EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Kevin Cramer on crypto: "I leave it up to somebody smarter, somebody else"

Who?Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) Ask a Pol’s ask:Matt Laslo’s always juggling numerous commissions that sometimes overlap in odd ways. This brief exchange with Cramer is meandering; a conversation, really. Laslo starts asking about the New Hampshire primary before he zeroes in on the Biden deepfake in NH, which then evolves into an AI conversation where Cramer uses crypto as a revealing example… Key Cramer quote: “Listen, it's like crypto: When I decide I'm not interested anymore — because I've got 1,400 other priorities — I leave it up to somebody smarter, somebody else.” TOPICS: Crypto, AI, deepfakes, New Hampshire primary & VP Tim Scott?BACKGROUND: Prof. Laslo has studied deepfakes for years now… TODAY: We’re in the midst of the first deepfake election…. FAST FORWARD: Some lawmakers dismiss AI — and crypto! — out of hand, because they don’t get it, as this exchange with Cramer exemplifies. Buckle up… Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), slightly edited for clarity.LISTEN: Laslo & Cramer JUST crypto (snippet) Laslo & Cramer EXTENDED (exclusive turned scrum….)*crypto comes up about at about 2mins 10secs TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Kevin Cramer SCENE: Laslo starts interviewing Cramer in the basement of the US Capitol, then they ride an elevator to the 2nd floor — so the senator can vote — where Laslo leaves Cramer to his colleagues. Matt Laslo: “Was the takeaway from all those AI briefings and forums last year like — what was your takeaway from them?” Kevin Cramer: “I don't know.”ML: “Right?” KC: “When I decide to…”Laslo laughs (externally). KC: “Listen, it's like crypto: When I decide I'm not interested anymore — because I've got 1,400 other priorities — I leave it up to somebody smarter, somebody else.” Igor Bobic (HuffPost) then asks Cramer about Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and VP aspirations…?Matt Laslo covers tech politics for WIRED, lectures on technology’s impact on government at Johns Hopkins and is the founder of Ask a Pol — a new people-powered press corps. On social @MattLaslo // @Ask_a_Pol Content FREE (for now…) but labor ain’t Ask a Pol — asking your lawmakers your questions at your US Capitol. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoluaps.com/subscribe