Attorney General William Tong on AI, Federal Power, and the Expanding Authority of State AGs

Send us Fan MailConnecticut Attorney General William Tong joins Legal Regards to examine the expanding role of state attorneys general at a time of rapid legal, technological, and political transformation. The conversation explores how states are increasingly stepping into regulatory voids, deploying consumer protection laws against emerging technologies, and confronting constitutional questions when federal action stalls.Tong discusses enforcement priorities related to artificial intelligence, the limits of presidential power, bipartisan cooperation among attorneys general, and the institutional responsibilities of chief state legal officers. The discussion also addresses public transparency, including continued calls for the release of the Epstein files, and the broader challenge of maintaining public trust in an era of institutional strain.Listeners will also hear Tong reflect on his path to public service, the meaning of state sovereignty, and the enduring role of human judgment within a legal system increasingly shaped by advanced technology.Topics include:• The expanding authority of state attorneys general • AI regulation and consumer protection enforcement • Federalism and executive power • Transparency and the public’s right to know • Bipartisan leadership in a polarized environment • Social media harms and technological accountability • The limits of artificial intelligence in the pursuit of truthA substantive discussion for lawyers, policymakers, executives, and professionals seeking to understand who is shaping the legal architecture of the modern state.Legal Regards is an official podcast of The National Law Review.