OCTOBER 22, 2026

CALIFORNIA 2036

SIMULATION MECHANICS

• Up to two major moves at each decision pointWrite each move on a move card, saying what will happen, who will do it and by when, and hand it to the House team.
• Option cards are a starting pointYour team gets three possible moves at the start and three more after the break. You are free to do something else entirely.
• Talk to other teams as much as you likeTalks do not count as moves.
• Ring the bell to speak to the roomTo make a public announcement, ring the bell at your table and speak to the room for up to one minute.
• House team rulings are finalThe House team plays everyone else, from Congress and the courts to the markets and the media, and decides what happens after each move.

What counts as a move

• Say what will happen, who and by whenA move names the action, who will do it and by when. A wish with no owner or date is not a move.
• Hand it in on a move cardYour team can make up to two major moves at each decision point. Each one goes on a move card handed to the House team.
• Agree deals on a deal formTo agree something with another team, hand in a deal form signed by every team involved.
• Talks are not movesTalk to other teams as much as you like. Nothing changes until it is written on a card or a deal form.
• Go beyond your option cardsThe cards are a starting point. Anything your organization's leaders could really do is fair game.

America in 2036

• AI has remade the economyA few American AI companies have taken most of the gains. Unemployment is about 7%, and most workers' wages have barely risen in a decade.
• Nationalist administration since 2033It treats American AI companies as national champions in a race with China. The President seeks re-election on November 4, 2036.
• Extreme weather is routineHeat, fire, flood and drought cost America about $200 billion a year. Insurers have pulled out of high-risk areas.
• China has become America's equalIt leads the world in batteries, solar panels and electric vehicles. The two leaders manage their rivalry through regular summits.
• California is rich and strainedIt is home to most leading AI companies. AI has taken more than a million jobs there, unemployment is about 9% and power bills are among America's highest.

AI levy is state law

• AI Transition Levy, passed in 2035AI companies earning more than $5 billion a year in California pay 4% of their revenues there, about $12 billion a year. First payments are due on July 1.
• Levy pays for Transition IncomeIt funds two thirds of payments of up to $4,000 a month for up to 18 months to workers who lost jobs to AI. 1.2 million people have registered; first payments are due on July 31.
• Congress left state taxes aloneIn 2034 Congress took away California's power to regulate AI safety, but left state taxes alone.
• Clean power by 2045State law requires all electricity to be clean by 2045. Diablo Canyon, the last nuclear plant, supplies a tenth of the state's power.
• Regulator must approve any power saleSelling Diablo Canyon's power needs the approval of the state utility regulator, whose members the Governor appoints.
• Chinese batteries barred from federal grid moneySince 2031 federal law has barred Chinese batteries from grid projects that receive federal money.

JUNE 2, 2036

Scrap the levy or lose federal money

• It is the morning of June 2, 2036. Washington has given California until July 1 to suspend its AI levy.
• If it refuses, the US government will freeze federal grants, including grid and wildfire money, as fire season begins.
• Meridian offers a $100 billion AI campus at Diablo Canyon and $15 billion for workers if the levy goes. If not, it builds in Texas.

JUNE 2, 2036

Four weeks to decide

• Washington: suspend the levy by July 1 or lose grants
• Grid, wildfire and university research money would freeze
• Meridian: $100B campus and $15B for workers if levy goes
• If the levy stays, Meridian builds in Texas instead
• The choice: higher power bills or federal disaster aid

SEVEN TEAMS

• Governor of CaliforniaProposes laws and budgets, signs or vetoes bills, directs state agencies and can sue Washington. (The levy, the state budget and appointments to the regulator.)
• Stop Taxing InnovationRuns ads, rallies and the November ballot measure; can sue the state but passes no laws. (The repeal ballot measure and tech investors' backing.)
• US GovernmentFreezes or delays federal grants and aid, offers land, permits and contracts, and can sue. (Federal grants, disaster aid and research money.)
• MeridianDecides where to build, offers investment, jobs and payments, and can delay launches. (A $100 billion campus and a $15 billion fund.)
• California Business CouncilSpeaks for California business, lobbies and pools members' money; holds no formal power. (Members including the utility that owns the plant.)
• California Workers AllianceCalls strikes after a member vote, organizes protests and turnout, and presses legislators. (Two million members and Saturday's rally.)
• Chinese GovernmentOffers discounted batteries, solar and finance, builds factories and links deals to the summit. (Cheap batteries, solar panels and factory jobs.)

JUNE 2, 2036

ROUND 1

• Washington tells California to suspend the levy by July 1.
• Meridian offers a $100 billion AI campus at Diablo Canyon and $15 billion for workers.
• China offers cheap batteries and solar to replace Diablo Canyon.
• Stop Taxing Innovation launches a repeal ballot measure.
• The Workers Alliance splits over Meridian's jobs.

• Does California take Meridian's offer, refuse it, or find another way?
• How far will Washington go to kill the levy?
• Who pays displaced workers if the levy goes?
• Can the Workers Alliance hold together?
• Can China turn California's dilemma into an opening?