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Axios19:30

Trump says Fort Hood shooter's execution will not be livestreamed

President Trump said in a Thursday Truth Social post 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 die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed," Trump's post read. He added, "That said, the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose." Trump noted that he thinks "streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die." That seemingly included Vice President JD Vance who said he wouldn't watch the execution. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) warned footage of the execution could become a "recruiting tool for future terrorists." Catch up quick: The Pentagon previously confirmed that the December execution would be streamed after Hegseth said in an interview with Real America's Voice that it would be made "public." But the plan received swift pushback from Republicans and Democrats in Congress alike, as well as from clergy and survivors of the horrific 2009 attack. Even though most Americans support executing Hasan, a vast majority oppose livestreaming his death by firing squad, according to a ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll out Thursday. Representatives for TikTok and Newsmax to

North America · Global politics

Axios19:00

"Mommy and daddy" play nice: Apple and Meta team up to bring open-source Muse to Macs

Apple and Meta, whose leaders have spent years trading barbs over privacy and the future of computing, are joining forces to bring one of America's most powerful open-weight AI models to Apple's high-end Macs. Why it matters: The collaboration marks a striking détente between two longtime Silicon Valley rivals, underscoring how the AI race is reshaping relationships across the technology industry. The companies still compete over devices and the next generation of computing, but both see an opportunity in bringing powerful AI capabilities to personal computers. "We're excited for mommy and daddy to be playing nice again," Meta's AI chief Alexandr Wang told Axios. Driving the news: Meta is releasing Muse Spark Open, a model similar to Muse Spark 1.3, that it says is the most powerful U.S.-developed open-weight AI model available. Meta joins a host of Western AI companies that have released powerful open-weight systems that promise to slash AI costs, provide companies with more control and offer an alternative to the Chinese AI ecosystem. Nvidia on Tuesday released updated versions of its Nemotron family of models, and U.S.-based Reflection AI and France's Mistral both released new open source models last week. As proof of Muse Spark Open's capabilities, Meta worked with Apple to make the model run locally across two or four connected Mac Studios powered by Apple's M5 Ultra chips, using Apple's MLX framework. Zoom in : The prospect of a powerful model — it has 816 billion parameters — running on Apple hardware offers a proof of concept about just how much companies will be ab

North America

Axios18:23

The too-hot-for-comfort economy

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chart: Courtenay Brown/Axios Data this week has all told the same story: This is a rip-roaring U.S. economy with all the inflationary pressures that might imply. The big picture: It puts Warsh and the Fed in a difficult jam. Top officials have signaled patience in further interest rate hikes in recent weeks, but the latest data implies broader inflationary pressures than previously thought, testing that conviction. There is scant evidence that price pressures are receding on their own and growing reason to fear that they are becoming more entrenched, which could compel a more aggressive rate-hiking response. Driving the news: On Thursday the government said the Producer Price Index rose 1.3% in September, the highest since 2022 and far above the 0.6% analysts expected. It came on the heels of a too-hot-for-comfort reading on consumer prices Wednesday. Also Thursday, September retail sales notched a 0.8% rise, versus the 0.4% analysts had expected. And the August number was revised higher. There were only 199,000 initial claims for unemployment benefits last week, remaining near historic lows. Between the lines: The U.S. growth juggernaut shows no sign of diminishing — but neither do the price pressures that have bedeviled the economy for nearly five consecutive years. If anything, the PPI and CPI data released this week suggest inflation is broadening, showing up in sectors well beyond energy. State of play: In his appearance at the International Monetary Fund's meetings in Thailand Friday (11:30pm ET Thursday), Warsh has a final opportunit

North America

Geopolitical Monitor17:34

Petrogold: How Gold Became a Sanctions Shield, and Where It Fails

Central banks are buying gold to escape Western custody risk. But this only guards against seizure, not volatility. The post Petrogold: How Gold Became a Sanctions Shield, and Where It Fails appeared first on Geopolitical Monitor .

Global politics

Axios17:04

DOJ gave California a voter list, a 48-hour deadline — and a threat of court action

The Trump administration is threatening emergency court action unless California officials investigate potential ineligible voters within 48 hours and set aside ballots from anyone whose citizenship they cannot verify, according to two letters sent to state officials from the Justice Department. Why it matters: With voting already underway, President Trump 's DOJ could delay ballots from eligible Californians mistakenly flagged as noncitizens and set up a court fight just three weeks before Election Day. Driving the news: Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter sent a letter Tuesday to Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan along with a thumb drive of "likely noncitizens who were sent a vote-by-mail ballot," according to a copy of the letter shared with Axios. McCotter asks local officials to investigate their citizenship status by noon October 15. The letter did not say how many people are on the list. For anyone whose status can't be confirmed, DOJ asks the officials to "segregate—not cancel" those ballots and suspend signature verification or counting of any ballots already returned. DOJ also asks officials to withhold ballots from people on the list unless their citizenship has been confirmed. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber received a similar letter . Friction point: McCotter closed his letter with a threat: "If you cannot implement this process by then, given the ongoing federal election, the United States will have no choice but to seek emergency relief." What they're saying: "This should not be controversial, as the crimin

North America · Global politics

Axios17:00

America's wits' end election approaches

Data: AP-NORC; Chart: Avery Lotz/Axios A quartet of polls out this week carry 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 to the polls. Driving the news: Nearly two-thirds of Americans rate the economy negatively, per a Fox News poll out Wednesday. Seven in ten voters say they feel like things in the country are out of control, per a The Economist/YouGov survey conducted October 10-12. And eight in ten, new AP/NORC polling found, want to see either "substantial change" or "complete and total upheaval" in how the country is run. Among Republicans, 58% share those sentiments. Zoom out: That national angst appears to be dragging down the president's approval. Fox News found that Trump's approval rating on inflation, which picked up last month, is at a new low: 22%. His overall job approval rating has also fallen to a new floor in Fox News surveys for either term: 36%. Fox says that drop is largely driven by voters under 45, those with household incomes below $50,000, non-white voters and those without a college degree. The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Yes, but: Polling suggests that disgruntlement doesn't necessarily translate into a wellspring of positive energy toward Democrats. Far more voters say they're somewhat or very pessimistic about the Democratic Party's future (47%) than those who say they're o

North America · Global politics

Council on Foreign Relations16:57

The United States Discovers Soviet Missiles in Cuba

On October 15, 1962, senior U.S. officials learned that their fears had come true—the Soviet Union was installing nuclear-armed ballistic missiles in Cuba.

Europe · South & Central America · North America · Defense · Global politics

Brookings16:36

Pooling risk to pay for long-term services and supports

North America

Politico16:24

Trump calls off livestream of Fort Hood shooter’s execution

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plans to livestream the scheduled Dec. 3 firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan had drawn widespread backlash.

North America · Defense

Geopolitical Monitor16:16

Trump’s Diesel Deal Matters More to Moscow than the Market

Trump’s diesel deal moves little fuel, but it could cost Ukraine its best lever against Moscow. The post Trump’s Diesel Deal Matters More to Moscow than the Market appeared first on Geopolitical Monitor .

Europe · Oil & energy · Global politics

Axios14:42

Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Starlink satellite services are restored

Ukraine'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 hitting those facilities. Why it matters: The twin developments further strained the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, as the war with Russia drags on and the Trump administration sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week by lifting sanctions on Russian oil sales. State of play: The move angered Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by calling it "a weak decision" and a "gift to Putin." Trump then called for Ukraine to elect a new president. The crisis intensified this week when Elon Musk's SpaceX restricted service of Starlink — a satellite service used for defensive purposes in battle — while Starshield, a tool used for offensive war operations that is controlled by the U.S. government, was also slowed. After more than a day, the services were restored. Ukraine, meanwhile, fired on a Russian oil refinery, which U.S. officials are unlikely to look kindly upon. The Ukrainian official said the country resumed strikes because Russia continued to hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure, despite Trump announcing that the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire. That declaration came as a surprise to Zelensky. The bottom line: It's still unclear to many inside the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government whether T

Europe · North America · Defense · Oil & energy · Global politics

Carnegie Endowment14:00

How the Latest Election Changed the Role of Russia’s Parliament

Putin’s conservative staffing policies and search for ever greater control have cemented parliament’s transformation into a bureaucratic appendage of the executive branch.

Europe · Global politics

Carnegie Endowment14:00

Taking the Pulse: Does the EU Have a France Problem?

With its public finances in shambles, the far right polling at 35 percent ahead of the 2027 presidential election, and a growing protest movement, is France’s crisis a threat to the EU’s geopolitical awakening?

Europe · Global politics

Bellingcat12:33

Satellite Images Show Extent of Trump Admin’s Tree-Felling at DC Golf Course

Sign up here to receive Bellingcat’s biggest investigations by email as soon as they are published. Satellite imagery obtained by Bellingcat lays bare the extent of tree-felling at a Washington DC golf course that President Trump is reportedly seeking to transform into a championship-level course, despite moves to protect the site by conservationists. The extent […] The post Satellite Images Show Extent of Trump Admin’s Tree-Felling at DC Golf Course appeared first on bellingcat .

North America

Bellingcat12:33

Satellite Images Show Extent of Trump Admin’s Tree-Felling at DC Golf Course, Despite ‘Furious’ Judge’s Order

Sign up here to receive Bellingcat’s biggest investigations by email as soon as they are published. Satellite imagery obtained by Bellingcat lays bare the extent of tree-felling at a Washington DC golf course that President Trump is reportedly seeking to transform into a championship-level course, despite moves to protect the site by conservationists. The extent […] The post Satellite Images Show Extent of Trump Admin’s Tree-Felling at DC Golf Course, Despite ‘Furious’ Judge’s Order appeared first on bellingcat .

North America

Modern War Institute12:25

Five Questions for a General: Brigadier-General Pascal Godbout

Welcome back to Five Questions for a General, a production of the Modern War Institute at West Point. This series features specially selected cadet hosts who are given an incredible professional development […]

North America · Defense

Axios12:01

CEO confidence drops into negative territory

Data: The Conference Board and The Business Council; Chart: Axios/Emily Peck CEO confidence in the U.S. economy sank into negative territory earlier this month, finds a survey out Thursday morning from the Conference Board . Why it matters: Business leaders are mind-melding with most consumers, whose opinions on the economy are now lower than during the pandemic . Such sour sentiment is shaping up as a key issue in the midterms just weeks away. Where it stands: The CEO Confidence Index fell to 46 in the most recent period, down from 52 just three months ago — any number below 50 connotes negative sentiment. The nonprofit Conference Board and the Business Council surveyed 131 Fortune 500 CEOs from Sept. 21-Oct. 5. The survey measures how chief executives at major public companies feel about current economic conditions and their expectations for the economy and their own industries over the next six months. By the numbers: 41% of CEOs expected economic conditions to worsen — up from 19% in the previous quarter. Executives' concerns over cybersecurity, AI and geopolitics rose significantly from three months ago. 94% of CEOs cited cybersecurity threats among their top AI-related concerns. The surge in energy prices — particularly diesel, which is crucial to companies' energy costs — also contributed to the fall in sentiment, Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board, tells Axios. "All these inflationary shocks, one after the the other, is weighing down on the confidence of both CEOs and consumers," she says. Between the lines: The key worry when CEO moods darken is

North America · Cybersecurity

Axios11:52

YOLO Chuck: Schumer's final fight

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is on the cusp of leading his party to midterm victory and reclaiming his title as Senate majority leader. Winning the majority isn't guaranteed. But this son of Brooklyn, who has been in public life for 52 years, is more than favored to win a secret ballot to remain Democratic leader. Why it matters: At age 75 (76 by the time the new Congress convenes in January), Charles Ellis Schumer, an old-school pol who visits all 62 of New York's counties every year, looks poised to do what very few people do in life — go out on top. Behind the scenes: For starters, Democratic senators aren't quietly maneuvering — or publicly positioning themselves — to take the top job, according to senior aides. You can't beat someone with no one . A handful of Democratic Senate candidates, including Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Troy Jackson in Maine, haven't committed to supporting Schumer for leader. But they likely don't have the votes to stage a coup. And Schumer's super PAC is spending heavily to get them across the line. That calculus could change if Republicans overperform expectations with a massive win, potentially triggering a serious leadership challenge. Otherwise, the job is Schumer's for the asking — and he's asking. "I am running for re-election for leader. Period," he said two weeks ago. The intrigue: The bigger question surrounding Schumer involves 2028 and whether he'd retire at the top of his game or risk an embarrassing primary loss to, perhaps, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was born in the Bronx and represents parts of the Br

North America · Global politics

Axios11:30

Gen Z and millennials are running for Congress in record numbers, but few reach November

Gen Z and millennials have launched their biggest bid yet to remake Congress, but roughly seven in 10 were out by early September, a new report finds. Why it matters: These two generations are struggling to clear the first hurdles of a political system that rewards experience, fundraising and established party support. State of play: A new report from Future Caucus , a nonpartisan nonprofit that works with younger elected officials, found that a record share of this cycle's congressional candidates came from the nation's two youngest political generations. The group identified 3,918 candidates who filed for Congress this cycle, 31% more than in 2024. Of candidates with known or estimated ages, 36.4% were millennials or Gen Z, up from 23.4% in 2024. The report counts everyone who filed and doesn't track how many were first-time candidates. Between the lines : Many young candidates are trying to reach Congress without the political experience that helps candidates advance. Just 1.7% of Gen Z candidates and 9% of millennials have served in a state legislature. Among congressional challengers with age data, nearly 40% of those with state legislative experience reached the general-election stage, compared with 26.2% without it. By the numbers: Only 21.2% of Gen Z congressional candidates remained in the race at the report's September cutoff. That figure rose to 30.2% for millennials, 41.1% for Gen X and 44.5% for Baby Boomers. Nearly 33% of Gen Z candidates failed to qualify for a primary ballot, compared with 18.3% of millennials and 9.4% of Gen X. Incumbents averaged 59 years

North America · Global politics

Axios11:30

America's not ready for the consequences of space warfare

The 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 Earth. The dependence on satellites is precisely what makes them tempting targets for foes. China has made major advancements, such as satellites with robotic arms that could disable U.S. equipment and lasers that can blind military space sensors. Russia lags behind, but U.S. officials fear it may unleash an orbital nuclear weapon that "could pose a threat to all satellites and to the space-enabled services the world depends on." What they're saying: Todd Harrison, the American Enterprise Institute's space expert, said "we've been under the illusion" that an adversary would target only military satellites and leave civil or commercial ones alone. That's no longer the case. "In a future conflict, we could very well see the civilian and commercial space infrastructure that we often take for granted ... being attacked," Harrison said. "Is the American public ready for that? I'm not sure they are." " We're quickly coming to the conclusion that there's no sanctuary in space, not even in a small conflict," he added. Threat level: Last month, U.S. officials revealed that the military had weapons in space — a bombshell admission they said was aimed at deterring adversaries. Yes, but: Doug Loverro, a former top NASA and Pentagon space

Europe · East Asia · North America · Defense