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The issue that's scrambling both parties: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today’s edition, we dive into how artificial intelligence has created some unusual political alliances and provide an update on the GOP’s redistricting push in Indiana.

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— Adam Wollner

AI becomes a political wedge issue, creating odd bedfellows across parties

By Allan Smith, Henry J. Gomez and Jonathan Allen

Artificial intelligence is increasingly emerging as a key wedge issue — not between the major political parties, but within them.

On the right, MAGA populists and influencers are warning about the potential hazards of unrestricted AI development as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and their administration have pushed for minimal regulations in the name of beating China to potential society-altering advancements.

On the left, progressives are fighting against potential AI-fueled job losses and a further consolidation of financial power by Big Tech as center-left Democrats weigh the unknown downsides of technological advancement with major investments in their states and a need to stay competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.

Potential 2028 presidential contenders — from Vance and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri on the right, to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York on the left — are all carving out unique lanes on the issue, creating some unusual bedfellows.

Ocasio-Cortez is among the potential 2028 candidates who have highlighted growing concerns in recent weeks. Last month, she raised the potential for a market downturn fueled by what some are calling an AI bubble, warning at a congressional hearing of “2008-style threats to economic stability.”

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in September that he fears “our democracy and many others could frankly collapse under the weight of both the economic and the spiritual impacts of advanced AI.” And Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis noted at the Florida Rural Economic Development Summit last month that AI could undercut white-collar jobs.

Meanwhile, some of the Democratic governors who are on the short list of 2028 contenders have taken a different approach. Newsom, who has embraced the use of AI-generated imagery in his monthslong effort to troll Trump and governs the state that’s home to Silicon Valley, has signed several AI regulations into law while vetoing others. He’s called for balancing the need for regulation with “ensuring that the growing AI industry continues to thrive.”

Others, such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who align with the party’s center-left wing, have hailed AI and data center investments in their states.

Read more →

Indiana lawmakers take up redistricting with the outcome uncertain

Under pressure from President Donald Trump and national Republicans, Indiana lawmakers reconvened today to take up a redistricting effort. But it’s still far from certain the proposal has enough GOP support to pass both chambers of the state Legislature.

Indiana state House members released a draft congressional map designed to net Republicans two seats in next year’s midterm elections, Jane C. Timm reports.

The proposed map would split Indianapolis, most of which is represented by Democratic Rep. André Carson, into four districts. It would also divide the northwestern part of the state along Lake Michigan, which is represented by Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan, into two districts. Republicans currently control seven of Indiana’s nine congressional districts.

The state House is expected to pass the new lines this week. While the state Senate would then consider it next week, it’s unclear whether it can pass. Rodric Bray, the leader of the chamber, has repeatedly said there aren’t enough Republican votes for the redrawn map. Indiana state Sen. Michael Bohacek said Friday that he wouldn’t support the effort after Trump used a slur for those with intellectual disabilities to describe Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, Alexandra Marquez writes.

Meanwhile, as Megan Lebowitz and Raquel Coronell Uribe note, Bohacek is one of at at least 11 elected Republicans in Indiana have been the target of swatting attacks in the weeks since Trump publicly pressured them to draw new district lines to shore up the party’s narrow House majority.

Redistricting ripple effects: Democratic Rep. Don Davis said he will run for re-election in North Carolina’s 1st District, even after the state’s redrawn map made it more Republican-leaning, Harbani Kohli reports. A federal court ruled last week that North Carolina can use the new GOP-drawn map in next year’s election.

🗞️ Today's other top stories

🔎 Boat strike fallout: The White House confirmed that the U.S. launched a second strike on an alleged drug boat from Venezuela in early September and said it was ordered by Adm. Frank M. Bradley, who at the time headed the Joint Special Operations Command. The House and the Senate have started inquiries into that strike.
🌏 Russia-Ukraine latest: Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff was set to travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow, the Kremlin said, after what the U.S. described as “very productive” talks Sunday with Ukraine. Read more →
⏪ Reversed: Trump has commuted the seven-year sentence of former private equity CEO David Gentile, who was convicted of wire and security fraud charges brought by the Justice Department under the Biden administration. Read more →
➡️ More threats: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that several of his New York offices have faced bomb threats via an email with the subject line “MAGA.” Read more →
⚖️ In the courts: An appeals court upheld a lower court ruling disqualifying Alina Habba from her position as acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. Read more →
🩺 Check-up: The White House released a summary of the results of an MRI scan Trump underwent in what had been described as a “routine” physical in October, with the president’s doctor saying he’s in “excellent” health. Read more →
🔴 As MAGA world turns: Austin McCubbin, a senior adviser to GOP Rep. Nancy Mace’s campaign for South Carolina governor, resigned, accusing her in a post on X of deciding “to turn her back on MAGA.” Read more →