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The Trump administration is considering the introduction of government oversight for new AI models. The U.S. government is discussing an executive order to create an AI working group that would bring together tech executives and government officials to examine potential oversight procedures. The New York Times notes that the mooted discussions signal a stark reversal in the administration’s approach to the technology; Donald Trump has been a major booster of the technology since returning to office last year, saying it is vital to winning the geopolitical contest against China. “Right now it’s a beautiful baby that’s born,” Mr. Trump said of AI at an event in July. “We have to grow that baby and let that baby thrive. We can’t stop it . . . We can’t stop it with foolish rules and even stupid rules.”

 

New York Times

U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr has said stress in ​private credit could spark "psychological contagion" and precipitate a broader credit crunch. Barr said that while direct links between banks and private credit do not yet appear "super ​worrisome," there were other areas of concern ​such as the insurance sector's overlaps with private ⁠lenders. He also criticized growing calls to ease liquidity requirements for U.S. banks, describing them as "super-short sighted" and warning that it could weaken the banking system over time. Bloomberg notes that Barr has repeatedly warned of risks building in the financial system, including the $1.8 trillion private credit market.

 

Bloomberg

The U.S. trade deficit has increased to $60.3bn in March from $57.8bn in February, as imports rose 2.3% to $381.2bn, outpacing a 2% increase in exports to $320.9bn. The widening gap was driven by higher imports of vehicles, consumer goods, and capital goods, which offset gains in exports of crude oil, petroleum products, and agricultural goods, highlighting limited progress in reducing the deficit despite recent trade policy changes.

 

Bloomberg

New York Times

Wall Street Journal

Apple has held exploratory talks about using ​Intel and Samsung Electronics to produce the main ‌processors for its devices. The tech giant's executives have visited a Samsung plant under development in ​Texas, and also have held preliminary talks with ⁠Intel about contracting the company's chipmaking services. Bloomberg notes that while such a move would offer Apple another ​option beside longtime partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the iPhone-maker is concerned about using non-TSMC technology, citing worries about reliability and scale.

 

Bloomberg

European Economic Commissioner ​Valdis Dombrovskis has said the European Commission is in contact ​with Anthropic regarding Mythos ‌and is assessing its possible implications. "The commission representatives ⁠met with Anthropic and ​was briefed on technical ​details around cyber capabilities and the risk of this Mythos ​preview, so we are ​currently assessing possible implications in light ‌of ⁠the EU policies and legislation," Dombrovskis told reporters on Monday.

 

Reuters

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose office joined seven other states in suing over Nexstar's $6.2bn acquisition of rival broadcaster ​Tegna in March, has said five other states - Massachusetts, Vermont, Indiana, Kansas, and Pennsylvania ⁠- are joining the antitrust lawsuit challenging the deal, making the suit a bipartisan effort. U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley ​in Sacramento said in an April 17 ruling that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claims that the deal will substantially ​lessen competition in dozens of local television markets. “This is not controversial stuff - this merger is illegal and will give Nexstar and Tegna the ability to control and raise prices, fire journalists, and dominate the media landscape,” Bonta said. “We welcome our sister states into the fray and look forward to fighting alongside them.”

 

NBC News

Reuters

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reinstated over a dozen employees who were placed on leave after they signed a public letter of dissent against the agency's leadership and policies. The reinstatement was confirmed by Democratic U.S. Senator Andy Kim and the non-profit group Stand Up for Science, which said that "all signers who are ​placed on administrative leave have been given the return to work order." The initial action had raised concerns about the Trump administration's intolerance of dissent, particularly following the appointment of loyalists in leadership roles. A FEMA spokesperson said the agency was "addressing outstanding personnel actions to ensure workforce stability . . . As we approach the 2026 hurricane season and the FIFA World Cup, FEMA is taking targeted steps to stabilize our workforce ​and strengthen readiness." 

 

U.S. News

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has delayed the launch of more than two dozen proposed prediction-market ETFs as it seeks further clarity on product structure and investor disclosures. Fund managers including Roundhill, Bitwise, and GraniteShares had planned to introduce ETFs tied to real-world events such as elections, recessions, and commodity prices, but regulatory scrutiny over mechanics, risks, and potential insider trading concerns has postponed approvals. The delay is expected to be temporary.

 

Reuters

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a pilot program to monitor clinical trial data in real time, potentially reducing drug approval timelines by a significant margin. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary observed that "dead time" in administrative tasks currently consumes 45% of the time taken in the drug development process. Johnson & Johnson and other drugmakers have said they have started using artificial intelligence to streamline preparation of documents for regulators. The initiative allows the FDA to access Phase 1 trial data directly, streamlining safety and efficacy assessments. The approach aims to maintain U.S. competitiveness against China, which has seen exponential growth in Phase 1 trials.

 

U.S. News

Saks Global chief executive Geoffroy van Raemdonck says the luxury retailer is progressing toward recovery after filing for bankruptcy earlier in 2026. Since taking over, he has focused on restoring vendor relationships, securing inventory, and restructuring operations through store closures, job cuts and ending some partnerships. The company reports improved supply levels, with hundreds of brands resuming shipments following partial repayments to creditors. Saks expects to exit bankruptcy this summer and forecasts $85m in adjusted earnings for the current fiscal year. Management aims to return to peak sales by 2027–28, targeting high-spending luxury customers and positioning its portfolio of brands as a competitive advantage.

 

Wall Street Journal

China's Ministry of State Security, the country’s spy agency, says foreign forces are seeking to “erode the minds of Chinese youths” by disseminating anti-work propaganda online. “The youth represent the future of the nation and are the primary targets for ideological infiltration by foreign anti-China hostile forces,” the ministry said in a post published on WeChat, the Chinese social media platform. The Wall Street Journal says the admonishment comes amid signs of weakness in China’s labor market including the growing gig-work economy and a rise in spending on unemployment insurance, according to Xiangrong Yu, Citigroup’s chief China economist. “The unexpected deterioration for early-career workers, who are likely more AI-exposed, seems to point to the unfolding AI-driven displacement,” Yu observed. “We believe the structural headwinds from AI adoption are set to intensify.”

 

Financial Times

South China Morning Post

Wall Street Journal