Axios

The Trump administration is reviving charges that federal officials covered up the origins of COVID-19 by indicting a former top adviser to Anthony Fauci.

Why it matters: The pandemic experience spawned distrust of public health officials that helped put President Trump back into office.

WASHINGTON — Authenticity is emerging as a key differentiator for communications strategies, said tech, media, and policy leaders at an April 24 Axios event.

Between the lines: The proliferation of AI content is leaving audiences — especially younger ones — hungry for more human interactions.

Axios' Mike Allen, Eleanor Hawkins and Sara Fischer spoke with Taylor Budowich, Innovation Council Action founder, the Sovereign Advisors managing partner and former White House deputy chief of staff for President Trump; Reddit chief communications officer Adam Collins; and MS Now president Rebecca Kutler. The event was sponsored by ROKK Solutions.

By the numbers: Polling reflects an emphasis on people over technology.

• 73% of those polled believe technology is getting in the way of human connection, Collins said, citing numbers from Morning Consult.
• 65% are more likely to believe advice from a human than a robot, he added.

Yes, but: Brands that want to build trustworthy reputations can use artificial intelligence to guide what audiences crave.

Case in point: Reddit is using AI for translations that break down would-be language barriers on its platform.

• "The technology is in service of the result you're trying to drive; the technology is not the result itself," Collins said.

What's next: Brands are doubling down on putting connection and identity first.

• "We're aiming to … build a really rich community," Kutler said of MS Now's planned digital membership platform.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

Ron Bonjean and Rodell Mollineau, co-founders and partners at ROKK Solutions, told Axios publisher Nicholas Johnston that Reddit's approach, in particular, matters because the platform is "the ultimate focus group."

• ROKK is using an AI tool to parse Reddit to "flag risks and opportunities" for clients concerned about reputational risk.

Commonwealth Fusion Systems said Tuesday it has formally filed a request with grid operator PJM to connect its planned power plant in Virginia.

Why it matters: It's the first time a fusion developer has filed one of these detailed requests to link to a major grid region, Commonwealth said.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Leaders across government and industry are racing to expand workforce pathways as north Alabama's growth accelerates beyond its aerospace roots.

Why it matters: Huntsville's reputation as "Rocket City" helps attract talent and investment, but long-term expansion depends on diversifying industries and building broader, earlier growth opportunities for young people.

Axios' Colin Demarest and Derek Lacy moderated conversations with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Lockheed Martin Space president Robert Lightfoot and Blue Origin government relations vice president Megan Wilson Green. The event was sponsored by JPMorgan Chase.

Driving the news: A recent WalletHub analysis ranked Huntsville the No. 10 best city in the country for job-seekers.

By the numbers: 23% of Huntsville's workforce is in STEM, according to the Huntsville Business Journal, citing a study from CoworkingCafe.

• Huntsville has the most engineering professionals per capita in the U.S., Battle said.

Yes, but: "We have to grow in more ways," Battle warned. Huntsville can't have "all of our eggs in one basket."

What they're saying: The area needs to expand in terms of who they're reaching and the skills they're prioritizing.

• "We're not just trying to reach students, we're trying to reach veterans … and other individuals wanting to transition," Wilson Green said.
• "We need to be reaching out to students in kindergarten and in fifth grade … before they become a senior in high school."

What's next: Employers like Lockheed Martin say the workforce must blend traditional trade with advanced tech skills.

• "We still need technicians. We still need welders … just like we need engineers," Lightfoot said.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

In a sponsored View From the Top segment, Brian Lamb, head of specialized industries and co-head of impact banking and advisory at J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking, told Axios publisher Nicholas Johnston that the organization is focused on outcomes.

• There's "a lot of momentum in Huntsville," he said, and JPMorgan is thinking about "how do we help Alabamians get a good job, advance their careers [and] get a good education?"
• "How can we make a difference to go faster … to accelerate some of the really interesting things happening at a really hyperlocal level?"

Meta has reserved generating capacity from Overview Energy, a startup that hopes to deploy satellites that direct solar energy to the ground round-the-clock.

Why it matters: Monday's announcement shows how AI giants are pushing the tech envelope in their quest for electricity.

Businesses are rushing to adopt AI, but many deployments are creating more complexity than value.

On April 6, business and technology leaders gathered at an Expert Voices roundtable in San Francisco to discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with implementing AI in the workplace.

Scientific breakthroughs don't just advance knowledge — they create the tools, treatments and technologies that move society forward.

The challenge: Misinformation is breaking the link between science and progress.