Episode Details

Trump's new government AI search engine, a Supreme Court win for voter roll verification, Pennsylvania's AI chatbot and license plate bills, a Detroit pastor's $540K nonprofit salary, and a push for open primaries nationwide on this episode of The States.

America.gov AI search engine: The Trump administration launched america.gov, an AI chatbot pulling answers only from official government sources across 29,000 databases. 
SAVE database ruling: A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling allows DHS to share its SAVE database (Social Security-linked citizenship data) with state and local election officials to help verify voter rolls — a voluntary tool, not a mandate. Landmark Legal Foundation's Michael O'Neill calls it a win for election integrity, distinct from the stalled Save America Act, which would have made such verification mandatory. He also previews next week's Supreme Court term, including the high-profile Suncor Energy case on whether power plants can be held liable across state lines for climate-related damages (Justice Alito has recused himself).
Pennsylvania legislature (11-day session): The House passed a bill banning license plate obscuring, prompting privacy vs. enforcement debate tied to license plate reader technology. A Women's Sports bill has stalled in committee for the 10th+ time since 2025 despite Republican pushback. A bill regulating AI companion chatbots for minors (ages 13-17) passed the House and heads to the Senate, requiring safety protocols and enforcement penalties up to $100,000/day per violation — though one Republican voted no, citing unclear scope and data-collection concerns. Skill games regulation remains unresolved with days left in session. Gov. Shapiro also announced $22.7 million in state funds (part of a $64 million package) for downtown Harrisburg redevelopment.
Detroit pastor's taxpayer-funded salary: Investigative reporter Jared Strong details how megachurch pastor Marvin Winans — who publicly admonished a parishioner over a donation shortfall last year — collected a $540,000 salary (61% of program spending) from a taxpayer- and state-grant-funded nonprofit, Perfecting Community Development Corporation, for what IRS filings list as a half-time position. The nonprofit received a $500,000 Michigan state grant in 2024; the state says it has no evidence of misuse. Winans and the governor's office did not respond to requests for comment.
Push for open/all-party primaries: The Leadership Now Project's Catalyst Fund, backed by business leaders including Melinda French Gates, is funding centrist candidates and ballot measures — including a Massachusetts all-party primary referendum — aimed at reducing political extremism. Research cited shows mixed results: potential policy benefits (e.g., Louisiana's bipartisan Medicaid expansion) but also lower general-election turnout when a voter's preferred party isn't on the ballot.
America's Talking headlines:
TX:  https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_a49f247b-bd75-4b6e-b4b1-b52534dd9e18.html
GA: https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/article_ce0ec938-8a47-4549-a0a2-2a628edd4c29.html
IL: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_3c9f35a8-c601-4821-9072-c67a846d4fbc.html
MI: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_960e77be-41ef-42c2-831a-5c0cffe5abd0.html

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