatively ordinary car company.

イーロン・マスク氏「自惚れた糞パヨクどもを荒らすのは簡単すぎる…でもめっちゃ楽しい」

1 ：：2026/05/09(土) 21:21:19.30 ID:5WUkwDD70●.net It is too easy to troll smug libs … but it is so fun — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 8, 2026 https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2052647951508644185 https://i.imgur.com/vph8hvf.jpeg ...

The Humanities Score a Victory Against Trump

DOGE used ChatGPT to cancel research grants. A federal judge wouldn’t have it.

Opinion - AOC doesn’t believe true billionaires exist — soon they won’t, at least in New York

Billionaires and even millionaires in states like New York may go the way of unicorns — fanciful creatures that once thrived in a land of jobs and growth.

Anthropic pins Claude's blackmail behavior on the internet's portrayal of 'evil' AI

Last year, Anthropic's Sonnet 3.6 model displayed blackmail behavior, prompting a review of AI training data's influence on its actions.

What the Musk-Altman courtroom clash reveals about two of the most powerful men in Silicon Valley

Testimony at Musk v Altman trial is painting vivid new portraits of the two of the most powerful men in Silicon Valley.

Are humanoid robots all hype?

Humanoid robots have been everywhere lately.  They’re running half-marathons in Beijing. They’re chasing wild boars off the streets of Warsaw. They’re getting put to work as airport baggage handlers, waste sorters, and traffic cops. They’re walking the red ca…

‘Directionally Very Bad’: Everything You Missed During Week 2 of the Elon Musk vs OpenAI Trial

This case isn't going to produce any winners in the court of public opinion.

Claude, brought to you by Elon Musk

Anthropic now relies on a huge SpaceX data center for AI compute, tying Claude's rapid growth and reliability to Elon Musk.

Court To DOGE Bros: Asking ChatGPT ‘Yo, Is This DEI?’ Is Not Proper Legal Process & Also A First Amendment Violation

Back in early 2025, DOGE bros Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh were handed multiple government roles with a simple mandate: go find the woke stuff and kill it. Fox and Cavanaugh had zero relevant experience for any of it — at one point Cavanaugh, a twenty-someth…

Gold, gold, and more gold: All of the decor changes Trump has made to the Oval Office

President Donald Trump continues to redecorate the Oval Office. He's added numerous gold furnishings, some taken from his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Anthropic grew 80-fold in a single quarter. Now it’s renting Elon Musk’s data center to cope

CEO Dario Amodei said he’s hoping eventually Anthropic will have a “more normal” expansion.

Gemini may finally leap out of the chatbox at Google I/O

While ChatGPT and Claude have been busy unleashing new models and eye-popping tools that unleash AI agents on code, your designs, and even your desktop, Gemini has been notably–perhaps even ominously, for its competitors–quiet. Sure, there have been some…

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro wants to merge Disney+ into a ‘super app’, but it’s not as thrilling as you’d think — instead you’ll be forced to see ads pushing theme parks and cruise lines, and who really wants that?

Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro wants to merge Disney+ with Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line Navigator apps.

It’s No Longer Safe for Civil Servants to Be Good at Their Job

It has come to this. Every year a completely inoffensive nonprofit called the Partnership for Public Service hosts a ceremony to hand out awards to civil servants who excel at their jobs. The awards are called the “Sammies,” after the roofing magnate and phil…

Popular Stanford AI professor says Americans are not happy about data centers: 'These are human beings'

Stanford University's Anjney Midha said AI leaders would face less resistance to building data centers if they listened more to local communities.

Judge says DOGE grant terminations are unlawful and 'troubling'

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency “blatantly used” race, gender and protected characteristics to execute mass termination of federal grants, a judge said.

Musk vs. Altman Evidence Shows What Microsoft Executives Thought of OpenAI

Leaders at the tech giant were skeptical of OpenAI—but wary of pushing it into the arms of Amazon, according to emails dating back to 2018.