Axios

Yields on U.S. government bonds — known as Treasurys — continue to climb, thanks to groaning federal deficits, bonkers corporate borrowing and uncertainty about monetary policy under Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh.

Why it matters: Virtually all borrowing costs — for mortgages, business loans, auto financing, etc. — are based in part on bond yields produced by trading in the Treasury market each day.

• When the U.S. government has to pay higher interest rates to borrow — yields are effectively those interest rates — it raises the floor for almost everyone else too, increasing borrowing costs across the economy.

High prices, a persistent war and anxiety about corruption are quickly eroding President Trump's support among Republicans, a warning sign for the White House with less than 80 days to the midterms.

Why it matters: Democrats look likely to take control of the House already, but Trump's weakness could cost Republicans more seats and further endanger the Senate.

Activists and citizens across the political spectrum are pushing back against license plate readers made by Flock and similar companies, fueled by privacy concerns and suspected police misuse.

Why it matters: Flock cameras are suddenly emerging as the next big target of populist anti-tech, pro-privacy sentiment, alongside the data centers fueling the AI boom.

Hamas leaders reaffirmed their commitment to disarm and demilitarize Gaza in a meeting with President Trump's adviser Jared Kushner in Egypt on Sunday, according to a source with direct knowledge.

Why it matters: Kushner used the rare direct meeting to press Hamas for tangible steps on disarmament, warning that Israel doesn't trust the group to follow through.

Attorney General Todd Blanche refused Sunday to pledge the Justice Department's independence from the White House, saying he would consider President Trump's views on individual prosecutions.

Why it matters: Trump has remade the DOJ, ousting longtime staffers, urging prosecutions of rivals and installing his former lawyer as attorney general. Blanche made the stakes clear: Trump's wishes can shape who gets investigated and prosecuted.

In mid-May, U.S. negotiators trying to reach a deal with Iran to end the war ran into a problem: They couldn't tell if the people across the table actually spoke for the country's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

• So Trump administration officials did something unconventional — they went around Iran's negotiators and reached out directly to IRGC leadership. The person they tapped for the backchannel was Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, who had something very few others do: the trust of both U.S. and IRGC leaders.

Why it matters: The episode, which was detailed by three sources with direct knowledge and has not been previously reported, shows how tricky it's been for the U.S. to negotiate with a country where Washington isn't sure who exactly is in charge. The U.S. and Iran did reach a memorandum of understanding, but it quickly collapsed.

America is losing its grip on one of its quietest superpowers: its ability to attract the world's most ambitious students.

Why it matters: As international enrollment drops, colleges face a financial hit. Foreign students typically pay full tuition, acting as a crucial revenue stream that subsidizes campus operations and eases the cost burden for American taxpayers.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had a banner week, drawing attention from Democratic leaders, prediction markets and millions on social media.

Why it matters: The widespread attention shows how Ocasio-Cortez is expanding her political reach as she weighs a possible presidential or Senate run in 2028.

President Trump said Friday that he isn't concerned about the state of the USS Abraham Lincoln, despite calls from lawmakers to investigate reports of mental health issues for those onboard.

Why it matters: The San Diego-based aircraft carrier has been deployed for nine months, and numerous reports have indicated that crew members' families are concerned about a lack of food and other basic supplies.

Newly released renderings of President Trump's White House East Wing project include a shiny gold addition to the facade.

Why it matters: The images were revealed in the Trump administration's appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn rulings blocking its construction.