The Decoded Podcast

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What’s in Peter Thiel’s new Antichrist lecture? Oct 08, 2026

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Tech billionaire Peter Thiel is sharpening his warnings about the Antichrist — which he sees as someone who could harm technological development — as AI races ahead and public concern over its risks grow, according to exclusive recordings obtained by Decoded. Plus, a top trade group for the “metaverse” shuts its doors after eight years.

For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Decoded newsletter: politico.com/decoded

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Inside AI safety's hottest club Oct 07, 2026

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Decoded got an inside look of The Curve, the invite-only conference last weekend that hosted of AI influence and offered a microcosm of the state of current global safety talks. We’ll also talk about potential presidential candidate Senator Ruben Gallego’s plans to regulate AI, and the new movies that star tech giants in "villain roles”

For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Decoded newsletter: politico.com/decoded

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AI industry reacts to Sam Altman's comments, AI leaders testify in New York City Oct 06, 2026

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The AI accelerationists are turning on OpenAI.

Their calls for faster development and lighter-touch regulation are running up against a shifting, more pro-regulation stance from the ChatGPT maker and its chief executive, ratcheting up tensions just as the public’s frustration with the technology is reaching new levels. Plus, a look at the testimony given by AI industry leaders at a New York City Council meeting yesterday.

For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Decoded newsletter: politico.com/decoded

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Sam Altman on rogue AI, Anthropic, and getting money out of politics Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, says that he gets “ why AI has a really negative perception right now,” and doesn’t think a rebranding artificial intelligence to “super intelligence” will help. Decoded's Brendan Bordelon hears from Altman about his recent visit to the White House, how OpenAI’s approach to safety differs from his biggest competitors, and what comes next in the ongoing saga of rogue AI agents hacking into sensitive government data.

For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Decoded newsletter: politico.com/decoded

This episode was produced by Mansee Khurana with help from Jackson Barton and Seth Pollack. It was edited by Emma Anderson and John Hewitt Jones. Our executive editor is Christopher Cadelego. It contains original music from Pran Bondi.

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Welcome to The Decoded Podcast Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

The Decoded Podcast explores the people, policy battles and market forces shaping the future of technology around the world, drawing on POLITICO’s reporting to make sense of what’s happening and what comes next. Be sure to subscribe to the Decoded newsletter here.

The first episode drops October 5!

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What’s behind Trump’s new Tech Force Dec 18, 2025

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The Trump administration launched the U.S. Tech Force this week, aiming to recruit 1,000 fellows with backgrounds in AI, cybersecurity and other high-tech fields into federal agencies. It’s the latest attempt to solve the government’s long-standing recruitment problem. But will this time be different? On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly sits down with Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, a longtime tech investor, to discuss the new initiative, the impact of DOGE cuts and why the government must embrace AI.

Steven Overly is the host of POLITICO Tech and covers the intersection of politics and technology.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy and producer of POLITICO Tech.

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Why Trump is fighting states over AI Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social this week that he will sign an executive order aimed at banning state AI laws. The move will almost certainly appease Silicon Valley executives and anger some of his fellow Republicans — not to mention ignite a legal battle with state governments concerned about federal overreach. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly breaks down the latest developments surrounding the closely watched and intensely debated AI moratorium with the help of POLITICO technology reporters Gabby Miller and Brendan Bordelon.

Steven Overly is the host of POLITICO Tech and covers the intersection of politics and technology.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy and producer of POLITICO Tech.

This episode has been updated to correct a mischaracterization of Andreessen Horowitz's policy position.

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Craig Newmark sees an AI bubble. It may not be a bust. Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Craig Newmark is best known for shaping our digital past. As the founder of Craigslist, he was a pioneer in online classified advertising and lived the Silicon Valley dot-com bubble firsthand. These days, Newmark is donating his vast wealth to fight disinformation and cyber scams. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly sat down with Newmark to discuss whether he sees an AI bubble forming today, and why he’s hopeful the fast-moving technology will make us more secure online (even if it has some problems still to be worked out).

Steven Overly is the host of POLITICO Tech and covers the intersection of politics and technology.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy and producer of POLITICO Tech.

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How AI is driving Trump’s energy agenda Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Meeting the rising energy demands of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other emerging technologies is one of the big challenges facing the Trump administration. And Dario Gil, the undersecretary for science at the Energy Department, is one of the key officials searching for solutions — including yet-unrealized power sources like fusion. For POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly spoke with Gil on stage at the Aspen Cyber Summit in Washington about the administration’s energy priorities, competition with China, and the future of federal research.

Steven Overly is the host of POLITICO Tech and covers the intersection of politics and technology.

Nirmal Mulaikal is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy and producer of POLITICO Tech.

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Rebroadcast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt on AI, Hollywood and owning your ‘digital self’ Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been called a “Luddite” and “anti-tech,” but the actor, filmmaker and entrepreneur insists he’s actually dazzled by artificial intelligence. He just has qualms with the tech companies building it, and how they’re compensating people for their work and data. On POLITICO Tech, host Steven Overly met up with Gordon-Levitt on the sidelines of an Aspen Digital event in Washington, D.C. to discuss AI’s consequences for creatives, and what he wants from the tech industry and from policymakers.

This episode originally published on June 19, 2025.

⁠Steven Overly⁠ is the host of POLITICO Tech and covers the intersection of politics and technology.

⁠Nirmal Mulaikal⁠ is the co-host and producer of POLITICO Energy and producer of POLITICO Tech.

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