Morgan Chalfant

Washington briefing editor, Semafor

Morgan is an editor in Semafor’s Washington bureau, where she oversees the AM and PM Washington briefings. Before joining Semafor, Morgan covered the White House for The Hill.

More Americans worry tech will take their job, poll finds

According to new Gallup polling, 27% of US workers worry that technology will render their jobs obsolete.

A protester holds a sign during a protest outside of OpenAI headquarters

Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters

Many Americans lack confidence in US govt to foil terror attacks, poll finds

One-fifth of Americans say they have no confidence whatsoever in the US government to protect the public from future acts of terrorism, a record high.

Nathan Howard/Reuters

Americans see sprawling government corruption, poll finds

Almost nine in 10 Americans say that government corruption is widespread.

Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Unions gain ground among voters in both parties

Seventy-one percent of American adults approve of unions, matching a 2022 peak.

Mike Blake/Reuters

Army secretary leaves after clashes with Hegseth

Dan Driscoll, a close ally of Vice President JD Vance, resigned after mounting tensions with the defense secretary.

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images via Reuters

Right-leaning US groups push chip curbs

“Dominance in the design and manufacture of advanced AI semiconductors is a national and economic security imperative for the United States and our allies,” the groups wrote.

Max A. Cherney/Reuters

Four in 10 Americans believe UFOs are alien spacecraft, poll finds

But nearly eight in 10 believe the US government knows more about UFOs than it has told the public.

More Americans are smoking pot, poll finds

Meanwhile, cigarette smoking has hit a record low.

FBI steps up scrutiny of ex-congressman Swalwell

The bureau seized his electronics at San Francisco’s airport on Saturday night and executed search warrants on his DC home.

OpenAI funds new think tank projects

Recipients include US-based organizations across the political spectrum, as well as organizations in Europe, Brazil, Singapore, and South Korea.

Republican students trust their colleges despite Trump scrutiny, poll finds

Sixty-two percent of Republican students said their college’s leadership mostly acts in students’ best interests, compared with 55% of Democrats and half of independents.

US senators move to rebuke China over Tibet

The legislation calls for a resolution of the dispute between Tibet and China, labeling it a “matter of strategic interest to the United States.”

AI exacerbates ‘class divide,’ progressive poll shows

Black workers are also more likely than white workers to predict AI will replace their job.

Debatable: Will Trump’s new tariffs be overturned?

Experts say the 301 tariffs announced last week will be harder to fight in court.

Midterm election fears run high, poll finds

Nearly seven in 10 US adults worry about politicians pressuring election officials to change results, according to Gallup.

Democrats miss mark on accountability, poll shows

But Republicans don’t get high marks on fighting corruption, either.

Republican urges Trump administration to ban Chinese AI for contractors

Tom Cotton sent a letter Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick raising concerns about Chinese AI models.

Americans see AI more negatively, poll finds

About four in ten Americans say the technology does more harm than good.