President Trump threatened to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges starting Tuesday if the regime doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz.
Why it matters: Trump's 10-day deadline to Iran is expected to expire Monday. He previously threatened to bomb the country's energy, water and oil infrastructure if no deal was reached to open the strait.
The most consequential force reshaping geopolitics and business can be captured in one word: asymmetry, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei writes in his new weekly Axios C-Suite newsletter.
The small can now destroy the big. The cheap can neutralize the expensive.
Drones proved it on the battlefield. AI is proving it everywhere else.
Why it matters: Every CEO now faces the same question the Pentagon does: Are you the $3 million missile or the $35,000 drone?
Data centers have become a boxy, hulking flashpoint heading into the midterms — and the backlash is spreading fast across red and blue states.
Why it matters: With no federal action, states are fielding constituent anger over power grids, water supplies and strained local infrastructure. But investment keeps accelerating; Wall Street isn't slowing down, and neither is Washington's appetite for AI dominance.
Phone-free bars and restaurants are emerging across the U.S. as people seek to disconnect from screens and devices.
The big picture: This trend is emerging amid a societal shift, with several countries imposing social media bans for children and teens, some U.S. states prohibiting phone use at school, and more live events restricting phones.
Success for artists is being driven by marketing power and superfandom in a more democratized music industry.
Why it matters: Instead of relying on revenue from album sales or streams alone, artists increasingly depend on building dedicated audiences that follow them across platforms, buy their merch and attend their shows.
Subscription streaming platforms are expanding payouts to more music creators than ever before, but top artists still capture the vast majority of revenue.
Why it matters: The streaming era has made distribution and discoverability easier for a wider group of artists, but it's also reinforced the dominance of the biggest stars.
Easter baskets are getting a squishy upgrade this year, as parents hunt for toys like NeeDoh and glittery "dumplings" — among this season's hottest items.
Why it matters: The surge shows how viral, low-cost toys can quickly turn into must-have items — driving sellouts and resale markups.
