High-level Israeli and Syrian officials met Sunday in an effort to lower the temperature between the countries after a recent airbase bombing, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.
Why it matters: The meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Roman Gofman, took place days after an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase sharply escalated tensions between the two countries.
Allies of Mike Rogers, Michigan's GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, have asked AIPAC not to advertise on his behalf, triggering a rupture with the powerful but polarizing pro-Israel group.
Rogers spoke with AIPAC chair Michael Tuchin in Los Angeles last week. The next day, AIPAC shelved an already-cut video ad targeting Rogers' Democratic rival, outspoken Israel critic Abdul El-Sayed.
Why it matters: The extraordinary tension underscores how far AIPAC's political standing has fallen amid voters' anger over the war in Gaza. Even Rogers — a staunchly pro-Israel Republican — fears the group's public support could be a liability in the Nov. 3 election.
Data: National Center for Education Statistics; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals
America's future college pipeline is growing in the South and shrinking across the Northeast and California.
Why it matters: America's next higher-ed reckoning won't hit regions evenly. Colleges in shrinking markets will face a fierce fight for students, while those in growing regions will have to adapt to serve an expanding, more diverse student body.
