🍿 Axios PM: Conservative kryptonite

Plus: $10 million bag | Thursday, July 10, 2025

View in browser   PRESENTED BY GOLDMAN SACHS   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Jul 10, 2025 Good Thursday afternoon. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 512 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: The right's "Superman" backlash   Photo: Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images The new Superman movie is already getting a thumbs-down from conservative media, Axios' Avery Lotz reports. The hero's origin story, arriving on Earth from a dying planet, has been compared to the story of refugees or immigrants — a connection the film's writer and director, James Gunn, recently endorsed. From left: Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced and Edi Gathegi in "Superman." Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures via AP 👎 What they're saying: "We don't go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology on to us," said former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway during a segment about the movie on Fox News' "The Five." Co-host Jesse Watters added: "You know what it says on his cape? MS-13." Podcaster Ben Shapiro, in a video titled "Superman is Going WOKE - You Know What That Means...," said Gunn was "fine" for a prior superhero film — "Guardians of the Galaxy" — but described "Superman" as "more serious property." The other side: "For me, it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost," Gunn said in a recent interview. Go deeper.     2. ⚖️ New legal fight over citizenship   Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios   A federal judge in New Hampshire today blocked the Trump administration from implementing its plan to end birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court, just weeks ago, ruled that lower courts cannot issue sweeping injunctions blocking that policy nationwide. But it expressly left open the door to class-action suits challenging federal policies — another way to potentially block their application to a large group of people. ⚡️ The ACLU and other advocates quickly filed a class-action suit on behalf of children born after Trump signed his executive order on birthright citizenship, seeking to block him from revoking those children's American citizenship. Judge Joseph Laplante today signed off on that group of people as an acceptable class, and ordered an injunction against the enforcement of the citizenship policy. Go deeper.     A MESSAGE FROM GOLDMAN SACHS Women's labor force participation is boosting India's economy     Only 31% of working-age women in India are in the labor force, compared to 54% in other major economies. The impact: India has an opportunity to boost its labor force participation as more women join the job market. Read analysis on India's economy from Goldman Sachs Research.     3. Catch me up   Zohran Mamdani at a campaign event today in Manhattan. Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images 🗳️ Some of Wall Street's richest people are organizing new political networks to oppose New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, The Wall Street Journal reports (gift link). One newly formed group plans to raise $20 million. Other opponents have said spending could be closer to $100 million. 💰Bitcoin hit a new record price, at $113,804. There aren't many bitcoins available for regular people to buy right now, which is putting a floor on their price. Go deeper. 🚙 Grok, Elon Musk's AI product, will be available in Teslas by next week, Musk said today on X. Mercedes and Volkswagen vehicles already use ChatGPT as voice assistants, Wired notes.     4. 👜 $10 million bag   An auction officer displays the original Birkin bag today in Paris. Photo: Michel Euler/AP The original Birkin bag sold at auction in Paris today for a whopping 8.6 million euros, equivalent to $10.1 million. Hermès designed the bag for entertainer Jane Birkin in 1984, following a chance encounter on an airplane in which she sketched out her ideal satchel on the back of a vomit bag, AP reports. Birkin bags have gone on to become one of the hottest and most coveted items in the world of fashion.     A MESSAGE FROM GOLDMAN SACHS Insights on the global economy from Goldman Sachs     How will trade policies affect international markets? Is the U.S. consumer still on strong footing? When will AI spending start to yield returns? Dive deep on the most consequential questions in capital markets with insights from across Goldman Sachs. Explore our market insights.   📬 Thanks for reading! Please invite your friends to join PM. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. 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