Scoop: Inside the Historic U.S.-Cuba Negotiations in Havana
U.S. State Department officials traveled to Havana for the first U.S. government flight since President Obama’s 2016 visit, meeting with Cuban officials including Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of Raul Castro. The delegation offered to restore internet access via Starlink and pressed the regime to adopt democratic and economic reforms, release political prisoners, and move toward lifting the embargo. Officials warned that Cuba’s economy is in free fall and cautioned against the island becoming a platform for foreign intelligence or terror groups. President Trump signaled willingness to pursue diplomacy but insisted the U.S. will not tolerate a humanitarian or security disaster near its shores.
Sam Altman's "Proof of Human" Company Pushes Into Mainstream Services
World, the identity‑verification startup co‑founded by Sam Altman, announced a wave of new integrations with Zoom, DocuSign, Tinder, Okta, Shopify and VanEck. The company upgraded its World ID protocol, open‑sourced it for any app, and launched a standalone app for...
Trump Tells Axios He Expects Iran Deal "in a Day or Two"
President Trump told Axios he expects a U.S.-Iran peace agreement within a day or two after weekend talks, citing significant progress on a three‑page plan. The draft includes releasing roughly $20 billion of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Tehran ending...
Scoop: Democrats Eye New Strategy After Iran War Powers Fail
House Democrats are debating a tactic to force a vote on an Iran war powers resolution every day the House is in session, hoping persistent votes will eventually pass or force a shift in U.S. operations. The idea emerged at...
Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon
President Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10‑day ceasefire beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. ET. The deal was brokered after a flurry of behind‑the‑scenes calls involving Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and...
Trump's Border Wall Lurches Closer to Schedule
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports that the $46 billion Trump‑era border wall is now ahead of schedule and under budget, having completed roughly 50 miles of primary wall, 5.5 miles of buoy barriers and 13.2 miles of secondary fencing. Construction is averaging about...
House Hands Trump a Win with Failed Iran War Powers Vote
House Democrats failed a war‑powers resolution aimed at limiting President Trump’s ability to engage Iran, losing 213‑214 in a tightly contested vote. The measure, pushed by Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Greg Meeks, marked the third unsuccessful Democratic attempt to...
Kennedy Returns to Capitol Hill with Clout Diminished
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the House Ways and Means and Appropriations committees for the first time in six months, signaling a sharp drop in his political clout. Lawmakers will grill him on a controversial overhaul...
Scoop: U.S. Suggests Cuba Complicit in Helping Russia Fight Ukraine
The State Department briefed Congress that up to 5,000 Cuban nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine and that Havana has offered diplomatic support, though it lacks proof of an official dispatch order. The five‑page unclassified report cites “significant indicators”...
Women Snatch MAGA's Megaphone
Conservative women are filling the void created by infighting in the MAGA media ecosystem. Candace Owens’ podcast has become the fastest‑growing right‑wing show for two consecutive quarters, while Megyn Kelly’s podcast entered the U.S. top‑20 and amassed 323 million YouTube views...
Scoop: Senate Plans to Grill Six Cabinet Officials on Trump's Budget
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R‑Maine) will summon six Trump Cabinet secretaries for hearings on April 22, aiming to push a full‑year appropriations package through before the Sept. 30 fiscal deadline. The lineup includes Treasury, Health and Human Services, Commerce, Interior,...
Scoop: U.S. Eases Bank Sanctions Amid Venezuela's Economic Woes
The U.S. Treasury announced on Tuesday that it is easing sanctions on Venezuela's state‑run banking system, allowing key institutions to transact in U.S. dollars and receive billions from oil sales. The move follows weeks of public‑sector wage protests, where workers...
The First AI-Era War Is a "Slopaganda" Battle to Control Memes
AI‑driven "slopaganda"—low‑cost, viral content such as LEGO war videos and Trump memes—is proliferating amid the Iran conflict, experts say. Generative models enable rapid, cheap production of persuasive imagery that spreads faster than traditional propaganda. Iran leverages pop‑culture aesthetics while the...
The Work AI Boom Is Outrunning Oversight
Survey of 950 senior leaders by Grant Thornton finds AI adoption outpacing governance, with nearly 80% of executives believing their firms would fail an AI audit. Companies fully integrating AI report nearly four times higher revenue growth than those still...
U.S. Asked Iran to Freeze Uranium Enrichment for 20 Years, Sources Say
The United States told Iran it must accept a 20‑year moratorium on uranium enrichment as part of weekend talks in Islamabad, while Tehran countered with a request for a single‑digit‑year freeze. The proposal also includes a demand that Iran remove...
Americans Hate the 2026 Economy
Despite solid macro indicators—4.3% unemployment, 3.3% inflation, flat S&P 500 and steady GDP growth—Americans remain overwhelmingly negative about the economy. A preliminary April 2026 University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell to its lowest level since the survey began in...
Trump Pitches Iran Blockade as Boon to U.S. Oil
President Trump used the Iran‑related Strait of Hormuz blockade as a sales pitch, urging nations—especially China—to buy more U.S. oil. He claimed empty tankers were heading to American ports, but the United States exports only about 3.5‑4.5 million barrels of crude...
Why Inflation Is the Economic Problem of the Decade
Inflation has re‑accelerated, highlighted by a 21.2% jump in gasoline prices in March—the largest monthly surge since the 1960s. The overall CPI rose 3.3% year‑over‑year, its highest level in almost two years, while a Fed‑preferred inflation gauge showed a 4.1%...
What AI CEOs Still Don't Get About Washington
AI CEOs, led by OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, are championing sweeping governance proposals ranging from tax reform to model transparency. OpenAI’s new industrial‑policy paper likens AI’s impact to the Industrial Revolution, while Anthropic pushes internal audits, export...
House Republicans Quash Democrats' Long-Shot Attempt to Hamstring Trump on Iran
House Republicans halted a Democratic‑led war powers resolution that sought to curb President Trump’s authority to restart hostilities with Iran. The measure, introduced by Rep. Glenn Ivey, was blocked during a pro forma session when Rep. Chris Smith, presiding, dismissed...
Netanyahu Announces Negotiations with Lebanon After U.S. Pressure
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his cabinet will launch direct negotiations with Lebanon, a move prompted by recent pressure from President Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff. While Israel plans talks, an Israeli official confirmed the country...
WATCH: Kalshi Founders Talk Insider Trading, Gambling, Don Jr. On "The Axios Show"
Kalshi, a New York‑based prediction‑market platform, disclosed on the Axios Show that it processed nearly $13 billion in bets last month and is raising new private capital at a $22 billion valuation. The founders argue the service functions like a regulated exchange,...
Exclusive: JPMorgan Strikes Carbon Removal Deal that Doubles as Wildfire Prevention
JPMorgan Chase has signed a ten‑year agreement with Graphyte to purchase 60,000 metric tons of carbon‑removal credits. The credits will come from an existing Arkansas project and a new facility in Arizona that converts forest‑thinning waste into underground storage. The...
Exclusive: Record Funding for Fusion Power Lands as Trump Eyes Cuts
The Energy Department’s ARPA‑E announced a record $135 million investment over the next 18 months to accelerate fusion technology development. The funding, the largest single fusion allocation in ARPA‑E’s history, aims to overcome technical barriers preventing commercial scale. Simultaneously, President Trump’s...
Oil Prices Plunge Following U.S.-Iran Ceasefire
Crude oil prices plunged on Tuesday after President Trump announced a two‑week U.S.-Iran ceasefire, sending Brent futures down about 13% to roughly $95 a barrel and WTI about 14% to $96. The drop marks the steepest one‑day decline since the...
U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Expected Friday in Pakistan, Sources Say
The United States and Iran are set to hold their first in‑person peace negotiations since the war began, convening in Islamabad on Friday. President Trump announced a two‑week ceasefire to create a window for a comprehensive settlement, which Iran’s foreign...
How Millions in Taxpayer Dollars Are Helping Fund House Members' Reelection Bids
Incumbent House members are leveraging the centuries‑old franking privilege to funnel taxpayer dollars into their own reelection campaigns. In the 2024 cycle they spent $44 million on franked mail and $19 million on other communications, with about $5 million earmarked for TV and...
Hegseth's Wartime Firing of Top Generals Stuns Officials: "It's Insane"
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth abruptly removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Gen. David Hodne, who leads the newly formed Transformation and Training Command, while American forces are engaged in the Iran war. The dismissals, described by...
Artemis II Successfully Launches for Historic Moon Mission
NASA launched Artemis II from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at 6:35 p.m. ET, marking the first crewed flight of the Orion capsule and the second launch of the Space Launch System. The four‑person crew—NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen—will...
Exclusive: Trump's DOJ Says He's Not Required to Turn over Official Records
The Justice Department, under President Trump, has concluded that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, arguing it overreaches congressional power. The administration plans to retain official documents rather than automatically turn them over to the National Archives after the 2029...
"The Axios Show": Jamie Dimon on Trump, Running for Office and Epstein
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon used a new episode of "The Axios Show" to vigorously defend the United States’ war on Iran, arguing the regime funds terrorist groups and poses a real threat. He dismissed speculation about a presidential run,...
Exclusive: Jamie Dimon's Plan to Rescue the American Dream
JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon announced the American Dream Initiative, a multi‑year effort to boost economic opportunity for lower‑income Americans. The program will channel $80 billion into small‑business lending, mentor 115,000 owners, and add 1,000 bankers across 5,000 branches, targeting 10 million...
Exclusive: Wind Projects Delayed as Trump's Pentagon Reviews Stall
More than 30 onshore wind farms, totaling roughly 7.5 GW, are stalled as the Pentagon’s routine radar‑interference reviews remain unsigned. The delays threaten the power supply needed for data centers that are central to the United States’ AI ambitions. Renewable trade...
Oil Prices Rise as Iran War Escalates with Houthi Attacks
Oil prices jumped above $116 a barrel on Sunday as Iran‑backed Houthi militants fired missiles and drones at Israel, extending the conflict into its fifth week. Brent crude rose 3.3% to $116.25, while U.S. WTI climbed about 3% to nearly...
What the GLP-1 Era Means for Body Positivity
The surge in GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs, combined with high‑profile celebrity transformations, is reigniting a cultural push toward extreme thinness. Mental‑health professionals and body‑positivity advocates warn that this shift threatens the progress made in celebrating diverse bodies. While GLP‑1s offer genuine...
Scoop: Rubio and EU Official Had Heated Exchange on Russia at G7 Meeting
At a G7 foreign ministers meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pressed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on when America would intensify pressure on Russia, prompting a sharp retort. Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister and Russia hawk,...
Scoop: Altman Told Staff He Tried to "Save" Anthropic in Pentagon Clash
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told staff he was trying to "save" rival Anthropic as Pentagon negotiations faltered, while privately venting that Anthropic’s founder Dario Amodei had long tried to undermine him. Altman engaged Defense Under Secretary Emil Michael, helped draft...
Energy Execs Say They're Trying to Address Anger over Rising Electric Bills
Top utility leaders and a federal regulator announced a coordinated push to curb soaring electricity bills, citing upcoming grid upgrades, state‑federal cooperation, and new data‑center power arrangements. Southern California Edison’s CEO said recent wildfire‑related investments will level rate growth to...
Exclusive: Lockheed Martin's Martell Says Warfare Requires Human-Machine Teamwork
Lockheed Martin CTO Craig Martell told Axios that future warfare will rely on human‑machine teaming, not fully autonomous cognition. He emphasized that operators must train alongside AI systems to understand their limits and assume responsibility for any errors. Martell cited...
Exclusive: Meta President Says AI Is "the Transformation of Humanity"
Meta President Dina Powell McCormick told attendees at Axios’ AI+DC Summit that humanity is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence. She framed AI as an "equalizer"—a mostly affordable tool that could democratize access to high‑tech jobs. Powell highlighted the...
Exclusive: U.S. Needs "Whole New Workforce" For AI, Meta President Says
Meta President Dina Powell McCormick warned that the United States must build a "whole new workforce" within the next two years to stay competitive in the AI race. She highlighted the need for roughly half a million electricians to construct the...
House Democrats Clamp Down on Defections Ahead of New Iran War Powers Vote
House Democrats are tightening party discipline ahead of a looming vote on a war‑powers resolution that would curb President Trump’s ability to continue military operations in Iran. With Speaker Mike Johnson’s razor‑thin 217‑214 Republican majority, even a single GOP defection...
Republican Sen. Rick Scott Sues Booz Allen Hamilton over Leaked Tax Returns
Republican Senator Rick Scott has filed a federal lawsuit against consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, alleging the company failed to protect his confidential tax return, which was leaked alongside those of President Trump and Elon Musk. The suit stems from...
Scoop: Bob Woodward's Memoir, "Secrets," To Reveal Stories About Deceased "Forever Sources"
Bob Woodward’s long‑awaited memoir, "Secrets: A Reporter’s Memoir," hits shelves on September 29, 2024. The 83‑year‑old journalist uses decades‑old notes, transcripts and interviews to recount his most pivotal reporting relationships, many with sources now deceased. The book promises vivid detail...
Washington Ignores America's Fiscal Cliff
The article warns that Washington is ignoring a looming fiscal cliff as deficits and debt surge. Recent policy moves—including a $200 billion request to fund the Iran war, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, and tax cuts that add $3.4 trillion to ten‑year...
The Mojtaba Mystery: CIA Searches for Signs of Iran's New Leader
Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has remained invisible after a suspected Israeli strike that killed his father. The CIA, Mossad and U.S. officials are scrambling to verify his health, relying only on a written Telegram statement released for...
U.S. Seeks Billions From Harvard in Alleged Antisemitism Suit
The U.S. Justice Department filed a 44‑page lawsuit against Harvard University, alleging the school deliberately ignored harassment of Jewish and Israeli students following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. The complaint invokes Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and seeks to recover...
Scoop: Anthropic Meets with House Homeland Security Behind Closed Doors
Anthropic co‑founder Jack Clark met privately with the bipartisan House Homeland Security Committee, discussing AI model distillation and export‑control challenges. The Pentagon dispute over Anthropic’s supply‑chain risk designation was only briefly mentioned. The session was described as friendly, reflecting Anthropic’s...
White House Eyes Friday Rollout for AI Framework
The White House is set to deliver a legislative AI framework to Congress on Friday, outlining federal standards that would preempt conflicting state laws and address child safety, creators, and censorship – the so‑called “four C’s.” Republicans are looking to...
FBI Investigates ex-U.S. Counterterrorism Center Head Joe Kent for Alleged Leaks
Joe Kent, former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned after accusing Israel of pressuring President Trump into an Iran war. Administration officials immediately labeled him a "known leaker" and cut him off from presidential briefings. FBI sources confirm an...