Ben Berkowitz
@berkowitzbt.bsky.social
Journalist. Managing Editor on the biz desk at Axios. Ex-NBC, Reuters, AP, AOL, Fidelity, among various others.
On a $500,000 home, assuming current average rates, taking out a 50-year mortgage instead of a 30-year loan would save you $5,000 in monthly payments over five years.
You'd also lose out on $27,000 in equity.
www.axios.com/2025/11/10/t...
You'd also lose out on $27,000 in equity.
www.axios.com/2025/11/10/t...
Trump administration's 50-year mortgage idea ditches a key advantage
Buyers taking out a 50-year mortgage wouldn't actually save that much.
www.axios.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:26 PM
On a $500,000 home, assuming current average rates, taking out a 50-year mortgage instead of a 30-year loan would save you $5,000 in monthly payments over five years.
You'd also lose out on $27,000 in equity.
www.axios.com/2025/11/10/t...
You'd also lose out on $27,000 in equity.
www.axios.com/2025/11/10/t...
For at least the 3rd time in the last 4 months, the president is floating a $2,000 tariff dividend.
It's still not clear if the tariffs were even legal.
www.axios.com/2025/11/09/t...
It's still not clear if the tariffs were even legal.
www.axios.com/2025/11/09/t...
Trump again promises $2,000 tariff dividend as SCOTUS decision looms
He's brought the idea up before but never taken steps to execute it.
www.axios.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
For at least the 3rd time in the last 4 months, the president is floating a $2,000 tariff dividend.
It's still not clear if the tariffs were even legal.
www.axios.com/2025/11/09/t...
It's still not clear if the tariffs were even legal.
www.axios.com/2025/11/09/t...
* Most October layoffs since 2003
* Most Q4 layoffs since 2008
* Most YTD layoffs since 2020
* Least YTD hiring since 2011
* Least holiday seasonal hiring since 2012
The labor market has a problem.
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/l...
* Most Q4 layoffs since 2008
* Most YTD layoffs since 2020
* Least YTD hiring since 2011
* Least holiday seasonal hiring since 2012
The labor market has a problem.
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/l...
October layoffs hit 22-year high as labor market wobbles, Challenger says
Employers announced 153,074 layoffs in October.
www.axios.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
* Most October layoffs since 2003
* Most Q4 layoffs since 2008
* Most YTD layoffs since 2020
* Least YTD hiring since 2011
* Least holiday seasonal hiring since 2012
The labor market has a problem.
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/l...
* Most Q4 layoffs since 2008
* Most YTD layoffs since 2020
* Least YTD hiring since 2011
* Least holiday seasonal hiring since 2012
The labor market has a problem.
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/l...
New for @axios.com: Palantir CEO Alex Karp tells The Axios Show that his company is "baller" and that Wall Street analysts are:
* Biased against him
* Jealous of Palantir's success
* Using outdated models to understand companies
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/p...
* Biased against him
* Jealous of Palantir's success
* Using outdated models to understand companies
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/p...
"The Axios Show": Palantir is "baller" and Wall St. analysts don't get it, Karp says
"I don't know, I'm just modest over here."
www.axios.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:16 AM
New for @axios.com: Palantir CEO Alex Karp tells The Axios Show that his company is "baller" and that Wall Street analysts are:
* Biased against him
* Jealous of Palantir's success
* Using outdated models to understand companies
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/p...
* Biased against him
* Jealous of Palantir's success
* Using outdated models to understand companies
www.axios.com/2025/11/06/p...
You can tell a lot about a college by how aggressive they are with emails during application season.
I've gotten 49 emails in 60 days from @hofstrau.bsky.social.
My kid applied to 39 schools, and Hofstra's sent more emails than the other 38 combined.
I've gotten 49 emails in 60 days from @hofstrau.bsky.social.
My kid applied to 39 schools, and Hofstra's sent more emails than the other 38 combined.
November 4, 2025 at 2:04 PM
You can tell a lot about a college by how aggressive they are with emails during application season.
I've gotten 49 emails in 60 days from @hofstrau.bsky.social.
My kid applied to 39 schools, and Hofstra's sent more emails than the other 38 combined.
I've gotten 49 emails in 60 days from @hofstrau.bsky.social.
My kid applied to 39 schools, and Hofstra's sent more emails than the other 38 combined.
Headline CPI was benign - but for the second month in a row, y/y coffee prices rose at a faster rate than any other line item in the basket, followed closely by beef.
www.axios.com/2025/10/24/i...
www.axios.com/2025/10/24/i...
Inflation slowed in September, government says in shutdown report
It's the only major economic indicator expected to be released during the government shutdown.
www.axios.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Headline CPI was benign - but for the second month in a row, y/y coffee prices rose at a faster rate than any other line item in the basket, followed closely by beef.
www.axios.com/2025/10/24/i...
www.axios.com/2025/10/24/i...
Editor pro-tip: When a reporter asks you if she can go drive an 18-wheeler and then sleep in the back, you should of course say "yes."
www.axios.com/2025/10/01/v...
www.axios.com/2025/10/01/v...
The tiny 5-star hotel room inside Volvo's new semi truck
The VNL has just about everything — except a toilet.
www.axios.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Editor pro-tip: When a reporter asks you if she can go drive an 18-wheeler and then sleep in the back, you should of course say "yes."
www.axios.com/2025/10/01/v...
www.axios.com/2025/10/01/v...
Reposted by Ben Berkowitz
This is an intimate interview with Ukrainian President Zelensky unlike any I've seen recently. Speaking with my colleague Barak Ravid, he was candid, emotional and very human. He's increasingly hopeful for his country.
WATCH The Axios Show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kwZ...
WATCH The Axios Show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kwZ...
Zelensky warns Putin, reacts to Trump reversal, apologizes to Ukrainian kids - The Axios Show, Ep. 2
YouTube video by Axios
www.youtube.com
September 26, 2025 at 11:26 AM
This is an intimate interview with Ukrainian President Zelensky unlike any I've seen recently. Speaking with my colleague Barak Ravid, he was candid, emotional and very human. He's increasingly hopeful for his country.
WATCH The Axios Show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kwZ...
WATCH The Axios Show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kwZ...
The new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas will NOT apply to existing visa holders when it goes into effect Sunday, per a White House official.
(Some lawyers and companies had warned existing holders to rush back to the U.S. today to avoid the fee.)
www.axios.com/2025/09/20/t...
(Some lawyers and companies had warned existing holders to rush back to the U.S. today to avoid the fee.)
www.axios.com/2025/09/20/t...
Trump's new H-1B fee won't apply to existing visa holders Sunday, official says
The $100,000 fee for the highly prized visa is intended to boost jobs for U.S. workers.
www.axios.com
September 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas will NOT apply to existing visa holders when it goes into effect Sunday, per a White House official.
(Some lawyers and companies had warned existing holders to rush back to the U.S. today to avoid the fee.)
www.axios.com/2025/09/20/t...
(Some lawyers and companies had warned existing holders to rush back to the U.S. today to avoid the fee.)
www.axios.com/2025/09/20/t...
One of President Trump's major campaign promises was to lower grocery prices.
By and large, they're higher than they were last month and last year, some categories by double digits.
My latest with @kellytyko.bsky.social
www.axios.com/2025/09/11/t...
By and large, they're higher than they were last month and last year, some categories by double digits.
My latest with @kellytyko.bsky.social
www.axios.com/2025/09/11/t...
Grocery prices rise at the fastest pace since 2022 as Trump tariffs bite
On the campaign trail, Trump promised lower grocery prices.
www.axios.com
September 12, 2025 at 12:51 AM
One of President Trump's major campaign promises was to lower grocery prices.
By and large, they're higher than they were last month and last year, some categories by double digits.
My latest with @kellytyko.bsky.social
www.axios.com/2025/09/11/t...
By and large, they're higher than they were last month and last year, some categories by double digits.
My latest with @kellytyko.bsky.social
www.axios.com/2025/09/11/t...
Reposted by Ben Berkowitz
THE AXIOS SHOW exclusive:
After taking a stake in Intel and a cut of Nvidia's chip sales in China, the U.S. government may next target a share of the money generated by patents developed at major universities using federal funding, Howard Lutnick says
After taking a stake in Intel and a cut of Nvidia's chip sales in China, the U.S. government may next target a share of the money generated by patents developed at major universities using federal funding, Howard Lutnick says
Exclusive: U.S. should take a chunk of universities' patent revenue, Lutnick says
The administration wants to capture potentially tens or hundreds of billions of dollars in future upside from the work of scientists.
www.axios.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:38 AM
THE AXIOS SHOW exclusive:
After taking a stake in Intel and a cut of Nvidia's chip sales in China, the U.S. government may next target a share of the money generated by patents developed at major universities using federal funding, Howard Lutnick says
After taking a stake in Intel and a cut of Nvidia's chip sales in China, the U.S. government may next target a share of the money generated by patents developed at major universities using federal funding, Howard Lutnick says
The White House said late Friday it may let trade partners negotiate lower tariffs on ... Hair? Parrots? Edible crickets?
www.axios.com/2025/09/06/t...
www.axios.com/2025/09/06/t...
Trump floats lower tariffs on human hair, edible bugs in new list
International trade isn't all about washing machines and cars and fancy dresses.
www.axios.com
September 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The White House said late Friday it may let trade partners negotiate lower tariffs on ... Hair? Parrots? Edible crickets?
www.axios.com/2025/09/06/t...
www.axios.com/2025/09/06/t...
Chairman of the board? No, chairman of ALL boards.
President Trump has assumed a quasi-authority to orchestrate how the private sector operates, broadly and at individual company levels. No one's stopping him, so he confidently plows ahead.
My latest for @axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/26/t...
President Trump has assumed a quasi-authority to orchestrate how the private sector operates, broadly and at individual company levels. No one's stopping him, so he confidently plows ahead.
My latest for @axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/26/t...
Trump, chairman of corporate America
Less than a fifth of the way through his second presidency, the impact of his influence is only just starting to be seen.
www.axios.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Chairman of the board? No, chairman of ALL boards.
President Trump has assumed a quasi-authority to orchestrate how the private sector operates, broadly and at individual company levels. No one's stopping him, so he confidently plows ahead.
My latest for @axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/26/t...
President Trump has assumed a quasi-authority to orchestrate how the private sector operates, broadly and at individual company levels. No one's stopping him, so he confidently plows ahead.
My latest for @axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/26/t...
Reposted by Ben Berkowitz
I want to talk to you about your kids’ K-12 new school AI policies this year. For an @axios.com story. Please share this most with anyone. I’m at Megan.Morrone@Axios
August 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I want to talk to you about your kids’ K-12 new school AI policies this year. For an @axios.com story. Please share this most with anyone. I’m at Megan.Morrone@Axios
Reposted by Ben Berkowitz
New at Axios: Google debuts its Ai-infused Pixel 10 lineup as it looks to get a boost before Apple’s iPhone launch.
August 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
New at Axios: Google debuts its Ai-infused Pixel 10 lineup as it looks to get a boost before Apple’s iPhone launch.
Data out this morning from the BLS shows import prices of edible vegetables have risen more than 5% in the last two months.
ICYMI, the eye-popper in today's PPI: a 39% rise in wholesale fresh vegetable prices.
It's the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded in the summer (data to 1947), and one of the ten largest ever, regardless of season.
With the estimable @alexjamesfitz.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/14/i...
It's the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded in the summer (data to 1947), and one of the ten largest ever, regardless of season.
With the estimable @alexjamesfitz.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/14/i...
Veggie-flation strikes, with a warning for grocery prices
No matter what the official data shows, consumers "feel" inflation when grocery prices rise.
www.axios.com
August 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Data out this morning from the BLS shows import prices of edible vegetables have risen more than 5% in the last two months.
The White House is now scoring companies and trade associations on their loyalty to the administration's priorities, starting with support for the BBB.
Uber, DoorDash, Delta, United, AT&T, Cisco, and trade groups for steel and airlines among those topping the list.
www.axios.com/2025/08/15/w...
Uber, DoorDash, Delta, United, AT&T, Cisco, and trade groups for steel and airlines among those topping the list.
www.axios.com/2025/08/15/w...
Scoop: White House hands down loyalty ratings for hundreds of companies
The unusual scorecard fits this administration's habit of micromanaging companies and administering loyalty tests.
www.axios.com
August 15, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The White House is now scoring companies and trade associations on their loyalty to the administration's priorities, starting with support for the BBB.
Uber, DoorDash, Delta, United, AT&T, Cisco, and trade groups for steel and airlines among those topping the list.
www.axios.com/2025/08/15/w...
Uber, DoorDash, Delta, United, AT&T, Cisco, and trade groups for steel and airlines among those topping the list.
www.axios.com/2025/08/15/w...
ICYMI, the eye-popper in today's PPI: a 39% rise in wholesale fresh vegetable prices.
It's the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded in the summer (data to 1947), and one of the ten largest ever, regardless of season.
With the estimable @alexjamesfitz.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/14/i...
It's the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded in the summer (data to 1947), and one of the ten largest ever, regardless of season.
With the estimable @alexjamesfitz.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/14/i...
Veggie-flation strikes, with a warning for grocery prices
No matter what the official data shows, consumers "feel" inflation when grocery prices rise.
www.axios.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:58 PM
ICYMI, the eye-popper in today's PPI: a 39% rise in wholesale fresh vegetable prices.
It's the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded in the summer (data to 1947), and one of the ten largest ever, regardless of season.
With the estimable @alexjamesfitz.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/14/i...
It's the largest month-on-month increase ever recorded in the summer (data to 1947), and one of the ten largest ever, regardless of season.
With the estimable @alexjamesfitz.com
www.axios.com/2025/08/14/i...
The solicitor general of the United States says Social Security and Medicare could collapse if Trump's tariffs are struck down by a court — claiming the gov't would have to repay money it hasn't been paid from deals it hasn't finalized.
www.axios.com/2025/08/11/s...
www.axios.com/2025/08/11/s...
Trump admin claims Social Security, Medicare at risk if tariffs blocked
Government lawyers said the U.S. could be on the hook to repay money it hasn't yet been paid.
www.axios.com
August 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The solicitor general of the United States says Social Security and Medicare could collapse if Trump's tariffs are struck down by a court — claiming the gov't would have to repay money it hasn't been paid from deals it hasn't finalized.
www.axios.com/2025/08/11/s...
www.axios.com/2025/08/11/s...
Where you ask matters as much as what you ask.
Truth Social's new AI search tool, powered by Perplexity, appears to use a limited set of sources - Fox News, Epoch Times, Washington Times - to answer queries. The same questions on Perplexity's site use more sources.
www.axios.com/2025/08/06/t...
Truth Social's new AI search tool, powered by Perplexity, appears to use a limited set of sources - Fox News, Epoch Times, Washington Times - to answer queries. The same questions on Perplexity's site use more sources.
www.axios.com/2025/08/06/t...
Truth Social's Perplexity search comes with Trump-friendly media sources
Increasingly, where you ask matters as much as what you ask.
www.axios.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Where you ask matters as much as what you ask.
Truth Social's new AI search tool, powered by Perplexity, appears to use a limited set of sources - Fox News, Epoch Times, Washington Times - to answer queries. The same questions on Perplexity's site use more sources.
www.axios.com/2025/08/06/t...
Truth Social's new AI search tool, powered by Perplexity, appears to use a limited set of sources - Fox News, Epoch Times, Washington Times - to answer queries. The same questions on Perplexity's site use more sources.
www.axios.com/2025/08/06/t...
Reposted by Ben Berkowitz
“.. While you can quibble with this or that estimate or figure, the order of magnitudes make it pretty clear that AI itself is not enough to buoy the economy, sales, or earnings ahead ..”
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
August 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
“.. While you can quibble with this or that estimate or figure, the order of magnitudes make it pretty clear that AI itself is not enough to buoy the economy, sales, or earnings ahead ..”
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
No one, and I mean no one, hits nails on heads all day long like the estimable Zach Basu. Read this and in 500 words you'll understand the entire world of the last week.
Apply any of these five storylines from the past week to a foreign leader — or even a past U.S. president — and it reads like an authoritarian playbook.
Trump's authoritarian streak
With one social media post, Trump threatened to eviscerate the integrity of U.S. government data.
www.axios.com
August 2, 2025 at 1:37 PM
No one, and I mean no one, hits nails on heads all day long like the estimable Zach Basu. Read this and in 500 words you'll understand the entire world of the last week.
Commerce Sec. Lutnick insists the August 1 tariff deadline is real, no TACOs — and he projects they could generate $700 billion to $1 trillion a year in revenue, perhaps the highest figure yet from the administration.
www.axios.com/2025/07/27/t...
www.axios.com/2025/07/27/t...
Trump's tariffs start August 1, no extensions, Lutnick says
After a months-long pause, tariffs are expected to shoot higher on dozens of countries next Friday.
www.axios.com
July 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Commerce Sec. Lutnick insists the August 1 tariff deadline is real, no TACOs — and he projects they could generate $700 billion to $1 trillion a year in revenue, perhaps the highest figure yet from the administration.
www.axios.com/2025/07/27/t...
www.axios.com/2025/07/27/t...
Sec. Lutnick with a number of #timestamp comments on trade this morning:
* Baseline tariff rates will be 10%, not higher
* Aug. 1 is a hard deadline for new tariffs
* The USMCA will be renegotiated next year
www.axios.com/2025/07/20/t...
* Baseline tariff rates will be 10%, not higher
* Aug. 1 is a hard deadline for new tariffs
* The USMCA will be renegotiated next year
www.axios.com/2025/07/20/t...
U.S. still looking at 10% baseline tariff, not higher, Lutnick says
President Trump repeatedly suggested in recent days that baseline rates could go to 15% or even 20%.
www.axios.com
July 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Sec. Lutnick with a number of #timestamp comments on trade this morning:
* Baseline tariff rates will be 10%, not higher
* Aug. 1 is a hard deadline for new tariffs
* The USMCA will be renegotiated next year
www.axios.com/2025/07/20/t...
* Baseline tariff rates will be 10%, not higher
* Aug. 1 is a hard deadline for new tariffs
* The USMCA will be renegotiated next year
www.axios.com/2025/07/20/t...
If I told you one year ago that a future president was going to:
* Impose 30% tariffs on the largest US trading partners
* Threaten to fire the Fed chair
* Provide weapons for a war against Russia
And stocks would close HIGHER on the news, would you have believed me?
* Impose 30% tariffs on the largest US trading partners
* Threaten to fire the Fed chair
* Provide weapons for a war against Russia
And stocks would close HIGHER on the news, would you have believed me?
July 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
If I told you one year ago that a future president was going to:
* Impose 30% tariffs on the largest US trading partners
* Threaten to fire the Fed chair
* Provide weapons for a war against Russia
And stocks would close HIGHER on the news, would you have believed me?
* Impose 30% tariffs on the largest US trading partners
* Threaten to fire the Fed chair
* Provide weapons for a war against Russia
And stocks would close HIGHER on the news, would you have believed me?