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Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill: Last Week Tonight | John Oliver | 06/29/25 | 25:01

The four-day workweek gets a new booster: AI
Axios | Emily Peck | 06/29/25

If you can get more done in less time using AI, why not work fewer hours?

Why it matters: The idea is gaining traction among proponents of the four-day workweek, and at least one software startup CEO tells Axios that he's moved his company to a 32-hour week - with no change in pay - because of AI.

Where it stands: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) brought it up on Joe Rogan's podcast recently.

"You're a worker, your productivity is increasing because we give you AI, right?" Sanders said. "Instead of throwing you out on the street, I'm going to reduce your workweek to 32 hours." ... ... ... Read more

Thom Tillis denounces GOP megabill's Medicaid cuts in fiery speech
Politico | Mia McCarthy | 06/29/25

Thom Tillis denounces GOP megabill's Medicaid cuts in fiery speech

Hours after announcing his retirement, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis went to the Senate floor and slammed the GOP's plans for drastic Medicaid cuts - warning Republicans they are about to "make a mistake on health care and betray a promise" if their sprawling domestic policy bill passes.

"It is inescapable this bill will betray the promise Donald Trump made," Tillis said. "I'm telling the president that you have been misinformed. You supporting the Senate mark will hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid."

Tillis, who opposed the bill on a procedural vote Saturday night and then announced Sunday he would not seek reelection, said he could not vote for the Senate's bill because of provisions that he said would kick some 663,000 residents of his state off their health care plans. He called on the Senate GOP to jettison its "artificial" July 4 deadline and rewrite the bill. ... Read more

The housing market is in the absolute dumps
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Axios | Emily Peck | 06/27/25

Even as the stock market approaches an all-time high, there is a big dark cloud hovering over the economy: the housing market.

Why it matters: Home sales are hovering at historic lows, as economic uncertainty and high mortgage rates hold back buying.

By the numbers: Pending home sales - deals that are in contract but not yet closed - rose 1.8% in May over last month but are still at record lows, per data from the National Association of Realtors released Thursday.

The only other time over the past 20 years that pending home sales have been this low was in 2020, when COVID briefly froze the real estate market. ... Read more

Big America hedge affects dollar's global standing
Axios | Courtenay Brown | 06/27/25

Some Wall Street veterans say appetite for the U.S. dollar is waning in ways not seen in years.

Why it matters: It could be the great unwind of the greenback binge of the past decade, when exposure to America was the world's safest - and a highly rewarding - investment. Now investors are hedging those bets.

What they're saying: "We're in a new era, where global investors no longer reflexively buy dollars or treasuries at the first sign of trouble," Jason Thomas, the head of global research and investment strategy at Carlyle, tells Axios.

Themos Fiotakis, a currency strategist at Barclays, puts it this way: "Since April, there's this trend that investors are trying to reduce the amount of dollar exposure. Some of that is a little bit of normalization, but there is a sense they need to go even deeper." ... ... ... Read more

The Shady World of Surveillance Pricing | Robert Reich | 0613/25 | 5:10

Iran's Khamenei claims U.S. strike didn't cause major damage to nuclear facilities
Axios | Barak Ravid | 06/26/25

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei claimed in a video message published on Thursday that the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities had no major effect.

Why it matters: Khamenei's video marked the first time he has been seen in a week. His absence has raised concerns about his health and whether he remains involved in Iran's decision-making.

Khamenei is still believed to be hiding in the bunker, where he reportedly went amid fears of an assassination attempt from Israel at the start of the 12-day war between the two nations.

Zoom out: The brief conflict between the two nations has come at a high cost for Iran's leader.

Khamenei is facing the loss of top military leadership, the near-total destruction of Iran's nuclear program, the deaths of key nuclear scientists, the elimination of half his ballistic missile force, and the near-collapse of the nation's air defenses.

The war ended with Iran at its weakest point since its devastating eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s. ... Read more

Exclusive: How Claude became an emotional support bot
Axios | Megan Morrone | 06/26/25

People who talk to Anthropic's Claude chatbot about emotional issues tend to grow more positive as the conversation unfolds, according to new Anthropic research shared exclusively with Axios.

Why it matters: Having a trusted confidant available 24/7 can make people feel less alone, but chatbots weren't designed for emotional support.

Bots have displayed troubling tendencies, like reinforcing delusional behavior or encouraging self-harm, that are especially problematic for young people or adults struggling with their mental health.

Driving the news: Anthropic released new research Thursday that explores how users turn to its chatbot for support and connection and what happens when they do. ... ... ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: An AI Marshall Plan
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 06/25/25

If politics and public debate were a rational, fact-based exercise, the government, business and the media would be obsessed with preparation for the unfolding AI revolution - rather than ephemeral outrage eruptions.

Why it matters: That's not how Washington works. So while CEOs, Silicon Valley and a few experts inside government see AI as an opportunity, and threat, worthy of a modern Marshall Plan, most of America - and Congress - shrugs.

One common question: What can we actually do, anyway?

A lot. We've talked to scores of CEOs, government officials and AI executives over the past few months. Based on those conversations, we pieced together specific steps the White House, Congress, businesses and workers could take now to get ahead of the high-velocity change that's unspooling.

None requires regulation or dramatic shifts. All require vastly more political and public awareness, and high-level AI sophistication. ... ... ... Read more

Citizens United Explained

Exclusive: Thune urges "light touch" on AI regulations
Axios | Stef W. Kight, Ashley Gold | 06/25/25

Senate Majority Leader John Thune expects some form of freeze on state AI regulations to remain in the "big, beautiful bill" - even as his Republicans keep debating the move.

Why it matters: States are leading the way in passing and implementing AI guardrails while Congress lags behind, and consumers say they want regulation.

The moratorium has been criticized but Thune's (R-S.D.) support for it falls in line with the number one priority among many Republicans in Washington: don't get in the way of innovation.

The big picture: "We want to be the leaders in AI and quantum and all these new technologies. And the way to do that is not to come in with a heavy hand of government, it's to come in with a light touch," Thune said.

The "big, beautiful bill" makes broadband grants contingent on states not pursuing AI regulations for the next 10 years. ... Read more

The Real Winners Of Every War. They lost the war - but made billions. This doc uncovers how U.S. defense contractors turned global conflict, from Afghanistan to Gaza, into a profit machine. | AJ+ | 06/24/25 | 11:47

The alarming rise of US officers hiding behind masks: 'A police state'
TheGuardian | Sam Levin in Los Angeles | 06/25/25

aSome wear balaclavas. Some wear neck gators, sunglasses and hats. Some wear masks and casual clothes.

Across the country, armed federal immigration officers have increasingly hidden their identities while carrying out immigration raids, arresting protesters and roughing up prominent Democratic critics.

It's a trend that has sparked alarm among civil rights and law enforcement experts alike.

Mike German, a former FBI agent, said officers' widespread use of masks was unprecedented in US law enforcement and a sign of a rapidly eroding democracy. "Masking symbolizes the drift of law enforcement away from democratic controls," he said. ... Read more

Trump declares victory as Iran, Israel acknowledge shaky ceasefire
Axios | Barak Ravid, Zachary Basu | 06/24/25

The Trump-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel has, for now, brought an abrupt and extraordinary end to one of the Middle East's most explosive confrontations in decades.

Why it matters: The 12-day war sent shockwaves through a region already reeling from nearly two years of historic volatility and violence, beginning with Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

President Trump's military intervention to destroy Iranian nuclear sites brought the U.S. to the precipice of a major conflict that four of his predecessors had sought to avoid.

But it also set the stage for a ceasefire that - if it holds - could usher in a fundamentally new era for the Middle East, its security and its dominant powers.

The latest: Israel accused Iran of breaking the ceasefire overnight Tuesday, and launched jet fighters for a retaliatory attack with plans to bomb Tehran. ... ... ... Read more

AI Slop: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | John Oliver | 06/23/25 | 29:04

Jeffrey Sachs: How Israel Will SABOTAGE Ceasefire | MSNBC | 06/24/25 | 17:07

Post-Dobbs abortions continue to increase: Report
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Axios | April Rubin | 06/23/25

The number of abortions in the U.S. continued to rise in 2024 - totaling 1.14 million - despite years of bans and restrictions on reproductive care, according to a national report released on Monday.

The big picture: Abortions delivered via telehealth have jumped significantly since Roe v. Wade was overturned, with clinicians protected by shield laws.

"Drivers of these trends are unclear, especially in the context of multiple changes in the service delivery environment," the #WeCount report from the Society of Family Planning nonprofit said. ... Read more

Iran launches missiles at U.S. military bases in Middle East
Axios | Barak Ravid | 06/23/25

Iran launched multiple missiles against American military bases in the Middle East on Monday in retaliation for the U.S. strike on its nuclear facilities this weekend, according to one Israeli official and one Arab official.

At least 10 missiles were launched toward Qatar and at least one missile launched toward Iraq, according to the Israeli official.

What they're saying: "The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar," a senior White House official told Axios.

Iranian media confirmed that an operation against U.S. military assets in the region was underway.

"We neither began the war, nor did we ask for it; but we won't let the aggression against the great Iran go unanswered," Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X shortly before the attack. ... Read more

Chris Hedges: Rule of Idiots | The Chris Hedges | 06/22/25 | 12:57

Climate poses big threat to crop production, new study says
Axios | Ben Geman | 06/20/25

Adaptation can't outrun climate change, and rich farming nations - including the U.S. - face jeopardy despite their resources, according to a major new paper on global warming and crop production.

Why it matters: It's the first look at climate effects on staple crops to weigh farmers' "real-world adaptation measures" and fold them into projections of future damage, a summary states.

The Nature paper projects losses for all staples analyzed except rice, though there's lots of regional variation.

The big picture: The paper estimates that for every 1°C of temperature rise, global food production capacity falls by 120 calories per day per person. ... Read more

Impacts of climate change on global agriculture accounting for adaptation.pdf

Trump's budget bill faces "nightmare scenario," Hawley warns
Axios | Stef W. Kight | 06/20/25

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is warning that the Senate's version of "one, big beautiful bill" can't pass the House with the Medicaid changes it unveiled this week - urging leadership to change it fast and not to let the fight drag on.

Why it matters: Hawley has been the loudest GOP voice fighting against Medicaid cuts. He was shocked and angered by the Senate going even further than the House to find Medicaid savings. House leadership's concerns could help his case.

"It seems to me that now we're in a place where this provision is threatening the entire bill, and we just don't have time for that," Hawley told Axios in a phone interview.

President Trump wants the bill on his desk on July 4, which White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reiterated to senators this week. ... ... Read more

Americans largely disapprove of U.S. involvement in Israel and Iran war: Poll
Axios | Sareen Habeshian | 06/20/25

A majority of Americans don't want the U.S. to get involved in the escalating war between Israel and Iran, a poll released this week found.

The big picture: President Trump is slated to make a decision "within two weeks" on whether to join Israel in its effort to eliminate the Iranian nuclear program, the White House said Thursday.

He's leaving the door open to a diplomatic solution in the coming days that could avert a major escalation in the Middle East, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.

Zoom in: 60% of 1,512 polled Americans think the U.S. military should not get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to an Economist/YouGov poll released this week. Only 16% support U.S. military action, and 24% are unsure. ... Read more

CEO economic outlook sinks to five-year low
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Axios | Courtenay Brown, Neil Irwin | 06/19/25

Economic sentiment among America's top CEOs plunged to the lowest level since 2020, according to a new survey by the Business Roundtable, first seen by Axios.

Why it matters: Chief executives have not been this sour on the economy since the once-in-a-century pandemic, with significant downgrading expectations for hiring, investment and sales growth.

By the numbers: The Business Roundtable's CEO Economic Outlook Index fell by 15 points to 69, a drop that brings the index well below its historical average of 83. It remains above the level that signals an economic recession.

The index decline is a result of tepid expectations for the months ahead, most notably on the hiring front.

The employment subindex plummeted by almost 19 points, with more than 40% of CEOs expecting to shrink their workforces in the next six months - up from the roughly 30% who said the same last quarter. ... Read more

G7 embraces 'realpolitik' to work around disruptive Trump
Politico | Koen Verhelst | 06/18/25

KANANASKIS, Alberta - The 2025 G7 summit ended without a unified statement on Ukraine and without the U.S. president in the room.

The failure to issue a joint declaration in support of Kyiv came despite the fact that just a few days before the confab in the Canadian Rockies, the delegations prepping for the summit were still hopeful of finding wording that was palatable to all G7 leaders, including Donald Trump, three diplomats told POLITICO.

But with time running out, it became clear to those doing the prep work that Trump would not agree to strong language against Russia, one Canadian official said. ... Read more

Congress dodges preemptive confrontation with Trump over Iran
Axios | Stephen Neukam | 06/18/25

Senate leaders are avoiding direct answers on whether President Trump needs approval from Congress before taking any military action against Iran.

Why it matters: Congress is reluctant to second-guess the commander-in-chief before he actually authorizes strikes. But Democrats have a visceral distrust of Trump, and a growing GOP faction is deeply suspicious of foreign military interventions.

"Those questions have been debated, litigated for a long time about... how much authority the President has as commander in chief," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said when asked if Trump needed congressional approval to strike Iran.

Driving the news: The world is awaiting a decision from Trump on whether he'll deploy bunker-busting bombs on Iran's underground nuclear facilities. ... ... ... Read more

After massive 'No Kings' protests, where does the Trump opposition go from here? | Rachel Maddow | 06/17/25 | 7:32

U.S. companies brace for Israel-Iran cyber spillover
Axios | Sam Sabin | 06/17/25

As Israel and Iran exchange airstrikes, cybersecurity experts are warning that a quieter, but still destructive, digital conflict is unfolding behind the scenes.

And U.S. companies could soon find themselves in the blast radius.

Why it matters: Iran and Israel are home to some of the world's most skilled hackers. Escalating tensions between the two could spill over into cyberspace, potentially disrupting critical infrastructure, commercial networks and global supply chains.

Driving the news: U.S. cybersecurity organizations are urging businesses to remain on high alert for possible Iranian cyberattacks on domestic infrastructure. ... Read more

Nasa data reveals dramatic rise in intensity of weather events
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TheGuardian | Roger Harrabin | 06/17/25

Extreme events such as floods and droughts are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more severe, study says

New data from Nasa has revealed a dramatic rise in the intensity of weather events such as droughts and floods over the past five years.

The study shows that such extreme events are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more severe, with last year’s figures reaching twice that of the 2003-2020 average.

The steepness of the rise was not foreseen. The researchers say they are amazed and alarmed by the latest figures from the watchful eye of Nasa’s Grace satellite, which tracks environmental changes in the planet. They say climate change is the most likely cause of the apparent trend, even though the intensity of extremes appears to have soared even faster than global temperatures.

A Met Office expert said increases in extremes have long been predicted but are now being seen in reality. He warned that people were unprepared for such weather events, which would be outside previous experience. ... ... ... Read more

'I have never seen such open corruption': Trump's crypto deals and loosening of rules shock observers
TheGuardian | Peter Stone | 06/17/25

After courtship with crypto industry, president now profits immensely from a sector he once said 'seems like a scam' | 'This is the looting of America': Trump and Co’s extraordinary conflicts of interest in his second term

Cryptocurrency multibillionaire Justin Sun could barely contain his glee.

Last month, Sun publicly flaunted a $100,000 Donald Trump-branded watch that he was awarded at a private dinner at Trump's Virginia golf club. Sun had earned the recognition for buying $20m dollars of the crypto memecoin $Trump, ranking him first among 220 purchasers of the token who received dinner invitations.

Trump's much-hyped 22 May dinner and a White House tour the next day for 25 leading memecoin buyers were devised to spur sales of $Trump and wound up raking in about $148m, much of it courtesy of anonymous and foreign buyers, for Trump and his partners. ... Read more

Middle East crisis live
Israel and Iran strikes continue into fifth day as Trump demands 'complete give-up' by Tehran - latest updates
magazine | author | date

Iran’s ambassador to the UK insisted his country had no intention of building a nuclear weapon as he clashed with MPs on Tuesday.

Seyed Ali Mousavi told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee that Iran’s nuclear programme was "only peaceful", insisting: "There is no desire, not any intention, to produce a nuclear bomb."

His comments come less than a week after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran for failing to comply with nonproliferation obligations intended to stop it developing a nuclear weapon.

Tehran is reported to have enriched uranium up to 60%, requiring only a short technical step to reach the weapons-grade level of 90%. ... Read more
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Just Tell Me About His Inntelligence

I Was Donald Trumps Closest Friend

Behind the Curtain: What if they're right?
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 06/16/25

During our recent interview, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said something arresting that we just can't shake: Everyone assumes AI optimists and doomers are simply exaggerating. But no one asks: "Well, what if they're right?"

Why it matters: We wanted to apply this question to what seems like the most outlandish AI claim - that in coming years, large language models could exceed human intelligence and operate beyond our control, threatening human existence.

That probably strikes you as science-fiction hype.

But Axios research shows at least 10 people have quit the biggest AI companies over grave concerns about the technology's power, including its potential to wipe away humanity. If it were one or two people, the cases would be easy to dismiss as nutty outliers. But several top execs at several top companies, all with similar warnings? Seems worth wondering: Well, what if they're right?

And get this: Even more people who are AI enthusiasts or optimists argue the same thing. They, too, see a technology starting to think like humans, and imagine models a few years from now starting to act like us — or beyond us. Elon Musk has put the risk as high as 20% that AI could destroy the world. Well, what if he's right? ... ... ... Read more

Sen. Alex Padilla on meeting with Noem after removal from her press conference | Face the Nation | 06/16/25 | 3:34

Donald Trump has changed the world forever. This is how | Anne Applebaum interview | PoliticsJOE | 06/15/25 | 40:09

What to know about the Minnesota shooting suspect
Axios | Avery Lotz | 06/16/25

Police on Sunday arrested a man they believe assassinated Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, in one of two shootings that targeted state lawmakers.

The big picture: The massive manhunt for the 57-year-old suspect - what officials called the largest in state history - sent shockwaves through Minnesota and exacerbated security fears among elected officials.

The killing of Hortman and her husband and the wounding of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife set off a nearly two-day manhunt.

Democratic Gov. Tim Walz described the attack as what appeared to be a "politically motivated assassination."

Driving the news: Late Sunday, authorities from multiple agencies apprehended the suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, in a rural area southwest of the Twin Cities, Walz said. ... Read more

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, June 13, 2025 | Washington Week PBS | 06/13/25 | 26:46

Israel's strike on Iran was 8 months in the making
Axios | Barak Ravid, Dave Lawler | 06/13/25

Israel's stunning and sprawling operation overnight targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, missile sites, scientists and generals followed eight months of intensive clandestine preparations.

Why it matters: The operation launched a new war in the Middle East that could draw in the U.S., demolished any hopes of a nuclear deal, and dealt arguably the biggest single blow to the Iranian regime since the 1979 revolution. And it is only just beginning.

Driving the news: Israel is attempting to "eliminate" Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities in an operation expected to last at least several days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced. Other Israeli officials said it could take weeks.

Israel attempted - just in the opening hours - to assassinate nuclear scientists it claims had the know-how to make a nuclear bomb. Around 25 scientists were targeted and at least two are confirmed dead so far. ... ... ... Read more

Trump Hits Les Miz, Elon Repents & RFK Jr. Infects CDC's Vaccine Committee | The Daily Show | 06/12/25 | 10:50

Hyenas fighting over a carcass: Michael Cohen on the split between Musk and Trump | MSNBC | 06/09/25 | 10:11

Trumps Birthday Military Parade Cancelled at the very final second?? | Rachel Madden | 06/12/25 | 13:56

Troops and marines deeply troubled by LA deployment: 'Morale is not great'
TheGuardian | Andrew Gumbel | date06/12/25

Several service members told advocacy groups they felt like pawns in a political game and assignment was unnecessary

California national guards troops and marines deployed to Los Angeles to help restore order after days of protest against the Trump administration have told friends and family members they are deeply unhappy about the assignment and worry their only meaningful role will be as pawns in a political battle they do not want to join.

Three different advocacy organisations representing military families said they had heard from dozens of affected service members who expressed discomfort about being drawn into a domestic policing operation outside their normal field of operations. The groups said they have heard no countervailing opinions. ... Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Governor Newsom ADDRESSES State and Nation LIVE | MeidasTouch | 06/10/25 | 8:40

Trump's dealmaker image hits a wall
Axios | Dan Primack, Dave Lawler | 06/12/25

President Trump's reputation as a consummate dealmaker is being challenged by his second-term record.

Why it matters: Supporters inside and outside the White House regularly rhapsodize his negotiating skills. Unorthodox moves are lauded as part of "The Art of the Deal."

If Trump's dealmaking stature were to erode, it could limit his flexibility on everything from tariffs to taxes.

Trump at his best!

A decades-in-the-making immigration war
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 06/11/25

President Trump undoubtedly stands on strong political ground, backed by most Americans, in cases where he's deporting convicted criminals.

Now comes a new test, literally 40 years in the making: How comfortable are Americans with deporting millions of immigrants who paid taxes, built families and committed no crimes after coming here illegally?

Why it matters: That's the heart of the standoff in LA, as well as the broader Trump effort to expel potentially millions of immigrants who broke the law to get here and then played by U.S. rules.

"I said it from Day 1: If you're in the country illegally, you're not off the table," Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, told the N.Y. Times. "So, we're opening that aperture up." ... ... ... Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Governor Newsom ADDRESSES State and Nation LIVE | MeidasTouch | 06/10/25 | 8:40

The US Bond Market Is Collapsing - JP Morgan's Final Warning! | Economic Shift | 06/10/25 | 14:49

Stealth Bailout Begins as $10B Buyback Hides Collapsing Demand | ITM TRADING, INC. | 06/10/25 | 10:36

Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired
TheGuardian | Eric Holthaus | 06/11/25

Climate.gov, which supports public education on climate science, will soon no longer publish new content

A major US government website supporting public education on climate science looks likely to be shuttered after almost all of its staff were fired, the Guardian has learned.

Climate.gov, the gateway website for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa)'s Climate Program Office, will imminently no longer publish new content, according to multiple former staff responsible for the site's content whose contracts were recently terminated.

"The entire content production staff at climate.gov (including me) were let go from our government contract on 31 May," said a former government contractor who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. "We were told that our positions within the contract were being eliminated." ... Read more

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks.

Major physicians and public health groups criticized the move to oust all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Kennedy, who was one of the nation's leading anti-vaccine activists before becoming the nation's top health official, has not said who he would appoint to the panel, but said it would convene in just two weeks in Atlanta. ... Read more

Trump using L.A. unrest to push his big bill in D.C.e
Axios | Marc Caputo | 06/10/25

President Trump and his allies have a new message for wobbly Republicans in Congress: Either support his "Big Beautiful Bill" or get bashed for backing the Los Angeles protesters waving Mexican flags in front of burning cars.

Why it matters: It's a sign of the political hardball Trump is playing within his own party. At the same time, he's squeezing California's Democratic leaders with what critics call an over-the-top response to protests fueled by his immigration crackdown.

The drama in L.A. has helped the White House shift some of its focus from Trump's feud with Elon Musk and place it squarely on immigration - an issue on which Trump continues to poll relatively well despite growing discontent over his aggressive push for arrests and deportations.

As California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass accuse Trump of escalating the tension there, the White House sees a chance to attack sanctuary city policies, embarrass Democrats and show the need for the immigration funding in the mammoth bill that most Republicans strongly support. ... ... ... Read more

Trump & The Press: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | John Oliver | 06/01/25 | 28:29

Air Traffic Control: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | John Oliver | 06/03/25 | 29:31

The scariest AI reality
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 06/09/25

The wildest, scariest, indisputable truth about AI's large language models is that the companies building them don't know exactly why or how they work.

Sit with that for a moment. The most powerful companies, racing to build the most powerful superhuman intelligence capabilities - ones they readily admit occasionally go rogue to make things up, or even threaten their users — don't know why their machines do what they do.

Why it matters: With the companies pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into willing superhuman intelligence into a quick existence, and Washington doing nothing to slow or police them, it seems worth dissecting this Great Unknown.

None of the AI companies dispute this. They marvel at the mystery - and muse about it publicly. They're working feverishly to better understand it. They argue you don't need to fully understand a technology to tame or trust it. ... Read more

Trump shrugs off possible reconciliation with Musk
Axios | Avery Lotz | 06/09/25

President Trump said he assumes his relationship with Elon Musk has ended and that he has no desire to repair it after the pair publicly fell out last week. "I think it's a shame that he's so depressed and so heartbroken," Trump said of the billionaire in a phone call with NBC News' Kristen Welker. The big picture: Trump's comments also came with a warning to Musk when the president said the Tesla CEO could face "serious consequences" should he fund Democratic candidates in the next election running against Republicans who vote for Trump's "big, beautiful bill." The billionaire, who contributed more than $290 million to Republicans in the 2024 election but has since said he'd cut back on political spending, posted last week that politicians "who betrayed the American people" should be fired in November. ... ... ... Read more

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode | Washington Week PBS | 06/06/25 | 24:10

Ray Dalio: U.S. Will "Hit the Rocks" Without Bipartisan Debt Fix | Amanpour and Company | 06/06/25 | 18:02

When Does US Debt Become Genuinely Bad? | WSJ | 06/06/25 | 7:35

Musk Promised $2T in Cuts. How Much Did DOGE Actually Save? | WSJ | 06/01/25 | 7:36

How Trump's $175B Golden Dome Will Upgrade U.S. Defense | WSJ | 06/01/25 | 5:15

What to know about counterprotests to Trump's June 14 parade
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Axios | April Rubin | 06/08/25

Protestors are taking to the streets and community hubs nationwide on June 14 in what organizers expect will be the largest single-day anti-President Trump rally since the start of the administration.

Why it matters: The widespread movement will run counter to Trump's multimillion dollar military parade in D.C.

"No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance," organizers wrote. "From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism." ... Read more OR https://www.nokings.org Read more

Top U.S. & World Headlines - June 09, 2025 | 06/09/25 | 13:18

L.A. Under Siege: Trump Sends in National Guard as Protests Continue over Militarized ICE Raids | DN | 06/09/25 | 20:13

MAGA's mutually assured destruction
Axios | Zachary Basu | 06/06/25

To honor the end of Elon Musk's "incredible" government service, President Trump presented his friend, adviser and billionaire benefactor with a golden key to the White House.

Six days later, Musk lit the place on fire.

Why it matters: The most powerful civilian ever has effectively declared war on the president of the United States, incinerating their relationship - at least for now - in one of history's most extraordinary political meltdowns.

The long-predicted rupture built over months, but exploded in hours - unfolding in real time in the Oval Office, on Truth Social, and above all, on X.

The consequences were tectonic, shaking the foundations of a MAGA-tech coalition that has mapped out grand ambitions for Trump's second term.

Catch up quick: Tensions have simmered all week over Musk's scathing criticism of Trump's budget-busting tax bill, which is projected to add trillions to the national debt. ... ... ... Read more

Germany's Merz enters Trump's Oval Office ring
Axios | Avery Lotz | 06/05/25

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday will enter President Trump's televised Oval Office stage, where world leaders before him have been ambushed, scolded and sent home without lunch.

The big picture: Under Trump 2.0, the Oval Office has become a danger zone for world leaders, who at the very least are subject to a series of on-camera spectacles — and at the worst, a full-blown attack.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's Washington visit took a dark turn when Trump told an aide to dim the lights before presenting a compilation of clips to back the false allegations of a "white genocide" in South Africa.

Much of what Trump said and showed was inaccurate or debunked, Axios' Russell Contreras reported. ... Read more

Trump's Plan To Surveil America | Leeja Miller | 06/04/25 | 20:27

Trump and Xi hold call, fresh meetings planned soon
Axios | Dave Lawler, Ben Berkowitz | 06/05/25

President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke about trade issues for more than an hour Thursday, and Trump said teams from both sides would meet again soon.

Why it matters: Washington and Beijing have accused each other of violating the 90-day trade truce reached three weeks ago, under which both dramatically lowered tariffs and promised further dialogue.

What they're saying: "There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products. Our respective teams will be meeting shortly at a location to be determined," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Rare earth minerals have been a key sticking point in the fractious relationship.

China is reportedly withholding exports, angering the Trump administration and potentially compromising high-tech supply chains. ... ... ... Read more

Trump admired Ukraine's "badass" attack, but worries what's next
Axios | Marc Caputo, Barak Ravid | 06/05/25

President Trump thought Ukraine's surprise drone attack over the weekend was "strong" and "badass," sources who discussed it with him tell Axios, but he's also concerned it will make his ceasefire mission even harder.

Why it matters: The meticulously planned operation on Russia's most strategic air bases - conducted remotely from thousands of miles away - suggested Ukraine has more "cards" than Trump gave them credit for, but also effectively dared Russian President Vladimir Putin to escalate in return.

Trump said Wednesday that Putin had told him "very strongly" that he'd be hitting back. "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace," Trump said of their call.

He has been surprisingly mum in public when it comes to his personal feelings about Ukraine's attack. In private, though, he marveled at the operation. ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: Your AI survival kit
Axios | Jim VandeHei,Mike Allen | 06/04/25

Today is the Axios AI+ Summit in New York, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET, with top guests from business, science, entertainment and government. Watch the livestream.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's warning in our column last week about a looming AI-driven white-collar job apocalypse ignited a national conversation that pulled in everyone from former President Obama to President Trump's AI czar.

Critics saw the warning as alarmist, saying the "doomer" attitude fails to account for the new jobs and economic riches AI might shower on the U.S. public.

On the flip side, Obama and others saw the interview as vital truth-telling - a clear-eyed warning that government and companies should consider deeply and urgently. ... Read more

"Empire of AI": Karen Hao on How AI Is Threatening Democracy & Creating a New Colonial World | DN | 06/04/25 | 17:18

Trump asks Congress to pull $9B in funding for NPR, PBS, foreign aid
Axios | Stef W. Kight | 06/04/25

President Trump formally asked Congress on Tuesday to rescind $9.4 billion in already approved funding for foreign aid and the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funds NPR and PBS.

Why it matters: The rescissions package is an attempt to codify DOGE-driven cuts amid a wider push from the Trump administration to target news organizations perceived to be biased against Republicans.

NPR and PBS are suing the administration after Trump signed an executive order last month that directed CPB to "cease direct funding" for the two biggest public broadcasters in the U.S., which he called "biased." ... ... ... Read more

How Trump is using his power to profit and why no one will stop him | Washington Week PBS | 06/01/25 | 16:56

Trump makes Powell the fall guy of his trade war
Axios | Courtenay Brown,Neil Irwin | 06/04/25

In case there were any doubt, Wednesday's developments put them to rest.

If the economy starts to seriously buckle due to the trade war, President Trump will blame the Federal Reserve and its leader, Jerome Powell.

The big picture: Trump has made no secret that he thinks the Fed should be proactively cutting interest rates to ease the pain of any economic bumps ahead - despite the inflation risk also fueled by tariffs.

Wednesday brought some new evidence that there are, indeed, bumps ahead.

Driving the news: The private sector added just 37,000 jobs in May, payroll processor ADP said - down from the 60,000 jobs added in April and well below the 110,000 jobs economists anticipated.

It was the second straight month of soft hiring in the ADP data - but this time, Trump noticed. ... Read more

Ukraine's drone triumph opens window to the future of war
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Axios | Zachary Basu | 06/03/25

"You don't have the cards," President Trump dismissively told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their Oval Office blow-up in February.

Three months later, Zelensky played a hand no one saw coming.

Why it matters: Ukraine's audacious drone operation, which destroyed nuclear-capable bombers deep inside Russian territory, delivered a strategic gut punch to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine is calling it "Operation Spiderweb." Pro-Kremlin bloggers are calling it "Russia's Pearl Harbor." Military experts are calling it a new nightmare for national defense.

All can agree: Ukraine's ingenious use of low-cost drones has vast implications not only for the future of this war — but for the future of all war.

Zoom in: Zelensky said the attack involved "one year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution." Ukrainian intelligence operatives prepared inside Russia for months undetected, he added.

The targets were five Russian bases thousands of miles from Ukraine and from one another. Unknown to the Russian forces manning those bases, Ukraine managed to position dozens of drones nearby. ... Read more

America's two realities
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Axios | Avery Lotz | 06/03/25

Republicans see a U.S. in bloom.
Democrats see one shadowed in gloom.

By the numbers: Overall, 38% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the country, according to a May 1-18 Gallup poll. That number, which sat at just 20% in January, has climbed - thanks to a massive surge in Republican satisfaction.

79% of Republicans say they're satisfied, near the record high for the party. In January, that number was just 10%.

The outlook for Dems is bleak, with just 4% satisfaction. ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: Trump's America-First AI risk
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 06/02/25

The two most durable and decisive geopolitical topics of the 2020s are fully merging into one existential threat: China and AI supremacy.

Put simply, America either maintains its economic and early AI advantages, or faces the possibility of a world dominated by communist China.

Why it matters: This is the rare belief shared by both President Trump and former President Biden - oh, and virtually every person studying the geopolitical chessboard.

David Sacks, Trump's AI czar, said this weekend on his podcast, "All-In": "There's no question that the armies of the future are gonna be drones and robots, and they're gonna be AI-powered. ...

The big picture: That explains why the federal government has scant interest in regulating AI, why both parties are silent on AI's job threat, and why Washington and Silicon Valley are merging into one superstructure. It can all be traced to China. ... Read more

Trump's Truth posts mix wild conspiracies with market-moving policies
Axios | Avery Lotz | 06/02/25

President Trump's Truth Social account is full of jarring juxtapositions: major trade policy announcements and presidential nominations broken up by bizarre conspiracies and personal boasts.

Why it matters: The president's words matter, whether he's moving markets with tariff threats or spreading unfounded conspiracies about his political rivals, and the White House has mimicked Trump's bellicose online persona.

Emboldened in his second term, Trump has surrounded himself with conspiracy theorists and posts without restraint.

Driving the news: The president late on Saturday shared an outlandish conspiracy from another user who said that former President Biden had been "executed in 2020" and was replaced by clones or robots.

Trump shared the post to his nearly 10 million followers with no context. ... Read more

Weather tracker: Nigeria hit by deadly flooding described as 'worst in 60 years'
TheGuardian | Faye Hulton | 06/02/25

At least 150 people killed, thousands displaced and buildings destroyed after heavy rains in north of country

Significant flooding affected Nigeria last week, with more than 150 deaths reported so far. Heavy rain struck the north of the country on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday, leading to flooding along the Niger River, displacing thousands and destroying hundreds of homes. The district head said it was the region’s worst flood in 60 years.

Heavy rain is not unusual at this time of year in Nigeria. The country has a tropical climate and is influenced by the west African monsoon, with the wet season running from April until October. This type of seasonality is linked to land-sea temperature differences, alongside the shifting intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a band of low pressure roughly around the equator that shifts north and south with the angle of the sun. ... Read more