AXIOS (Maria Curi) - AI's populist moment
AI has hit the campaign trail, with candidates in both parties casting it as a fight over jobs and corporate power. Why it matters: AI is emerging as a stand-in for kitchen-table concerns like paychecks, power bills and the future of the economy. - Democrats and Republicans at the state level are testing whether anti-Big Tech messaging can compete with an industry pouring billions into AI infrastructure and political influence. Driving the news: Several Democrats this cycle are echoing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and his critique of concentrated tech power. - Some Republicans are adopting their own version, focusing on workforce disruption, energy costs and anger over tech companies. Between the lines: The rhetoric may differ, but the…