President Trump told reporters on Saturday that he could order renewed military action against Iran if it "misbehaves."
Why it matters: While the U.S. and Iran are still exchanging drafts of a framework agreement to end the war, Trump is also seriously considering ordering new military action against Iran to try and break the current stalemate.
While AI was trained to write like humans, these large language models are eroding the unpredictability of our writing and shifting the way we talk.
The big picture: Researchers found that AI pushes users toward a more standardized speaking and writing style, reducing variations in sentence structure and vocabulary.
President Trump's allies are growing alarmed that GOP Rep. Nancy Mace — who infuriated him by calling for the release of the Epstein files — will defy expectations and win the South Carolina governor's race.
Why it matters: Mace, who's running in a fiercely competitive June 9 primary, has been a thorn in Trump's side, most recently with her criticism of the administration's handling of the Iran war. She also threatened to side with Democrats on a war powers resolution.
People close to the president don't want Mace as governor — a perch that could help sway the 2028 presidential primary given the state's early spot on the voting calendar.
State of play: Polls consistently show Mace near or at the top of the Republican primary field. If no one receives a majority of the vote in the June 9 primary, the nomination will be determined in a two-week runoff pitting the top two finishers.
A recent survey conducted by the GOP firm co/efficient had Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette leading with 19 percent, followed by Mace with 18, Attorney General Alan Wilson at 15 and Rep. Ralph Norman at 13.
One possibility alarming the president's allies: That Mace and Rep. Ralph Norman advance to a runoff. Norman crossed Trump during the 2024 primary when he endorsed former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and called for "new leadership" in the party.
But Trump has yet to endorse a rival of Mace or Norman — recognizing he needs their votes to pass legislation in the House.
What they're saying: "Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman sabotaged Trump when it mattered most. Their reward shouldn't be the governor's mansion," a source close to the White House tells Axios.
The intrigue: South Carolina Republicans are watching closely to see if Trump endorses. His support could swing the race.
Evette is the candidate best positioned to get Trump's nod, operatives say. She raised more than $1 million for Trump's 2024 bid, and several members of the president's political team are advising her campaign.
Evette is endorsed by Gov. Henry McMaster, a Trump ally who's lobbied the president to back her.
But Trump is treading carefully. Aside from alienating Mace and Norman — whose votes the razor-thin House GOP majority needs to pass legislation — endorsing Evettecould antagonize South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, the father of Alan Wilson.
Yes, but: Some South Carolina GOP strategists are skeptical Mace and Norman will both advance to the runoff.
Behind the scenes: Mace has bewildered White House aides by repeatedly asking for Trump's endorsement despite her stands on the Epstein files and the Iran war.
They note she's received nearly $500,000 in support from a super PAC aligned with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a frequent Trump critic.
They also point out that she co-signed a discharge petition with Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie — a vocal Trump critic whom the president is working to unseat — aimed at forcing the release of the Epstein files.
"Nancy has asked for an endorsement countless times, which is confusing considering she teamed up with Massie to launch a dishonest attack on the administration in regards to the Epstein case," says a Trump political operative.
The other side: "The only people worried about Nancy Mace becoming governor are the consultants planting this story because they know the Trump endorsement isn't coming for their candidate," a senior Mace adviser tells Axios.
While Mace has criticized Trump's handling of the Iran war, at other times she's praised him.
Norman's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
The bottom line: Trump wants an ally in the South Carolina governorship, especially given the stakes of the 2028 primary. But deciding how or whether to weigh in isn't an easy calculation.
Artificial intelligence is wiping out some entry-level work that trains the next generation of elite lawyers.
Why it matters: Big Law's entire business model depends on armies of junior associates learning on the job. If AI erases that rung, the profession faces a long-term talent crisis.
Spirit Airlines is going out of business, canceling all of its flights and stranding current travelers — marking the end of the runway for a company that offered cheap flights to America's budget travelers.
A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily froze federal rules allowing the teleprescribing and mailing of abortion drugs, which now account for more than 60% of all abortions in the health system.
Why it matters: The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling marks a major win for the anti-abortion movement, which had been pressing the Trump administration to reinstate in-person dispensing requirements.
This week's Supreme Court ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act has nullified some of the Democratic resistance that kept many states from pursuing extreme gerrymanders this election cycle.
Why it matters: That new energy could put a fresh crop of blue and even purple states on the board as potential redistricting targets ahead of 2028, according to more than 20 federal and state Democratic lawmakers Axios spoke to.
The Defense Department estimates Iran has been denied nearly $5 billion in oil revenue because of the U.S. blockade in the Gulf of Oman, causing unprecedented pressure on Tehran's government.
Why it matters: The blockade is President Trump's most significant leverage tool to negotiate ending the war with Iran, and the Pentagon wants to emphasize its impact as peace talks stop and start.
Veteran Republican official Richard Walters is expected to join the Trump White House as a deputy chief of staff, Axios has learned.
Driving the news: Walters, a longtime former senior Republican National Committee official who played a major role on Trump's three campaigns, won't have a specific portfolio.
Several major airlines said Friday that they'll aid Spirit Airlines customers if the budget carrier suddenly goes out of business.
Why it matters: Spirit is said to be on the verge of ceasing operations after failing to land a government bailout during its second bankruptcy in less than a year.
President Trump has notified Congress that the hostilities the United States initiated against Iran on Feb. 28 have been "terminated," though he did not rule out future military action.
Why it matters: Under the War Powers Act, the president must seek congressional approval for military hostilities that last longer than 60 days.
Asian Americans report higher levels of anxiety than any other racial group in the U.S., a new survey finds.
Why it matters: As Washington hardens its policies on immigration, citizenship and its relationship with China, public attitudes toward Asian Americans are shifting in parallel.
State governments are rapidly embracing AI by launching low-risk pilot programs, but haven't yet figured out how to measure their impact, according to a new analysis from Code for America shared exclusively with Axios.
Why it matters: AI promises to make government more efficient and cut costs.
The Iran war threatens to disrupt summer travel as it sends oil prices surging — and flight and hotel bookings are already dipping, industry experts warn.
Senate Republicans are calling on the Trump administration to clarify how it is interpreting the 60-day clock under the War Powers Act in its military campaign against Iran.
Why it matters: The 60-day deadline, depending on who's counting, is arriving on requiring the president to seek authorization or wind down operations. The first strikes against Iran were on Feb. 28.
