Axios

Gavin Newsom's Democratic rivals are plotting how to take down the early 2028 frontrunner, with a heavy emphasis on how unpopular his left-leaning views are outside deep-blue California.

Driving the news: Our conversations with more than 20 Democratic operatives, including several working for 2028 hopefuls, reveal that they see the California governor as the guy to beat — and a guy with a lot of personal baggage that's exploitable for a presidential primary.

The stigma around end-of-year layoffs may be easing.

Why it matters: It would be a return to a time when businesses were less worried about the optics of letting people go right before the holidays.

Two charts are going up and to the right at the same time: States are raking in tax revenue from sports betting and online casinos, and calls to the National Problem Gambling Helpline are on the rise.

Why it matters: The data points to a troubling trend — America’s gambling boom is driving more people into financial and emotional distress, with young men at the epicenter. But the industry continues to expand at breakneck speed, powered by aggressive marketing, state budget incentives and AI.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is feeling the heat from Google, continued lawsuits from families and more than $1 trillion in spending promises on the line.

Why it matters: The ChatGPT-maker is so central to the entire AI economy that other companies and investors could find themselves at significant risk.

Who even needs an office bestie anymore? Professionals are increasingly turning to chatbots, instead of humans, for mentorship, advice, chitchat and brainstorming.

Why it matters: The rise of remote work radically shifted how people interact. Now AI, while increasing productivity, is pushing that disruption further.