How Will Democrats' Midterm Sweep Affect AI?

Democrats decisively won control of both the House and the Senate—but what does that mean for AI? Heather West, the head of the Geo-Technology Practice at Eurasia Group, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss how the election results could impact policy surrounding AI, technology, and data centers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a decisive victory that has been described as a referendum on President Donald Trump, Democrats regained control of both chambers of Congress. Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA) joined "Forbes Newsroom" to react to the results and discuss his priorities for the next Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's midterm elections, Democrats secured a decisive victory, flipping more than 30 Republican-held seats in the House and Senate. The party won races in places where Democrats hadn't won in decades and in states that President Donald Trump carried by double digits in 2024. John Opdycke, the founder and president of Open Primaries, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss the impact independent voters had on the midterm election results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Forbes lays out what President Trump must do in the real of foreign policy—especially pertaining to Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea—to shore up his legacy and leave the U.S. in a better place on the world stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Young was only 22 when he was arrested in a federal drug conspiracy case, and because of federal mandatory minimum laws, he received two life sentences. But Chris didn’t want incarceration to be the end of his story. After he came across an encyclopedia in the prison library, he quickly grasped the power of knowledge. He taught himself about everything from finance to history, and philosophy to coding. In a speech that changed his life and eventually garnered national attention, he rattled off everything he had learned to Judge Kevin Sharp before he was sentenced. Judge Sharp’s hands were tied—he was bound by law to sentence Chris to life. But he was so moved by Chris's words—and potential—that he ultimately left the bench and joined Chris’s fight for freedom. With the help of a lawyer, that judge who sentenced him to life, Kim Kardashian, and other advocates, Chris Young ultimately walked out of prison a free man after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence at the end of his first term. Chris wrote a memoir, “The Wound Is Where the Light Enters,” and joined “Forbes True Crime” to discuss his story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes an athlete choose one brand over another? In Episode 2, Linda Boff goes inside New Balance’s approach to athlete partnerships with Rich Paul, Chris Davis, Gabby Thomas, and a leading sneaker journalist. From moving beyond traditional endorsements to building long-term relationships and authentic athlete stories, we explore why New Balance chose to play the game differently—and why athletes noticed. Because today, the biggest partnership might not be about the biggest paycheck. 0:00 Introduction 0:54 Endorsement vs. Partnership 4:46 The Big First Example: Darius Bazley 7:36 Not A Numbers Game 11:36 Why It Works Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Different Take — Season 2 launches with the story of New Balance’s remarkable transformation from “dad shoe” to one of the hottest brands in sports and culture. Hosted by Linda Boff, this episode goes behind the strategy that changed how the world saw New Balance. Chris Davis, Chief Marketing Officer & Brand President of New Balance, and Matt Welty, Complex Associate Editor and longtime sneaker journalist, unpack the pivotal moments—from limited-edition collaborations and the rise of sneaker culture to New Balance’s decision to embrace its heritage rather than imitate its competitors. How do you make an “uncool” brand cool without losing what made it authentic in the first place? Welcome to Season 2 of A Different Take. 0:00 Intro & Background 2:56 The Reputation 6:17 The Turning Point 7:45 What Actually Changed? 12:58 Surprise: They Didn't Hide The Dad Shoe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta struck an agreement with its billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg to keep him in California for the next eight years, according to an SEC filing, after he considered leaving the state over its proposed billionaire wealth tax that could have forced him to sell his shares in the company and weaken his voting control. In an SEC filing, Meta said Zuckerberg told a special committee of the company’s board that he was considering “relocating his primary residence outside California” because he would be liable for a “significant, multi-billion dollar tax” if voters in the state approve the wealth tax ballot measure in November. The billionaire was concerned that paying the proposed tax could force him to sell some of his supervoting Class B shares, potentially reducing his voting control in the company from about 60.6% to 53%, according to the filing. In a separate 8-K filing, Meta disclosed Zuckerberg had signed a “Founder Alignment Agreement” to remain a resident of California—or any jurisdiction where Meta maintains its corporate headquarters—while continuing to serve in a full-time leadership role. Under the agreement, Meta will create a new class of Class C non-voting shares, distributing one new share for every existing Class A or Class B share in January 2027, allowing the company to raise money without diluting the voting power of existing shareholders. Zuckerberg will initially be allowed to sell 20% of his newly allocated Class C shares, an additional 2.5% of his Class C shares will become eligible for unrestricted sale each quarter as long as he serves in his full-time leadership role. In the preliminary filing, Meta’s board committee argued that it was “critically important” to keep Zuckerberg in a leadership position near its California headquarters amid intensifying competition in AI. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/10/22/meta-stock-split-deal-will-keep-mark-zuckerberg-in-california-amid-billionaire-tax-threat/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SpaceX chief Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of military-grade Starlink satellite assets used by Ukraine in its war against Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials who said Musk and President Donald Trump discussed the decision before it was made. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/10/20/elon-musk-ordered-slowdown-on-military-starlink-assets-in-ukraine-report-says/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump collected $333 million in private donations to pay for his ballroom project, with the largest donations coming from tech companies and two billionaires, according to a new report. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/10/15/these-billionaire-backers-are-reportedly-behind-trumps-ballroom-project/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices