Semafor

🟡 @AudieCornish and Ari Shapiro spent years together in the buttoned-up, professional audio journalism world of NPR. Now, they’re reuniting at CNN for something very different — podcasting. They joined @semaforben and @maxwelltani on Mixed Signals to talk about how their new show, Engagement Party, is really just a continuation of their off-mic dynamic from their NPR days, how they’ve both dealt with the pivots and shifts that come with a career in modern media, and whether the growing crop of amateur podcasters can learn something from the audio pros that came before them.

Record temperatures have driven unexpectedly high power requirements, while the fuel-price hike was the fourth in just 10 days. The broader impacts are likely to be significant: Goldman Sachs upped its inflation forecast for India, while ING said the rupee was vulnerable.

Surging energy demand and a severe fuel shortage in India is leading to power cuts and forcing the government to raise the official price of gasoline and diesel. semafor.com/article/05/26/…

Oil prices rose following US strikes on Iran, but crude is on pace for a monthly decline with relative calm in the Gulf overriding market alarm bells. semafor.com/article/05/26/…

Listen to the full interview on Mixed Signals from Semafor Media wherever you get your podcasts, or watch it on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=P3m19I…

"Everyone is a pro now. That's the point," @AudieCornish tells @maxwelltani and @semaforben when asked if podcasters can learn something from radio vets. But Ari Shapiro has one piece of advice to share: "Everybody, and I mean everybody, benefits from an editor."

🟡 Exclusive: The US relied on a spurned friend during the Iran war: Canada semafor.com/article/05/26/…

The US carried out strikes against what it said were Iranian military installations and vessels, dimming hopes for an imminent peace deal. semafor.com/article/05/26/…

The second proposal would prevent the fund from paying the president and vice president, lawmakers, congressional staff, political appointees, senior executive branch employees, and presidential campaign employees. Read more from Burgess Everett: semafor.com/article/05/26/…

One would ban payouts — including from the congressionally approved Judgment Fund — in lawsuits brought by the president or vice president, retroactive to January 2025.

🟡 Exclusive: Sen. Adam Schiff is pushing two pieces of legislation aimed at the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund." semafor.com/article/05/26/…

It’s one problem on a longer list of challenges that the GOP has dwindling floor time to address. Read more: semafor.com/article/05/26/…

Some think they may need to rethink how the bill is devised given its exposure to amendments that will touch on the controversial fund. “I think it’s salvageable,” argued Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. “Reconciliation is way too important to not do.”

🟡 NEW: Republicans are running into a sudden new problem after punting on their immigration enforcement bill: time. It’s not clear how Republicans will handle opposition to the Trump administration’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund when they return in June. Read more from @burgessev: semafor.com/article/05/26/…

Suddenly Republicans are dealing with a big congressional pile-up: Senate scheduled to be in 11 weeks before election, House 10 weeks - Reconciliation for ICE + Border - FISA - Government funding - Iran War (supplemental/War Powers) - Surface transportation/farm bill expire in Sept. - Finishing bipartisan deals on housing/Crypto/college sports/E85? semafor.com/article/05/26/…

As inflation rises, reality is setting in for the Trump administration: The executive branch has few tools that can unilaterally tame it — let alone lower prices as promised. Read more from @Eleanor_Mueller on why Trump has no good options to tame inflation. semafor.com/article/05/22/…

Benin's new president focuses on economic prosperity semafor.com/article/05/25/…

African Development Bank meets amid Iran war, Ebola semafor.com/article/05/25/…

How China forced Europe to reconsider Africa’s industrialization semafor.com/article/05/25/…

US-Saudi venture to build Shahed drone clones in Riyadh semafor.com/article/05/25/…

Ferrari due to unveil first EV, as luxury electric car market grows semafor.com/article/05/25/…