In 2023, tech commentators warned that 2024 would be “the last human election,” predicting that whoever had the most computing power would decide the winner. That prediction proved wrong. It kept not happening in 2026, too. Taylor Barkley, Director of Federal Government Affairs at the Abundance Institute, has spent years tracking AI’s actual impact on elections, and the data tells a very different story than the panic. Newt talks with Taylor about why voters proved far more resistant to AI-generated fakes than the doomsayers expected, what a Russian influence operation targeting Senate candidates this cycle actually accomplished, and why Barkley believes the greatest threat to democracy isn’t deep fakes but the wave of state laws restricting political speech in the name of stopping them.

In 2023, tech commentators warned that 2024 would be &ldquo;the last human election,&rdquo; predicting that whoever had the most computing power would decide the winner. That prediction proved wrong. It kept not happening in 2026, too. Taylor Barkley, Director of Federal Government Affairs at the Abundance Institute, has spent years tracking AI&rsquo;s actual impact on elections, and the data tells a very different story than the panic. Newt talks with Taylor about why voters proved far more resistant to AI-generated fakes than the doomsayers expected, what a Russian influence operation targeting Senate candidates this cycle actually accomplished, and why Barkley believes the greatest threat to democracy isn&rsquo;t deep fakes but the wave of state laws restricting political speech in the name of stopping them.

Join Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Speaker of the House and Ph.D. historian, for the most diverse, informative, and entertaining podcast available. Every episode is an education.

Join Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Speaker of the House and Ph.D. historian, for the most diverse, informative, and entertaining podcast available. Every episode is an education.

Newt's World

Episode 1064: Deep Fakes, Free Speech, and the Future of Elections — Taylor Barkley on AI’s Real Impact

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e25b1af0-164a-4044-8ea1-b50300441300/transcript

On Veterans Day, Newt honors those who have served by addressing a hard fact: in 2023, 6,398 veterans died by suicide, more than 17 every day. Of those, 61% had not received VA healthcare in the year before their death. Dr. Eran Magen, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, believes one of the most effective ways to reach veterans in crisis is to contact them before they ask for help. His free program, Early Alert, now sends a weekly check-in text to more than 13,000 veterans. Newt talks with Dr. Magen about why veterans face such elevated suicide risk, how isolation and the transition to civilian life contribute to that risk, how Early Alert works, and what any of us can do if we’re worried about a veteran we love.

On Veterans Day, Newt honors those who have served by addressing a hard fact: in 2023, 6,398 veterans died by suicide, more than 17 every day. Of those, 61% had not received VA healthcare in the year before their death. Dr. Eran Magen, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, believes one of the most effective ways to reach veterans in crisis is to contact them before they ask for help. His free program, Early Alert, now sends a weekly check-in text to more than 13,000 veterans. Newt talks with Dr. Magen about why veterans face such elevated suicide risk, how isolation and the transition to civilian life contribute to that risk, how Early Alert works, and what any of us can do if we&rsquo;re worried about a veteran we love.

Episode 1063: Preventing Veteran Suicide — Dr. Eran Magen on Reaching Veterans Before a Crisis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a67dcc6d-fbcb-49e4-a6c7-b4ff0152f431/transcript

How extensive is China's intelligence network inside the United States? Newt Gingrich welcomes former National Security Council Chief of Staff and veteran intelligence official Fred Fleitz to examine the scope of Chinese espionage targeting American technology, businesses, government institutions, and national security. Beginning with allegations involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and a suspected Chinese intelligence connection, they explore how Beijing allegedly uses sophisticated recruitment tactics, personal relationships, cyber operations, and commercial access to acquire sensitive information. Their discussion also examines espionage threats involving the U.S. military, universities, critical infrastructure, overseas Chinese police operations, and the Chinese surveillance balloon. Fleitz explains why he believes China's intelligence capabilities surpass those of the former Soviet Union and outlines steps America can take to strengthen its counterintelligence defenses.

How extensive is China's intelligence network inside the United States? Newt Gingrich welcomes former National Security Council Chief of Staff and veteran intelligence official Fred Fleitz to examine the scope of Chinese espionage targeting American technology, businesses, government institutions, and national security. Beginning with allegations involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and a suspected Chinese intelligence connection, they explore how Beijing allegedly uses sophisticated recruitment tactics, personal relationships, cyber operations, and commercial access to acquire sensitive information. Their discussion also examines espionage threats involving the U.S. military, universities, critical infrastructure, overseas Chinese police operations, and the Chinese surveillance balloon. Fleitz explains why he believes China's intelligence capabilities surpass those of the former Soviet Union and outlines steps America can take to strengthen its counterintelligence defenses.

Episode 1062: China's Spy Network

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/96844022-20f6-4184-8eea-b4ff0051600f/transcript

The votes are in, and Democrats have won control of both the House and the Senate, flipping seats in red states including Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina. Now John McLaughlin, President Trump’s pollster since 2016, and Doug Sosnik, who ran the political operation in the Clinton White House, are back to make sense of what happened. Newt brings both of them back to break down what drove the blue wave, from gas prices and the Iran war to candidate quality and Republican messaging failures, what the collapse of Republican support in Texas really means, and what a Democratic Congress means for President Trump. They also look ahead to 2028, an open nominating process on both sides, and whether the age of Trump is over.

McLaughlin & Associates post-election survey

Doug Sosnik post-election analysis 

 

The votes are in, and Democrats have won control of both the House and the Senate, flipping seats in red states including Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina. Now John McLaughlin, President Trump&rsquo;s pollster since 2016, and Doug Sosnik, who ran the political operation in the Clinton White House, are back to make sense of what happened. Newt brings both of them back to break down what drove the blue wave, from gas prices and the Iran war to candidate quality and Republican messaging failures, what the collapse of Republican support in Texas really means, and what a Democratic Congress means for President Trump. They also look ahead to 2028, an open nominating process on both sides, and whether the age of Trump is over.
<a href="https://mclaughlinonline.com/2026/11/06/national-2026-post-election-results/">McLaughlin &amp; Associates post-election survey</a>
<a href="https://dougsosnik.substack.com">Doug Sosnik post-election analysis</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Episode 1061: The Midterms Part 2 The Aftermath — McLaughlin and Sosnik on the Blue Wave and What Comes Next

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/25df5cda-8089-4cca-8cff-b4fc004bbbae/transcript

Episode 1064: Deep Fakes, Free Speech, and the Future of Elections — Taylor Barkley on AI’s Real Impact

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