Axios

President Trump will appear at Sen. Dave McCormick's (R-Pa.) inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit next month in Pittsburgh to discuss AI, energy and labor, McCormick's office tells Axios.

Why it matters: Trump's attendance at the July 15 summit at Carnegie Mellon University is a big win for McCormick's efforts to bring AI and energy leaders together for the first time.

LAS VEGAS — Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol tells Axios that one of the company's biggest missteps was pulling back on in-store seating — and now he's making it a top priority to fix it.

Why it matters: "We had this strategy that I think was just a misfire of a purpose-driven store. It's like, well, the purpose is community connection," Niccol said. "I think that's what got us off our game."

Walmart is taking steps to source more products from U.S.-based small business suppliers as the world's largest retailer tries to keep prices low.

Why it matters: Walmart recently confirmed plans to raise some prices as it grapples with the impact of increased tariffs, drawing the ire of President Trump.

David Sacks, the White House AI and crypto czar, explained Thursday why President Donald Trump has been so sympathetic to the digital asset industry.

Why it matters: The new administration's approach to the industry has been a complete 180 from that of the prior administration, and an evolution even from Trump's own first term.

President Trump told reporters Thursday that he was "amazed" Elon Musk had endorsed him in the first place, given Trump's long-standing position on electric vehicles that would hurt Musk's company.

Why it matters: In the aftermath of Trump and Musk's fallout — which shifted from scorched-earth calls for impeachment to a more peaceful stalemate — the president and the former DOGE head have struck a conciliatory tone.

Lyft is ramping up its ad business with new formats, the ride-hailing company exclusively tells Axios.

Why it matters: Beyond traditional publishers, more companies with consumer attention and first-party data have looked to advertising to diversify and grow revenue.

Happy employees are good for business, according to a new report by Charter and hiring platform Welcome to the Jungle.

Why it matters: Employer brand and worker sentiment have taken a back seat amid economic uncertainty, tight labor market and shifting workplace dynamics.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles County have led to public unrest, with Home Depot and Waymos as the backdrop.

Why it matters: Corporate America's muted reaction is in stark contrast with the way it responded to protests during the first Trump administration.

The challenge: Designing, testing, analyzing and optimizing a business process, system or product before it hits the real world isn't just complex, it's a race against time. Enterprises must balance speed with precision, making high-stakes decisions based on incomplete data, all while navigating shifting market demands and rising customer expectations. In today's fast-moving landscape, getting it wrong isn't an option, but getting it right, fast, is the real challenge.

The Senate's top Democrat tells Axios he's activated a multi-pronged strategy to salvage the 2022 climate law that he helped craft.

Why it matters: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sees multiple pressure points to counter House-passed GOP legislation that largely halts the Inflation Reduction Act's unprecedented low-carbon energy tax credits.

The trade war torpedoed the performance of midsize businesses in the U.S., according to a survey of executives at those firms out Thursday morning.

Why it matters: Tariff turmoil is hitting smaller companies especially hard, raising costs they're less able to absorb than the corporate giants.

Bananas are losing some, ahem, appeal. Prices for the ubiquitous yellow fruit are on the rise, even as inflation cools.

Why it matters: Tariff increases are starting to drive inflation for certain goods, and perishable items that can't be produced domestically are first in line.

OpenAI's ChatGPT has been the fastest-growing platform in history ever since the chatbot launched 925 days — 2½ years — ago. Now, CEO Sam Altman is moving fast to out-Google Google.

Why it matters: OpenAI aims to replicate the insurmountable lead that Google built beginning in the early 2000s, when it became the world's largest search engine. The dream: Everyone uses it because everyone's using it.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of America's most powerful lobbying groups, is pushing for policies it believes will unleash 3% economic growth.

• The Chamber's new chairman, Ross Perot Jr., is blunt about the challenges of getting there in the short term.

Why it matters: The group has cheered President Trump's agenda as pro-growth, applauding efforts to relax regulations and extend current tax policy. But tariffs are the dividing issue — one the Chamber says is weighing on small businesses and the broader economy.

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.

President Trump launched a website Wednesday for people to register their interest in signing up for a "gold card" that would enable successful applicants to buy U.S. permanent residency for $5 million.

The big picture: Trump has suggested the card that would replace the EB-5 investor visa could result in 1 million units sold and raise enough money to retire the national debt.

Veteran journalist Terry Moran, who abruptly left ABC News after calling President Trump and top aide Stephen Miller "world-class" haters, announced Wednesday that he's moving to the newsletter platform Substack.

What he's saying: "For almost 28 years, I was a reporter and anchor for ABC News, and as you may have heard, I'm not there anymore," Moran said, breaking his silence on his departure after ABC called his since-deleted X post "a clear violation of ABC News policies."