How A.I. Is Propping Up the Economy, and a Surge of ‘Swatting’ on Campus

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Headlines – August 27, 2025

Episode Title: How A.I. Is Propping Up the Economy, and a Surge of ‘Swatting’ on Campus
Host: Tracy Mumford (The New York Times)
Guests: Alex Trevelly (Times Economics Correspondent), Helen Oyang (Physician and Times Magazine Contributor)

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Overview

This episode covers two major news themes:

• The profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the US economy, illustrated by Nvidia's growing dominance and the landscape of corporate investments.
• A disturbing wave of “swatting” hoaxes on college campuses, and a look at creative solutions for men’s engagement with healthcare.

Additional topics include the new US tariffs on Indian goods, a brewing controversy in FEMA, and pop culture buzz around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. AI’s Economic Ripple: Nvidia and the Sway of Big Tech

Timestamps: 00:36–04:20

• Nvidia and AI Boom:

  • Nvidia, the company supplying chips at the heart of AI, is on the verge of an anticipated blockbuster earnings report.
  • The AI sector now props up nearly 10% of the S&P 500’s value, with 9 of the top 10 companies doubling down on AI.
  • “A big chunk of the investment into the technology has gone into massive infrastructure projects, things like new data centers, semiconductor factories, and electric power facilities.” (Tracy Mumford, 01:23)

• Investment Dynamics:

  • Spending on US data centers will surpass that on traditional office buildings this year.
  • These projects temporarily generate thousands of jobs.
  • However, AI products (e.g., chatbots) aren’t yet realizing significant profits, despite widespread corporate adoption.
  • “Most companies say they now use AI to some extent, they also say it has still had no significant impact on their bottom line.” (Tracy Mumford, 02:14)

• Industry Risks and Political Maneuvering:

  • Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO) cautions against hype:
    “The AI industry is, quote, overexcited and … some companies [are expected] to lose a lot of money.” (Tracy Mumford, paraphrased Altman, 03:08)
  • Silicon Valley titans are mobilizing politically:
    • Launching pro-AI super PACs to the tune of $200 million to oust unsupportive politicians.
    • This follows the model of the successful pro-cryptocurrency lobbying in previous Congressional elections.

• Broader Questions:

  • Ongoing concerns include job displacement from AI, escalating energy and water use from data centers, and the need for eventual profitability.

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2. Economic Fallout: New US Tariffs on Indian Goods

Timestamps: 04:20–04:46

• Tariff Details and Consumer Impact:
  • The Trump administration implements 50% tariffs on Indian imports, making India one of the most heavily taxed trading partners.
  • Motivated by India’s purchase of Russian oil.
  • “One of the world’s big producers has essentially just been pushed out of the game of selling to America … That’s really the tip of the iceberg.” (Alex Trevelly, 04:20)
  • Expected price hikes for US consumers as supply runs out, affecting everything from textiles and furniture to electronics and eventually pharmaceuticals.

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3. FEMA in Turmoil: Internal Dissent and Suspensions

Timestamps: 04:46–05:24

• Open Letter and Fallout:
  • About 30 FEMA employees suspended after warning that the agency’s disaster response capacity is being gutted.
  • Letter aligns with Hurricane Katrina’s 20th anniversary, reflecting fears of repeating past failures.
  • Over 180 anonymous staff backed the warning, citing fear of retaliation.
  • The agency has not publicly explained the suspensions.

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4. Swatting Scare on US Campuses

Timestamps: 05:24–07:31

• Nationwide Hoaxes Cause Havoc:

  • Multiple universities hit by false active shooter reports, causing panic and heavy police response.
  • “Reports have happened at Iowa State, the University of Arkansas, the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. There were at least six on Monday, and there were several more yesterday.” (Tracy Mumford, 06:13)
  • The FBI notes a surge in swatting cases.

• Motives and Dangers:

  • Trivial motives (prank distractions) and malicious serial offenders (“serial swatters”).
  • “While the reports are fake, the terror that they can create on campus is real … the police response can create its own risks.” (Tracy Mumford, 06:41)
  • Rare cases of police firing weapons in response.
  • Risk of community desensitization:
    • “If this happens 10 more times, on the 10th time, [police will] be slower … the threat might be taken with a little less seriousness.” (Villanova student, quoted by Tracy Mumford, 07:19)

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5. Men and the Healthcare Gap

Timestamps: 07:31–09:37

• Chronic Underuse of Healthcare by Men:

  • As men stop seeing pediatricians, most disengage almost entirely from the healthcare system.
  • “A lot of men just don’t go to the doctor … they often only go in once they’re facing serious issues, at which point treatment is harder and outcomes are worse.” (Tracy Mumford, 07:11)

• Emergency Room Perspective:

  • Dr. Helen Oyang describes encountering advanced, preventable illnesses:
    • “I often see patients when they have advanced disease … you look at their medical charts, they’re almost completely blank because they haven’t seen a doctor in years.” (Helen Oyang, 07:38)

• Institutional and Cultural Barriers:

  • Women tend to have routine gynecological visits; men lack such regular touchpoints.
  • Masculinity norms (reluctance to “ask for help”) contribute.

• Innovative Clinic Models:

  • The Cutler Center near Cleveland offers a sporty, relaxed clinic environment (pool tables, TVs, staff in athletic wear).
  • Doctors take a friendly, informal approach:
    • “He made jokes while he was doing prostate exams and biopsies … patients were treating the doctors more like their friends.” (Helen Oyang, 08:30)
  • The “Joes”: Non-clinical staff help with scheduling, life logistics, and motivation.
    • “They’ll text you on Mother’s Day if you forget. … help you write a first-time resume.” (Helen Oyang, 08:53)

• Early Results:

  • Cutler Center men are 40% more likely to attend annual visits; 35% more likely to have controlled blood sugar.
  • Rising trends in men calling to make their own appointments.
  • “When we first started, a lot of wives would call. Now more guys are calling themselves.” (Clinic staffer, quoted by Tracy Mumford, 09:28)

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6. Pop Culture Moment: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Engagement

Timestamps: 09:37–11:00

• Major Celebrity Announcement:
  • Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce engaged—confirmed via a “highly produced” Instagram post.
  • Swift’s caption: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” (Tracy Mumford, 10:40)
  • Engagement has pervasive media coverage—Google search even triggers digital confetti.
  • Reactions from entire podcast staff, tongue-in-cheek:
    • “Taylor, I need answers.” (Helen Oyang, joking, 10:58)
    • “Did you hear they’re getting married?” (Saatva Announcer, 10:47)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the AI boom:
  “Most companies say they now use AI to some extent, they also say it has still had no significant impact on their bottom line.”
  —Tracy Mumford (02:14)

• On economic fallout from tariffs:
  “One of the world’s big producers has essentially just been pushed out of the game of selling to America … that’s really the tip of the iceberg.”
  —Alex Trevelly (04:20)

• On swatting’s potential consequences:
  “If this happens 10 more times … the threat might be taken with a little less seriousness.”
  —Villanova University student, quoted by Tracy Mumford (07:19)

• On healthcare disengagement:
  “I often see patients when they have advanced disease … they haven’t seen a doctor in years.”
  —Helen Oyang (07:38)

• On the innovative men’s clinic experience:
  “He made jokes while he was doing prostate exams and biopsies. You could tell the patients were treating the doctors more like friends.”
  —Helen Oyang (08:30)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• AI and Nvidia’s Economic Impact: 00:36–04:20
• Tariffs on Indian Goods: 04:20–04:46
• FEMA Employee Suspensions: 04:46–05:24
• Swatting Hoaxes on Campus: 05:24–07:31
• Men and Healthcare: 07:31–09:37
• Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Engagement: 09:37–11:00

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This episode of The Headlines blends hard economic and political reporting with pressing social issues and lighter pop culture tidbits, staying true to The New York Times’ mission to inform and engage listeners with clarity and context.

Transcript

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[Tracy Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today is Wednesday, August 27th. Here's what we're covering last night, the pop star Taylor Swift and the football tight end Travis Kelsey. I'm not going to do that. Okay, here we go for real this time. Here's what we're covering today. The world's most valuable company, the chip maker Nvidia, is set to release its earnings report. Investors are expecting it to be big. The question is, how big? As it's become increasingly clear that spending on artificial intelligence is helping to prop up the entire US economy, Nvidia, whose chips are the backbone of AI tech, now accounts for almost 10% of the value of the entire S&P 500. And nine of the top 10 most valuable companies right now are tech companies that have gone all in on AI. A big chunk of the investment into the technology has gone into massive infrastructure projects, things like new data centers, semiconductor factories, and electric power facilities. This year, for example, there will be more money spent on those data centers than on traditional office buildings in the US and while the projects are under construction, they can employ thousands of electricians, engineers and other workers. But when it comes to the AI tech itself, the chatbots, etc. That's not actually a big moneymaker. Yet while most companies say they now use AI to some extent, they also say it has still had no significant impact on their bottom line. This can be common with new tech developments, where there are huge upfront investments, sometimes for years, before a real payoff with AI. Experts say that the companies hyping up the tech will eventually need to generate enormous profits to make up for this current spending spree. Earlier this month, though, one of the industry's most prominent figures, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, put some people on edge when he said the AI industry is, quote, overexcited and that he expects some companies to lose a lot of Money. Meanwhile, the AI industry is gearing up for a political fight. Metta, OpenAI and other Silicon Valley giants have just pledged up to $200 million to two new super PACs designed to force out politicians who aren't supportive enough of the technology. The pro AI packs, which are the first of their kind, are being launched as the companies are facing increasingly urgent questions about the impact of AI. That includes everything from whether the tech might eventually cause widespread unemployment or to concerns over utility costs skyrocketing as data centers gobble up electricity and water. The new groups are modeled in part on a cryptocurrency pack that successfully backed some pro crypto congressional candidates in last year's elections. This year, after those candidates took office, Congress passed a bill that was widely seen as friendly to the crypto industry. Now two updates on the Trump administration. As of 12:01 this morning, the dramatic 50% tariffs on goods from India have kicked in. President Trump pushed the levies in part as punishment for India buying Russian oil. And now the country is up there with Brazil in facing the highest tariff rate of any US Trading partner. Times economics correspondent Alex Trevelly says that's expected to slow India's economy. And for Americans, they will likely start to notice the effect of the tariffs in the next few months as US Companies run out of the products they've stockpiled.

[Alex Trevelly]

One of the world's big producers has essentially just been pushed out of the game of selling to America stuff like clothes, fabric, furniture, gems, also industrial chemicals, lots of electrical equipment, and that's really the tip of the iceberg. Soon, pharmaceuticals from India, electronics might join the list. Also, those things are going to have to become more expensive, and that's going to be felt by the American consumer.

[Tracy Mumford]

And the Federal Emergency Management Agency has suspended about 30 employees after they signed an open letter warning that the administration is gutting the agency's ability to respond to natural disasters. The letter was timed to the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and it accused the White House of undoing efforts that Congress took to strengthen the nation's disaster response in the wake of the deadly storm. They said they hoped their warning would come in time to prevent, quote, another national catastrophe. More than 180 FEMA staffers backed the letter, though most stayed anonymous since they were worried about retaliation. The agency did not provide a reason for the suspensions. In the past week, students and staff at about a dozen colleges across the US have been sent scrambling in fear after fake reports of of active shooters on campus. The terrifying moments of Villanova University when a hoax led to a swarm of police There was no shooter here on campus. Still, it sent fear and chaos across. Reports have happened at Iowa State, the University of Arkansas, the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. There were at least six on Monday, and there were several more yesterday. The FBI said it's been seeing an uptick in this kind of hoax called swatting. Experts say there can be all kinds of motives behind this. Sometimes students call them in as a distraction, hoping to disrupt a big exam or something. There are also serial swatters out there who are basically just trying to cause chaos. And while the reports are fake, the terror that they can create on campus is real. There's an emotional toll for the people who think they're in danger. And in rare cases, the police response can create its own risks. An expert who tracks swatting at schools says there were at least two incidents in past years where responding officers fired their weapons. One student at Villanova University, which has had multiple fake reports in recent days, told the Times he was worried it would turn into a boy who cried wolf situation for the police, saying, quote, I imagine if this happens 10 more times, on the 10th time, they're going to be slower. And each time I imagine the threat might be taken with a little less seriousness. In the US Healthcare system, there is a well documented and stubborn trend. A lot of men just don't go to the doctor. Research has shown that once they age out of seeing a pediatrician, they largely just fall off the map. And they often only go in once they're facing serious issues, at which point treatment is harder and outcomes are worse.

[Helen Oyang]

This is a problem I see all the time in emergency room where I work. As a doctor. I often see patients when they have advanced disease, so they might have cancer that spread everywhere or I've had a patient come in with a massive heart attack. And when you look at their medical charts, they're almost completely blank because they haven't seen a doctor in years.

[Tracy Mumford]

Helen Oyang is a practicing physician and a contributor to the Times Magazine. In covering the issue, she says there are a lot of factors at play. Some involve how the system is set up. Unlike women, who tend to go see a gynecologist regularly, men have no clear equivalent. Other factors are cultural. Some men may feel the pressure of stereotypes about masculinity, like toughing it out, not asking for help. But Helen says that now a handful of providers around the US Are experimenting with how to encourage men to seek regular care, including the Cutler center outside Cleveland.

[Helen Oyang]

It was different from any clinic that I've ever visited before. There were pool tables and foosball tables and giant screen televisions. The medical assistants were dressed in athletic wear. I shadowed one doctor who was a urologist. He was very casual with his patients. He made jokes while he was doing prostate exams and biopsies. You can tell that the patients were treating the doctors more like their friends than the usual patient doctor interaction. Another fascinating aspect of the center is the support team, which they call the Joes. They act as navigators for annoying healthcare stuff like making appointments and scheduling tests, but they also help with life stuff. They'll text you on Mother's Day if you forget. They'll help you find a real estate broker if you need one, or help you write a first time resume. I think at the core they're trying to make healthcare fun and easy and hope that that will get men to have an ongoing relationship with the clinic. That will get men to go and keep up with appointments and tests, everything they're supposed to be doing.

[Tracy Mumford]

Helen says the center is fully aware that if what they're doing doesn't produce results, then it's kind of just a superficial experiment in giving a clinic sports bar vibes. But there are some early signs it's working. Cutler patients are 40% more likely to have attended a doctor's visit in the last year and 35% more likely to have well controlled blood sugar, a sign that their approach could be translating to better health outcomes. One of the staff there said she'd also noticed a shift in men taking ownership of their visits, saying, quote, when we first started, a lot of wives would call. Now more guys are calling themselves. And finally, for real this time, the pop star Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce announced their engagement yesterday in a highly produced post on Instagram. Because if it's not on Instagram, did it even happen? The couple wrote, quote, your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married, Both famous in their own right. Ever since Swift and Kelce got together roughly two years ago, their relationship has become one of the most scrutinized, gossiped about, and obsessed over.

[Saatva Announcer]

Did you hear they're getting married?

[Tracy Mumford]

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey. Okay, we have some details about Taylor Swift's engagement.

[Helen Oyang]

Taylor, I need answers.

[Tracy Mumford]

You cannot even escape this news on Google today. If you search for Taylor Swift, a bunch of confetti just fills the screen. Those are the headlines today on the Daily More on President Trump's battle with the Federal Reserve. You can listen to that in the New York Times app or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.