Zen Brief

Economic pressure runs through today's news: concerns over China's AI progress, voter anger over data centers and a hotter inflation report all bear on the midterm campaigns. Separately, a vaccine injury fund overhaul and an Oregon school shooting raise policy questions.

1. 1 IMF Flags China AI Risk to US Tech ValuationsFinance leaders at the IMF meeting in Bangkok warned that China's AI progress could undermine the valuations behind Wall Street's tech rally.
2. 2 Data center backlash reshapes midterm politicsVoter anger over AI data center expansion is reshaping campaign platforms and straining both parties' economic messaging before November.
3. 3 HHS Overhauls Vaccine Injury Compensation ProgramA push to overhaul the U.S. vaccine injury compensation system tests HHS as it balances public trust against a growing claims backlog.
4. 4 Inflation spike complicates White House midterm pitchA sharper-than-expected inflation report strains the administration's economic message as both parties court voters ahead of the midterms.
5. 5 Armed Bystander Stops School Shooter in OregonAfter a bystander shot the attacker at an Oregon school, lawmakers face renewed pressure over armed-citizen policies and campus security funding.