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Amazon tests demand for drive-through grocery stores

Kim Hart, author of Cities

Elaine Thompson / AP

Amazon is testing the market for its AmazonFresh Pickup service by opening two Seattle locations this week. The service is free for Amazon Prime members, who can place their order online and then drive to the store to wait for an employee to wheel it out to their car.

  • Why it matters: Amazon is trying to displace Wal-Mart as the largest U.S. grocer. The online shopping giant has been experimenting with selling groceries for years, with Amazon Fresh getting seeing fast growth in several markets. And its Amazon Go no-checkout convenience store idea has gotten a lot of attention.
  • Big business opportunity: On average, Americans make 1.6 trips to the grocery store each week, according to The Food Marketing Institute. Grocery delivery isn't new, but consumer pickup has been slow. Amazon, however, has the benefit of its loyal Prime customers.

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8 mins ago - Politics & Policy

America is anxious, angry and heavily armed

Data: FBI; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Firearms background checks in the U.S. hit a record high in 2020.

The big picture: This past year took our collective arsenal to new heights, with millions of Americans buying guns for the first time. That trend coincides with a moment of peak political and social tension.

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Mike Allen, author of AM
1 hour ago - Economy & Business

America on borrowed time

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Economic recovery will not be linear as the world continues to grapple with the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Why it matters: Despite being propped up by an extraordinary amount of fiscal stimulus and support from central banks, the state of the global economy remains fragile.

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Jonathan Swan
12 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Gina Haspel threatened to resign over plan to install Kash Patel as CIA deputy

CIA Director Gina Haspel. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

CIA Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign in early December after President Trump cooked up a hasty plan to install loyalist Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), as her deputy, according to three senior administration officials with direct knowledge of the matter.

Why it matters: The revelation stunned national security officials and almost blew up the leadership of the world's most powerful spy agency. Only a series of coincidences — and last minute interventions from Vice President Mike Pence and White House counsel Pat Cipollone — stopped it.

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