Semafor - An intelligent, transparent global news platform for breaking stories, analysis and video

‘They don’t care and I don’t care’: Emanuel on trans rights, Israel, and hyperloops

Semafor talked to the newest player in the 2028 Democratic presidential mix.

Rahm Emanuel

The Musk-funded mural backlash elevates the messy politics of martyrdom

The murals went up in Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Fort Lauderdale before Democrats finally took notice.

Iryna Zarutska mural

Trump threatens to pull US out of NATO

The US president called the military alliance a ‘paper tiger’ for its refusal to back his war with Iran.

NATO chief Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump.

Biden vet launches biweekly streaming show

Rob Flaherty and Jesse Lehrich will launch Nobody Knows Anything, a 90-minute biweekly show, later this month.

Lawmakers get TMZ treatment during DHS shutdown

Photos seen by Semafor show House Republicans from the pragmatic Main Street Caucus at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

Gas prices poised to weigh on spending

The Commerce Department will release data on Wednesday that reveals how consumers were spending their money before the war in Iran.

Stocks surge on optimism for Iran war end

US stocks bounced back on Tuesday on reports that both Tehran and Washington may be looking to exit the month-long conflict.

Trump officials promote new savings programs

“I believe that in the end, when we look back at the policy legacy of this administration, these will be two of the most transformative policies,” National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said.

A Texas plastic surgeon was patient zero for the right’s Charlie Kirk conspiracy fever

Keith Rose, a doctor and conservative commentator, made dire warnings soon after Kirk’s assassination.

Bessent’s back on the campaign trail

Republicans have an unlikely asset in the treasury secretary ahead of the midterms.

More worry a ‘great deal’ about health costs than economy, poll finds

Health care polled as Americans’ top issue for the first time since 2020.

Global markets buoyed on prospect of war’s end

US President Donald Trump said the Iran war could end in “two or three weeks,” while Tehran also expressed willingness to stop the conflict.

A photo showing an Asian stock rally.

Global dealmaking sees strong 2026 start

The 20% year-on-year increase in transaction values resulted in the largest first-quarter haul on record, Bloomberg reported.

Musk lawsuits reassigned on judge bias allegations

Three lawsuits involving Elon Musk will be reassigned after the presiding judge appeared to endorse a LinkedIn post critical of the billionaire.

Trump administration eyes 401(k) rule change for private credit fix

The Trump administration is offering private credit a way out of its problems.

The crisis will arrive slowly, then all at once

World leaders are doomscrolling. Why aren’t investors?

Wikipedia bans use of AI to ‘generate or rewrite’ articles

The policy replaced more broad language saying that AI should not be used to generate articles “from scratch.”

Screenshot of Wikipedia page on AI

Eli Lilly leans into AI drug discovery with new licensing deal

US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly inked a $2.75 billion deal with a Hong Kong-listed biotech firm to create new medicines using AI.

Lilly Chair and CEO Dave Ricks

Pentagon AI architect on the future of warfare

Semafor spoke with Drew Cukor, who dragged a reluctant defense establishment into the AI age.

Google hedges its quantum bets

This week, Google announced a major investment in what’s known as the “neutral atom,” otherwise known less scientifically as just a regular old atom.

How I jailbroke an OpenClaw PR agent

It’s easy to imagine AI agents organizing events, but the tech isn’t there yet — even with human oversight.

Former Tesla president’s tips on moving fast in the age of AI

Jon McNeill’s new book, “The Algorithm, “is the most important business book of the year.

German minister urges nuclear power revival

Countries are scrambling to address the energy upheaval caused by the Iran war, which has sent oil and gas prices soaring.

A disused nuclear plant about to be demolished in Gundremmingen, Germany

Shorter showers and workweeks: Iran war disrupts daily life

The Iran war is disrupting daily life around the world as governments take action to blunt the impact of the energy crisis.

Vehicles queue up for gasoline at a PTT gas station amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, on the outskirts of Bangkok

Fears of global aluminum shortages intensify

The Middle East accounts for 9% of the world’s production of aluminum.

Aluminium bars.

Abu Dhabi’s deal machine maintains momentum

The deals fit in with Gulf governments’ efforts to maintain a business-as-usual approach — which many foreign firms have picked up on.

A promenade overlooking Abu Dhabi skyline.

Gulf citizens now know their enemy

Iran’s attacks harden Gulf views of Tehran, with many concluding that the Islamic Republic must be contained or defeated.

The Iran war warning Europe chose to ignore

In Warsaw in 2019, Arab states, Israel, and the US warned that diplomacy wouldn’t contain Tehran. Europe chose another path.

War could cost MidEast nearly $200B in lost economic output

A prolonged conflict could lead to an exodus of foreign workers and a drop in investment, which could drive up unemployment and poverty.

Wall Street bosses stick by the Gulf despite war

Foreign firms know that Gulf leaders have long memories and will reward those who stand by them.

South Africa pushes for $200B investment

For more than a decade, South Africa’s economy has barely grown, leaving it with crumbling infrastructure and the need to create jobs.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the South Africa Investment Conference on Tuesday.

Africa’s top bank warns of Iran war growth impact

A possible six-month war would hurt the continent’s already fragile prospects, the development bank said.

A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag.

Campaign for African artifacts looks to AI to expedite returns

The platform helps to collate and narrativize the often-fragmented research and bureaucracy involved in the return of artifacts to Africa.

African banks’ revenues surpass $100B

In the five years to 2024, Africa’s banking sector outperformed every other region, according to a new McKinsey report.

Nigerian-Americans push to revive Caucus in Congress

The struggle to revive the caucus comes as Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” test ties between Washington and Abuja.

South Africa cuts fuel taxes as Iran war fallout hits consumers

The move sacrifices millions of dollars in revenue for a fiscal framework only recently brought under control.

Trump threatens to pull US out of NATO

The US president called the military alliance a ‘paper tiger’ for its refusal to back his war with Iran.

NATO chief Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump.

Eurovision expands to Asia

Bangkok is set to host the international song competition in the fall.

KAJ, representing Sweden, perform “Bara Bada Bastu”, during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025

US, Iran expand targets to water infrastructure

Gulf nations are highly reliant on desalination for fresh water, and damage to the region’s hundreds of plants could render its major cities unlivable.

Kharg Island.

Biden vet launches biweekly streaming show

Rob Flaherty and Jesse Lehrich will launch Nobody Knows Anything, a 90-minute biweekly show, later this month.

Nobody Knows Anything

Axel Springer’s Döpfner courts UK conservative elites

The German mogul is courting regulators and the country’s influential conservative political figures as he attempts to get his bid to buy the Telegraph approved.

Substack rival Beehiiv makes a push into podcasting

Beehiiv has privately been reaching out to independent podcasters on Substack and other platforms.

CBS News expands its investigative team

The network is expanding its investigative journalism efforts as editor-in-chief Bari Weiss continues to reshape it.

Politico taps a new top editor

Jonathan Greenberger garnered internal support from outgoing editor John Harris and CEO Goli Sheikholeslami.

LSEG’s David Schwimmer on activists, AI, and a global market test

The exchange operator is juggling investor expectations with the need to reshape its business model.

David Schwimmer

Schneider Electric’s Olivier Blum on moving at the pace of Nvidia

Remaking an old industrial giant to meet new energy demands started with defining its mission.

Olivier Blum

Why CEOs should care about the quantum ‘space race’

IonQ’s Niccolo de Masi says getting quantum security right is ‘a matter of survivability.’

Niccolo de Masi

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