Axios

Subscription newsletter company Puck has acquired Air Mail, the digital media startup founded by magazine veteran Graydon Carter, Puck confirmed to Axios on Thursday.

Why it matters: The deal brings together two like-minded digital media startups and serves as a poetic business exit for Carter, who mentored Puck co-founder Jon Kelly at Vanity Fair.

Turning Point USA, the right-wing group founded by Charlie Kirk, is trying to become a force in MAGA media with guerrilla-style reporting segments that are drawing millions of viewers on social media.

Why it matters: The reports on the TPUSA Frontlines site are the latest sign of how Turning Point — long known for Kirk's campus tours and its mobilization of young voters — is shifting in the aftermath of Kirk's assassination in September.

Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth took a beverage idea and turned it into a billion-dollar business by leveraging the power of brand and connection.

Why it matters: Ellsworth's go-direct, founder-led communications strategy helped Poppi break through the crowded consumer-beverage industry.

Sara Blask, Blue Origin's former principal of launch communications, referred to her team as the "Seal Team 6" of crisis communications during on an-stage interview at MB Live.

Why it matters: Space tourism is a highly technical, highly regulated industry that is viewed with skepticism by many — making proactive storytelling and crisis planning priorities for the comms teams.

Most of the U.S. will fall back to standard time Sunday — even as most of the country wants to sunset the biannual clock change.

Why it matters: 19 states have passed laws for permanent daylight saving time, but they can't act without Congress — and federal efforts have stalled.

President Trump's budget team raided three different financial accounts to make sure U.S. troops are paid Friday as the government shutdown continues, White House officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: As long as military personnel are paid, Trump isn't planning to budge on the nearly month-old shutdown, even with as many as 42 million people set to lose food stamp benefits Saturday.

Apollo Global Management has reached a deal to sell AOL to Italian tech holding group Bending Spoons in a deal valued at roughly $1.5 billion, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: AOL still drives hundreds of millions of dollars of free cash flow.

U.S. House staffers were warned by congressional administrators Wednesday that their October paychecks will not be sent out if the government remains shut down into November, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It is yet another painful consequence of the shutdown — and one that hits particularly close to home for the lawmakers in both parties who have dug in to their positions.