California

Newsom: an AI kill switch. Independent audits. California, not the White House.

An executive order Friday. Experts in two months. Trump called the fears a hoax. The governor did not wait.

The Rocket News · States · SacramentoSeptember 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Gov. Gavin Newsom at a podium, full color, navy suit. Wire photograph.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Friday to accelerate California’s AI safety laws and to study a “kill switch” — an emergency shutoff for frontier models — plus independent auditors inside the labs. Experts have two months. He said Washington is asleep. “Before it’s too late.” The States desk files California, not Miami, and a governor in the frame, not a capitol without him.

The order speeds SB 813 and AB 1405, the state’s new third-party oversight bills. Newsom asked Trump and Congress to take California’s framework as a floor. The president has called AI catastrophe talk a hoax and said the only guardrail the country needs is his presidency. The labs have asked for rules. Sacramento answered before the midterms, and before a federal statute that is not coming this week.

We’re going to speed up our work on substantial and responsible A.I. oversight before it’s too late.

The States desk files Friday night as it is: a kill switch on paper, a two-month clock in Sacramento, and a White House that will not write the statute. Musk said Dario was right. Trump said whoever wins with AI, wins. California did not wait for the midterms.

Wire and further reading: gov.ca.gov

Filed under States

Keep reading

People vote at Midtown Mall in Anchorage, Oct. 30, 2026. Emily Mesner, Reuters. It is not Sunday’s ruling. The judge and the two Sullivans are not in this frame.

Alaska

A judge threw out the Alaska ballot suit.

Reuters, Sunday: Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the Justice Department’s bid to hold up certification if Dan Sullivan loses to a namesake. The department will appeal. The photograph is Anchorage on Oct. 30, not the ruling.

Voters arrive at Midtown Mall in Anchorage on Oct. 30, 2026. Emily Mesner, Reuters. It is not the two Dan Sullivans, and Mary Peltola is not in the frame.

Alaska

The Justice Department pressed Alaska. More than 49 million have voted.

Reuters, Saturday: the department accelerated its Alaska inquiry on Friday and filed more motions to block certification. The Election Lab count is past 49 million. The photograph is Anchorage on Friday, not the two Sullivans.

Mary Peltola speaks to a reporter at a picket for Horizon Air flight attendants, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Anchorage. Becky Bohrer, Associated Press. It is not Thursday's denial. The other face is turned away.

Alaska

Peltola said she did not know about the other Dan Sullivan.

The Associated Press: she denied it Thursday. The New York Times reported that her team helped recruit a candidate with the incumbent’s name. The photograph is Oct. 14, not the denial.