As the U.S. awaits the Iranian response to the draft agreement to end the war, Vice President Vance met Friday with one of the key mediators, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani.
Why it matters: While Pakistan has been the official mediator between the U.S. and Iran since the beginning of the war, the Qataris have continued working behind the scenes. The White House views them as especially effective in negotiations with Iran, U.S. officials say.
Leading the Future, the pro-AI super PAC backed by major tech names, is endorsing three more Democrats in upcoming primaries, the group told Axios exclusively.
The latest Democratic candidates to get the group's endorsement are Val Hoyle (OR-4), Rob Menendez (NJ-8) and Richie Torres (NY-15).
Why it matters: The pro-AI super PAC is continuing to spend big on candidates it thinks will boost their preferred policies, even as policy fights over AI in Washington get more complicated.
House Democrats fell into a state of anguish on Friday after the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a congressional map that would have netted them as many as four seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
Why it matters: The decision is a huge boost to Republicans' chances of keeping the House in November, with even some Democrats acknowledging they basically need to run the table in November to win now.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is staring down three messy fights when Congress returns next week.
Why it matters: Johnson may have survived "hell week" and ended the politically painful Department of Homeland Security shutdown just before Congress left town, but the speaker will return to Washington with a long to-do list.
The Court of International Trade on Thursday ruled that President Trump's newest round of tariffs were illegal — but the duties will keep collecting for most importers while the administration appeals.
Why it matters: It is yet another legal setback for the White House's trade policy — this time ruling against the suite of tariffs that officials imposed to replace those struck down by the Supreme Court.
Uber is acknowledging the risks of driverless cars — from jobs to congestion to safety — while launching a new public policy push to break the logjams slowing the transition to autonomy.
Why it matters: After years of battling cities and labor groups over ridesharing, Uber — with up to $10 billion in potential autonomous vehicle bets at stake — is trying a new tack.
The Department of Defense began the initial release of government files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), colloquially known as UFOs, Friday.
The big picture: While there are no clear photos of little green men or flying saucers, the releasefulfills an order from President Trump to release government documents related to aliens and UFOs, feeding Americans' fascination with conspiracies.
The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April, while the unemployment rate held at 4.3%, the Labor Department said on Friday.
Why it matters: Employers kept hiring through the Iran war's energy shock, a sign of labor market resilience that complicates the case for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.
The Trump administration appears poised to reshape the U.S. approach to AI security ahead of President Trump's trip to China next week.
Why it matters: What happens next could be the turning point for how the Trump White House handles the proliferation of the most advanced AI models in the world.
Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee in Maine's Senate race, on Friday called for ending federal taxes on gasoline and diesel.
Platner is also proposing a national freeze on electricity rates.
Why it matters: His race is likely among the nation's tightest — and critical for Democrats' uphill climb to regain control of the chamber in November's elections.
At a conference earlier this week, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that the new Trump accounts, the "401(k)s for babies" that launched this year, could be a way to push forward the Social Security privatization effort that failed during the Bush administration.
Why it matters: Social Security advocates have worried about this, and while Trump accounts were not described that way when the program was announced, Cruz's remarks suggest a long-term roadmap.
LOS ANGELES — The two most consequential races in California have devolved into twin spectacles, with years of visible dysfunction hollowing out Democrats' case for competent leadership.
Why it matters: California is the ultimate paradox of Democratic rule. A state of immense wealth, innovation and cultural power is increasingly unable to deliver the basics of housing, public safety and disaster response.
James VandeHei Jr., 21, is a rising senior at High Point University and a Division I soccer player. He brings us the backstory of an app that launched Thursday (and is moving up the news chart):
My dad's letter on AI, which dropped in Axios Finish Line in January, came right as I was starting to go deep into the technology myself. Along with two buddies — Charlie Stallmer at Holy Cross and Chris Brophy at the University of Denver, also college juniors — I was already thinking about building an app.
The idea: After a summer on the Hill, the three of us had the same realization. Voting records, campaign finance and legislative activity are technically public — but practically buried. Even on the official Congress.gov, breaking down a single bill means sifting through legislative language no normal person should have to translate.
