Axios

America is losing its grip on one of its quietest superpowers: its ability to attract the world's most ambitious students.

Why it matters: As international enrollment drops, colleges face a financial hit. Foreign students typically pay full tuition, acting as a crucial revenue stream that subsidizes campus operations and eases the cost burden for American taxpayers.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had a banner week, drawing attention from Democratic leaders, prediction markets and millions on social media.

Why it matters: The widespread attention shows how Ocasio-Cortez is expanding her political reach as she weighs a possible presidential or Senate run in 2028.

President Trump said Friday that he isn't concerned about the state of the USS Abraham Lincoln, despite calls from lawmakers to investigate reports of mental health issues for those onboard.

Why it matters: The San Diego-based aircraft carrier has been deployed for nine months, and numerous reports have indicated that crew members' families are concerned about a lack of food and other basic supplies.

Newly released renderings of President Trump's White House East Wing project include a shiny gold addition to the facade.

Why it matters: The images were revealed in the Trump administration's appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn rulings blocking its construction.

The 2026 midterm election is on track to be the most expensive in history.

Why it matters: So far, the money hasn't always mattered.

We're zooming in on battleground races ahead of the midterms. This week: Maine.

For 2026, the Maine Senate race has it all: a Democratic establishment-vs.-progressives fight, a nominee swap after explosive allegations, and a rare Republican who dares to buck President Trump.

Why it matters: It's hard to see Democrats winning the Senate if they don't take Maine.

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to stalking charges tied to the 2024 broad daylight killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

Why it matters: Mangione's lawyers are now using Friday's federal plea to request that all but one separate state charge be dismissed.

Dorm rooms are tiny. The dorm decor economy is not.

The big picture: College dorms are becoming customized, social-media-ready micro-apartments, but the market looks wildly different depending on which side of the Mason-Dixon line your campus sits.

Public opinion about the economy appears to be souring further this month, per the preliminary release of the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index.

By the numbers: Overall sentiment fell 8% in the early days of August, after two consecutive months of improvement.

American drone companies got a sudden lift in the stock market Friday after President Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on imported drones.

Why it matters: National security experts have long bemoaned the American reliance on foreign sources for drone production, particularly China.