President Trump signed an AI “constitution” with tech leaders on Wednesday, and Jack Smith testified before the Senate in the same hearing. Both stories appeared together under the same headline on CBS News.
The two events were reported as separate items on the network’s morning news program, The Takeout, hosted by Major Garrett. The headline read “9/29: The Takeout with Major Garrett,” and the page carried both stories without attempting to connect them.
Trump’s AI Signing
Trump signed the AI constitution with tech leaders, according to the report. The document appears to establish voluntary controls over artificial intelligence development and deployment.
The source describes the event as a signing ceremony with tech leaders present, but it does not specify which companies or individuals were involved. Nor does it describe the contents of the constitution beyond the voluntary nature of its controls.
Jack Smith’s Senate Testimony
Jack Smith also testified before the Senate on Wednesday, appearing in the same headline as the presidential signing. The report does not provide further details on the testimony or its subject matter.
The two events shared the same headline and the same page, which raises the question of whether they were covered in the same broadcast segment or reported separately.
The Takeout Format
The Takeout is a daily news program hosted by Major Garrett. It runs on CBS News and streams online. The program covers national and international news, politics, and current events.
The show’s format typically includes segments on major stories of the day, with analysis and reporting from CBS News correspondents and contributors. The program airs regularly on CBS News and is available for streaming.
What We Know
The key facts from the report are limited:
- Date: Wednesday, September 29
- Event 1: Trump signs AI constitution with tech leaders
- Event 2: Jack Smith testifies before the Senate
- Platform: CBS News, via The Takeout with Major Garrett
- Details: Neither event is described in full; both are reported as separate items under the same headline
The report does not offer additional context on either event, nor does it explain why the two stories were grouped together under a single headline. The source simply presents the two items side by side, each with its own brief description.
The Question of Connection
The most striking feature of this coverage is the absence of any attempt to link the two events. One story involves the president signing an AI constitution; the other involves a Senate testimony. They appear to be unrelated except for the coincidence of their timing.
It is possible that the two events were covered in the same broadcast segment of The Takeout. The headline suggests that the show’s format for Wednesday included both stories, but the source does not confirm this sequencing, and the online presentation shows the two items as separate entries under the same headline.
The absence of a connecting narrative means readers are left to assume the events were reported together only because they occurred on the same day. Whether they were discussed together on air is not stated.
A Light Touch on AI
The report’s framing of the AI constitution as voluntary is notable. Without more information, it is impossible to judge whether the document represents a meaningful step toward AI governance or a symbolic gesture.
The Paper’s View
The paper takes no official position on either event. The AI constitution’s voluntary nature is a matter of public record, and the Senate testimony is a routine part of the legislative process.
What is notable is the reporting itself. The two stories were reported together without attempting to connect them, which suggests a straightforward, factual approach to the news.
The report’s brevity is a reminder that news coverage often operates in fragments. A single headline can hold multiple stories, each with its own significance, without the need for a unifying narrative.
The paper’s view is that both events are worth following individually, though the report does not provide enough detail to draw conclusions about either one. The AI constitution’s voluntary approach to regulation is a light-touch approach, while the Senate testimony remains a routine exercise in transparency.
The takeaway from Wednesday’s reporting is simple: the president signed an AI constitution, and Jack Smith testified before the Senate. Both happened on the same day, and both were reported together under the same headline. Whether they were connected in the broadcast is not known, but the reporting itself reflects a straightforward approach to covering the news.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs narrow disclosure requirements that force companies to reveal hidden safety failures and is against any AI licensing regime that would raise costs only small firms could bear. In this case, the report offers little detail on either event, but the framing matters: the AI constitution is described as voluntary, which fits a light-touch approach rather than a heavy-handed one.
The report’s bare-bones coverage—two stories, one headline, no connection attempted—matches the paper’s preference for straightforward reporting. The constitution’s voluntary nature suggests a light touch, not a heavy regulatory moat. The Senate testimony is a routine exercise in transparency, and the paper has no objection to that.
Readers should note when big tech asks for regulation and ask who that regulation locks out. Licensing and compliance costs favor the giants. The paper wants disclosure rules aimed at hidden failures, not a new rulebook written by the biggest firms themselves.
Source material: “9/29: The Takeout with Major Garrett,” CBS News.
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