Axios

A massive winter storm is expected to thrash a huge swath of the United States this weekend — with its impact extending from Texas all the way through New England.

Why it matters: More than half of Americans in the Lower 48 states will simultaneously experience some form of wintry precipitation this weekend, per the Washington Post.

With Chinese cars closing in on America, Washington might draw from China's own playbook to try to limit the threat to the U.S. domestic industry.

Why it matters: China used to copy American cars. Now, Chinese vehicles are as good or better than U.S. models, and cheaper, too.

AI has an overlooked — but vital — role to play in helping to protect at-risk species, Nature Conservancy CEO Jennifer Morris said at an Axios panel in Davos Wednesday.

Why it matters: Morris and other environmentalists say AI already is proving it can help protect fish and other species.

A massive and dangerous winter storm is set to pummel huge swaths of the country later this week through the weekend.

Threat level: Snow, freezing rain and/or sleet are possible from parts of New Mexico and Texas all the way east to Georgia and north to New England.

DAVOS, Switzerland — President Trump praised nuclear power in a speech in front of world leaders on Wednesday — while saying he previously hadn't supported the energy resource.

Why it matters: The comments reveal a less-known position from Trump on a technology whose growth is being fueled by the AI boom.

DAVOS, Switzerland — President Trump reiterated his determination to take control of Greenland from Denmark during a 72-minute tirade at the World Economic Forum — but seemingly ruled out using force to do so.

Why it matters: European allies have been bracing for a clash with Trump over Greenland this week in the Swiss Alps.

DAVOS, Switzerland — President Trump's tussle with Europe over Greenland won't impede looming U.S. deals with those countries, Trump's Greek ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle predicted Wednesday.

Why it matters: Guilfoyle has been focused on increasing commitments from Greece and other European countries to buy American liquefied natural gas.

OpenAI is committing to "paying our own way on energy, so that our operations don't increase your electricity prices" as it develops the big Stargate data center campuses.

Why it matters: The data center boom is facing a backlash that tech giants are trying to head off.

New data captures the scope of today's U.S. solar boom — and AI could help developers swimming upstream in the Trump era's next stages.

Why it matters: "Data center demand is helping offset some political headwinds for utility‑scale solar," Wood Mackenzie analyst Kaitlin Fung tells me via email.

Data centers could provide a power boost for green energy companies that are being ignored — or outright denigrated — by President Trump.

Driving the news: That's a takeaway from the new IPO filing for SOLV Energy, a private equity-owned provider of construction services for solar and battery projects.

Fusion startup Xcimer Energy plans to pick a site by year's end to host what would be the world's largest laser.

Why it matters: Companies, investors and governments are racing to try to commercialize fusion tech as a limitless form of clean energy.

There's fresh evidence that President Trump and his lieutenants are willing to sacrifice "drill, baby, drill" in the U.S. for low prices and other policy priorities.

Why it matters: Modest prices and a revival of trade friction won't help bring a new surge in domestic production.

To mark the one-year anniversary of President Trump taking office, we asked Axios subject matter experts a simple question: What's the biggest disruption or change you've seen on your beat over the past year?

1. White House, Marc Caputo: A year in the planning, Trump's ouster of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro was a defining moment that crystallized the administration's "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine.