FEATURED INVESTIGATION

OpenAI made a Pentagon deal overnight. Did anyone ask their safety committee?

OpenAI made a Pentagon deal overnight. Did anyone ask their safety committee?

A 24-hour Pentagon deal tested a key safeguard OpenAI promised would survive its pivot to for-profit.

A 24-hour Pentagon deal tested a key safeguard OpenAI promised would survive its pivot to for-profit.

Tyler Johnston

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Mar 7, 2026

Composite image featuring Elon Musk, xAI logo, a surveillance camera, a drone, and the Pentagon, illustrating xAI’s agreement with the DoD.

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Composite image featuring Elon Musk, xAI logo, a surveillance camera, a drone, and the Pentagon, illustrating xAI’s agreement with the DoD.

Recent Stories

News

Elon Musk is now enabling the autonomous killbots he once said should never exist

Composite image featuring Elon Musk, xAI logo, a surveillance camera, a drone, and the Pentagon, illustrating xAI’s agreement with the DoD.

xAI’s acceptance of a controversial deal with the Pentagon marks a significant first step towards AI-powered lethal autonomous weapons and domestic mass surveillance.

Feb 27, 2026

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Soren Messner-Zidell

Investigation

Another AI bill, another suspiciously coordinated influencer campaign

Collage of social media posts with highlighted text, representing online political commentary and coordinated messaging.

Weeks after a likely astroturfing effort against the AI OVERWATCH Act, the same playbook is targeting Florida's data center bill.

Feb 24, 2026

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Tyler Johnston

Investigation

Right-wing pundits suddenly hate an AI bill. Are they getting paid to kill it?

Collage of digital content and political imagery, suggesting media influence and information control in public discourse.

Suspicious similarities in posts from over a dozen conservative influencers including Laura Loomer, Brad Parscale, and Ryan Fournier hint at a coordinated-yet-slapdash effort to stop the AI OVERWATCH Act.

Jan 17, 2026

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Tyler Johnston

News

Elon Musk is now enabling the autonomous killbots he once said should never exist

Composite image featuring Elon Musk, xAI logo, a surveillance camera, a drone, and the Pentagon, illustrating xAI’s agreement with the DoD.

xAI’s acceptance of a controversial deal with the Pentagon marks a significant first step towards AI-powered lethal autonomous weapons and domestic mass surveillance.

Feb 27, 2026

-

Soren Messner-Zidell

News

Utah's AI bill is everything David Sacks asked for. He still wants it dead.

Composite image featuring the U.S. Capitol, a political figure, and an official document, illustrating federal oversight and policy accountability.

The aggressive campaign against HB 286 contradicts what the White House AI advisor has said about his policy goals.

Feb 25, 2026

Investigation

Another AI bill, another suspiciously coordinated influencer campaign

Collage of social media posts with highlighted text, representing online political commentary and coordinated messaging.

Weeks after a likely astroturfing effort against the AI OVERWATCH Act, the same playbook is targeting Florida's data center bill.

Feb 24, 2026

-

Tyler Johnston

Investigation

The campaign to derail AI regulation — without talking about AI

Stylized image of a political figure reclining in front of the U.S. Capitol and floating currency, symbolizing financial influence in government.

Inside the super PAC using crypto's playbook to fight AI regulation.

Feb 20, 2026

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Elizabeth Cox

Investigation

Right-wing pundits suddenly hate an AI bill. Are they getting paid to kill it?

Collage of digital content and political imagery, suggesting media influence and information control in public discourse.

Suspicious similarities in posts from over a dozen conservative influencers including Laura Loomer, Brad Parscale, and Ryan Fournier hint at a coordinated-yet-slapdash effort to stop the AI OVERWATCH Act.

Jan 17, 2026

-

Tyler Johnston

Investigation

Andreessen Horowitz is shaping AI policy — while investing in a bleak vision of the future

The firm’s investment portfolio is full of companies that have exploited legal loopholes, created disturbing products, and broken the law. 

Jan 8, 2026

-

Tyler Johnston

News

Elon Musk is now enabling the autonomous killbots he once said should never exist

Composite image featuring Elon Musk, xAI logo, a surveillance camera, a drone, and the Pentagon, illustrating xAI’s agreement with the DoD.

xAI’s acceptance of a controversial deal with the Pentagon marks a significant first step towards AI-powered lethal autonomous weapons and domestic mass surveillance.

Feb 27, 2026

-

Soren Messner-Zidell

News

Utah's AI bill is everything David Sacks asked for. He still wants it dead.

Composite image featuring the U.S. Capitol, a political figure, and an official document, illustrating federal oversight and policy accountability.

The aggressive campaign against HB 286 contradicts what the White House AI advisor has said about his policy goals.

Feb 25, 2026

Investigation

Another AI bill, another suspiciously coordinated influencer campaign

Collage of social media posts with highlighted text, representing online political commentary and coordinated messaging.

Weeks after a likely astroturfing effort against the AI OVERWATCH Act, the same playbook is targeting Florida's data center bill.

Feb 24, 2026

-

Tyler Johnston

Investigation

The campaign to derail AI regulation — without talking about AI

Stylized image of a political figure reclining in front of the U.S. Capitol and floating currency, symbolizing financial influence in government.

Inside the super PAC using crypto's playbook to fight AI regulation.

Feb 20, 2026

-

Elizabeth Cox

Investigation

Right-wing pundits suddenly hate an AI bill. Are they getting paid to kill it?

Collage of digital content and political imagery, suggesting media influence and information control in public discourse.

Suspicious similarities in posts from over a dozen conservative influencers including Laura Loomer, Brad Parscale, and Ryan Fournier hint at a coordinated-yet-slapdash effort to stop the AI OVERWATCH Act.

Jan 17, 2026

-

Tyler Johnston

Investigation

Andreessen Horowitz is shaping AI policy — while investing in a bleak vision of the future

The firm’s investment portfolio is full of companies that have exploited legal loopholes, created disturbing products, and broken the law. 

Jan 8, 2026

-

Tyler Johnston

Who We Are

Model Republic is a publication from The Midas Project, expanding our commitment to independent, public-interest research and advocacy.

We examine how AI companies engage with policymakers, shape regulatory debates, and influence public decision-making.

Learn More about The Midas Project →

Learn More about The Midas Project →

Our Other Projects

Our Other Projects

01

The OpenAI Files

The OpenAI Files is the most comprehensive collection to date of documented concerns with governance practices, leadership integrity, and organizational culture at OpenAI.

Co-published with Tech Oversight Project.

Explore

02

Open Letter to OpenAI

More than 10,000 prominent AI experts, former OpenAI team members, public figures, civil society groups, and members of the public signed an open letter calling for greater transparency from OpenAI.

Co-organized with Encode and EyesOnOpenAI.

Explore

03

Watchtower

AI companies quietly edit their safety policies all the time — usually to weaken them. Watchtower tracks changes, announced or not, across major AI companies safety and security policies. If they won't keep a changelog, we will.

Explore

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