As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in daily life, a new opinion piece from Jack Hellner at American Thinker warns that the real threat isn’t AI taking jobs—it’s AI pushing a political agenda. The article, published September 8, 2026, argues that while the U.S. has weathered massive technological shifts before, the programming behind AI tools like ChatGPT may be tilting public discourse in a direction that undermines the Republic.
A History of Surviving Change
Hellner opens by recalling a presentation from economist Brian Wesbury, given over thirty years ago, which highlighted how the U.S. has consistently adapted to job displacement. In the 1800s, over 70% of jobs were in agriculture; today, that figure is around 2%, thanks to oil-powered machinery. In the 1950s, Berghoff’s restaurant in Chicago employed twenty dishwashers; by the 1970s, machines had reduced that to one. In the 1960s, 600,000 people—mostly women—worked as telephone operators, a job that largely vanished with automation.
Hellner notes that despite these disruptions, the country prospered, and workers found new opportunities. “A huge number of jobs have been displaced or replaced over the years by mass production and computers, and we have greatly prospered,” he writes. The implication is clear: fear over AI-driven job loss is not new, and history suggests we’ll adapt.
The Political Angle
The article pivots sharply into politics, arguing that the real danger comes from how AI is being used to shape opinion. Hellner contends that Democrats are campaigning on policies that would destroy jobs—such as Medicare for all (which he says would eliminate hundreds of thousands of private health insurance jobs) and the green agenda (which he claims would devastate the oil, natural gas, and coal industries). He points out that crude oil is used in over 6,000 products, many of which have improved quality of life.
But the central concern is AI’s role in spreading what Hellner calls “Democrat talking points.” He cites an example where ChatGPT described Trump as the greatest threat to democracy since Hitler, focusing on Trump’s challenge of the 2020 election and the Capitol riot—while omitting that Trump encouraged supporters to march peacefully and patriotically. Hellner also notes that Democrats challenged elections in 2000, 2004, and 2016, and that violent protests followed the 2016 election, as well as years of calling Trump illegitimate.
Comparing Threats to the Republic
The article then lists what Hellner considers greater threats to the Republic than election challenges: Democrats wanting to abolish the Electoral College, eliminate the Senate, stack the Supreme Court, refuse to enforce immigration laws, oppose voter ID requirements, and resist federal oversight of voter rolls. He argues these actions are more dangerous than requiring ID to vote or reducing mail-in voting, which he claims “clearly makes it easier to cheat.”
Hellner also draws a comparison between Democrat policies and those of Hitler, citing AI-generated summaries of Hitler’s policies. He argues that Hitler was a totalitarian who favored big government, while Trump is trying to reduce regulations and government agencies. “He is the opposite of a dictator like Hitler,” Hellner writes, “no matter how often the media, AI, and other Democrats repeat that lie.”
The Dumbing Down Concern
A separate worry Hellner raises is the impact of AI on education. With many children already struggling to read or do math at grade level, he fears they will rely on AI to write papers, solve problems, and conduct research instead of learning those skills themselves. “They will most likely believe it when ChatGPT puts out a fictional piece of propaganda that is essentially Democrat talking points,” he writes, warning that they’ll mistake garbage for intelligence.
The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of free speech. “Now more than ever, the ability to speak our minds is crucial to the republic we cherish,” Hellner writes.
Analysis: A Familiar Warning in a New Package
Hellner’s piece is not breaking news; it’s an opinion column that builds on long-standing conservative critiques of media bias and Democratic policies, updated for the AI era. The claim that AI is “programmed” to push a Democrat agenda is a charge that has circulated on the right, though it remains unproven and is disputed by AI developers who maintain their systems are designed for neutrality.
The article’s historical framing is standard fare for those skeptical of technology-driven panic, but its political comparisons are likely to be seen as provocative. The Hitler analogy, often used in political rhetoric from all sides, is used here to draw a sharp contrast between policies Hellner dislikes and those he favors.
Readers will take what they will from Hellner’s argument. What’s undeniable is that AI’s role in shaping public opinion is a growing concern across the political spectrum, as tools like ChatGPT become more influential in how people access information and form their views.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/09/the-ai-threat-to-our-republic/