The Trump administration has shifted its focus from meeting with Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, to Tom Brown, his co-founder. According to insiders, Brown is more approachable and effective in discussions regarding the re-release of the Claude Fable 5 AI model.

Despite these changes, export controls remain a hurdle for Anthropic. The National Security Agency’s assessment that guardrails can be bypassed has kept the company's powerful models offline since June 12th. However, recent calls between the administration and Anthropic suggest progress is being made.

The conversations have ranged from high-level discussions to technical exchanges aimed at finding a solution that could lift export controls. Among the questions raised by lawmakers are specific criteria for determining when public access can be restored.

Meanwhile, the White House has been busy dealing with an unrelated issue: algae blooms in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool following its renovation. The administration’s response includes fencing off the area and instructing National Guard members to detain anyone touching the water or sealant flaps.