topics

politics-policy

epstein-files

donald-trump

2026-midterm-elections

immigration

behind-the-curtain

race-and-equity

technology

privacy-tech-regulation

automation-and-ai

tiktok-news

big-tech

social-media

cybersecurity

economy

social-security

inflation

tariffs

federal-reserve

jobs

transportation

business

stock-market-news

retail-news

crypto

media

elon-musk

dealmaking

health

rfk-jr

drug-prices

axios-explains-abortion

public-health

world

israel

axios-explains-ukraine

iran

russia

china

energy-climate

nuclear-energy

climate-energy-policy

climate-change

extreme-weather

alternative-energy

electric-vehicles

science

emerging-tech

biomedicine

newsletters

pittsburgh

atlanta

san-diego

charlotte

boulder

washington-dc

kansas-city

dallas

denver

detroit

des-moines

austin

boston

chicago

cleveland

columbus

houston

indianapolis

miami

nashville

new-orleans

nw-arkansas

philadelphia

phoenix

portland

richmond

salt-lake-city

san-antonio

san-francisco

seattle

tampa-bay

twin-cities

raleigh

huntsville

colorado-springs

axios-local

axios-pro

axios-live

the-axios-show

National

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited wounded Ukrainian soldiers in a hospital Sunday.

What they're saying: Zelensky awarded the "defenders of Ukraine" with medals for their courage and wished them a speedy recovery, per the country's government. The soldiers had been fighting in the Kyiv region before they were wounded.

"I believe that the best gift for your statement will be our common victory," Zelensky said, per Ukraine's Defense Ministry.

The big picture: Zelensky's visit came on the 18th day of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials earlier Sunday announced that a barrage of Russian airstrikes on a military facility in western Ukraine had killed at least 35 people and injured 134. It was the westernmost point of attack in the war thus far.

Russian forces have also continued their siege on the port city of Mariupol and have come within roughly 15 miles of the capital, Kyiv.

What they're saying: "The Russian invaders cannot conquer us. They do not have such strength. They do not have such spirit," Zelensky said in a late-night video address on Saturday.

By invading Ukraine, Russia has turned itself into a "large area isolated from the rest of the world. Where poverty will reign. Where everything will be determined only by violence."

Zelensky visits wounded soldiers at hospital

"The Russian invaders cannot conquer us," Zelensky said in a video address Saturday.

Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia

Conflicts, policies and powers are intersecting and shaping the world. Breaking news and analysis of national security, foreign policy and global crises.

World

Republicans are upping their investments in GOP tech startups as operatives try to make the party more technologically self-sufficient, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Political campaigning is a multibillion-dollar industry, and both parties are pouring money into products tailor-made to winning elections that can ween their campaigns off of legacy technology.

The Republicans' sense of urgency is two-fold.

They're playing catch-up with Democrats who've invested more in political tech.

They're also trying to break their reliance on Silicon Valley companies seen as mission-unaligned at best — and actively hostile to their party and its beliefs at worst.

Driving the news: Startup Caucus, a Republican technology investment fund, just raised $500,000 for its second round of investment in early-stage tech startups.

It was founded by Eric Wilson and Joe Pounder. Wilson is a former senior digital operative at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential campaign; Pounder's a veteran Republican strategist and CEO of Bullpen Strategy Group.

In a statement, Startup Caucus called its new raise "the most significant targeted investment in the Right’s innovation ecosystem to date."

Its portfolio companies are developing products in key political spaces,  including fundraising, data, voter turnout, web design, digital marketing and HR and recruitment.

What they're saying: “It’s no secret that Democrats have traditionally held an advantage in political technology innovation, and Startup Caucus is working tirelessly to narrow that gap in a crucial midterm election cycle,” Wilson said in a statement.

In an interview, he pointed to progressive outfits such as Higher Ground Labs and New Media Ventures as examples of the left's head start in the space.

"They've done a really good job of promoting capitalism to advance socialism," Wilson quipped. "And so we're trying to catch up."

The big picture: Startup Caucus is trying to address what Republican technologists say is an urgent need to craft products designed specifically for GOP campaigns.

As corporate America has engaged more on hot-button political issues of late — more often than not in opposition to GOP priorities — the need is more acute than ever, according to Nathan Calvert, the founder of Republican HR suite Revered.

"Why are you doing business with folks who are actively working against some of these candidates that you're working for?" is the question Calvert says he poses to GOP campaigns.

His pitch: the same services a Fortune 500 software company provides, but with values aligned with its clients. "I think it's only going to get more, 'This is our Republican solution for our Republican campaign,'" Calvert told Axios.

Between the lines: Massive growth in political spending by both parties in recent years also makes for a particularly appealing business opportunity.

"Early on, when having investor meetings, I would say, without joking, that this is a recession-proof industry," said Dante Vitagliano, a Republican operative and founder of the fundraising technology company Trailmapper.

"Our customers exist by law. They're not going anywhere."

First look: GOP seeks election boost from tech startups

Animated gif of an image of an elephant loading

Political campaigns

Emerging Tech

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

A big-time Maryland donor recently raised a lingering question in some corners of the Democratic Party: Can Black candidates run for and win statewide races?

Why it matters: Democrats rely on Black voters as a lifeline for their party, but Black candidates in 2022 are still plagued with electability questions.

"Consider this: Three African-American males have run statewide for Governor and have lost," Barbara Goldberg Goldman wrote to fellow party insiders in December. "This is a fact we must not ignore."

The big picture: The question posed by Goldman isn't just being asked in Maryland.

Black candidates in places like Illinois, Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Wisconsin say they're navigating similar racial dynamics.

The questions come despite unprecedented representation by officeholders and candidates, from the vice president to members of Congress and mayors.

A snapshot: There are 57 Black U.S. House members, the most ever; Black women are mayors of seven of the 100 most-populous cities; three Black candidates were among the primary contestants for the Virginia governor's race last year, and three are currently competing in Maryland Democratic gubernatorial primary.

The questions also remain despite Black voters boosting Democrats — particularly in long shot elections in states like Georgia, and during presidential contests.

One consistent comment relayed to Axios in conversations with over a dozen Black candidates, campaign staff and Democratic strategists: The skepticism doesn't usually come from voters.

Instead, it emanates — behind the scenes — from donors, state party leaders and even D.C. pundits.

Driving the news: Axios obtained a December email written by Goldman explaining why she endorsed Tom Perez for governor of Maryland.

The former Democratic National Committee chair is among a 10-person field that includes three Black candidates.

Goldman is the state Democratic Party's deputy treasurer and a longtime party donor.

In a chain with other party insiders, Goldman explained her thinking: "Which candidate(s) have a better chance in the General election of beating an attractive female [Larry] Hogan team member for whom both Dems and Repubs have expressed genuine likeability [sic]?"

"Consider this: Three African-American males have run statewide for Governor and have lost. Maryland is not a Blue state. It's a purple one. This is a fact we must not ignore. In the last 20 years, only eight have been with a Democratic Governor. We need a winning team. IMHO."

Past performance is a valid index to use when considering future successes.

The invocation of race as a determining factor, though, takes the discussion beyond pure politics.

“The idea that there would be skepticism about a candidate’s electability because they are Black should have no place in the Democratic Party in Maryland — a state with both incredible diversity and disparities — or anywhere else in America in 2022,” said a spokesperson for the Wes Moore campaign.

Moore, the former CEO of the anti-poverty nonprofit Robin Hood Foundation, is also running for Maryland governor in the 10-person primary.

In response to questions about her email, Goldman, who is white, told Axios: "I regret making the statement. It neither accurately expresses nor depicts my views, and does not represent my lifelong commitment to supporting Democratic causes and candidates.”

A spokesman for Perez's campaign said: "These hurtful and ill-conceived comments do not reflect the values of our campaign — as evidenced by Tom's entire career to advance civil rights and expand opportunity."

"Our campaign is building a geographically, demographically and ideologically inclusive coalition focused on electing a Democratic governor who is ready to serve all Marylanders."

What they're saying: John King, who served as Education secretary under former President Obama, is one of those running for Maryland governor.

He said Democratic Party insiders have told him: "'Oh, well, if there are multiple candidates of color, then it’s impossible for one of them to win. Certainly, people have made that remark to me."

"In Maryland, we have a very diverse state and a diverse electorate, so we are well-positioned to have our first African American governor," King told Axios.

King also pointed out that because of the diversity of the primary field, the state could end up making history if it elects its first Latino or Afro-Latino too.

"Having served in the administration of our first Black president, one would have hoped we’d be further along in these conversations," he added.

Rushern Baker, former executive of Prince George’s County and the third Black candidate in the Democratic primary for Maryland governor, told Axios: “While I don’t agree, it’s a fair criticism understanding we haven’t seen it happen yet. ... Although those candidates didn’t win, it’s not impossible. They just weren’t the right candidates at the right time.”

What they're saying: "We have to challenge that" electability narrative, said Kina Collins, who's running to replace Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.). "Democrats say Democrats love Black women — until it's time to elect us."

Chris Jones, a gubernatorial candidate in Arkansas, is not only running in a state that's never had a Black statewide representative but one the Democratic Party has been reluctant to invest in because of its political makeup.

"Democratic party stakeholders are, and need to be, ready to fund new types of candidates and new ways of funding if they want to win and maintain democracy in this country," said a spokesman for his campaign.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who's running for U.S. Senate, "has been hounded by doubts about whether a Black, openly gay, 31-year-old state representative from North Philadelphia can win Pennsylvania," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote.

Kenyatta tries to turn his identity into a positive, often saying in campaign speeches: “Do you want someone who says, 'Vote for me because you have no choice'? Or, 'Vote for me because I understand your life'?”

In western Pennsylvania, U.S. House candidate Summer Lee is seeking a seat only ever held by white men.

She made history in 2018 when she won a state representative race in southwestern Pennsylvania by beating a 20-year incumbent.

Nonetheless, she told Axios she still combats doubts about electability.

"It absolutely comes from within the party and from without," Lee said. "The policies that we lift up are things that bring in more people and engage our base in different ways."

Lee and other candidates argue that when Black candidates run, they're able to mobilize members of Black and brown communities who might not otherwise participate — as well as white voters.

"If there’s an opportunity for an African American to be a Democratic nominee, I believe they are uniquely positioned to bring along Democrats, Republicans and independents alike," Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist who's worked with several campaigns, told Axios.

So far this cycle, several Black candidates in statewide and congressional races have been outperforming fundraising expectations and clearing their crowded primary fields.

“Anyone doubting a Black candidate’s ‘electability’ should check the scoreboard," said Maddy McDaniel, communications director for Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes.

2022-03-10-Sneak-email

Democrats question electability of Black candidates

Illustration of a ballot filled in to create a question mark

Democrats

Elections 2024

State Of The Union With Jake Tapper And Dana Bash-9 05 27 Am - 9 06 57 Am-2022-03-13

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the U.S. will "defend every inch of NATO territory" in the wake of a Russian attack on western Ukraine this weekend. 

Driving the news: A barrage of Russian missiles struck a training facility near the Ukraine-Poland border, killing at least 35 people, Ukrainian officials said Sunday, per AP.

Why it matters: The facility in Yavoriv, Ukraine, is only about 15 miles from the border with Poland, and it was subject to the westernmost target hit by Russian missiles since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine 18 days ago.

What they're saying: "The United States will work with our allies to defend every inch of NATO territory, and that means every inch," Sullivan told CBS' "Face the Nation."

Sullivan added that an attack on NATO territory—even an accidental shot—the "NATO alliance would respond to that."

Sullivan also told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday that the attack was "not a surprise" to the American intelligence and national security community, which predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would launch attacks all across Ukraine.

"What it shows is that Vladimir Putin is frustrated by the fact that his forces are not making the kind of progress that he thought that they would make against major cities including Kyiv, that he's expanding the number of targets, that he's lashing out and he's trying to cause damage in every part of the country," Sullivan said.

State of play: The roughly 30 Russian missiles that targeted the facility, known as the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, are also estimated to have injured 134 people, according to Lviv region governor Maksym Kozytskyi, per AP.

“The airstrike was carried out from the Black and Azov seas,” Kozytskyi wrote in a Telegram message Sunday, per NBC News.

He added that most of the missiles "were shot down because the air defense system worked," per AP.

Kozytskyi reiterated calls for a no-fly zone, saying that "now that the shelling is approaching the borders of NATO countries, this is the crucial moment," per NBC News.

The call for a no-fly zone was reiterated by the deputy mayor of Lviv, Andriy Moskalenko, during an appearance on ABC's "This Week" Sunday, who said it could "save a lot of lives."

But, but, but: Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby also made an appearance on ABC's "This Week," and when asked by host Martha Raddatz if a no-fly zone could have prevented the attack in Yavoriv, Kirby replied, "No, I don't think so."

"No-fly zone has a nice air policing sound to it, but I participated in one as a young officer on an aircraft carrier way back in the early ‘90s. It is combat. You have to be willing to shoot and to be shot at," he added.

The big picture: The attack in western Ukraine comes after Russia warned that arms shipments from NATO countries would be "legitimate targets" for Russian strikes.

The International Peacekeeping and Security Center has hosted international NATO drills in the past and has been used to train Ukrainian military personnel, often with the guidance of the U.S. and NATO allies, AP reported.

Go deeper: Why Ukraine wants a no-fly zone — but is unlikely to get one

Jake Sullivan: U.S. will defend "every inch of NATO territory" as Russia strikes western Ukraine

The facility in Yavoriv, Ukraine is only about 15 miles from the border with Poland.

Finish Line

Axios Finish Line

3 ways leaders can win with soft power

A revolution has unfolded, with EQ trumping IQ and purpose rivaling profit.

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Zelensky visits wounded soldiers at hospital

First look: GOP seeks election boost from tech startups

Democrats question electability of Black candidates

Jake Sullivan: U.S. will defend "every inch of NATO territory" as Russia strikes western Ukraine

3 ways leaders can win with soft power

Tax audits drop for the highest earners

The new tech hubs

Democrats' Hispanic peril

American journalist killed in Ukraine

The new silent majority: People who don't tweet