Why it matters: DOGE has forced out tens of thousands of employees, shuttered agencies, canceled grants and contracts and upended how the U.S. does business — changes the publictellspollsters they don't generally like.
The state of Wyoming is testing its stablecoin on multiple blockchains, state officials confirmed Wednesday.
Why it matters: As the U.S. government gets closer to passing laws establishing a legal framework for stablecoins, more entities are seeking to launch these instruments.
Paul Atkins faced senators on the Banking Committee this morning as part of his confirmation to serve as chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Why it matters: The prior SEC chair became enemy No. 1 for the digital asset crowd.
What they're saying: "A top priority of my chairmanship will be to work with my fellow Commissioners and Congress to provide a firm regulatory foundation for digital assets through a rational, coherent, and principled approach," Atkins wrote in his testimony.
Friction point: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, referencing Atkins' tenure as an SEC commissioner, said he had an "almost perfect track record."
This week puts to rest any notion that President Trump will deploy tariffs using his limited first-term playbook. Assume there will be import taxes on all kinds of stuff, all the time, for all sorts of stated reasons, for years to come.
Why it matters: Trump's willingness to touch the hot stove of tariffs — even at the cost of higher consumer prices, a stock market slump, and disruption to America's deepest international relationships — is far higher than any president's in living memory.
Why it matters: That report by the Penn Wharton Budget Model — seen first by Axios — finds faster economic growth, less federal debt and higher wages for all income groups if more visas are allocated to college-educated immigrants and those working in STEM-related fields.
Pat Gelsinger has joined VC firm Playground Global as a general partner, just three months after abruptly retiring as CEO of chipmaker Intel. He'll also become exec chair of Playground portfolio company xLight, a developer of free electron lasers.
Axios spoke with Gelsinger on Thursday about his decision. What follows is an edited transcript of the conversation:
Hillendale Farms, one of America's largest egg producers, on Thursday agreed to be acquired for $1.1 billion by Global Eggs, a company controlled by Brazil's Ricardo Faria.
The big picture: This comes as U.S. egg prices are finally falling, at least on the wholesale side, and could receive regulatory scrutiny.
OpenAI is closing in on a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank at a $300 billion post-money valuation, according to Bloomberg.
Why it matters: This would be the largest venture capital round ever, which is the same thing we wrote last fall when OpenAI raised a measly $6.6 billion.
Here's what's new on Prime Video, Apple TV +, Hulu, Netflix and Max this week.
What we're watching: A racing docuseries that follows three women during the Mazda MX-5 Cup Championship, a doc about past and present Black movie stars, and a new sitcom from the creators of"Will & Grace."
Medical device makers, hospitals and other key health industries are pressing to gain exemptions under the Trump administration's new tariff regime with the next and most aggressive actions to date due to be unveiled on April 2.
Why it matters: About $303 billion of imported drug, biotech and device industry goods entered the United States in the last year — $294 billion of which entered duty-free, according to PwC.
President Trump's increased tariffs on imported vehicles will hit foreign automakers the hardest, though domestic automakers General Motors and Ford will also face a significant impact.
Why it matters: Experts expect automakers to raise prices to make up for at least part of the cost.
The Senate voted Wednesday 70-28 on a House resolution to repeal a rule promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service last year, extending the definition of a "broker," for purposes of tax reporting.
Why it matters: The move fits into the larger Republican strategy of acting as the party moving to support the blockchain industry's contribution to the U.S. economy.
Canadian politicians and industrial leaders blasted President Trump's new auto tariffs on Wednesday and vowed a swift response, including a backstop for Canada's largest companies.
Why it matters: One of America's closest allies three months ago is now preparing for an all-out trade war, with profound implications for both economies.
