Gavin Newsom is gambling that embracing Joe Biden will be more popular among Democrats than running away from him in the party's 2028 presidential primary.
Why it matters: The California governor— unlike most potential Democratic candidates for president — has spent the last 18 months courting Biden and his family, publicly defending the ex-president's legacy as others have distanced themselves.
States are increasingly deploying artificial intelligence to help manage their social safety net programs and reduce worker caseloads, but advocates warn there's little evidence of safeguards around the technology.
Why it matters: AI systems can hallucinate and make errors, and without proper oversight, a machine's mistake regarding program eligibility could strip Americans of essential benefits.
The closer you look at Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's declaration that the border wall will be finished by this time next year, the harder it is to make the numbers work.
Why it matters: DHS has only completed 10% of its planned primary wall. It will have to navigate construction lawsuits, negotiate with (or sue) private citizens for land access and finalize contracts and designs — all while minimizing the delays that slow big construction projects.
Millions of World Cup visitors are experiencing American cuisine for the first time and there's one menu item that's completely foreign: tipping.
Why it matters: Many restaurants in World Cup host cities are adding 20% gratuities to customers' bills this summer to accommodate international fans who might otherwise accidentally stiff their servers.
The Iranian armed forces announced Saturday they will close the Strait of Hormuz — just three days after it reopened — alleging America's failure to rein in Israeli attacks on Lebanon violates the new ceasefire deal.
Why it matters: This is the first big crisis between the U.S. and Iran since signing a memorandum of understanding to end the war earlier this week.
Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni's war of words over a factually contested photo op request at the G-7 exploded on Saturday, with the one-time friends blasting each other in angry terms on social media.
Why it matters: Even as Trump lavishes praise on American adversaries like China's Xi Jinping, close allies are increasingly willing to split with him.
It was a historic, even jarring, scene that captures a once-unimaginable geopolitical ordering. The world's most powerful heads of state gathered in the French Alps this week for the annual G7 summit, with the CEOs of America's dominant AI companies seated and treated like heads of nation-states themselves.
Why it matters: This is the future many leaders and AI CEOs envision — heads of state and the masters of tech in constant discussion, and sometimes conflict, over who controls AI, its rules, and its application to governing and world security.
Some Democratic candidates are learning the hard way that there's a cost to being party leadership's favorite in a hotly contested primary.
Why it matters: This echoes the Tea Party wave that hit Republicans in the 2010s, with party outsiders harnessing primary voters' anger to win upset victories over establishment candidates.
Why it matters: Trump has long admired leaders who wield centralized power and stamp their will on history. He skipped over traditional American allies when asked which world leaders he respects.
