Russia is now firmly allied with China in the quest for a permanent presence on the Moon, with the two powers positioned for heavy sway on international space policy, Axios Space author Miriam Kramer writes.

• Why it matters: The U.S. and Russia were uneasy partners in orbit for decades. As the two grow farther apart, the rift could reshape the geopolitical landscape above Earth — and on it.

China and Russia last week signed an agreement to develop a lunar research station on or orbiting the Moon.

• Russia is losing a significant source of revenue as SpaceX flies astronauts to the space station, ending NASA's reliance on the Russian-made Soyuz rocket.

Zoom out: China's space program and industry are booming, with support from the government and a long-term vision.

• Europe, Canada and Japan are partnering with the U.S. on Moon plans. But China and Russia could pull in their own allies.

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China is ramping up government-sponsored satellites to beam internet from space, taking on U.S. rivals SpaceX and Amazon in the race to own the next frontier of connectivity, Axios' Margaret Harding McGill writes.

• Why it matters: There's growing concern that China is trying to enter the space internet market with the same strategy it used on earth with Huawei and 5G — use a state-backed company to undercut competitors and spread global influence.

China's "StarNet" could launch 10,000 satellites in the next 5 to 10 years.

• Axios China expert Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian says China could use the network for mass data collection and surveillance of internet traffic.

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TSA officers screened more than 1.35 million people at airports on Friday, the highest number of passengers on a single day since March 15, 2020, Dion Rabouin writes in Axios Markets.

• Why it matters: The trend is moving in the right direction for airlines, airport vendors and hopeful wanderers. But that likely also means that ultra-low airfares and travel deals are coming to an end.

The number of passengers Friday was still 20% lower than on the same day last year — and down nearly 38% from 2019.

• The 7-day average is half what it was at this point in 2019.

Israeli archaeologists today announced the discovery in a desert cave of dozens of new Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing biblical text.

• The parchment is believed to have been hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago, AP reports.

Why it matters: These are the first new scrolls found in archaeological excavations in the desert south of Jerusalem in 60 years.

• The fragments, bearing lines of Greek text from the books of Zechariah and Nahum, have been radiocarbon dated to the 2nd century AD.

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All the muscles of the Democratic Party are engaged in selling President Biden's COVID-19 relief bill just days after it was signed, with Democrats treating the $1.9 trillion package like a candidate, Jonathan Swan reports.

• Why it matters: The efforts underscore how closely Biden himself — and the broader Democratic machine — have tied the popularity of his first major piece of legislation to the success and ultimate survival of his presidency.

White House political director Emmy Ruiz said she viewed the effort as "very similar to campaign work," with the administration "taking the story to places that have been most impacted."

• She singled out Nevada, a state where COVID has hammered the massive tourism and hospitality industries.
• She says Biden will take the campaign into "deep red" Trump country.

Democrats' three major campaign committees are already running battleground ads to promote the American Rescue Plan.

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"In one of the largest efforts by an institution to atone for slavery," the Jesuit order of Catholic priests "has vowed to raise $100 million to benefit the descendants of the enslaved people it once owned," the N.Y. Times' Rachel Swarns reports (subscription).

• Why it matters: The move "represents the largest effort by the Roman Catholic Church to make amends for the buying, selling and enslavement of Black people."

The context: "The order relied on slave labor and slave sales for more than a century to ... finance the construction and the day-to-day operations of churches and schools, including ... Georgetown University."

Media and tech giants are swarming kids' entertainment, hoping to capitalize on the past year's dramatic increase in screen time, Axios' Sara Fischer and Kim Hart write.

• Why it matters: As streaming and digital gaming become more popular, new concerns are rising about kids' privacy and susceptibility to tactics designed to keep them hooked on screens.

Last week's blockbuster IPO of Roblox, a game that's popular among older kids and teens, revived growing concerns about ways in which the kid-friendly game can lead to addiction, cyberbullying and abuse.

Between the lines: School-aged children and teens don't fully understand the complexity of how their digital data is collected and used.

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Apps catering to conservatives have hit new highs, although they're losing some of the traction they gained in the month following the Capitol siege, Axios Media Trends expert Sara Fischer reports.

• Gab, a social network popular with conservatives, said it's working on its own version of Clubhouse, the audio-first social app.
• The Daily Wire is launching a subscription entertainment streaming service, akin to Netflix, that caters to conservatives.
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📡 Sign up for Sara Fischer's weekly Axios Media Trends, out later today.

Netflix banked 35 Oscar nominations — one of the biggest single-studio hauls ever, Axios' Aïda Amer and Sara Fischer report.

• Why it matters: The streaming giant spent an unprecedented amount on content, while traditional studios suffered theater closures.

Netflix's original film "Mank" received 10 nominations, including awards for best picture and best director — more than any other film.

• Its other big title, Aaron Sorkin's "The Trial of the Chicago 7,” picked up six nominations.

Amazon received 12 nominations, a record for the studio, for "Sound of Metal," "One Night in Miami" and "Borat: Subsequent Movie Film."

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Go deeper: List of nominees.

"The 'Friends' Experience" — "The One in New York City," with two interactive floors at the corner of 23rd and Lex, complete with a working Central Perk — reopens tomorrow, with tickets available online now.

Pose on the iconic orange couch, explore ... original props and costumes ... like Chandler's bunny suit and Rachel's famous cow jacket, sit in Monica & Rachel's living room or poke Ugly Naked Guy.

Details.

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