A public transport nonprofit supporting LA mayoral candidate Nithya Raman is advocating for removing palm trees from Los Angeles due to their alleged water consumption and wildfire risks. Meanwhile, the article discusses AI's impact on American farms, noting that about 23% of U.S. farmers use AI despite concerns raised by critics like Elizabeth Warren. The piece then pivots to address broader fears over AI development, reflecting on recent resignations and safety concerns within AI research companies.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Streets for All, a "public transport nonprofit" backing socialist Nithya Raman in LA's mayoral election, launched a social media campaign arguing that palm trees are a scam. They claim these iconic trees allegedly "guzzle" water and pose wildfire risks while providing little shade, suggesting they should be replaced with other tree species like sycamores. Los Angeles has a history of facing issues related to shade provision for residents, and critics argue the city would do better to focus on ensuring its reservoirs are full rather than focusing on tree types.
Written for “AI In Agriculture And Space Exploration” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.45 for article 14696 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-17
Streets for All, a “public transport nonprofit” backing socialist Nithya Raman in LA’s mayoral election, has declared war on an iconic fixture of the Los Angeles skyline, with a new social media campaign arguing: Palm trees are a scam.
asserted
trees → back → campaign
They claim that since palms (see: beautiful, majestic, a towering example of why this city is worth living in despite its scammy nonprofits) allegedly “guzzle” water and pose a wildfire risk — while also providing little by way of shade — they should be replaced en masse with other trees like sycamores (see: basic, found anywhere, not on our license plates).
uncertain
they → claim → plates
It’s worth noting LA’s history of providing “shade” to residents hasn’t gone so well (Google: “La Sombrita”), and a city genuinely concerned about wildfires would put water in its reservoirs, but hey: at least when our houses burn down under Mayor Nithya… the property values will be way lower when neighborhoods are full of Whomping Willows or whatever.
asserted
neighborhoods → ’ → Willows
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Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
asserted
Report → start → news
The Doomer Mill
by Evan Milenko, Writer
Jacob Coxon, a researcher from Anthropic, resigned, citing AI development’s current pace possibly resulting in the killing of all humans.
uncertain
pace → resign → humans
Don’t worry though, Evan Hubinger, the current alignment lead at Anthropic responded by… agreeing.
asserted
Hubinger → worry → Anthropic
This has led to various sensible takes on the matter ranging from “my toddler’s foam hammer is more dangerous than AI” to “those developing AI need to be strung up.”
asserted
those → lead → AI
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Clearly, I also am part of the speculative peanut gallery, powerless as AI researchers tell me my family is going to die — which is really no fun.
asserted
which → download → me
Personally, I think powerful AI is probably dangerous, but development likely can’t be stopped, and I don’t trust people who want superintelligent AI only in the hands of an elite few.
asserted
who → think → few
Basically, idk man, what is anyone supposed to say?
asserted
anyone → suppose → what
I’m just going to keep staying up vibecoding on Astra in a totally nonthreatening manner so that, if the AI turns rogue, it comes for me last.
asserted
it → go → me
It ain’t much but it’s honest work
asserted
it → ai → ?
by Max Weiner, VP, Operations
Per McKinsey, roughly 23% of American farmers use AI to run their farms, which is shocking, since Elizabeth Warren has reliably informed me AI is an evil billionaire plot to exacerbate wealth inequality and murder the working class, or whatever.
asserted
AI → use → class
Farmers are in a tough spot, squeezed by Big Ag on inputs like seeds and fertilizer, and rising costs for labor, land, and machinery (a new John Deere combine can run a $1M bill) — problems which obviously have nothing to do with AI.
asserted
which → squeeze → AI
Before the internet, my grandfather worked on distributing information to rural America: as a University of Nebraska county extension agent, he brought research to family farms.
asserted
he → work → farms
Congress established the extension system in 1914, back when Congress did things.
asserted
Congress → establish → things
Now, getting intelligence to farmers requires a national argument about whether computers are evil.
asserted
computers → get → argument
They’re not.
asserted
They → ’re → ?
And since AI works for farmers, maybe Congress can stop sitting on its hands and fund free Astra for Agriculture™.
asserted
Congress → work → Agriculture
Pirate Wires offers the wildest stories in technology, politics and culture.
asserted
Wires → offer → technology
The Aporia
