WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) appeared on CNN News Central to call out Republicans for refusing to rein in AI and highlight Democrats’ fight to lower costs for working people. Below are excerpts of the conversation.

On Republicans Refusing to Put Guardrails on AI:

“We should be here in DC — where I am today — but there are no Republicans around working on this very issue.

“We want to be the leaders in this technology, but we want it to benefit the American people. We want to protect jobs, and protect our kids, and develop a way to harness AI for good, and protect the American people from harm.

“What we have is a president who is out there berating Americans opposed to data centers in their communities, saying they are ‘backwards’ and will be ‘poor’ if they don’t get on board. Inviting in — not regulation and outside oversight over this powerful technology with all its benefits but its very real threats — instead, bringing in the heads of these companies and saying, ‘Okay guys, you just police yourselves. We’re sure that will work out fine.’ Meanwhile, the Trump family continues to enrich itself by investing in data centers and AI.

“So, we have a total lack of addressing this very real concern of the American people by the president and the Republican Party.”

On GOP Cancelling Votes Instead of Finding Solutions for Americans:

“Again, we want to be the leaders in this. But there are ways as we are working with experts and we should be here working on these solutions to answer what the companies say they want: outside regulation, outside audits of what they’re doing. That’s not just people they hire who work within their companies, but let’s have people outside evaluating what happened. We have set up agencies for this kind of review in transportation, in financial services, and this is something we need to come together as Americans to address.

“Meanwhile, Mike Johnson’s response was to send us home early, rather than tackling this very key issue that Americans are worried about. I hear about it everywhere I go in my district and everywhere I go in this country.”

On Pete Hegseth’s Incompetence:

“I am extremely concerned about where Secretary Hegseth is taking our military as we are at war in Iran — a war that the president and the secretary recklessly put us into without making the case to the American people. Without coming to Congress as required.

“Democrats three times have put forward War Powers Resolutions asking them to stop this war, to come and make sense of this for people.

“And what are we seeing? We are seeing them covering up casualties of our service members. What a disgrace for the secretary of defense to cover up those casualties. Then we are seeing the impacts of this war on Americans — whether it’s at the gas pump or the cost of diesel that is driving our farmers into debt. They are not sure if they’re going to be able to afford to plant because of this record high cost of diesel. And all of this is going to come home in continued rising prices of groceries and other goods that American families are already struggling to purchase.

“So, to have the secretary try and make this into some ‘it’s their appearance and their testosterone levels that count.’ It is their military readiness. It’s making sure we have enough munitions. It is having a clear mission that is defined and aligns with our national security needs. None of that is being met by this secretary and this president.”

On Democrats’ Fight for an Affordable America:

“We keep talking to the American people and listening to them. Our message is very clear: We see your family, and we’re going to fight for you. We’re going to fight to lower the cost of housing and groceries and gas. We’re going to fight to make sure that when you need healthcare, you can afford it and you can get it when and where you need it. And then we’re going to make sure that we are holding the crooks accountable, because [the] corruption we are seeing in this Republican Party has a real cost for the American taxpayers.

“It’s time to put the American people first. Put their priorities first. Put their voices back in these halls, here in the Capitol.

“We have great candidates who are connected to their communities, who understand how hard it is for people to get a foothold, never mind have success, in this economy.

“The terms I hear are ‘I’m drowning. I’m barely able to keep my head above water. I can’t keep treading water.’ This is not how we build security for American families… And when we win the majority, this is how we’re going to govern: with the American people front and center.”

Watch the full interview, HERE.

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