Local journalists face a new wave of threats and intimidation amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, marking the most intense press freedom clashes since the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
Why it matters: The surge underscores the vulnerability of local reporters covering federal and local actions.
New digital local news startups are emerging — just not always where coverage is most needed, as they serve mainly major cities and coastal regions.
Why it matters: Nearly half of new digital local outlets are nonprofits that depend on philanthropy, which clusters in urban areas, leaving rural America without robust local reporting.
The fate of a proposed $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar and Tegna rests on whether the Federal Communications Commission can lift the current limit on television station ownership.
Why it matters: The merger would create the largest local broadcast company in the country by far.
Other countries are finding new ways to support local news, offering lessons for how the U.S. could address those same economic challenges.
Why it matters: The U.S. relies far more on philanthropy to support local news than other Western democracies, says Rodney Benson, professor and former chair of NYU's Department of Media, Culture, and Communication.
Forget asking your neighbor to use their sauna — now you can just book it. Swimply, known for summertime pool rentals, is expanding its lineup for the colder months.
Why it matters: Renting out an indoor pool, sauna or hot tub can turn a costly home feature into a moneymaker.
President Trump has been pointing to Walmart's reduced Thanksgiving meal as proof that his economic agenda is driving prices down across the board.
Why it matters: While the meal does cost less at a time when grocery prices are on the rise and millions are uncertain if they'll receive their full November SNAP benefits, the family feast also includes less food.
Cornell University on Friday said it reached a deal with the Trump administration that includes a $30 million payment to the U.S. government to end pending claims against the institution.
Why it matters: The agreement, which restores hundreds of millions in federal funding to the university, aligns with the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity policies.
A coalition of unions representing federal workers filed a lawsuit against the White House Thursday over the inclusion of what they say is a partisan loyalty question included in the Trump administration's "merit-based" hiring plan.
Why it matters: The hiring plan is one piece of the White House's massive overhaul of the civil service — and plaintiffs say it amounts to a partisan loyalty test that is unlawful and violates the principles of a nonpartisan civil service.
Metropolis, a tech-enabled parking lot network, has raised $500 million in Series D funding led by LionTree at around a $5 billion valuation. It also secured a $1.1 billion syndicated term loan led by JPMorgan.
Why it matters: This is both a short and long-term bet on transportation automation.
San Francisco International Airport is preparing for an air traffic cut that could result in a 10% cut over the next week, as air traffic controller shortages linked to the government shutdown trigger slowdowns at airports nationwide.
Retail investors have been ferocious dip buyers this year, but that behavior appears to be shifting, as the group did not plough into tech stocks as usual during their most recent selloff.
Why it matters: Retail makes up a quarter of stock trading volume. If these investors stop buying dips, that could make selloffs longer and larger.
At least 800 flights were canceled Friday at 40 airports across the U.S. as the FAA slashed routes as a result of the government shutdown, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
Why it matters: With the Thanksgiving travel rush weeks away, the cuts will hit some of the busiest airports in the U.S. — including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Dallas Fort Worth International.
Alex Karp, co-founder and CEO of Palantir, tells me on a new episode of "The Axios Show" that AI could lead to dysfunction and even violence if benefits aren't spread broadly to workers at all levels.
"Does the person on the factory floor in America — vocationally trained, with specific knowledge of their domain — do they participate [in the prosperity]?" asked Karp, an outspoken mogul who's at the forefront of how AI is reshaping government, business and the workplace.
Karp — whose AI-driven software company has won big government contracts and soared in value since President Trump took office — gestured around the room in Manhattan where we taped the hour-long interview this week and added: "How well does your camera person do?"
OpenAI is facing seven new lawsuits in California, alleging ChatGPT contributed to multiple suicides and psychological injuries.
Why it matters: Regulators and child-safety advocates have been warning against repeating social media's mistakes, releasing products fast and without proper guardrails.
A Trump administration official told Axios that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is not under federal investigation, hours after the New York Times reported that the Justice Department was probing one of her foreign trips paid by Qatar.
Why it matters: Bowser is weighing a fourth term bid while navigating an unpredictable relationship with President Trump.
