Welcome to Axis ProRata, a podcast that takes just 10 minutes to get you smarter on the collision of tech business and politics.

I'm Dan Pramak. On today's show, a billionaire's surprise gift and America gets closer to having fewer mobile phone carriers.

But first, the trade war gets technical. President Trump late last week essentially barred all U.S. telecom firms from using equipment

made by China's Huawei and also blocked Huawei from buying U.S. made goods.

That's a pretty big deal, given that Huawei not only is the world's number one smartphone

maker, but also is one of just a few major companies that makes hardware for 5G networks,

the thing that both the US and China

believe is a technological necessity. So for Huawei, this obviously could be a huge problem.

It reportedly has just about a year's worth of stockpiled US components for its phones,

and Trump's edict caused Google recently to stop providing Huawei with non-public software. Google also said

it'll shut off its service and app store on most Huawei-made Android devices, meaning that

lots of people are now holding a pretty expensive piece of glass and metal that serves little

more purpose than a paperweight. Now, for the U.S., the big concern is retaliation. Not that

Huawei will stop doing business with U.S.

companies so much as the idea that China's government could block other tech companies

from selling to the U.S. So if you're wondering why Apple's shares are down around 3% in

early trading Monday, that's your reason. The bottom line, tech in both countries may now be

involved in a tit for tat that breaks their businesses.

In 15 seconds, we'll go deeper with cynicism's Bill Bishop.

But first, this.

Axios chief technology correspondent, Enah Freed, shares breaking news and analysis on the most

consequential companies and players in tech, from the Valley to D.C.

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