After my remembrance in Axios PM about Washington superagent Robert Barnett, who died Thursday at 79, several of you texted me with memories of a decades-long Barnett sideline — debate coach, negotiator and role-player for Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The big picture:Paul Begala recalls how Barnett secured "home stool advantage" for Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton for his 1992 debate at the University of Richmond with President George H.W. Bush (who checked his watch) and Ross Perot:
President Trump and his administration frequently boast that he's "been right about everything" and that his policies have ushered in the "Golden Age" of America.
The big picture: However, some of the president's sweeping claims, including slashing drug costs, combating fentanyl deaths and supercharging the American economy through tariffs, fall flat when compared to the actual data.
Several official congressional trips that were scheduled for next week have been canceled due to the possibility of a government shutdown, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's one of the starkest indicators yet that lawmakers on Capitol Hill are hunkering down for a shutdown as Republican and Democratic leadership appear far from a deal.
President Trump late Friday demanded Microsoft fire its head of global affairs, Lisa Monaco, over her work in the Biden administration.
Why it matters: Trump's push for one of the world's largest companies to oust one of its top executives is the latest example of the administration's broad efforts to exert more active oversight of corporate America.
House Democrats are planning to flood the zone with media events in Washington, D.C. next week ahead of a potential government shutdown, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The party is trying to seize control of the public narrative around the federal funding fight as President Trump accuses Democratic leadership of making "ridiculous" demands.
This year, white men made up a majority of new directors at S&P 500 companies for the first time since 2017, according to data from research firm ISS-Corporate.
Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and Steve Bannon are all named in copies of Jeffrey Epstein's daily schedules released Friday by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.
Why it matters: The schedules make reference to Musk possibly flying to an "island" in 2014, and Thiel and Bannon apparently dining with Epstein as recently as 2017 and 2019, respectively.
Early warnings suggest next week's possible government shutdowncould be especially disruptive.
Why it matters: President Trump and budget director Russ Vought have framedthe shutdown as a chance to more permanently reshape the federal workforce, not just pause government services.
Forallthe senseofangst about the U.S. economy of late, the American consumer continues powering growth forward.
New data out this morning confirms that trajectory continued through late summer.
Why it matters: All those recessionwarnings from earlier in the year are looking flat wrong. When consumers keep spending (which they are) and businesses keep investing (which they also are), the economy can't — almost as a matter of arithmetic — fall into a contraction.
BMW is urging owners of nearly 200,000 vehicles to park them outside until their engines can be fixed.
Why it matters: A defect in the engine starter relay can trigger corrosion in the vehicles, causing them to "overheat and short circuit, which may cause a fire," according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Federal Reserve's go-to inflation gauge remained stubbornly high in August, according to data from the Commerce Department released on Friday.
Why it matters: While inflation is well below the peak seen in recent years, trade policies will make it more difficult for the central bank to get back to normal levels.
Data center developers should provide their own electricity if enough isn't available, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Axios in a Climate Week NYC interview.
Why it matters: Energy-hungry data centers are prompting a rush for electricity after decades of stagnant growth, and some independent grid operators warn power shortages could be ahead.
Wall Street analysts are pointing to the many metrics that signal stock valuations are a concern, yet this data leads them to a counterintuitive conclusion: This rally still has legs.
Why it matters: The message for investors? Ride the wave while it's here, regardless of how expensive the market is getting.
President Trump signed a presidential memorandum on countering "domestic terrorism and organized political violence" on Thursday.
Why it matters: Trump sought to tie the action to the "radical left," singling out Democratic Party donors George Soros and Reid Hoffman when asked by a reporter what names came to mind that may need investigating.
NBCUniversal on Thursday warned customers that its networks may be dropped from YouTube TV if the two parties cannot reach a new distribution agreement by Sept. 30.
Why it matters: NBCU rarely leverages consumer campaigns to negotiate pay-TV distribution fights. The escalation speaks to the challenges it says it's facing trying to negotiate with YouTube TV.
President Trump on Tuesday night threatened to start levying 100% tariffs on imported branded drugs made by companies that haven't committed to building new U.S. facilities by Oct. 1.
Why it matters: The move raises the stakes for drug manufacturers already under pressure from the administration to lower U.S. prices.
