Hungary’s Orbán Stakes Reelection on AI and Ukraine Disinformation
[00:00] Announcer: From Neural Newscast, this is the briefing for Thursday, February 26th, 2026.
[00:09] Announcer: I am joined by Daniel.
[00:11] Announcer: It is good to be here with Cole.
[00:13] Announcer: Today we look at the use of AI-generated disinformation in Hungary's upcoming elections.
[00:20] Announcer: Prime Minister Victor Orban is framing the European Union and Ukraine as existential threats to national security.
[00:29] Announcer: We also cover the release of Bridgerton's Season 4 Part 2.
[00:33] Announcer: The conclusion of Benedict's story dropped on Netflix this morning.
[00:36] Announcer: It brings the social season to a close with a high-stakes romance.
[00:40] Announcer: Well, in Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban is centering his April 12th re-election bid on an aggressive anti-Ukraine platform.
[00:49] Announcer: Publicly funded billboards across the country now display AI-generated images of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
[00:56] Announcer: These images appear to show the Ukrainian leader demanding money from European officials.
[01:02] Announcer: The Fidesz party claims that continued support for Ukraine will bankrupt the nation.
[01:07] Announcer: They also suggest it will lead to the deaths of Hungarian youth.
[01:11] Announcer: Orbán's party is currently trailing in most independent polls to an upstart challenger named Pater Magyar,
[01:17] Announcer: To amplify the message, the government released a synthetic video depicting a fictional soldier being executed on a battlefield.
[01:25] Announcer: This disinformation campaign suggests that the European Union plans to forcibly conscript Hungarians to fight Russia.
[01:33] Announcer: Security measures are also tightening around power plants and other energy facilities.
[01:38] Announcer: Officials vow to veto any further pro-Ukraine policies until Russian oil flows resume.
[01:44] Announcer: Turning now to entertainment, the second half of Bridgerton Season 4 arrived on Netflix earlier this morning.
[01:51] Announcer: These final four episodes resolve the romantic cliffhanger between Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek.
[01:57] Announcer: Actor Luke Thompson teased that the characters had completely misunderstood each other in the
[02:02] Announcer: first part of the season.
[02:04] Announcer: The story now explores whether the couple can find their way back together despite the
[02:08] Announcer: social divide.
[02:09] Announcer: The production returns to the world of Mayfair after spending time at the Bridgerton Cottage.
[02:15] Announcer: Fans will also see the return of Jonathan Bailey as Viscount Anthony Bridgeton.
[02:20] Announcer: This release concludes the eight-episode arc that initially premiered on January 29th.
[02:25] Cole Mercer: The series continues to blend traditional period drama with a Cinderella-style fairy tale.
[02:34] Cole Mercer: It features Lady Whistledown as the primary narrator of the scandals of the ton.
[02:42] Announcer: Netflix's decision to split the season into two parts has become a standard strategy for its flagship series.
[02:49] Announcer: This approach maintains viewer interest over a longer period in a crowded streaming landscape.
[02:55] Announcer: Thank you for joining us for this update.
[02:57] Announcer: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
[03:00] Announcer: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com.
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[03:12] Daniel Brooks: While we strive for factual, unbiased reporting,
[03:15] Daniel Brooks: AI-assisted content may occasionally contain errors.
[03:18] Daniel Brooks: Verify critical information with trusted sources.
[03:21] Daniel Brooks: Learn more at neuralnewscast.com.
