Axios

Everywhere you look, signs are mounting of a tinderbox election that will test the outer bounds — and breaking points — of American democracy, honesty and civility.

Why it matters: A perfect storm has been brewing for years now — fueled by extreme polarization, election denial, political violence, historic prosecutions and rampant disinformation. Mayhem is bound to rain down in November.

There’s a new crop of it-girls, models and influencers dazzling magazine covers and posting on Instagram. But they’re not real.

• Brands and creators are harnessing artificial intelligence to mint synthetic influencers.

Why it matters: Today’s young people are encountering a barrage of information through influencers and forming opinions based on their content.