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Searches of travelers' devices spiked last year

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released new guidelines last week dictating how and when officials can search through travelers' electronic devices, according to Defense One. The directive replaces an Obama-era policy that gave wide authority to border officials.

Why it matters: CBP searched the devices of 30,200 travelers during the 2017 fiscal year, up nearly 60 percent from 2016. The Trump administration says strengthening border security remains a priority, but this new policy seeks to protect the rights of individuals from unreasonable search and seizure.

Go deeper

Jennifer A. Kingson
40 mins ago - Politics & Policy

The modern way to hire a big-city police chief

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

When it comes to picking a city's top cop, closed-door selection processes have been replaced by highly public exercises where everyone gets to vet the candidates — who must have better community-relations skills than ever.

Why it matters: In the post-George-Floyd era, with policing under utmost scrutiny, the choosing of a police chief has become something akin to an election, with the need to build consensus around a candidate. And the candidate pool has gotten smaller.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Felix Salmon, author of Capital
49 mins ago - Economy & Business

Speculative crypto art market takes off

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Move over, GameStop. The newest speculative game in town is NFTs — digital files that can be owned and traded on a plethora of new online platforms.

Why it matters: Most NFTs include some kind of still or moving image, which makes them similar to many physical art objects. Some of them, including a gif of Nyan Cat flying through the sky with a pop-tart body and rainbow trail, can be worth more than your house.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Sam Baker, Andrew Witherspoon
1 hour ago - Health

New coronavirus cases fall by 20%

Expand chart
Data: The COVID Tracking Project, state health departments; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

New coronavirus infections continued their sharp decline over the past week, and are now back down to pre-Thanksgiving levels.

The big picture: Given the U.S.’ experience over the past year, it can be hard to trust anything that looks like good news, without fearing that another shoe is about to drop. But the U.S. really is doing something right lately. Cases are way down, vaccinations are way up, and that’s going to save a lot of lives.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow