Watch TV, scroll social media or listen to politicians, and the verdict seems clear: Americans are hopelessly divided and increasingly hateful, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column.

• It's a ubiquitous, emphatic, verifiable … lie.

Why it matters: Most Americans are too busy for social media, too normal for politics, too rational to tweet. They work, raise kids, coach Little League, go to a house of worship, mow their neighbor's lawn — and never post a word about any of it.

This isn't a small minority. It's a monstrous, if silent, majority. Most Americans are patriotic, hardworking, neighbor-helping, America-loving, money-giving people who don't pop off on social media or plot for power.

• The hidden truth: Most people agree on most things, most of the time. And the data validates this, time and time again.

Oh, but you're so naive, so delusional and detached from reality. Everywhere I look, I see dispute and decline!

But it's the terminally online news junkies who are detached from the actual reality.

• We've been manipulated by algorithms and politicians amplifying the worst of humanity. Our feeds and screens spread a twisted, inaccurate view of America.
• It makes it seem like the nation is hopelessly broken … Political enemies are evil … Facts are no different than fiction … Morality, honesty and service don't matter … And salvation can only come from magical technologies or a powerful few.

What if we told you it's a big lie that makes you stop believing your own two eyes?

• Every day, people battle over outrageous things said on X. Did you know that four out of five Americans don't use X, and therefore don't see what you see? Pew Research Center found last year that only 21% of U.S. adults use X, and just 10% visit it daily.
• But what about the wacky claims made on cable TV? Did you know that during most hours of most prime-time nights, less than 1% of the country watches Fox News, CNN or MS NOW, combined?

Maybe, just maybe, it's the very people on these platforms who are the crazy ones.

• Maybe, just maybe, most people are simply normal, sane, real.
• A Gallup World Poll out last week found Americans are more anxious about their political system than citizens of almost any other country — yet the data consistently shows this anxiety is driven by the noise, not the neighbors. The system feels broken. The people are not.

💡 Here's a good test: In a given year, you see hundreds of people frequently enough to appraise their character. Are they good people? Would they help shovel after a snowstorm or lift groceries for an aging neighbor? Do they volunteer and give to others?

• We bet the answer is a resounding yes. This is America's Super Majority.

📊 The numbers back this up. Americans gave $592.5 billion to charity in 2024 — a record, with individuals accounting for two-thirds of it.

• Over 75 million Americans formally volunteer each year, and 130 million informally help their neighbors. Gallup research out last month found that 76% of U.S. adults gave money to a religious or other nonprofit organization in the past year, and 63% volunteered their time.
• This isn't a broken nation. This is a generous one, where the vast majority quietly do the right thing every single day.

The bottom line: The next time your screen tells you America is broken, close it. Walk outside. Talk to your neighbor. Coach the team. Go to the town meeting. That's the real America — and it's a hell of a lot better than the one being manufactured for clicks, clout and cash.

• 🗳️ Want proof this is true for politics? Read Axios Finish Line tonight.

📱 Watch our "Behind the Curtain" YouTube on America's big lie ... Share this story.

Russia is emerging as the clearest economic winner from the war with Iran, Axios Markets' Emily Peck writes.

• Why it matters: Higher oil prices are good for countries that export oil.

You can see it in the data. The price of Russian crude oil has skyrocketed since the war began, surpassing the international oil benchmark this week (charted above) despite heavy Western sanctions.

• Other winners include major oil exporters insulated from Gulf instability: Norway and Canada in the developed world, and Nigeria and Colombia among emerging markets.

⚡ Pictured above: The U.S. military destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying naval vessels yesterday amid concerns that Iran is preparing to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios' Barak Ravid writes.

• A senior U.S. official told Axios the strike on the inactive ships was a preemptive measure resulting from intelligence about Iran's operational plans.

President Trump threatened Iran in a Truth Social post with "military consequences" at a level "never seen before" if the regime places mines in the Strait.

"If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!"

Keep reading.

Google is quietly expanding its Pentagon work while Anthropic and OpenAI publicly spar over parameters for military use, Axios' Madison Mills writes.

• Google is set to provide AI agents to the Pentagon's 3-million-person workforce for unclassified work, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

Keep reading.

Apple now makes a quarter of its iPhones in India, after making a big push to move production away from China, Bloomberg reports.

• Apple assembled about 55 million iPhones in India last year, up from 36 million in 2024. It makes 220 million to 230 million globally each year.

President Trump's tariffs "pushed Apple and its suppliers to move a greater share of devices meant for the American market to alternative manufacturing destinations, with India emerging as a major bright spot," Bloomberg notes.

• Gift link.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is on track to leave dozens of pending contracts on her desk when she departs in three weeks, the legacy of a system she imposed to cut "waste, fraud and abuse" that has stalled DHS programs, Axios' Brittany Gibson writes.

• Why it matters: The backlog of contracts has left vendors waiting for payments and delayed border-wall construction and FEMA disaster relief.

A source familiar with the DHS situation told Axios there's a "mountain of backed-up contracts and invoices on her desk that the new guy will just have to deal with."

• Keep reading.

Billionaires made a stunning 19% of all reported federal campaign contributions in 2024 — more than $3 billion in total, the N.Y. Times reports in a worthy-of-your-time story on wealthy donors overwhelming the political system.

• That number was 0.3% before the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision.

🤯 Between the lines: The Times says the figure doesn't count money billionaires contributed through dark money groups that don't have to disclose donors.

• Biggest donors to know (NYT gift link).

Anthropic today will name a new head of public policy: Sarah Heck, promoted from overseeing external affairs for the AI giant. She earlier worked at Stripe and was a State Department and National Security Council official in the Obama administration.

• Anthropic is tripling its policy team and opening a permanent office in D.C. this spring to engage policymakers and think tanks, Axios' Maria Curi reports.

Heck, based in San Francisco, will head Anthropic's public policy operation, including the Washington office.

• Co-founder Jack Clark previously held the role. Heck will report to Daniela Amodei, president and co-founder.
• Clark, in his new post as head of public benefit, will lead The Anthropic Institute, a new research venture.

Anthropic's federal affairs team includes lobbyists from both parties.

• Expect the company to continue advocating for export controls on advanced chips, a clear federal AI regulatory framework, energy ratepayer protections and model transparency.

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The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo scored 83 points last night against the Washington Wizards — the second-highest total in NBA history.

• Why it matters: The 6-foot-9 center is among the league's best defenders and a solid but not flashy scorer — an unlikely figure to almost upend one of basketball's most sacred records.

The 83-point night is second only to Wilt Chamberlain's iconic 100-point game in 1962 while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors (now in San Francisco).

• Adebayo passed his basketball idol, Kobe Bryant, for the second-highest scoring game ever (81 points).
• He also set NBA records for free throws made (36) and attempted (43).

Watch the highlights ... AP gamer ... Box score.