Why Americans Are Destroying Flock Cameras | AI CEOs, Paramount Merger Halted & Viral AI Myth

Why are people across America tearing down surveillance cameras? Can AI replace the CEO? And why did a federal judge suddenly slam the brakes on the $81 billion Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger? On today's Hashtag Trending, Jim Love examines why Flock Safety's automated license plate reader cameras have become targets of public anger, as residents cut them down, vandalize them and question expanding surveillance. The episode also looks at claims from privacy researcher Ben Jordan that some Flock cameras were accessible without passwords, raising questions about evidence integrity while Flock continues to defend its security. Next, a federal judge temporarily halts the proposed $81 billion Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger, giving new life to an antitrust challenge brought by a coalition of 12 U.S. states. Is this just a delay—or a sign that mega-media mergers may face a much tougher future? Then, former Microsoft AI executives put $1 million behind an ambitious idea: proving artificial intelligence can replace CEOs by making strategic business decisions. If successful, the conversation about which jobs AI will automate could shift dramatically—from the front line to the executive suite. Finally, Jim takes apart a viral YouTube video with more than one million views claiming AI can't even count to 100 or remember a simple number. The demonstration is convincing—but is it actually true? The answer says as much about social media as it does about artificial intelligence. If you enjoy independent technology journalism with context—not hype—subscribe, like, and share Hashtag Trending. Timestamps 00:00 Headlines and Intro 00:55 Flock Cameras Backlash 01:58 Security Flaws and Evidence 03:31 How to Fight Back 04:31 Paramount–Warner Merger Halted 06:43 Can AI Replace CEOs 09:30 Viral AI Myths 12:18 Testing Claims with ChatGPT 15:01 Why the Demo Misled 15:57 Wrap Up and Goodbye