America's political climate is chilling international travel — but not to Denver.

Why it matters: While many U.S. cities grapple with tourism declines that strain their local economies, Denver is defying the downturn, drawing international visitors who can provide a crucial fiscal cushion, especially amid a budget crisis.

The big picture: Foreign travelers are bypassing President Trump's America, put off by tariffs, anti-foreigner rhetoric and aggressive immigration enforcement, Axios' Emily Peck reports.

• Nationwide, international air travel is down 7% from 2024, an Axios analysis of U.S. Customs and Border Protection data found.
• Canadians in particular are steering clear. Visits from our northern neighbors are down 25% year to date, according to a forecast last month from travel research firm Tourism Economics.

By the numbers: Denver is an exception. Foreign travelers passing through the city's airport were up 3.2% as of Aug. 9, compared with the same period last year, per data provided to Axios from Visit Denver CEO Richard Scharf.

What they're saying: Expanded international offerings at Denver International Airport may be driving the surge, Scharf tells us.

• Those include new direct United Airlines flights to Rome and Regina, Saskatchewan; increased daily service to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines; and Lufthansa swapping in the Airbus A380 — the world's largest passenger plane, with 509 seats — on its Munich route.

Between the lines: Under Mayor Mike Johnston, Denver has also doubled down on its identity as a welcoming city for immigrants, which may explain why international travelers aren't shying away.

What we're watching: The U.S. could see 8.2% fewer international arrivals by the end of this year, per Tourism Economics' report — keeping visits from overseas well below pre-pandemic levels, they said.

Before the Denver Broncos can break ground on their new stadium in Burnham Yard, the team's owners must clear a series of high hurdles.

Why it matters: The Broncos' lease at Empower Field at Mile High ends after the 2030 season, a tight deadline to build a new stadium and entertainment district.

State of play: One of the first steps is crafting a community benefit agreement negotiated by the La Alma and Lincoln Park neighborhoods and developers, the Denver Post reports.

• The contract can include requirements like building an early learning center, funding youth programming or building bike lanes — all of which developers had to do as part of the construction of Ball Arena.

The intrigue: Once completed, the Denver City Council gets involved. The council will vote on a land-use plan and the zoning for the Burnham Yard area.

• The members also are expected to face a vote on whether to give the Broncos' owners a tax break to redevelop property that is considered blighted.

Between the lines: For now, the state still owns the Burnham Yard property, but the team says a conceptual purchase agreement is nearly finalized.

Reality check: The former railyard is an environmental concern. It's near a Superfund site and a recent report found contaminants in the soil, including petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, arsenic and chromium, the Post reports.

• The team would likely need environmental permits to clean the site before it can build.

What they're saying: "It's a big chunk of land in a major American city with a sports team that is popular," John Spear, a professor of environmental engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, told the newspaper.

• "So where there is a will, there will be a way to clean up as fast as possible so people can use it as fast as possible," Spear added.

Summer temperatures are hanging around longer nationwide compared to the early 1970s, a byproduct of climate change, a new analysis finds.

Why it matters: Longer summers also elevate the risk of wildfires by drying out vegetation and soil, creating more fuel for blazes.

Driving the news: Summer temperatures are lingering into the fall compared to 1970 in over 90% of the 246 U.S. cities analyzed in a new report from Climate Central, a climate research group.

• Among cities with lingering heat, summer temperatures are lasting an extra 10 days on average.

Zoom in: In Denver, we're seeing warm temperatures extend for 13 extra days.

• For Colorado Springs, it's nine days and for Grand Junction five days.

How it works: Climate Central's analysis is based on NOAA data, and reflects the last date each year with highs equal to or greater than historical summer-like temperatures.

What they're saying: "Research suggests that high future levels of heat-trapping pollution would cause summers to continue to stretch longer and later in the coming decades — putting health, ecosystems, and agriculture at risk," per the report.

Go deeper

👀 Sixteen passengers are suing American Airlines after a March flight in Colorado was diverted to Denver International Airport due to an engine fire. (Business Insider)

🏈 The Denver Broncos were defeated on a last-second 43-yard field goal by the Los Angeles Chargers, losing 23-20. It's the second consecutive game the Broncos lost on a late field goal. (CBS)

🚨 Online parking disputes are no longer available in Denver after the city's layoffs decimated the entire parking magistrate's office. It's unclear how the process will work moving forward. (Denver7)

⚖️ A federal judge stopped the termination of Jessica Calderon, who was laid off last month from her role as senior director in the Mayor's Office, and who has an ongoing discrimination lawsuit against the city. (Denver Gazette 🔑)

Fall foliage in Colorado's high country is expected to reach peak color this upcoming weekend.