🌓 Axios PM: Eclipse fever

Plus: Notre Dame progress | Monday, March 18, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Meta   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Mar 18, 2024 Good afternoon. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 399 words, a 1.5-min. read. Thanks to Carlos Cunha for copy editing.     1 big thing: America is pumped for the eclipse Data: NASA; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals A glimpse of April 8's once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse is already one of the country's hottest attractions, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports. Millions of people are planning to travel to areas with the best views — cities in the "path of totality," which should be covered entirely in shadow. And businesses are cashing in on the hype by offering eclipse-themed goodies. 🌚 What we're watching: Some school districts along the path of totality, anticipating a major influx of sightseers, will close for the day, while hundreds of festivals will be held across the country for the celestial event. Texas appears to be this year's prime eclipse destination — specifically Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, according to AAA booking data. 🛩️ Delta Airlines offered two special flights, one in Texas and another from Texas to Michigan, to view the eclipse at 30,000 feet. Go deeper.     2. 🏡 Letting AI find you a house Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios   Well-trained AI might serve as a pretty good real estate agent, now that human agents' commissions are more flexible, opening the door to more competition, Axios' Felix Salmon writes. 🦾 AI trained on the actions of very good brokers would likely be able to forward new listings to clients within seconds of them appearing and could answer questions in an approachable, conversational style 24 hours a day. While a robot couldn't go on home visits, it could certainly recommend local surveyors and other home inspectors. Share this story.     A message from Meta The world faces a shortage of skilled tradespeople     Today, students at the skilled trades school RSI use the metaverse to gain hands-on welding experience and develop the exact muscle memory they need. Why it's important: Making quality training more accessible helps combat a global shortage of welders. Explore the impact of the metaverse.     3. Catch me up Former President Trump speaks during a Buckeye Values PAC Rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday. Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images ⚖️ Former President Trump and his co-defendants said via a court filing that it is "impossible" for them to secure a $464 million bond to appeal New York's fraud case against them. Go deeper. 🚫 The U.S. banned the last legal form of asbestos. The carcinogen is linked to more than 40,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Go deeper. 🏈 Minute Media, a sports-focused digital media publisher, has reached a 10-year licensing deal for digital and print rights to publish Sports Illustrated. Go deeper.     4. Notre-Dame almost fully visible Photos: Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images 🏗️ Scaffolding is coming down from the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. The building has been covered in scaffolding since its devastating 2019 fire, but should be entirely visible in time for the summer Olympics. The photo on the left shows the cathedral's spire today. The photo on the right was taken on Feb. 14 — showing just how quickly the process is moving.     A message from Meta "The more muscle memory that you have, the smoother your weld is"     Shanna Ford gets high-quality welding practice with a VR training platform powered by ForgeFX. The impact: When training is more accessible, welders can practice over and over again to improve their skills and advance their careers. Discover other stories.   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. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, 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: