Axios

The Iran war and the Ukraine-Russia conflict are creating a "multidirectional squeeze on world agriculture" that could spiral into a crisis, a new report finds.

Why it matters: Wars and extreme weather are colliding to threaten global food supplies and drive up prices, especially in vulnerable economies.

Project Omega and Charter Space want to explore how radioactive isotopes can be used to keep expensive satellites in orbit longer and prevent them from being lost to the depths of space.

Why it matters: Satellites often rely on solar power, which can be unpredictable. Reliable power could increase the odds of spacecraft survival.

• NASA has previously observed that about 41% of small satellites fail or partially fail.

Voters in oil-rich Alberta overwhelmingly rejected a push to bring the province one step closer to secession in a historic referendum.

Why it matters: The result is a win for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has touted a united, energy-dominant Canada and sought to appeal to Albertans, who have expressed resentment over the nation's energy policies.

Silicon Valley moves fast and breaks things, but the U.S. electrical grid moves slowly and requires permits.

• The explosive growth of AI is colliding with the glacial pace of building out new power infrastructure, prompting a new warning from Goldman Sachs that energy bottlenecks are set to stall the AI race.

Why it matters: Amid a wave of anxiety from Wall Street about the debt-fueled AI buildout, Goldman points to power as the biggest risk to trillions in spending in a new report shared exclusively with Axios.

One issue is breaking through even among the most loyal Republican supporters: gas prices.

Why it matters: Republicans promised to slash gas prices. But the Iran war sent them soaring, up 37% since President Trump took office.

President Trump's moves to avoid new penalties on Russian energy sent shockwaves through Washington, sparking diplomatic tensions and political turmoil.

Why it matters: Trump's push to lower energy prices ahead of the midterms could provide Russia an economic lifeline and is exposing divisions within his own party.

President Trump's top aides offered sharply different explanations this weekend of his Russian diesel deal amid a barrage of bipartisan criticism calling the move a gift to Russia.

Why it matters: Oil, gas and petroleum products help finance Russia's war on Ukraine, and Trump's moves are bringing rifts within the GOP just ahead of midterm elections.

When solar panel installers go out of business, homeowners can be left "orphaned" with loan payments due and no clear path to repairs for their panels.

• Florida-based SoFlo Solar founders Luis Galarza and Laura Gutiérrez believe there are potentially millions of solar orphans across the country and expect the number to increase.

Geothermal — power drawn from the Earth's natural heat — is pulling off something remarkable in today's hyperpolarized America: Winning fans across the political spectrum.

Why it matters: The bipartisan appeal, combined with surging electricity demand from AI, is helping fuel investment in a niche energy source yet to prove it can compete at scale.

Tesla is expected to unveil its Roadster Thursday night, potentially featuring SpaceX-designed thrusters that could literally lift the car off the ground.

• A much bigger Tesla-SpaceX tie-up — the long-speculated merger of Elon Musk's two companies — could come as soon as this fall, say analysts at the Barclays investment bank.

The big picture: Musk's business empire is becoming increasingly interconnected, raising the prospect of a combination that would consolidate his control over two of the world's most valuable companies, while allowing both to move faster on big AI projects.