Researchers are building an AI system that they hope will, one day, allow humans to understand the many languages that animals use to communicate with one another.

Why it matters: Understanding what animals are saying could not only aid human knowledge of our world, but advocates say might provide a compelling case for giving them broader legal rights.

Driving the news: NatureLM, detailed earlier this year, is an AI language model that can already identify the species of animal speaking, as well as other information including the approximate age of the animal and whether it is indicating distress or play.

• Created by Earth Species Project, NatureLM has even shown potential in identifying the dialogue of species the system has never encountered before.
• NatureLM is trained on a mix of human language, environmental sounds and other data.
• The non-profit recently secured $17 million in grants to continue its work.

What they're saying: "We are facing a biodiversity crisis," Earth Species Project CEO Katie Zacarian said during a demo of NatureLM at the recent Axios AI+ Summit in San Francisco.

• "The situation we are in today is driven from a disconnection with the rest of nature," she said. "We believe that AI is leading us to this inevitability that we will decode animal communication and come back into connection."

Between the lines: Translation, in the broadest sense, is something that generative AI has proven to be quite good at. Sometimes that's translating from one human language to another, but the technology is also adept at transforming text from one genre to another.

Yes, but: An added wrinkle with translating animal languages is that instead of moving between two known languages, we have only limited understanding of how animals communicate and what they are capable of conveying through speech.

• Researchers know, for example, that birds make different sounds when they are singing songs as compared to sounding a warning call.
• They also have determined that many species have individual names for one another and some, like prairie dogs, have a system of nouns and adjectives to describe predators.

The big picture: Earth Species Project is one of many endeavors looking to tap AI to address planetary concerns.

• Microsoft last week detailed SPARROW, an AI system designed to measure biodiversity in some of the earth's most remote reaches.
• Developed by Microsoft's AI for Good lab, the effort uses solar-powered systems to collect data from cameras, acoustic monitors and other sensors.
• With human progress on combatting climate change seen likely to fall short of needed targets, many are looking to AI to provide alternative approaches.

While AI is showing promise in helping better understand nature, its massive energy demand is straining electrical systems and pushing tech companies to defer or alter plans to operate in a carbon neutral manner.

• "It is something the entire field needs to wrestle with, among the many other ethical challenges around responsible use and safety," Zacarian said.

Go deeper: Watch Zacarian's presentation at AI+ Summit

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Congress on Friday that "extraordinary measures" will be necessary as early as Jan. 14 unless Congress acts to raise or otherwise suspend the debt ceiling.

Why it matters: President-elect Trump has voiced support to abolish the debt limit despite some of his supporters historically opposing action to raise the debt ceiling during Democratic administrations.

Driving the news: The debt limit, which reflects the amount the U.S. government is allowed to borrow to pay for services including Social Security and Medicare benefits, was suspended through Jan. 1, 2025, when the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 went into effect.

• Outstanding debt is set to decrease by approximately $54 billion on Jan. 2 due to "a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund related to Medicare payments," Yellen wrote in a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Yes, but: The Treasury "expects to reach the new limit between January 14 and January 23, at which time it will be necessary for Treasury to start taking extraordinary measures," Yellen wrote.

• "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen added.

Eliminating the debt limit would likely require Democratic support, Axios earlier reported.

Go deeper: Scoop: Jeffries' plan to kill the debt ceiling forever

U.S. homelessness increased 18% this year, according to federal data released on Friday, with children being the age group that experienced the largest increase.

The big picture: Homelessness among nearly all populations reached record levels this year, but of the exacerbating factors have balanced out since the survey was conducted in January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said in its report.

By the numbers: More than 770,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2024, per the point-in-time survey.

• Nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness when the survey was taken, reflecting a 33% increase over 2023.
• Black people were 32% of the population identifying as homeless, despite making up 12% of the total U.S. population, HUD said. This figure decreased from 37% in 2023.
• Veterans reported continued declines in homelessness, decreasing by 8%.

Context: The migrant crisis, wildfires in Maui, Hawai'i that displaced thousands and high housing costs contributed to the stark rise and record high in the HUD report.

• "In the 13 communities that reported being affected by migration, family homelessness more than doubled," per HUD. Meanwhile, "in the remaining 373 communities, the rise in families experiencing homelessness was less than 8%."
• Chicago and Denver both announced an end to their migrant shelter systems this fall in response to decreases in shelter censuses.

Zoom in: "This report reflects data collected a year ago and likely does not represent current circumstances, given changed policies and conditions," HUD said in a statement.

• The survey was taken at the end of significant rental cost increases. Since then, rents have flattened or decreased.
• Rental costs have also stabilized since Maui wildfires exacerbated the housing crisis.
• And migration that rose 39% from 2023 to 2024, dropped later this year with more control on border crossings, HUD said.

Zoom out: Issues around poverty and homelessness got almost no attention during the 2024 election with candidates focusing on middle class concerns.

• A broad measure of poverty for families headed by single mothers rose last year and is now back to 2018 levels, per a new analysis of Census Bureau data from the National Women's Law Center.
• For households led by single mothers, the supplemental measure of poverty increased to 29% in 2023 from 27% in 2022. That's more than 2.7 million families.

The nation's overall poverty rate is 12.4% but it is 21.3% for Black people and 16.9% for Latinos, based on the Census Bureau's 2023 5-year estimates.

• Latinos make up 19% of the population and with other people of color, are set to form a plurality of the country's population by midcentury, but experts say a lack of discussion on Latino poverty is allowing inequalities, and possibly homelessness, to fester and grow.
• Rev. William Barber, of the Poor People's Campaign, tells Axios that the lack of discussion on poverty and low-wage workers prevents the nation from having an honest look at unhoused populations and affordable housing.

Go deeper:

• Homelessness in the U.S. jumped to record level in 2023, government says
• A record 1 in 8 NYC students experienced homelessness last school year

Elon Musk condemned a segment of the MAGA movement as "contemptible fools" who should be purged from the Republican Party in a social media post Friday.

Why it matters: A virtual right-wing civil war has broken out over race, class, immigration and the future of President-elect Trump's movement, and Musk is increasingly at odds with Trump's historic base.

• The schism may force Trump to ultimately take sides between the largely white, working-class supporters who first made MAGA succeed, and the techno-libertarian billionaires like Musk who are at the center of his new administration.

Catch up quick: On Thursday, Musk ally and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy posted a lengthy condemnation of American culture and its supposed embrace of mediocrity.

• Musk spent the next 24 hours defending Ramaswamy and advancing his argument that America needs highly skilled immigrants to fill high-tech jobs.
• That argument landed with a thud in the MAGA wing that wants to stop immigration and preserve jobs for American workers.

Zoom in: On Friday, cartoonist and right-wing commentator Scott Adams posted on X that MAGA was "taking a page from Democrats on how to lose elections while feeling good about themselves."

• Musk agreed, and took it a step further.
• "And those contemptible fools must be removed from the Republican Party, root and stem," he posted.

What they're saying: For people used to being called "deplorables" by Democrats, the condemnation from one of the most important advisors in Trump's inner circle stoked instant outrage.

• "Calling people who have their country's best interests at heart and wanting to NOT sell out the American people 'contemptible fools' is the biggest L that I've seen Elon make in a long time. Dude needs to relax," gaming streamer Hooks posted.
• Right-wing activist Laura Loomer tagged Trump in her message. "The Trump base is being replaced by Big Tech executives. So sad to see this. I feel so sad for MAGA," she said. Loomer has alleged Musk was censoring her for her opposition to his immigration comments.
• Andrew Torba, the CEO of the far-right social network Gab, said in an X post: "He's declaring war on us btw. Should go over well for him as it has for everyone else who has tried."

Go deeper: MAGA vs. Musk: Right-wing critics allege censorship, loss of X badges

Retiring Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) believes more of her colleagues should follow her lead and make way for a younger generation of political leaders.

Why it matters: Age was one of the lightening rods of the 2024 presidential election, as voters repeatedly expressed concerns about about President Biden's fitness for office before a disastrous debate performance helped force him out of the race.

• Biden's exit made President-elect Trump the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history, with the latter also attracting scrutiny over his age.
• In Democratic circles, the election results have fueled waves of finger-pointing and soul-searching, with some calling for generational change among the party's leaders.

Driving the news: Kuster, 68, threw down a gauntlet in favor of ushering in new political leadership in a new interview with the Boston Globe out Thursday, telling the paper she hoped to "set a better example" by retiring.

• "I think there are colleagues — and some of whom are still very successful and very productive — but others who just stay forever," she added.
• Kuster noted that she wished Biden had chosen to exit the race sooner.
• She added that she was "just not the best gladiator" to help take on the new Trump administration.

Kuster announced her plans to retire back in March.

The big picture: The national discourse over America's aging gerontocracy goes far beyond the executive branch.

• The revelation earlier this month that Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) had been living in an independent living facility in Texas sparked fresh debate about Congress' aging members.
• Recent health challenges from octogenarian leaders Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell have only fueled the fire.
• Neither a representative for Granger nor the White House immediately responded to Axios' request for comment regarding Kuster's remarks.

Zoom out: House Democrats recently elected several new, younger committee leaders ahead of the incoming Trump administration.

Go deeper: Congress' age debate reignites over member living in retirement home

Sriram Krishnan has become a MAGA lightning rod since President-elect Trump named him as a senior advisor on artificial intelligence, due to both anti-Indian racism and Krishnan's pro-immigration views.

The big picture: Krishnan is an unlikely candidate for controversy, known throughout Silicon Valley for his affability and to the broader world as co-host of a podcast with his wife, tech entrepreneur Aarthi Ramamurthy.

Zoom in: Krishnan was born and educated in India, moving to the U.S. on an L-1 visa (intra-company transfer) in 2007 to work at Microsoft.

• He'd remain in Seattle for just over six years, mostly focused on Azure, before moving to Silicon Valley and serving in senior product roles at Snap, Facebook, Yahoo, and Twitter. He became a U.S. citizen in 2016.
• During the pandemic, Krishnan and Ramamurthy launched a popular show on the Clubhouse audio app, which included interviews with such tech luminaries as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

Moving on: Krishnan in late 2020 became a general partner with venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent backer of Clubhouse.

• He also would become the firm's emissary to Twitter after Elon Musk's takeover, which Andreessen Horowitz helped finance, spending time in the "war room" with Musk pals like David Sacks (who will serve as Trump's AI and crypto czar).
• Last year Krishnan moved to London to lead Andreessen Horowitz's first European office, and to focus on early-stage crypto investments. He announced in November that he'd leave the firm at year-end, although that came before Trump's job offers to either him or Sacks.

The intrigue: Krishnan has advocated for raising country caps on green cards, but hasn't specifically commented on H1-B visas (despite incorrect social media claims to the contrary).

• Krishnan's appointment on Dec. 22 stirred a swift backlash on social media over those immigration views, which quickly turned openly racist. Trump hasn't yet weighed in on the controversy.
• That backlash was the warmup for the full-on outrage that followed Vivek Ramaswamy's X post criticizing American cultural mediocrity.

The bottom line: Krishnan's new job would be to advise the White House on AI policy, not on immigration policy.

• There could, however, be overlap given the skilled labor needs of existing U.S. AI companies, plus the history of immigrants founding successful startups in AI and other tech sectors.

Go deeper: What Silicon Valley's Trump supporters aren't saying

An erupting civil war in MAGA world over foreign workers has shone a fresh spotlight on a visa scheme that has become the backbone of the country's highly-skilled tech industry.

Why it matters: The brewing conflict has underscored the schism between one of President-elect Trump's cornerstone pledges — cracking down on immigration — and his Silicon Valley supporters, many of whose businesses depend on attracting foreign workers.

Between the lines: No one epitomizes the fracture among the MAGA movement more than Elon Musk, who has become one of Trump's most influential and prominent backers.

• Musk, a South African immigrant who previously held the coveted H-1B visa and whose businesses rely on attracting the best engineering talent around the world, has emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of the H-1B visa program.
• Yet other MAGA figures like far-right activist Laura Loomer have maintained a more hardline immigration stance, arguing the U.S. should prioritize American workers over foreign ones.

State of play: The brewing conflict among Trump's supporters also highlighted the racial tensions in the MAGA tent.

• Largely white, working-class voters spurred Trump's political rise nearly a decade ago, while the current clash revolves around the admittance of primarily non-white, highly skilled workers into the U.S.

Here's what to know about the H-1B visa program fueling the divide in MAGA world.

What is the H-1B visa scheme?

The H-1B visa allows for highly skilled workers in "specialty occupations" to live and work in the U.S. under a "nonimmigrant status."

• It enables American companies to employ foreign workers that have highly-specialized theoretical or technical skills.
• Proponents argue the program allows the U.S. to retain a competitive edge in STEM fields by attracting the most highly skilled professionals worldwide.

How does it work?

H-1B applicants must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a field relevant to their specialty occupation.

• Approval for the visa requires sponsorship from a prospective employer, who must file a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• In the petition, the employer attests that they will appropriately pay the foreign worker and that their employment won't negatively impact "similarly employed" U.S. workers.

Zoom in: H-1B visas are typically granted for up to three years, but can be extended for no more than six years total.

• Because the program grants "nonimmigrant status" to recipients, it means the workers' stay in the U.S. is conditioned as temporary. The H-1B is not an immigration visa, with a path toward permanent residency.

Who gets H-1Bs?

The U.S. government caps the approval of new H-1B visas at 85,000 per year.

• A March report from the Department of Homeland Security found that 72% of H-1B recipients between Oct. 2022 and Sept. 2023 were from India.
• The second-most common country of origin was China, with nearly 12% of recipients. The third was the Philippines, at just over 1% of beneficiaries.
• 71% of H-1B recipients were men, per the report.

Where does the H-1B program fit in Trump's agenda?

Trump's election victory has spurred worries among many immigrants that Trump could again attempt to restrict the H-1B program, NBC News reported.

• During his first term, Trump issued a temporary freeze on H-1B visas and later issued new restrictions on the H-1B program, though some of these rules were later struck down in court.
• A representative for the Trump transition did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment regarding the president-elect's plans for the H-1B visa during his second term.

Go deeper:

• MAGA civil war breaks out over American "mediocrity" culture
• Behind the Curtain: The Silicon swamp

A handful of conservative critics of Elon Musk are alleging censorship and claiming they were stripped of their verification badges on X after challenging his views on H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers.

Why it matters: The H-1B issue and an X post by Musk ally Vivek Ramaswamy about America's culture of "mediocrity" have sparked an online MAGA civil war over immigration and race. Some supporters of President-elect Trump are now turning on Musk and the tech bros Trump has tapped for key administration roles.

Between the lines: The claims of "censorship" on X are difficult to verify.

• Since Musk purchased Twitter and implemented sweeping staff cuts, it's often been difficult to get answers as to whether or why certain accounts or posts have been minimized. X did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
• Conservatives have long blamed "shadow bans" for censoring them on social media even when there hasn't been explicit proof. However, Musk's X has often been hailed by conservatives as a bastion of free speech.

Driving the news: Trump's conspiracy-minded ally Laura Loomer, New York Young Republican Club president Gavin Wax and InfoWars host Owen Shroyer all said their verification badges disappeared after they criticized Musk's support for H1B visas, railed against Indian culture and attacked Ramaswamy, Musk's DOGE co-chair.

What they're saying: In response to a user who said replies were being hidden from her posts, Loomer stated that there is a "full censorship of my account simply because I called out H-1B visas. This is anti-American behavior by tech oligarchs."

• "Insane that blue checks are being removed from accounts that have been vocal in their criticism of the H1B racket," Wax said.
• "I just lost my verification...was told my account is 'under review,'" Shroyer said.
• Those updates from the three critics were posted around the same time Thursday night. There has been no official response from Musk or X.

The other side: A few hours before those posts, Musk shared in a post that the X "algorithm is trying to maximize unregretted user-seconds."

• "If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly."
• He later said that "any accounts found to be engaged in coordinated attacks to spam target accounts with mute/blocks will themselves be categorized – correctly – as spam."

How it happened: Loomer helped spark the H-1B debate earlier this week by criticizing a Trump appointee's previous support for allowing more highly skilled workers to enter the U.S.

• Musk weighed in Wednesday, saying America had too few "talented" and "motivated" engineers and needed "to recruit top talent wherever they may be."
• Loomer's stream of posts since then has included criticisms of Musk and racist claims about Indian people. She has also been backed up by Trump-world allies like Steve Bannon in her efforts to split Big Tech and MAGA.
• "Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore," Musk posted on X.

Flashback: Musk has a history of punishing news organizations and journalists he doesn't like, ostensibly for policy violations.

• He threatened to reassign NPR's account handle last year and marked some links to the site as "unsafe" when users click through.
• Musk also removed the verification badge of The New York Times in 2023.
• X also suspended independent journalist Ken Klippenstein's account after he shared Sen. JD Vance's vetting document from the alleged Iranian hack of Trump's campaign.

Go deeper: MAGA civil war breaks out over American "mediocrity" culture

American adults are nearly as likely to blame insurance denials for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as they are to blame the person who shot him, according to new poll data.

The big picture: The reaction to Brian Thompson's killing — and the veneration by some of suspect Luigi Mangione — has revealed a deep distrust of the health insurance industry and its treatment of patients in need of critical care.

• Thompson's Dec. 4 killing prompted rage against health insurers, especially on social media.

By the numbers: 78% of respondents overall said they believed the individual who committed the killing bears "a great deal" or "a moderate amount" of responsibility for Thompson's death.

• 69% attributed some blame to coverage denials by health care companies, and 67% to insurance industry profits.

Between the lines: Americans under 30 in the AP-NORC survey were especially likely to think a mix of factors, and not just the assassin, were to blame for Thompson's death, per the AP.

• This aligns with previous polling that found young people were more likely than their elders to say they believe the killing was "acceptable" or "somewhat acceptable."

Zoom out: CEOS in the health care industry and beyond have been seeking additional security after Thompson's killing.

• A majority of poll respondents said they were concerned about potential future violence toward business executives.

Go deeper: 41% of young voters say UnitedHealthcare CEO killing "acceptable": Poll

Methodology: The survey of adults 18+ represents the 50 states and Washington, D.C. It was conducted Dec. 12-16 and has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.2 percentage points.

2024 will be the second straight "hottest year" on record. But it wasn't supposed to be as hot as it was, coming in far ahead of 2023's alarming global temperature spike.

Threat level: For reasons climate scientists don't yet fully understand, 2024 is even likely to temporarily eclipse the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature target, when compared to preindustrial levels.

Between the lines: Earth's extreme heat can be partially explained by human-caused warming, the lingering effects of a strong El Niño event, and other factors. But the truth is, researchers aren't completely sure why the planet's fever has increased faster than anticipated.

• The unsettling possibility in play is that climate change is accelerating, which implies that tipping points, such as the shutdown of major ocean currents, are closer than once thought.

The latest: People around the world suffered an average of 41 extra days of dangerous heat this year because of climate change, according to a report out Friday from scientists at World Weather Attribution and Climate Central.

The big picture: Millions of people endured stifling heat this year.

• Northern California and Death Valley baked. Sizzling daytime temperatures scorched Mexico and Central America. Heat endangered already vulnerable children in West Africa.
• Skyrocketing southern European temperatures forced Greece to close the Acropolis. In South and Southeast Asian countries, heat forced school closures. Earth experienced some of the hottest days ever measured and its hottest-yet summer, with a 13-month heat streak that just barely broke.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe completed the closest-ever approach to the Sun by a manmade spacecraft, coming within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface.

Why it matters: NASA scientists received a signal back from the probe late Thursday night after several days of silence while it conducted the fly-by. The data collected during the historic approach will now help scientists better understand the Sun.

• The undertaking is a remarkable feat of science and engineering, given the extreme heat (up to 1,800F) and radiation the probe endured as it passed through the sun's outer atmosphere.
• While 3.8 million miles may not seem like a particularly close encounter, the earth is 93 million miles from the sun.

State of play: The approach took place on Dec. 24 and NASA's missions operations team, based in Laurel, Maryland, received the signal just before midnight on Thursday, per a statement from NASA.

• The probe was moving about 430,000 miles per hour.
• The aircraft is in good condition and operating normally.

What's next: The probe is expected to send data back on Jan. 1 to the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

• The data will help scientists understand how material in that region gets heated to millions of degrees, trace the origin of solar wind and discover how energetic particles are accelerated to near light speed.

Context: In 2018, Parker became the first spacecraft to enter the Sun's corona, the outermost part of the star's atmosphere that can be seen during a total solar eclipse.

• Other close passes helped scientists pinpoint the origins of structures in the solar wind and map the outer boundary of the Sun's atmosphere.

Go deeper: NASA probe to fly closer to the Sun than ever before

The Biden administration is withdrawing its latest plans for student loan forgiveness as uncertainty looms over the status of debt relief under President-elect Trump.

Why it matters: The withdrawn initiatives would have provided debt relief for more than 30 million borrowers. They marked President Biden's last chance to deliver on his campaign promise of student loan forgiveness before leaving office.

• The incoming Trump administration is not expected to prioritize student loan relief.

Driving the news: The Department of Education withdrew the two plans as of Dec. 20, it said in a notice posted in the Federal Register.

• One of the plans remained held up in a legal battle, while the other would not be finalized until after Biden's term ends.
• "With the time remaining in this administration, the Department is focused on several priorities including court-ordered settlements and helping borrowers manage the final elements of the return to repayment," the notice states.

Between the lines: "The Biden administration dropping these proposed plans feels like a big loss, but the immediate relief these plans promised was still a long way off," NerdWallet lending expert Kate Wood told Axios.

• "The proposals being withdrawn shouldn't have an immediate effect on borrowers, though it's certainly a big disappointment for those who believe they would have qualified for forgiveness under these plans," she added.

The big picture: The Biden administration doled out nearly $180 billion in student debt relief to 4.9 million people through various actions, despite the Supreme Court blocking his sweeping debt cancellation plan last year.

• Many of Biden's plans for loan forgiveness were hampered by Republican-backed legal challenges.

How can student loan borrowers prepare for the next administration?

Borrowers don't need to take immediate action over the transfer of power.

Yes, but: Some federal loan borrowers may want to explore changing repayment plans, Wood said.

Zoom in: The Department of Education in December reopened two income-driven repayment plans to give borrowers more options to keep their payments low.

• Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) offer credit toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) for eligible borrowers enrolled in SAVE.
• That means the plans can eventually lead to debt forgiveness after 20 or 25 years.
• The PAYE and ICR applications are available at StudentAid.gov/idr.

Be smart: "Borrowers who are stuck in the limbo of SAVE forbearance may want to check out these other IDR plans to see whether they could work," Wood said.

• Because these plans have different qualifications and use different payment formulas, monthly payments could change.
• "But for some borrowers, higher monthly payments may be a worthwhile price to pay for restarting their forgiveness clock," Wood said.

What student loan borrowers can do

• Prepare for the end of SAVE: The program, which is currently blocked amid a legal battle, will likely be nixed by the next administration. Look into other income-driven repayment plans and budget for increased payments.
• Budget for higher payments: Those already enrolled in other IDR plans may also see an increase in monthly payments, whether because of income recertification or for filing taxes jointly with a spouse.
• Ensure you're on track for forbearance, if eligible: Those working toward PSLF can track their information at StudentAid.gov and ensure their payments are being counted accurately.
• Take your loans out of default/start making payments: With the end of the one-year on-ramp period this fall, borrowers who are late on payments or do not make them can be reported to credit bureaus, which can negatively impact their credit scores.

More from Axios:

• What another Trump term could mean for student loan relief
• Biden admin cancels $4.3 billion in latest round of student loan relief
• Biden's brief win in battle for student loan forgiveness scuttled in court
• Key student loan protection ends Sept. 30, here's what borrowers should know

Americans want to hear less about politics from public figures — and Republicans really don't want to hear it, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

Why it matters: After an election season where endorsements from celebrities frequently made news, the survey found Americans are more likely to disapprove than approve of celebrities, big companies and athletes sounding off on politics.

By the numbers:

• Just 39% of Democrats approve of celebrities piping up on political issues — but only 11% of Republicans and 12% of independents (24% for the whole sample).
• Same with pro athletes: 39% of Democrats approve of them speaking up — but just 16% of Republicans and 15% of independents (26% overall).
• Small business is a big exception: 43% of people are happy to hear from entrepreneurs. That breaks down to 49% of Dems, 41% of Republicans and 33% of independents.

Zoom out: The poll also found that most Americans are trying to avoid political news. Go deeper.

OpenAI confirmed Friday its plan to restructure its operations in a move that will separate its large and growing business from the non-profit board that currently oversees it.

Why it matters: The plan, which faces opposition from Elon Musk and others, builds upon comments Chairman Bret Taylor made at Axios's recent AI+ Summit in San Francisco.

Zoom in: OpenAI offered details in a blog post on Friday on how the board is looking to restructure its for-profit and non-profit arms.

• The non-profit would have a significant ownership stake in the OpenAI business and would transform into a well-resourced entity that can pursue a range of scientific and philanthropic pursuits.
• OpenAI's business, meanwhile, would be transformed into a Delaware-chartered public benefit corporation.

What they're saying: "Our plan would result in one of the best resourced nonprofits in history," OpenAI said in the blog post.

• "The nonprofit's significant interest in the existing for-profit operation would take the form of shares in (OpenAI's business) at a fair valuation determined by independent financial advisors. This will multiply the resources that our donors gave manyfold."
• The new public benefit corporation, meanwhile, would be able to control its own destiny.
• "Our current structure does not allow the Board to directly consider the interests of those who would finance the mission and does not enable the nonprofit to easily do more than control the for-profit," OpenAI said.

Yes, but: Musk, one of those early donors, has sued to stop such a move, while Meta has asked California's attorney general to investigate.

Israeli and U.S. officials involved in the negotiations for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal tell Axios they are concerned that the odds of an agreement before President Trump takes office are slim.

Why it matters: Trump threatened that there would be "hell to pay in the Middle East" if Hamas did not release the hostages held in Gaza by Jan. 20. President Biden also made mediating a deal a top priority for his final months in office.

Between the lines: It isn't clear what Trump meant by "hell to pay." A source close to the president-elect said there is no plan for what to do if Trump's deadline is crossed.

• Some Israeli officials think that if a deal isn't struck, the incoming president could support Israeli measures that the Biden administration opposed, like limiting humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
• U.S. and Israeli officials say Hamas' top military leader in Gaza — Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar — doesn't seem to be deterred by Trump's threat.
• However one U.S. source with direct knowledge of the talks said there is still a likelihood of a deal in the next three weeks.

Threat level: U.S. and Israeli officials say that if negotiations don't bear fruit by Jan. 20, the transition to Trump would likely push talks back, possibly by several months. That could cost the lives of more hostages.

• 100 hostages are still held by Hamas in Gaza, among them seven Americans. Roughly half of the hostages are believed to be still alive, according to Israeli intelligence, including three Americans.

Driving the news: Israeli negotiators returned from Doha earlier this week after eight days of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt didn't lead to a breakthrough.

• CIA director Bill Burns and White House Middle East adviser Brett McGurk, who were also in Doha for several days last week, returned to Washington skeptical about the chances of reaching a deal before Jan. 20.
• On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas traded accusations about who bears responsibility for the lack of progress.
• Hamas claimed that while it negotiated seriously, Israel presented unacceptable new demands.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contended Hamas was lying and was in fact "reneging on understandings that have already been reached."

State of play: Israeli officials with direct knowledge of the talks said both sides are right.

• While some progress was made in Doha last week, fundamental issues are unresolved, such as whether any deal would involve an end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
• One Israeli official said the negotiations did not explode but are stuck, with both parties wanting to break the logjam but unwilling to make major concessions.

Behind the scenes: Netanyahu argued in meetings on Wednesday after the Israeli delegation returned from Doha that it is not clear with whom Israel is negotiating — Sinwar in Gaza, or the more pragmatic political representatives in Doha.

• "We don't know who really calls the shots," Netanyahu said, according to a person who attended one of those meetings.
• That source said Netanyahu emphasized that Sinwar refuses to provide the names of the hostages who are still alive and could be released in the first phase of the deal. That phase would cover women, men over 50, and others who are in bad medical condition.
• "I am not willing to enter into a deal without knowing what the deal is about and what I am getting," Netanyahu said, according to the source.

The other side: A Hamas official quoted by the Qatari website al-Araby al-Jadeed said Hamas is willing to provide a list of hostages but has struggled to contact all the different factions in Gaza who are holding them.

• The Hamas official stressed that would become easier once a ceasefire was in place, and denied any gaps exist between Hamas' military and political wings.

What's next: An Israeli official said that Netanyahu will consult with his negotiating team over the next few days about the path forward.

The original Popeye and Tintin characters will enter the public domain when their copyright expires next week, along with thousands of other comics, books, songs and films.

Why it matters: Any creator will have the legal right to use the iconic characters in new works as they see fit from New Year's Day, as long as it's the 95-year-old comic-strip versions. Filmmakers are already working on three Popeye horror movies.

The big picture: In addition to copyrighted works from 1929 entering the U.S. public domain, Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke's Center for the Study of the Public Domain, writes that intellectual property protection will also expire on sound recordings from 1924 on Jan. 1, 2025.

• That applies to "The Karnival Kid," in which Mickey Mouse speaks for the first time. Copyrights on the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse in the silent film "Steamboat Willie" expired this year.
• Mickey debuts his familiar white gloves and speaks his first words in "The Karnival Kid," "Hot dogs! Hot dogs!" Jenkins notes in her online post.

What else we're watching: The Marx Brothers' first feature film will enter the public domain as will Alfred Hitchcock's first sound movie, "Blackmail."

• In song, the copyrights will lift on George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Arthur Freed's "Singin' in the Rain."
• Books to enter the public domain will include Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" and Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own."

Fun fact: The character Buck Rogers "first appeared in 1929 and is public domain in 2025, but technically the futuristic space hero has already been copyright-free for decades, despite claims that he was still copyrighted," Jenkins writes.

• "This is because the copyright registration for the Buck Rogers comic strip was not renewed, so that its copyright expired after 28 years. Also, the original version of the character was actually introduced in a novella as 'Anthony Rogers' in 1928; that character has long been public domain as well."

Go deeper: Mickey and Minnie Mouse lose copyright protection

The list of food recalls is growing as the end of the year approaches.

Why it matters: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates nearly 48 million people a year are sickened by foodborne diseases, an average of 91 people every minute. `

Driving the news: The FDA recently reclassified its recall of some Costco eggs (due to possible salmonella exposure) to the agency's highest risk level.

• The FDA announced at the end of November that New York-Handsome Brook Farms had voluntarily recalled its 24-count organic, pasture-raised eggs.
• In a notice issued Friday, the FDA reclassified the recall to Class I, which is described as the "reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."

The big picture: The rise in recalls can partially be attributed to an increase in consumer demand for ready-to-eat foods and prepackaged meals.

• "We're also dealing with a scenario where we're having increased globalization of food production, which not only creates more opportunities for contamination at multiple points in the supply chain, but it creates more scenarios where there's blind spots," Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University professor and food safety advocate, told Axios earlier this month.

Zoom in: December FDA food recalls number nearly two dozen as of Dec. 26:

• Jose Madrid Chipotle Con Queso Salsa. Recalled for undeclared Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.
• Taste of Deutschland Frozen Buttered Vegetables, Carrots, Peas, Cauliflower, & Corn. Recalled for undeclared milk.
• Orgain 30g Plant Protein Complete Protein Powder, Chocolate. Recalled because the product may contain undeclared peanuts.
• Lay's Potato Chip. Recalled for potential or undeclared allergen — milk.
• Cal Yee's, Cal Yee Farm, Boa Vista Orchards nut and snack products. Recalled for Potential or Undeclared Allergen — almond, milk, soy, wheat, sesame, and FD&C #6.
• Connie's Thin Crust Cheese Frozen Pizza, 20.36oz. Recalled for potential metal or chemical contaminant.
• VidaSlim Brand 90-day, 30-day and 7-day Original Root, Root Plus, and Root Capsules & VidaSlim Hot Body Brew Dietary Supplements. Recalled for toxic yellow oleander.
• Daily Veggies Enoki Mushrooms. Recalled for potential listeria monocytogenes contamination.
• MadeGood Granola bars. Recalled for potential metal contaminant.
• Borsari Bloody Mary Mix. Recalled for potential or undeclared allergen — soy, fish.
• Dairyland Produce, LLC, whole cucumbers. Recalled for potential salmonella contamination.
• F&S Fresh Foods Mediterranean Inspired Party Tray. Recalled for potential salmonella contamination.
• Fresh Creative Foods, The Beef & Lamb Gyro Sandwich Express Meal Kits. Recalled for potential salmonella contamination.
• Supreme Produce, multiple items with cucumbers. Recalled for potential illness/salmonella contamination.
• Atkinson's Hushpuppies with Onions, Hushpuppies. Recalled due to potential or undeclared allergen — milk.
• Yummi Sushi, multiple sushi products with cucumber. Recalled for potential illness/salmonella contamination.
• Snowfruit, Snowfox, multiple products with cucumbers. Recalled for potential illness/salmonella contamination.
• Marketside cut, cucumber slices. Recalled for potential illness/salmonella contamination.
• Multiple brand names Vegetable Medleys and Whole Organic Carrots. Recalled because of potential foodborne illness — Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (E. coli) O121:H19.
• PAM PAK Whole Fresh American Cucumbers. Recalled because of potential foodborne illness — salmonella.
• Baker Farms Curly Mustard Greens. Recalled because of potential foodborne illness — Listeria monocytogens.
• Crazy Fresh and more, cucumbers and salads with kit. Recalled for potential illness/salmonella contamination.

A full list of recent recalls can be found on the FDA website.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday vehemently denied President-elect Trump's claims of Chinese interference in the Panama Canal.

Why it matters: Trump has accused Panamanian authorities of charging "exorbitant" shipping rates and cited the increasing dominance of China's government in trade throughout the Americas as a reason to take control of the Panama Canal, one of the world's most crucial pieces of infrastructure that the U.S. ceded in 1999.

Driving the news: The president-elect doubled down in a Christmas Day message, writing on Truth Social: "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal."

What they're saying: "There is absolutely not any interference" from China or any other nation in the operation of the canal, Mulino said during a Thursday briefing, emphasizing that Panama is open for business equally to all interested parties.

• "If they're Chinese, if they're Costa Rican, if they're American, all are welcome who want to invest in the country. There is no discrimination here in foreign investment," he said.
• "There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God," added an animated Mulino, addressing Trump's post directly. "It's nonsense. There is not a single Chinese soldier in the canal."
• Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Between the lines: China's government has in recent years heavily invested in operations in the Canal Zone, raising concerns about its neutrality.

• It's the primary source of products going through the Colón Free Trade Zone, a free port in Panama dedicated to re-exporting a variety of merchandise to Latin America and the Caribbean, noted the Center for Strategic and International Studies in 2021.
• Beijing's "increasing presence in and around the Canal has made the waterway a flashpoint for U.S.-China competition over spheres of influence," added the CSIS in the report.

Go deeper: Trump demands return of Panama Canal if rates aren't cut

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more context.

NFL's Christmas Day double-header games were the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, according to preliminary Nielsen figures that don't include international viewership.

Why it matters: Once international figures and additional U.S. data is calculated, the league expects both games will have averaged around 30 million viewers each, a source told Axios, representing a massive win for Netflix's live sports ambitions.

• The massive viewership numbers show the platform's potential for attracting big eyeballs to major sporting events, especially abroad.

Context: Last year's Christmas Day match on traditional television between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders drew 29 million viewers, the second-highest Christmas Day game since 1989.

By the numbers: The first Christmas Day game between the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers, had an average minute audience of 24.1 million, per Nielsen figures provided by the NFL.

• Nearly one-third of Netflix's global concurrent viewers on Christmas Day were watching the game at one point, a spokesperson said Wednesday, making it the most-watched concurrent stream of any Christmas Day for Netflix in the past four years.
• The second Christmas Day game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens had an average minute audience of 24.3 million.
• It was the most-watched Christmas Day game on record among 18-34 year-olds, per the NFL, with 5.1 million U.S. viewers. (That figure is based on Nielsen records dating back to 2001).
• U.S. viewership for Ravens-Texans game peaked at Beyonce's halftime performance, with over 27 million viewers tuning in.

Zoom out: In total, the NFL's Christmas Day broadcasts on Netflix, including its pre-game shows and Beyonce's performance, were viewed by at least 65 million people, representing a remarkable day of total viewership for the NFL.

• A Netflix spokesperson said the Chiefs-Steelers game drew viewers from roughly all of the 190 countries in which Netflix is available at some point during the broadcast.
• For the NFL, which has major international expansion ambitions, Netflix's global audience reach is a huge selling point when considering future streaming rights.

Zoom in: Netflix spared no cost trying to nail its broadcast.

• The company reportedly invested around $150 million on the broadcast, and cut a big pay check for Beyonce to perform at halftime.

The big picture: Sports are becoming a bigger part of Netflix's live programming ambitions.

• The company started experimenting with live programming in 2023, when it aired the "Love is Blind" Season 4 reunion special in real-time.
• It's since experimented with a few live comedy specials.
• Wednesday's Christmas Day game was the second-most popular live title on Netflix to date, the company said.

Yes, but: Netflix, like most major streamers, will have to work on its technical infrastructure to ensure it has the bandwidth to support major live sporting events without any glitches.

• The "Love is Blind" Season 4 reunion special was delayed and canceled due to technical issues on the day it was supposed to air.
• The company's Nov. 15 live fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was marred by buffering and freezing issues for some users.
• While the streamer worked with third-party broadcast and production groups on the event, the game still included minor glitches, which is common for new streamers airing popular live sporting events for the first time.

What we're watching: Netflix's successful first live NFL game will serve as an example to other sports leagues that the streamer, which previously said it had no intention of getting into live sports, can attract a big audience.

• Next year, Netflix will become the exclusive streaming home to the WWE. That $5 billion distribution deal includes many live events.
• Netflix last week inked a deal to broadcast the FIFA Women's World Cup in the U.S. in 2027 and 2031.

What's next: Global ratings and additional U.S. insights will be released on Dec. 31, the NFL said. Those figures will provide a more comprehensive look at the NFL;s Christmas Gameday performance globally on Netflix.

A MAGA-world civil war erupted over Christmas when a social media post on American culture turned into a pitched battle over race, immigration and billionaires versus the working class.

Why it matters: The fight exposes one of the MAGA movement's deepest contradictions: It came to prominence chiefly via the white, less-educated, working class but is now under the full control of billionaire technologists and industrialists, many of them immigrants.

• It also sets up a tense MAGA vs. DOGE moment that could infect the early stages of President-elect Trump's second presidency.
• While some want to make America great by restricting immigration and promoting the American worker, others want to cut costs and increase efficiency no matter who does the work.

Catch up quick: The skirmishes started Sunday when Trump named venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as his adviser on AI policy.

• Krishnan's appointment triggered an anti-Indian backlash on social media, particularly given his past advocacy for lifting caps on green cards.

Vivek Ramaswamy escalated the conflict into a full-blown war Thursday morning with a post on X blaming an American culture that "venerated mediocrity over excellence" for the growth in foreign tech workers.

• "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers," Ramaswamy wrote, calling for a 1950s-style "Sputnik moment" to prioritize "nerdiness over conformity."
• "That's the work we have cut out for us, rather than wallowing in victimhood & just wishing (or legislating) alternative hiring practices into existence," he said.

Between the lines: Elon Musk's X is the town square for the MAGA movement, and by stepping into that square and firmly criticizing American culture — while praising the immigrant work ethic and parenting model — Ramaswamy threw down a gauntlet.

• Musk spent most of the afternoon trying to defend his DOGE co-leader and explain his argument, framing it as using immigration to supplement, rather than replace, American workers.
• "Maybe this is a helpful clarification: I am referring to bringing in via legal immigration the top ~0.1% of engineering talent as being essential for America to keep winning," Musk wrote.

The problem for many MAGA adherents, though, was accepting the very notion of immigrants telling them America needs more immigration to fill lucrative jobs in America.

• It revived old tensions around the H-1B visa, which is reserved for people who "perform services in a specialty obligation" but practically speaking has become a crucial tool of Silicon Valley's growth.
• In some recent years, as many as 75% of those petitioning for that visa came from India, from where Ramaswamy's parents immigrated.

What they're saying: "The Woodstock generation managed to build out aerospace, the one before went to the moon, America was doing great. Underlying your post is that we were all living in squalor until being rescued by H-1B's. Then why did everyone want to come here?" right-wing personality Mike Cernovich responded to Ramaswamy on X.

• "There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers," Nikki Haley, the former GOP presidential candidate and herself a daughter of Indian immigrants, wrote.
• "I want the little guy to matter too. Not everyone has $1 million but they still love their country and want to MAGA and close the border," far-right activist Laura Loomer posted.
• Loomer posted a series of missives throughout the afternoon, calling out Ramaswamy, Musk and anyone else in Trump's orbit who isn't fully committed to closing the borders.

Zoom out: The fracture was familiar to anyone who's seen a movement expand — early adopters criticizing the latecomers for bringing different ideas.

• "Tech bros who took 8+ years to figure out that President Trump is not the bad guy and is in fact, the solution to America's problems, are really out here pontificating to MAGA patriots who figured it out a decade before them?" conservative streaming host Brenden Dilley posted on X.

The bottom line: For now the fight is mostly confined to X. But it's sure to raise difficult questions in the coming days about what Trump's administration will mean for immigration, labor and the American worker.

• It will also potentially settle a looming conflict over who has the most influence in Trump 2.0 — his historic base or his new-found techno-libertarian allies.