Doublespeed, a startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) that uses a phone farm to manage at least hundreds of AI-generated social media accounts and promote products has been hacked. The hack reveals what products the AI-generated accounts are promoting, often without the required disclosure that these are advertisements, and allowed the hacker to take control of more than 1,000 smartphones that power the company.The hacker, who asked for anonymity because he feared retaliation from the company, said he reported the vulnerability to Doublespeed on October 31. At the time of writing, the hacker said he still has access to the companys backend, including the phone farm itself. Doublespeed did not respond to a request for comment.I could see the phones in use, which manager (the PCs controlling the phones) they had, which TikTok accounts they were assigned, proxies in use (and their passwords), and pending tasks. As well as the link to control devices for each manager, the hacker told me. I could have used their phones for compute resources, or maybe spam. Even if they're just phones, there are around 1100 of them, with proxy access, for free. I think I could have used the linked accounts by puppeting the phones or adding tasks, but haven't tried.As I reported in October, Doublespeed raised $1 million from a16z as part of its Speedrun accelerator program, a fastpaced, 12-week startup program that guides founders through every critical stage of their growth. Doublespeed uses generative AI to flood social media with accounts and posts to promote certain products on behalf of its clients. Social media companies attempt to detect and remove this type of astroturfing for violating their inauthentic behavior policies, which is why Doublespeed uses a bank of phones to emulate the behavior of real users. So-called click farms or phone farms often use hundreds of mobile phones to fake online engagement of reviews for the same reason.The hacker told me he had access to around 1,100 smartphones Doublespeed operates. One way the hacker proved he had access to devices was by taking control of one phones camera, which seemingly showed it in a rack with other phones. Images the hacker captured from some of the phones in Doublespeed's phone farm.The hacker also shared a list with me of more than 400 TikTok accounts Doublespeed operates. Around 200 of those were actively promoting products on TikTok, mostly without disclosing the posts were ads, according to 404 Medias review of them. Its not clear if the other 200 accounts ever promoted products or were being warmed up, as Doublespeed describes the process of making the accounts appear authentic before it starts promoting in order to avoid a ban.Ive seen TikTok accounts operated by Doublespeed promote language learning apps, dating apps, a Bible app, supplements, and a massager.One health-themed Doublespeed Tiktok account named Chloe Davis posted almost 200 slideshows featuring a middle-aged AI-generated woman. In the posts, the woman usually discusses various physical ailments and how she deals with them. The last image in the slide always includes a picture of someone using a massage roller from a company called Vibit. Vibit did not respond to a request for comment.A Doublespeed TikTok account promoting a Vibit massager. Another Doublespeed-operated TikTok account named pattyluvslife posted dozens of slideshows of a young woman who, according to her bio, is a student at UCLA. All the posts from this account talk about how big pharma and the supplements industry is a scam. But the posts also always promoted a moringa supplement from a company called Rosabella. The AI-generated woman in these TikTok posts often holds up the bottle of supplements, but its obviously AI-generated as the text on the bottle is jumbled gibberish.An AI-generated image promoting a Rosabella supplement.Rosabellas site also claims the product is viral on TikTok. Rosabella did not respond to a request for comment.An image from Rosabella's site claiming its brand is viral on TikTok.While most of the content Ive seen on Doublespeed-operated TikTok accounts included AI-generated slideshows and still images, Doublespeed is also able to AI-generate videos as well. One Doublespeed-operated account posted several AI-generated videos of a young woman voguing at the camera. The account was promoting a company called Playkit, a TikTok content agency that pays users to promote products on behalf of its clients. Notably, this is the exact kind of business Doublespeed would in theory be able to replace with AI-generated accounts. Playkit did not respond to a request for comment. 0:00 /0:04 1 An AI-generated video promoting Playkit, a TikTok content agency. TikTok told me that itsCommunity Guidelinesmake clear thatit requires creators tolabelAI-generated or significantly edited content that shows realistic-looking scenes or people. After I reached out for comment, TikTok added a label to the Doublespeed-operated accounts I flagged indicating they're AI-generated.A16z did not respond to a request for comment.Doublespeed has said it has the ability to and soon plans to launch its services on Instagram, Reddit, and X, but so far seems to only be operating on TikTok. In October, a Reddit spokesperson told me that Doublespeeds service would violate its terms of service. Meta did not respond to a request for comment. As we noted in October, Marc Andreessen, after whom half of Andreessen Horowitz is named, sits on Metas board of directors. Doublespeeds business would clearly violate Metas policy on authentic identity representation.

Joseph had to use a different mic this week, that will be fixed next time! We start this week talking about a very unusual case: someone is being charged for allegedly wiping a phone before CBP could search it. There are a lot of questions remaining, but a super interesting case. After the break, we talk about Matthews article on an Anthropic exec forcing AI onto a queer gamer Discord. In the subscribers-only section, we all chat about the Disney and OpenAI deal.Listen to the weekly podcast onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orYouTube. Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism.If you become a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way. The email should also contain the subscribers-only unlisted YouTube link for the extended video version too. It will also be in the show notes in your podcast player. Timestamps:00:48 -Man Charged for Wiping Phone Before CBP Could Search It17:44 -Anthropic Exec Forces AI Chatbot on Gay Discord Community, Members Flee41:17 -Disney Invests $1 Billion in the AI Slopification of Its Brand

One of the presidents closest allies in right-wing social media, Laura Loomer, said that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is gay and that its well-known among Donald Trumps staff. Graham who is 70, has never married, and has opposed LGBTQ+ rights throughout his career has been the subject of gay rumors for years but has never publicly come out as gay.Loomers statements came during a deposition in her defamation lawsuit against HBO. She claims in the lawsuit that late-night host Bill Maher defamed her in 2024 when he suggested that she was having an affair with Trump. HBOs argument is that Maher has a First Amendment right to speculate about the relationships of public figures, just like Loomer has First Amendment free speech rights that she exercises as an influencer. Related Nancy Mace falsely accused this doctor of child abuse & she lost her job. Shes running for Senate. As part of that line of argumentation, HBOs lawyer asked Loomer about social media posts she made last year calling Graham gay. When is Lindsey coming out of the closet? We all you know youre gay, Lindsey, Loomer wrote in 2024 on X. She was responding to how Graham had called her toxic. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today And you responded to him on Twitter, right? HBO lawyer Katherine Bolger asked Loomer during the deposition, according to court records obtained by The Daily Beast. The deposition was conducted on June 4, 2025.Yeah, I called him gay, Loomer responded. Its well-known.Several of President Trumps staff have told me in confidence that that Lindsey Graham is gay, Loomer continued.Hold on, Ms. Loomer, Bolger responded. Theres no question.I know, Loomer said. Im just explaining.That part of the deposition went viral this week, and Loomer posted about it on X yesterday: I was under oath. I couldnt lie. That explanation is questionable because, according to the deposition transcript, she was not directly asked whether she believes Graham is gay. Graham was first elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving for almost a decade in the House of Representatives. He was a state lawmaker prior to that. Throughout his career, he has opposed LGBTQ+ rights, voting for the anti-LGBTQ+ Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 and voting for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex couples from marrying in 2006. I believe in the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman, he said at the time. His opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples held until 2022, when he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. He has also voted against employment protections for LGBTQ+ people, voted to confirm anti-LGBTQ+ judges, and even opposed adoption rights for LGBTQ+ people. He voted against including LGBTQ+ people in federal hate crimes legislation, saying that would divide Americans, and he opposed allowing gay and bisexual people to serve openly in the military. But he has also faced gay rumors throughout his career, well before gay adult film actor Sean Harding went public in 2020 with accusations that Graham had purchased the services of male sex workers who knew him as Lady G.Graham has always denied the rumors. I know its really gonna upset a lot of gay menIm sure hundreds of em are gonna be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridgebut I aint available, he told the New York Times in 2010. He maintained that denial in 2018 after comedian Chelsea Handler called him gay. She knows zero about me, Graham told TMZ at the time. To the extent that it matters, Im not gay.Loomer has a history of lobbing insults on the right and had a public feud with anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last year in which she called the Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Traitor Greene, a fake Christian wh**e, and the dumbest bi**h in Congress. Greene said that Loomer is mentally unstable, has never had a real job, and that she spends her time researching facts and then spinning them into lies to serve her agenda, which makes her a liar and it makes her dangerous. Loomer also made a crude comment about Greenes genitalia, saying that Greene had Arbys in her pants.What is the expression trying to convey? HBO lawyer Bolger asked Loomer during the deposition. It conveys the reason why she got a divorce by her own admission, Loomer responded.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A U.K.-based greeting card producer has apologized and destroyed all copies of a transphobic Christmas card featuring the Grinch, a grumpy anti-holiday monster created by childrens author Dr. Seuss.The card, created by greeting card illustrator Paper Salad in collaboration with the humorous greeting card publisher Emotional Rescue, showed an image of the green-furred monster in a Christmas sweater and Santa hat holding a tree ornament alongside the words, This Christmas, Im identifying as a Grinch. Related Happy Holidays is not the inclusive phrase we think it is Trans journalist Sophie Molly found a copy of the card in a Sainsbury grocery store, took a photograph of it, and posted it on Bluesky, writing, Please do better Sainsburys.Molly told PinkNews, [The card] belittles the identity of trans and non-binary people. Cis people saying they identity as something like a tomato, attack helicopter, or a Grinch I feel invalidates the lived experience of trans people. It tells the world that they think its a choice to be trans, something you can switch in and out of, like playing dress up. This is not true. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Trans people dont choose to identify as their gender its part of who they are, she added. Being trans or nonbinary is not something you can switch off, in the same way a cis person cant switch off being cis.The aforementioned publication noted thatthe media guide from the LGBTQ+ media watchdog GLAAD suggests avoiding stating that any trans person identifies as their gender identity. Transgender people are their gender the same way cisgender people are their gender, GLAAD wrote in its guide.Transphobic Christmas card in my local Sainsbury's (Berryden).Please do better Sainsbury's.[image or embed] Sophie Molly (@sophiemolly.co.uk) December 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM Molly added that the card made her worry, considering the current attacks on trans people unfolding in the U.K.In 2024, the U.K. government released the Cass Review, a wide-ranging review of Britains medical interventions for transgender youth that wascondemned by many trans people and allies. Following the review, the UL Department of Health and Social Care placed a permanent, indefinite ban on puberty blockers for trans youth.Earlier this year, the U.K. Supreme Court ruledthat the legal definition of a woman under the countrys 2010 anti-discrimination law, The Equality Act, is based on biological sex.Following the ruling, the U.K.s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has recommended policies to ban trans people from restrooms and other public single-sex spaces.Jennie Rutter, creative director at Emotional Rescue, apologized on behalf of the company for the card, saying, We will remove this design from our range immediately. It was in no way our intention to cause anyone in the trans community offense.Jack Wilson, operations director at Paper Salad, apologized for the card, adding, We have removed the design from sale and destroyed all stock with immediate effect.Sainsbury said its committed to being an inclusive place to work and shop, adding, We value all customer feedback on this years [Christmas card] designs.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Kennedy Davenport has crystallized!The popular RuPaul's Drag Race queen is known for her memorable one-liners, so the queen has naturally built herself a strong fanbase over the years. Back in October, tragedy struck Davenport's childhood home when it partially burned down in a devastating fire. After asking for help on social media via GoFundMe, the star has raised enough money to help rebuild."This year has been great! It's definitely had its ups and it has definitely had its downs, but you can't keep a girl down, honey! She must stay busy," Davenport tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Although Davenport faced a personal setback with the house fire, the star is staying busier than ever by performing in RuPaul's Drag Race Live! in Las Vegas and by hosting her own show, The Kennedy Davenport Center Honors, on WOW Presents Plus."Everything is good. The worst happened during my residency where I really couldn't be home. Now that I'm home, there is a sense of family. I don't mind putting in the work because I love what I do and I love seeing smiles on people's faces."Davenport's new show is sure to delights Drag Race fans around the world as he uses her iconic catchphrases to award queens with plenty of shady titles and accolades."People think we are rich. People think we just got it like that. No, this is a regular 9-to-5 just like anybody else. Everybody's struggling! The majority of this world don't have just $50,000 laying around or $5,000 at that. I'm just grateful that everybody came together to help."The Kennedy Davenport Center Honors is streaming now on WOW Presents Plus. To see the full interview with Kennedy Davenport, check out the video at the top of the page.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03612-5Although development of a jab for the H5N1 strain of avian flu is well under way, other strains are receiving less attention and political obstacles to research could hamper progress.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03608-1Scientists are deploying an array of technologies that are making a vaccine against all varieties of influenza seem more achievable.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03598-0Influenza isnt just a respiratory disease. Measures to stop its transmission, such as vaccination, could prevent thousands of heart-attack deaths.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03602-7Avian influenza is sweeping the globe and infecting dozens of species. Advocates of an approach called One Health are calling for broad surveillance of wildlife, livestock and pets.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03607-2The death toll and economic damage associated with flu highlight its role as one of the most harmful viruses in history.

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The post Travis Kelce Worried Patrick Mahomess ACL Tear Will Derail Harlem Shake Groomsmen Entrance appeared first on The Onion.

NEW YORKIn a continuation of their post-MSNBC rebranding effort, cable news network MS NOW was reportedly luring in new viewers Wednesday with a slowly rotating gyro spit in the corner of all its programming. With linear TV viewership in decline and audiences increasingly turning to social media for their news, we knew that we needed to offer something no other outlet could: a tender spit of succulent lamb that looks so good you can almost taste it, said MS NOW president Rebecca Kutler, noting that the change was made after the network conducted a study of the content that was most appealing to viewers and noticed that delicious meat scored far higher than political analysis. Weve researched what keeps viewers from changing the channel, and while breaking news tickers and dynamic sets move the needle, nothing is more effective than the slow rotation of a sumptuous, juicy gyro. And soon, well be adding a side of tzatziki sauce that we believewillkeep viewers glued to the TV during our midterm election coverage. At press time, ratings for MS NOW were up 700%.The post MS NOW Lures New Viewers With Rotating Gyro Spit In Corner Of Screen appeared first on The Onion.

CAMDEN, NJRevealing that the products offered customers multiple protection options in a delicious range of flavors, food processing giant Campbells announced Thursday it had launched a new line of self-defense soups. Whether you attach the can to a strap and use it as a flail or heat up the soup to create a thermal weapon, we guarantee these powerful security devices will be ready in under five minutes, said company spokesperson Cheryl Turner, who stressed the importance of always having something on hand that can be prepared quickly in the event of an unexpected home intruder. The soups are also a convenient option for customers on the go, because you can wear one on a lanyard when out walking at night, warning potential attackers that youre prepared to dole out the homemade taste of punishment. We recommend using our Chunky Beef with Country Vegetables variety for bludgeoning, while our cream-based soups like Homestyle Broccoli Cheddar work best for scalding enemies. Stock your pantry arsenal today! Campbells executives told reporters the company was also developing a long-range aerosol version of its Spicy Nacho Cheese soup to spray in the eyes of assailants.The post Campbells Unveils New Line Of Self-Defense Soups appeared first on The Onion.

MINNEAPOLISExcitedly revealing to the staff that she had a special surprise, local data analyst Kayla Herrera reportedly delighted coworkers Wednesday upon returning from Europe by bringing back a Latvian man for everyone to share. I couldnt get enough of him when I was abroad, said Herrera, grinning as her colleagues struggled to pronounce the Latvian mans name. Im always excited to try something new, so I wanted to bring back some Baltic goodies for the office to enjoy. At first I was going to get some black currant chocolates, but then locals told me that this man is one of the most popular treats in Eastern Europe. Dont be greedy now, make sure theres enough for everyone! At press time, Herrera was forced to throw the Latvian man away after realizing he had expired. The post Coworker Returning From European Vacation Brings Back Latvian Man For Everyone To Share appeared first on The Onion.

This kitchen organizer feels totally professional.READ MORE...

As the House is set to vote on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-GA) ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth, she is lashing out at a fellow Republican House member for allegedly trying to water down her bill.WTF is Chip Roy doing????? she posted to X, referring to Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). And this guy wants to be attorney general of Texas but refuses to protect children??!!! Related MTG just realized the GOP is sexist as she begs Mike Johnson to pass her anti-trans bill She was referring to her Protect Childrens Innocence Act, a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for trans minors and make accessing such care more difficult for trans adults. She has been trying to move forward with the legislation for years, but even though Republicans control the House, her partys leadership has been loath to give the bill a vote.That is, until she traded a vote for a military appropriations bill last week (the NDAA) for a shot at a floor vote on her anti-trans bill this week. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today But Republicans narrowly control the House, and Democrats are likely to vote in lockstep against her bill, so even a small number of Republican defectors will tank it. And it was already going to face an uphill battle in the Senate.Greene wrote on X that Roy introduced an amendment to her bill that would only ban gender-affirming care at facilities that receive federal funding and not all facilities. She then said that Roy was trying to protect Californias pro-trans policies, a searing insult in MAGA circles since California and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) are often held up as a bogeyman when it comes to trans rights issues.In other words, Chip Roy is trying to change my bill in such a way that his amendment would actually protect Gavin Newsoms California trans child sanctuary state policies and laws!!! Greene wrote. Any privately funded pediatric gender clinic would continue to operate free and clear under Chip Roys amendment!!! Chip Roy has introduced an amendment to gut the commerce clause of my bill, Protect Childrens Innocence Act, and replace it with his.His amendment only cuts federal funding from facilities that receive federal funding for pediatric gender affirming care (transgender surgeries, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 16, 2025In a separate post on her official government account, she posted a video of herself on the conspiracy theory-laden show Infowars, calling out Roy, saying shes disappointed that shes in a major fight with him. Both she and host Alex Jones referred to gender-affirming care which is backed by all major medical organizations in the U.S. as the standard of care for trans youth as child abuse.What happened to him? Jones shouted about Roy, acting very surprised by this news.I have no idea! Greene barked back. I cant understand the reasoning for it! She then compared her bill to federal bans on child sex trafficking, even though gender-affirming care is science-backed health care and not abusive. Child abuse is simply wrong and Republicans shouldnt be limiting the scope of criminalizing sexual child abuse. If Chip Roy cant even support protecting children, then he has no right being the Attorney General of Texas! We need fighters, not a Republican who enables Gavin pic.twitter.com/3FmksEpkR8 Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) December 17, 2025Roy, for his part, called out Greene for selling her vote on the military appropriations bill in exchange for a floor vote on her anti-trans bill.Marjorie was given this vote this week to buy her vote on the National Defense Authorization Act, he said at a House Rules Committee meeting yesterday. Everybody knows it. It happened right there on the floor of the House.Thats the kind of s**t that keeps happening around this institution all the time, including on our side of the aisle. And Im sick of it.Greene herself openly discussed trading her vote on the NDAA for a vote on her anti-trans bill last week, saying it was part of an arrangement with House leadership negotiated with Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). Roy: Marjorie was given this vote to buy her vote on the NDAA that's the kind of shit that happens around this institution and I'm sick of it. pic.twitter.com/X5EVhBIRl5 Acyn (@Acyn) December 17, 2025Greene responded that its a shame vote-trading was necessary to get her bill a vote, but thats what it takes. She then accused Roy again of protecting gender-affirming care.Why is Chip fighting so hard to continue the trans agenda on kids? she wrote. On his X account, Roy explained his amendment, claiming that it is necessary to make Greenes bill constitutional. I support criminalizing gender affirming care, but 1) the constitution matters & we should not bastardize it to use interstate commerce to empower federal authorities (see FACE Act), 2) her bill is unlikely to become law, & 3) my amendment makes it more likely to become law, he wrote. I support criminalizing gender affirming care, but 1) the constitution matters & we should not bastardize it to use interstate commerce to empower federal authorities (see FACE Act), 2) her bill is unlikely to become law, & 3) my amendment makes it more likely to become law. https://t.co/6Alc6OWP98 Chip Roy (@chiproytx) December 16, 2025Currently, there are 26 states that ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. Those laws contain exemptions for cisgender youth who want gender-affirming care (like breast reductions for cisgender boys or breast augmentation for cisgender girls) and forced genital surgery on intersex youth. Greenes bill is no differentand would take those bans nationwide.But some Republicans have opposed these bans, including former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R). Some Republicans believe that the government should not dictate to doctors and patients what kind of care can be provided. Given how narrow a majority House Republicans currently have, only a handful of Republicans would have to defect to defeat the bill.The Trevor Project denounced the bill.Everyone in this country should have access to the care they need to stay healthy, including transgender and nonbinary young people, said Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, senior vice president of public engagement campaigns for the organization. Personal medical decisions ought to be made between patients, their doctors, and their families not through a one-size-fits-all mandate from the federal government. The multitude of efforts we are seeing from federal legislators to strip transgender and nonbinary youth of the health care they need is deeply troubling.If implemented, these efforts will have detrimental impacts on transgender and nonbinary youth in particular. The Trevor Projects research shows that access to this care is associated with significantly lower rates of depression and suicide risk among transgender and nonbinary young people who receive it. Its no hyperbole to say that restricting this medically necessary care risks the lives of transgender and nonbinary youth in communities all across the U.S.If this story affected you, just know you are not alone. TheTrans Lifeline Hotlineoffers support to trans/nonbinary people struggling with mental health from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. PST Monday-Friday. Call (877) 565-8860 to be connected to a trans/nonbinary peer operator and receive full anonymity and confidentiality. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth ages 24 and younger, can be reached at (866) 488-7386.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-04135-9Plasma physicist Nuno Loureiro was helping to develop clean-energy fusion devices.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03505-7Immense progress in gene-editing, drug discovery and conservation are just some of the reasons to be cheerful about 2025.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-04024-1The colour of regret.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03613-4Avian influenza is devastating poultry operations, spreading in dairy cattle and infecting farm workers. Why isnt the United States doing more to stop it?

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03599-zFlu-jab efficacy is often unimpressive. Improvements could come through nasal delivery.

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The state has become a hub of innovation for creating electricity using geothermal power. Just dont call it renewable.

The suburb of Chandler, Arizona, resoundingly rejected a proposal to build a 422,000-square-foot AI data center within its borders, despite pleas from bisexual former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who has been working with the Trump administration to make America an AI powerhouse.Sinema gave public comment at two separate city council meetings on behalf of the New York developer, Active Infrastructure, the company behind the data center proposal. She also explained that she is the founder of the AI Infrastructure Coalition, which is supported by major corporations like Microsoft, Meta, and ExxonMobil, Politico reported. Related Massively influential GOP group hires leader who wants to criminalize homosexuality On the day of the vote, she also went on Fox News to lavish praise on the Trump administrations approach to AI development and claimed that the left is spreading misinformation about data centers that is putting the country in jeopardy.Foreign countries, Sinema said, want to control the AI. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today This really is a national security race. Weve got to win it. China is doing everything it can to dominate AI globally, and they will program the AI with Chinese values. We have got to win that race, and President Trump is 100% right. Weve gotta double down and make sure that American values are the values of the world and that we control this global AI agenda, and thats why these data centers are so important all across the country.She decried a supposed massive effort on the left to come into communities and give misinformation around water and energy and AI data centers. Indeed, Chandler residents expressed concerns that the data center would drain resources by using too much water and raising power prices. Sinema claimed thats all wrong. This administration is doing a good job of telling the truth, creating more energy domestically Were actually using less water with AI data centers than in the past, she said on Fox News.On the other hand, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a nonpartisan environmental nonprofit, called AI data centers resource-ravenous, with one mid-size data center needing as much water as a small town and larger ones requiring as much as a city of 50,000 people. The group referred to AI data centers as mechanical monsters whose rapid proliferation can put an enormous strain on local and regional resources. It brought up one planned Meta data center in Wyoming that will use more electricity than every home in the state combined. Chandler city councilmembers and residents didnt buy Sinemas claims. Chandler Vice Mayor Christine Ellisreportedly voted no after Sinema couldnt answer her question, Whats in it for Chandler? If you cant show me whats in it for Chandler, then we are not having a conversation,Ellis said.The Chandler planning office reported that more than 200 comments were filed against the data center, and only eight were in favor. The Trump administration is working with AI companies to establish data centers across the country, Politico explained, but Chandler is not the only local government resisting the effort. Officials in at least five other states have also voted down proposals. In November, Sinema said shes excited to be working hand in glove with the Trump administration as a lobbyist leading a Big Tech effort to expand the U.S. artificial intelligence industry.She alsoreportedly warned local politiciansin Arizona that Trump may force them to build an AI data center whether they want one or not, a sentiment she echoed during public comment at the Chandler meetings. Chandler right now has the opportunity to determine how and when these new, innovative AI data centers will be built, she said.When federal preemption comes, well no longer have that privilege.At the time, OD Harris, a member of Chandlers city council, toldPolitico, As a local official, we never appreciate when a county, a state, or a federal official attempts to insert their authority into our local process. We represent what the voters want because were closest to the people.Sinemas alignment with Trump and Big AI isnt really surprisingWhile serving in the U.S. Senate, she positioned herself as a political moderate and a reliable ally to the business community: voting against several of former President Joe Bidens labor nominees, opposing an increase in the $7.25 federal minimum hourly wage, preventing tax increases on private equity and venture capital earnings, and providing taxpayer subsidies to exporters.While she highlighted her bisexuality before her election to Congress, she largely avoided mentioning it afterward.During her last senatorial term, she joined another fellow former Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), to block the elimination of the filibuster, and with it, Democrats hopes for enacting legislation on expanded voting, LGBTQ+ rights, the economy, and climate change. It was a stand that brought scorn from Democratic colleagues and voters, alienating Sinema from her non-wealthy constituents and party members.The Arizona Democratic Party voted to censure Sinemain January 2022, citing her failure to help pass federal voting rights legislation. Arizona Democrats also blasted her for being noticeably absent on the campaign trail during the 2022 midterm elections. Her unpopularity and ineffectiveness compelled then-Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego to successfully run for her Senate seat in 2024. Polling showed that majorities of Arizona voters from every political affiliationall disapproved of her. Her low approval ratings made her one of the five most unpopular senators in the entire nation.She would have faced Gallego in a re-election race, but instead, shedisaffiliated from the Democratic party, becoming an Independent, and then announced her retirement, since her re-election defeat seemed all but certain. She then usedher farewell Senate speechto defend the filibuster.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Lesbian and sapphic sex is so vast, varied, and diverse that it can be hard to become a master at all of it.From frottage and tribbing to oral and fingering to how to use a strap-on and a myriad of other fun sex toys, we have provided tips and tricks to help you go from a beginner in the bedroom to being able to make your partner scream out in pleasure. But it turns out that TikTok is also a great place to turn if youre looking for ways to up your bedroom game. You may think of the social media app as the place to turn when you want to see Heated Rivarly fan edits, or viral videos of men reviewing bathhouses, or thirst traps about National Parks (yes, were serious), but it also has a wealth of information about WLW sexTikTok is full of sex educators giving a masterclass in lesbian and sapphic sex, and while you do have to get used to the TikTok-isms like saying taco instead of vagina and spicy instead of sex because of the social media site's community guidelines, its worth it for all of the tips that will have you moving onto advanced moves in no time flat. 1. How to go down on a V@nadia_bokodyThis is the WORST POSSIBLE THING you can do. #wlwtok #latebloominglesbian #latebloomerlesbian #lateinlifelesbian #sapphicsNadia Bokody, a sapphic sex educator and self-proclaimed "late-bloomer power dyke," has all the info you need to go from never having gone down on a woman before to having her calling out your name in no time.Tip: Especially if you are a baby gay, forget about those heteromative ideas about sex being a performance and focus on showing authentic pleasure. And don't be a show off, variety might be the spice of life, but if you want to get your partner all the way to the end zone, consistency is key. 2. How to breathe when you're down there@delicto.comApple eating tutorial#fypSarah Riccio, a sex educator and co-founder of sex toy company Delicto.com, may not be able to show you a live demonstration, but her use of an apple is almost as good. Tip: When you're going down on a woman, tilt your face slightly to the side so you can breathe without moving away. No one wants you to drown down there!3. Fingering using the "rose" technique@rosieturnerdailyLesbian/bi/queer girls seggs tips : how to her right #wlw #lesbian #lgbt #fyp #girlsRosie Turner is who you turn to if you need lesbian tips like how to go down on someone or are looking to laugh.Tip: When you're fingering a V, try the "rose" technique, where you start on the outside and move slowly, layer by layer, farther and farther inside. Then, switch to a "come hither" movement with your fingers to hit her G-spot. 4. Use the "vacuum seal" technique for oral@halli.smithReplying to @baby my WLW vacuum seal technique that will make her fall in love with youAs an OnlyFans star, Halli Smith has expert knowledge about the techniques that will help you and your partner get off. Tip: This one is simple, just suck on her clit like it's a spaghetti noodle and then pull back slightly to drive your partner wild.5. Find out what kind of mood your partner is in@bdemovesTake it further......"what makes you feel this?" #wlw #lesbiansoftiktokQueer sex educator and pleasure coach Whitni Miller has a whole catalogue of helpful tutorials and advice on TikTok, including this video on what to say so you know what kind of spicy mood your partner is in before you get started. Tip: Ask your partner, "How do you want to feel when we get spicy?" Then give them some options, like feeling in control, being lulled into surrender, or being cherished.6. Try out the "Knee Thing"@nadia_bokodyIts the ULTIMATE power move. #wlwtiktok #girlswholikegirls #wlwdating #girlswholikegirls #lesbiandating #sapphics #wlwtok #gaygirlsoftiktok #bigirlsoftiktok #singlelesbiansoftiktok #lateinlifelesbianBokody can also teach you how to do the infamous "knee thing" which she calls the "ultimate power move" just right so have your partner begging for more.Tip: Slide your leg in between your partner's legs and then move it upwards until the spot above your knee is gently pressing into their core. 7. Learn to love the V@bdemoves#stitch with @caileneasely Be for real!! #wlw #bdemovesAnd if you need a reminder of why vaginas are so amazing (and don't need to smell like Summer's Eve), then listen to Miller.Tip: Enjoy the smell and taste of a V and stop expecting it to taste like Juicy Fruit gum. 8. Buying your first strap-on@bdemovesReply to @oneeternalsun strappy time #ledollarbean #wlw #bdemoves #fypAnd if you need advice about which strap-on to use if you've never put a harness on before, then Miller has you covered, too. Tip: If you've never strapped before, start out with a budget-friendly version and then, if you love it, invest in something even better.9. Why the Rabbit remains so popular@delicto.com#onthisday lets talk rabbits#fypThese sex educators can even teach you everything you need to know about the Rabbit, a core piece of lesbian sex history. Chappell Roan doesn't mention it in a song for no reason!Tip: Buy a body-safe version and give one of the newer versions a try, like the Snail Vibe.10. Give those fingers a workout@bodybydaddyDO THIS WITH COACH NOW! #wlw #lesbianvisibilityweek #forearmsAnd if you've tried all of these techniques and now you're getting hand cramps, Body by Daddy can give you the perfect gym routine to get you into shape to go all night long. Tip: Do these five exercises for one minute each so you can finger for as long as you want. 1. Open your hands and then squeeze them into a fist. 2. Make a fist and then curl your hand inward up and toward your body. 3. Put your arms out in front of you, make a fist, and then make a movement like you're starting a motorcycle. 4. Hold your arms out in front of you and make a fist, then turn your fist up so your inner wrist is facing the ceiling, and then rotate it the opposite way. 5. Make a fist and then rotate it like you're about to make a thumbs up, and then move your wrist toward your body and back to neutral

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03606-3Researchers are striving to understand the impact a phenomenon known as original antigenic sin has on immunity to the virus.

Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03777-zKey mutations and animal spread could raise the risk to humans.

The Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and turning to rookie Quinn Ewers as their new starter, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Wayne Rooney's honesty about his battle with alcohol during his prime has brought English soccer's issues back to the forefront. The one positive might be how clubs are investing in resources and care to help.

A new wave of netminding talent is taking the league by storm, coming from a variety of backgrounds.

NBA insiders break down where all 30 teams stand in this week's rankings ahead of the holiday season.

Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun spent the offseason 6,000 miles apart as they worked to reach a new level this season.

He was best known for playing the title character in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, which ran on NBC from 1979 to 1981.

Im pulling out all the stops. READ MORE...

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Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) isnt afraid of bullies, not when she has already fought (and won) the hardest battle of her life.For three years, Craig and her former partner worked to convince the Tennessee courts that being gay did not disqualify them from retaining custody of their son, Josh, whom theyd raised from infancy after his birth mother selected them to adopt him. Related He won marriage rights for same-sex couples in Utah. Now hes running for Congress. Josh is now 28 years old with a toddler of his own, but Craig says that, even all these decades later, the ferocious mama-bear energy she needed to win the right to be his mother lives on.Right now, shes using that energy to run for U.S. Senate in Minnesota after already making history as the first lesbian mom in the House of Representatives. Craig has served in Congress since 2019, when she eked out a victory despite running in a Republican stronghold that had only sent two Democrats to Congress since the 1940s. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today She has since proved her staying power. Despite once being considered one of the Houses most vulnerable incumbents, she won her most recent reelection in a landslide and is currently serving her fourth term.LGBTQ Nation spoke with Craig about her secret to connecting with conservative voters many of whom evidence suggests voted for both her and Donald Trump in 2024 as well as her thoughts on the best way forward in these politically tumultuous times. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.LGBTQ Nation: In your campaign announcement video, you spoke about your battle to adopt your son. Why did you include it? What about that battle shaped the way you see your fight against the Trump administration?Rep. Angie Craig: I got up every single day for almost 3 years, and my partner and I didnt know whether we would have our son to put to bed that night. So every fight Ive taken on from a district that had been in Republican hands for three-quarters of a century is kept in check by the fact that Ive already fought the hardest fight of my entire life. I will always stand up to bullies, and this administration is bullying communities that we care deeply about, like the immigrant community, like the LGBTQ+ community, and particularly our trans neighbors.Your battle to adopt Josh took place in Tennessee, which was also at the center of U.S. v. Skrmetti, the recent SCOTUS case that greenlit state gender-affirming care bans. After all this time, Tennessee parents are still fighting to have power over their own kids, albeit in different ways. Does your journey with Josh give you hope that this anti-trans hysteria might take a similar arc?My life experience has been that [we find success] if we build support with our neighbors. It wasnt that long ago where Republicans tried to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota through a constitutional amendment, and we went neighbor by neighbor, we went faith group by faith group building support for the fact that love is love. I think that theres an opportunity in America to do the same with trans issues, but we have to understand that we have to go do the work to help people understand that folks who are trans are our neighbors as well. Most people have never met a trans person in their life, and so we have to go do the hard work of building support in our communities.Some Democrats seem lost on how to talk about trans rights, and especially the sports debate, where some are feeling more emboldened to side with Republicans. Where do you fall on that, and how do you think Democrats need to handle trans issues in the upcoming elections?I think we have to acknowledge that [the sports] issue in particular by many people is seen as a fairness issue, right? I personally believe that parents, local sports associations, and our local schools are best equipped to make those decisions. Thats exactly why Ive never supported a nationwide blanket ban that Ive been asked to support as a member of Congress. I think as we have those conversations within our local communities, we can help others understand. You talked about gender-affirming care a moment ago. Its not a conversation that any politician should be anywhere near. Republicans like to talk about parents rights, but you know, there is no politician in a better position to make those very personal decisions for the trans community than the people who are actually involved, including their parents.You also just reintroduced a bill to protect LGBTQ+ foster kids from discrimination, which has been introduced many times before. Why was now the right time to bring that back? Are these kids facing outsized challenges under Trump?Well, certainly every member of the LGBTQ community is feeling outside pressure because of the Trump administration. I think that we have to continue to push for the rights of LGBTQ Americans even in the face of the headwind coming from this administration. We should use this time to build community support for many of our issues. There will be a time, and I believe it will be soon, when Democrats take back the majority in this country in the House, in the Senate, and the White House. So as Democrats, we need to be building the support from our communities now while we push back strong against the Trump administration.That legislation also talks about rights for same-sex couples who want to foster and adopt. Do you feel especially connected to that due to your fight for Josh?Yeah, this is a really personal piece of legislation to me. Josh was 4 months old when he came to live with us. His birth mother placed him in our home, and again, for almost 3 years after we didnt know, are we going to be able to raise this child that we put to bed every single night or if the state of Tennessee was going to rip him away from us. This 4-month-old baby is now a 28-year-old young man who is married, and he and his wife decided that they wanted their first child to be adopted. So theyre raising our grandson, Wyatt, and hes just this amazing little boy.This fight was so personal to me, and its a fight that Im sorry that were still having to go through that many years later in places throughout our country. I would love to be able to be part of changing that forever, where no one whos LGBTQ ever has to fight this fight again.Now that your sons are adults and youve seen the men theyve become, what do you think were some of the biggest benefits for them of being men raised by two moms? Our sons have been raised to treat women respectfully. Theyve been raised to know what love is and what a strong family looks like, and so we just couldnt be more proud of our boys as they become men and, most importantly, I think we showed them what its like to love our kids unconditionally. I see in our two sons who now have boys of their own I see the kind of parents that our sons are and just how involved they are in the little things the diaper changing and the getting up with them.What they saw was love, and inside a family, I think theres nothing more important you can teach your children than that.Youre known for your bipartisanship. What have you learned from working across the aisle that can help you fight the Trump administration? Do you feel like its still possible to work alongside Republicans?At this moment in time, Ive got one fist closed, which is fighting the policies that are detrimental to our communities, and Ive got my other hand extended, looking for ways in which Republicans might still be willing to work alongside a Democrat. But unfortunately, with this administration, theres more fist than hand extended because of the attacks that they are laying out on so many of our communities.I think the most important thing as a member of Congress to know is when to work with folks and when to fight. Ill give you a couple of examples. I was the first swing district Democrat in the country to come out in favor of Donald Trumps first impeachment because he had committed impeachable offenses, and I thought that would cost me my first re-elect. This seat had been in Republican hands for three-quarters of a century. Political operatives told me, This might cost you your first re-elect, and I did it anyway because it was the right thing to do.Two years before Joe Bidens debate that people talk about causing him to drop out of the presidential race, I was among only three sitting elected representatives in the country to call for Joe Biden not to run for reelection, and I was the 4th Democrat in the country to call for it after that disastrous debate. I think what Ive proven during my time in the House, and what I will continue to prove as a US Senator, is Im going to do what is right for our communities, and Im going to tell people the truth, no matter who it pisses off from time to time.The truth is the establishment in D.C. didnt really think I was the best candidate to run and win in a seat that Republicans had held for three-quarters of a century, and we proved them wrong, and Im going to keep doing what I think is right in the U.S. Senate just like Ive done in the House.Youve also seemed to crack the code on connecting as a Democrat with rural voters. Whats your secret? Well, the first secret is just to show up and listen to them. If you sit down with a group of family farmers right now, theyll tell you that input costs are high. What does that mean? It means that Trumps tariffs are driving up costs for everybody to be able to farm these days. And then, of course, their trade war has also meant that they actually cant sell their soybeans once theyre grown. So just showing up and listening to what other people are concerned about and then working on those issues.I talk about my own family just like any other person who was serving in elected office would, but Im more interested in whats happening in their families and what their family struggles are, and if you do that and they know that thats your heart, what weve proven is theyll vote for you.Looking to 2028, if Democrats do manage to take back the House and gain more power in the Senate, what are some of the first steps to undoing the damage of the past two years? Themost important first step is just oversight on this administration, and thats what taking back the House would give us. It would give us subpoena powers to be able to look into, in particular, the corruption thats going on inside this administration, the family ties to Trump, as well.At the end of the day, if we take back the House, we should work on what we promised voters we will work on. How are we going to make healthcare more affordable for their families? How are we going to make sure that the trade war ends so that grocery costs come down, that our family farmers get back their markets?We need to work on the things that we tell people that were going to do for them, and if we can do that, then people will continue to elect Democrats in this country.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.