Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

Hegseth to generals: Embrace MAGA military or quit
Axios | Colin Demarest | 09/30/25

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday declared the U.S. military free of its "woke" shackles and presented the nation's highest-ranking military officials an ultimatum: Don't like it? Quit.

Why it matters: Trump 2.0 promised to overhaul the Pentagon, everything from axing old-school weapons programs to effecting a MAGA-friendly cultural reset. Both are underway.

"The new compass heading is clear," Hegseth said, speaking to an auditorium full of generals and admirals whom he summoned to a Marine Corps base in Virginia.

Trump himself played into Hegseth's decree, telling reporters at the White House he would fire military brass "on the spot" if he disliked them. ... Read more

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, Sept. 26, 2025 | Washington Week PBS | 09/26/25 | 26:46

Micheal Wolff on Instagram | current | 1:50

"It's pretty clear we're shutting down": Democrats brace for impact
Axios | Andrew Solender | 09/30/25

House Democrats emerged from a closed-door meeting Tuesday talking more in terms of what to do if the government shuts down than about how to prevent the shutdown itself.

Why it matters: Not only are the two parties far apart in their positions on government funding with fewer than 10 hours to go until the shutdown deadline - they're not even really negotiating, lawmakers say.

"We're closer to having negotiations with the Martians than we are with the White House," Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told Axios coming out of Tuesday's meeting.

"If Republicans are insistent on shutting down the government, then a big thing of what we need to do is prepare our constituents, try to minimize this damage," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). ... Read more

Big Banks Found a New Way To Trap You In Medical Debt | More Perfect Union | 09/30/25 | 13:04

Netanyahu: Last Week Tonight | John Oliver | 09/28/25 | 34:09

What to know about Trump's Quantico meeting with top U.S. military officers
Axios | Avery Lotz | 09/29/25

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's summoning of senior military leaders to Virginia for a Tuesday meeting bewildered military and congressional officials.

Then, President Trump added to the mystery by announcing he'd also attend the hush-hush event.

The big picture: The gathering at Quantico, a Marine Corps base, has little precedent - and the president's appearance adds heightened security questions to the already massive event that will bring together the nation's top generals from across the globe.

Driving the news: Trump billed the event as a "very nice meeting talking about how well we're doing militarily" in a phone call with NBC News, confirming that he planned to join the hundreds of military leaders. ... Read more

South Park Is BREAKING the Internet.... | South Boom | 09/25/25 | 9:56

The Depravity of Donald Trump | The Jeffrey Epstein Saga | j aubrey | 09/28/25 | 1:15:34

Trump slams "radical left" after signing "organized political violence" memo
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 09/26/25

President Trump signed a presidential memorandum on countering "domestic terrorism and organized political violence" on Thursday.

Why it matters: Trump sought to tie the action to the "radical left," singling out Democratic Party donors George Soros and Reid Hoffman when asked by a reporter what names came to mind that may need investigating.

ACLU issued a statement saying the memo is part of Trump's "larger pattern of abusing his power to target critics through invocations of law enforcement, national security, and financial sanctions authorities."

Driving the news: The memo is part of a wider crackdown on left-wing groups in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing earlier this month that saw Trump sign an executive order designating the decentralized, leaderless antifascist movement antifa a "domestic terrorist organization." ... Read more

RFK Jr. sets off new abortion alarms
Axios | Peter Sullivan | 09/26/25

The Trump administration is facing conflicting political pressures after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the Food and Drug Administration will "study" adding safety restrictions on abortion pills.

Why it matters: New limits like requiring in-person prescribing of the widely used abortion drug mifepristone would severely limit access to abortion in states with bans.

Between the lines: An FDA safety review sits well with many in the Republican base who are strongly anti-abortion and are pushing hard for new restrictions.

On the other hand, President Trump repeatedly pledged during the campaign last year that he would leave abortion policy to the states, to push back against Democratic charges that he would seek a nationwide ban. ... Read more

The REAL Problem with Christian Nationalism | Holy Post Media | 2024 | 10:22

I Let AI Break Down Trump's NONSENSE at the UN. The Result Will Surprise You | I Ask AI | 09/24/25 | 13:30

US Debt of $30 Trillion Visualized in Stacks of Physical Cash | Demonocracy Info | 09/20/25 | 17:07

AI's trillion-dollar data center bet
Axion | Scott Rosenberg | 09/25/25

With their latest deals to fund the data center boom, AI firms are making history - in terms of dollar size, convention-busting structure, and astronomical risk.

Why it matters: The U.S. is betting its economic fortunes on the belief that OpenAI's Sam Altman, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and other AI leaders are wizardly innovators dreaming up novel financing vehicles to drive a golden future - rather than salesmen juggling billions and praying the music never stops.

Friction point: The trillion-dollar question neither Silicon Valley nor Wall Street can answer is whether the AI building spree will end up looking more like Google's epochal long-term value creation or Enron's catastrophically faulty financial engineering.

Driving the news: Nvidia announced Monday it would invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI in stages, with OpenAI using the money to "build and deploy at least 10 gigawatts of AI data centers with Nvidia systems." ...

Hegseth sparks confusion with sudden summons of top generals
Axios | Colin Demarest | 09/25/25

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will address senior U.S. military leaders at a meeting next week, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. He offered no additional details.

Why it matters: The gathering - reportedly in-person at a Marine Corps base in Virginia - has little precedent.

Military and congressional officials contacted by Axios were bewildered by the move and uncertain of Hegseth's intentions.

Driving the news: The Washington Post on Thursday reported Hegseth's summons was sent worldwide, looping in commanders in the Middle East, Europe and Indo-Pacific. ... Read more

Steve Rattner: GOP doesn't talk about dismantling Obamacare but they're doing it piece by piece | MSNBC/Morning Joe | 09/25/25 | 10:10

People with autism bristle at continued stigmatization from Trump, RFK
Axios | April Rubin | 09/24/25

People with autism say President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's insistence that vaccines or Tylenol cause autism despite contrary evidence further marginalizes them.

Why it matters: People with autism and their advocates told Axios that treating autism as a disease with a single cause that can be cured rather than a condition to be accommodated contributes to social stigma and undermines efforts to incorporate them into society.

"That's death by a million cuts on a daily basis from society, and then to have it come from our government with a sledgehammer is very disheartening," Russell Lehmann, an international disability rights advocate at UCLA who has autism, told Axios.

Driving the news: Trump and Kennedy on Monday insisted that acetaminophen use by pregnant women is contributing to autism - a statement the Department of Health and Human Services later walked back, noting some studies have shown an association but not a causal link between the two.

However, Trump told pregnant women to avoid taking the medication and instead "tough it out" if they have a fever. ... Read more

The Pentagon's bunker mentality
Axios | Colin Demarest | 09/24/25

The Pentagon is clamping down on press access while simultaneously restricting where, when and how the military and civilian officials engage with the public.

Why it matters: It's a double whammy that could damage not only the public's understanding of national security matters and how taxpayer money is being spent, but also the department's own ability to drive narratives and wage information warfare.

This is the Pentagon's bunker mentality.

Driving the news: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a memo this month codified changes to how DOD handles "external engagements," noting that past participation in conferences and interviews "tended to canalize toward certain types of institutions." ... Read more

France is the latest country to formally recognize State of Palestine
Axios | Barak Ravid | 09/23/25

French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York that France now recognizes the State of Palestine.

Why it matters: Macron's announcement was the height of an initiative he launched several months ago with Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and led a dozen countries to recognize a Palestinian state in recent days.

The initiative succeeded despite opposition by Israel and the U.S. and created a diplomatic tsunami that has further isolated the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Trump administration internationally.

Leaders and diplomats from more than 140 countries participated in the event. Israel and the U.S. boycotted it.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas didn't participate in person because of the U.S. decision to revoke his visa, but in a video speech, he welcomed Macron's announcement and called on more countries to follow suit. ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: The most unprecedented presidency in 250 years
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 09/23/25

Not since America's founding 250 years ago has a U.S. president expanded power - and punished critics - in more unprecedented ways than Donald J. Trump.

Why it matters: Yes, most presidents stretch the power of the White House and, on rare occasions, blatantly target U.S. critics on U.S. soil. But Trump has veered, often suddenly, proudly and loudly, into unprecedented territory in at least 15 different areas.

No president in peacetime has done this much in one year of one term.

Trump has done this in eight short months, often with the loyal backing of a compliant Republican-led Congress and validated by the conservative majority of the Supreme Court.

Trump has 40 more months - four-fifths of his term - left to stretch it further. White House officials tell us they're just getting going. They see chaos as their brand and "consequence culture" taking root.

The big picture: Trump vs. Democrats - and the media, Congress, the courts, law firms, colleges and critics - seems likely to escalate, pushing America deeper into unprecedented territory.

Trump advisers know there are few brakes left, particularly if Trump precedents prevail at the Supreme Court, or if Republicans keep control of Congress 14 months from now.

The two of us have written extensively in these "Behind the Curtain" columns about the new rules being set, both for this administration and future ones. We've been careful to differentiate threats and hyperbole from actual actions. And we've been clear in reminding Republicans that all these powers could one day soon be used against them just as aggressively. ... Read more

Disney bringing Jimmy Kimmel back Tuesday
Axios | Sara Fischer | 09/23/25

The Walt Disney Company said it will bring back "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Tuesday after taking the show off-air nearly a week ago following criticism over his comments in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing.

Why it matters: Pressure was beginning to mount on Disney and ABC from celebrities, policymakers and fans.

On Monday, over 400 actors, musicians and creatives signed a letter alongside the ACLU to pressure Disney over Kimmel's suspension.

Prominent media figures such as Cynthia Nixon and Howard Stern said they would cancel their Disney+ subscriptions. ... Read more

Jon Stewart's Post-Kimmel Primer on Free Speech in the Glorious Trump Era | The Daily Show | 09/18/25 | 23:23

Kirk's memorial signals a deeper embrace of evangelical politics on the right
Axios | Marc Caputo | 09/22/25

Charlie Kirk's memorial service Sunday left little doubt that his Turning Point USA organization would outlive him as a force in conservative politics - but with more attention than ever to a supercharged evangelical Christian message.

Why it matters: The five-hour service, webcast to millions and broadcast at one point by all major networks, was a call to action more than to grief. It canonized the 31-year-old conservative icon as not just a martyr to free speech, but to his faith as well.

"Charlie Kirk was a prophet," said Kirk's friend Andrew Kolvet, Turning Point USA's spokesperson, and executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show."

The big picture: One word was repeated again and again at the memorial - revival. Conservatives believe Kirk's assassination has galvanized and energized the religious right as the political world begins organizing for next year's midterms. ... Read more

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, Sept. 19, 2025 | Washington Week PBS | 09/19/25 | 26:46

Trump Has Divided the World Into Friends and Enemies | Explainer | Heather Cox Richardson | 09/20/25 | 17:07

Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre's diary revealed | 60 Minutes Australia | 09/14/25 | 41:45

Senate fails to pass stop-gap spending bills as shutdown looms
Axios | Stef W. Kight | 09/19/25

The Senate failed to pass two stop-gap spending bills on Friday— one passed by the House and an alternative offered by Democrats.

Why it matters: The federal government will shut down on Oct. 1 if Congress is unable to pass a funding bill before that time.

A vote on the Democratic plan failed 47-45 along party lines, while a procedural vote on the GOP plan failed 44-48. Sixty votes were required in both cases.

Between the lines: The Democratic bill included health care priorities including an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, as well as measures to prevent President Trump from clawing back appropriated funds.

The Senate then voted on the GOP continuing resolution, which passed the House earlier Friday with one Democratic vote. ... Read more

Jimmy Kimmel suspension becomes Democrats' new five-alarm fire
Axios | Andrew Solender | 09/19/25

To congressional Democrats, the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel ranks alongside DOGE, El Salvador, the Epstein documents and Signalgate as one of the watershed fights of the second Trump administration.

Why it matters: It's not about one late night host, lawmakers say, but the apparent government pressure that was brought to bear in pushing for his ouster over his comments after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

"No president and no political party should weaponize the power of our federal government to punish those who disagree with them," Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) said in a statement.

"Silencing critics through government power is the playbook of authoritarian regimes. We're fighting this." ... Read more

Judge strikes down Trump's $15bn lawsuit against the New York Times
TheGuardian | George Chidi | 09/19/25

A federal judge tossed Donald Trump's $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, book publisher Penguin and two Times reporters, and said the suit was filled with "vituperation and invective" and violated civil procedure in federal cases for failing to get to the point.

US district court judge Steven Merryday in Florida will allow the president to refile and amend the action within 28 days, however.

Merryday cited Rule 8(a) of the federal rules of civil procedure requiring a complaint include a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief to disqualify the filing. ... Read more

Media's MAGA makeover
Axios | Zachary Basu, Sara Fischer | 09/18/25

Trump-friendly billionaires are consolidating control over American media, steering legacy brands and social platforms in a new conservative direction.

Why it matters: The media landscape of 2016 is unrecognizable. Once dominated by critics of President Trump, today's fragmented ecosystem is increasingly controlled - or threatened - by forces aligned with the White House.

Driving the news: ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel off air "indefinitely" on Wednesday in response to the late-night host's comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination.

The extraordinary move came after Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr warned ABC that it could face fines or license revocations if it did not "operate in the public interest."

Trump celebrated Kimmel's removal - just as he did CBS's decision to cancel Stephen Colbert's show - and called for NBC to take action against remaining late-night hosts Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon. ... ... ... Read more

ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel after Charlie Kirk comments
Axios | Christine Wang | 09/18/25

ABC is pulling Jimmy Kimmel after a wave of criticism over the late night host's recent comments in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing.

Why it matters: Kimmel is among the most high-profile people to face professional consequences for criticizing the conservative activist killed last week.

What they're saying: An ABC spokesperson said in a statement to Axios, "Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely." ... Read more

Rump kills off 90% of Americans (or manybe the World) | SC | 09/15/25 | 12:36

Trump Raging at Epstein Ruining U.K. Visit: Michael Wolff | Inside Trump's Head | The Daily Beast | 09/17/25 | 41:05

We warned you about Project 2025. Well, it’s here... | MSNBC | 09/15/25 | 12:36

Ex-CDC director: RFK Jr. planning September vaccine changes
Axios | Peter Sullivanr | 09/17/25

aIt's not clear how Kennedy envisions changing the schedule, which is a long-established system for approving and recommending vaccinations.

Monarez said she did not get into "substance" of how Kennedy's handpicked CDC advisory panel would recommend changes.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Thursday and Friday to discuss who should get COVID-19, Hepatitis B, MMR vaccines.

Monarez said she was fired in part because she refused Kennedy's request to "pre-approve" the advisory panel's changes to vaccine recommendations. ... Read more

Charlie Kirk in his own words: 'prowling Blacks' and 'the great replacement strategy'
The Guardian | Chris Stein | 09/11/25

Charlie Kirk, the far-right commentator and ally of Donald Trump, was killed on Wednesday doing what he was known for throughout his career - making incendiary and often racist and sexist comments to large audiences.

If it was current and controversial in US politics, chances are that Kirk was talking about it. On his podcasts, and on the podcasts of friends and adversaries, and especially on college campuses, where he would go to debate students, Kirk spent much of his adult life defending and articulating a worldview aligned with Trump and the Maga movement. ... Read more

Is Charlie Kirk's Killer A Leftist? | Leeja Miller | 09/16/25 | 29:40

Trump on safeguarding our kids from school shootings | | | 1:00

Jasmine Crockett UNSEALS Trump's 1970 IQ Wharton Aptitude Test - Genius? Think Again | Op Insights | 09/06/25 | 6:54

What's different about the Charlie Kirk firings
Axios | Eleanor Hawkins, Emily Peck | 09/16/25

Companies are reacting to pressure from Republican officials and right-wing activists and quickly firing anyone who attempts to justify or minimize the killing of Charlie Kirk — or even criticize the slain conservative activist.

Why it matters: These firings could be legal, lawyers say, but they demonstrate fast-changing norms around free speech that many find troubling.

They also signify an increased vigilance among employers when it comes to workers' social media posts.

Where it stands: Dozens of such terminations have been publicly reported at media companies, airlines, sports teams and federal agencies.

In the public sector, teachers, government workers and community officials have also been fired or put on leave in recent days due to their commentary on the violence. ... ... Read more

Half of young people plagued by loneliness, family problems
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Axios | April Rubin | 09/16/25

State of play: 55% of young people say their mental health is good, very good or excellent, according to the survey. But LGBTQ+ youth rate their mental health as poor at nearly triple the rate of non-LGBTQ+ youth. And those young people who struggle to meet basic expenses report poor mental health at more than triple the rate of those who live comfortably. Respondents said solo downtime, face-to-face time with friends and engaging with media are the top activities that support their well-being and mental health. ... ... Read more

Israel launches ground offensive to occupy Gaza City
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Axios | Barak Ravid | 09/16/25

... Read more

China, climate crisis and Cop31: five takeaways from the Pacific Islands Forum
TheGardian | Eva Corlett | 09/15/25

China, the climate crisis and security concerns dominated the agenda as Pacific leaders gathered for the region's most important annual meeting last week.

The week-long Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, brought together Australia, New Zealand and 16 Pacific countries and territories at a time of fraught geopolitical tensions, and with accusations of outside interference in the region never far from the headlines.

Here’s everything you need to know: ... ... ... Read more

What could come after interest rate cuts this week
Axios | Neil Irwin | 09/15/25

After nine months of standing pat, the Federal Reserve is set to offer some interest rate relief on Wednesday. The open question is what hints are on offer about what comes next.

The big picture: Rapidly deteriorating job growth has solidified support for a quarter-point interest rate adjustment among Fed officials.

But with price pressures still elevated, some will be reluctant to indicate much more monetary easing from here.

New quarterly projections out Wednesday will shed light on the range of opinion and how much consensus there is behind additional rate cuts this year. ... ... ... Read more

Charlie Kirk's assassination raises questions about escalating political violence | Washington Week PBS | 09/13/25 | 21:30

Trump stands by as Putin and Netanyahu cross new lines
Axios | Dave Lawler, Barak Ravid | 09/12/25

President Trump loves to boast about his singular ability to control global events and leaders, but there are two notable exceptions: his ally Benjamin Netanyahu and his nominal adversary, Vladimir Putin.

Why it matters: The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have been the two dominant global crises of Trump's second term, but despite his promises to end both wars, he's seemed doubtful lately about his ability to influence the men prolonging them.

Behind the scenes: Trump has conceded to confidants that he misjudged Putin's desire for peace, but he rejects the notion he's being manipulated by Netanyahu, a source with direct knowledge told Axios. ... ... ... Read more

BREAKING: Charlie Kirk's Shooter CAUGHT and He's MAGA?!? | I've Had It | 09/12/25 | 10:47

Are We Headed for a Civil War? | Explainer | Heather Cox Richardson | 09/10/25 | 4:04

6 questions about Russian drones invading Poland's airspace
Politico | Jan Cienski | 09/11/25

Russia sending drones over Poland marked an escalation of hostilities with Europe. But what, if anything, did Vladimir Putin hope to gain - and how will NATO respond?

The incident raises a lot of questions about Russia, Poland and NATO - everything from whether the Kremlin meant to send the drones into Poland, to whether Warsaw and the Atlantic alliance have adapted sufficiently to the realities of modern drone warfare.

1. What happened over eastern Poland?

Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Polish parliament that Polish airspace had been breached 19 times. Polish F-16 fighter jets and Dutch F-35s plus other aircraft responded and shot down at least four drones. ... Read more

Putin and Bibi are thumbing their noses at Trump
Politico | Jamie Dettmer | 09/11/25

The Nobel Peace Prize that U.S. President Donald Trump so openly covets seems to be disappearing into the elusive horizon - and not just because the award's Norwegian judges will likely be unsympathetic to his claim for eligibility.

Trump likes to be lauded as the peacemaker-in-chief - something his cabinet members cravenly comply with. Meanwhile, fearful of losing federal funding, GOP lawmakers, U.S. corporate leaders, state governors and university deans are falling over themselves to do his bidding - much as EU leaders do too.

However, the two men who could advance his Nobel claim the most - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin - are being adamantly obstructive, declining to end the bloodiest of the world's current wars, as their own political interests are served by waging them. ... ... ... Read more

Spanish schools to teach pupils how to cope with climate crisis disasters
TheGuardian | Sam Jones | 09/11/25

Children as young as three will have lessons on wildfires and flooding under 10-point emergency response plan

Spanish children will be taught how to respond to floods, wildfires, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in a drive to help prepare them for the growing impact of the climate emergency.

The plan was unveiled on Thursday after a summer of forest fires killed four people and less than a year after catastrophic floods claimed more than 220 lives in eastern parts of the country.

The aim, according to the education ministry, is to provide schools with a package that imparts “the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and values needed to deal with emergency situations in a safe and effective way”. As well as natural hazards and disasters, it will cover chemical, industrial and nuclear accidents and those related to the transport of dangerous materials. ... Read more

MAGA dreaming of greater power grabs
Axios | Tal Axelrod, Zachary Basu | 09/09/25

MAGA activists are urging President Trump to tear down the remaining guardrails on his authority, dreaming of bigger, faster power grabs than the sweeping changes already in motion.

Why it matters: Trump has spent his first eight months smashing norms - and crossing legal lines - in his dizzying pursuit of mass deportations, crime crackdowns, government purges and more.

But in MAGA's maximalist mindset, it's not enough: The base sees a shrinking window for its revolution, with Trump term-limited and potential midterm losses looming next year.

On every political front, the movement is pressing for more - now. ... Read more

Trump's alleged entry in Epstein book released by Democrats
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Axios | Andrew Solender | 09/08/25

"It's time for the President to tell us the truth about what he knew and release all the Epstein files. The American people are demanding answers," Garcia said.

He added that Democrats are now "carefully reviewing the contents of the book and additional documents to determine the full extent of the implications," and "expect to release our findings to the public." ... Read more

What we know about Trump's relationship with Epstein
Axios | Avery Lotz, April Rubin | 09/09/25

President Trump's alleged submission to a birthday book compiled for Jeffrey Epstein was released on Monday after the president and his allies vehemently denied its existence.

The big picture: The suggestive note and lewd drawing bearing what appears to be the president's signature prompted a new round of denials from the White House and its surrogates. Its release renewed scrutiny of Trump's ties to the disgraced financier.

Trump told reporters in 2019 he and Epstein had a "falling out" and hadn't spoken in 15 years. ... Read more

China pharma deals threaten U.S. biotech
Axios | Tina Reed | 09/08/25

A surge of recent licensing deals for Chinese drugs is sending new signals that the U.S. could be toppled as the world's biotech leader.

Why it matters: A decade-long national strategy to develop its biopharmaceutical industry has left China in a position to deliver medical products faster and cheaper.

It's part of a global power shift that's seen China emerge as a powerhouse in AI, chemistry and other areas, Andrei Iancu, undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property in the first Trump administration, told Axios.

An analysis last week in Nature found 11 big pharma companies - including AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and GSK - collectively committed more than $150 billion to license novel assets from Chinese sources in the last five years. ... ... ... Read more

'A very dangerous theory:' MAGA's mask-off racist vision of America | MSNBC/Velshi | 09/08/25 | 10:06

Trump appeals foreign aid freeze to Supreme Court
Axios | April Rubin | 09/08/25

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to allow it to keep billions of dollars in foreign aid funding frozen, a lawyer for the plaintiffs confirmed to Axios.

The big picture: The emergency filing follows a federal judge's recent order that the administration release the billions approved by Congress.

The plaintiffs, which include health and AIDS advocacy groups, submitted an opposition to the administration's request, the lawyer told Axios.

Driving the news: The government had planned to spend $6.5 billion of the $10.5 billion in question, the Trump administration said.

Allocating the remaining $4 billion would be "self-defeating and senseless," the filing stated. ... Read more

Trump vs. Higher Education: Last Week Tonight | John Oliver | 09/07/25 | 28:55

Hiring craters in latest economic setback for Trump: August jobs report
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Axios | Courtenay Brown | 09/05/25

Hiring stalled again in August, with the labor market adding just 22,000 jobs and the unemployment rate at the highest levels since 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Friday.

Why it matters: The economy is rapidly cooling, as global tariffs put pressure on America's businesses.

Of note: The report included revisions to prior months' data, showing the economy shed jobs in June - a decline of 13,000, compared to an originally reported gain of 14,000.

That is the first time the labor market shed jobs since late 2020. ... ... ... Read more

Israel bombs high-rise buildings in Gaza City ahead of massive offensive
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Axios | Barak Ravid | 09/05/25

The Israeli military on Friday began flattening high-rise buildings in Gaza City that it claims are used by Hamas for military purposes.

Why it matters: Friday's strikes mark the first major phase in Israel's new offensive to occupy Gaza City, which the government says is aimed at rooting out Hamas. The operation - backed by President Trump - is expected to escalate in the coming days.

Behind the scenes: Israel's top security chiefs - Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Gen. Eyal Zamir, the heads of Mossad, Shin Bet and military intelligence - advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching the operation. They warned it could: ... ... ... Read more

White House to rebrand Pentagon the Department of War | Politico | 09/04/25 | article

Trump sets New Orleans as next federal crime target, not Chicago
Axios | April Rubin | 09/04/25

President Trump said on Wednesday that he may deploy the military to New Orleans before Chicago, prioritizing cities whose leaders ask for intervention.

Why it matters: The new stance is a pivot from Tuesday afternoon, when he seemed prepared to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.

The latest: "We're making a determination now," Trump said during an Oval Office meeting. "Do we go to Chicago or do we go to a place like New Orleans where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in and straighten out a very nice section of this country that's become quite, quite tough, quite bad?"

He said it would take two weeks to straighten out crime in New Orleans. "Easier than D.C.," he added.

State of play: In an unprecedented move, Trump took federal control of Washington, D.C.'s police department and brought in National Guard troops out of concern over the city's crime rates. ... ... ... Read more

The AI Doomsday Machine Is Closer to Reality Than You Think
Politico | Michael Hirsh | 09/02/25

Jacquelyn Schneider saw a disturbing pattern, and she didn't know what to make of it.

Last year Schneider, director of the Hoover Wargaming and Crisis Simulation Initiative at Stanford University, began experimenting with war games that gave the latest generation of artificial intelligence the role of strategic decision-makers. In the games, five off-the-shelf large language models or LLMs - OpenAI's GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4-Base; Anthropic's Claude 2; and Meta's Llama-2 Chat - were confronted with fictional crisis situations that resembled Russia's invasion of Ukraine or China's threat to Taiwan.

The results? Almost all of the AI models showed a preference to escalate aggressively, use firepower indiscriminately and turn crises into shooting wars - even to the point of launching nuclear weapons. "The AI is always playing Curtis LeMay," says Schneider, referring to the notoriously nuke-happy Air Force general of the Cold War. "It's almost like the AI understands escalation, but not de-escalation. We don't really know why that is." ... Read more

Trump Is Trying to Blackmail the Supreme Court
Politico | Ankush Khardori | 09/04/25

The legal arguments for Trump's tariffs are weak, so he's arguing their rejection would bring ruin.

Donald Trump is making a last-ditch effort to salvage his beloved, beleaguered tariff policy, heading to the Supreme Court in hopes that the Republican appointees will come to his rescue. The desperation is both palpable and warranted given the conspicuous weakness of the administration's legal arguments, as underscored by a series of lower court rulings against him. That has in turn led the president and his aides to make increasingly histrionic public claims about what will happen if the Supreme Court does not cave and side with Trump.

Call it The Chicken Little Defense: If the courts do not sign off on the administration's tariffs, it "would be a total disaster for the Country" and "would literally destroy the United States of America," Trump said on Friday after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that the bulk of the president’s tariffs are illegal. He doubled down on those claims on Tuesday while tacking on the transparently ridiculous assertion that the U.S. is "taking in $17 trillion ... because of tariffs." ... Read more

UAE warns White House that Israeli annexations could unravel Abraham Accords
Axios | Barak Ravid | 09/03/25

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has told the Trump administration that Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank would harm the Abraham Accords and undermine the president's hopes of expanding them, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.

Why it matters: Israel is considering annexing large portions of the West Bank later this month in response to the recognition of a Palestinian state by several western countries. President Trump is likely the only foreign player who could stop it. The UAE message is that if he doesn't, a key aspect of his foreign policy legacy could unravel.

Between the lines: The Emirati position is significant because the UAE was the first Arab country to condemn the Oct. 7 attacks, has maintained relations with Israel throughout the war in Gaza and even worked with the Israeli government on a post-war plan.

But the Emiratis have made clear in private and in public that they see annexation of parts of the West Bank as a "red line." ... Read more

The AI Doomsday Machine Is Closer to Reality Than You Think
Politico | Michael Hirsh | 09/02/25

Jacquelyn Schneider saw a disturbing pattern, and she didn't know what to make of it.

Last year Schneider, director of the Hoover Wargaming and Crisis Simulation Initiative at Stanford University, began experimenting with war games that gave the latest generation of artificial intelligence the role of strategic decision-makers. In the games, five off-the-shelf large language models or LLMs - OpenAI's GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4-Base; Anthropic's Claude 2; and Meta's Llama-2 Chat - were confronted with fictional crisis situations that resembled Russia's invasion of Ukraine or China's threat to Taiwan.

The results? Almost all of the AI models showed a preference to escalate aggressively, use firepower indiscriminately and turn crises into shooting wars - even to the point of launching nuclear weapons. "The AI is always playing Curtis LeMay," says Schneider, referring to the notoriously nuke-happy Air Force general of the Cold War. "It's almost like the AI understands escalation, but not de-escalation. We don't really know why that is." ... Read more

Trump to ask SCOTUS to reverse E. Jean Carroll sex-abuse verdict
Axios | Josephine Walker | 09/03/25

President Trump is expected to ask the Supreme Court to reverse the $5 million verdict in a civil suit where he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll. Why it matters: Trump has continuously fought the verdict, claiming that several lawsuits against him are politically motivated, with mixed success in court. What they're saying: "President Trump intends to seek review by this Court of significant issues arising from the Second Circuit's erroneous decision," the president's council wrote in an application to the nation's highest court. What's inside: The petition asked the court to grant the president an extension until Nov. 10 to formally ask for his case to be heard. ... Read more

Behind the Curtain: Why you should be AI-obsessed
Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 09/02/25

Several readers have asked why we're so AI-obsessed in our columns and business planning.

Our response: Imagine knowing electricity or the internet were coming ... before both fully and wholly upended business, culture and life. That's the AI moment we see unfolding today.

Why it matters: We want to pull back the curtain on what we're seeing and thinking, to encourage you to be equally curious and obsessed.

We're clear-eyed: Every AI company and investor has massive incentive to hype the most glorious AI case. So the technology might never live up to its promise.

But this would require every CEO of America's seven biggest companies to be collectively delusional about where they're spending trillions in combined capital. ... ... ... Read more

RFK Jr.'s power play faces key September tests
Axios | Maya Goldman | 09/02/25

After roiling the leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to make more moves this month that will test how much free rein he has within the administration.

Why it matters: Republicans are counting on Kennedy and his MAHA base to deliver in the midterm elections. But more bulldozing of evidence-based public health policy could fray his support within the White House and Congress.

Friction points: Kennedy said last week that he expects to deliver a report on the environmental causes of autism this month.

His handpicked vaccine advisory committee is set to meet on the availability of COVID boosters on Sept. 18. ... Read more

https://www.axios.com/2025/09/02/anthropic-183-billion-iconiq
Axios | Dan Primack, Ina Fried | 09/02/25

Anthropic on Tuesday announced that it's raised $13 billion in new venture capital funding at a $183 billion post-money valuation.

Why it matters: This makes Anthropic the world's fourth-most valuable startup, tripling its valuation from this past spring, and gives it more capital firepower to compete with AI market leader OpenAI.

By the numbers: Anthropic disclosed that its annual revenue run rate reached $5 billion in August, after being at around $1 billion when 2025 began.

It was valued at $61.5 billion during a March fundraise led by Lightspeed. ... Read more

Big Law Firms: The Shadow Government Ruining America?
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Big Law Firms: The Shadow Government Ruining America? | More Perfect Union | 06/20/25 | 16:04

Rural South, West states have highest violent crime rates: FBI
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Axios | Russell Contreras | 09/01/25

Rural states in the American South and West had some of the nation's highest violent crime and homicide rates in 2024, driven by violence in small communities, according to an Axios analysis of FBI data.

Why it matters: A state-by-state comparison paints a complex picture of U.S. crime trends as President Trump threatens to send the National Guard to Democrat-controlled cities in blue states over concerns about violent crime.

The big picture: The president has already dispatched the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and is threatening to send troops to Chicago, Oakland, Calif., and Baltimore.

Now Trump is facing questions about whether he'll send troops to communities in red states - many of them largely rural - where crime rates are actually higher than the areas he's targeted. ... ... ... Read more

How MAHA flipped the GOP script with business
Axios | Tina Reed | 09/01/25

The turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the latest sign of how Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the MAHA movement threaten to undermine trust in scientists and medical research.

Why it matters: By promoting debunked theories about vaccines and public health and accusing federal workers of being in cahoots with the drug industry, Kennedy and his allies have stoked suspicion about mainstream science and the medical establishment.

When four high-ranking CDC officials who had worked on mpox, Ebola, COVID-19 data and the opioid crisis response resigned Wednesday, they cited Kennedy's political interference.

"This administration is unlike anything we've ever seen," said Richard Besser, a onetime acting director of the CDC and now CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. ... ... ... Read more

Mental Health Experts on Donald Trump | Brave New Films | -7yrs | 13:53