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Why public opinion turned on AI | The Gray Area - July 17, 2026 - Vox

AI was supposed to make our lives better. Instead, it’s made many of us scared and angry. Communities are protesting data centers across the country, and polling shows most Americans think AI is moving too fast.

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In today's episode, guest host Miles Bryan talks with independent journalist Jasmine Sun, who argues that public attitudes toward AI are undergoing a fundamental shift. Jasmine argues that AI is seen not simply as a technology to adopt, but as an elite political project to resist. The two discuss “AI populism,” the parallels with the Industrial Revolution, how public opinion about AI may affect US politics, and how the leaders of Silicon Valley are unprepared for the growing backlash against AI.

Guest Host: Miles Bryan, Vox reporter and senior producer

Guest:Jasmine Sun, journalist

Find Jasmine’s Substack here: https://jasmi.news/

00:00 Intro

02:33 What is AI populism?

05:29 Why people are protesting data centers

09:11 Incidents of violence

12:11 What industrial revolution can teach us

22:14 Why people are anxious about AI

29:04 Social contracts in the AI era

34:41 China’s approach to AI

40:12 AI populism and American politics

We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show.

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How F1 drivers survive their own cars - July 16, 2026 - Vox

F1 races are exhilarating. While racing alongside 21 other cars, an F1 driver can reach speeds of up to 231 mph, making it one of the world's most dangerous sports.

And F1 drivers need to be physically prepared to prevent disaster. Over the course of a single race, they experience hundreds of pounds of force, temperatures up to 130°F, and risk extreme dehydration which can lead to lowered brain function. In order to stay on the road and not pass out, F1 drivers have to be in peak physical condition.

In order to find out how F1 drivers can survive a sport that is so physically demanding, Vox producer Nate Krieger hit the gym. Since F1 is such an international sport, there aren’t many specialized trainers in the US. So with the help of an F1 performance expert currently based in the United Arab Emirates, Nate worked out with David Dunlop, a strength and conditioning coach who works with NFL players. And it turns out that training for F1 is surprisingly similar to training to be a linebacker.

Read more about the fitness required to drive in an F1 race:

Mercedes has an excellent breakdown of G-force on a turn: https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/news/g-force-and-formula-one-explained

This article from The Drive breaks down the physics of an F1 race: https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/28189/modern-formula-1-cars-braking-forces-so-brutal-itll-extract-tears-from-your-eyes-report-says

Motorsport Industry Association on how F1 simulators help drivers train for the mental side of races: https://www.schoolofraceengineering.co.uk/blog/post/15044/what-are-formula-1-simulators-used-for/

New York Times article about the history of F1 in the US (and why people in the States are talking about it now): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6552909/2025/08/15/f1-history-in-america/

This video is presented by the Ford Motor Company. Ford doesn’t have a say in our editorial decisions, but they make videos like this one possible.

https://www.ford.com/new-performance-vehicles/

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A skeptic considers the case for God | The Gray Area - July 13, 2026 - Vox

Show Description

Sean talks with writer Liz Bruenig about faith, doubt, and the experience of believing in God in a modern, skeptical age. They discuss religious experience, the limits of science, the appeal of cynicism, Dostoevsky, beauty, mystery, and whether belief is ultimately a choice. They also explore why religion persists and whether living with uncertainty is itself a form of faith.

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Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling)

Guest: Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig)

00:00 Intro

05:17 Why do we search for proof of God?

15:31 God, awe, and beauty

20:12 The writing of Saint Augustine and Fyodor Dostoevsky

33:28 Faith in America

38:59 Questions for a curious skeptic

And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday.

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Who wants Kamala Harris to run again? | America, Actually - July 11, 2026 - Vox

Despite a bruising defeat in the 2024 presidential election, early polling has Kamala Harris ahead of major Democratic alternatives like Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a 2028 run. Her loyal base says that another White House bid feels like an opportunity to build a real campaign free from the constraints of last time. But there’s a lot of division behind the scenes.

This week, Vox’s Astead Herndon travels to a picnic in the crucial primary state of South Carolina to ask voters directly what they think. And then, Astead talks with the prominent Democratic donor John Morgan, who says it’s time to turn the page on the Biden-Harris era entirely.

00:00 - Is Kamala Harris running for president (again?)

01:44 - Democratic insiders make the case for Harris 2028

04:40 - Taking the question to South Carolina voters

06:01 - Is America ready for a Black woman president?

08:20 - The generational divide

11:49 - The "third time's a charm" perspective

17:32 - What Democratic donors are thinking

23:56 - The push for a fresh Democratic bench

25:15 - Counting the votes from South Carolina

America, Actually publishes video episodes every Saturday tackling key issues in politics, culture, and the economy. Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel to get them. Listen to episodes of America, Actually on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.

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