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National

Brace yourself if you're flying in the coming days and weeks for long lines and delays at the airport.

Why it matters: Wednesday, May 7 is the first day a Real ID compliant license — or another acceptable document — is needed to board a commercial aircraft in the U.S.

The new identification requirement also applies when visiting military bases and secure federal buildings like courthouses.

A Real ID is a state-issued driver's license or identification card that meets federal security standards.

Compliant IDs are typically marked with a star in the upper right corner, though the specific design may vary by state.

 May 7 is the enforcement deadline for Real ID after years of delays.

"Secretary Noem and the Trump administration are enforcing the 2005 REAL ID Act and regulations on May 7, as directed by Congress and the American people," Adam Stahl, TSA senior official, said in an April news release.

81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints present an acceptable identification including a state-issued Real ID, according to TSA's statement.

Catch up quick: Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, seeking to beef up security surrounding IDs used at airports.

The law was scheduled to be enforced in 2008 but has been delayed many times.

All states were compliant for issuing Real IDs in 2020 but many states were in compliance earlier.

In 2022, the enforcement deadline was extended to May 2025.

State of play: Department of Homeland Security says at a minimum you must provide documentation that shows your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal address and lawful status. 

Find your states' requirements and how to get a Real ID on this DHS page.

Passport, enhanced license are Real ID alternatives

Zoom in: There are other forms of acceptable identification to show at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.

Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont are also considered acceptable alternatives.

U.S. passport or passport card and DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

Find the TSA's full list of acceptable identification here.

What we're watching: TSA says if you don't have a Real ID or acceptable alternative it would be helpful to bring along "anything that can help us confirm your identity, such as your name and current address."

"You may need to undergo identity verification and subject to additional screening," TSA said on a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session.

TSA recommends these passengers allow themselves an extra hour to pass through airport security.

"Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint," TSA said.

How will airports handle Real ID transition?

Reality check: TSA says because "all airports are different and have different layouts, we'll continue to conduct additional verification in a way that best works for each checkpoint and their space," the agency said on the Reddit AMA.

"Be on the lookout for signage or TSA officers there helping and guiding passengers to the appropriate areas."

How it works: Go to your state's driver's licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a Real ID.

In some states, you can order a Real ID and others you'll need to make an appointment with the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Between the lines: Federal and state officials have been urging people to upgrade their IDs in advance.

The deadline's approach is causing panic in some states with long lines and high demand for appointments.

The scramble to get appointments has also created a "perfect storm for cybercriminals to take advantage," Ian Bednowitz, LifeLock general manager, told Axios, noting "scammers are capitalizing on the confusion and urgency."

Zoom in: "Temporary paper IDs aren't accepted at our security checkpoints," the TSA says, "so you should plan to bring another acceptable form of ID (such as a Passport or military ID) with you to the airport."

The deadline isn't pressing for everyone. You only need a Real ID by May 7 if you're over 18, flying domestically soon and don't have a passport, or if you have to enter a military base or a secure federal building.

Getting it after that date isn't a problem.

Krispy Kreme is marking the Real ID deadline with a free doughnut giveaway, no ID or purchase required, the company announced in a news release.

Get a free Original Glazed doughnut on May 7 in shop or via drive-thru at participating shops. Limit one per customer.

Why Boston-based TJX Companies is "insulated from tariffs"

Exclusive: Walmart expands support for American-made products

Real ID deadline is Wednesday, what to know before flying

Brace yourself if you're flying in the coming days and weeks for long lines at the airport.

Signs at the airport with one for Real ID noting the May 7 deadline

May 7 is the enforcement deadline for Real ID after years of delays. Photo: Kelly Tyko/Axios

Transportation

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

Economy

Warren Buffett said Saturday he will ask Berkshire Hathaway's board to replace him as CEO with his designated successor Greg Abel at the end of this year.

Why it matters: It's the end of an era for one of the world's richest and most storied investors, who's run Berkshire for decades.

Catch up quick: Buffett saved the bombshell for the end of Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting, a days-long pilgrimage for fans of the "Oracle of Omaha" that attracts more than 100,000 visitors. 

"I think ... the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year-end," Buffett said.

Buffett said his plans would be news to the company's board, which will now meet Sunday to discuss the transition. 

Zoom out: Buffett has been synonymous with markets in America for decades, a household name whose folksy aphorisms and value investing strategies inspired generations of investors. 

At 94 years old, he's having one of his best years in decades, outperforming the S&P 500 by almost 23 percentage points. 

Yes, but: Succession has been a hot topic for Berkshire for years, with questions growing louder after Buffett's long-time partner Charlie Munger died in 2023 at 99.

Saturday's meeting was Buffett's 60th running the conglomerate, whose businesses range from utilities and railroads to running shoes and carpet.

Zoom in: Replacing Buffett will be the Canadian-born Abel, 62, who comes from the energy industry.

He's been vice chair of Berkshire Hathaway since 2018 and Buffett's designated successor since at least 2021.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with background on Buffett and his successor. 

Warren Buffett says he'll turn over Berkshire Hathaway CEO role

It's the end of an era for the investor who's run the conglomerate for decades.

Warren Buffett at a 2007 event in Washington. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Latino

Axios Latino

A new Netflix-limited series takes a fresh look at the Vietnam War that examines the conflict from the eyes of Black soldiers, Vietnamese fighters and journalists on the 50th anniversary of its end.

Why it matters: The Vietnam War has split Americans across ideological and racial lines for much of the last few decades, with those divisions around the U.S. role in the world still evident today.

Zoom in: "Turning Point: The Vietnam War," which was released on Wednesday and is now streaming on Netflix, confronts those divisions head-on while trying to make sense of why the United States got involved in Vietnam in the first place.

Following in the footsteps of other Netflix series, "Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War" and "Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror," this five-episode docuseries goes beyond military failures and diplomatic moves.

Instead, the series examines the political and cultural reckoning that followed the war, which reshaped American society and created generations of distrust.

Series director Brian Knappenberger tells Axios the war birthed a "radically different country" in the U.S. and fostered division about government, protests and duty.

"I think the reason to look back on it is because the Vietnam War just had this lasting impact on us."

Knappenberger says his goal was not to glorify the past and political figures but to take an honest assessment, even when it hurt.

President Nixon and President Johnson discuss Vietnam War.

President Nixon and President Johnson discuss the Vietnam War. Photo: Courtesy of Turning Point: The Vietnam War/Netflix

The intrigue: Unlike many previous documentaries on the Vietnam War, "Turning Point: The Vietnam War" actively uses the voices of Black soldiers to show how the conflict affected them as the Civil Rights Movement hit an apex.

Black veterans talking of grappling with their conflicted feelings, fighting for "democracy" in Vietnam while being treated like second-class citizens back home.

​​In addition, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning Vietnamese American author of "The Sympathizer," talks in the documentary about the effects of the war on his family.

Flashback: President John Kennedy got the U.S. involved in a civil war in Vietnam amid the Cold War and fears of spreading Communism.

After his assassination, President Lyndon Johnson escalated U.S. involvement, sparking anti-Vietnam War protests on college campuses across the nation.

President Nixon continued the war, even expanded it to nearby Cambodia, until agreeing to a peace accord. Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese fighters on April 30, 1975.

Juan José Valdez of San Antonio, Texas, was the last of the 11 U.S. Marines out of Vietnam before the fall of Saigon.

Shootings at Kent State University as students run from tear gas.

Shootings at Kent State University as students protesting the Vietnam War run from tear gas. Photo: Courtesy of Turning Point: The Vietnam War/Netflix

Zoom out: The new documentary comes as a new poll shows a majority of American adults, including most Vietnam War veterans, think the United States should have stayed out of Vietnam.

The survey by Nexstar Media and Emerson College Polling, released this week, showed that a majority of adults (62%) think the U.S. should have stayed out of Vietnam.

A plurality of U.S. adults (44%) think the war in Vietnam was not justified, while 29% believe the war was justified.

Dennis Clark Brazil with his aunt the day he returned from Vietnam.

Dennis Clark Brazil with his aunt the day he returned from Vietnam. Photo: Courtesy of Turning Point: The Vietnam War/Netflix

Yes, but: Knappenberger says it's also important to take into account the voices of North Vietnamese who were involved in the war and how it transformed their lives.

The documentary talks to several Vietnamese figures who recount their experiences and the lingering results decades later.

Between the lines: Thousands of returning Vietnam War veterans suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and were shunned by anti-war protesters and war supporters for the defeat.

Some Vietnam War veterans, such as the late Sen. John McCain and Sen. John Kerry, ran for office, but none were ever elected president.

Netflix series on the Vietnam War looks at pain across racial lines

"Turning Point: The Vietnam War" uses the voices of Black soldiers and journalists.

Black and white American soldiers in Vietnam stand for a photo.

Black and white American soldiers in Vietnam. Photo: Courtesy of Turning Point: The Vietnam War/Netflix

Black and white American soldiers in Vietnam

Race and Equity

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

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

World

The big picture: Low- and middle-income consumers are increasingly shying away from fast-food restaurants like McDonald's, a sign that people are pinching pennies amid recession fears.

The number of low-income consumers visiting U.S. fast-food restaurants was down "nearly double digits" in the year's first three months compared to 2024, McDonald's CEO Christopher Kempczinski said Thursday.

Visits from middle-income consumers across the industry "fell nearly as much," he added.

Zoom out: Concerns about job losses and fears about price hikes from President Trump's tariffs have fueled what Conference Board senior economist Stephanie Guichard recently called "pervasive pessimism about the future."

And that's translated into fewer people coming through the door at McDonald's and other fast-food restaurants.

"Economic pressure on traffic has broadened," Kempczinski said. "I think we are seeing that people are just being more judicious about cutting back on visits."

One way the trend is manifesting: People are skipping breakfast "or they're choosing to eat at home," Kempczinski said.

The McRecession hits fast-food chains

Low- and middle-income Americans are cutting back on fast food, dragging down traffic at chains like McDonald's, Starbucks and Domino's.

Axios

Saturday's top stories

Real ID deadline is Wednesday, what to know before flying

Warren Buffett says he'll turn over Berkshire Hathaway CEO role

Netflix series on the Vietnam War looks at pain across racial lines

The McRecession hits fast-food chains

How Rubio became Trump's minister of many hats

Trump order targeting law firm is illegal, federal judge rules

How Trump's budget proposals could affect lower-income Americans

Scoop: Trump to hold summit with Gulf leaders during Saudi Arabia trip

Gyms to influencers: Please stop filming your workout

Trump says short-term recession OK: "This is a transition period"