Jun 12, 2017

Dennis Rodman is heading back to North Korea

Dave Lawler

Kim Kwang Hyon / AP

Former basketball star Dennis Rodman is heading back to North Korea, CNN reports, citing North Korean officials.

CNN spotted Rodman at Beijing Airport. He has visited North Korea at least four times. He is one of few Americans to have close contact with Kim Jong-un.

The Trump connection: Rodman was once a contestant on The Apprentice (Trump fired him over a project in which Melania Trump's name was spelled wrong) and endorsed Trump's presidential run.

The context: North Korea has held repeated missile tests since Trump took office, Pyongyang and Washington have exchanged threats, with Trump vowing to "deal with" North Korea if necessary.

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Margaret Harding McGill

Trump administration backs Oracle in Google fight

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo via The Washington Post.

The Trump administration is siding with Oracle in the database giant's dispute with Google before the Supreme Court — a move that comes as Oracle's founder hosts a high-dollar fundraiser for the president.

Why it matters: Billions of dollars — and, Google argues, the future of software innovation — are at stake as a long-running copyright dispute between the two giant companies heads to the Supreme Court next month.

Go deeperArrow1 min ago - Technology
Kia Kokalitcheva

Established VCs turn to "super angels" to grow their network

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Thanks to companies like AngelList and Carta that make it easier than ever to set up small VC funds, a new generation of so-called “super angels” is cropping up — and established venture funds are backing them.

Why it matters: Just like the boom in scout programs a number of years ago, it’s all about the deal flow.

Go deeperArrow4 mins ago - Economy & Business
Jonathan Swan

Scoop: Top NSC official reassigned to Energy Department amid "Anonymous" fallout

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates will be reassigned as a senior adviser to Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, the National Security Council said Thursday — and a senior White House official said that the administration "rejects" the rumors that she is "Anonymous."

Why it matters: Coates has battled claims that she is the still-unknown Trump administration official that penned a New York Times op-ed and book critical of President Trump.

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Politics & Policy