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The White House has asked leading US AI labs, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to reserve access to their new frontier models for US government safety testing before sharing them with independent evaluators. The request signals Washington's push to place federal review ahead of third-party assessment as advanced AI systems are rolled out. Commentators are weighing what this means for the balance between government oversight and independent scrutiny of leading AI developers.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the Trump administration is eliminating a $1.8 billion fund described as the 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'. The fund had been tied to Justice Department efforts to prevent the politicization of federal law enforcement. The cancellation signals a broader restructuring of Justice Department priorities under the administration, and the move is drawing attention to how the department will handle weaponization concerns going forward.

Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the ongoing litigation over the White House's ban of a news outlet, arguing that press access to the president is 'a privilege, not a right'. The remarks came as the legal fight over the administration's handling of press credentials continues to draw scrutiny from media organisations and press freedom advocates.

Todd Blanche, Donald Trump's deputy attorney general, defended the White House's ban on certain media outlets, saying press access is 'a privilege, not a right'. The remarks drew criticism from press freedom advocates who argue the administration is punishing unfavourable coverage by restricting journalists' access to the president.

Todd Blanche, the US Deputy Attorney General, publicly defended policies touching artificial intelligence and hospital deals, prompting debate about the Justice Department's approach to antitrust enforcement in healthcare and technology. Critics question whether the department is going soft on consolidation in hospitals and AI industry concentration, while supporters argue the stance reflects a pro-innovation agenda.

Blanche reiterated that national security concerns justify banning a reporter, according to Colorado Politics. The claim renews debate over press access and the limits of national security justifications for excluding journalists. Critics are likely to challenge the ban as an infringement on press freedom, while supporters argue security concerns must take precedence.