Republicans Are Putting Democracy on Life Support

Will AI Rule Us All? • Elon Musk’s “Demons”• McCarthy’s Impeachment Fever [View in your browser]( | [Update your preferences](newsletter=vf) [Vanity Fair Hive logo image]( Republicans Are Putting Democracy on Life Support This week, Republicans hopped on a new hobby horse: Impeachment. On Tuesday, Kevin McCarthy directed three House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. But rather than proffering hard evidence, Molly Jong-Fast [opined](, the Speaker’s push appears to be based solely on “vibes.” Elsewhere, Charlotte Klein [reported]( on the return of the Donald Trump book bubble. And if you’re looking to end the week on a more hopeful note, dive right into the latest [episode]( of Inside the Hive, which unpacks how we can bring democracy back from the brink. Zooming out to techland, Joe Pompeo [interviewed]( biographer Walter Isaacson about the many “demons dancing around” inside Elon Musk’s head. Plus, Nick Bilton had a [mammoth feature]( on the state and fate of AI, which has generated endless hand-wringing over its potential to disrupt entire industries—and possibly humanity itself. Thanks for reading, and see you again Monday. —Jon Skolnik, associate editor [Republicans Are Putting Democracy on Life Support]( By [Brian Stelter]( [The authors of How Democracies Die are back with a new book that tackles the threat of minority rule—and how our political institutions can be reformed.]( [Read more button](   [Kevin McCarthy’s Vibes-Based Impeachment]( By [Molly Jong-Fast]( [Rather than try to prevent a government shutdown, says Representative Ritchie Torres, “House Republicans have chosen to launch kangaroo ‘impeachment inquiries’ and descend into a complete clown show.”]( [Read more button](   [The Donald Trump Book Bubble Is Back]( By [Charlotte Klein]( [Four indictments and 2024 front-runner status have returned Trump to the headlines—and journalists’ book proposals. The successful ones will have to take on “larger questions,” says one literary agent. “There’s just less of an appetite for zany Trump moments.”]( [Read more button](   [Artificial Intelligence May Be Humanity’s Most Ingenious Invention—And Its Last?]( By [Nick Bilton]( [Silicon Valley is barreling ahead with AI technology that could unlock novel forms of creativity, art, and medicine, and potentially, wipe out all mankind. As one AI engineer warns, “We’re creating God.”]( [Read more button](   [Image may contain: Tie, Accessories, Accessory, Electrical Device, Microphone, Human, Person, Suit, Coat, and Clothing]( [Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk’s Boswell, Tells the “Tale of an Impulsive, Dark, but Also Risk-Taking Dude”]( By [Joe Pompeo]( [In a wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair, the storied biographer unpacks the varied “personalities and demons dancing around” in Musk’s head. Plus: Isaacson’s thoughts on the new CNN boss, Twitter’s turbulence, and the resilience of democracy heading into 2024.]( [Read more button](   Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. [Sign Up Now](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn](   This e-mail was sent to you by The Hive. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007 Copyright © 2023 Condé Nast