President Trump said Saturday that a deal to end the war with Iran would be announced "shortly" and that the "final aspects" are currently being negotiated.
The big picture: Trump's comments came after separate calls with Arab and Muslim leaders and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is the firmest statement the president has made that he is prepared to agree to the memorandum of understanding being negotiated with Iran.
Google's overhaul of the search bar this week washes away one of the last vestiges of the internet's halcyon era — when search tools felt empowering, social media and swiping were novel, and popular disillusionment had yet to set in.
Why it matters: The AI era and the TikTok-ification of social media have produced a digital world that's responsive to the market demands of today and unrecognizable from a decade ago.
Editor's note: The headline and story were corrected and updated throughout to reflect new information and statements related to an alleged theft scheme at gas stations spreading on social media.
As gas prices rise, more attention is being drawn to gas pump scams that allow thieves to continue charging purchases after a driver leaves the station.
The big picture: Gas theft is nothing new, but "these incidents always increase when prices increase," says Jeff Lenard, a spokesman for NACS, the global trade group for convenience stores and fuel retailers.
A pro-AI super PAC, fresh off a string of GOP primary victories this week, plans to keep spending in Kentucky's Senate race as the AI industry tries to focus the public's attention on AI's possibilities, not its potential pitfalls.
Why it matters: Leading the Future and its affiliated nonprofit, Build American AI, are looking for allies in the next Congress to pass a national AI framework, while selling voters today on AI's economic upside.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is going up on the air with ads attacking Democratic congressional candidate Maureen Galindo in Texas, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Galindo has been widely disavowed by Democrats over antisemitic remarks. She most recently said she wants to convert an ICE facility into her district into a "prison for American Zionists."
More than half of the companies measured in the Axios Harris Poll 100 that appeared in the rankings last year saw their reputations improve year over year.
Why it matters: The trend reflects positive consumer sentiment around recognizable brands in the era of AI-generated slop.
AI backlash is mounting. Executives are getting booed. Workers are threatening strikes, and protests are frustrating data center development — but that doesn't seem to worry investors who are raining money on companies in the business.
Why it matters: AI hate could slow adoption of the technology, posing an underappreciated risk for investors buying into the current frenzy.
Wholesale cocoa prices have plunged 70% from their late 2024 peak. But don't expect cheaper chocolate any time soon.
Why it matters: Chocolate sellers' reluctance to cut consumer prices, despite a collapse in the price of their key input, illustrates how corporate pricing decisions often work.
