Weekly Cybersecurity Newsletter

With August recess looming, Congress faces two major cyber tests: advancing AI security legislation and breaking the deadlock over a warrantless surveillance authority. COUNTDOWN TO RECESS — — All about AI: Since President Donald Trump issued his executive order on securing AI systems last month, lawmakers have put forth a wave of legislative measures to help shape Washington's approach to AI security. Among these are the AI Flaw Reporting and Security Enhancement Act , introduced by Reps.

The rapid development of advanced frontier models has set the cyber world up for the next security crisis: Troves of software vulnerabilities popping up faster than defenders can patch them.

— While Washington says its limits on American-made frontier AI are meant to reduce security risks, some are concerned China could be gaining a strategic advantage as competition intensifies. HAPPY MONDAY , and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! Still listening to Olivia Rodrigo's new album on repeat, if anyone was wondering. What's your favorite track (and why is it “Stupid Song”)?

With help from Maggie Miller, Katherine Long and Cheyanne M. Daniels — A new White House memo calls for the rapid adoption of AI across intelligence and defense agencies, while ensuring frontier models are protected from foreign efforts to co-opt them. HAPPY MONDAY, and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! And good morning from Atlanta, where I’m visiting my family and battling summertime allergies with a cocktail of Emergen-C and DayQuil.

With help from Maggie Miller — Two weeks out from the World Cup, federal agencies and private threat hunters are in the final stretch of preparations to fend off cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns from foreign adversaries and cybercriminals. HAPPY MONDAY, and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! I’d like to introduce you all to James, one of this year’s POLITICO Journalism Institute students. He’s working with your friendly neighborhood cyber team for the week.

With help from Dasha Burns, Gabby Miller, Cheyenne Haslett, Maggie Miller, Aaron Mak, Eliza Gkritsi and Hannah Roberts — Security experts say advanced AI tools are evolving at a breakneck pace, but policymakers remain divided over how to regulate them without ceding ground to China. HAPPY TUESDAY, and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! I hope everyone was able to enjoy the weekend, despite the nasty weather.

With help from John Sakellariadis, Cheyenne Haslett, Sam Sutton and Maggie Miller — From claims of crisis actors on cruise ships to pushing a horse dewormer as a cure-all, influencers and conspiracy theorists are using the hantavirus outbreak to recycle Covid-era misinformation online. HAPPY MONDAY, and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! Am I the only one who totally missed that “Rivals” returned to Hulu last week? You can bet I spent the weekend catching up on new episodes. Any reviews so far?

With help from Maggie Miller — The upcoming Trump-Xi summit arrives at a fraught moment in the U.S.-China cyber relations, though it’s unclear whether cyber issues will take center stage at the talks. HAPPY MONDAY, and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! And happy belated Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, especially mine. ❤️ Follow POLITICO’s cybersecurity team on X at @RosiePerper, @johnnysaks130, @delizanickel and @magmill95, or reach out via email or text for tips.

— The FBI is zeroing in on North Korea, Iran and Russia as it steps up its efforts to tackle global cybercrime, with the agency's top cyber official promising the agency is not letting up. HAPPY MONDAY , and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! I'm your host, Maggie Miller, stepping in for Dana today. As a half-Brit and confessed royalty nerd, I'm still coming down from the high of King Charles' visit last week, and I'm already chomping at the bit for more royal visits.

— Congress is agonizing (again) over a soon-expiring controversial federal surveillance program, but its true deadline may not be as imminent as advertised. HAPPY MONDAY, and welcome to MORNING CYBERSECURITY! John here, subbing in for the day. I don’t care what the naysayers say, I love the NBA and I am stoked for the playoffs. Let’s go Knicks. Follow POLITICO’s cybersecurity team on X at @RosiePerper, @johnnysaks130, @delizanickel and @magmill95, or reach out via email or text for tips.