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Data: Gleditsc and Chiozza, 2016, "Archigos — A Data Set on Leaders 1875–2015", Axios research; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios

Italy is used to changes at the top, so the resignation this week of Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte won't have come as a massive shock.

The big picture: Italy has shuffled through 17 prime ministers over the last 30 years, second only to Japan among G7 countries. With only 3 chancellors since 1982, Germany is on the other end of the spectrum — though Angela Merkel is expected to step aside by 2021.

Political instability is nothing new for Italy

Tracing global changes at the top over the last 30 years.

Italy

Top Stories

<p>Italy is used to changes at the top, so <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the resignation this week of Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/italy-prime-minister-giuseppe-conte-resigns-salvini-366c75d2-ec64-4275-a267-90d1238003c1.html" data-vars-content-id="1a615e71-c9f6-4f56-88e6-1c0155bc7d8e" data-vars-headline="Political instability is nothing new for Italy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/italy-prime-minister-giuseppe-conte-resigns-salvini-366c75d2-ec64-4275-a267-90d1238003c1.html" target="_self">the resignation this week of Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte</a> won&#x27;t have come as a massive shock.</p><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Italy has shuffled through 17 prime ministers over the last 30 years, second only to Japan among G7 countries. With only 3 chancellors since 1982, Germany is on the other end of the spectrum — though Angela Merkel is expected to step aside by 2021.</p>

Data: U.S. Mass Shootings, 1982-2019: Data From Mother Jones’ Investigation; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios

The deadliest mass shootings in recent history have had one thing in common: the perpetrator used an assault rifle.

Why it matters: These weapons possess an incredible amount of killing power, and amplify the destructive will of the person who carries out an attack. Nine people died and 27 were injured in a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio in an attack that lasted 32 seconds. The killer used an AR-15 style assault rifle.

Since 1999, there have been 115 mass shootings (defined below) in which 941 people were killed and 1,431 were injured.

Of those 115 attacks, 32 — just over a quarter — involved semi-automatic rifles. But those attacks accounted for 40% of all deaths and 69% of all injuries.

Since 2017, 12 of the 31 mass shootings involved assault rifles — which caused 39% of the deaths and 92% of the injuries.

That includes the Las Vegas massacre — which alone accounts for almost 40% of all mass shooting injuries since 1999. The perpetrator of that shooting used over 20 assault rifles during that attack.

About the data: This chart uses Mother Jones' dataset on mass shootings, which tracks the events since 1982. Our analysis is focused on shootings since 1999 — the year Columbine took place.

The data classifies a mass shooting as an attack in a public place where at least 4 people are killed with a gun.

This benchmark was lowered to 3 in 2013, after a mandate from the Obama administration to study mass shootings. Events in the data reflect the lower benchmark after 2013.

What the deadliest mass shootings have in common

U.S. News

Mass shootings

<p>The deadliest mass shootings in recent history have had one thing in common: the perpetrator used an assault rifle.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> These weapons possess an incredible amount of killing power, and amplify the destructive will of the person who carries out an attack. Nine people died and 27 were injured in a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio in an attack that lasted <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="32 seconds" data-vars-click-url="https://time.com/5643405/what-to-know-shooting-dayton-ohio/" data-vars-content-id="4211bafd-da85-41d4-b3b2-b51ff61e7c86" data-vars-headline="What the deadliest mass shootings have in common" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://time.com/5643405/what-to-know-shooting-dayton-ohio/" target="_blank">32 seconds</a>. The killer used an AR-15 style assault rifle.</p>

A slew of states and electricity companies are committing to aggressive targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a trend underway since President Trump took office.

Data: Clean Air Task Force; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios

Why it matters: These actions show that substantive efforts — not just rhetoric — are underway across America in the face of Trump's rollback of climate policy at the federal level.

Between the lines: The actions over the past year signal a subtle, but significant shift away from policies promoting just renewable energy — like wind and solar — toward those that target emissions reductions no matter the technology. This brings into consideration other non-renewable but still clean-burning technologies like nuclear power. 

“We’re now focusing on what actually matters, which is the atmosphere, and not the technology pathway, which people have been focused on.”

Armond Cohen, executive director, Clean Air Task Force

Since last fall, 5 states have enacted standards mandating 100% carbon-free electricity within the coming decades, according to new data compiled by Clean Air Task Force, an environmental group. 

4 additional states are actively debating similar measures. 

More than 20 utilities have committed to carbon reductions of at least 80%, most of which have come since Trump was elected. 

Added up, these moves represent nearly 40% of U.S. electricity sales and almost a third of national utility carbon dioxide emissions.

But, but, but: These policies only target the electricity sector, which emits the second-most greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., after transportation. Carbon emissions in the electricity sector also went back up in 2018, after a few years of declining.

What to watch: Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is poised to introduce a clean electricity standard as soon as Wednesday, according to multiple sources tracking the policy. A spokesperson for her office says the senator is "still hoping to introduce [the bill] soon."

Under the bill, America's electricity could reach around 90% carbon-free by 2050, according to multiple sources familiar with the proposal. Right now, the breakdown is more than 60% coal and natural gas.

No Republicans are expected to sign on, at least initially. 

Go deeper: Renewable energy mandates have not sparked that much new renewable energy

States and companies ramp up clean energy targets

New policies are supporting all technologies to reduce emissions, not just renewables.

Energy

Renewable energy

Alternative energy

<p>A slew of states and electricity companies are committing to aggressive targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a trend underway since President Trump took office.</p><div><figure><div id="av-2019-05-06-energy-targets-HHLYG" style="max-width:100%" data-vars-category="embed" data-vars-sub-category="axios-visual" data-vars-asset-id="av-2019-05-06-energy-targets-HHLYG" class="gtmView"><img alt="Data: Clean Air Task Force; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios" class="axios-visual-newsletter-fallback-image" src="https://graphics.axios.com/2019-05-06-energy-targets/fallbacks/2019-05-06-energy-targets-fallback.png" width="1725" height="1498"/><img alt="Data: Clean Air Task Force; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios" class="axios-visual-apple-fallback-image" src="https://graphics.axios.com/2019-05-06-energy-targets/fallbacks/2019-05-06-energy-targets-apple.png" width="1122" height="961"/></div><figcaption>Data: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Clean Air Task Force" data-vars-click-url="https://www.catf.us/" data-vars-content-id="43b9a60e-c866-45c5-b1a1-d93005bddf3b" data-vars-headline="States and companies ramp up clean energy targets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.catf.us/" target="_blank">Clean Air Task Force</a>; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios</figcaption></figure></div>

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Energy & Environment

The Trump Organization's negotiations to build a tower in Moscow were a continuation of efforts that go back decades. Here's what we know, and still don't know, about the talks that continued well into the presidential campaign that landed Donald Trump in the White House.

Timeline: Here's what we know about Trump Tower Moscow

What we know, and still don't know, about the talks that continued well into the 2016 campaign.

Politics

Trump tower

<p>The Trump Organization&#x27;s negotiations to build a tower in Moscow were a continuation of efforts that go back decades. Here&#x27;s what we know, and still don&#x27;t know, about the talks that continued well into the presidential campaign that landed Donald Trump in the White House.</p>

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Trump started his presidency on the back foot when it came to personnel. Now, he has confirmed fewer senior administration officials at this stage of his presidency than any of the previous four presidents, according to analysis provided to Axios by the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service.

Note: Data exclude non-civilian and judiciary positions; Data: Partnership for Public Service; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios

Trump has withdrawn twice as many nominees as President Obama at the same point in time in his administration, 65:31, according to the Partnership for Public Service's data.

Trump has withdrawn one nominee for every 11 confirmations, the worst ratio of any other president from George H.W. Bush to Obama, according to the data.

Between the lines: The withdrawal numbers we cite above are only the formal withdrawals. This understates the problem, as Trump tends to announce people for senior jobs and then withdraws them before he formally nominates them. (Recent examples: Herman Cain, Stephen Moore, Patrick Shanahan.)

Exclusive: Leaked Trump transition vetting documents

Behind the scenes: How Trump's team staffed the U.S. government

Video: Chris Christie confronted with his own vetting document

Chart: The top "red flags" for Trump officials

The consequences of the Trump presidential transition

Trump has the worst ratio of any president.

Donald Trump

<p>Trump started his presidency on the back foot when it came to personnel. Now, he has confirmed fewer senior administration officials at this stage of his presidency than any of the previous four presidents, according to analysis provided to Axios by the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service.</p><div><figure><div id="av-2019-06-23-nominations-SW6J5" style="max-width:100%" data-vars-category="embed" data-vars-sub-category="axios-visual" data-vars-asset-id="av-2019-06-23-nominations-SW6J5" class="gtmView"><img alt="Note: Data exclude non-civilian and judiciary positions; Data: Partnership for Public Service; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios" class="axios-visual-newsletter-fallback-image" src="https://graphics.axios.com/2019-06-23-nominations/fallbacks/2019-06-23-nominations-fallback.png" width="1725" height="1200"/><img alt="Note: Data exclude non-civilian and judiciary positions; Data: Partnership for Public Service; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios" class="axios-visual-apple-fallback-image" src="https://graphics.axios.com/2019-06-23-nominations/fallbacks/2019-06-23-nominations-apple.png" width="1242" height="1440"/></div><figcaption>Note: Data exclude non-civilian and judiciary positions; Data: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Partnership for Public Service" data-vars-click-url="https://ourpublicservice.org/" data-vars-content-id="afedb91c-1bd8-450c-a8f5-857de8263e0c" data-vars-headline="The consequences of the Trump presidential transition" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ourpublicservice.org/" target="_blank">Partnership for Public Service</a>; Chart: Chris Canipe/Axios</figcaption></figure></div>