Axios PM

April 14, 2026
Hey there, Tuesday crowd. Today's newsletter, edited by Alex Fitzpatrick, is 595 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.
⚡️ Bulletin: The Trump administration is easing sanctions on Venezuela's state-run financial system to try to boost its economy amid worker protests, Axios' Marc Caputo scoops. Go deeper.
1 big thing: Low-cost degrees for AI era

Khan Academy, TED and testing giant ETS are launching a low-cost online college program to train students for the AI era, Axios' Ina Fried reports.
🤖 The Khan TED Institute's first program: a bachelor's degree in applied AI, with a price tag around $10,000.
- Applications should be open in 12–18 months.
📚 The institute will focus on three areas:
- Core knowledge in math, statistics, economics, computer science, history and writing.
- Applied AI skills, including app development, agent building and financial modeling.
- Communication and leadership skills strengthened through tutoring, collaboration and public speaking.
👩💻 Khan Academy founder Sal Khan tells Axios that the jobs of the future are still unpredictable. But students will clearly need a broad mix of knowledge and skills — including but not limited to AI.
- Khan is also pushing for every student to have an AI tutor.
🤔 Reality check: The program isn't yet accredited. And it's unclear whether employers will value the degrees it bestows.
- The organizations said the institute is pursuing accreditation: "We are announcing now because the partners believe it is important to begin expanding access now rather than waiting years to serve capable students who are ready today."
⏱️ Go deeper: Anderson Cooper interviews Sal Khan for "60 Minutes" in 2024.
2. 🛰️ Amazon takes $11B swing at SpaceX

Amazon is getting deeper into the space race, buying satellite-based telecom company Globalstar for around $11.6 billion, Axios' Dan Primack reports.
- It's an effort to compete with SpaceX's Starlink, just months before SpaceX is expected to launch the biggest IPO ever.
The big picture: "Tech companies are pouring in billions of dollars to capture the lucrative market for satellite-based connectivity, but it will be a tall order to match Starlink's 10,000-unit-strong network," Reuters reports.
- "Through the deal, Amazon adds Globalstar's two dozen satellites to its existing network of more than 200."

💊 Separately, Amazon AWS is rolling out new tech meant to help scientists design and test novel drugs more quickly and precisely, Axios' Katherine Davis reports.
- Amazon Bio Discovery provides an AI model library that generates and evaluates potential drug molecules for new antibody therapies.
3. ⚡️ Catch me up

- 📉 Global oil demand is set to dip this year for the first time since COVID in 2020. It's a stunning reflection of the fallout from the Iran war, Axios' Ben Geman writes.
- 💰 Trump Fed pick Kevin Warsh has over $100 million in assets, per new disclosure documents. That makes him "significantly wealthier than any previous Fed chair," the N.Y. Times reports. Warsh, who plans to divest much of those holdings, faces Senate confirmation next week. Gift link.
- 🌊 This year's Atlantic hurricane season is expected to have "somewhat below-normal activity," with 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. Go deeper.
- 🗞️ The Baltimore Banner's parent organization is buying the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and turning it into a nonprofit newsroom, saving the historic paper from closure. More from Axios Pittsburgh.
4. 🎸 1 for the road: Rockin' class of '26

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2026 is one of its most star-studded in recent memory, Axios' Troy Smith writes.
🥁 Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Oasis and Wu-Tang Clan lead this year's crop of inductees.
- Joining them in the performer category: Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Sade and Luther Vandross.
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