Axios

MINNEAPOLIS — The nation's most powerful labor unions have a message for potential 2028 contenders for president: It's us or the machines.

Why it matters: AI anxiety dominated much of the conversation at the AFL-CIO's national convention here last week, as leaders from the group's 65 affiliated unions called on politicians to impose significant AI regulations.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is on a hot streak.

• In the last month alone, four progressive House candidates she's endorsed in open primaries have cruised to victory, making her an early kingmaker as she weighs a 2028 presidential run.

Why it matters: AOC has gotten on a roll by deploying a different strategy from that of her mentor, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — one that, despite its success, is dividing the left.

A drone strike on northern Israel set off a chain reaction Sunday: Israel hit Hezbollah targets in Beirut in retaliation, and Iran is now threatening to strike back.

Why it matters: The escalation lands hours before the the U.S. and Iran are supposed to sign a deal to end their war, and now Iranian officials have signaled Israel's attack could scuttle the agreement.

Top White House officials believe New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan obtained audio recordings of Situation Room meetings for their forthcoming book, "Regime Change."

Why it matters: Such a taped leak would be a shocking breach of one of the most secure settings on Earth. Independent recording devices in the Situation Room are forbidden.

• "We're afraid some of our most sensitive conversations were being recorded," an administration source told us. "And we have no idea which ones."

The screwworm has arrived in the United States, and it's creeping up on President Trump as a political pest.

Why it matters: Trump and the Republican Party are already reeling from soaring beef prices and accelerating inflation.

The Trump administration gave Anthropic 90 minutes on Friday to pull down its most powerful models before imposing a licensing regime on the company, according to an Anthropic source.

Why it matters: It illustrates the mad dash within the government to react to warnings from Amazon and others about the models' capabilities.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is staking out his independence from President Trump ahead of a possible 2028 run for the White House, backing rivals to Trump-endorsed candidates in two high-profile Republican primaries.

Why it matters: Cruz is testing whether there's room in the Republican Party for a 2028 contender willing to break with a president who's maintained an iron grip on the party for the last decade.

The next great civil rights battle may be whether America's old racial categories can keep up with its future.

Why it matters: The U.S. is heading toward a more Latino, Asian, Black immigrant and multiracial future — and the rules for counting race will help decide who gets political power, civil rights protections and public resources.

A pivotal series of decisions in the next few months will determine the shape of U.S. vaccine policy for years to come — and influence American's perceptions of the shots as a public health tool.

Why it matters: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came into office promising to restore public trust in vaccines and to scrutinize the medical and pharmaceutical establishment. But his boldest moves have drawn political blowback, along with charges that he's spreading misinformation and debunked theories.

The AI-driven power boom is forcing a once-in-a-generation decision about how America's electricity system should grow.

The big picture: For decades, utilities planned around predictable increases in demand. AI is changing that.