The Federal Trade Commission now has only two commissioners, with Republican commissioner Melissa Holyoak stepping down from her post on Monday.
Why it matters: Any attempt to get another Republican confirmed at the agency will face stiff resistance from Senate Democrats after President Trump fired the two Democratic FTC commissioners this spring.
There is new evidence of global pain stemming from President Trump's trade policy, which single-handedly scrambled the world economy.
Why it matters: From China to Switzerland, the economic readjustment to double-digit tariffs has been bumpy. Even with trade deals, the levies imposed on their goods are still well above pre-Trump norms.
Unlike the U.S., most countries do not have an AI investment boom picking up the slack.
The Commerce Department is extending the deadline to comment on how an ambitious AI exports program should work, according to an announcement seen first by Axios.
Why it matters: The program, which is meant to promoteAmerican technology abroad, is complex and some industry players have said there's a lack of clarity around the rollout.
Red 6 and Boeing are expanding their work together by folding the former's Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS) into the latter's AH-64E Apache Crewstation Advanced Technology Testbed.
Why it matters: The combination could improve U.S. Army training as well as contractor know-how.
Investing platform Public is launching an AI-powered brokerage designed to research, build and manage portfolios, the company shares exclusively with Axios.
Why it matters: Competition among brokerages will likely intensify as firms use AI to make investing easier and stickier for users.
The dam for foreign spies automating cyberattacks with AI tools is officially broken.
Why it matters: Imagine a world where Chinese spies can tamper with a U.S. water system or steal a major AI vendor's plans for its next model upgrade — all with just a few clicks. That future is no longer hypothetical.
No part of the new media ecosystem was more ascendant, more powerful and more influential in shaping public debate than MAGA was six short months ago.
It helped elect President Trump to a second term, defend Trump, pressure and punish any Republican who didn't back Trump. MAGA was Trump, and Trump was full MAGA.
Why it matters: MAGA is now mired in conflict over Israel, white nationalism, purity tests and disputes among its biggest personalities.
It's still overwhelmingly pro-Trump — but less relevant in shaping the president's agenda, and less capable of uniting to shape perception and dominate conversation on the right. These days, MAGA can spend more time eating its own than feasting on liberals or establishment Republicans.
On Wall Street, in Washington, in the halls of corporate America, they don't need last names. Everyone just knows: Apple CEO Tim Cook, Disney CEO Bob Iger, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon — all stars of the business set, and all preparing to leave the stage.
Why it matters: Some of the world's best-known leaders are leaving the next generation to sort out historic technological, political and economic changes.
And at a fraught moment for the American economy, an unusual number of globally iconic brands are getting new leadership — complicating what was already certain to be an uncertain 2026.
Welcome to the world of the "forever layoff." Companies are increasingly making cuts year-round in small batches rather than big sweeping firings.
Why it matters: The smaller batches of layoffs let businesses make changes and shift strategies without attracting scrutiny — and they normalize layoffs as a typical part of work. But they still put people out of jobs and make workers super anxious.
