Americans' perceptions of government corruption have hit a two-decade high during President Trump's second term, Axios' Josephine Walker reports from a new Gallup survey.

• 🌀 Why it matters: The data underscores how deeply Americans' confidence in the federal government has eroded.

By the numbers: 89% of U.S. adults say government corruption is widespread, Gallup found.

• That's up 10 points from last year and a jump from the 72%–79% range between 2010 and 2025.
• Democrats are driving most of the rise, jumping to 91% this year after sitting at 76% during the first year of Trump's second term — when he reported some $2.2 billion in gains.

🌎 Americans are outliers among citizens in other developed nations: Among OECD member countries, the median level of perceived government corruption has fallen from 69% in 2009 to below 60% since 2022.

• For the first time, the U.S. tops perceived corruption ratings among OECD countries.
• Since 2023, just four other countries that Gallup has surveyed have scored higher than the U.S.: Lebanon, Peru, Ghana and Nigeria.

Go deeper.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Trump administration trusts Anthropic again after months of clashes with the AI company.

• The statement is a remarkable turnaround from the bitter fight over national security and AI safeguards.

💡 I asked Lutnick at today's G20 innovation summit in Chapel Hill, N.C., if he trusts CEO Dario Amodei. He told me: "We trust Anthropic."

• Lutnick continued: "They've done what we asked. They're back on the right side. So the answer is: Yes."

🔎 The declaration comes as Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown takes a more prominent role in the company's relationship with the White House, including a headlining role at this week's G20 Innovation Ministerial, Axios' Maria Curi reports.

• Industry leaders know that aligning with the Trump administration goes a long way. Brown, who praised Trump's pro-data-center intervention, offers a reset for a company once on the outs with the White House.

Go deeper ... More from the interview.

1. ⚓ The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier docked in Thailand today after its grueling Middle East deployment sparked concerns about sailors' mental health and living conditions. Today is the first full port stop in more than nine months — a deployment Trump said last month wasn't "nearly long enough." Go deeper.
2. ⚖️ Google secured a major court win today when a judge ruled the tech giant won't have to spin off its "network" ad business. The decision has enormous implications for the $1 trillion global advertising economy, Axios' Sara Fischer reports.
3. 💰 The U.S. Mint began selling gold-colored $1 coins featuring an image of Trump today. The coins can be used as legal tender, but that doesn't guarantee every store will accept them, Axios' Herb Scribner reports.
4. 🇨🇦 Trump's beef with Canada is irking Americans. More than 6 in 10 (63%) oppose Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America," per a recent Reuters-Ipsos poll. Americans also expressed wariness over the renewed U.S.-Canada trade war, Axios' Avery Lotz reports.
5. 🐅 Legendary golfer Tiger Woods will have his driver's license suspended for five years after striking a deal in his DUI case today. He was also ordered to pay $1,500 in fines. Go deeper.

For National Chicken Month, Walmart released limited-edition rotisserie chicken purses in two "flavors," traditional and lemon pepper.

• The bags, priced at $5.97, sold out in less than a day — but Walmart hinted there are "more cooking."
• Walmart said it's playing into this fall's "oversized clutch trend" by giving one of its most "beloved deli items a fashionable twist."

Read the announcement.