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Thousands rally in Belfast to condemn anti-immigrant rioting that followed stabbing LONDON (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belfast on Saturday to denounce anti-immigrant rioters who set fire to homes and cars earlier in the week after a brutal stabbing blamed on an asylum seeker. https://apnews.com/article/belfast-stabbing-riot-racism-immigrants-5c0e74588be3473370ad360081401a54?

The skills people still perform better than AI, according to workplace experts Many workers fear machines will supplant them as adoption of artificial intelligence accelerates. But what if people have qualities both unmistakably human and essential to career success that AI could not easily replace them? Some workplace experts argue that with more businesses adopting AI tools, soft skills such as empathy, critical thinking and ethical decision-making are worth cultivating to help employees become indispensable. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump tried to block state AI regulations, but some states are forging ahead OpenAI hit with multistate probe into possible user harm as its IPO looms Anthropic says it has taken its latest AI models offline to comply with new export controls You can ignore AI giants like SpaceX, but your 401(k) won’t Visa plugs its payment network into ChatGPT, letting AI agents shop and pay for users

As UFOs go mainstream, the jury is out on what the existence of alien life might mean for religion In “Disclosure Day,” out Friday, Steven Spielberg is once again inviting audiences to ponder the existence of extraterrestrial life — and the implications it would have for religion on Earth. But Spielberg is hardly the only one making headlines of late about UFOs and the possibility of life on other planets. What was once considered fringe or conspiratorial has in recent months popped up everywhere from the White House to the Catholic Church, as public fascination with unidentified anomalous phenomena — or UAPs, as the government calls them — becomes more mainstream. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ New UFO files describe spinning discs, glowing orbs and one object shaped like a potato Movie Review: ‘Disclosure Day’ is classic Spielberg Neil deGrasse Tyson takes on aliens and how we should greet them in ‘Take Me to Your Leader’

Trump turns 80 with a showstopping spectacle of cage fights at the White House. But big issues loom President Donald Trump celebrates turning 80 with a UFC cage-fighting event on the White House's South Lawn. It's an unprecedented extravaganza marking his birthday in showstopping fashion, featuring seven fights and aligning with America's 250th anniversary. Trump's celebration on Sunday contrasts sharply with former President Joe Biden's low-key 80th birthday at the White House in 2022. The bash comes while the U.S. and Iran are discussing a deal to end the war, and after Trump's name was removed from Washington's Kennedy Center. At 80, polls show the public has concerns about the president's age — mirroring doubts his predecessor faced. But his physicians have said Trump is in excellent health. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump warns Israel and Iran not to ‘blow it’ after new strikes threaten emerging ceasefire deal US strike against Tren de Aragua leader in Venezuela exemplifies Trump’s approach to war on drugs Trump names James M. McDonald to lead powerful New York federal prosecutor’s office Alabama seeks to execute man by lethal injection after court ruled against nitrogen method A woman’s hypothermia death in Pittsburgh after her release from ICE custody is ruled a homicide Treasury expands bank data-sharing rules tied to Trump immigration crackdown Migrants deported from US, including an Iranian woman, arrive in Central African Republic Trump’s name is gone from the Kennedy Center’s facade after court rulings A Trump order asked national park visitors to flag ‘negative’ historical info. They had other ideas Judge orders Trump administration to restore National Park changes at sites that ‘disparaged’ US Paramount Skydance merger with Warner Bros. Discovery won’t harm competition, consumers, DOJ says America In Focus: Inflation hits 3-year high, Wall Street rallies and Musk becomes a trillionaire ‘Democrats want to win': Platner’s support reflects a changing party in the Trump era Trump administration blocks federal homelessness funds in Los Angeles Too sick to work, but can they prove it? New Medicaid rule worries patients

A tentative deal is reached to end the Iran war and Trump orders a stop to the US naval blockade ISLAMABAD (AP) — The United States and Iran reached an initial agreement early Monday to open the Strait of Hormuz and further extend a shaky ceasefire in the Iran war, potentially allowing desperately needed oil and natural gas to reach the global market. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-ceasefire-deal-e0a9e4e1152ea8da10ea066ad174a23a?

🏛️ Pic du jour Kennedy Center lettering was covered in tarps yesterday. Photo: Rahmat Gul/AP The Kennedy Center has removed "all physical signage on the … building and grounds, including the front portico, that purports to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump," Matt Floca, executive director and chief operating officer of the performing arts venue, told a federal court yesterday. Onlookers gathered on the plaza in front of the center, hoping to witness a dramatic moment. But a tarp concealed the lettering.

🐂 Fighting a political pest Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images So far, there are only a dozen cases. But the screwworm has arrived in the U.S. after a 60-year absence. The Trump administration is mobilizing to ensure the parasite doesn't threaten cattle in Texas and become a political pest. Why it matters: President Trump and the GOP are already reeling from soaring beef prices and accelerating inflation, Axios' Mike Zapler writes. ⚡ State of play: The Department of Agriculture tells Axios it's deploying a $1.3 billion "New World Screwworm response." That includes setting up a $750 million Texas plant to produce and release 300 million sterile male screwworm flies every week. The FDA is fast-tracking treatments. Threat level: The first U.S. case of screwworm was detected in South Texas on June 3. There have now been 12 confirmed cases in the U.S. — 11 in Texas and one in New Mexico. They've mostly been in cattle, but also in sheep, goats and a dog. The outbreak comes with beef prices near record highs and the cattle herd at its lowest level in 75 years, depressed by a prolonged drought. The screwworm's arrival hasn't measurably affected beef prices. But its spread in Mexico has cut cattle imports and added to price pressures. Data: World Organisation for Animal Health. Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios 👀 The backstory: For decades, the screwworms had been contained in Panama. Starting in 2023, cases began popping up further and further north, until they crossed over onto U.S. soil this month. The pest's arrival comes a year after the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service lost more than 2,100 employees — roughly 25% of its workforce — as part of the administration's workforce cuts. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is blaming the Biden administration and attributing the spread of the flies to the northward migration of people and livestock.

Cruz readies '28 run Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is declaring independence from President Trump ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run, backing rivals to Trump-endorsed candidates in two high-profile GOP primaries, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports. Cruz announced he's backing Rick Jackson for Georgia governor and Alan Wilson for South Carolina governor. Jackson, a wealthy health care executive, faces Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in Georgia's June 16 runoff. Wilson, South Carolina's attorney general, is up against Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in a June 23 runoff. Cruz appears to be the only potential 2028 GOP contender to publicly break with Trump in either race, underscoring how reluctant other ambitious Republicans are to cross the president. 🔎 Behind the scenes: Cruz is laying groundwork for a '28 run. He's delivering high-profile speeches, and hosting a podcast and syndicated radio show, giving him entrée to small donors. Cruz privately told donors last year that Trump's tariffs would damage the economy and potentially cost Republicans control of Congress, Axios reported in January. In talks with donors, Cruz has trashed Vice President Vance. Keep reading.

Officials plan digital end to Iran war Amid war work inside, the Octagon on the South Lawn and the Fan Zone on the Ellipse are ready for tonight's UFC Freedom 250. Photo: Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images Latest intel from Axios' Barak Ravid, who has been first and right with every twist during this 107-day war: The U.S. and Iran, together with Pakistani and Qatari mediators, are expected to meet virtually today to electronically sign a memorandum of understanding that will extend the ceasefire 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and launch negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. Why it matters: The pending remote signing is a result of almost three months of negotiations between the U.S. and the Iranian regime, mediated by Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. The deal is expected to end the war and potentially stabilize global energy markets. Behind the scenes: U.S. officials and sources in the mediating countries confirmed the signing will take place virtually, mainly for logistical reasons. Vice President JD Vance, who's leading the U.S. negotiating team, wouldn't have been able to get back to the U.S. before President Trump leaves tomorrow for the G7 summit in Evian, France. What to watch: On Tuesday, President Trump will meet in France with G7 leaders, together with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, U.S. officials told reporters in a briefing. The meeting is expected to focus on the deal with Iran and opportunities in the region after the war ends. Another issue on the table is the Strait of Hormuz, and the international coalition that the UK and France have been working on to clear the strait of mines, the U.S. official said. Keep reading.

"Like cows looking at a new gate". LOL! I realize we don't see eye to eye on many things, but I do definitely enjoy your choice of words in some cases!

June 14, 2026 Good morning. The New York Knicks are N.B.A. champions for the first time in 53 years, after defeating the San Antonio Spurs, 94-90, in yet another come-from-behind win. Jalen Brunson, who scored 45 points last night, was named finals M.V.P. The series energized New York in a way few other events have, with celebrations in the streets after every victory. (See photos from last night’s party.) And it resonated far beyond the city, with higher TV ratings than any other N.B.A. finals this century. The games also attracted more than $700 million in bets on the prediction sites Kalshi and Polymarket. At the start of the series, the Spurs were the favorites. Bettors on those sites put San Antonio’s championship odds at over 60 percent. The Knicks proved them wrong. Betting is fundamentally about risk: You might win, or you might lose. But what if you could game the odds so that you’d always come out on top? A watch party outside Madison Square Garden last night. Dave Sanders for The New York Times Net gain By Evan Gorelick I’m a lifelong Knicks fan (but have never gambled on them). For the first game of the N.B.A. finals, my friends and I went to a bar offering a deal that seemed too good to be true: If the Knicks won, the bar would cover every customer’s tab, up to $100. As tipoff approached, young people variously clad in starched button-downs and Brunson jerseys galloped from nearby Midtown offices for a chance at free booze. The line snaked around the block, and the bouncer made a show of blocking the front entrance. People screeched at one another. My buddy, already inside, shooed me in through a side door. (I heard someone whine, “Why does he get to go in?”) Three hours later, when the Knicks overcame a 14-point deficit to take down the Spurs, strangers in the crowd were hugging and high-fiving. Outside, a passing garbage truck honked its horn in celebration. The entire city seemed to be shouting with joy. And at the Jeffrey, which bills itself as a neighborhood spot for “craft beer, cocktails and bites,” 726 beers, 385 cocktails and 175 smash burgers were on the house. Over the hedge When someone hands you a freebie, by all means: Take it. But you and I both know there ain’t no such thing as a truly free lunch. So while downing drinks, I kept asking myself whose money I was taking. Turns out, it belonged to Kalshi users who’d bet on San Antonio — in other words, deadbeats and turncoats who had it coming. (Kidding! Kind of.) Before the game, the bar’s owner, a 50-year-old corporate lawyer, had used the prediction market to bet $5,000 on the Knicks. Since the Spurs were the favorites, that position netted him around $8,000 when New York prevailed — enough to cover nearly everything the crowd had consumed. If the Knicks had lost, the bar would’ve been out the $5,000, but it could have covered its losses with all those drinks and smashburgers. (Plus the free publicity — you’re welcome.) The New York Times As I nursed my first beer, overhearing a guy behind me flirt with two women who work in finance, I flirted with my own idea for a hedge: What if I placed a small bet — $25, say — on the Spurs, so I, like the bar’s owner, could make winning a sure thing? Let me walk you through it. If the Knicks won, I’d be out my $25 bet. But the bar would cover my tab. For $50 worth of food and drinks, I’d be balling out at half price. If the Spurs won, my $25 hedge would turn into about $40. So I’d have to pay my own tab, but I’d be getting a discount — $50 of food and drinks for just $35. I told my friends about my brilliant plan, and they were mortified. It promised a financial coup, sure, but it was also a betrayal: Didn’t I believe in the Knicks? I closed Kalshi and ordered another round. Risk-free throw If you’re willing to take both sides of the same bet (and, let’s be honest, are not a true fan) then there’s a world of sure things waiting for you on prediction sites like Kalshi and Polymarket. And there’s a world of bettors profiting from them. I’ve spent the last few weeks digging into this phenomenon with Katherine Chui, a graphics reporter. This weekend, we published a new story about a popular betting strategy, called arbitrage, that takes it to the extreme. Folks in finance have used it for decades to game all manner of markets — stocks, derivatives, crypto. When President Trump’s tariff threats sent U.S. gold prices soaring last year, some traders made money by buying gold cheaply in London and selling it for a higher price in New York. Now savvy bettors use the same underlying strategy to make a killing on prediction sites. Ryan Noel makes a sport out of math. KC McGinnis for The New York Times Take Ryan Noel. He worked as an actuary after college but quit last year to arbitrage-bet (or “arb,” as he calls it) full time. He has made more than $1 million since late 2023, almost entirely on live sporting events. “I don’t care about sports at all,” said Noel, 25. “I think watching sports is the most boring thing you can do with your time. I’m a mathematician.” The math is pretty basic. It involves finding two sites with different odds for the same bet. Then you buy one position on one site, and the opposite position on the other site. Because of the disparity, you’ll turn a profit when the bets resolve — regardless of the game’s outcome. When done correctly, and fast enough, there’s almost no way to lose; it’s that elusive free lunch. But more and more Wall Street institutions are pouncing on the opportunity, deploying armies of bots to arb for them in fractions of a second. That speed and volume makes the disparities on prediction sites disappear almost instantly, which in turn makes it harder for human bettors like Noel. Read our story on prediction-market arbitrage here. We made diagrams to show how it works. More on the Knicks “So this is how it feels,” Matt Flegenheimer wrote of New Yorkers’ rapture last night. “It is giggling, weeping, spinning, convulsing, mosh-pitting, truck-honking, law-skirting, trumpet-playing, cowbell-ringing, off-key-singing, cigar-lighting, all-night-ing.” Read his whole story. The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor wrote on why these Knicks are the greatest team in New York sports history. A celebration parade is set for Thursday. ALL-AMERICAN BRAWL The U.F.C. ring outside the White House. Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times It’s Trump’s 80th birthday — and America’s 250th — and he’s celebrating the milestones with an Ultimate Fighting Championship cage match in his backyard. A towering, 600-ton steel claw has been built on the White House’s South Lawn, along with seating for 4,300 people, swiveling lights and video screens. Seven pairs of U.F.C. fighters will face off in the octagon at the center tonight, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. Off in the corner, members of the U.S. Marine Band have set up amplifiers and drum sets. “We’re expecting Super Bowl-type numbers for this fight,” said Dana White, the chief executive of U.F.C., which expects to spend some $60 million on the event. Will that many people really tune in? We’ll have to wait and see. According to a new poll by Reuters and Ipsos, just 16 percent of Americans said it was “appropriate” for Trump to hold the fights at the White House. “It seems a provocative, P.T. Barnum-esque gambit for the president to be pulling at a time of high gas prices, low poll numbers and open war,” Shawn McCreesh writes. THE LATEST NEWS Around the World Tehran last week. Arash Khamooshi/Polaris for The New York Times Iran: Trump said a peace deal would be signed today. But Iran’s Foreign Ministry cautioned that it could take longer than that. Ukraine: Russia’s ballistic-missile attacks have grown more fierce in recent weeks because Ukraine does not have enough Patriot missile interceptors to defend itself. Venezuela: A joint strike by U.S. and Venezuelan forces killed a leader of the Tren de Aragua transnational gang, officials in both countries said. Economy In poll after poll, working-class white voters without a college degree — the core of Trump’s base — say they disapprove of his handling of the economy. Wealth is exploding for the few at the very top, while workers’ wages continue to slip. It’s no wonder Americans are so unhappy with the economy, writes Ben Casselman, our chief economics correspondent. Trump Administration The Trump administration ordered Anthropic to block foreign access to its newest artificial intelligence models, citing national security concerns. Trump plans to nominate a member of his personal legal team, James McDonald, to serve as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan. FROM OPINION Anna Malina Popular culture assumes that middle-aged women are invisible in their lives. Mireille Silcoff asks: Why? Trump turns 80 today. Six notable older Americans, including Bob Dylan and Liza Minnelli, shared words of wisdom and advice. Human made. Human played. 75% off. Subscribe to New York Times Games for 75% off your first year. Our best offer is only available for a limited time. Relax and recharge with our full portfolio of games, including Wordle, Spelling Bee, Connections, the Crossword and more — all mindfully made by humans. MORNING READS “Skylanding,” an installation by Yoko Ono in Chicago. Akilah Townsend for The New York Times Beyond the ‘Obamalisk’: Here’s what to do on Chicago’s South Side. Stage 4 cancer: It’s not the immediate death sentence it once was. Even if there’s no cure, some patients now can live for years. Polarizing force: Not long ago, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee was untouchable. Then Democrats turned on it. BOOK OF THE WEEK By Elisabeth Egan “Land” by Maggie O’Farrell: Set in Ireland in the 1860s, O’Farrell’s elegiac new novel places readers in the aftermath of the Great Hunger, which killed over a million people and forced even more into exile. Our guides are Tomás, an Irish cartographer working for the British, and his young son, Liam, who are mapping a remote peninsula on the country’s west coast when Tomás has a revelatory experience that inspires him to chart a new path. “Like much of the Irish-British author’s previous work,” our reviewer wrote, “including her most famous, the 2020 book ‘Hamnet’ — adapted into a 2025 film by Chloé Zhao — ‘Land’ is a historical novel imbued with O’Farrell’s signature interest in absorbing family relationships.” (Read the full review here.) Want more books? Here are five new ones we love. THE INTERVIEW Devin Oktar Yalkin for The New York Times By Lulu Garcia-Navarro This week’s subject for The Interview is Seth Rogen, who stars in the upcoming film “The Invite” and is working on Season 2 of “The Studio,” a show he writes, directs and stars in. We talked about those projects, this strange moment in Hollywood and the ways his movies serve as a model for male friendship. Why do you think that version of male friendship translated so well onscreen? Me and Evan marvel that “Superbad” is a thing kids still really watch. Part of it is because it’s about exploring being vulnerable with your friends, and that’s a coming-of-age thing in its own right. I remember when I was moving to L.A., I did a bunch of shrooms with my friends. I was 16 years old and we were at my friend’s house, and the sun was coming up and I was laying on the couch, and my friend Fogell, who McLovin [the character in “Superbad”] is based on, was laying on the couch beside me. And I remember just being like: “I’m so terrified to move to Los Angeles to do this show and I’m not going to see you guys anymore. I don’t know anybody out there.” And he was like: “Yeah, man, high school ends next year for us too. I don’t know where any of us are going to college, if we’re going to be friends anymore.” It felt like a big moment, the first time any of us had really acknowledged to one another how much we cared about one another and how afraid we would be without one another. However we were able to bottle that feeling and put it into the movie seems to resonate. Read more of the interview here. Or watch a longer version on YouTube. THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE Illustration by Mario Hugo Read this week’s magazine. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Put your phone away 30 minutes before bed. It’ll help you sleep better. Carry your things in a stylish, durable tote bag. Life’s too short for a mediocre one. Churn homemade ice cream with a great ice cream maker. Feed your baby formula that combines value with evidence-backed benefits. MEAL PLAN Ghazalle Badiozamani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brett Regot. The word “perfect” turns up a lot in the comments on this recipe for quick harissa apricot chicken from Zaynab Issa. If you’re feeding someone who doesn’t eat spicy food, try serving the dish with yogurt, which helps soothe the heat. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was talkative. Can you put eight historical events — including the first vending machine, the writing of “Fahrenheit 451” and the founding of the Knicks — in chronological order? Take this week’s Flashback quiz. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Crossplay, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren

THIS DAY IN HISTORY June 14 1777 Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress adopts a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white” and that “the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” The national flag became known as the “Stars and Stripes.” read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1846 California’s Bear Flag Revolt begins 1960s 1951 UNIVAC, the first commercially produced digital computer in the U.S, is dedicated American Revolution 1775 U.S. Army founded Arts & Entertainment 1811 Writer and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe is born Black History 1877 First African American graduate of West Point Cold War 1946 The United States presents the Baruch Plan Crime 1985 TWA flight 847 is hijacked by terrorists 2017 Gunman shoots four people, including GOP congressman, at baseball practice 2015 Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s mother, Dee Dee, found stabbed to death European History 2017 Grenfell Tower fire kills 72 in London Exploration 1789 Bounty mutiny survivors reach Timor Latin American & Caribbean History 1982 Falklands War ends Vietnam War 1968 Dr. Spock convicted for aiding draft resisters World War I 1917 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson gives Flag Day address World War II 1940 Germany invades Paris

The World Cup, explained The FIFA World Cup is the world's most prestigious international soccer tournament. The global phenomenon has both men's and women's competitions, each held every four years on staggered schedules. This year's men's competition began June 11 and runs until July 19, when the final will be held in East Rutherford, New Jersey. To qualify, the 211 members of FIFA must be a top team within one of six continental confederations. The number of spots each confederation sends depends on its size, and qualifying can take 12 months or more. Early World Cups had a minimal economic impact on host cities and were fairly low-cost. When Mexico spent millions in 1970 to build multiple stadiums and upgrade telecom and infrastructure, it marked a turning point in FIFA's commercialization. The first global color broadcast in 1982 increased tourism for the host cities and became a selling point to future hosts. The final in 2022 reached 1.5 billion viewers worldwide. ... Read what else we learned about the World Cup here. Also, check out ... > Leagues like the Premier League differ from the World Cup. (More) > The World Cup trophy was stolen in 1966—and eventually found by a dog. (More) > Ten controversial World Cup moments. (More) > Brandi Chastain's penalty kick in the 1999 Women's World Cup sparked an American women's soccer boom. (More)

The Comeback Knicks are the Champion Knicks. Brunson scores 45, and New York tops Spurs for title SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jalen Brunson and the Comeback Knicks did it again. And now they’re the Champion Knicks. https://apnews.com/article/nba-finals-game-5-spurs-knicks-372c259a94837166818ca7386e678852? ps:Congrats to the NY Knicks as they've won the NBA Championship for the 2025/26 Season!!!!! Photos show celebrations after the New York Knicks win first NBA championship since 1973 SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The New York Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973 with a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5. https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/knicks-spurs-game-5-final-nba-champions-photos-fd5024c376054e7334de2a7287fe48c1?

The Moon base is coming Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Would you live and work on the Moon? A very select few of us could, in just six years. NASA is pursuing a Moon base near the lunar south pole, describing it as "one of the most ambitious engineering and exploration efforts in human history," Axios' Colin Demarest reports. Go deeper.

🇺🇸 America's multiracial future Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Universal History Archive via Getty Images The next great civil rights battle may be whether America's old racial categories can keep up with its future, Axios' Russell Contreras writes. Why it matters: The U.S. is heading toward a more Latino, Asian, Black immigrant and multiracial future. The rules for counting race will help decide who gets political power, civil rights protections and public resources. Two massive generational shifts will redefine the nation: Multiracial dominance: Multiracial Americans are on track to likely dominate the population over the next two centuries. Trade with Latin America could blur lines of migration and citizenship. 🗳️ State of play: For decades, federal racial categories have been the foundation for enforcing anti-discrimination laws, drawing political districts and measuring inequality. If identity becomes completely fluid, or if old boxes break down, the very legal tools used to protect marginalized communities could weaken. The bottom line: The question isn't whether America will diversify. It's whether a civil rights enforcement system built on 20th-century boxes can govern a 22nd-century nation.

🎙️ Media's big battle Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images The outcome of ABC's legal battle with the FCC could set a landmark precedent on press freedom and the role businesses play in supporting American democracy, Axios' Sara Fischer writes. 📺 Why it matters: The FCC's efforts, targeting broadcasters deemed critical of the president, speak to a broader trend of regulatory agencies losing or conceding power to the executive branch during the Trump era. FCC chair Brendan Carr has suggested his agency isn't independent — contrary to longstanding tradition — and that commissioners who are supposed to regulate broadcasters independently are ultimately governed by the president. 🎙️ State of play: Carr is targeting late-night and daytime talk shows, like ABC's "The View," arguing they shouldn't be exempt from rules that require "bona fide news interview programs" to allot equal air time for competing political candidates. 💬 In a notable departure from its previous effort to acquiesce to political pressure from the president, ABC has lambasted Carr, arguing his actions threaten to "upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech."

💉 Vaccine reckoning Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images A pivotal series of decisions in the next few months will determine the shape of U.S. vaccine policy for years to come, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim reports. Why it matters: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came into office promising to restore public trust in vaccines and to scrutinize the medical and pharmaceutical establishment. But his boldest moves have drawn political blowback, along with charges that he's spreading misinformation and debunked theories. 💉 State of play: Kennedy shook up precedent and touched off a legal firestorm with moves like limiting eligibility for COVID shots and narrowing the schedule of recommended immunizations for children. Some of his most sweeping efforts have been temporarily frozen by courts. And the actions of a handpicked group of advisers have been stalled. But it's possible that Kennedy will try again by appointing a new panel of advisers. A decision is expected by the end of the year in a high-profile case, brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups, to overturn Kennedy's childhood vaccine recommendations. 🔎 Trump's continued interest in long-discredited links between vaccines and autism remains a wild card in any federal policymaking. ps:Pathetic, truly pathetic!!!!!

🔌 Power play Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images The AI-driven power boom is forcing a once-in-a-generation decision about how America's electricity system should grow, Axios' Amy Harder writes. For decades, utilities planned around predictable increases in demand. AI is changing that. ⚡️ State of play: Data centers now seek amounts of electricity that used to be associated with entire cities — raising questions about who pays for new infrastructure, who gets access to scarce power and how quickly projects can connect to the grid. 🗣️ Driving the news: Debates are unfolding at the nation's largest grid operator, PJM, and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Some proposals would allow data centers to connect directly to power plants or generate their own power onsite, at least initially operating outside the broader electricity grid. 👀 What we're watching: At least one key decision by the federal agency is expected as soon as this month. The outcome of that decision and others will influence electricity prices, reliability and the pace of AI development.

🤖 AI unleashed Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Congress has a long history of failing to regulate technology. AI is on track to be no different, Axios' Maria Curi writes. ⚡️ Why it matters: If the U.S. doesn't write the rules on AI, authoritarian regimes and adversaries may do it. Getting it wrong could mean an electorate deprived of reliable information and minors exposed to online abuse. A patchwork of state regulations could create confusion and waste. Some of this has already started to happen. 🤖 State of play: President Trump kicked off his second term by ripping up his predecessor's attempt to regulate AI, declaring that his administration would prioritize innovation over safety. U.S. companies have continued releasing increasingly powerful models amid fierce competition. 🚨 Those models, armed with never-before-seen capabilities to exploit cyber vulnerabilities, spooked the public and Washington. Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order aimed at shoring up the country's cyber defenses. 🌏 Inside the debate: Policymakers on both sides of the aisle often frame AI leadership as a matter of national security, arguing that overly restrictive regulation could result in China winning the global AI race. Critics contend that inadequate guardrails on ever more powerful models could, themselves, be a national security hazard.

The world's currency Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Planet Earth has roughly 180 currencies. But for a vast share of global transactions, people want to use just one: the United States dollar, Axios' Neil Irwin writes. 🌏 Why it matters: This is a unique source of global power and responsibility. America's role in the world over the next 250 years will be determined by its ability to maintain, and wisely steward, this role at the center of the global economy. ⚠️ Yes, but: Other nations are increasingly chafing at the power the U.S. wields thanks to the dollar — and they're seeking alternatives. 💵 How it works: The dominance of the dollar in international trade and finance gives the U.S. the ability to exert its will far from our shores, without firing a gun. This power is evident when the U.S. fines European banks for doing business with Iran or cuts off Russian oil companies from the mainstream financial system. It has also fueled global demand for Treasury debt that allows the U.S. to borrow vast sums, especially in crises. 🧠 This primacy is based on policy choices and structures built over decades — in some cases, centuries. 👀 What we're watching: Some of the underpinnings of U.S. dollar dominance are coming under question. Sky-high U.S. fiscal deficits mean the world is being inundated with Treasury debt. The political independence of the Fed is in question. And many in the Trump administration see the costs of maintaining dollar dominance as a burden for Americans. Perhaps most importantly, the U.S. has used the threat of cutting off access to the dollar-based global financial system as an increasingly all-purpose weapon for economic warfare. That means major U.S. rivals (China, Russia) and frenemies (India, Brazil) are eager for dollar alternatives. ✅ Reality check: So far, other leading powers seem to lack the willingness or ability to build alternatives. More broadly, network effects are powerful things. Everybody uses dollars because everybody else uses dollars. 💰 The bottom line: The role of the U.S. dollar in the world is secure for now, much as America's rivals might not like the status quo. But global angst is simmering, and as the Dutch and British learned long ago, no dominant currency is forever. Read more.

Trump and Pakistan say Iran deal could be signed Sunday but Tehran signals more time is needed ISLAMABAD (AP) — Key mediator Pakistan on Saturday said a deal to end the Iran war was closer than ever and U.S. President Donald Trump asserted it would be “signed tomorrow,” while Iran made some of its most optimistic statements yet but indicated a bit more time was needed. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-leader-funeral-khamenei-war-deal-1f4bfb01f91029f92787cbc2ec7ad81e? Deal is reached to end Iran war and Trump orders stop to US naval blockade ISLAMABAD (AP) — The United States and Iran have reached an initial agreement to end their war and open the Strait of Hormuz, offering relief to the Gulf region and global economy more than three months since fighting began. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-ceasefire-deal-e0a9e4e1152ea8da10ea066ad174a23a?

🗳️ ICE obtains local voter files Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch. Stock: Getty Images ICE investigators are going straight to local election officials for individual voter files and have obtained them in two counties, per emails shared exclusively with Axios' Brittany Gibson. Why it matters: President Trump's decadeslong push to root out alleged noncitizen voting has evolved into a multiagency effort reaching into state and local voter systems. 🔎 Documented cases of noncitizen voting are rare. The conservative Heritage Foundation tracks convictions and court records of voter fraud. It shows 100 documented cases of noncitizen voting between 1982 and 2025. Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative unit within ICE, asked county election officials in Texas for specific voter files last month, according to emails obtained from records requests made by Democracy Forward and shared with Axios. Another HSI agent asked for registration information for two voters in Forsyth County, N.C., last November. In both cases, the voter files were shared with HSI, emails show. Read on.

✏️ White student population shrinks Data: U.S. Census Bureau. Chart: Russell Contreras/Axios White students now make up less than half of Americans enrolled in school from nursery through graduate programs, Axios' Russell Contreras writes from new Census Bureau data. White (non-Latino, non-multiracial) student enrollment fell from 46.7 million in 2000 to 36.6 million in 2024. Latino enrollment rose from 10.2 million to 18.4 million over the same period. 🎒 Zoom in: The demographic shift is most visible in early childhood and K-12 education. White children are around 47% of the students at nurseries and kindergartens, and 48% at elementary and high schools. Higher education is the only remaining group in which white students remain a majority (51.1%).

U.S. blocks top Anthropic models When you use Claude this morning, it tells you: "Claude Fable 5 is currently unavailable." Here's the backstory, as scooped last night by Axios' Alex Isenstadt and Maria Curi: The Trump administration is blocking foreign governments, companies and individuals from accessing Anthropic's most advanced AI models. The company promptly took the model down for everyone, just two days after releasing it with great fanfare. Why it matters: The move marks an escalation in Washington's effort to treat cutting-edge AI systems as national security assets. Anthropic is on a Pentagon blacklist deeming it too dangerous for the government's own use, and in a Commerce Department licensing regime calling it too dangerous for foreign use. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sent a letter to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei yesterday saying that the Mythos 5 and Fable 5 models would be subject to export controls to any location outside of the U.S. and to all foreign persons within the country. An administration official told Axios the Commerce Department decided to take the action after another company claimed it was able to jailbreak Mythos, alarming the administration about possible national security risks. ⏸️ The administration tried to get Anthropic to pause releasing the latest models but was unsuccessful, the official said, prompting the export control letter. The model needs to remain locked down until the U.S. government's national security apparatus is hardened, the official said, adding that could happen in the next few weeks. Keep reading.