Sam Altman is scrambling to soften Congress on AI rules, and Bernie Sanders is pushing back hard — bad for the AI industry's hopes of an easy ride.

• Sanders plans a bill for a one-time 50% tax on the stock of the biggest AI companies, giving the public an ownership stake and a cut of future AI profits.
• The AI and crypto industries have poured over $321 million into the 2026 midterms to back friendly candidates and punish anyone who resists.
• Altman requested meetings with Sanders and other lawmakers; he claims OpenAI does little lobbying and would like money out of politics.
• That claim is hard to believe — the spending exists to keep Congress from regulating AI, and OpenAI's offer of "civilian oversight" looks toothless.
• Bigger firms like OpenAI may even welcome light rules because smaller rivals can't afford to comply, squeezing out competition.

Outlook: Sanders' tax plan likely goes nowhere given the flood of industry money, but the fight over AI regulation is just starting.