Axios

Thursday's nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Geneva led to understandings on some issues and left gaps on others, with another round set for next week, Iran's foreign minister said at the conclusion of the talks.

• A senior U.S. official told Axios the talks were "positive" but did not immediately provide additional details.

Why it matters: The meeting was seen by many in the Trump administration as a last chance for diplomacy before President Trump decides whether to launch a war.

Most U.S. adults are concerned about the threat Iran poses to the U.S., but a majority say they don't trust President Trump's handling of foreign affairs, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

Why it matters: Thursday's nuclear talks between the Trump administration and Iran could be the last chance for a diplomatic solution before the president opts for military action.

House Democratic leadership on Thursday announced plans to force a vote next week on a resolution that would require President Trump to seek congressional authorization to use military force in Iran.

Why it matters: The vote has a chance to pass in the House, with even some House Republicans expressing opposition as the White House inches closer to a potential major war in the Middle East.

World Economic Forum leader Børge Brende announced his resignation Thursday, the latest casualty of the Epstein files fallout rocking business, politics and academia.

The big picture: The files have captured some of the world's most powerful people in a far-reaching shadow of shame, effectively ending the careers of captains of industry, academic big shots and prominent politicians. And the dominoes keep falling.

U.S. officials are looking into an announcement by Cuba's government that it killed four people aboard a Florida-tagged boat near the Villa Clara coast on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Why it matters: The Trump administration has already signaled an openness to regime change in Cuba, and the incident that Cuban officials claim was "intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes" risks another escalation between Washington and Havana.

At the Winter Olympics this year, I added a new title to my reporting job: credentialed photographer.

The big picture: The gig gave me a literal front-row seat to history in Milan. Covering my third Olympics for Axios, it also dealt me a learning curve I had to navigate for more of the events than in past years.

Armed with some of the best gear on earth, I still felt like a novice — fumbling the focus, missing split-second moments, wondering if I was in over my head.

The Pentagon asked two major defense contractors on Wednesday to provide an assessment of their reliance on Anthropic's AI model, Claude — a first step toward a potential designation of Anthropic as a "supply chain risk," Axios has learned.

Why it matters: That penalty is usually reserved for companies from adversarial countries, such as Chinese tech giant Huawei.

President Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he wants to push for an end of the war with Russia as soon as possible, according to a Ukrainian official and two other sources with knowledge of the call.

Why it matters: Trump wants a peace deal by the summer, but there are still significant gaps between Ukraine and Russia, particularly on the issue of territorial control in eastern Ukraine.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff told a private gathering on Tuesday that the Trump administration is demanding that Iran agree any future nuclear deal will remain in effect indefinitely, according to a U.S. official and two other sources with knowledge of his remarks.

Why it matters: President Trump and other critics of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration seized on the "sunset provisions" as one of its main flaws.

Lockheed Martin will provide Taiwan IRST21 Legion-ES sensors for their F-16s in a U.S. government deal worth $329 million.

Why it matters: The arrangement could improve Taiwan's ability to keep tabs on Chinese aircraft.

The U.S. Navy's Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier left Virginia in June. It has since traveled to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean and is now arriving in the greater Middle East as President Trump threatens to pummel Iran.

Why it matters: The world's largest warship has been deployed for some eight months. That raises maintenance and morale concerns.

• Should it stay out until mid-April, it will break a post-Vietnam record, according to USNI News and its internal database.

President Trump staged a rose-colored spectacle at Tuesday night's State of the Union — the longest-ever address to Congress, from a president facing his lowest-ever approval ratings.

Why it matters: A defiant Trump bragged, weaved, smiled and sparred his way through 108 minutes of prime-time television, projecting his vision of a "Golden Age" for a country that — according to recent polls — mostly isn't buying it.

Canada's first-ever defense-industrial strategy, published this month, suggests it, like Europe, can no longer count on the U.S. to be a security backstop, economically or militarily.

• "Long-held assumptions have been upended — about the end of imperial conquest, the durability of peace in Europe, and the resilience of old alliances," the plan reads.
• "In this uncertain world, it is more important than ever that Canada possess the capacity to sustain its own defense and safeguard its own sovereignty."

Why it matters: It's a major break for Canada, which has not taken President Trump's 51st state remarks lightly.

OpenAI has banned a ChatGPT account linked to Chinese law enforcement which tried to use the AI chatbot to undermine support for Japan's prime minister, the company said in a report Wednesday.

Why it matters: The operation was unusual and "revealed a lot about China's strategy for covert influence operations and transnational repression," Ben Nimmo, principal investigator on OpenAI's intelligence and investigations team, told reporters.

President Trump hailed the U.S. intelligence-assisted security operation in Mexico that killed the drug lord known as "El Mencho" during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, saying: "We've ... taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins."

The big picture: Officials working to combat drug trafficking have had a successful week, with prosecutors in Florida announcing charges against a suspected leader of another terrorist-designated Mexican cartel.

President Trump's remarks during Tuesday's State of the Union address focused on the stark contrast between the GOP and Democratic opposition, underscoring culture-war flashpoints and carefully acknowledging guests to reflect his political messaging.

The big picture: The speech took place with quite a few members of Congress missing — though that didn't stop several Democrats from shouting their objections or heckling the president during his 108-minute-long speech.

President Trump said in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday that he prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis with Iran, but at the same time laid out a case for a potential war against the Islamic Republic.

Why it matters: Trump's remarks about Iran were relatively short and were not the center part of his speech, but it was the first time he detailed the reasons that led him to consider launching a military campaign.

President Trump during the State of the Union on Tuesday revealed he is awarding Connor Hellebuyck, the Team USA goalie who helped the men's Olympic hockey team win gold at the 2026 games, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Why it matters: The award is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor and is usually presented to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields, per the Library of Congress.