Will Trump Legalize Weed or Will Prisoners Still Have to Rely on Drone Delivery? Plus Liam and RFK Jr.
Friday, December 12, 2025
Welcome to The Instrum-Intel Daily, where we break down what you need to know, and why, using What? So What? Now What?.
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Politics • The Trump Administration • Climate • AI & Tech • Culture • Education • What the Right is Reading • Etc. •
Politics
Headline: DNA, social media and family history: what U.S. could demand at the border | The Independent
What?
As the administration tightens screening, visa-waiver visitors may face expanded disclosures including social media handles, with broader data asks discussed.
So What?
More intrusive vetting risks blowback from civil liberties groups and tourism sectors, especially ahead of 2026 World Cup travel.
Now What?
Watch for: the final CBP notice and effective date; further reading: Reuters’ policy details on the planned social-media requirement.
What?
Data for Progress polling finds 60% of voters are concerned about Trump's NSPM-7 memo, with majorities believing Trump will restrict speech critical of his administration (59%), DEI efforts (55%), and LGBTQ+ rights (53%), despite voters overwhelmingly opposing such restrictions themselves.
So What?
Polling demonstrates a significant gap between public support for free speech and fears about Trump's authoritarian intentions, providing progressives with powerful messaging opportunities around civil liberties and the administration's overreach into constitutionally protected activities.
Now What?
Watch for: Democratic campaigns centering First Amendment messaging; organizing efforts around free speech protection; legal defense resources for targeted organizations; voter education on NSPM-7 implications.
Headline: Can anyone stop Europe's populist right? | The Economist
What?
The Economist examines the surge of populist right-wing movements across Europe and questions whether traditional political forces can counter their momentum.
So What?
The rise of European populism mirrors broader patterns of democratic backsliding and authoritarian governance that progressive campaigns must understand as part of a global authoritarian wave, with implications for international progressive organizing and transatlantic solidarity efforts.
Now What?
Watch for: European election results in France, Germany, and the Netherlands; policy shifts on immigration and climate in EU countries; impacts on NATO and transatlantic progressive cooperation.
Headline: Reddit takes legal action against Australia's proposed social media ban for under-16s | AP News
What?
AP News reports Reddit has filed a lawsuit challenging Australia's proposed ban on social media access for users under 16, raising questions about age verification, privacy, and platform responsibility.
So What?
This legal battle establishes important precedents for how democracies regulate Big Tech while protecting youth online safety, with implications for similar legislation being considered in U.S. states and other countries.
Now What?
Watch for: Court rulings on the Australian ban; other tech platforms' responses; state-level youth protection legislation in the U.S.; international regulatory coordination efforts.
Headline: Gov. Kathy Hochul Signs SAG-AFTRA Bills to Regulate AI Performers in New York | Variety
What?
Variety reports New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed two SAG-AFTRA-backed bills requiring disclosure of AI-generated performers in advertising and protecting deceased performers' likenesses from unauthorized AI deepfakes.
So What?
New York's AI performer protections establish crucial precedents for labor rights in the age of generative AI, demonstrating how states can lead on worker protections when federal action stalls and providing a model for other jurisdictions.
Now What?
Watch for: Implementation challenges and enforcement actions; other states adopting similar legislation; federal AI regulation efforts; industry responses and compliance strategies.
Headline: Data center boom creates political conundrum for the GOP | E&E News
What?
E&E News reports Republicans face growing voter backlash over soaring energy costs tied to AI data centers, despite Trump's support for unrestricted AI development, with GOP lawmakers in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania feeling political pressure.
So What?
The data center affordability crisis creates an opening for progressive messaging on corporate power, utility costs, and who pays for Big Tech's infrastructure demands—potentially fracturing Republican unity on tech policy and creating opportunities for Democrats in 2026 midterms.
Now What?
Watch for: State utility commission rulings on data center cost allocation; Democratic campaigns highlighting affordability issues; Republican responses in swing districts; federal regulatory interventions.
What?
The Fulcrum reports Trump's National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7) authorizes preemptive law enforcement measures targeting Americans based on "anti-Christian," "anti-capitalist," or "anti-American" beliefs rather than violent actions, marking an unprecedented expansion of domestic terrorism surveillance.
So What?
NSPM-7 fundamentally threatens First Amendment rights by criminalizing progressive ideology and political dissent, establishing legal frameworks for targeting advocacy organizations, protest movements, and nonprofit groups—chilling activism precisely when resistance to authoritarianism is most critical.
Now What?
Watch for: Legal challenges from ACLU and civil liberties groups; FBI investigations of progressive organizations; Congressional oversight attempts; impacts on grassroots organizing and protest activity.
Headline: FBI pressed on labeling antifa a top domestic threat | Fox2Now
What?
During Hill testimony, an FBI national-security official called antifa the "most immediate violent threat" but struggled to provide specifics, drawing Democratic skepticism.
So What?
The vague designation without empirical support demonstrates how the administration weaponizes terrorism classifications to target progressive movements, establishing precedent for criminalizing political ideology rather than violent acts.
Now What?
Watch for: Follow-up data from DOJ/FBI and potential committee subpoenas; further Congressional hearings; legal challenges to antifa designation; impacts on protest movements.
The Trump Administration
Headline: Trump seeks to cut restrictions on marijuana through planned order | The Washington Post
What?
Trump is weighing an executive order directing agencies to reclassify marijuana to Schedule III—short of legalization but easing research and industry constraints.
So What?
A rescheduling push could scramble coalitions, boost cannabis markets, and test the White House’s ability to sidestep DEA process.
Now What?
Watch for: the EO text and DOJ/DEA process steps; further reading: WaPo’s explainer on how rescheduling could proceed and who’s lobbying for/against it.
Headline: RFK Jr.’s Health Department Is Pondering a National Men’s Health Initiative | WIRED
What?
At an FDA meeting on testosterone therapy, incoming Assistant Secretary for Health Brian Christine floated federally backed "Men’s Health Centers of Excellence," as HHS weighs a national men’s health push.
So What?
A high-profile men’s health campaign—amid cuts to women’s and LGBTQ health work—signals shifting federal priorities that could shape research dollars, hormone policy and culture-war narratives in 2026.
Now What?
Watch for: a formal HHS proposal or RFI and any FDA moves on TRT scheduling; further reading: WIRED’s report for specifics from the FDA panel.
Headline: Kristi Noem’s Humiliating House Hearing | Jezebel
What?
Jezebel details the chaotic House Judiciary hearing where DHS Secretary Kristi Noem faced bipartisan ridicule, "Exorcist"-themed protests, and grueling questioning regarding her deportation logistics and past controversies.
So What?
The "humiliation" narrative reinforces the perception of Noem as a weakened cabinet member, potentially making her a convenient scapegoat for the administration's controversial immigration policies or a candidate for an early exit.
Now What?
Watch for: Leaks from the White House regarding Noem's standing; potential staffing changes within DHS senior leadership; and whether this hearing footage is used in 2026 Democratic attack ads.
Headline: The Latest Trump Admin Palace Intrigue
What?
Reporting based on senior White House sources says Trump is not planning a year-end cabinet purge despite rampant speculation around DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and others.
So What?
If accurate, the piece suggests stability through the election year, with the West Wing tightening message discipline rather than executing high-risk removals.
Now What?
Watch for: official statements and any personnel notices at DHS, DOJ, DOE; further reading: Bade’s sourcing on Noem/Patel to gauge which rumors are most credible.
Headline: Judge orders Kilmar Ábrego García to be released from ICE custody | CNN
What?
A federal judge ordered ICE to immediately free Kilmar Ábrego García, whose wrongful deportation to an El Salvador mega-prison became a flashpoint in Trump-era immigration policy.
So What?
The ruling spotlights legal vulnerabilities in mass-deportation tactics and creates a rallying case for immigrant-rights groups and Hill oversight.
Now What?
Watch for: a DHS appeal and limits on redetention; further reading: AP recap and Guardian follow for legal posture and political fallout.
Headline: Trump signs executive order aimed at preventing states from regulating AI | WIRED
What?
A new EO forms a DOJ "AI litigation" task force and threatens to pull Commerce broadband funds from states with "onerous" AI laws, aiming to preempt state regulation.
So What?
The move escalates federal–state conflict on tech governance and hands industry allies a tool to chill state privacy/safety rules.
Now What?
Watch for: immediate AG pushback and early lawsuits; further reading: WIRED’s breakdown and The Guardian’s framing of what the EO can—and can’t—do legally.
Headline: Trump’s AI adviser faces questions over conflicts after EO | WJCT News 89.9
What?
NPR reporting (via member station) probes whether adviser David Sacks’ industry ties shaped the EO’s preemption push.
So What?
Scrutiny of policymaker–investor overlaps may fuel ethics lines of attack and frame narrative about Big Tech capture.
Now What?
Watch for: House inquiries/FOIAs on EO drafting; further reading: the WJCT/NPR piece and advocacy responses.
Headline: Protesters interrupt Noem’s Hill hearing with ‘Exorcist’ line | The Guardian
What?
Demonstrators twice disrupted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s House testimony, denouncing ICE raids before Capitol Police removed them.
So What?
The spectacle adds pressure on Noem during intensifying scrutiny of the deportation agenda and her standing inside the administration.
Now What?
Watch for: follow-up hearings and renewed calls for her resignation; further reading: Guardian’s recap and any official committee statements.
AI & Tech
Headline: GPT-5.2 Just Dropped: Features, Pricing, and Release Explained | Fello AI
What?
Fello AI breaks down the surprise release of GPT-5.2, highlighting its claimed dominance over Gemini 3 in reasoning benchmarks, a new tiered pricing structure for API usage, and enhanced agentic capabilities.
So What?
The release confirms the industry has moved to a hyper-aggressive "continuous release" cycle, forcing enterprise clients to constantly rebuild integrations and rendering "state of the art" benchmarks obsolete within weeks.
Now What?
Watch for: Independent benchmark verifications (beyond OpenAI's claims); developer complaints about API deprecations; and Gemini's inevitable counter-release in January.
Headline: AI toys are a hot gift this year. Are they safe for kids? | NBC News
What?
NBC News investigates the surge of AI-powered toys for the 2025 holiday season, highlighting significant privacy concerns and developmental questions surrounding "smart" companions like Miko and Grok.
So What?
For communicators, this signals a critical intersection of consumer privacy, child safety, and AI regulation, creating pressure points for advocacy groups to demand stricter compliance and transparency from tech manufacturers marketing to children.
Now What?
Watch for: New FTC guidelines on AI toys; parental advocacy campaigns; potential data breach stories involving connected toys; and legislative pushes for "AI labeling" on children's products.
Headline: A developer accidentally found CSAM in AI data. Google banned him for it. | 404 Media
What?
404 Media reports that a developer was banned by Google after accidentally discovering and attempting to report Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) contained within the massive, open-source LAION dataset used to train popular AI models.
So What?
This exposes the dangerous lack of oversight in the "black box" datasets powering major AI tools and the punitive response to whistleblowers, providing a potent narrative for campaigners demanding transparency and ethical auditing of AI training data.
Now What?
Watch for: Policy shifts at Google regarding CSAM reporting; increased scrutiny of open-source datasets like LAION; and calls for legal immunity for researchers auditing AI safety.
Headline: State attorneys general warn AI giants to fix 'delusional' outputs | TechCrunch
What?
A bipartisan coalition of State Attorneys General has issued warnings to Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google, demanding they rectify "delusional" and hallucinating AI outputs that mislead consumers.
So What?
This marks a major shift from federal to state-level enforcement on AI reliability, giving consumer protection advocates a new legal lever to demand accountability for misinformation and "broken" products that harm users.
Now What?
Watch for: Specific consumer protection lawsuits filed by AGs; potential class-action suits based on damages from AI misinformation; and updates to tech companies' terms of service attempting to further disclaim liability.
Headline: EPA unveils Clean Air Act resource for data center developers | EPA
What?
The EPA has released a new transparency resource clarifying Clean Air Act permitting requirements for data center developers, directly addressing the booming energy and emissions impact of AI infrastructure.
So What?
This is a crucial tool for environmental justice campaigners, providing the regulatory data needed to challenge local data center projects that threaten air quality and energy grids in vulnerable communities.
Now What?
Watch for: Local community groups utilizing this data to challenge construction permits; tech companies lobbying against stricter EPA oversight; and forthcoming reports on the localized carbon footprints of new hyperscale data centers.
Climate
Headline: Japan deploys 'nightmarish' robot wolves to scare away bears | Yahoo News
What?
To combat a surge in bear attacks caused by climate change and rural depopulation, Japanese towns are deploying "Monster Wolf" robots—shaggy, red-eyed animatronics that howl and flash lights when motion sensors are triggered.
So What?
While visually dystopian, the "Robot Wolf" represents a growing niche of "coexistence technology"—using robotics rather than lethal culls to manage human-wildlife conflict in an era of collapsing natural habitats.
Now What?
Watch for: Expansion of this tech to other conflict zones (e.g., wolves in Europe); data on the long-term effectiveness of the deterrent; and viral social media reactions to the eerie footage.
Headline: 'Californians overpaid $59B at the pump' over a decade, advocates say | Daily Kos
What?
A Daily Kos write-up cites Consumer Watchdog and California's Division of Petroleum Market Oversight saying consumers paid an extra $59 billion over 10 years, urging inventory rules and renewed price-gouging penalties.
So What?
The claim will fuel fights over refinery consolidation, minimum inventory mandates and anti-gouging policy heading into 2026.
Now What?
Watch for: CARB/CEC rulemakings on inventories and margins. Further reading: The Daily Kos recap and referenced Consumer Watchdog materials.
Headline: The EPA's Data Center Builder Guide to Avoiding Environmental Regulations
What?
EPA's Office of Air and Radiation rolled out a central webpage of Clean Air Act permitting, modeling and guidance materials aimed at speeding data center and AI facility approvals, with staff available to consult permit reviewers.
So What?
The move signals federal alignment with rapid AI build-out and could streamline backup-generator permits communities often contest.
Now What?
Watch for: How states incorporate the guidance into PSD/Title V reviews and whether EPA updates modeling memos. Further reading: The EPA release and linked "Clean Air Act Resources for Data Centers" page.
Headline: Data-center boom poses a political headache for the GOP | E&E News
What?
E&E reports Republicans face cross-pressures as Trump backs aggressive AI/data-center growth while some GOP figures warn about costs, local control and state regulation fights.
So What?
Expect intra-party rifts where rising power prices, siting battles and preemption politics collide with pro-development messaging.
Now What?
Watch for: Local approvals and state pushback after Trump's AI preemption posture. Further reading: Related coverage on local moratorium debates and lawmakers' responses.
Headline: Timber vs. tribes over Tongass plan as federal meetings loom | Juneau Independent
What?
Alaska Forest Association urged halting the Tongass plan revision to allow more old-growth harvest, while the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida warns the change would harm ecosystems and non-timber jobs ahead of Forest Service meetings next week.
So What?
The dispute previews a test of the administration's logging agenda, the Roadless Rule, and tribal-government influence on federal forest policy.
Now What?
Watch for: Readouts from Ketchikan/Juneau meetings and any USFS pause of the plan update. Further reading: The Juneau Independent report with letters from AFA and Tlingit & Haida.
Culture
Headline: Liam Neeson Narrates Anti-Vax, Pro-RFK Documentary | Important Context
What?
Academy Award-nominated actor Liam Neeson narrated "Plague of Corruption," an anti-vaccine documentary glorifying RFK Jr. and featuring discredited claims about vaccines causing autism, contradicting his previous UNICEF work promoting global vaccination.
So What?
Celebrity endorsement of anti-vaccine misinformation threatens public health as RFK Jr. dismantles immunization infrastructure from his HHS position. The film's release coincides with resurgent vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, demonstrating how mainstream figures legitimize dangerous pseudoscience that undermines scientific consensus and childhood vaccination programs.
Now What?
Watch for: UNICEF's response to Neeson's involvement; public health officials' countermessaging; measles and other preventable disease outbreak data; impacts on childhood vaccination rates; celebrity accountability for health misinformation.
Headline: Disney partners with OpenAI to use Sora for character video content | CNBC
What?
CNBC reports that Disney has entered a strategic partnership with OpenAI to utilize the Sora video-generation model for creating short-form content featuring its massive library of IP and characters.
So What?
This is a watershed moment for generative video; validation from the world's most protective copyright holder signals that AI video has moved from "experimental" to "commercial standard," potentially bypassing traditional animation pipelines and reigniting tensions with creative guilds.
Now What?
Watch for: The first official AI-generated Mickey or Marvel clips; immediate reactions from SAG-AFTRA and the Animation Guild; and stock market reactions for Adobe and other creative tool competitors.
Headline: Last Days opera returns to Royal Opera House's Linbury Theatre | The Guardian
What?
Oliver Leith's opera "Last Days," inspired by Gus Van Sant's film about Kurt Cobain's final days, returned to London's Royal Opera House receiving critical acclaim for its atmospheric, unconventional score exploring isolation, fame's crushing weight, and mental health crisis.
So What?
The production demonstrates contemporary opera's capacity to address mental health, celebrity culture, and suicide through experimental art forms, reaching younger audiences while prompting conversations about artistic exploitation versus meaningful tribute. Cobain's estate criticized the unauthorized work, raising questions about consent and commercial exploitation of tragedy.
Now What?
Watch for: U.S. touring productions; Cobain estate legal actions; discussions about consent in biographical art; mental health conversations sparked by the work; contemporary opera's evolution addressing modern cultural issues.
Headline: Italian cuisine becomes world's first to be awarded UNESCO status | CNN
What?
UNESCO designated Italian cuisine as the first complete national gastronomic style to receive intangible cultural heritage status, recognizing Italy's traditional methods of growing, harvesting, preparing, and serving food.
So What?
The recognition provides Italy with new tools to combat "fake" Italian food products and cultural appropriation while potentially boosting the nation's $70 billion agri-food export economy. The designation elevates food culture to protected heritage status, setting precedent for other nations' culinary traditions while raising questions about authenticity, commercialization, and cultural ownership.
Now What?
Watch for: Tourism impacts on Italian regions; enforcement actions against fake Italian products; other nations seeking similar UNESCO designations; debates over culinary authenticity and cultural appropriation; economic impacts on Italian food exports and restaurants.
Headline: MacKenzie Scott Has Given $26B to Nonprofits Since 2019. Here's What She Supported in 2025 | KRCG
What?
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced $7.1 billion in unrestricted nonprofit donations for 2025, bringing her total giving since 2019 to $26.3 billion, with major focus on HBCUs, tribal colleges, community colleges, and climate organizations.
So What?
Scott's no-strings-attached giving model disrupts traditional philanthropy by trusting nonprofits with unrestricted funds while Trump administration cuts federal support for education and climate initiatives. Her $1.35 billion to HBCUs counters attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, demonstrating alternative approaches to addressing systemic inequities without bureaucratic overhead or reporting requirements.
Now What?
Watch for: Impacts on HBCU endowments and programs; nonprofit sector adaptations to unrestricted funding models; responses from traditional foundations; recipients' use of funds amid federal cutbacks; climate organization capacity building.
What the Right is Reading
Headline: ‘Supremes can end climate lawfare’ | IJR
What?
In a syndicated op-ed, David Blackmon urges the Supreme Court to take a Colorado climate-liability case and curb municipal lawsuits against oil firms.
So What?
The piece advances a core right-leaning objective: stop city and state tort cases that could impose huge damages and set precedent against fossil-fuel companies.
Now What?
Watch for: the Court’s cert decision and amicus activity; further reading: IJR’s commentary hub and the Daily Caller version detailing the petition timeline.
Headline: Debanking flows downhill from progressive policymakers | Competitive Enterprise Institute
What?
CEI argues that progressive policy choices and regulators’ signals incentivize banks to “deplatform” disfavored customers, and urges Congress and bank watchdogs to rein in debanking.
So What?
The narrative frames financial “censorship” as a culture-war front—fueling calls on the right for tighter OCC/FDIC oversight and legislation protecting account access.
Now What?
Watch for: Republicans to cite new complaint data and haul regulators to Hill hearings; further reading: CEI’s post and related entries on the group’s “debanking” campaign.
Headline: Fact-check looks at dollars behind birth-dose Hepatitis B policy | WSTM
What?
A regional fact-check breaks down the economics of the Hep B birth dose using CDC price lists ($17–$29 per dose) and birth/uptake figures (about 3.6 million births; 70%–80% receive within 24 hours).
So What?
Right-leaning outlets may cite cost angles as CDC revisits guidance—shaping skepticism of newborn mandates even as medical bodies emphasize prevention benefits.
Now What?
Watch for: ACIP and CDC final language and insurer coverage decisions; further reading: the CNYCentral analysis and Undark’s overview of the advisory panel debate.
Headline: Code Pink founder praises Marjorie Taylor Greene’s anti-war stance | Fox News
What?
Fox News highlights Medea Benjamin thanking Rep. Greene, prompting backlash and “horseshoe theory” chatter about left-right overlap on foreign policy.
So What?
The coverage spotlights fissures in anti-war messaging—and offers the right a culture-frame narrative about unlikely alliances validating its position.
Now What?
Watch for: more cross-ideological moments on Ukraine and Pentagon spending; further reading: Fox’s write-up and related social posts amplifying the exchange.
Headline: CNN denies it “banned” Stephen Miller | New York Post
What?
After the former Trump aide claimed on Fox News that CNN refused to book him “on any topic,” CNN said it makes routine editorial calls and hasn’t banned him.
So What?
The flap feeds conservative media-bias arguments and keeps Miller in the spotlight as a messenger against mainstream outlets.
Now What?
Watch for: whether CNN books Miller and how right-leaning media frames the outcome; further reading: New York Post’s report and other write-ups summarizing CNN’s response.
What?
As a grassroots coalition collects signatures to place ranked choice voting (RCV) on Michigan's 2026 ballot, the Heritage Foundation has launched an aggressive opposition campaign, labeling the reform a "scheme" to help Democrats.
So What?
This signals the nationalization of state-level election reform battles, where conservative think tanks are proactively intervening to block voting method changes they view as threats to GOP structural advantages.
Now What?
Watch for: Certification of the petition signatures by the Board of State Canvassers; counter-legislation from the GOP-led state legislature; and Heritage-funded ad buys in Detroit and Grand Rapids.
Etc
Headline: Authorities intercept drone carrying steak, crab legs, weed for prison inmates | Local 12
What?
Officers at South Carolina's Lee Correctional Institution intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle a "Contraband Christmas" package containing steak, crab legs, marijuana, tobacco, and Old Bay seasoning to inmates.
So What?
The bizarre nature of this "gourmet" haul highlights the audacity and evolving sophistication of drone smuggling operations, which remain a persistent security threat for correctional facilities despite countermeasures like netting and detection systems.
Now What?
Watch for: Implementation of new drone detection technologies in state prisons; potential prosecutions of the smugglers involved; and policy updates regarding airspace restrictions over correctional facilities.
Headline: FBI Adds True Crime Producer To Most Wanted List | HuffPost
What?
The FBI has added Mary Carole McDonnell, a former true-crime TV producer known for shows like It Takes a Killer, to its Most Wanted list for allegedly defrauding banks of over $15 million by posing as a wealthy heiress.
So What?
The case presents a stark irony where a producer of crime content is now a fugitive subject to the very investigative tools she once dramatized, underscoring the reach of white-collar crime and the FBI's focus on high-value fraud cases.
Now What?
Watch for: International extradition efforts, as McDonnell is believed to be hiding in Dubai; potential leads from the public following the "Most Wanted" publicity; and further revelations about her fraudulent schemes.
Headline: Rice soccer player Claire Tracy's cause of death revealed as suicide | Houston Chronicle
What?
Harris County medical examiner determined Rice University sophomore and former soccer player Claire Tracy, 19, died by suicide from helium inhalation asphyxiation, prompting discussions about college student mental health crisis.
So What?
The tragedy spotlights escalating mental health challenges facing college students, particularly high-achieving student-athletes navigating academic pressure, career anxieties, and social media's impact. Tracy's TikTok posts revealed struggles with depression, investment banking interview stress, and isolation—issues resonating across campus communities nationwide.
Now What?
Watch for: University mental health service expansions; NCAA and athletic department policy reviews; campus conversations about academic pressure and career anxiety; social media platform responses to mental health content. Mental health resources: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline available 24/7.
