Good morning. The Great Tech Backlash of 2026 continues amid a spreading political fury.
What had been the stuff of spy thrillers and science fiction movies is now increasingly common in the U.S.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) said Wednesday he was investigating Flock Safety for its "collection, retention, and dissemination of the data generated by its artificial intelligence surveillance cameras."
Backlash to Flock's license plate analysis technology has intensified, forcing the company to amend practices and explain its safeguards.
From a WSJ story this week: "Flock has 120,000 cameras in 49 states that capture 20 billion license plates a month-along with dents, bumper stickers, and other identifying features."
The outcry is becoming deafening and playing out in dozens of states. And just as a bipartisan number of lawmakers are sounding the alarms about the development of new data centers, there are leading politicians-and business leaders-issuing stark warnings about unfettered development of artificial intelligence and the use of surveillance technology.
Flock cameras are getting the most attention, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a warning on Wednesday that he didn't want to see certain technology create a "surveillance state."
But there are more voices wanting a pause on a range of other things, from data centers to even AI overall because of how fast the technology has moved and the rather sluggish pace with which policymakers have adapted.
This comes as Bill Gates published a 12-page essay calling for more scrutiny and regulation because of the potential dangers of AI.
What can politicians do? Probably a lot. States could ban the use of surveillance technology. It sure seems like voters support that. Or they could put new restrictions on how the data is used, stored or shared. Sometimes technology moves so fast there is no going back. And sometimes the public says "enough," and politicians react.
This is an edition of the Politics newsletter, bringing you an expert guide to what's driving D.C. every day. If you're not subscribed, sign up here.
People and Policies I'm Watching
Lisa Cook: The Federal Reserve governor sent a letter to the White House saying the allegations she committed mortgage fraud are unfounded.
President Trump's Thursday: Trump holds a policy meeting this morning, then will head to Houston for Republican National Committee event this evening.
What I'm Following
Hakeem Jeffries scrambles to find balance in the Democratic Party. The House Minority Leader is trying to navigate the crosscurrents of his party, vowing to hold the "Trump cartel" accountable-even as he deals with criticism for meeting with the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
States face confusion over mail-in ballots. States are prepping to send out vote-by-mail ballots, but they're seeing potential chaos after the Postal Service issued Trump-favored regulations on Friday. The new rules set requirements for envelope sizes, mandate individualized bar codes for each envelope and require states to submit data to a federal registration portal about all the ballots they send out.
The State Department pauses all immigrant visa applications. The Trump administration has paused immigrant visa applications to conduct "in-depth training" as it looks to tighten restrictions on applicants. Applicants for immigrant visas most commonly include spouses, parents and siblings of U.S. citizens, as well as some people sponsored by U.S.-based employers.
What Else Is Happening
The U.S. and Canada are bracing for a long trade dispute. Political incentives are pushing each side to kick the can on negotiations.
Vietnam now has the largest trade surplus with the U.S. Trump's tariffs have boosted the Communist country's exports to the U.S.
The FDA approves a drug for pancreatic cancer. It's a milestone for treatment of the cancer that kills seven out of eight patients within five years.
Bond markets overseas are having an ugly summer. The selloff in U.S. Treasurys has captured global attention, but countries with large debt burdens-France, Italy, the U.K., Japan-have come under the heaviest pressure.
What I'm Reading
Masked Agents Move Into Tribal Lands to Build Border Wall (Arizona Republic)
Trump Stumped for Darline Graham. Did It Sway Horry County? (Myrtle Beach Sun News)
Inside the Rise of Maine's 'Pink Slime' Partisan News Outlets (Portland Press Herald)
About Me
I'm Damian Paletta, The Wall Street Journal's Washington coverage chief. I've covered Washington for 22 years as a reporter and editor. I've covered the White House, Congress, national security, the federal budget, economics and multiple market meltdowns. WSJ Politics brings you an expert guide to what's driving D.C., every weekday morning. Send your feedback to politics@wsj.com (if you're reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply). This edition was curated and edited in collaboration with Alistair Dawber and Emily Martocci. Got a tip for us? Here's how to submit.
Comments