Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China are gripping the chip sector at a time when demand has never been higher.
Why it matters: Uncertainty around U.S. policy puts enormous pressure on an industry already strained by labor and capacity — but one that is critical to nearly all areas of the economy, as well as for national defense.
The Biden administration sent a private warning to Iran last month expressing serious concerns about Iranian research and development activities that could be used for the production of a nuclear weapon, three U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Israel have both detected suspicious nuclear activities by Iranian scientists in recent months. Officials fear they could be part of a covert Iranian effort to use the period around the U.S. presidential election to make progress toward nuclear weaponization.
MILWAUKEE – Top GOP lawmakers said former President Trump's decision to select Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate will help them win in battleground states and relate to the needs of working class Americans in interviews with Axios reporters this week.
Catch up quick: Axios House hosted an event during the week of the Republican National Convention on Monday about the cost of living crisis, sponsored by Save The Children. Next month Axios House will host events at the Democratic National Convention.
Unequivocal support for Vance as the VP resounded among lawmakers, many of whom noted Vance's personal story as the "American dream."
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman and Montana Sen. Steve Daines, said Vance will be able to uniquely appeal to "lunchbucket Democrats" and will be able to help Republicans in down-ballot Senate races.
Indiana Rep. Jim Banks said, "President Trump is the leader of the Republican party and the 'America First' movement. J.D. Vance is the next generation of it."
Separately, Alabama freshman Sen. Katie Britt called the GOP the party of hardworking Americans and families while addressing the high cost of childcare.
"I remember when my husband and I were looking to send our kids to daycare. I mean, it felt like we needed to take out a second mortgage. I'm not kidding."
"If entering the workforce or re-emerging into it– if an impediment to that is that you cannot afford childcare, then we as a nation have got to figure that out and do better."
As more information comes out about the attempted assassination of Trump, Daines told Axios' Stef Kight that this is a moment to "take the temperature down" when it comes to political divisiveness.
"Hateful rhetoric…is not a one-party problem, this extends across both parties."
"I think the American people are yearning for more of a policy debate versus a personality kind of contest."
Meanwhile, Banks told Axios' Sophia Cai how Trump "won't back down, he won't stop doing whatever it takes to win," and pointed to the moment on Saturday where Trump raised his fist in the air right after being shot.
In other news, Daines also said there needs to be more of a conversation about Trump's plan for aggressive tariffs on China.
He said that he'd be "more inclined to do targeted type tariffs…versus something that's just universal" and that "unilateral" tariffs are "something you want to be thoughtful about."
Trump's tariff plans could increase the cost of living for middle-income households by $1,700 per year, according to Peterson Institute for International Economics.
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In a View From the Top conversation, Save the Children Action Network founder and special advisor to the Save the Children president, Mark Shriver, discussed their new polling which shows that the cost of living challenge is a priority for many voters no matter what party they're tied to.
"These issues matter to people, to working families. They matter to Republicans and Democrats and independents. Yet the political leadership does not make this a priority. That's the thing that's most surprising to me."
"It's not just urban settings– it's rural America, very strong support in rural America, in urban settings, and in suburban areas, but we have not figured out how to get that message out and to find enough political leadership on the federal level that will push these issues."
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took her long-promised swim in the River Seine Wednesday in an effort to demonstrate the river's cleanliness ahead of the opening of the Paris Games next week.
Why it matters: France's long and costly effort to clean up the Seine in order to host swimming competitions during the Games had become an ongoing and disappointing saga.
Russia's surreptitious war in Europe, relying on new-school digital attacks and old-school sabotage, received special attention at last week's NATO summit, including from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the alliance's boss, Jens Stoltenberg.
Why it matters: This coordinated chaos — cyberattacks, propaganda, arson, weaponized migration — harries efforts to arm Ukraine as it battles back.
Guo Wengui, a self-exiled Chinese billionaire with links to Trump allies, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and fraud charges in U.S. federal court in New York on Tuesday.
The big picture: Also known as Ho Wan Kwok, Miles Guo and Miles Kwok, he rose to prominence in 2020 when he and ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon announced plans to overthrow China's government.
Years of efforts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to mend relations with former President Trump may have shown some progress in the wake of the assassination attempt against Trump.
The big picture: Netanyahu allies have met with Trump on at least four occasions over the past three years to try to repair ties, which deteriorated after Netanyahu congratulated Biden for his victory in the 2020 election.
The U.S. obtained intelligence concerning an Iranian plot to assassinate former President Trump in the weeks prior to this weekend's attempted assassination, multipleoutlets reported Tuesday.
Why it matters: The plot appears unrelated to the Pennsylvania rally shooting where Trump was grazed by a bullet on Saturday, but further underscores the apparent security lapse that took place at the rally.
A new project is seeking oral histories of Indigenous and Hispanic descendants of enslavement in the American Southwest — a largely untold and overlooked chapter in American history.
Why it matters: Historians in recent years have been uncovering new stories around enslavement — from the Underground Railroad to Mexico to the lives of people held enslaved by the Founding Fathers — and investigations into Indigenous enslavement are attracting international attention.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), a champion for Latino representation in media, is asking for recommendations for Latino-centered films that should be in the National Film Registry.
Why it matters: Castro's years-long push to get more Latino works of art recognized in the registry highlights the massive gap in representation in Hollywood.
Ten of the country'scommunities with the largest share of Latino residents have a poverty rate that's 50% higher than the national average, an Axios review of the latest census estimates has found.
Why it matters: The latest data shows millions of Hispanics continue to struggle economically despite overall declines in U.S. Latino poverty rates.
China's consumers have plenty of money. The problem is they're not spending enough of it.
Why it matters: In the U.S., higher savings rates are often viewed as a sign of healthy consumers. In China, they're a reminder of lackluster demand constraining growth.
Latino Republicans say they're much more enthusiastic and likely to vote this year than Latino Democrats, according to a new Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll.
Why it matters: Latino voters overall still align more closely with Democrats on character and policy issues. But if Latino Republicans turn out with more intensity, it could be decisive.
Why it matters: The underground cavity that's at least 130 feet deep could be an ideal location for humans to build a base in which to stay, and researchers believe there could be hundreds more on the Moon.
