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President Trump waived new sanctions on Russia late Friday night, saying it was in the "national interests" to hold off on the sweeping levies under the Graham Act that he signed just last month. Why it matters : Trump is easing American pressure on Russia despite a bipartisan chorus calling for him to do the exact opposite. It comes a week after his surprise deal to let Russia sell diesel internationally, which Republicans have condemned as loudly as Democrats. It also puts Republican candidate

Top Republicans and Democrats alike lined up Saturday to condemn President Trump 's decision to waive recent sanctions on Russia , calling it "irresponsible" and "a deal with the devil." Why it matters : Trump already faces a bipartisan effort to overturn his Russian diesel deal when Congress returns after the election. Now he may have to deal with even broader outrage over sanctions Congress approved just a month ago. Driving the news: Late Friday night, Trump issued an executive order waiving

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine's use of the Elon Musk -owned SpaceX satellite system remains partially restricted, despite earlier signs this week that it had been fully restored. Why it matters: The current restrictions limit the Ukrainian military from using drones to intercept Russian attack drones and from using its drones to send supplies to soldiers on the front lines, Zelensky said. The intrigue: Ukrainian officials say they are still scrambling to determine whether t

Pope Leo XIV was discharged from the hospital on Saturday after having surgery to remove a cancerous nodule in his lungs. Why it matters: His discharge clears the way for his rigorous upcoming travel schedule and may alleviate fears of a leadership vacuum at the Vatican. What they're saying: " In light of the blood tests and chest X-ray performed this morning, and following an assessment of his clinical condition, the Holy Father has been deemed fit for discharge ," The Holy See Press Office sai

President Trump is carrying his insatiable appetite for controversy into the most unforgiving stretch of the electoral calendar, fortified by a decade of political survival. "Bottom line, it's gonna all work out. You know why? It always does," Trump told reporters this week. Why it matters: Gone are the days of a single "October surprise," swallowed by a familiar barrage of scandals, provocations and shattered conventions that have persisted in the closing weeks of Trump's final midterm election

Elon Musk tells biographer Walter Isaacson in a new podcast interview that the fizzled DOGE experiment, which the SpaceX and Tesla CEO once headed, proved there's "no way we were gonna solve the deficit from within the government." "The only way we're going to solve the national debt is with AI and robots," Musk tells the author for a new podcast series, " The Builders with Walter Isaacson ," premiering Tuesday. "We're not gonna solve it by trying to save our way there." Why it matters: Musk's c

Black voters may determine whether Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) can build on breakthroughs in the 2026 elections. Why it matters: This year's primaries showed that DSA's path runs through older Black voters who wield enormous influence in Democratic primaries — particularly in the South — but have been slower to embrace insurgent candidates. By the numbers: Black Democrats are more likely to like than dislike leaders who identify as democratic socialists, but nearly two-thirds remain n

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was ousted Friday after just five days on the job, according to two senior Trump administration officials. Why it matters: Zacharia will be the shortest-tenured press secretary in modern history, with her first and only week in the White House marked by speculation about her legal credentials and criticism of her first press briefing. Trump told reporters Friday that he had urged Zacharia to "reconsider" the job, saying: "The news has been so nasty to h

Iran-backed militias in the region have been sending money back to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to relieve the economic pressure it's under after nine months of war , U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Friday. Why it matters: While the U.S. military has been preparing for a possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran, the Trump administration continues to put immense pressure on the regime with its naval blockade and severe sanctions. U.S. officials say the eco

Have some sympathy for Capitol Hill's leaders next year, no matter who wins in November. 😩 Why it matters: The next Congress promises a thousand different ways to be miserable. And three of the big four leaders are expected to receive a two-year contract extension, with guaranteed long nights, bad days and short tempers. The fate of the fourth — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — rests on the outcome of the election. 🤕 The best (and worst) news for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is that

An October shooting by federal immigration officers in New York City has led to a head-turning show of unity from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Why it matters: This unlikely collaboration between leaders of Democrats' competing establishment and progressive wings shows how opposing Trump-era immigration enforcement has become an area of party consensus. Democrats "are definitely unified across the spectrum re ICE," Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the chair of the

President Trump said Friday that his administration did not disrupt an Elon Musk -owned satellite system used by Ukraine to wage war against Russia. Why it matters: The restrictions imposed earlier this week on the system hampered the Ukrainian military's ability to intercept Russian attack drones for 24 hours. It raised concerns that the Trump administration and possibly Musk were retaliating against Ukraine for its attacks on Russian oil refineries and President Volodymyr Zelensky's criticism

It was an economy bursting at the seams: robust growth powered by a tech boom, low unemployment, elevated inflation and Fed rate hikes to try to cool things down. The big picture: That was the situation in the year 2000, and it reminds us a great deal of the conditions in 2026. The worrying part, however, is this: Then, as now, there were early warning signs that the technological boom powering the good times may not last forever. And indeed, the cracks that appeared in the tech sector in 2000 w

Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh said Friday that the economy has largely performed as expected since September's rate hike, hinting that little has changed in the central bank's outlook. Why it matters: The Fed is weighing another interest rate increase later this month as inflation heats up and the economy remains strong. What they're saying: "Over the month or so that's transpired since then, the world has broadly conformed to our expectations," Warsh said at the IMF and World Bank annual

Data: FEC, Axios research. Chart: Noah Bressner/Axios If money is momentum, Democratic Senate candidates are poised for a monumental Election Day. "Oh my god, holy crap," said Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) when informed of Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico's $64 million haul in the third quarter of the year. "I mean, that's a number that's mind-blowing." Why it matters: Republicans are awash in super PAC cash, but Democrats' advantage in hard dollars reveals a yawning enthusiasm gap —

Geothermal — power drawn from the Earth's natural heat — is pulling off something remarkable in today's hyperpolarized America: Winning fans across the political spectrum. Why it matters: The bipartisan appeal, combined with surging electricity demand from AI , is helping fuel investment in a niche energy source yet to prove it can compete at scale. Driving the news: Geothermal received unusually extensive attention in a bipartisan Senate bill introduced late last month to expedite infrastructur

Wall Street appears to be hitting its limit on AI, and financiers are starting to say the quiet part out loud: All of this AI spending doesn't look like it can pay off, at least not for everyone. Why it matters: The gap between what it costs to build AI infrastructure and what companies are actually paying to use it is widening. Wall Street's anxiety is surging as the debt piling up to fund data centers and chips looks increasingly disconnected from economic reality. Driving the news: A massive

MAGA activists are pushing for President Trump to resort to extraordinary measures — including martial law — if they believe the midterm elections are "rigged." Why it matters: Some of the proposals go far beyond Trump's legal authority — and there's no evidence that the elections will be rigged. But people in this orbit have close access to the president. Prominent MAGA election activist Tina Peters met with Trump this month. Convicted in 2024 of crimes tied to a breach of election equipment, P

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger Troy Jackson were sparring in a testy debate Thursday night when a protester loudly interrupted them. "So this is obviously one of Troy's supporters," Collins said. "Oh, shut up," Jackson shot back. "I don't even know that kid." Why it matters: Collins and Jackson are competing in one of a handful of races that will determine the Senate majority. The two have traded barbs in a series of tense debates, but this was the first time t

President Trump is preemptively blaming Sen. John Cornyn and Karl Rove for "doing everything possible to make it hard for Ken Paxton " to win the Texas Senate race. Why it matters: The president is publicly spinning what would be a disaster for Republicans on election night. Texas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988. "If Ken Paxton loses , it will be because of WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Political Hacks like John Cornyn and Karl Rove," Trump posted on Truth Social. Trump won Texas by 14

Sen. Bernie Moreno wants his fellow Republicans to cancel their holiday plans and jam through "everything that we could possibly get" if they lose the majorities in November's midterms. Why it matters: Republicans couldn't muster the votes for a megabill this summer, and leadership is not confident they can now. But Moreno (R-Ohio) is calling for the GOP to make a bigger push in the event of losing power. "We will do a reconciliation bill, one way or the other," Moreno — who said it is "more lik

Secretary of State Marco Rubio pressed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun not to return a truckload of explosives to Hezbollah after the group tried to smuggle them into Beirut last week, according to a State Department official and another source with knowledge of their call. Why it matters: The issue is a test case for the Lebanese government's resolve to stand up to Hezbollah and implement its policy of keeping weapons outside the control of state security forces. Driving the news: Lebanese secur

The Trump administration is suing California and two election officials over claims that there are suspected ineligible voters who received mail-in ballots for this November's election . Why it matters: The lawsuit is asking the court to prevent about 20,000 voters from having their ballots counted until their citizenship status is confirmed. What they're saying: "State-facilitated voter fraud is unacceptable in the United States of America," Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a press release

Nine former FBI agents and intelligence personnel sued the Trump administration Thursday, alleging they were unlawfully fired for working on the investigation into President Trump's handling of classified documents . Why it matters: The agents' bid to regain their jobs adds to a growing number of legal challenges accusing the Trump administration of retaliating against FBI personnel who investigated the president. Driving the news: "Plaintiffs were unlawfully terminated not for any cause or any

President Trump said in a Thursday Truth Social post that the execution of the convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad will not be live-streamed. The big picture: The president's post walks back an idea that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pitched last week, setting off an avalanche of bipartisan condemnation. Driving the news: " He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed," Trump's post read. He added, "That said, the execution may be viewed in

Apple and Meta, whose leaders have spent years trading barbs over privacy and the future of computing, are joining forces to bring one of America's most powerful open-weight AI models to Apple's high-end Macs. Why it matters: The collaboration marks a striking detente between two longtime Silicon Valley rivals, underscoring how the AI race is reshaping relationships across the technology industry. The companies still compete over devices and the next generation of computing, but both see an oppo

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chart: Courtenay Brown/Axios Data this week has all told the same story: This is a rip-roaring U.S. economy with all the inflationary pressures that might imply. The big picture: It puts Warsh and the Fed in a difficult jam. Top officials have signaled patience in further interest rate hikes in recent weeks, but the latest data implies broader inflationary pressures than previously thought, testing that conviction. There is scant evidence that price pressures ar

The Trump administration is threatening emergency court action unless California officials investigate potential ineligible voters within 48 hours and set aside ballots from anyone whose citizenship they cannot verify, according to two letters sent to state officials from the Justice Department. Why it matters: With voting already underway, President Trump 's DOJ could delay ballots from eligible Californians mistakenly flagged as noncitizens and set up a court fight just three weeks before Elec

Data: AP-NORC; Chart: Avery Lotz/Axios A trio of polls out this week carries a stark message: Americans feel disgruntled, dizzy and down on the man in the White House. Why it matters: The vibes going into the midterms are bleak, with a large majority of voters wanting significant change. But the question remains whether those sentiments will drive them to the polls. Driving the news: Nearly three-quarters of Americans rate the economy as only fair or poor, per a Fox News poll out Wednesday. Seve

Ukraine's Starlink and Starshield satellite services — critical tools in its war against Russia that were unexpectedly throttled this week — have been restored to full capacity, a Ukrainian official tells Axios. The official also said that Ukraine conducted a strike overnight against a Russian oil refinery — defying President Trump's demand that it stop hitting those facilities. Why it matters: The twin developments further strained the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, as the war with Russia drags on

Data: The Conference Board and The Business Council; Chart: Axios/Emily Peck CEO confidence in the U.S. economy sank into negative territory earlier this month, finds a survey out Thursday morning from the Conference Board . Why it matters: Business leaders are mind-melding with most consumers, whose opinions on the economy are now lower than during the pandemic . Such sour sentiment is shaping up as a key issue in the midterms just weeks away. Where it stands: The CEO Confidence Index fell to 4

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is on the cusp of leading his party to midterm victory and reclaiming his title as Senate majority leader. Winning the majority isn't guaranteed. But this son of Brooklyn, who has been in public life for 52 years, is more than favored to win a secret ballot to remain Democratic leader. Why it matters: At age 75 (76 by the time the new Congress convenes in January), Charles Ellis Schumer, an old-school pol who visits all 62 of New York's counties ever

Gen Z and millennials have launched their biggest bid yet to remake Congress, but roughly seven in 10 were out by early September, a new report finds. Why it matters: These two generations are struggling to clear the first hurdles of a political system that rewards experience, fundraising and established party support. State of play: A new report from Future Caucus , a nonpartisan nonprofit that works with younger elected officials, found that a record share of this cycle's congressional candida

The future of war is in outer space — and the U.S. is unprepared for the fallout. Why it matters: An outbreak of space warfare would cripple the global economy by disrupting satellites used for everything from worldwide financial transactions to maritime navigation. It would also hinder the U.S. military's ability to conduct some of its key missions on Earth. The dependence on satellites is precisely what makes them tempting targets for foes. China has made major advancements, such as satellites

AI companies for years have promised that smarter models would be worth the staggering cost to build them. Anthropic on Wednesday made that case in cash. The company presented eye-popping financials to investors, saying it was cash flow positive in the third quarter, with revenue surging nearly 50% to $16.8 billion compared with the April-to-June period. Why it matters: As Wall Street broadly spent the day fearing an AI bubble, Anthropic offered what investors have been desperate to see: evidenc

Bill Gates is gearing up to dramatically expand his AI safety push , personally leaning on business leaders and considering a major deployment of his resources, sources tell Axios. Why it matters: The formidable, sharp-elbowed Bill Gates who built Microsoft is back, and he's directing his competitive fire toward what he has come to see as one of the most important causes of his lifetime. "I can reach CEOs on this better than you can," Gates told one person he consulted on AI safety, showing an e

Elon Musk, by far the biggest known midterm donor, is single-handedly keeping the Republican Party afloat in some of its most vital races. Musk's team reached out to Republicans in late August to discuss a train wreck they all saw coming: Unless the GOP poured more money into Texas immediately, the state's Senate race could be lost in a matter of weeks. Why it matters: That chat set in motion a massive rescue operation for Republican Ken Paxton funded substantially by Musk, who gave $158 million

The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sent civil subpoenas to AI giants seeking documents about safety incidents that have spiraled into an industry crisis . The FTC sought documents from Anthropic and OpenAI in a probe focused on potential consumer protection violations, a person familiar told Axios. Why it matters: The investigation is one of a number of steps the administration has taken to show a firm hand with AI companies after multiple incidents in which unreleased models hacked websi

Republicans who haven't faced serious reelection fights in years are suddenly campaigning like they're running in swing districts. Why it matters: Democrats are eyeing House districts so Republican that they weren't even on the party's radar at the start of the 2026 midterm election cycle. That includes incumbents like Reps. John McGuire (R-Va.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), neither of whom were seen as remotely vulnerable coming into the second Trump term. Most of these seats haven't elected a

Speaker Mike Johnson's sudden frank talk about his political future is upending the quiet maneuvering ahead of a post-election GOP leadership contest. Why it matters: The race could become a three-way fight if Johnson follows former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's example and tries to stay in leadership if Republicans lose the majority. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has widely been viewed as a top contender for the job — and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) did not seek a waiver to remain Judiciary chair

ICE is rejecting a Government Accountability Office recommendation for technology that automatically activates body cameras when weapons are drawn and safeguards to ensure agents record arrests, searches and detentions when required. Why it matters: The GAO warns that ICE risks losing crucial evidence on what happened during incidents involving force amid growing distrust over agent accountability in the wake of multiple fatal ICE shootings . The big picture: The GAO report found both CBP and IC

The rupture between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over last week's diesel deal deepened Wednesday after an Elon Musk -owned satellite system used by Ukraine unexpectedly restricted service — undercutting Ukraine's fight against Russia. Why it matters: The Ukrainian military uses SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications system to control and operate its reconnaissance and intercept drones. When Starlink doesn't operate at full capacity, Ukraine's ability to gather i

AI tools are now exacerbating a largely hidden problem that frontier AI companies have been contending with for years: the risk that employees will exploit their access to spy on their employers. Why it matters: The same AI tools that companies are racing to release can also help people plan crimes and develop the technology to carry them out, creating another security headache for the companies building them. Driving the news: Federal prosecutors charged Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi national wh

President Trump has directed his White House counsel to examine explosive allegations dropped on him Friday in the Oval Office: Former Trump attorney Alina Habba told the president that another one of his top advisers — former Kennedy Center leader Ric Grenell — failed to deposit a multimillion-dollar donation that her billionaire husband made to the center a year ago, according to four senior administration officials and three insiders briefed on the controversy. Grenell denied the accusations

Data: Gallup ; Chart: Axios Americans' trust in their fellow citizens' democratic judgment has fallen to its lowest recorded level in more than five decades, according to a new Gallup survey. The big picture: Americans' growing distrust of political leaders and institutions now extends to one another, with Democrats and Republicans showing similar levels of skepticism. By the numbers: 51% of U.S. adults have a great deal or fair amount of trust in Americans as a whole to make democratic judgment

America's inflation problem is becoming harder to contain, with new evidence Wednesday that price pressures are extending beyond the war-related energy shock rattling the global economy . Why it matters: Inflation is squeezing household budgets and dimming hopes for relief. It is also increasing the prospect that the Fed will have to raise interest rates further. What they're saying: "Higher energy costs are beginning to seep into broader services prices, increasing the risk that this inflation

Data: Social Security Administration; Chart: Neil Irwin/Axios Social Security recipients will see the largest rise in their monthly payments in four years in January, with a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment. Driving the news: The Social Security Administration announced the 2027 COLA adjustment for 76 million recipients of retirement and disability benefits, which by law is calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for the July-through-September quarter. That will increase the average retiree's

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics ; Chart: Courtenay Brown/Axios U.S. inflation picked up in September as soaring energy prices added to already stubborn price pressures, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. Why it matters: The latest Consumer Price Index shows that the inflation fight is far from over — and makes further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes more likely as Americans struggle with higher costs. By the numbers: CPI rose 0.6% in September from the prior month, with the annual infl

Apple's big new hardware bet for the AI era is here, and it's a ... smart display? Why it matters: Cue the time machine and let's head back to 2014, when Amazon's Alexa shocked the tech world and led us to imagine a Jetsons-style home would be ours in the near future. It wasn't, but Apple believes it could come soon. The iPhone maker is betting that modern AI can finally make good on that vision, unveiling a slew of new smart home devices Tuesday. Between the lines: While the smart home has larg

Cities and researchers are using AI to map and predict extreme heat risk, but new research suggests it's used far more to identify where people are in danger than to help officials respond. Why it matters: As climate change intensifies extreme heat, better predictions won't protect vulnerable communities unless governments can turn them into action. U.S. deaths associated with high temperatures rose 53% from an annual average of 2,670 in 2000–2009 to more than 4,000 in 2010–2020, according to a