Democrats are preparing a hostile audit of President Trump and his inner circle, intent on exposing — and ultimately ending — the most lucrative presidency in American history.
Why it matters: Since winning the 2024 election, Trump has operated in a Wild West of his own making — monetizing the office to the tune of billions, while enabling family, friends and donors to cash in along the way.
Fewer Americans are reading books, but here's the plot twist: The bookstore is still staging a comeback.
Why it matters: Once left for dead in the wake of Amazon's rise and the death of Borders,Barnes & Noble and independent booksellers have pulled off a stunning turnaround, opening new stores and reporting higher sales.
America's 250 years have been divided into 47 presidencies, served by 45 men.
A new exhibit on display in the lobby of Goldman Sachs' global headquarters in New York City brings each presidency to life. Artist Salvatore Catalano pairs a portrait of every president with a quote that captures the era or the individual.
Why it matters: "Most Americans can't name the presidents, much less tell you what they look like," Catalano tells Axios. "This was a labor of love."
OpenAI may give the U.S. government a 5% stake in the company, per the Financial Times. The proposal is in very preliminary conversations, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: If the overture is taken up by the Trump administration, that would mean the government would have a vested interest in weighing whether or not to limit the release of an OpenAI model.
The job market entered the summer with less momentum than looked to be the case just a month ago.
Why it matters: Call it a yellow card for the labor market. Thursday morning's employment report doesn't undo three months of stronger hiring, but it does warn that the rebound is less durable than first thought.
Nearly 5 million Washingtonians are expected to travel this summer, with many opting for day trips and regional getaways due to sky-high travel costs.
The big picture: Seattle's unofficial start to summer begins Sunday, and AAA Washington tells Axios it's expecting another busy season despite higher prices for airfare, hotels and other vacation expenses.
Zoom in: While Seattle remains the state's largest tourism destination, Leavenworth, Lake Chelan and the San Juan Islands continue to rank among the Evergreen State's most popular summer escapes, said Kyle Hays of AAA Washington.
Travelers venturing a little farther are gravitating toward destinations that are still relatively easy to reach, including Oregon, Idaho, Las Vegas, San Diego and Alaska cruises, Hays told Axios.
