Hello and welcome to The Verge Minute. I’m your host bringing you a quick update on a surprising turn in Washington. What began as an apparent power play by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to install new leadership at the U.S. Copyright Office has spectacularly backfired. Last week, Donald Trump fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter. At first it looked like a MAGA–tech alliance, especially after the office released a pre-publication report ruling that some AI training wouldn’t qualify as fair use. Then two men showed up bearing letters appointing them to lead. But they weren’t Musk’s allies at all. They’re loyal to the hard-line MAGA wing aiming to “put tech companies in check.” Paul Perkins, now acting Register, is an eight-year veteran of the Department of Justice who prosecuted fraud cases under Trump. Brian Nieves comes from the Deputy Attorney General’s office and worked Big Tech investigations on Capitol Hill. And Todd Blanche, who would serve as Acting Librarian, is a staunch Trump ally fresh off defending him in New York. A bold move to seize control has instead empowered Trump’s toughest critics of Silicon Valley. That’s The Verge Minute—thanks for listening.
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