Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds
TheGuardian | Damian Carrington | 08/28/25

The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event, a study has concluded, making deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions even more urgent to avoid the catastrophic impact.

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) is a major part of the global climate system. It brings sun-warmed tropical water to Europe and the Arctic, where it cools and sinks to form a deep return current. The Amoc was already known to be at its weakest in 1,600 years as a result of the climate crisis.

Climate models recently indicated that a collapse before 2100 was unlikely but the new analysis examined models that were run for longer, to 2300 and 2500. These show the tipping point that makes an Amoc shutdown inevitable is likely to be passed within a few decades, but that the collapse itself may not happen until 50 to 100 years later. ... Read more

The Maga Grift: how Trump's presidency became a money-making machine | Anywhere but Washington | The Guardian | 08/07/25 | 13:46

Fed's go-to inflation gauge creeps higher as trade war ramps up
Axios | Courtenay Brown | 08/29/25

The big picture: Personal consumption expenditures, a measure of consumer spending, rose by 0.3% last month after unchanged spending in May.

Personal income rose by 0.3% after falling by a similar amount the prior month. Adjusted for inflation, however, pay growth was flat.

The bottom line: Inflation is on the upswing as President Trump ramps up tariffs around the globe. ... Read more

Trump's drag on corporate America
Axios | Madison Mills, Ben Berkowitz | 08/29/25

Nvidia's otherwise stellar earnings were clouded by one thing: export controls, which were overturned only after the company agreed to give a 15% cut of China chip sales back to Uncle Sam.

Why it matters: It's the latest example of President Trump inserting himself into the private sector as chairman of all boards, regardless of the impact that has on free markets.

Catch up quick: Nvidia reported zero sales of its H20 chips to China for the quarter.

The 15% revenue split is also riddled with confusion.

There are plenty of other examples this year of Trump telling businesses how to do business:

1. Trump said Intel's CEO should resign before the U.S. took a 10% stake in the company.
2. Apple was squeezed for another $100 billion investment commitment to avoid huge tariffs for not making its phones in the U.S.
3. U.S. Steel had to hand over a golden share to Trump's personal control to reverse the rejection of its sale to Nippon Steel.
4. He's also trying to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook and rail regulator Robert Primus.

Inside Trump's Gaza meeting with Tony Blair and Jared Kushner
Axios | Barak Ravid | 08/28/25

The meeting President Trump convened on Wednesday to discuss a post-war plan for Gaza involved two high-profile invited guests, Jared Kushner and Tony Blair, and an unexpected third one: Israeli official Ron Dermer.

Why it matters: Dermer told the assembled senior officials that Israel doesn't want to occupy Gaza long-term, but needs an acceptable alternative to Hamas to govern the enclave. Kushner and Blair got Trump's blessing to keep developing such a plan, but right now they don't have an answer as to who would take over.

Behind the scenes: Wednesday's meeting lasted over an hour, with Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and several other senior administration officials in the room. ... Read more

Multiple FEMA staff put on leave after letter criticizing Trump admin
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 08/27/25

Multiple FEMA staff who signed an open letter criticizing the Trump administration's budget cuts to disaster preparedness were placed on leave Tuesday, the Washington Post first reported.

The big picture: Among the workers who signed the letter are "individuals who were directly helping relief efforts in Kerr County, Texas" following July's deadly floods, said a spokesperson for Stand Up for Science, the nonprofit that publicized the declaration, in a Tuesday night email that called the administration's action "illegal."

Driving the news: The letter warns against cuts to FEMA, opposes administration moves to end climate change research and criticizes officials including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees the agency, for their leadership decisions.

A total of 182 FEMA staff signed the letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council and Congress, and 36 of them included their names. ... Read more

The FEMA Katrina Declaration.pdf

GHISLAINE | Mr. Newberger's AI Funnies | 08/26/25 | 6:01

Majority of Americans approve of Trump's approach on crime: AP-NORC poll
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Axios | Mike Allen, April Rubin | o8/28/25

As armed National Guard troops patrol the nation's capital, a majority of Americans now see handling crime as a relative strength for President Trump, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

Why it matters: Americans aren't generally happy about the president's handling of immigration and the economy, but 53% said they approved of his approach on crime, the poll found.

The poll also found that the vast majority of Americans, 81%, see crime as a "major problem" in large cities. ... Read more

Trump, chairman of corporate America
Axios | Ben Berkowitz | 08/26/25

To President Trump's many roles, formal and self-designated, add a new one to the list: chairman of all boards.

The big picture: The president has assumed a quasi-authority to orchestrate how the private sector operates, both broadly and down to the management and ownership of individual companies.

No one's stopping him, so he continues to confidently plow ahead.

Those with insight into his strategy say it's anything but arbitrary - there's a mold-breaking calculus at play, they say, centered on national security and American competitiveness.

The latest: The director of the National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, told CNBC Monday morning the government's new stake in Intel was a "down payment" on the creation of a sovereign wealth fund, adding it was "absolutely right" that Trump would seek more such investments.

Trump told reporters yesterday "I want to try and get as much as I can." He later added: "I hope I'm going to have many more cases like it."

In other words, if you're a private company, you may soon be invited to sell a chunk of your business to the government, even at the cost of diluting existing shareholders. ... ... ... Read more

Yes, the U.S. dollar's value has declined significantly since January 2025, experiencing its worst first half-year in over 50 years. This significant weakening is largely attributed to President Trump's tariff policies, escalating U.S. deficits, and general policy uncertainty, which has eroded global investor confidence in the U.S. economy and the dollar.

1. Tariff Policy: Trump's imposition of tariffs on trading partners has driven the dollar lower, contrary to expectations that his policies would strengthen the currency.
2. Fiscal Policy & Deficits: Years of loose fiscal policy and rising national debt have created concerns about the sustainability of U.S. government finances, leading investors to move away from the dollar.
3. Policy Uncertainty: The unpredictable nature of U.S. policy under Trump has shaken investor confidence, as seen in the dollar's unusual decline even as U.S. interest rates remain relatively high compared to other developed nations.
4. Shifting Investor Sentiment: Investors are re-evaluating the dollar's long-standing position as a safe asset. They are showing increased interest in other safe-haven assets and growth prospects outside the U.S.

1. Stronger Euro: The dollar's fall has led to a significant strengthening of the euro and other currencies as investors seek alternatives.
2. Impact on U.S. Assets: A weaker dollar may encourage American investors to invest more heavily in foreign equities, potentially affecting U.S. markets.

MAGA rages over Trump's Chinese students announcement
Axios | Tal Axelrod | 08/27/25

MAGA is outraged over President Trump's announcement that he'll allow 600,000 Chinese students to attend U.S. universities, which touches on several of the movement's most potent third rails.

Why it matters: Trump's base is perpetually wary of Beijing's influence in the U.S., obsessed with protecting American jobs from foreigners, and hostile toward what it sees as "woke" ideology in higher education.

Taken together, MAGA sees the potential influx of Chinese students into American universities - already viewed by the right as liberal bastions - as a direct provocation.

Driving the news: Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that he would greenlight 600,000 Chinese students as part of his efforts to improve relations with Beijing. ... Read more

Trump threatens ABC and NBC over "BAD STORIES"
Axios | Avery Lotz | 08/25/25

President Trump on Sunday suggested news networks ABC and NBC were "AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY" and said he would be "in favor" of the Federal Communications Commission pulling their broadcast licenses.

Why it matters: Trump has long publicly aired complaints about his media coverage. As Axios' Sara Fischer and Christine Wang report, his threats of regulatory scrutiny and private lawsuits against what he claims is the "Fake News" have had very real impacts.

His administration has crusaded against public broadcasting, singled out the Associated Press and launched probes into broadcasters and stations, sparking fears of political retribution.... Read more

'Trump's Up to Something SINISTER No One is Talking About' - Robert Reich | Robert Reich | Political Voices Network | 08/23/25 | 10:57

In the Trump era, the economic elite find themselves in the wilderness
Axios | Neil Irwin | 08/25/25

Their words create trillion-dollar swings in markets; their actions can determine the fates of nations. But among the central bankers who gathered in Jackson Hole, Wyo., in recent days, there was a palpable sense that their moment at the helm of the world economy may have passed.

The big picture: Bedrock concepts that economists hold dear - of central bank independence, reliable data collection, and technocratic decision-making - are under threat in ways that have left the global central banking community discombobulated.

In formal proceedings at the Kansas City Fed's annual economic symposium this weekend, there were only the subtlest of references to the Trump administration's actions that throw Federal Reserve independence and government economic data into doubt.

But in whispered private conversations against the stunning backdrop of the Grand Tetons, there was melancholy - a fear that the war for empiricism and independence may already be lost. ... ... ... Read more

Fmr. FBI agent weighs in on FBI's search of John Bolton's home | MSNBC | 08/22/25 | 6:27

Donald Trump's South Park Appearance Sparks MAGA Meltdown | Pod Save America | 08/22/25 | 17:34

Trump's three-step strategy for Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Axios | Marc Caputo | 08/18/25

Forget about a ceasefire right now. President Trump's sole short-term goal for his Russia-Ukraine diplomacy, advisers say, is to get the countries' leaders face-to-face to talk peace.

"Everything else is foreplay," a Trump adviser tells Axios. "Everything is to get to that moment for peace."

Why it matters: Trump was heavily criticized for abruptly abandoning his demand for a ceasefire from Russian President Vladimir Putin during their Alaska summit on Friday.

Putin has increased the pressure on Ukraine militarily by pressing forward with the invasion and intensifying missile and drone strikes in the hopes of gobbling up more territory, giving him more leverage at the negotiating table. ... ... ... Read more

Trump's Inner Circle Drops F-Bomb Post Putin Alaska Meeting: Michael Wolff | The Daily Beast | 08/17/25 | 25:43

Hurricane Erin strengthens to Category 5
Axios | Lauren Floyd | 08/17/25

Hurricane Erin has intensified to a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds at 160mph, per the National Hurricane Center.

Threat level: A new advisory Saturday from the hurricane center is forecasting "life-threatening surf and rip currents" for the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the East Coast next week.

Swells from Erin, which on Friday was at a Category 1, will impact the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and Turks and Caicos through the weekend. ... Read more

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The Trump administration is undermining — or has stopped collecting - key, once-nonpartisan data that kept the public informed about the state of the nation.

Why it matters: From Congress to city halls to boardrooms, critical decisions rely on accurate government data and public trust in that data. Without it, leaders risk making costly mistakes that could affect millions.

Zoom in: Across economics, energy, and health care, data once seen as trusted and apolitical is increasingly caught in the political crossfire.

On top of that, widespread staff cuts across government are pushing agencies to scale back some data collection. ... Read more

Putin visits U.S. for Trump summit as a peer, not a pariah
Axios | Dave Lawler, Barak Ravid | 08/15/25

For President Trump, today's summit in Alaska is all about "the first couple of minutes" - that's how long it'll take to know whether Vladimir Putin is serious about peace.

Putin, by contrast, seems to be taking a longer view.

Why it matters: For the Russian leader, this summit is about more than a ceasefire - more even than Ukraine. He'll visit the U.S. as a peer, not a pariah, with an opportunity to nudge superpower relations onto a more favorable course.

But he'll also have to contend with Trump's desire for immediate results. ... ... ... Read more

Trump is moving fast on private equity in 401(k) plans
Axios | Dan Primack | 08/15/25

It's been a week since President Trump issued an executive order to encourage 401(k) investment in private equity, and the biggest surprise so far is how quickly the rest of his administration has activated.

Why it matters: There will be a steep learning curve for all participants, but it can't really begin until the White House does its foundational work.

Driving the news: The Labor Department on Tuesday rescinded a Biden-era statement that cautioned retirement plan fiduciaries against including private equity in 401(k) plans.

According to DOL, that statement "had a chilling effect on the market and took a dismissive view of alternative assets and the capabilities of plan fiduciaries." ... Read more

Trump's ceasefire goal raises stakes of Putin summit
Axios | Dave Lawler, Marc Caputo | date

President Trump just upped the ante for Friday's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin - both for the war in Ukraine and his own credibility. Three advisers who've been in the room as Trump discussed the summit are adamant he's not bluffing.

Why it matters: This is no longer just a "feel-out meeting," as Trump originally labeled it. Not after he privately told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO leaders that his goal was a ceasefire, and then publicly threatened Putin with "very severe consequences" if he doesn't agree to stop the fighting.

What they're saying: "This is Trump being the most serious he has ever been and the most direct. He wants to show the world," a senior U.S. official told Axios.

"Now, the onus is on Putin: agree to a ceasefire or show real movement or there will be severe repercussions," the official continued. "Putin has to show very positive movement." ... Read more

Violent crime in border cities fell below national rate in 2024
Axios | Russell Contreras | 08/14/25

Several U.S. border communities saw violent crime drop below the national average in 2024, as nationwide rates fell to 20-year lows, according to new FBI data analyzed by Axios.

Why it matters: The findings from last year run counter to claims by President Trump and GOP leaders, who painted border towns as crime hotspots because of newly arrived immigrants.

The big picture: Eleven border cities examined annually by Axios - Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio and El Paso in Texas; Sunland Park in New Mexico; Nogales and Yuma in Arizona; and Calexico and San Diego in California - had an average violent crime rate of 356.5 per 100,000 residents.

That was a sizable drop from 2023 and was slightly below the national average of 359.1 violent crimes per 100,000 residents last year, FBI numbers show. ... Read more

Wildfires claim third life in Spain as intense heat continues across Europe
TheGuardian | Ajit Niranjan | 08/14/25

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez says threat remains extreme as overwhelmed governments call in support from neighbours

A volunteer firefighter died after battling a blaze in Castile and Leon, authorities said on Thursday, after the death of a fellow volunteer in the same region on Tuesday. A man died on the outskirts of Madrid on Monday as he tried to save horses from a burning stable.

"Death strikes us again with the loss of a second volunteer who has lost their life in Leon," Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said on Thursday. He thanked the "heroes" protecting people from fires and said "the threat remains extreme". ... Read more

Zelensky scrambles to avert disaster as Trump meets Putin
Axios | Barak Ravid, Dave Lawler, Marc Caputo | 08/13/25

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team are doing everything in their power to influence President Trump's thinking before he sits down with Vladimir Putin. His last big chance could come on Wednesday.

Why it matters: Zelensky is staring down a perfect storm: a sudden Russian battlefield breakthrough, mounting discontent at home, and a high-stakes summit in Alaska on Friday that could back him into a diplomatic corner.

The big picture: Trump is expected to hold a virtual meeting Wednesday with Zelensky and a group of European leaders, two sources with knowledge of the plans tell Axios. ... ... ... Read more

Donald Trump Signs Executive Order AUTHORIZING MASS DETENTION OF AMERICAN CITIZENS!!! | Brittany Page | 08/02/25 | 16:38

"Unheard of and ominous": Trump's D.C. homelessness crackdown perplexes advocates
Axios | Avery Lotz | 08/13/25

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C., are bracing for President Trump's district crackdown and warning that making homeless populations invisible is not the same as resolving the crisis.

The big picture: They began devising plans with few details and limited resources to work with. And for those experiencing homelessness, advocates say, forced relocation may mean separation from family, supportive services and healthcare providers.

What they're saying: Homelessness "is not a crime," said Donald Whitehead, the executive director of the D.C.-headquartered National Coalition for the Homeless.

"And if we're going to solve this, what we have to do is address homelessness and not put the blame on people experiencing homelessness," he added. ... ... ... Read more

'This Isn't a Presidency, It's a One-Man Circus': Sachs Tears Into Trump's Trade War | Times Now World | 08/02/25 | 55:06

These are the cities Trump targeted next after federalizing D.C. police
Axios | Josephine Walker | 08/12/25

Why it matters: Trump's D.C. takeover is a major escalation of federal control not frequently seen in America, and further illustrates his willingness to target Democratic-led cities while testing the limits of presidential authority.

While announcing the D.C. crackdown, Trump also named Los Angeles, Baltimore, Oakland, New York and Chicago as cities that are "bad, very bad," without offering specific reasons why.

He said D.C.'s crime rates and its homeless population are why he's intervening in the nation's Capital despite the Justice Department in January declaring violent crimes are at a 30-year low.

The president for years has accused immigrants of committing crimes, despite evidence to the contrary. ... ... ... Read more

Trump's DC Takeover EXPLAINED | Leeja Miller | 08/11/25 | 21:36

Trump admin claims Social Security, Medicare at risk if tariffs blockede
Axios | Ben Berkowitz | 08/11/25

The Trump administration on Monday told a federal appellate court that overturning the president's tariffs could lead to a 1929-style depression that would endanger federal benefits like Social Security and Medicare.

Why it matters: The letter from Solicitor General D. John Sauer and assistant attorney general Brett Shumate claims the U.S. would be on the hook to repay trillions of dollars it hasn't actually been paid, from deals that haven't yet been fully signed.

Catch up quick: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is due to rule soon on whether to uphold or overturn the Court of International Trade's late-May ruling striking down most of Trump's tariffs. ... Read more

These industries are the most reliant on noncitizen workers
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Axios | Alex Fitzpatrick, Kavya Beheraj | 08/12/25

The U.S. construction, agriculture/mining and accommodation/food services industries have the greatest shares of foreign-born noncitizen workers, per census data.

Why it matters: President Trump earlier this summer acknowledged that his massive immigration crackdown is "taking very good, long time workers away from" the farming and hotel industries, and promised changes.

Yet there's still no major policy decision from the White House, which must balance economic realities with MAGA demands to deport as many people as possible.

By the numbers: Foreign-born noncitizens - including those who are legal residents or have work visas - make up 8.3% of the country's civilian workforce age 16 and older, based on a 2019-2023 average of U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

They account for 17.5% of construction workers; 17.1% of those in agriculture and mining; and 11% of those in accommodations, food service and recreation. ... Read more

Trump is the most corrupt president in history. Here's why. | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics | 06/11/25 | 8:00

How Trump is using his power to profit and why no one will stop him | Washington Week PBS | 06/11/25 | 16:56

Trump to deploy National Guard to D.C. and federalize city police
Axios | Mimi Montgomery | 08/11/25

President Trump announced Monday that he's seizing control of D.C.'s police force and deploying the National Guard into the city.

Why it matters: It's a major escalation of a federal crackdown already underway in the nation's capital as Trump targets crime in the District following the assault of a former DOGE staffer.

The big picture: The news comes on what Trump is calling the "Liberation Day" of D.C., which he has said is "one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World," despite crime declining in the District.

What they're saying: "We're going to take our Capital back," Trump said at the Monday press conference.

"[It's] been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and we're not going to let it happen anymore." ... Read more

White House roils markets with giant tariff revisions
Axios | Madison Mills | 08/11/25

The White House continues to roll out sweeping tariff announcements with little detail, leaving investors scrambling for information.

Then, often days later, key clarifications or exemptions follow.

Why it matters: Even countries with direct involvement in the trade deals seem caught off guard by White House statements.

What they're saying: "Washington is just randomly shooting, and they are shooting some like-minded countries from behind," Taro Kono, a member of Japan's House of Representatives, said in a briefing, per the New York Times.

Zoom in: Henrietta Treyz, the director of economic policy research at Veda Partners, tells Axios that this "mass confusion" stands out in several specific events that have "rocked markets" in the last month alone. ... Read more

OpenAI aims GPT-5 at Anthropic's coding crown
Axios | Ina Fried | 08/08/25

aOpenAI's new GPT-5 model - the engine that will power its key products, including the free and paid versions of ChatGPT - throws down a gauntlet to its arch-competitor Anthropic.

The big picture: Anthropic's Claude is frequently viewed as the best AI for writing code, which could be the reason OpenAI leaned so heavily on GPT-5's coding skills as the company introduced its new model Thursday.

Catch-up quick: GPT-5 is OpenAI's first model to combine a traditional large language model with reasoning capabilities that allow AI engines to achieve better results by using more computing time to address a task.

Pietro Schirano, CEO of AI startup MagicPath, called GPT-5 the best coding model out there and a great collaborator. "This is electricity arriving in every home," he posted on X, "a before and after moment for how we build." ... Read more

Ontario Premier Doug Ford torches Donald Trump over his escalating attacks on Canada, America's closest ally, and says that Trump is "the most disliked politician in the world in Canada."

At this point, who can blame them?

"What's the general impression of Trump in Canada?" asked CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"He's probably the most disliked politician in the world in Canada, because he's attacked his closest family member, and that's the way we look on it," said Ford.

Last week, Trump spiked his broad tariffs on Canadian goods from 25% to 35% after his MAGA minions failed to hammer out the deal that his administration had promised.

The U.S. economy depends on the rich. That could hurt the labor market
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Axios | Madison Mills | 08/08/25

Spending is being held up by the wealthy, while consumption from middle and lower income groups continues to fade.

Why it matters: The tale of two economies, also called a K-shaped recovery, is taking shape before tariffs have even taken effect, which could further pressure lower-income spenders, and potentially, the labor market.

Catch up quick: The top 20% of earners now make up over half of consumer spending, according to Moody's.

Meantime, spending from middle and lower income consumers has flatlined to kick off 2025, roughly in line with inflation.

Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of GDP, meaning that it largely determines whether our economy is growing or slowing. ... Read more

Social Security offices lost an estimated 20% of staff this year
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Axios | Emily Peck | 08/07/25

Workers inside the agency that oversees Social Security warn that they're buckling under the strain of understaffing — accelerated by recent Trump administration initiatives.

Why it matters: Americans applying for benefits or needing help at their local Social Security field offices are facing delays, workers say.

"When it takes too long to get your benefits into your bank account after you file because of the understaffing situation, you're going months and months without needed income that was promised to you because you paid in your whole life," says Jessica LaPointe, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220, which represents about 25,000 Social Security Administration employees.

The big picture: Attrition and understaffing are long-standing problems at the agency that every presidential administration has needed to manage.

The Trump administration's hiring freeze and efforts to force out employees with early retirement and buyout offers, made a tough situation worse, employees say.

That's particularly the case inside the more than 1,200 local field offices, the agency's "front-door," where folks go to apply for benefits, get new Social Security cards and conduct other business with the agency. ... Read more

US national parks staff in 'survival mode' to keep parks open amid Trump cuts
TheGuadian | Oliver Milman | 08/07/25

Across the US's fabled but overstretched national parks, unusual scenes are playing out this summer following budget cuts by Donald Trump's administration. Archeologists are staffing ticket booths, ecologists are covering visitor centers and the superintendents of parks are even cleaning the toilets.

The National Park Service (NPS), responsible for maintaining cherished wildernesses and sites of cultural importance from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty, has lost a quarter of its permanent staff since Trump took office in January, with the administration seeking to gut the service's budget by a third.

But the administration has also ordered parks to remain open and accessible to the public, meaning the NPS has had to scramble remaining staff into public-facing roles to maintain appearances to the crowds of visitors. This has meant much of the behind-the-scenes work to protect endangered species, battle invasive plants, fix crumbling infrastructure or plan for the future needs of the US's trove of natural wonders has been jettisoned. ... Read more

OpenAI's new models reshape the race with China
Axios | Ina Fried | 08/06/25

OpenAI's release of two open source models Tuesday propels the U.S. forward in its AI race with China, industry leaders told Axios.

The big picture: The arrival of China's DeepSeek model earlier this year - combined with Meta's refocusing of its open source efforts - had intensified concerns that China's open models could end up dominating the global market.

State of play: OpenAI's new models are designed for customers who want the cost savings and privacy that come from running AI models directly on their own devices rather than relying on cloud-based services like ChatGPT or its rivals.

The company is also pitching the models to countries seeking greater control, local data storage and independence from cloud providers like Google and Microsoft. ...

1. The first, a 117 billion parameter model called gpt-oss-120b, can run on a single GPU with 80 gigabytes of RAM.
2. The second, with 21 billion parameters called gpt-oss-20b, is designed to run on laptops or other devices with 16 gigabytes of RAM.

Trump admin pulls funding for new mRNA vaccines
Axios | Adriel Bettelheim | 08/06/25

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that the government is pulling $500 million in funding to develop new mRNA vaccines in order to focus on "safer, broader vaccine platforms."

Why it matters: Among the 22 contracts the Trump administration said it is winding down is a Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority award to Moderna to develop a new line of defense against H5N1 bird flu.

The administration said is also rejecting or canceling proposals from Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur that were part of a BARDA rapid response partnership.

What they're saying: Kennedy said data showed the vaccines in question "fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu." ... Read more

Trump "happy to hear" DOJ launched grand jury probe of Obama officials
Axios | Avery Lotz | 08/05/25

President Trump on Tuesday said he was "happy to hear" that Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury probe into the Obama administration's handling of the investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election.

A grand jury investigation will enable prosecutors to subpoena documents and present evidence to secure a potential indictment.

In a rare rebuke last month, a spokesperson for former President Obama called the administration's accusations "outrageous," "bizarre" and "a weak attempt at distraction."

Whom the grand jury will investigate from the Obama administration and what, if any, charges they could face remains unclear.

The DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. ... Read more

Deferred Prosecution Agreements: Last Week Tonight | John Oliver | 08/04/25 | 25:27

Trump's EU arms sales boast doesn't add up
Politico | Chris Lunday and Laura Kayali | 07/28/25

The European Union let Donald Trump claim a political win on defense - but it's unlikely the trade deal will boost U.S. weapons purchases by EU countries more than originally planned.

After the U.S. president emerged from Sunday's transatlantic trade talks boasting that the EU would buy "vast amounts" of American weapons worth "hundreds of billions," European officials quietly clarified nothing concrete on arms had been agreed.

"Arms procurement is not a matter for the Commission," one senior EU official told reporters on Monday. "This was more an expression of expectation on the part of President Trump that the increased defense expenditure would benefit U.S. defense companies... But it was not calculated in any way into the figures we talked about." ... Read more

'Trump Brazenly Preyed on Me as Epstein Watched' | The Daily Beast Podcast | 08/05/25 | 43:04

The Ultimate WORST of TRUMP | WHY | 2021 | 15:09

Garbage and Waste | 60 Minutes | older/reaired 08/03/25 | 52:37

Trump's authoritarian streak
Axios | Zachary Basu | 08/02/25

A five-alarm fire tore through the economic establishment Friday after President Trump ousted the government's top labor statistician, accusing her- without evidence - of "rigging" a weak jobs report.

Why it matters: It's just one glaring example from a week that bore many authoritarian hallmarks - purging dissenters, rewriting history, criminalizing opposition and demanding total institutional loyalty.

The big picture: The overwhelming, all-consuming nature of Trump-driven news cycles makes it difficult to discern partisan hysteria from true democratic backsliding.

But apply any of these five storylines from the past week to a foreign leader - or even a past U.S. president - and it reads like an authoritarian playbook. ... Read more

Is a second 'China shock' coming? | Fareed Zakaria, GPS | 07/27/25 | 5:21

How dumb can you be... TheDailyShow | 07/27/25 | 5:21

Trumps Cruelty Machine - Where Pain is Policy & Fear is the Fuel | 07/27/25 | 5:21

Beaten-down carmakers smell fatter profits under Trump
Axios | Joann Muller | 08/04/25

For all their complaints about how unfair President Trump's tariffs are for U.S. automakers, the industry seems quite pleased with his environmental policies, which lift a massive regulatory cost burden.

Why it matters: Trump's agenda could wind up as a net win for the auto industry, allowing them to sell more high-margin, U.S.-built trucks and SUVs for the foreseeable future, while avoiding penalties for not building enough electric vehicles.

Stunning stat: Together, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis are projecting nearly $10 billion in gross tariff costs this year.

For the most part, they're eating those taxes rather than passing them on to consumers.

Yes, but: Trump's deregulation policies could help them offset most or all of that burden, depending on the outcome of continuing trade talks. ... Read more

Here are the winners and losers of the trade war
Axios | Madison Mills | 08/01/25

"I think there's a disconnect between the superlative performance of the US equity market and the mediocrity of the American economy," says David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan, who thinks tariff-driven inflation has yet to fully hit consumers.

Based on several Axios Markets interviews, here are the winners and losers of the trade war.

1. Winners: Financials, Big Tech, utilities, communications.
2. Losers: Consumer staples, energy, real estate, health care.
3. Mixed: Consumer discretionary, industrials, materials.

Trump's Cruelty Machine - Where Pain is Policy & Fear is the Fuel | Thom Hartmann | 06/31/25 | 3:59

Trump hits Canada with 35% tariff, keeps global baseline at 10%
Axios | Ben Berkowitz | 08/01/25

President Trump on Thursday confirmed imports from most countries will face a tariff rate of 10%, while raising levies on Canada to 35% and lowering rates on many other countries.

Why it matters: The baseline rate is unchanged from the global duties Trump first set in April, and will come as a relief given his recent hints it could double.

But the higher levy on Canada that took effect at 12:01am Friday ET, one of the top U.S. trading partners, threatens to strain an already heavily damaged relationship.

Driving the news: After months of delays, sweeping global tariffs are meant to take effect Friday.

The U.S. has made some trade deals, or at least short-term truces, though most countries are simply being assigned a rate. ... Read more

Trump bids to scrap almost all pollution regulations – can anything stop this?
Politico | Dharna Noor and Oliver Milman | 07/31/25

EPA tries to rescind 'endangerment finding' - part of 'drill, baby, drill' agenda that experts say poses grave threat

The Trump administration is attempting to unmake virtually all climate US regulations in one fell swoop.

At an Indiana truck dealership on Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a proposal to rescind the 16-year-old landmark legal finding which allows the agency to limit planet-heating pollution from cars and trucks, power plants and other industrial sources.

"The proposal would, if finalized, amount to the largest deregulatory action in the history of the United States," said the EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin. ... Read more