Latest line: A good week for Vince Fong, a bad week for Sam Altman
California has a new congressman, and a Bay Area AI pioneer draws scrutiny.
Vince Fong
Republican state assemblyman wins special election to complete the term of former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the 20th congressional district, which runs from Fresno to Bakersfield.
Sam Altman
Open AI CEO draws heat after several top staffers working to ensure AI doesn’t harm humankind quit and Scarlett Johansson claims the company imitated her voice for its ChatGPT software without permission.
Eleni Kounalakis
California lieutenant governor launches a new abortion rights PAC in Nevada and Arizona to help President Biden. It will raise her profile for the 2026 governor’s race, but can she out-hustle Attorney General Rob Bonta?