Axios

Marco Rubio has three official Trump administration jobs and a fourth unofficial title: Viral meme star.

• He's been featured in countless "Rubio Realizing" images doctored to capture his grim reaction to being "assigned" more jobs, depending on the news of the day or the crisis du jour in the White House.

Why it matters: For his 55th birthday on May 28, White House staffers and President Trump gifted Rubio with a gold-framed collage of their 68 favorite "Rubio Realizing" memes.

Jared Kushner, President Trump's envoy and son-in-law, is planning to visit Israel next week for talks on the situation in Gaza, according to five sources with knowledge of the plan.

Why it matters: This would be Kushner's first trip to Israel since January. It comes as the White House and Trump's Board of Peace are trying to push forward with the next phase of the Gaza plan, which focuses on disarming Hamas and a potential Israeli withdrawal.

The U.S. auto industry's retreat from China is accelerating, while Chinese carmakers are inching closer to the American market despite attempts to keep them out.

Why it matters: China once represented a lucrative growth opportunity and manufacturing base for American automakers, but those ties are unraveling as Chinese rivals like BYD and Geely expand their reach around the world.

The Justice Department charged 11 people this week in an alleged nationwide immigration fraud scheme involving more than 1,000 sham marriages.

Why it matters: The case is part of the Trump administration's broader push to target suspected fraud in the U.S. immigration system.

Gold prices rose to their highest level in more than two months Wednesday — hitting $4,465 an ounce.

Why it matters: The precious metal has reversed a slump that began shortly after the start of the war with Iran.

• It's a sign that inflation expectations are easing.

Inflation eased in July from a year earlier, with prices inching up slightly from the previous month after falling sharply in June, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

Why it matters: It is the first inflation report since fighting with Iran resumed in early July, though the data suggests inflation had yet to pick back up amid the renewed conflict.

Azerbaijan is on the hunt for demining technologies and techniques, and hopes the U.S. can lend a hand, ambassador Khazar Ibrahim told Axios.

Why it matters: The collapse of the USSR and years of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia have saturated the region with unexploded ordnance, which can maim or kill and scare off industry.