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Semafor Recommends
Abby Phillip’s biography of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, A Dream Deferred, catalogues the civil rights activist’s ascent and presidential campaigns.
What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract by Minouche Shafik explores how societies can become more inclusive.
Samurai at the British Museum traces the warriors’ “violent yet theatrical, cruel but glamorous, lethal but sexy” style of warfare.
The Afghan film No Good Men, directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat, opened this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.
Walter Ong’s 1982 work Orality and Literacy holds a “lot of explanatory power” in understanding the ways we prioritize and package information.
Trump’s first Board of Peace meeting leaves questions unanswered
The convening in Washington came with big promises for rebuilding efforts in Gaza.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersCalm’s CEO on the mental health struggle at the top of big companies
David Ko sees stress and sleep deprivation taking a toll on executives’ decision-making.
Courtesy of Calm/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforTrump gives Iran a 15-day deadline as strikes eyed
President Donald Trump said Iran has 10-15 days “maximum” to reach an agreement with the US on its nuclear program.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Senate Democrats threaten Paramount-Warner probe
Dissatisfied with Paramount CEO David Ellison’s written testimony, the Democrats are preparing a deeper probe if they take control of the Senate in the midterm elections.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters Partial shutdown looks to stretch into State of the Union
Monday will be the 10th day of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown
Trump at the 2025 SOTU. Prediction markets won over Trump — but the rest of Washington will be harder
The Senate Agriculture chair told Semafor that Congress may assert a role in the “Wild West” sector.
Annabelle Gordon/ReutersDemocratic groups wage populist fight on Trump tax cuts
The group Fair Share America is rebranding as Families Over Billionaires and launching the Stop the Billionaire Bailout PAC.
President Donald Trump signs the Republican tax bill in 2025. Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters
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Politics
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Amanda Andrade-Rhodes/ReutersKevin Lamarque/Reuters
Howard Lutnick’s old firm did not, in fact, profit from Supreme Court tariff ruling
Cantor Fitzgerald considered selling products tied to the court’s tariff ruling, handed down Friday, but did not, wary of the political sensitivities.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersTrump pivots after Supreme Court tariff ruling
In a 6-3 decision, the justices invalidated a keystone of the US president’s economic agenda.
Amanda Andrade-Rhodes/ReutersTrump’s first Board of Peace meeting leaves questions unanswered
The convening in Washington came with big promises for rebuilding efforts in Gaza.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersTrump gives Iran a 15-day deadline as strikes eyed
President Donald Trump said Iran has 10-15 days “maximum” to reach an agreement with the US on its nuclear program.
Trump hosts first Board of Peace meeting
The organization is ostensibly focused on rebuilding Gaza, but critics fear it has ambitions of unseating the UN as the main forum for global diplomacy.
Partial shutdown looks to stretch into State of the Union
Monday will be the 10th day of the Department of Homeland Security shutdown
Prediction markets won over Trump — but the rest of Washington will be harder
The Senate Agriculture chair told Semafor that Congress may assert a role in the “Wild West” sector.
Two days of Russia-Ukraine talks yield no major breakthrough
Two days of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine failed to yield any major breakthroughs to end the nearly four-year war.
Democratic groups wage populist fight on Trump tax cuts
The group Fair Share America is rebranding as Families Over Billionaires and launching the Stop the Billionaire Bailout PAC.
Trump poised to tout critical minerals facility in Georgia
The president also might take the opportunity to keep bashing former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his Republican critics.
Trump suggests he is talking to Xi about Taiwan arms sale
Analysts sought clarity on Trump’s remark, which would signal a stunning reversal of decadeslong US policy.
BusinessKevin Lamarque/Reuters
Howard Lutnick’s old firm did not, in fact, profit from Supreme Court tariff ruling
Cantor Fitzgerald considered selling products tied to the court’s tariff ruling, handed down Friday, but did not, wary of the political sensitivities.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersInvestors pivot to European stocks amid US uncertainty
The continent’s funds have seen steady inflows over the last 12 months, after years of outflows, as pessimism over Europe’s economy fades.
AstraZeneca’s CEO on competing in the new world order
Pascal Soriot says Europe “cannot be naive” about the rivalry with the US and China.
Why the Port of Long Beach is betting that US imports will continue to grow
Noel Hacegaba aims to handle twice as many containers, even as trade tensions mount.
Calm’s CEO on the mental health struggle at the top of big companies
David Ko sees stress and sleep deprivation taking a toll on executives’ decision-making.
Technology
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images/Reuters
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
NY Gov. Hochul nixes plans for Waymo expansion
Kathy Hochul withdrew her proposal for robotaxi services in areas outside New York City after it drew pushback from transit workers and rideshare drivers.
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images/ReutersCan AI predict Trump’s State of the Union address?
AI company Stett predicted Trump’s State of the Union address verbatim using speechwriting tools and analysis of his social media posts.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersMicrosoft says it can store data for 10,000 years on glass
In a paper published in Nature, Microsoft outlines its solution to preserve data on a durable material called borosilicate glass.
Behind Microsoft’s efforts to push AI adoption
Microsoft is expanding its boot camp for educating employees on AI.
India AI summit attracts money and rivals
The event was a nexus for dealmaking and investment announcements.
Toyota deploys Agility humanoids at Canadian plant
The carmaker is leasing robots from Oregon-based Agility Robotics to ease bottlenecks in the production lines at its second-largest plant outside Japan.
Energy
Mike Blake/Reuters
Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo/Reuters
Battery storage prices drop to record low, report finds
Costs were higher for other energy technologies, according to BloombergNEF’s latest report.
Mike Blake/ReutersPerch Energy buys Solstice, deepening US community solar push
Perch Energy’s CEO Bruce Stewart spoke to Semafor about the firm’s purchase of Solstice.
EV sales drop caused decline in US clean investments, report finds
US clean investment experienced its largest quarterly drop in nearly a decade.
Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo/ReutersGulf
Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters
Saudis display mixed signals toward Israel in new survey
In a new survey of 15 Arab countries, Saudis appeared to be the least opposed to the idea of recognizing Israel.
Hamad I Mohammed/ReutersUAE space probe earns two more years on Mars
Adding an additional Martian year, roughly two of ours, will allow the Emirates Mars Mission to gather more data on seasonal changes.
Consulting still growing in Saudi despite slowdown
The industry’s revenues will expand by 13% this year, slower than the 25% rise in 2023 but still higher than the international average, a new report found.
Riyadh tiptoes toward looser Ramadan restrictions
A small but growing number of cafes and restaurants are starting to serve food during the Muslim month of fasting, in the latest sign of social change.
UAE joins $700M plan to lay internet cable to Türkiye through Iraq
The project signals that the network for transferring data across the Middle East is becoming more robust.
Africa
Durban port. Shiraaz Mohamed/File Photo/Reuters.
Artisanal miners in DR Congo. Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/Reuters.
South Africa plans $3 billion LNG plant
Around 40% of South Africa’s population lack reliable access to electricity.
Durban port. Shiraaz Mohamed/File Photo/Reuters.Africa holds $29.5 trillion in mineral wealth, report finds
About $8.6 trillion of these mineral assets remain undeveloped, according to the Africa Finance Corporation.
Artisanal miners in DR Congo. Gradel Muyisa Mumbere/Reuters.Nigeria announces oil fee reforms to boost revenue
The announcement is the latest move by Africa’s top crude producer to boost its coffers and comes just a year ahead of presidential elections.
US spends $1M per deportee to African nations
Africa has become central to the administration’s deportations strategy, which has the stated aim of expelling “millions of illegal migrants.”
Botswana targets drug manufacturing in health emergency recovery
The country is in talks with producers of generic drugs to develop local production.
Africa’s creative economy offers new investment opportunities
The sector could be worth $200 billion across the continent by 2030, according to the Brookings Institution.
Security
Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via Reuters
Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters
Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters
Japan PM vows defense shakeup over China tensions
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked a diplomatic dispute with Beijing last year by saying Tokyo could defend Taiwan if China were to invade.
Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via ReutersTrump issues 15-day warning to Iran on nuclear deal
The US president warned that if Iran does not agree to a deal, “it’s going to be unfortunate for them.”
Majid Asgaripour/WANA via ReutersUS ups pressure on Iran with huge air power assembly
Two aircraft carriers and dozens of land-based planes have moved to the Gulf, enough to wage what experts said could be a sustained war against Iran.
Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters Media
Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer on trading the Situation Room for a podcasting booth
They helped set the US’ course through an administration beset by international crises. Now, they’re podcasters. It’s been a learning curve.
Watch: Restoring Trust in Media
As trust in news declines and business models evolve, media power is being reshaped by mergers, regulation, and ownership battles.
Apple News’ political honeymoon is over as MAGA ratchets up the pressure
The technology giant has shown in recent months that it can be swayed.
The Guardian debuts new flagship video podcast
The show is meant to compete with the likes of The New York Times and NPR.
Crypto news sites take down posts critical of crypto PR
Several business-focused digital news outlets quietly took down news articles junk information floating around the cryptocurrency space.
CEO Signal
Courtesy of Port of Long Beach/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforCourtesy of Calm/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor 
Courtesy of AstraZeneca/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Why the Port of Long Beach is betting that US imports will continue to grow
Noel Hacegaba aims to handle twice as many containers, even as trade tensions mount.
Courtesy of Port of Long Beach/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforCalm’s CEO on the mental health struggle at the top of big companies
David Ko sees stress and sleep deprivation taking a toll on executives’ decision-making.
Courtesy of Calm/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAstraZeneca’s CEO on competing in the new world order
Pascal Soriot says Europe “cannot be naive” about the rivalry with the US and China.
Courtesy of AstraZeneca/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAD