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

Sunday is the bi-annual changing of the clocks, but it could be the last time we “fall back” if legislation is approved to make daylight saving time permanent.

The big picture: The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act in March, a move that could make daylight saving time permanent in 2023, but the bill hasn’t been voted on by the House.

Why it matters: Health groups have called for an end to the seasonal shifting of clocks, a ritual first adopted in the U.S. more than a century ago, Axios’ Sophia Cai and Andrew Solender report.

More than two-thirds of Americans want to stop changing their clocks, according to a March 2022 YouGov poll.

Context: A new study in the journal Current Biology predicts that year-round daylight saving time could prevent 36,550 deer deaths, 33 human deaths, 2,054 human injuries and $1.19 billion in collision costs annually.

Details: Sunday morning at 2 am is considered the official time to set clocks to standard time but many will change the time on their devices before going to bed Saturday.

Daylight saving time is scheduled to return Sunday, March 12 even if legislation is approved. 

Meanwhile, daylight saving time used to run from April to October but the Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended DST by approximately four weeks from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

The push to make daylight saving permanent 

The Sunshine Protection Act — a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — was passed by unanimous consent in mid-March.

If the legislation clears the House and is signed into law by President Biden, it will mean Americans will no longer have to change their clocks twice a year.

Flashback: In the 1970s — the last time Congress made daylight saving time permanent — the decision was reversed in less than a year after the early morning darkness proved dangerous for school children and public sentiment changed.

By the numbers: 19 states have already enacted legislation or passed resolutions for year-round daylight saving time, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Florida was the first to pass legislation in 2018 and Colorado moved forward with making daylight saving permanent earlier this year.

Other states that have taken action are: Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

California voters approved the Proposition 7 ballot initiative in 2018 but legislative action hasn't been acted on.

Yes, but: Federal law says states can unilaterally move to standard time, but must have the approval of Congress to adopt year-round daylight saving time, Christine Clarridge reports for Axios Seattle.

What we're watching: Minnesota State Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) told Axios he plans to revive the state’s legislation next session to convert to standard time, perhaps as soon as 2024.

What it would mean: If approved in Minnesota, winter would feel the same, but the sun would rise — and set — an hour earlier in the summer, Axios’ Torey Van Oot reports.

"Personally, I just want to get rid of the clock changes," Freiberg said of his multi-year mission. "I don't really care which we go to.”

States with permanent standard time not daylight saving

Hawaii and Arizona do not observe daylight saving time with the exception of the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona.

U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands observe permanent standard time.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional context on Minnesota State Rep. Mike Freiberg plans to ask the state legislature to look at converting to a standard time change. 

Powerball winning numbers drawn for $1.6 billion jackpot

Turkey shortage looming on bigger turkeys this Thanksgiving

Holiday drinks are back at Starbucks, Dunkin'

Amazon expands music benefit for Prime members

Clocks "fall back" Sunday: Blame Congress if you're sick of it

Most states "gain an hour" this weekend with Sunday's daylight saving time change.

Illustration of a clock almost striking midnight with a target on its face.

Congress

Economy

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

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

Twitter is launching a $7.99 monthly subscription that comes with a blue checkmark next to users' names, per the latest Apple app store update Saturday.

Driving the news: The company is offering the blue check marks "just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow" to users who "sign up now."

The new "Twitter Blue" isn’t live yet, according to Esther Crawford of Twitter's early stage products team.

"The sprint to our launch continues but some folks may see us making updates because we are testing and pushing changes in real-time," she tweeted.

Be smart: It remains unclear if Twitter Blue subscribers will have their identities verified, or what will happen to existing blue checkmarks on hundreds of thousands of previously verified accounts. 

Flashback: Elon Musk floated the idea of users paying for blue check marks shortly after taking over the social media platform in October.

Back in April, he said in a now-deleted tweet that all Twitter Blue subscribers "should get an authentication checkmark" that's different from the verification one for official accounts and public and media figures.

Zoom out: A day earlier, Twitter began laying off about half of its workforce after Elon Musk took ownership of the company a week ago.

Musk is facing criticism from advertisers, advocacy groups and even President Biden, who said Friday that the platform "spews lies all across the world."

Lawsuits over the layoffs are already underway and advertisers, including General Mills and Pfizer, are temporarily halting their spending. 

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details throughout.

Twitter launching monthly subscription that includes blue checkmark

The company is offering "Twitter Blue" verifications "just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow" as part of its latest Apple app store update.

Photo: Fabian Sommer/picture alliance via Getty Images

Twitter

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

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) condemned President Biden's recent comments on shutting down power plants that burn coal Saturday, calling them "outrageous and divorced from reality."

Why it matters: Manchin's state is one of the country's biggest coal and gas producers. The coal-friendly senator and the president struck a deal to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, a climate-focused bill, in August. 

Catch up quick: Biden said Friday during a speech in California on the CHIPS Act that coal plants cost too much money and that his administration will "be shutting these plants down all across America and having wind and solar."

Biden said he recently visited “the site of the largest old coal plant in America” in Massachusetts, which cost "too much money.”

“No one is building new coal plants because they can’t rely on it, even if they have all the coal guaranteed for the rest of their existence of the plant. So it’s going to become a wind generation,” Biden said.

The reaction: Manchin said Biden's comments "ignore the severe economic pain the American people are feeling because of rising energy costs."

"Comments like these are the reason the American people are losing trust in President Biden and instead believes he does not understand the need to have an all in energy policy that would keep our nation totally energy independent and secure. 

"It seems his positions change depending on the audience and the politics of the day. Politicizing our nation’s energy policies would only bring higher prices and more pain for the American people," he added.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended Biden's remarks in a statement released Saturday saying the President's "remarks yesterday have been twisted to suggest a meaning that was not intended; he regrets it if anyone hearing these remarks took offense."

" The President was commenting on a fact of economics and technology:  as it has been from its earliest days as an energy superpower, America is once again in the midst of an energy transition," the statement added. 

"Under President Biden, oil and natural gas production has increased, and we are on track to hit the highest production in our country’s history next year.  He is determined to make sure that this transition helps all Americans in all parts of the country, with more jobs and better opportunities."

"President Biden knows that the men and women of coal country built this nation:  they powered its steel mills and factories, kept its homes and schools and offices warm.  They made this the most productive and powerful nation on Earth. "

Yes, but: Manchin said Biden never personally told him of a plan to shut down coal plants and called on the president to issue a public apology.

"Being cavalier about the loss of coal jobs for men and women in West Virginia and across the country who literally put their lives on the line to help build and power this country is offensive and disgusting," Manchin said.

The big picture: There's been a renewed interest recently in coal because of the global energy crisis brought on by the Ukraine war, Axios' Matt Phillips writes. Coal prices have been rising as a result.

The uptake in coal may lead to more electricity-related carbon emissions, which the world has been looking to cut back on, Phillips writes.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout and to include a statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Joe Manchin condemns Biden's "offensive" coal plant remarks

Manchin said Biden's comments "ignore the severe economic pain the American people are feeling because of rising energy costs."

Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, speaks at a community event.

 Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) speaks at a community event. Photo: Gaelen Morse/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Coal

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney endorsed Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) for Congress on Saturday, marking her third Democratic endorsement ahead of the midterm elections.

The big picture: Cheney, a vocal critic of former President Trump, marked her support as Virginia’s Democratic-leaning swing district is expected to be key in deciding which party takes control of Congress. 

What she's saying: "I’m honored to endorse Abigail Spanberger," Cheney said in a statement per CNN. "I have worked closely with her in Congress, and I know that she is dedicated to working across the aisle to find solutions."

"We don’t agree on every policy, but I am absolutely certain that Abigail is dedicated to serving this country and her constituents and defending our Constitution," the Wyoming Republican said.

"Abigail’s opponent is promoting conspiracy theories, denying election outcomes she disagrees with, and defending the indefensible," she said of Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega.

Of note: Cheney also endorsed Democratic incumbent Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) in the race to represent the state's 7th District last week.

State of play: Cheney's criticism of former President Trump has made her a pariah in the Republican Party and she has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to prevent him from securing the GOP nomination in 2024.

She will be leaving Congress at the end of her term following her loss to a Trump-endorsed challenger after voting to impeach the former president.

Go deeper: Liz Cheney warns that GOP "will splinter" if Trump is 2024 nominee

Richmond

Richmond Alerts

Alert

blue

Axios Richmond Partners

Axios Richmond

Standard

A picture of the Richmond skyline with the letters RIC

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Richmond.

Axios Richmond Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Richmond Members

Membership

Liz Cheney endorses Democrat for the third time in midterm cycle

Cheney is endorsing Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who is running in a Democratic-leaning swing district is expected to be key in deciding which party takes control of Congress.

Rep. Liz Cheney is see on Nov. 1, 2022, in East Lansing, Michigan. Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Liz Cheney

Former President Obama warned against violating "the basic spirit of our democracy" Saturday while campaigning for U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman in Pennsylvania. 

Driving the news: "This habit we have of demonizing political opponents, of saying crazy stuff, it creates a dangerous climate," Obama said, referencing the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi. 

"When you have people who are in leadership positions, who promote or ignore over-the-top rhetoric, and then when there's an attack like this they make light of it, they joke about it, then more people are gonna get hurt," he continued.

"And more than that, we violate the basic spirit of our democracy, the spirit of who we are as Americans." 

Obama warns against violating "spirit of our democracy"

"This habit we have of demonizing political opponents, of saying crazy stuff, it creates a dangerous climate," Obama said

Axios

Saturday's top stories

Clocks "fall back" Sunday: Blame Congress if you're sick of it

Twitter launching monthly subscription that includes blue checkmark

Joe Manchin condemns Biden's "offensive" coal plant remarks

Liz Cheney endorses Democrat for the third time in midterm cycle

Obama warns against violating "spirit of our democracy"

Ron DeSantis' "God ad" invokes God 10 times in 96 seconds

Marjorie Taylor Greene says Ukraine won't get more U.S. aid under GOP

Tornadoes leave 1 dead, multiple missing in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma

College football provides one last ad blitz before the midterms

America's 10 fastest-growing population centers

Deaths caused by alcohol spiked during pandemic