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Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) dropped his re-election bid early Wednesday after the House Ethics Committee concluded he violated House rules over sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, and recommended his censure. The findings follow Axios' reporting that Edwards singled out two young female staffers in their 20s for special attention that multiple sources described as inappropriate. Why it matters: Pressure has been mounting on Edwards to step aside since the Ethics Committee

The Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz for Centers for Disease Control director on Wednesday, giving the beleaguered agency its first full-time political leader in almost a year. Why it matters: While the 51-44 vote marked a step toward refilling the depleted ranks of the Trump administration's health care leadership, it didn't fully resolve questions about whether Schwartz could steer clear of political interference. Driving the news: Just one Democrat — Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.) — supported Schwartz's

Data: Economic Policy Institute ; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios American taxpayers would pay about $2,358 each for President Trump's mass deportation push, according to a new calculator tool from the Economic Policy Institute. Why it matters: The estimate fuels debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to deportations could instead fund other public priorities such as food assistance, health care or housing. By the numbers: EPI estimates the $268.9 billion projected for deportations

Federal judges, appointed by both Democrats and Republicans, have handed the Justice Department a steady stream of losses in the administration's attempt to obtain sensitive voter information. Why it matters: The DOJ has sued 30 U.S. states, as well as D.C., for rebuffing its demands, all to back President Trump 's efforts to reshape voting after years of spreading unproven claims of massive fraud. The latest: U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer, a George W. Bush appointee, sided with Colorado in

Federal aviation officials are investigating an air-safety incident involving President Trump's Marine One helicopter in Washington, D.C. Why it matters: The incident comes as regulators work to improve safety in increasingly congested U.S. airspace , particularly around the nation's capital. Zoom in: The Wall Street Journal first reported that the helicopter was carrying Trump on Tuesday when it flew too close to a commercial airliner departing from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. NT

Top AI architects say their technology has arrived at a threshold once confined to science fiction: the singularity, or the moment machines begin accelerating their own evolution. Why it matters: If these moguls are right, we may be entering the most consequential technological transition in human history — the opening stages of an " intelligence explosion " that transforms civilization faster than humanity can understand or control. Driving the news: Google jolted the tech world Wednesday by an

A Senate panel voted Thursday to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt for repeatedly declining to answer questions last week from lawmakers investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Why it matters: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said he will refer the contempt resolution to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution. That could set up a legal clash, since former President Biden preemptively pardoned Fauci before leaving office. The big picture: The 8-5 vote by the Senate Homeland Securit

SEATTLE — Wildfire smoke blanketing this coastal city and much of the West is bringing an ominous reminder that the reach of destructive fires is growing. Why it matters: Climate scientists study how global warming increases the odds of wildfire. People living through it are confronting a more immediate question: where is truly safe anymore? The big picture: Wildfires intensified by climate change are like an unforgiving spotlight sweeping across the world. No one really knows where it will stop

Four scandal-plagued House Republicans whose seats should be gimmes for the GOP have instead turned their races into unexpected battlegrounds. Why it matters: These aren't districts you'd expect to be in play — Donald Trump carried all four comfortably in 2024. But the incumbents' ethical troubles are making Republicans spend time and money defending the seats — in a cycle where neither party has any room for error. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) dropped his reelection bid after the Ethics Committee fou

Weeks before OpenAI's agents hacked Hugging Face , the agents worked together to find and exploit a vulnerability in the infrastructure supporting the company's cybersecurity testing, OpenAI researchers said Wednesday. Why it matters: The new findings raise questions about how frontier AI labs are monitoring their testing environments — and the challenges safety testers are finding as they try to rein in increasingly powerful AI. Driving the news: OpenAI's internal research model, one of the mod

On a good day, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer can see a Democratic majority in 2027. Why it matters: On a bad one, he can see the caucus that comes with it. Abdul El-Sayed's 48.5% to 47.5% victory over Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) exposed an uncomfortable reality for Schumer: Some of the Democrats most likely to deliver him a majority may also be the hardest to lead . "If you're Chuck Schumer, I'm dangerous," El-Sayed said during the campaign . "If you're AIPAC, I'm dangerous. If you're a

Tucker Carlson used a highly promoted livestream Wednesday to unveil a 10-point vision for America — defining the worldview of a breakaway MAGA faction increasingly at odds with President Trump . Why it matters: After vowing last month to "help build a third party," Carlson fueled further speculation this weekend by hosting MAGA dissidents at his home in Maine, where they urged him to run for president in 2028. The former Fox News host stopped short of a formal launch, instead presenting the man

State Rep. Donavan McKinney bested two-term incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar in Tuesday's Democratic primary to represent Michigan's 13th Congressional District. Why it matters: The lifelong Detroiter's win likely returns Detroit to Black representation in Congress, which ended with Thanedar's 2022 victory. It also brings another victory for a progressive-backed candidate. McKinney won by a slim 51.9% to 48.1%, with the race called late Wednesday morning by AP . State of play: Thanedar had the advan

Private employment data suggests that the labor market might be tighter than the headline hiring numbers alone suggest, with worker pay accelerating alongside lackluster jobs growth. Why it matters: Employers are pulling back on hiring as they navigate an uncertain economic outlook, but supply constraints continue to limit the pool of available workers in some industries. That's helping speed up pay growth — a boon for workers in industries like construction and health care, where employers are

Michigan progressives woke up Wednesday after a banner night: Abdul El-Sayed leads the uncalled Democratic Senate primary, Will Lawrence won a battleground House nomination, and Donavan McKinney threatens to oust Rep. Shri Thanedar. Of the three Democratic primaries, only Lawrence's victory has been called. Why it matters: A sweep would signal the left's growing strength in a key swing state. The state's Democratic Socialists of America chapters, the Working Families Party and the United Auto Wo

A work slowdown by the Trump administration's immigration offices has exploded the backlog of applications for citizenship, green cards and work permits to an unprecedented 7.5 million people, according to the latest agency data. Add the millions of immigrants waiting on decisions for asylum, work visas and permission to stay in the U.S. for humanitarian reasons, and the total backlog soars to more than 12.1 million. Why it matters: The delays have put potentially millions of people in legal imm

Progressives scored their biggest win of the year Tuesday in Michigan's Senate primary , narrowly defeating the Democratic establishment in the clearest sign yet of how a populist surge is remaking the party. Why it matters: Left-wing outsider Abdul El-Sayed underperformed predictions, but his victory over moderate Rep. Haley Stevens was still a rebuke to party leaders in D.C. and Michigan, and to big donors who flooded Stevens' campaign with cash. El-Sayed was outspent 9 to 1 by Stevens and her

Data: The Downballot, Dave's Redistricting Atlas, The Texas Tribune; Table: Andrew Solender/Axios House Democrats' campaign arm announced Wednesday it is adding a dozen districts that President Trump won handily in 2024 to their midterm target list . Why it matters: The additions are meant to project Democratic confidence that they can compete in solidly Republican territory come November. "House Democrats are expanding the battlefield deep into Trump terrain," Democratic Congressional Campaign

For Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Chuck Edwards ' decision to drop his re-election bid just trades one problem for another. Why it matters : Instead of trying to hold a vulnerable seat with a scandal-ridden candidate , Republicans now have to scramble for a replacement who'll be starting at square one three months out from Election Day against a well-funded Democrat. North Carolina's 11th District already was in Democrats' sights long before Edwards became the target of a House Ethics probe this sp

Data: FactSet; Chart: Matt Phillips/Axios Who cares about war, oil prices, interest rates or an AI bubble? Investors apparently do not — for now at least — sending stocks back to record highs. Why it matters: High stock prices are critical to keeping funds flowing to the AI buildout. A significant erosion of investors' confidence in stocks would be a big risk to the AI flywheel of financial flows, capital expenditures and industrial activity driving the U.S. economy. Catch up quick: Some analyst

A half dozen House Democrats in safe districts have lost their primaries so far this election cycle — and many more could soon follow suit. Why it matters: Many of these losses are the result of growing restlessness among the Democratic grassroots that has increasingly morphed into anger towards the party establishment . "I expected a lot of people to run because they didn't know how to respond to Trump without just being active," Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) told Axios. He added: "We're seeing that

Senate Republicans' planned vote this week on whether to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress is the latest escalation in their attempt to right perceived COVID-era wrongs and further disempower the federal health care bureaucracy. Why it matters: Critics fear the Senate Homeland Security Committee's efforts will deter scientific talent from taking government jobs, weakening America's public health infrastructure and ceding its dominance in biomedical innovation. Driving the news: The pane

The Trump administration's rosy promises of a new "golden age" with 6% economic growth have fizzled on the realities of slower-than-anticipated growth and souring consumer sentiment. Why it matters: President Trump's roller coaster economy has risen with consumer spending and AI investment but also tumbled on tariff uncertainty, stubborn inflation and his Iran war, muddling the economic picture. Trump preaches a golden future, but many voters aren't buying it . That's a warning sign for the midt

This will be the first election cycle where AI is both a dominant policy debate — and a widely deployed political weapon. Why it matters: AI allows both candidates and bad actors to persuade and perplex with unprecedented speed, scale and precision in our elections. Watch what works, as those same techniques will likely be used against YOU. What to watch: Persuasion bots. Campaigns are training text bots to hold back-and-forth conversations in their candidate's voice. Some voters engage for HOUR

Sunrise Movement co-founder Will Lawrence is the latest progressive candidate to notch an upset Democratic House primary win — this time in a key battleground district in Michigan . Why it matters: The seat is a top target for Democrats in November, but party leaders fear that Lawrence's left-leaning politics will make it much harder to win. Several top House Democratic moderates expressed the view to Axios last month that Lawrence cannot beat Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) in Michigan's 7th Distric

The U.S., Iran and Oman are closing in on an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. aiming for a Wednesday announcement, according to two regional sources and a U.S. official. Why it matters: The deal, which has been under negotiations for several weeks, is aimed at resuming the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and restarting negotiations over a nuclear deal. President Trump decided on Saturday not to follow through on threats to unleash a massive bombing campaign, in

Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) defeated former Rep. Cori Bush in his primary on Tuesday, thwarting an attempt by left-wing groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, to avenge Bush's 2024 loss. Why it matters: It's a win for the Democratic establishment in an election cycle where triumphs against left-wing insurgents have been few and far between. Bell's win was propelled in part by United Democracy Project, the super PAC arm of AIPAC, which spent more than $3 million to thwart Bush's com

Authorities said Tuesday they arrested a suspect near President Trump's Los Angeles-area golf course ahead of his fundraising visit. The big picture: Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, California, was arrested Sunday after deputies say they found a pistol and illegal ammunition in his vehicle in a parking lot at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Zoom in: A suspect was "observed walking throughout the golf course grounds tak

Top Pentagon officials are already pitching reconciliation 4.0 to Senate Republicans behind closed doors, underscoring the need for a massive boost in military funds, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Thune hasn't embraced reconciliation 3.0. The White House is already looking beyond it. Trump officials are quietly sketching out a lame-duck package that could pair significant Pentagon funding with other priorities, including a debt ceiling increase that will be necessary sometime in 2027. They

Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus want a condition for incoming Democrats seeking to join their ranks: You have to support House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for speaker. Why it matters: Things could get dicey fast, as several Black Democrats who are all but guaranteed to be elected in November have declined to commit to voting for Jeffries. But Darializa Avila Chevalier wants in: The Afro-Latino nominee in New York's 13th District told Semafor she will seek to join both

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) said Tuesday that he won't drop his reelection bid despite facing allegations of domestic abuse and violence from his ex-wife and two other women. Why it matters: Miller has until Wednesday to withdraw from the race, and President Trump has expressed concern that the embattled congressman could put a reliably Republican seat at risk in the midterms. What they're saying: When asked about his plans on Tuesday by CNN's Jake Tapper, Miller said he wouldn't withdraw, and poin

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Tuesday she will vote against Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general . Why it matters: Collins' vote won't sink Blanche's nomination on its own . But it makes every remaining undecided Republican that much more important. With Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) still absent from the Senate, Blanche, who is serving in an acting capacity, can afford to lose only two GOP votes, assuming all Democrats oppose him. "While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, t

The White House is excluding open models from its framework to test advanced AI capabilities, sources familiar with the matter told Axios. Why it matters: The voluntary framework will determine how the Trump administration reviews advanced AI models before release, but the White House isn't making it public. What's inside: The AI framework reviewed on Tuesday defines a covered frontier model as closed-source with state-of-the-art capabilities and national security risks, multiple sources briefed

Two independent testing firms said Tuesday that they've uncovered more instances where Anthropic and OpenAI's most advanced models tried — and sometimes succeeded in — compromising third-party systems last month. Why it matters: The incidents add to a growing string of disclosures showing frontier AI models taking unsanctioned actions against people, organizations and online services while trying to complete cybersecurity evaluations. State of play : The U.K. AI Security Institute, which evaluat

Embattled Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) said Tuesday that he'll file paperwork for an ethics investigation — into himself — amid a series of allegations involving his ex-wife. The big picture: Miller, a former Trump aide in a competitive reelection race, is facing domestic abuse allegations, which he has denied. What they're saying: "I have absolutely nothing to hide," Miller said in a Tuesday X post. "I am looking forward to my colleagues reading everything for themselves," Miller wrote, stating he'

The White House does not plan to publicly release its new framework for evaluating advanced AI models, three sources familiar with the discussions told Axios. Why it matters: The voluntary framework has global implications for AI security, but details will only be made available to the companies that are part of the process. Keeping it private means companies, policymakers, researchers and U.S. allies outside the process will be left guessing how the administration plans to implement one of its

At least a dozen states are reportedly responding to cyberattacks against local water systems . Why it matters: This appears to be one of the broadest known coordinated cyber campaigns against U.S. municipal water systems to date, validating years of warnings that poorly secured utilities could become attractive targets. Driving the news: Hackers have targeted water and wastewater utilities in at least 12 states, ABC News reported on Tuesday. Last week, the FBI said that at least seven states ha

OpenAI agreed Tuesday to pay $3.2 million to settle Justice Department allegations that it discriminated against U.S. workers by favoring temporary visa holders for jobs, according to the DOJ. Why it matters: Slapping a multimillion dollar fine on one of the world's biggest AI companies puts the tech sector on notice that Trump administration is cracking down on companies that game the visa system to bypass American talent. What they're saying: "It is illegal to discriminate against U.S. workers

Key sectors of the economy that spent years squeezed by high interest rates are gaining momentum. Why it matters: For years, manufacturing and construction were among the clearest signs that the Federal Reserve's tightening campaign — reversed only somewhat at the end of last year — was weighing on the economy. Now, manufacturing and construction are early sources of job growth, helped by an AI investment boom that has so far been unconstrained by still-high borrowing costs. What they're saying:

Ohio, the red state that helped fuel President Trump 's political comeback — and launched his presumed heir, JD Vance , onto the national stage — has become one of the GOP's biggest headaches for the midterms. Why it matters: Republicans are struggling up and down the ballot in the Rust Belt state, which transformed from a perennial battleground into a Republican stronghold under Trump. Ohio's GOP is scrambling under the weight of domestic abuse allegations, sluggish campaigns and a working-clas

The share of business students regularly using AI has increased from 6.2% to 29% over the past three years, according to research from American University's Kogod School of Business , shared first with Axios. Why it matters: The chorus of AI boos at college graduations last spring doesn't tell the whole story: Students increasingly see AI as a critical job skill but want more guidance on using it responsibly. The big picture: Those commencement jeers aimed at AI boosterism captured real anxiety

Three consecutive polls have now shown Democrat James Talarico narrowly ahead of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in that state's crucial race for the U.S. Senate. The latest, released Tuesday morning, has Talarico up 47%-45%. Why it matters: That's within the survey's margin of error, and the Republican establishment isn't panicking — not yet, anyway. But there are some troubling signs for the GOP nominee among white and Latino voters. State of play: The private theory among top Republican off

Data: Financial Modeling Prep, Binance; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals For years, Truth Social was President Trump's money-losing megaphone. Now his company is charging Wall Street up to $1.2 million a year for a split-second edge on posts that can — and frequently do — jolt global markets. Why it matters: Trump has transformed his second term into the most lucrative venture of his entire career, raking in more than $2.2 billion in 2025 from his family crypto empire , legal settlements and vari

Former Rep. Jim Renacci told Axios in a phone interview Monday night that he may mount a comeback run for Congress if Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) drops his bid for reelection. Why it matters: As a former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and congressman from the district, Renacci would likely be a serious contender to take Miller's place on the ballot. "I still know a lot of people, I still have good name recognition," Renacci told Axios. Miller, who is facing allegations of domestic abuse , has d

President Trump phoned Rep. Max Miller Monday and expressed doubts about the Ohio Republican's candidacy amid reports he assaulted his ex-wife and their child, three sources familiar with the call said. On the call, the president told Miller that "things aren't looking good" and repeatedly said his reelection would be tough, the three sources said. Miller, who denies hurting his wife and child, told the president he is staying in the race, one of the sources said. Miller said his own polling sho