Axios

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday warned about machines "invading and conditioning our daily lives" in a speech to French leaders as he began his visit to the country.

Why it matters: The pope is asserting himself as a leading voice of restraint in the development and proliferation of AI.

Ed Sheeran's two Gillette Stadium shows outside Boston were canceled Friday because of an approaching nor'easter, capping a chaotic three weeks for the U.S. leg of his Loop Tour.

The big picture: A tour built around one of pop's least-confrontational stars became a flashpoint over Israel and Gaza — leading to an exodus of its opening acts and prompting refund demands from fans.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) criticized President Trump's warm reception for Chinese President Xi Jinping, questioning why Xi received a warmer welcome than some U.S. allies.

Why it matters: Tillis has repeatedly broken with Trump since deciding not to seek reelection, freeing him to emerge as an outspoken Republican critic of the president.

ICE has received more than $75 billion to expand operations since President Trump returned to office — and wasted millions on scaled-back and mismanaged projects, a new GAO report found.

Why it matters: In rushing to execute Trump's mass deportation agenda, the agency failed to properly develop a strategic plan, according to the Government Accountability Office report.

CVC Capital Partners and Japanese buyout firm NSSK have submitted around a $3.2 billion nonbinding takeover bid for Tokyo-listed Kobayashi Pharmaceutical.

Why it matters: Kobayashi was at the center of a 2024 contamination scandal that was tied to kidney failure and deaths.

Potential 2028 presidential contender Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) spells out how he would tackle AI safety collaboration with China in a new letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Why it matters: Khanna is offering a sharply different approach to managing AI risks with Beijing, pushing for a binding treaty and international inspections as President Trump signals little inclination to pursue AI safeguards.

Tucker Carlson says President Trump should have been removed from office under the 25th Amendment over what Carlson characterized as a threat to use nuclear weapons against Iran.

Why it matters: Carlson's call for Trump's removal marks an escalation in his break with the president and the Republican Party over foreign policy and the Iran war.

The Senate failed to agree to a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. conflict in Iran on Thursday.

Why it matters: Despite Republicans increasingly speaking out against President Trump over the conflict — which has no end in sight and has sent gas prices spiking — the party held together to block the measure's passage.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday during a visit with President Trump that China will send two pandas to Zoo Atlanta, calling them an "envoy of friendship."

Why it matters: The fuzzy ambassadors have long been one of China's most beloved tools of soft power and could signal an attempt to cool tensions in U.S.–China relations.

China is waging a much different war for AI supremacy than the U.S.

Why it matters: China is obsessed with state control and adoption. Chinese officials are laser-focused on deep, widespread AI domestic use they can monitor and steer at every level of their economy.