Axios

We're alive at the single greatest moment in U.S. and human history. By a lot.

Why it matters: It's not even close, by almost every empirical measure. We live longer, better, richer, healthier and freer than those before us.

The fight that scrubbed the world's most powerful AI models from the internet featured personality clashes, industry confusion and international backlash.

Why it matters: Anthropic's models are back online, but the impact of its 20-day showdown with the Trump administration will be long lasting.

Fewer Americans are reading books, but here's the plot twist: The bookstore is still staging a comeback.

Why it matters: Once left for dead in the wake of Amazon's rise and the death of Borders, Barnes & Noble and independent booksellers have pulled off a stunning turnaround, opening new stores and reporting higher sales.

The Ukrainian military is proving it can blow up pretty much whatever it wants.

Why it matters: Fewer and fewer places feel safe inside Russia, as oil facilities, weapons factories, convoys and bombers burn.