Axios

A direct line between the Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's air traffic control tower has been inoperable since March 2022, a Federal Aviation Administration official testified Wednesday.

The big picture: The FAA had briefly closed military helicopter routes flying near the airport after one collided with a civilian passenger jet in January, causing the deadliest airline accident in the U.S. in decades.

Uber unveiled new features and ride options Wednesday — many driving home on affordability.

Why it matters: Consumers are feeling deeply pessimistic about the economy, according to the Conference Board's most recent consumer confidence survey.

ChargeScape is one way automakers are trying to smooth the transition to electric vehicles by shoring up the nation's power grid and saving drivers money on charging.

Why it matters: As electric vehicle ownership grows, charging risks putting an extra strain on the grid at certain times of the day. Imagine turning that problem around by using EVs to support the grid during peak demand instead.

Electric vehicle charging has been a mess for years — with inconvenient, inoperable and isolated stations holding back EV adoption.

• Now, the industry is experiencing a rare do-over, with a greater focus on amenities, safety, reliability and brand loyalty. Call it Charging 2.0.

Tesla's Supercharger network has long been the gold standard for EV charging, but Ionna, a new network backed by eight major automakers, is raising the stakes.

Why it matters: With Ionna, the carmakers' goal is to build a rival charging network that offers faster charging and unique amenities.

The signature legislation of this Congress has crossed a key hurdle. But the choices and trade-offs involved in major tax legislation could limit its pro-growth effects.

The big picture: The current version of the "one big, beautiful bill," as President Trump calls it, which moved through the House Ways and Means Committee overnight Tuesday, would sunset several key provisions after a few years.

EVs are slated to reach one-fourth of global car sales this year despite trade and policy question marks, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

Why it matters: The growth in cars — and, to a lesser extent, big trucks and other heavy vehicles — is affecting oil demand, the new report finds.

With the China trade deal in hand, there could be a surge of new orders in coming days, as businesses release months of pent-up demand.

Why it matters: That could be just as bad for supply chains as the trade war was in the first place.

The Trump administration is cracking down on ultra-cheap goods sold on Chinese e-commerce sites hugely popular among Americans, new scrutiny that is spreading across the globe.

Why it matters: For the first time in more than 80 years, U.S. bound low-value packages from China are subject to tariffs.