By MATT O’BRIEN, AP Technology Writer

A public showdown between the Trump administration and Anthropic is hitting an impasse as military officials demand the artificial intelligence company bend its ethical policies by Friday or risk damaging its business.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei drew a sharp red line 24 hours before the deadline, declaring his company “cannot in good conscience accede” to the Pentagon’s final demand to allow unrestricted use of its technology.

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Anthropic, maker of the chatbot Claude, can afford to lose a defense contract. But the ultimatum this week from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posed broader risks at the peak of the company’s meteoric rise from a little-known computer science research lab in San Francisco to one of the world’s most valuable startups.

If Amodei doesn’t budge, military officials have warned they will not just pull Anthropic’s contract but also “deem them a supply chain risk,” a designation typically stamped on foreign adversaries that could derail the company’s critical partnerships with other businesses.

And if Amodei were to cave, he could lose trust in the booming AI industry, particularly from top talent drawn to the company for its promises of responsibly building better-than-human AI that, without safeguards, could pose catastrophic risks.

Anthropic said it sought narrow assurances from the Pentagon that Claude won’t be used for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons. But after months of private talks exploded into public debate, it said in a Thursday statement that new contract language “framed as compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will.”

That was after Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman, posted on social media that “we will not let ANY company dictate the terms regarding how we make operational decisions” and added the company has “until 5:01 p.m. ET on Friday to decide” if it would meet the demands or face consequences.

Emil Michael, the defense undersecretary for research and engineering, later lashed out at Amodei, alleging on X that he “has a God-complex” and “wants nothing more than to try to personally control the US Military and is ok putting our nation’s safety at risk.”

That message hasn’t resonated in much of Silicon Valley, where a growing number of tech workers from Anthropic’s top rivals, OpenAI and Google, voiced support for Amodei’s stand late Thursday in an open letter.

Pages from the Anthropic website and the company’s logos are displayed on a computer screen in New York on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison)

OpenAI and Google, along with Elon Musk’s xAI, also have contracts to supply their AI models to the military.

“The Pentagon is negotiating with Google and OpenAI to try to get them to agree to what Anthropic has refused,” the open letter says. “They’re trying to divide each company with fear that the other will give in.”

Also raising concerns about the Pentagon’s approach were Republican and Democratic lawmakers and a former leader of the Defense Department’s AI initiatives.

“Painting a bullseye on Anthropic garners spicy headlines, but everyone loses in the end,” wrote retired Air Force Gen. Jack Shanahan in a social media post.

Shanahan faced a different wave of tech worker opposition during the first Trump administration when he led Maven, a project to use AI technology to analyze drone footage and target weapons. So many Google employees protested its participation in Project Maven at the time that the tech giant declined to renew the contract and then pledged not to use AI in weaponry.

“Since I was square in the middle of Project Maven & Google, it’s reasonable to assume I would take the Pentagon’s side here,” Shanahan wrote Thursday on social media. “Yet I’m sympathetic to Anthropic’s position. More so than I was to Google’s in 2018.”

He said Claude is already being widely used across the government, including in classified settings, and Anthropic’s red lines are “reasonable.” He said the AI large language models that power chatbots like Claude are also “not ready for prime time in national security settings,” particularly not for fully autonomous weapons.

“They’re not trying to play cute here,” he wrote.

Parnell asserted Thursday that the Pentagon wants to “ use Anthropic’s model for all lawful purposes” and said opening up use of the technology would prevent the company from “jeopardizing critical military operations,” though neither he nor other officials have detailed how they want to use the technology.

FILE – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stands outside the Pentagon during a welcome ceremony for the Japanese defense minister at the Pentagon in Washington, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

The military “has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans (which is illegal) nor do we want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement,” Parnell wrote.

When Hegseth and Amodei met Tuesday, military officials warned that they could designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk, cancel its contract or invoke a Cold War-era law called the Defense Production Act to give the military more sweeping authority to use its products, even if the company doesn’t approve.

Amodei said Thursday that “those latter two threats are inherently contradictory: one labels us a security risk; the other labels Claude as essential to national security.” He said he hopes the Pentagon will reconsider given Claude’s value to the military, but, if not, Anthropic “will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider.”

AP reporter Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

By SAM MEDNICK and SAM METZ

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Israel on Friday told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately, as the threat of an American strike on Iran looms.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that discussions with officials in Washington had led to a decision authorizing departures for those who wished to leave.

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The email was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the U.S. mission who wasn’t authorized to share details. Sent before 10:30 a.m., it urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington.

“Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY,” Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for “authorized departure.”

“While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be,” he added.

Huckabee said that there was no need for panic, but for those desiring to leave, it was important to make plans soon.

The email came a day after Iran and the United States walked away from nuclear negotiations without a deal. Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.

Australia on Wednesday “directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.” India and several European countries with missions in Iran advised citizens to avoid travel to the country as well.

On a town hall meeting Friday after the email was sent, Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to keep flying.

The departure authorizations signal a new level of contingency planning as a massive fleet of U.S. aircraft and warships mass in the Middle East.

Badr al-Busaidi, Oman’s foreign minister who is mediating in the negotiations, said that there had been significant progress made on Thursday, though officials from Iran and the United States haven’t announced steps forward.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday offered no specifics but said “what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side.”

Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank.

By MUNIR AHMED and ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan and Afghanistan traded attacks in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the countries that Pakistan’s defense minister said Friday means they are now in “open war.”

Tensions have been high between the neighbors for months, with border clashes in October killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring militant groups that then stage attacks across the border and also of allying with its archrival India.

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A Qatari-mediated ceasefire ended the fighting, although the two sides still occasionally trade fire. Several rounds of peace talks in Istanbul in November failed to produce a formal agreement.

Late Thursday, Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan, saying it was in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday.

Pakistan then carried out airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday.

After the strikes Friday, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said in an X post that Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2021 and expected the Taliban, which seized power in the country, to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability.

Instead, he said that the Taliban had turned Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” with which Pakistan has periodically engaged in wars, clashes and skirmishes since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947. India has had improved ties with Afghanistan recently, offering to enhance bilateral trade, to the annoyance of Islamabad.

“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. There was no immediate reaction from Afghan officials.

Afghan authorities in the eastern Nangarhar province said that fighting was ongoing in the Torkham border area Friday morning. The province’s information directorate said that Pakistani mortar fire hit civilian areas in Torkham, including a refugee camp, which had been evacuated overnight. In response, Afghanistan was targeting Pakistani army posts across the border, it said.

‘Exporting terrorism’

Asif, the Pakistani defense minister, accused Afghanistan of “exporting terrorism.” Islamabad frequently levies the allegation at its western neighbor as militant violence has surged in Pakistan, accusing Afghanistan of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, and outlawed Baloch separatist groups.

Pakistan accuses the TTP — which is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban — of operating from inside Afghanistan. Both the group and Kabul deny that charge.

Pakistan has also frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies.

Asif’s comments came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and Paktia province in the southeast, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan said the strikes were in retaliation for the Afghan cross-border attacks.

Retaliatory strikes

Afghanistan, meanwhile, said that it launched its attack late Thursday also in retaliation — for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas Sunday.

The governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims. Each said that it inflicted heavy losses of dozens of soldiers on the other, while putting its own casualty figures in the single digits. The claims couldn’t be independently verified.

Afghanistan also claimed it had captured an undisclosed number of Pakistani soldiers. Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied any soldiers had been captured.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan’s anti-drone systems shot down several small drones over the northwestern cities of Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera on Friday. He said the drones appeared to be part of a failed attack by the Pakistani Taliban, and that there were no casualties. Tarar claimed the drone attacks “once again exposed direct linkages between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan.”

International calls for restraint

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate phone calls with his Pakistani, Afghan, Qatari and Saudi counterparts on Friday to discuss the conflict, a Turkish official said, without providing details on the talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

In October, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had facilitated talks between the sides.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians as required under international law and “to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Russia called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Russian diplomat Zamir Kabulov told news agency Ria Novosti. Kabulov, who is President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Afghanistan, said that Moscow would consider mediating between the two countries if asked, according to Ria Novosti.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan. He also said that Tehran was ready to assist in facilitating dialogue.

Refugees at the border

Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places.

Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in October 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time.

Since then, millions have crossed the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there.

Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year.

Abdul Qahar Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing, Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, also contributed to this story.

In our weekday newsletter in February, we featured 12 cats, 17 dogs and one elk.

“I love seeing the pets!” wrote one reader of our signature sign-off that aims to begin readers’ days with a smile.

To view more pet photos, check out our January slideshow. To sign up for the Morning Report, which is free and emailed to your inbox seven days a week, visit twincities.com/newsletters and follow the prompts.

Friday, Feb. 27

A young elk at the Grand Canyon.

“While not a pet photo, thought I’d share a pic of a young elk on a trip to the Grand Canyon, spring of 2024,” Margaret writes. “Outside a tourist information station, there were five or six elk wandering around. I found it exciting as photos of elk always intrigued me.”

Thursday, Feb. 26

Sometimes, they get along.

“Our female, mostly Asian Husky and male American Staffi/German Shepherd tussle at times, but snuggle when they’re tired!” Bruce writes.

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Hachi

“Hachi wants to congratulate Golden Gopher Brock Faber, Golden Gopher Abbey Murphy and the Wild’s Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy on winning the gold,” Robin writes of the hockey players.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

“Steve is cheering on the USA,” Linda wrote on Sunday morning. “Hoping for Olympic gold!”

Steve’s hopes were realized!

Monday, Feb. 23

Violet’s new BFSs, Rumi and Jinu.

“My granddaughter Violet got two kitties for her fifth birthday last month,” Deb writes. “Welcome Rumi and Jinu (KPop fame). She is a very attentive and loving mother to her new fur babies!”

Friday, Feb. 20

Lafond’s puppies have all been adopted, as has Lafond. (Courtesy of Pooches United with People)

A litter of puppies previously featured in the Pioneer Press after their mom, Lafond, was rescued by Good Samaritans and Pooches United with People (PUP) amid the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, will be at Pet Evolution St. Paul, 1074 Grand Ave., on Saturday, Feb. 21, and available for adoption in March. If you are interested in adopting Lafond or one of her puppies, inquire via pupmn.org or stop by Pet Evolution during Saturday’s meet-and-greet.

Update: Jeanne Weigum of Pooches United with People tells the Morning Report that, after the strong attendance at Saturday’s event, adoptions have been arranged for Lafond and all her puppies. 

Thursday, Feb. 19

Welcome home, Archie!

“Our just-adopted (40 days ago) rescue cat, Archie, is wherever someone in the house is trying to do something,” wrote Hubert Steve in December. “Here I am unpacking some picture frames and he shows up to check out the box. Such an active/energetic guy … but we love it!”

Wednesday, Feb. 18

Virgil, before and after.

“Virgil before and after his ‘spa’ day,’” Lisa writes. “What a difference a day makes!”

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Archie with the new puppy, Teddy 2 Paws.

“I love seeing the animal pics in the Morning Report. Thank you,” writes Madonna of Ramsey, Minn. “Here are some pictures of our Archie and new Puppy, Teddy 2 Paws. They are becoming great friends!”

Monday, Feb. 16

Bella

“Bella is our 3-year-old, half-Persian, half-Munchkin rescue kitty,” writes John of Minneapolis. “She loves our new Turkish rug in our foyer, and she can’t resist climbing into any bag that’s open.”

Friday, Feb. 13

Frenchie and Helmet.

“Sending a photo of our cats, Frenchie and Helmet,” Kelly writes. “They’re littermates we adopted in 2012 and they snuggle up together all the time. It’s rare when I can take a photo without one of them waking up, so this was neat to capture.”

Thursday, Feb. 12

Chipper would surely win a holiday sweater contest!

Our Christmas catch-up continues: “Here is Chipper, our 11-year old Morkie, rocking his new holiday sweater,” Mary and Joe told us in December. “His passion is playing fetch with his newest toy (he goes through many) every afternoon. His message is for everyone to have fun every day. Not a fan of the camera though.”

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Claudia

We discovered a couple of holiday photos in our backlog so it’s Christmas in February today and Thursday: “Here’s Claudia in front of the Christmas tree,” Sally wrote. “She was featured once before as she’s a fan of Sinclair Lewis’s writing (as am I). You may notice off to the side a cartoon of her done by a New York artist because she’s so photogenic. She wishes everyone a happy new year.”

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Murphy

“One of the joys of having a Cream Golden Retriever is the dog park during snow melt,” Kelly writes. ” Looks like using just the Paw Plunger isn’t going to cut it for the upcoming week. Murphy turned seven the first week of February, so we have lots of baths to look forward to!”

Monday, Feb. 9

Molly is ready for a winter walk.

Friday, Feb. 6

Jax and his “ice cream cone.”

“I saw your note that you’re running low on pet photos,” Bob wrote last month. “This isn’t the cutest pic ever, but it shows one of our rescued brothers, 11-year-old Jax, napping — imagine that — with his favorite toy, a mock ice cream cone that makes a fine crackling sound if grabbed just right. Of course, he has to be awake to grab it …”

Thursday, Feb. 5

Beatrix, during and after the celebration.

“My daughter’s Corgi, Beatrix, celebrated a festive New Year in her party hat!” Mary writes. “All the excitement wore her out and she snuggled in for a nap!”

Wednesday, Feb. 4

G.K. (Garage Kitty)

“This is a photo of one of my three cats, G.K. (stands for Garage Kitty as she appeared in our garage five years ago and we have never found her owner),” writes Carol of Coon Rapids. “She is relaxing in the top of a cat/tunnel toy that my cousin passed on to me — her cat refused to even try to play in it. But G.K. loves lying in the top depression.”

Tuesday, Feb. 3

This Groundhog Day, Riley is not holding out for an early spring.

“This is 15-year-old Riley not worrying about whether there will be an early spring,” Duke writes.

Monday, Feb. 2

Steve looks out his condo window.

“Steve isn’t quite sure what to make of snow, but he can spend a lot of time watching it,” Linda writes.

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