🎢 Axios PM: Markets' Fed fears

Plus: Owning a piece of Mars | Wednesday, July 16, 2025

View in browser   PRESENTED BY AMAZON   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Jul 16, 2025 Good Wednesday afternoon. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 429 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: Trump/Powell roller coaster   Data: Financial Modeling Prep; Chart: Axios Visuals President Trump has the market on a knife's edge, waiting to see whether he'll fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell — upending a century of Fed independence in the process, Axios' Ben Berkowitz writes. Multiple outlets reported today that Trump was close to firing Powell. The New York Times reported that Trump had even shown congressional Republicans a termination letter that had already been written. 🎤 But Trump denied that he's planning to try to fire the Fed chief. "We're not planning on doing anything," he said at the White House. "I don't rule out anything, but I think it's highly unlikely. Unless he has to leave for fraud." Go deeper: Who Trump might pick to replace Powell     2. 📱RFK Jr.'s Gen Z allies   Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   A new wave of Gen Z influencers is bolstering RFK Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, Axios' Tina Reed reports. 19-year-olds Lexi Vrachalus and Grace Price, known as the MAHA Girls, exhort their followers to "detox your life" and enumerate what they claim are harmful ingredients in consumer products. 17-year-old Ava Noe — a Make America Healthy Again supporter with the handle @cleanlivingwithava — has more than 27,200 followers. 16-year-old Annika Zude, known online as @thatcrunchygirlannika, has more than 38,600. 📣 The influencers, who are usually women, offer a younger twist on "MAHA moms," who rail against processed foods and, in some cases, vaccines and other pharmaceutical interventions. The messaging syncs with Kennedy's agenda, down to advocacy of beef tallow and criticism of refined sugar. Go deeper.     A MESSAGE FROM AMAZON Meet 3 Farm Daughters: pasta entrepreneurs selling in Amazon's store     About the business: Annie, Molly and Grace grew up on their family farm in Grand Forks, North Dakota. They started 3 Farm Daughters, a line of high-fiber, nutritious pasta using the farm's wheat. Why Amazon? "They handle all of our shipping and logistics, which makes a big difference." See more.     3. Catch me up   President Trump speaks to members of the media yesterday. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images 📂 President Trump lashed out at "PAST supporters" for their continued focus on Jeffrey Epstein. "Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats' work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!" he said on Truth Social. Go deeper. 🇮🇱 Israel bombed targets in Syria's capital today. U.S. officials are concerned that the attacks could destabilize the new Syrian government. Go deeper. 🚓 Former NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon sued NYC Mayor Eric Adams, claiming he and other senior officials used the department for criminal activity, The Wall Street Journal reports (gift link). Adams' office denied the allegations.     4. 🪨 1 for the road   A Martian meteorite said to be the largest piece of Mars on Earth is displayed at Sotheby's in New York. Photo: Richard Drew/AP A 54-pound chunk of Mars — the largest piece of the red planet ever discovered on Earth — sold for $5 million today at auction. An enormous asteroid strike blew the piece of rock off the Martian surface, AP reports. It was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2023.     A MESSAGE FROM AMAZON Meet Annie, Molly and Grace, who are growing their business with Amazon     Impact of selling in Amazon's store: "Running a small business out here in Grand Forks isn't easy, so we get a lot of help from Amazon, which handles all of our shipping." Amazon sellers in rural areas and small towns, like 3 Farm Daughters, grew sales more than 30% year-over-year. Discover more.   📬 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. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Advertise with us. Axios, PO Box 101060, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: