'People are very concerned': Former senator warns of impact of Trump's trade policies
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7 minutes ago
China summons Nvidia over 'backdoor safety risks' in H20 chips
WASHINGTON -- China's cyberspace regulators on Thursday summoned Nvidia over security concerns that its H20 chips can be tracked and turned off remotely, the Cyberspace Administration of China said on its website. In the meeting, Chinese regulators demanded that the U.S. chip company provide explanations on 'backdoor safety risks' of its H20 chips to be sold in China and submit relevant materials, the office said. 'Cybersecurity is critically important to us. NVIDIA does not have 'backdoors' in our chips that would give anyone a remote way to access or control them,' an Nvidia spokesperson said in a statement to AP. It came just about two weeks after the Trump administration lifted the block on the computing chips and allowed Nvidia to resume sales of H20 chips to the Chinese market. Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, made the announcement with fanfare when he was in Beijing earlier this month. The latest episode appears to be another turbulence in the tech rivalry between the United States and China, which have left businesses in both countries tussling with governments over market access and national security concerns. Any safety concern by Beijing could jeopardize the sale of H20 chips in China. Citing unnamed U.S. AI experts, the Chinese regulators said Nvidia has developed mature technology to track, locate and remotely disable its computing chips. The regulators summoned Nvidia to 'safeguard the cybersecurity and data security of Chinese users,' in accordance with Chinese laws, the statement said. The statement also referred to a call by U.S. lawmakers to require tracking and locating capabilities on U.S. advanced chips sold overseas. In May, Rep. Bill Huizenga, R.-Michigan, and Rep. Bill Foster, D.-Illinois, introduced the Chip Security Act that would require high-end chips to be equipped with 'security mechanisms' to detect 'smuggling or exploitation.' The bill has not moved through Congress since its introduction. Foster, a trained physicist, then said, 'I know that we have the technical tools to prevent powerful AI technology from getting into the wrong hands.' The U.S. still bans the sale to China of the most advanced chips, which are necessary for developing artificial intelligence. Both countries aim to lead in the artificial intelligence race. The Trump administration in April blocked the sales of H20 chips, which Nvidia developed to specifically comply with U.S. restrictions for exports of AI chips to China. After the ban was lifted, Nvidia expected to sell hundreds of thousands more H20 chips in the Chinese market. But the easing of the ban has raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill. On Monday, a group of top Democratic senators, including Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, wrote to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to express their 'grave concerns". While chips like the H20 have differing capabilities than the most advanced chips such as Nvidia's H100, 'they give (China) capabilities that its domestically-developed chipsets cannot,' the senators wrote. Shortly after the ban was lifted, Rep. John Moolenaar, R.-Michigan, who chairs the House Select Committee on China, objected. 'The Commerce Department made the right call in banning the H20. Now it must hold the line,' Moolenaar wrote in a letter to Lutnick. 'We can't let the CCP use American chips to train AI models that will power its military, censor its people, and undercut American innovation," Moolenaar wrote, referring to the Chinese Communist Party by its acronym.
USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Kamala Harris' decision kickstarts the 2028 Democratic presidential primary: 5 takeaways
The former vice president's decision to skip out on running for California governor changes the political math for her party - and back in her home state. She's out, but is she really still in? Kamala Harris ended months of speculation about running for California governor on July 30 when she announced she wasn't vying for the top spot in her home state. "For now," she said, her leadership and public service won't be in elected halls of power. Only Harris knows how long that will be, but her decision leaves the door open for mounting a third White House bid in 2028 amid what's expected to be a jam-packed Democratic field but where the former 60-year-old vice president's diehard supporters appear ready to leap at as President Donald Trump's approval numbers dip. "I remain proud AF to have voted for Kamala Harris," Ricky Davila, a Los Angeles-based musician, said in a July 30 post on X, responding to her decision. "It'll always break my heart that we were robbed (of) the opportunity to have a fantastic once in a lifetime president." But the choice comes at a time when Democrats are trying to turn the page, particularly in terms of festering questions surrounding former President Joe Biden's unprecedented exit from last year's race. Here are five takeaways on Harris' blockbuster decision, and what it could mean for Democrats going forward. Harris declining California governor marks '28 kickoff Several 2028 hopefuls on the Democratic side have already begun to put their stakes in the ground, whether by visiting early states, launching podcasts or drawing thousands at rallies across the country. But Harris forgoing a California governor bid now means that a new round of speculation will begin as to whether she wants a third bite at the apple. That will change the calculus for some would-be contenders, but also left-leaning advocacy groups and importantly voters. Longtime Harris allies were bullish, saying the 60-year-old Democrat's brand remains strong. They were blunt when asked about her future. "She can do anything she wants to do, but she owes us nothing," CNN commentator Bakari Sellers told USA TODAY. "She's a talent and 2028 could be it. Or 2032. Whatever she decides. She's young." A month before Harris' decision, however, an Emerson College survey was showing her support in a hypothetical 2028 contest beginning to slip as other names emerge. The mock Democratic primary found 16% supporting former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, with Harris at 13% followed by current California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 12% and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both at 7% respectively. More voters were undecided at 23%, the June poll showed. Returning to the national stage, but with Biden's baggage There's no doubt Harris would be the most formidable contender and popular figure among the base if she returns to the national stage. She has the highest name ID and widest fundraising network by far of the potential candidates currently rumored. But she also carries a decent portion of the baggage from the 2024 campaign, which collapsed after Biden's poor debate performance that reminded the nation about his age and acuity. Harris' return risks reopening wounds and questions about her role and decision-making during the Biden administration just as the party looks to heal itself after bypassing on a public autopsy about last year's loss. The former VP said in her July 30 statement that her immediate leadership will be dedicated to "helping elect Democrats across the nation." The first test of that appetite for Harris will come this fall as critical races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia -- two states she won in 2024 -- are gearing up for November. Both Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., the Democratic gubernatorial nominees in their respective states, endorsed Harris for president. It will be telling how eager and in what ways they and other Democrats, particularly in battleground states and swing districts, will be for Harris' return to the trail whether it is this year or the upcoming 2026 midterms. "Excited about (Harris) hitting the road and traveling the country to help us flip the House and win back Congress," Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said in a July 30 post on X. "Let's go!" '107 Days': Harris debuts new book Harris delivered another revealing piece of news after passing on the California governor's race. She is coming out with a book about her experience entitled "107 Days" - which was the length of her abbreviated campaign. "Since leaving office, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on those days and with candor and reflection, I've written a behind-the-scenes account of that journey," Harris said in a July 31 post on X. "I believe there's value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what it will take to move forward." What the world saw on the campaign trail was only part of the new book is a behind-the-scenes look at my experience leading the shortest presidential campaign in modern history.107 Days is out on September 23. I can't wait for you to read it: How much it will reveal remains to be seen about last year's campaign, chiefly her knowledge about Biden's health and how it all went down when she received the party's nomination. Simon & Schuster, the New York-based publisher behind the book, is advertising it as a "page-turning account" with "surprising and revealing insights" so expect political observers to pour over if it lives up to the hype, but the book gives Harris a chance to go back on the road and keep her profile high. Don't expect 2028 hopefuls to back down amid rising progressive populism If Harris ends up running for a third time, don't expect other rumored candidates to simply walk away and allow for another coronation. Democrats have been engaged in a big debate about their party's future for much of this year, including sharp criticisms of their leadership in Congress around how to effectively challenge Trump. There also is a rising populism on the left, emboldened by Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City Democratic primary in June. Those within the activist left especially are pointing to a shift, especially around issues that Harris ducked during the 2024 campaign such as the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A poll released July 29 by Data for Progress, for instance, found 78% of NYC Democratic voters said Israel is committing genocide in the region, and that more are likely to side with the Palestinians. "The dam has broken," Margaret DeReus, executive director of the Institute for Middle East Understanding, which commissioned the survey, said in a statement. "As the Democratic Party considers its future after November's loss, and as poll after poll shows the party's approval to be at historic lows, Zohran Mamdani's ability to energize new voters with his bold platform for Palestinian rights should be a wake-up call." If Harris does run again, it also would create a bit of an awkward scenario where she would be jockeying against some of the same people her failed campaign vetted to be her running mate, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was on the 2024 ticket but has spoken out about last year's campaign. "We shouldn't have been playing this thing so safe," Walz told Politico in March. California governor's race is now wide open Now that Harris is out, the California governor's race becomes a massive derby among roughly a dozen notable contenders who have already expressed an intention to join the 2026 primary battle. Among the names are Xavier Becerra, a former health secretary under Biden; Antonio Villaraigosa, a former L.A. mayor; current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who has been endorsed by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, an outspoken Trump supporter; and former Rep. Katie Porter, a staunch progressive who previously ran for Senate and who many believe to be in the best position to benefit from Harris' exit. A University of California, Irvine poll released July 2 showed Harris at 24% with no other would-be contenders receiving double-digit support. Remember in California, candidates sprint in a primary where the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election in a runoff. California, which holds the world's fourth largest economy, is thought of as a safe blue state by most forecasters but it has been at the forefront of Trump's immigration crackdown, which has been marked by violent clashes between law enforcement and left-leaning demonstrators. It also has been in the news around other issues, such as homelessness and wildfires, and the UCI survey found that by a 2-to-1 margin, most Californians think their state is on the wrong track.
New York Post
33 minutes ago
- New York Post
FBI never probed ‘confidential' talks between DNC, Clinton campaign George Soros group, bombshell intel files show
WASHINGTON — Two high-ranking employees of liberal billionaire George Soros' Open Society Foundations held 'confidential conversations' with the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign team in 2016 to push the narrative of collusion between Russia and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, newly declassified intelligence files show. The documents revealed that Leonard Benardo and Jeffrey Goldstein — Open Society's regional director and senior policy adviser for Eurasia, respectively — held talks with then-DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz in early 2016 about smearing Trump as well as distracting from the 'growing scandal' surround Clinton's 'possible corruption' as secretary of state. In a January 2016 memo, the Soros operatives discussed with Wasserman-Schultz the negative fallout from Clinton Foundation donors getting preferential access to Hillary and the 'timely deletion of relevant data from mail servers.' 8 The files revealed that Open Society member Leonard Benardo (above) and Jeffrey Goldstein held talks with then-DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz in early 2016 about smearing Trump. Open Society Foundation The year before, the former secretary of state had nixed more than 30,000 emails from a private server. The FBI confirmed in a subsequent investigation that the messages included 'very sensitive, highly classified information,' but no charges were brought. According to another memo, this one from March 2016, then-President Barack Obama didn't want the controversy to 'darken the final part of his presidency' and apparently tried to pressure his attorney general, Loretta Lynch, to meddle in then-FBI Director James Comey's investigation of the Clinton emails. 'Barack Obama sanctioned the use of all administrative levers to remove possibly negative effects from the FBI investigation of cases related to the Clinton Foundation and the email correspondence in the State Department,' the memo declared. 8 The DNC saw the scandals' threat to Clinton's campaign as 'minimal' and worked on developing a two-pronged counter-attack 'focused on discrediting Trump through debates and propaganda activities.' Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post As a result, the DNC saw the scandals' threat to Clinton's campaign as 'minimal' and worked on developing a two-pronged counter-attack 'focused on discrediting Trump through debates and propaganda activities' — with the help of 'special services.' Those included either the direct involvement of intelligence agencies or the use of a now-discredited dossier compiled by ex-MI6 spy Christopher Steele, alleging Russian leader Vladimir Putin had blackmail material on Trump. At the time, the files also disclosed, Lynch was communicating with Clinton campaign political director Amanda Renteria and the Democratic candidate was in the process of discussing a plan with adviser Julianne Smith that Benardo described as 'a long-term affair to demonize Putin and Trump.' 8 Jeff Goldstein appears to have died last year but had been based in Washington, DC, as the senior policy adviser for Eurasia at the organization. Getty Images 'HRC [Hillary Rodham Clinton] approved Julia's idea about Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections,' a bombshell July 27, 2016, email from Benardo laid bare the plot. 'That should distract people from her own missing emails. … The point is making the Russian play a U.S. domestic issue.' Benardo currently serves as senior vice president at Open Society Foundations, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Goldstein's current status is unclear 8 In a January 2016 memo, the Soros operatives discussed with Wasserman-Schultz the negative fallout from the 'timely deletion of relevant data from mail servers.' Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock The memos and other intelligence files were handed over to the Obama FBI, and bureau deputy director Andrew McCabe shared them with senior officials at the Department of Justice — but the information implicating Clinton in the Russiagate scandal was never fully investigated. Comey later told the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General he didn't view the intelligence — which had been obtained by Russian hackers — as 'credible.' Former FBI General Counsel James Baker disagreed and told the DOJ OIG 'how personally bothered he was' by Lynch's interactions with Clinton's campaign, adding that 'he and other FBI executives had great concerns' about evidence in the memos implying Lynch would 'use her position to make sure that Hillary Clinton was not prosecuted.' 8 Special counsel John Durham unearthed the stunning disclosures as part of a multi-year investigation into intelligence efforts surrounding the 2016 election. Getty Images Special counsel John Durham unearthed the stunning disclosures as part of a multi-year investigation into intelligence efforts surrounding the 2016 election and maintained in his assessment that the 'Benardo emails were likely authentic.' When Durham interviewed Benardo, the Open Society employee said 'to the best of his recollection, he did not draft the emails.' 'The [Clinton] campaign might have wanted or expected the FBI or other agencies to aid that effort ('put more oil into the fire') by commencing a formal investigation of the DNC hack [by Russia],' Durham's annex noted. 8 Former FBI Director James Comey later told the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General he didn't view the intelligence — which had been obtained by Russian hackers — as 'credible.' REUTERS 'The Office's best assessment is that the … emails that purport to be from Benardo were ultimately a composite of several emails that were obtained through Russian intelligence hacking of the U.S.-based Think Tanks, including the Open Society Foundations, the Carnegie Endowment, and others.' The CIA determined that the intelligence was also not 'the product of Russian fabrications' as early as 2017. The FBI received an investigative referral from the CIA related to the Clinton files after an Aug. 3, 2016, meeting at the White House at which Obama, Comey, then-CIA Director John Brennan, Vice President Joe Biden, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper were all present. 8 The memos and other intelligence files were handed over to the Obama FBI, and bureau deputy director Andrew McCabe shared them with senior officials at the Department of Justice. Getty Images The information implicating Trump was still 'disseminated through leading U.S. publications,' the intelligence files recounted, as part of 'the first stage of the campaign' by Clinton associates 'due to lack of direct evidence' of Trump's purported collusion with Russia. Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director Kash Patel approved the release of the files Thursday by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). 'Based on the Durham annex, the Obama FBI failed to adequately review and investigate intelligence reports showing the Clinton campaign may have been ginning up the fake Trump-Russia narrative for Clinton's political gain, which was ultimately done through the Steele Dossier and other means,' Grassley said in a statement. 8 Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director Kash Patel approved the release of the files Thursday by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post 'These intelligence reports and related records, whether true or false, were buried for years. History will show that the Obama and Biden administration's law enforcement and intelligence agencies were weaponized against President Trump,' he also said. 'This political weaponization has caused critical damage to our institutions and is one of the biggest political scandals and cover-ups in American history. The new Trump administration has a tremendous responsibility to the American people to fix the damage done and do so with maximum speed and transparency,. Reps for Clinton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
