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Why won't Donald Trump regulate AI? - podcast
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
The Guardian Australia podcast Decoding America asks why Donald Trump will not regulate artificial intelligence. In an episode published on 16 September 2026, co-hosts Jonathan Yerushalmy and Reged Ahmad examine whether there is appetite across the political spectrum for AI guardrails. The question comes as existential fears mount worldwide that the technology is developing too quickly.
The episode notes that Trump is facing an AI backlash in Congress, where pressure for regulation is intensifying. Yet the administration has not moved to impose substantial rules. The podcast explores why the president has resisted calls for guardrails.
The discussion also explains the latest Supreme Court ruling on the Trump administration's mail-in ballot restrictions and what it means for the 2026 midterms. It further looks at Trump's intervention in the Irish reunification debate. Those topics frame the AI debate within a broader US political moment.
The AI segment reflects wider anxiety. Guardian commentator John Crace recently asked whether AI is on course to kill us all within 10 years. Trump's response, as the podcast characterizes it, was 'Hold my Coke.' The contrast highlights the gulf between warnings and policy action.
Decoding America is hosted by Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy. Lu Hill and Daniel Semo produced the episode, and Semo handled mixing and sound design. Hannah Parkes and Molly Glassey are executive editors.
Without regulation, AI could advance without safeguards. The podcast suggests the debate crosses party lines, with calls for guardrails growing. But political will remains uncertain, and Trump's stance could shape the outcome.
The 2026 midterms may alter that dynamic. The Supreme Court's mail-in ballot ruling could affect election rules and results. As AI develops, the question of why Trump will not regulate it is likely to persist.
