President Trump on Monday stood by his comments that Rob Reiner's death was the result of "Trump derangement syndrome," issuing a new round of sharp attacks on the late director.
The big picture: Trump said he believed Reiner was "very bad for our country" and repeated his previous rhetoric describing the longtime liberal activist as a "deranged person."
Toymaker Mattel won't unveil its first product with OpenAI this year as originally hoped, Axios has confirmed.
Why it matters: The move comes amid greater scrutiny of AI interactions with teens as well as some high-profile issues with other toys that include generative AI.
President Trump torpedoed MAGA influencers' calls for compassion after the killing of director Rob Reiner, mocking the longtime liberal activist as a victim of "Trump derangement syndrome."
Why it matters: Many MAGA influencers vowed after the assassination of Charlie Kirk that they would never celebrate or mock the untimely death of a political opponent.
The White House on Monday unveiled a new AI-focused "Tech Force," looking to tap employees from the nation's biggest tech firms in the latest sign of the industry's embrace of President Trump.
Why it matters: The White House appears to be trying to pick up the pieces after Elon Musk's DOGE swept through the federal government and wiped out significant existing tech expertise.
Dragoneer has raised $4.3 billion for its seventh venture capital fund, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's an outlier in what has been an exceptionally slow year for VC fundraising, closing above its target after just a few months in market.
Rolls-Royce has commenced AE 1107 engine testing for prototypes of the U.S. Army's MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
Why it matters: It's a significant milestone for the multibillion-dollar tiltrotor project, which service leadership has demanded be accelerated and is expected to replace many Black Hawk helicopters.
Data centers could be a flashpoint in a closely watched primary in Tennessee as prominent activist and state lawmaker Justin Pearson (D) challenges incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen (D).
Why it matters: Whether in primaries or general election contests, the rapid growth of AI infrastructure is quickly rising on the political radar in the 2026 midterms and beyond.
Fusion hasn't actually arrived in reality, but a bipartisan group of lawmakers is already looking to make sure it sticks around in Washington.
Why it matters: A bill being introduced that would codify a new fusion office at the Energy Department might seem like inside baseball. But it's a concrete sign it's emerging as a bipartisan energy solution in U.S. politics.
IND Technology, which provides infrastructure monitoring tech for utilities to stop wildfires and outages before they start, just landed $33 million in new growth funding.
Why it matters: The firm's North American expansion is a story of this moment, thanks in part to AI.
Yoonie Joung, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics North America, dives into Samsung's cultural partnership with the Smithsonian that combines art and tech.
The honeymoon with AI is over on Wall Street. Investors will no longer bid up every AI stock on nothing but hopes of future revenue for the technology.
Why it matters: 2026 will be a year of harsher judgment from tech investors, who are already indicating that they plan to reward the fundamentals again: disciplined spending coupled with returns.
