Pope Leo XIV is warning that the artificial intelligence race could become a new Tower of Babel — a dazzling human achievement that concentrates power, weakens truth and turns people into data points.Why it matters: The long-awaited document, Magnifica Humanitas ("Magnificent Humanity"), signals that the Vatican is aggressively positioning itself as a central moral authority in the global tech debate.Driving the news: The Vatican released Leo's first encyclical on Monday, whi...

Crude oil prices dropped about $5 per barrel Sunday evening in the first major trading since the emergence of rough and tentative outlines of a deal to end the U.S.-Iran conflict.Why it matters: The throttling of the Strait of Hormuz is raising energy costs and weighing down economies worldwide — including the U.S., where average pump prices are about $1.50-per-gallon above pre-war levels.And the crisis is poised to worsen as global crude oil inventories are depleting at a re...

America's fastest-growing religious group is also one of the hardest — and costliest — to reach: the "nones."Why it matters: Religiously unaffiliated Americans now make up a large and growing share of the electorate.

Americans feeling pinched financially are splurging on small treats while economic anxiety and inflation jitters put off larger purchases.

President Trump told leaders of several Arab and other Muslim countries during a Saturday conference call that if a deal to end the Iran war is achieved, then he wants their nations to sign peace agreements with Israel, per two U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the call. Why it matters: Trump's remarks on Israel and the countries signing onto the Abraham Accords during the call signal the next big step he wants to take in the Middle East after the war.

The White House doesn't expect an agreement to end the war with Iran Sunday and thinks it could take several days for the deal's approval by Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a senior U.S. official said in a briefing with reporters. Why it matters: While U.S. officials are optimistic that a deal will be signed within days, they also acknowledge it has not been finalized and could still fall apart.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she hasn't decided whether to run for president, but the New York congresswoman is making new moves toward a possible White House bid.Ocasio-Cortez launched a national tour in recent weeks — without calling it one.Why it matters: Whether AOC jumps into the race is one of the biggest X factors in the 2028 Democratic primary.Democratic operatives expect she would easily raise $100 million just from small-dollar donors, mobilize many supporters of V...

Several top Democratic candidates in the midterms are airing scathing ads linking their Republican foes to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal — betting that the Trump administration's reluctance to release the Epstein files still resonates with voters.Why it matters: Democrats are mostly focusing on high prices, health care and Trump's war against Iran, but some also are trying to tie Republicans to the late sex offender as part of a broader message accusing the GOP of protecting th...

A gunman who opened fire near the White House Saturday night died after Secret Service officers shot him.The big picture: The incident, which happened while President Trump was at the White House, comes four weeks after another gunman allegedly attempted to assassinate him at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of most influential leaders in the progressive movement, is being publicly and privately courted by Democrats eyeing presidential bids in 2028 — a sign they're trying to build up their lefty credentials.Why it matters: Progressives are on the rise in the party, and Warren is a key ally to have.