Latest News from Axios
Axios
39 minutes ago
- General
- Axios
Birds in Florida and nationwide are vanishing — fast
Birds that call Florida's coastline and pine forests home are in serious decline, according to a sweeping new conservation report. Why it matters: Birds are indicators of the overall health of their habitats and signal early warnings of broader trouble. If these habitats can't support birdlife, they likely can't sustain other wildlife — or even humans — for long. What they're saying: A list of species that have lost more than half of their populations in the last 50 years is "like a hit parade of Florida birds," Audubon Florida executive director Julie Wraithmell told Axios. That's in part due to migration patterns, she said. "Florida has an outsized importance for birds of this hemisphere because we're kind of like a Grand Central Station." State of play: Coastal species, including the Wilson's plover, sanderling and least tern, have experienced steep declines, according to the North American Bird Conservation Initiative's 2025 State of the Birds report. So have woodland birds like the Bachman's sparrow and Florida scrub jay — the only bird endemic to the Sunshine State — as the pine forests they inhabit shrink or disappear due to development. Zoom in: Several of the declining shorebirds are nesting now along Tampa Bay beaches, Wraithmell said, including the least tern, Wilson's plover and snowy plover. So are black skimmers, a species that didn't make the list but that Wraithmell said is similarly struggling in Florida. Friction point: These birds lay their eggs directly on the beach, making their nests particularly vulnerable. That's why beachgoers may see areas of sand blocked off to pedestrians or Audubon Florida's bird stewards keeping watch. "People aren't expecting eggs in a small, shallow indentation of sand," Wraithmell said. "A single person cutting through can cause the failure of an entire colony." Struggling to find undisturbed beach sites, some birds have turned to flat gravel rooftops, which presents its own set of challenges. The big picture: It's not just Florida. Researchers tracked species nationwide and found declines almost everywhere — even among birds once thought resilient, like waterfowl. Roughly one-third of U.S. bird species — 229 in total — are now classified as high or moderate conservation concerns. Yes, but: There are signs of hope. Conservation efforts helped the breeding population for American oystercatchers, which also nest along Tampa Bay beaches, bounce back 43% since 2009, although further conservation efforts are needed to sustain that recovery, per the report. What's next: Scientists are calling for bigger investments in habitat protection — particularly on private lands and in partnership with local communities and Indigenous nations.
Axios
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Axios
Republican group boosts its senators at Bitcoin 2025
A group linked to the Senate GOP's super PAC is running a series of ads in Las Vegas during the Bitcoin 2025 conference, while major politicians descend on the city to address fans of the oldest cryptocurrency. Why it matters: It reflects a belief by the GOP that cryptocurrency is an issue that they can use to create a wedge with the Democrats, who, on balance, have been more reluctant to support the digital asset industry. What they're saying: "Senate Republicans stood up for crypto by working to pass the GENIUS Act, helping ensure America remains a global leader in crypto," One Nation Communications Director Chris Gustafson said in a statement. The GENIUS Act would create a clear regulatory pathway for issuing stablecoins in the U.S. It recently passed a vote to move forward on the Senate floor. The big picture: The crypto industry delivered massive financial support for candidates in both parties, but one of its biggest wins came from helping Bernie Moreno unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the chair of the Senate Banking Committee. Vice President Vance signaled the administration's political alignment with Bitcoiners on Wednesday by speaking at the same conference, urging attendees to keep up the political pressure. How it works: Gustafson told Axios that One Nation spent in the high five-figure range, to educate voters at Bitcoin 2025 about how Republican Senators have been supportive of their industry.
Axios
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- Axios
Trump mulls pardon for men convicted in Whitmer kidnapping plot
President Trump on Wednesday said he'd "take a look at" possible pardons for the men convicted in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), adding it seemed like a "railroad job." The big picture: Trump's comments follow those from the Justice Department's pardon attorney, Ed Martin, who said on a recent podcast that "on the pardon front, we can't leave these guys behind" in reference to two men who are serving prison terms for acting as ringleaders in the conspiracy. Whitmer's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Driving the news:"It's been brought to my attention," Trump said in the Oval Office Wednesday during a swearing-in ceremony for U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro. "I did watch the trial — it looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job." He attributed the conduct that led to charges to people saying "stupid things" and drinking. "A lot of people are asking me that question — from both sides, actually," he said. "A lot of people think they got railroaded." Catch up quick: Prosecutors alleged that the group intended to kidnap Whitmer in a plot that was partially in response to her COVID-19 restrictions and foiled by the FBI. Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., the co-leaders of the plot to overthrow the state government, were sentenced to 16 years and more than 19 years, respectively. Friction point: After charges were brought in the case in October 2020, Whitmer in a press conference pointed to Trump's refusal to condemn white supremacists during a presidential debate, saying" Hate groups heard the president's words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action."
Axios
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Axios
Judge allows 14 states' lawsuit against Elon Musk and DOGE to proceed
A federal judge allowed a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency of illegally exerting power over government operations to move forward Tuesday. The big picture: The suit filed by more than a dozen Democratic state attorneys general alleges the billionaire and DOGE violated the Constitution by accessing government data systems, terminating federal employees and canceling contracts at federal agencies. The states also argued Musk exercised "virtually unchecked power" across the executive branch. Driving the news: U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan denied a motion to dismiss the case. She wrote in a 42-page order: "The Constitution does not permit the Executive to commandeer the entire appointments power by unilaterally creating a federal agency pursuant to Executive Order and insulating its principal officer from the Constitution as an 'advisor' in name only," the judge wrote. "This is precisely what Plaintiffs claim the Executive has done." Chutkan did, however, dismiss President Trump as a defendant, writing that "the court may not enjoin the President in the performance of his official duties." What they're saying: New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement Tuesday that the decision "is an important milestone for preserving America's system of checks and balances." "We are proud to move this case forward and help bring Elon Musk's reign of terror to an end," Torrez said. The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Context: Democratic attorneys general in 14 states sued President Trump, Musk and DOGE in February alleging violations of the Constitution's Appointments Clause and conduct in excess of statutory authority. The judge in the same month denied a request from the states to temporarily block DOGE from accessing data and terminating federal employees, though she did find that there were valid questions about Musk's authority.
Axios
39 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Charlotte aviation museum named for famed Captain Sully opens new gallery
Sullenberger Aviation Museum's new gallery opens inside a 1930s hangar on Saturday, May 31. Why it matters: This latest section of the museum to open will showcase a range of commercial and military planes. Catch up quick: Sullenberger Aviation Museum reopened last June with a new name and a new home. The museum's name honors Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed the Charlotte-bound U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. You may know the 2009 flight as "Miracle on the Hudson." The aircraft from Flight 1549 can be seen in the museum's adjacent main gallery. The latest: The Navy/Marine Corps Gallery is housed inside the W.P.A. Douglas hangar, which was the original home of the museum. Now the hangar will tell Charlotte Douglas International Airport's story and its influence on the city, museum president Stephen Saucier says. What to expect: The hangar was built in 1936 as part of the Works Progress Administration, making it an artifact in and of itself, Saucier says. The gallery includes seven aircraft, with everything from commercial aircraft like a Piedmont Airlines DC-3 to military aircraft like the F-84 Thunderjet. One plane has been converted into a two-person flight simulator. By the numbers: $34 million was raised to build the current iteration of the museum, including $5 million from Charlotte Douglas International Airport's Cannon Fund. The airport renovated the hangar shell, Saucier says. It cost roughly $1.5 million for the museum to bring the gallery to life, per Saucier. If you go: Saturday's grand opening starts at 9am for museum members and 10am for nonmembers. There will be food trucks. Sullenberger Aviation Museum is at 4108 Minuteman Way near CLT. Tickets are $24 for those over age 18, $20 for seniors (65+), $18 for ages 5-17, free for children younger than 5 years old, $20 for military members (active or veterans), $20 for aviation professionals and $20 for educators. What's next: The museum will launch summer camps for 4th-8th grade students this year with a focus on STEM education and aviation. Take a look around the "Aviation City" exhibit.
