The Trump administration has made exporting American AI a key part of its plans for global AI dominance, but ad hocpolicy decisions around the most advanced AI are threatening that effort.
Why it matters: A flagship U.S. program designed to boost AI exports could be undermined by the very administration that created it.
The Obama Presidential Center just dropped its grand-opening performance lineup, and it may go down as one of the best Chicago concerts of the last 50 years.
Why it matters: The opening brings a star-studded roster of performers to Chicago and marks the public debut of one of the city's most anticipated civic projects.
The still-secret terms of President Trump's Iran deal have triggered a furious debate over how much Tehran stands to gain financially — and how soon.
The big picture: The deal is expected to allow Iran to sell oil freely during a 60-day negotiating window, while opening the door to broader sanctions relief, access to frozen funds and a potential $300 billion rebuilding investment fund if a final nuclear agreement is reached.
General Motors and Lockheed Martin plan to work together to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and boost America's readiness for war.
Why it matters: The collaboration, at the urging of the Trump Administration, is portrayed as an effort to protect national security by strengthening the U.S. industrial base across the defense sector.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom's team is urging congressional Democrats to frame the Justice Department's investigation into him as part of a campaign of political retribution, according to talking points obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The messaging memo, first reported by Semafor, echos Newsom's assertion that the probe was directly ordered by President Trump to kneecap the California governor's political aspirations.
American Action Network is launching a $3 million ad campaign in four House districts, Axios has learned, as Republicans sharpen an affordability-focused message ahead of the midterms.
Why it matters: Republicans are trying to make affordability a defining issue of the November elections, betting voters will reward candidates who can claim credit for lowering costs and cutting taxes.
The U.S. oil stockpile is at its lowest level since July 1983, when the country was still just building up its energy supply.
Why it matters: The stockpile, called the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, played a critical role in keeping a lid on oil and gasoline prices in the Iran war, but it's running low.
Campaign ads featuring AI-generated clips and images once sounded like a laughable concept. Now they're everywhere, with attack ads that place candidates in a wide variety of compromising — and fictitious — situations.
Why it matters: This largely unregulated practice is warping the unspoken norms of political campaigns and blurring the line between truth and fiction.
Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, slammed tech moguls for hypocritical, grandiose warnings that are alienating Americans at a time of huge workforce opportunity.
"Nobody knows for sure, but let's not panic," Smith, who has been with Microsoft for 33 years, said from the tech giant's headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
Why it matters: Smith is among the tech leaders who think dire predictions about AI's threat to entry-level white-collar jobs are souring young Americans on a miraculous technology.
Vice President JD Vance's memoir about his conversion to Catholicism, out Tuesday, puts a high-profile face on a small but distinctive slice of the U.S. Church.
Why it matters: Parish reports have fueled talk of a Catholic revival. But a new Pew Research Center analysis found the Church loses eight former Catholics for every adult it gains through conversion.
The Trump administration says it wants American AI to dominate the world.
But its decision to force Anthropic to abruptly cut off access to one of its most advanced models risks sending foreign governments and companies a very different message: Don't build your future on U.S. AI.
Why it matters: As the Trump administration shapes its AI regulatory regime in real time, the precedents it sets could reverberate far beyond an individual showdown with Anthropic.
Senate Democrats on Tuesday are unveiling a proposal to expand Medicare drug price negotiations, in a bid to counter President Trump's election-year messaging on health care affordability.
Why it matters: High prescription drug prices are a key concern for voters ahead of the midterms — one Trump is trying to address through voluntary pricing deals with leading drug companies and with the TrumpRx website.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into him.
Why it matters: Newsom alleged in a video that the DOJ is going after him at President Trump's direction because he's "considering running for president."
