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Apple Unveils iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and Next-Gen AirPods

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Apple Unveils iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and Next-Gen AirPods

Apple has introduced the iPhone 16 Pro, featuring a Grade 5 titanium design with a refined micro-blasted finish, enhancing both strength and aesthetics. Titanium is known for its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, making the iPhone 16 Pro remarkably strong and lightweight. This model promises to turn heads and is available in four stunning colors, including the new Desert Titanium.

Internally, the iPhone 16 Pro boasts a 100 percent recycled aluminum thermal substructure and optimized back glass, enhancing heat dissipation. This upgrade leads to up to 20 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 15 Pro, making it ideal for activities like high-intensity gaming. The new display technology routes data under active pixels without distortion, resulting in thinner borders and more expansive 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR displays that feel great in hand.

Built with durability, the iPhone 16 Pro is splash, water, and dust resistant. It features Apple’s latest-generation Ceramic Shield, twice as tough as any other smartphone glass. The phone is also designed for Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system that provides groundbreaking privacy protections to ensure data security.

Apple also marked a milestone with the Apple Watch Series 10, featuring the most prominent and most advanced display ever in an Apple Watch. With a first-of-its-kind wide-angle OLED display, the screen is brighter and more readable from different angles. The Series 10 is Apple’s thinnest watch yet, re-engineered with innovations across its SiP, Digital Crown, speaker, front crystal, and antenna. It offers up to 75% more screen area than Series 3 and 30% more than Series 4, 5, 6, and SE, allowing users to see and interact more than ever before.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a new black titanium case packed with advanced connectivity, health, and safety features for those seeking a rugged option. It also includes the most accurate GPS in a sports watch, which is ideal for athletes and adventurers.

Apple’s audio lineup has also seen significant updates. The AirPods 4 now feature Active Noise Cancellation in an open-ear design for the first time, powered by the H2 chip and enhanced microphones. This design reduces low-frequency environmental noise, such as airplane engines and city traffic, before it reaches your ears. AirPods 4 introduces Adaptive Audio, which seamlessly blends Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation in real time, adapting to your environment. Transparency mode allows you to stay connected to your surroundings, perfect for conversations or listening to music while remaining aware.

AirPods Max, meanwhile, delivers an unparalleled listening experience with stunningly detailed, high-fidelity audio. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking provides a theater-like experience. At the same time, Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound based on the ear cushion fit, ensuring every note is clear and rich. The Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation doubles the noise reduction, allowing for deeper immersion in music or podcasts.

With these new devices, Apple continues to set the bar higher in technology, design, and user experience, offering innovations catering to various needs and preferences.

The post Apple Unveils iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and Next-Gen AirPods first appeared on The Source.

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Amazon Games CEO Claims Video Games Don’t Have Acting, Enrages Striking Video Game Actors

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By: Zachary Abbott

Increasingly, AI has created tension between corporations seeking to streamline product development and trim costs and creatives seeking protections against having their contributions entirely replaced.  In July, this came to a head in the video game industry, where members of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) who perform in video games went on strike for protection against AI encroachment.  Against this background, Christoph Hartmann, CEO of Amazon Games, caused significant controversy last week when he stated that “[in] games, we don’t really have acting” and advocated adding AI to game development. 

In an interview with IGN, a popular video game news source, Hartmann stated that he hoped that AI could lessen the lengthy development times of games because it currently takes “five years per game,” and commented further that “hopefully AI will help us to streamline processes so hand-done work will go fast.  Ideally we can get it down to three years.”  When asked about the SAG-AFTRA strike, Hartmann responded that “especially for games, we don’t really have acting . . . [t]he majority of the team sits in programming and that’s not going to go away because that’s all about innovation.”  He received heavy criticism over these comments, with people pointing to games like Baldur’s Gate 3, The Last of Us, and Cyberpunk 2077, which are extremely popular games largely because the character acting elevates them into a unique and special experience. 

In response to this criticism, an Amazon spokesperson addressed the “confusion” caused by Hartmann’s comments and explained that they were intended to reference internal development teams, and that Amazon Games typically does not have actors on staff.  Amazon stated, “[a]s with any tool, we believe generative AI needs to be used responsibly and we’re carefully exploring how we can use it to help solve the technical challenges development teams face.”   Reading Hartmann’s remarks in context, these “explorations” appear to include the localization of game dialogue in different countries.  Hartmann remarked that “what could be super helpful is localization. We’re currently localizing our game into a certain set of languages. Does it commercially make sense to have it in a language, yes or no? Having AI actually will help us.”  It should be noted that using AI to directly localize voice acting by using an AI copy of an actor’s voice to generate new dialogue in a new language would likely be a violation of the AI protections that SAG-AFTRA members are currently seeking, if the actor has not granted approval or been compensated. 

Sarah Elmaleh, the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement negotiating committee chair, stated in response to Hartmann’s remarks, stating that  “[w]hether game design, localization, programming, acting, anything – these highly specialized and professionalized workers are the ones who understand whether and how AI might be assistive or detrimental in their work. And workers should have the right and the means to advocate for the proper use of this tool.”

As game developers explore new ways to use generative AI, the livelihood of artists, actors, and other creatives remains at risk until the parties can have a productive dialogue.  Negotiation of the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement provides a framework to do this. However, Hartmann’s recent remarks and the reaction to them suggest that this dialogue is still a work in progress.

The post Amazon Games CEO Claims Video Games Don’t Have Acting, Enrages Striking Video Game Actors first appeared on The Source.

The post Amazon Games CEO Claims Video Games Don’t Have Acting, Enrages Striking Video Game Actors appeared first on The Source.

SOCIALizing: Post on ‘X’ Highlights 30 Artists Who Warned Trump Against Using Their Music Without Authorization

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It’s wild how the Trump campaign continually tries to get away with using unauthorized music from major artists. It’s almost like he or those in his campaign making those decisions to blast hit records at those rallies, just don’t care about well, permission.

Here’s a snapshot we pulled off ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) from user @sfpelosi, that shows the long, growing list of artists, bands and musicians who have warned Trump’s team and, filed a cease and desist or even gone as far as suing him. The user actually forgot the Isaac Hayes estate, that is suing Trump for millions over the unauthorized use of “Hold On, I’m Coming” but we ain’t forget.

Anyway, the caption was cute:

“Listen up babe, new playlist just dropped”

Check it out, it has 137K likes, 4K comments and 21K retweets.

Screen Shot 2024 08 30 at 2.24.19 PM

The post SOCIALizing: Post on ‘X’ Highlights 30 Artists Who Warned Trump Against Using Their Music Without Authorization first appeared on The Source.

The post SOCIALizing: Post on ‘X’ Highlights 30 Artists Who Warned Trump Against Using Their Music Without Authorization appeared first on The Source.

Trump Slanging $99 NFT Collection in Crypto Push

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Let’s get something straight. When a former president sells sneakers, bibles, t-shirts, commemorative coins and now NFTs, there’s something weird going on.

Let’s get to the NFT thing. President Donald Trump has unveiled a new set of digital trading cards, part of his ongoing effort to engage with cryptocurrency enthusiasts as he eyes the upcoming election.

The “Series 4: The America First Collection” of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) was launched on Tuesday, each card priced at $99.

$99 bucks. For a Trump NFT. During the biggest presidential election season of modern times. Grifting his supporters. Doesn’t this seem weird?

Get this, the latest collection features Trump in various poses, including one as a “sneakerhead” showcasing his line of gold shoes, another depicting him in a superhero suit labeled “SuperTrump,” and several others under the title “crypto president,” a nickname he gave himself at a tech fundraiser earlier this year.

But check this out, it gets better. Trump’s NFTs come with various perks for buyers who meet certain spending thresholds, including autographed merchandise, pieces of his debate suit, and even dinner with the former president. High-end purchasers who spend $24,750, exclusively in cryptocurrency, are promised tickets to a Trump gala in Florida and cocktails with the former president.

The new collection follows a series of previous NFT drops that Trump claims have generated over $4 million per release, although the exact portion of that revenue going to Trump remains undisclosed. Wasn’t Tory Lanez doing this?

It appears Trump’s latest NFT launch is part of a broader strategy to appeal to the crypto community, despite his previous criticism of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which he once described as a “scam against the dollar.”

If you recall, while in office, Trump was outspoken against cryptocurrency, calling it “highly volatile and based on thin air.” However, his stance has since softened, and he has made several moves to align himself with the crypto industry, including meeting with Bitcoin miners and speaking at major cryptocurrency events.

Trump’s embrace of the crypto world is seen as a bid to attract new supporters as he prepares for a tight election race against Vice President Kamala Harris. His running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who’s getting more attention these days for his trips to donut shops and his haircut, if you want to call it that, is also a pro-crypto candidate, further solidifying their ticket’s appeal to the tech-savvy electorate.

Idk. Seems, weird.

The post Trump Slanging $99 NFT Collection in Crypto Push first appeared on The Source.

The post Trump Slanging $99 NFT Collection in Crypto Push appeared first on The Source.

Exclusive: Jim Jones Plans To Dominate Social Networking With New ‘SneakyLinks’ App Partnership

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Jim Jones Plans To Dominate Social Networking With New ‘SneakyLinks’ App Partnership

Jim Jones, the iconic rapper and entrepreneur, is stepping into the tech world with a bold new venture—SneakyLinks, a social media app designed to transform how people connect online. In collaboration with investor Daniel Gamble, Jones plans to unveil this groundbreaking platform at Invest Fest, a premier event for innovators and entrepreneurs taking place in Atlanta, GA today.

SneakyLinks isn’t just another app in an already crowded market. It’s a dynamic space crafted to meet the diverse needs of its users, whether they’re seeking to expand their professional network, spark new friendships, or explore romantic connections. What sets SneakyLinks apart is its innovative mood-setting feature, which allows users to tailor their interactions based on how they’re feeling at any given moment. This makes it a versatile tool, capable of adapting to a variety of social interactions.

Jim Jones, known for his sharp business sense and cultural influence, sees SneakyLinks as more than just a tech product—he views it as a movement. “We’re not just launching an app; we’re creating a space for authentic connections,” Jones explains. His vision is to provide users with a platform that’s as flexible and multifaceted as they are, helping them engage on their own terms.

Investor Daniel Gamble, who has a proven track record of success in both tech and entertainment, has been pivotal in bringing this vision to life. Together, Jones and Gamble aim to set a new standard in social media, offering a fresh, user-centered approach to online interaction.

Tru Brand Media Founder and InvestFest panelist, Tiffany Lewis speaks highly of the app, boasting on the apps ability to completely dominate social networking. While others, such as Author and Former Editor-In-Chief of HHW, Kash Jones used one word to describe the new app “Groundbreaking!”
As they prepare to introduce SneakyLinks later today at InvestFest, Jim Jones and Daniel Gamble are not just launching a new app—they’re spearheading a revolution in how we connect in the digital age. Don’t miss the chance to be one of the first to experience the future of social networking. Download the app now at sneakylinks.com.

The post Exclusive: Jim Jones Plans To Dominate Social Networking With New ‘SneakyLinks’ App Partnership first appeared on The Source.

The post Exclusive: Jim Jones Plans To Dominate Social Networking With New ‘SneakyLinks’ App Partnership appeared first on The Source.

Donald Trump Lie Machine Strikes Again Falsely Claiming Taylor Swift Endorsed Him With Wacky AI Images

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Donald Trump really will say anything. The former “President” recently took to his Truth Social account, you know the knock off Twitter which is now called “X” – all funny if you ask us – to some weird AF AI-generated images that get this, falsely claim that Taylor Swift has endorsed him for president. Like why, dude?

It went down on socials Sunday night where he posted several screenshots from X depicting women in “Swifties for Trump” shirts. Listen we don’t doubt there are a great many Swifties who are pro Trump but last we check Taylor Swift, herself is not but FTR she has yet to endorse anyone. 

Anyway, many of the images appear to be manipulated, including one screenshot of a satirical article claiming Swifties turned to Trump after her shows in Vienna were canceled due to a thwarted terrorist plot. Another altered image shows Swift photoshopped as Uncle Sam with the message: 

“Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.”

Trump captioned the post with a simple, “I accept!”

Obviously this is a load of bull you know what.

Again, Taylor Swift has not endorsed any candidate for the 2024 presidential election. 

The pop diva did endorse Joe Biden in 2020 and sharply criticized Trump that year for his response to the George Floyd protests. Swift tweeted, “After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November.”

As the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to accept the party’s nomination. There will be plenty of celebs on the stage but the DNC said they won’t overdo it with big names this time around to remain more relatable.

One thing is for sure, Donald, lied about Taylor. Period. 

The post Donald Trump Lie Machine Strikes Again Falsely Claiming Taylor Swift Endorsed Him With Wacky AI Images first appeared on The Source.

The post Donald Trump Lie Machine Strikes Again Falsely Claiming Taylor Swift Endorsed Him With Wacky AI Images appeared first on The Source.

Actors Strike To Stop AI Takeover in Video Games

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Actors Strike To Stop AI Takeover in Video Games

By: Zachary Abbott

With the growth of AI in nearly every industry, workers have begun taking up arms to protect their jobs from the encroachment of AI replacements.   In 2023, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers of Guild of America (WGA) both went on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMTP) after strikes that were some of the longest held in the film and TV industry, SAG-AFTRA and the WGA were able to obtain protections for their members against use of AI without consent or compensation. 

This dispute has arisen between video game developers and the actors who provide the voices and images for their video game characters.  Effective July 26th, Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) members who perform in video games have gone on strike against video game companies signed onto the Interactive Media Agreement.  After a year and a half of negotiations over the Interactive Media Agreement, the video game companies still refuse to affirm outright that video game voice actors will be granted rights over how their voice, image, and work are used in training AI or creating AI-generated copies. 

These negotiations began in October 2022, and while agreement has been reached on most other important points, AI protections have split the two sides.  SAG-AFTRA asks that any game looking to employ SAG-AFTRA talent be signed onto the new Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement and the Interim Interactive Media Agreement or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement.  These agreements aim to give SAG-AFTRA members the right of consent to use their faces, voices, and bodies by AI, which are rights that performers in film and TV already have.  Without these protections, video game companies could use AI to replicate performers without compensation or consent and would put them out of work.  These Agreements force video game companies to be upfront about their intentions and obtain the consent of actors they seek to replicate through AI. 

The strike was authorized on September 24th, 2023, with a 98.32% yes vote. Similar strikes in the industry have benefitted entertainers and creatives, so SAG-AFTRA feels confident that it can ultimately achieve the same results. That said, the strike will be an uphill battle, with SAG-AFTRA members striking against the video game industry titans, including divisions of Activision, EA, Insomniac, Warner Brothers, and Disney.

The post Actors Strike To Stop AI Takeover in Video Games first appeared on The Source.

The post Actors Strike To Stop AI Takeover in Video Games appeared first on The Source.

Don Lemon Sues Elon Musk For Allegedly Refusing To Pay Him For Twitter Deal

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Don Lemon and Elon Musk’s working relationship certainly soured quickly after their interview for their media partnership on Twitter went less than stellar. After the former’s show on the social media platform was swiftly canceled after just this one episode, it seems like he wants to seek even more retribution for this breakdown. Moreover, the journalist reportedly filed a lawsuit against the tech tycoon on Thursday (August 1), according to supposed court documents reportedly obtained by TMZ. Specifically, Lemon claims that Musk refused to honor his promise to pay him for this partnership after they fell out following their interview.

Furthermore, Don Lemon specifically claims that Elon Musk verbally promised to pay him $1.5 million a year for making content for Twitter, given that he needed a boost in advertisers after a dip in revenue. He also alleges that Musk promised him a share of the advertising revenue generated by the posts, as well as other monetary incentives corresponding to his growth and popularity on the social media platform. As such, Don believes that the Tesla magnate is breaking the law by walking back on this arrangement, although he admitted that there isn’t a written contract in place concerning these terms.

Read More: Candace Owens Tells Don Lemon His Relationship Is A Sin

Don Lemon Sues Elon Musk

Still, Don Lemon maintains that Elon Musk gave him his confident assurance about this payment structure and other aspects via a phone call. In fact, he also claimed that Musk promised to continue to support him financially even if he didn’t like the content that he brought to the table. Don’s first project with Twitter was the Elon interview, and his responses to drug use and politics questions made the writing on the wall clear. But he claims that he had already been pressured to announce this partnership at the CES Vegas tech conference and risked losing it if he didn’t go to the conference along with Twitter’s CEO Linda Yaccarino.

“X’s executives used Don to prop up their advertising sales pitch, then canceled their partnership and dragged Don’s name through the mud,” Don Lemon’s lawyer Carney Shegerian remarked concerning the lawsuit alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation, name and likeness misappropriation, breach of contract, and other accusations for which he seeks unspecified damages. “His approach was basically just ‘CNN, but on social media,’ which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying,” Elon Musk had written of Lemon. “And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity. All this said, Lemon/Zucker are of course welcome to build their viewership on this platform along with everyone else.”

Read More: Elon Musk Commits Unfathomable Amounts Of Money To Help Elect Donald Trump

[via]

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Elon Musk Retweets Digitally Altered and Misleading Kamala Harris Campaign Ad Resulting in Swift Backlash 

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Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, SpaceX and most relevantly the social media platform X (Formerly Twitter) faced instant backlash after retweeting an altered Kamala Harris campaign ad without labeling it as misleading. Full stop, how does the owner of one of the biggest social platforms just take part in clear violations of the platform’s own rules? Not to mention he has 191 million followers, the very thought of this level of misinformation is appalling. 

Get this, the retweeted video used segments from a recent Harris campaign video but replaced the audio with a voiceover impersonating Harris, making controversial statements about President Joe Biden’s senility and referring to herself as an incompetent candidate. Feels like a parody, but so what, it’s ridiculous that he would retweet this and shows he and others have no bottom in the lengths they will go to help elect Donald Trump. 

And onto the racism. The voiceover also described Harris as “the ultimate diversity hire” and accused her of “trying to sound Black.”

So you know the facts about the original campaign video, it featured Harris asking, “What kind of country do we want to live in?” before transitioning into Beyoncé’s song “Freedom.” The altered version omitted Beyoncé and included derogatory comments, which were widely condemned.

In response, Harris campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg criticized Musk and former President Donald Trump, stating:

“We believe the American people want the real freedom, opportunity, and security Vice President Harris is offering; not the fake, manipulated lies of Elon Musk and Donald Trump.”

The insensitive and misleading video was initially posted by a YouTube account named “Mr Reagan,” labeled as a parody. However, it is unclear if the video utilized artificial intelligence. Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, suggested the altered content might be considered a deepfake, indicating a trend of using such deceptive tactics for trolling rather than legitimate misinformation.

Senator Amy Klobuchar accused Musk of violating X’s policy on misleading content, tweeting, “If @elonmusk and X let this go and don’t label it as altered AI content, they will not only be violating X’s own rules, they’ll be unleashing an entire election season of fake AI voice and image-altered content with no limits, regardless of party.”

X’s own hypocritical policy states that users may not share synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media intended to deceive or confuse people. Despite this, Musk’s retweet had garnered significant attention, with 119.9 million views as of Sunday afternoon.

Just tomfoolery by Elon Musk. Willing to bet if someone retweeted an altered Trump campaign Ad, he’d ban their account for life and hold a press conference stating misinformation will not be tolerated. 

The post Elon Musk Retweets Digitally Altered and Misleading Kamala Harris Campaign Ad Resulting in Swift Backlash  first appeared on The Source.

The post Elon Musk Retweets Digitally Altered and Misleading Kamala Harris Campaign Ad Resulting in Swift Backlash  appeared first on The Source.

Elon Musk Retweets Digitally Altered and Misleading Kamala Harris Campaign Ad Resulting in Swift Backlash 

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Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, SpaceX and most relevantly the social media platform X (Formerly Twitter) faced instant backlash after retweeting an altered Kamala Harris campaign ad without labeling it as misleading. Full stop, how does the owner of one of the biggest social platforms just take part in clear violations of the platform’s own rules? Not to mention he has 191 million followers, the very thought of this level of misinformation is appalling. 

Get this, the retweeted video used segments from a recent Harris campaign video but replaced the audio with a voiceover impersonating Harris, making controversial statements about President Joe Biden’s senility and referring to herself as an incompetent candidate. Feels like a parody, but so what, it’s ridiculous that he would retweet this and shows he and others have no bottom in the lengths they will go to help elect Donald Trump. 

And onto the racism. The voiceover also described Harris as “the ultimate diversity hire” and accused her of “trying to sound Black.”

So you know the facts about the original campaign video, it featured Harris asking, “What kind of country do we want to live in?” before transitioning into Beyoncé’s song “Freedom.” The altered version omitted Beyoncé and included derogatory comments, which were widely condemned.

In response, Harris campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg criticized Musk and former President Donald Trump, stating:

“We believe the American people want the real freedom, opportunity, and security Vice President Harris is offering; not the fake, manipulated lies of Elon Musk and Donald Trump.”

The insensitive and misleading video was initially posted by a YouTube account named “Mr Reagan,” labeled as a parody. However, it is unclear if the video utilized artificial intelligence. Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, suggested the altered content might be considered a deepfake, indicating a trend of using such deceptive tactics for trolling rather than legitimate misinformation.

Senator Amy Klobuchar accused Musk of violating X’s policy on misleading content, tweeting, “If @elonmusk and X let this go and don’t label it as altered AI content, they will not only be violating X’s own rules, they’ll be unleashing an entire election season of fake AI voice and image-altered content with no limits, regardless of party.”

X’s own hypocritical policy states that users may not share synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media intended to deceive or confuse people. Despite this, Musk’s retweet had garnered significant attention, with 119.9 million views as of Sunday afternoon.

Just tomfoolery by Elon Musk. Willing to bet if someone retweeted an altered Trump campaign Ad, he’d ban their account for life and hold a press conference stating misinformation will not be tolerated. 

The post Elon Musk Retweets Digitally Altered and Misleading Kamala Harris Campaign Ad Resulting in Swift Backlash  first appeared on The Source.

The post Elon Musk Retweets Digitally Altered and Misleading Kamala Harris Campaign Ad Resulting in Swift Backlash  appeared first on The Source.