89% of global VC in Q1 2026 went to AI.
Q1 alone nearly matched the prior 5 quarters of AI deal value combined.
I put together the full Q2 2026 State of AI and Autonomous Economy read - funding, M&A, IPO pipeline, frontier model benchmarks, enterprise adoption - and presented it live at Boston and NY @Techweek_ , as well as @TOtechweek.
New Agentic episode. The data is wild.
Full episode link in replies.
California leads the nation in manufacturing, and maintaining that leadership requires policies that encourage investment and growth. That is why the Legislature and Governor Newsom rightly created a CEQA exemption to help accelerate advanced manufacturing projects.
Unfortunately, SB 954 would effectively gut that exemption by imposing complex approvals and unattainable conditions on advanced manufacturing projects, leaving virtually no projects eligible for CEQA streamlining.
This is not just about large manufacturing facilities. Supply chain entities would also be excluded, as would expansions and renovations to existing manufacturing sites, even when those projects are designed to upgrade equipment and processes to meet California’s climate, energy, and environmental goals.
Given California's efforts to lead in manufacturing innovation and environmental progress, this policy doesn't make sense. It will drive up costs, slow project timelines, and discourage investment in the state.
CMTA encourages lawmakers to say NO to SB 954 and protect California's leadership in advanced manufacturing.
For shits and giggles, I decided to see just how hard it would be to replace my birth certificate, Social Security card, AND my marriage license, since Democrats think women are too stupid to figure it out.
Here's how it went:
1. Birth certificate: Contacted the health department of the county where I was born. They OVERNIGHTED a certified copy to me the next day - total cost, $14.
2. SS Card: Contacted Social Security on their site. They asked if I was sure I needed the card, since I 'won't likely be asked for it.' I went ahead and got it - took five business days to arrive - total cost, $0.
3. Marriage License: Went to the 'vital docs' site of the county where we were hitched. Filled everything out online, arrived in three days - total cost, $5.
It cost less than $20 to obtain all three certified/legal documents, and it took less than five business days to receive them. Note: if I had lived where I was born or married, it would have been a day. Tops.
Anyone telling you this is too hard or unfair is lying and hiding the real reason they want to stop Voter ID.
I know you guys knew that already... lol
Why does the Governor keep vetoing this down? He obviously doesn't value the role manufacturing plays in our states economy. But he does value Hollywood. 🤔
Manufacturing investment is key to keeping jobs and innovation in California.
Lance Hastings, President & CEO of CMTA, is calling on policymakers to reinstate the Manufacturing Investment Credit in a new op-ed in @sacbee_news.
Read the full piece: https://t.co/Cqx9C3a0JE
Happy Rosie the Riveter Day!
From the shop floor to the boardroom, women are driving the future of manufacturing forward.
Who are the Modern Day Rosies in your life? Tag them and help us celebrate their impact.
#WomeninMFG#Manufacturing#RosietheRiveter#WomensHistoryMonth
🚨 BREAKING: @Sephora joins F1 Academy as an Official Partner.
Representing Sephora on track, Spanish driver Natalia Granada will make her debut on the F1 Academy grid. 👊
#F1ACADEMY
In last week's State of the U.S. Manufacturing Workforce Address, MI President @cleeNAM highlighted how manufacturers' leadership can strengthen talent pipelines to secure the industry's future.
When manufacturing leads, America works.
Watch here: https://t.co/noEc8aPgQ8
@cmta@BWCnews Thank you @cmta . Proud to serve the CA MFG community and chair the SMM committee. I'm driven to get more kids, especially girls into STEM and MFG. I'm proud to be @WBENCLive and WOSB certified as well.
Nuclear energy provides safe, clean baseload power. Manufacturers support responsible efforts to streamline approvals to bring new power online – while always keeping safety first. We appreciate @NRCgov Chairman Ho K. Nieh's leadership to advance the future of nuclear energy.
Thousands of spectators braved wintry conditions to attend the ceremonial start of the 54th running of the Iditarod sled dog race in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday. This year's field featured 34 mushers, with sled dog teams expected to race over roughly 1,000 miles to Nome, AK.
Sunday marks the official start to the competitive portion of the "Last Great Race on Earth."
New Agentic episode hosted by @georgeb with @andrewchen (@a16z / @Speedrun).
They discuss:
1) what gets founders accepted into Speedrun
2) AI-native companies
3) the future of growth teams
4) where software is heading