Rubio urges Lebanon to resist Hezbollah pressure over seized explosivesSecretary of State Marco Rubio pressed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun not to return a truckload of explosives to Hezbollah after the group tried to smuggle them into Beirut last week, according to a State Department official and another source with knowledge of their call. Why it matters: The issue is a test case for the Lebanese government's resolve to…Axios4d agoWhole story →GovernmentSecuritylebanon explosives seizure
Fired FBI agents sue Kash Patel to get jobs backNine former FBI agents and intelligence personnel sued the Trump administration Thursday, alleging they were unlawfully fired for working on the investigation into President Trump's handling of classified documents . Why it matters: The agents' bid to regain their jobs adds to a growing number of legal challenges accusing the Trump administration of…Axios4d agoWhole story →GovernmentSecurityfbi agents lawsuit
Trump says Fort Hood shooter's execution will not be livestreamedPresident Trump said in a Thursday Truth Social post that the execution of the convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad will not be live-streamed. The big picture: The president's post walks back an idea that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pitched last week, setting off an avalanche of bipartisan condemnation. Driving the news: " He will…Axios4d agoWhole story →SecurityJusticefort hood shooter execution
America's wits' end election approachesData: AP-NORC; Chart: Avery Lotz/Axios A trio of polls out this week carries a stark message: Americans feel disgruntled, dizzy and down on the man in the White House. Why it matters: The vibes going into the midterms are bleak, with a large majority of voters wanting significant change. But the question remains whether those sentiments will drive them…Axios4d agoWhole story →GovernmentEconomymidterm elections
Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Starlink satellite services are restoredUkraine's Starlink and Starshield satellite services — critical tools in its war against Russia that were unexpectedly throttled this week — have been restored to full capacity, a Ukrainian official tells Axios. The official also said that Ukraine conducted a strike overnight against a Russian oil refinery — defying President Trump's demand that it stop…Axios4d agoWhole story →GovernmentSecurityukraine russia conflict escalation
America's not ready for the consequences of space warfareThe future of war is in outer space — and the U.S. is unprepared for the fallout. Why it matters: An outbreak of space warfare would cripple the global economy by disrupting satellites used for everything from worldwide financial transactions to maritime navigation. It would also hinder the U.S. military's ability to conduct some of its key missions on…Axios5d agoWhole story →SecurityEconomyspace warfare preparedness
Scoop: "OG" Bill Gates returns to wage war on AI risksBill Gates is gearing up to dramatically expand his AI safety push , personally leaning on business leaders and considering a major deployment of his resources, sources tell Axios. Why it matters: The formidable, sharp-elbowed Bill Gates who built Microsoft is back, and he's directing his competitive fire toward what he has come to see as one of the most…Axios5d agoWhole story →Technology
Scoop: The FTC demanded documents from AI giants over recent safety incidentsThe Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sent civil subpoenas to AI giants seeking documents about safety incidents that have spiraled into an industry crisis . The FTC sought documents from Anthropic and OpenAI in a probe focused on potential consumer protection violations, a person familiar told Axios. Why it matters: The investigation is one of a…Axios5d agoWhole story →CommerceTechnologyftc ai safety probe
