Hi, I'm Joshua McNichols.

And I'm Monica Nicholsberg.

We host KUOW's Economy Podcast, booming.

ChatGPT may feel like magic, but every time you ask AI a question, it goes to a real place.

AI has a back end, and it looks like massive data centers sprawling across farmland in central Washington.

On our latest episode, is our AI obsession good for small town America?

Listen to booming on the KUOW app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Good afternoon and TGIF from the KUOW Newsroom.

This is Seattle now. I'm Paige Browning.

Coming up, lawmakers in Olympia are at odds over a bill to limit rent hikes.

We'll go in depth in a few minutes, but first, here's our roundup of today's top stories.

It's Friday, February 7th. Starting with Washington's growing role in national politics,

Washington State is suing the Trump administration over its executive order targeting gender-affirming

care for transgender youth. Noelle Gaska has the story. In addition to calling the order gross and

hateful, Washington State Attorney General

Nick Brown says the Trump administration's order violates the state's ability to provide medical care.

Brown says the order also singles out trans youth for discrimination. It is denying them health care

that is not denied or attacked for anybody else, and that is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

At least one hospital in the state has canceled gender-affirming surgeries.

Earlier this week, Seattle Children's Hospital canceled a gender affirmation surgery for a 16-year-old.

The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Noel Gaska, K-O-W News.

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