Axios

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced the launch of AI models for autonomous vehicles and new chips during a presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday.

Why it matters: The strategy underscores where the next wave of AI and computing is headed, given Nvidia's dominance in the chip market.

A major bet on Nicolás Maduro's capture before the Venezuelan president was seized in an American military raid shows how prediction markets pose a controversial new opportunity for insiders to profit on secret information.

Why it matters: Insider trading on the stock market is illegal, while insider trading on prediction markets is generally not — at least for now — and critics say that's a problem.

It sounds like a scene from a science fiction movie: Hyundai Motor Group plans to mass-produce humanoid robots in Georgia, and put them to work helping real humans build cars in the same factory.

Why it matters: Hyundai, through its Boston Dynamics subsidiary, is already a leader in robotics — it now says it is ready to take humanoids from the lab to the factory floor, signaling a new phase in the AI revolution.

Starbucks is kicking off 2026 by betting on viral Dubai chocolate-inspired beverages — alongside more protein-forward drinks.

Why it matters: The menu push is part of the coffee giant's broader turnaround effort to boost traffic and revive sales.

A House Democrat is introducing legislation that would make it illegal for government officials to use online prediction markets to make bets on political events based on privileged information.

Why it matters: The bill comes in response to the huge profits some traders on Polymarket made betting on Nicolás Maduro's ouster shortly before the Venezuelan president was extradited to the U.S. on Saturday.

Private equity firm Apollo Global Management has quietly agreed to sell coin-exchange kiosk operator Coinstar to Arctic Slope Regional Corp., which manages investments for indigenous residents of northern Alaska.

Why it matters: Coinstar is a pillar of America's currency logistics, although its importance may diminish now that new pennies aren't being produced.

Silicon Valley's congressman is facing a revolt from some of his wealthiest constituents, and even could get primaried.

Why it matters: This is ground zero for the thorny politics of income inequality, which will become pervasive as the AI revolution mints more billionaires and costs "normies" their jobs.

Louisiana recorded the highest share of outbound moves for the second year in a row in 2025, according to an analysis of interstate moves by Atlas Van Lines.

Why it matters: It's a real-world example of census data that's been worrying local and state leaders — people are leaving Louisiana, and it's a big problem.

Retail investors turned into net sellers in December, ending a three-month winning streak against the S&P 500, per Charles Schwab's Trading Activity Index, which tracks the retail trading activity of millions of customers.

The big picture: The selling was modest, which suggests that investors were repositioning to wrap 2025 rather than turning bearish and setting up for a year of active stock picking as the AI trade gets messier.

If you invested in the AI narrative — through Big Tech stocks, exposure to China, or allocation to precious metals that may benefit from expansion of the technology — you struck gold in 2025.

Why it matters: Investors are betting that the AI bubble won't pop in 2026, and stocks tied to the narrative can still rally.

The bigger market risk for investors to watch in the wake of the U.S. military action in Venezuela won't be Caracas, but Beijing, a market strategist says.

Why it matters: If China moves to protect its oil interests in Venezuela — especially by tightening rare earth exports that are critical to the AI trade — markets could turn lower quickly.

For 2026, Richmonders should expect real estate to bring lower mortgage rates but a still-tough housing market.

Why it matters: RVA was once again named one of the hottest housing markets of the year by Realtor.com.

Ian Bremmer — president and founder of Eurasia Group, a top global political-risk research and consulting firm — says the top geopolitical risk for 2026 is the "U.S. Political Revolution," with President Trump "so committed to and so capable of changing the political system."

Why it matters: Eurasia Group's annual "Top Risks" report — out Monday, 48 hours after Trump shook the world by snatching Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro — isolates the "biggest threats to the trajectories of nations, industries and institutions," to help leaders and investors prepare for the year.

We're locked in the fastest, broadest, most consequential reordering of politics, tech and business of our lifetimes — and it's a global phenomenon.

Why it matters: The conventional wisdom is that everything is being disrupted everywhere. But we're actually experiencing the aftershocks of a decade of disruption in America and other advanced economies.

The era of post-disruption society has begun. The new, unfolding era is being shaped by rising inequality, mass migration and immigration, surging populism, fading trust and emerging AI.

• The good news: This is navigable for leaders, and everyone, if you understand this shared global phenomenon.

President Trump's vision of American oil companies rebuilding Venezuela's broken petro-sector creates his biggest test yet of the U.S. industry's tolerance for risk.

Why it matters: Trump and other administration officials haven't been subtle about calling Venezuela's massive oil reserves a key reason for toppling President Nicolás Maduro.

The leaders of Greenland and Denmark called on President Trump to stop threatening to take over the resources-rich autonomous territory that's part of the Danish kingdom.

The big picture: The calls come after Trump renewed his push to control Greenland during a Sunday interview with The Atlantic on the U.S. raid and ensuing capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

President Trump said Sunday the U.S. could launch a second strike on Venezuela if "they don't behave."

Why it matters: His comments came after Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, struck a more conciliatory tone after Trump issued a warning to her following her earlier criticism of the U.S. attack and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

President Trump said the U.S. will be strongly involved in Venezuela's oil industry, asserting that American companies will take a lead in rebuilding its deteriorating petroleum infrastructure.

The big picture: Trump's comments about the nation's huge oil reserves following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro raise many unanswered questions, including how much interest the companies have in re-establishing operations there.

Venezuela must remain an independent country, Pope Leo XIV said Sunday as he expressed concern for Venezuelans following the U.S. raid and ensuing capture of leader Nicolás Maduro in the South American country.

The big picture: President Trump said Saturday American officials will "run" Venezuela until a "proper transition can take place" following the attack on Caracas to capture Maduro, who's in U.S. custody and faces charges including narcoterrorism.