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Vaccination rates among American kindergartners decreased during the 2025–2026 school year for all tracked vaccines , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Monday. Exemptions from getting one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, growing to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before. Why it matters: The drop-off coincided with continued efforts by the Trump administration to make controversial vaccine policy changes and with measles cases hitting levels n

President Trump adviser Jared Kushner told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that the U.S. wants Israel to take "small steps" in Gaza to test whether Hamas' commitment to start disarming is genuine, a U.S. official said. Why it matters: The four-hour meeting took place amid deep skepticism from Netanyahu about the U.S. plan for Gaza — and ahead of an October election that makes the Israeli leader reluctant to offer significant concessions on the politically sensitive issue. Whi

The Supreme Court once again declined to take up President Trump 's attempt to toss a jury's $5 million finding that he sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll. The big picture: Carroll's payday had been long delayed as the president fought the verdict. The Supreme Court already declined to throw it out earlier this year. Trump's lawyers are also still fighting a separate $83.3 million defamation judgment he was ordered to pay her, arguing he's entitled to presidential immunity. Driving the

The Trump administration temporarily paused border wall construction at Big Bend National Park in Texas while U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott visits the site, Scott announced Monday. Why it matters: The wall's construction inside the national park has been the subject of bipartisan pushback and criticism that the job has been rushed, and is damaging to the environment. What they're saying: "Last night, I put a pause on all activity in that park as far as construction

Congressional Democrats are planning a new push to constrain President Trump 's war powers after he threatened Monday to "bomb the shit" out of Oman. Why it matters: War powers resolutions, though largely symbolic, have become Democrats' go-to tool for trying to rein in what they see as a far too trigger-happy administration. "At this point we may just need to file war powers resolutions for the 192 other countries," Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told Axios. The White House did not immediately respo

The USS George Washington's deployment from Japan to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln will leave the U.S. without an aircraft carrier in the western Pacific — just as adversaries in the area are flexing their military power. Why it matters: Temporary carrier gaps are not uncommon, but the absence of a striker ship in the Pacific highlights how the Middle East is once again dictating American military policy. It also has raised questions about how the U.S. can sustain a formidab

Data: LinkedIn; Table: Danielle Alberti/Axios Women made up just over a quarter of new hires in the U.S. for AI roles last year — compared with half of new hires in non-AI occupations, per new LinkedIn data out Tuesday morning. Why it matters: These jobs are some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying in the country right now — at a time when the overall labor market is pretty sluggish — and the report shows women are getting left behind. By the numbers: Men landed 74%, and women 26%, of the

The 2026 midterms are becoming a watershed election for primary meddling, mysterious super PACs, alleged straw candidates and all other manner of political shenanigans. Why it matters: With the number of battleground House districts diminished by redistricting and the fight for the Senate extremely tight, each one of these schemes could have an outsized impact on control of Congress. Green Party spoilers: Democrats are accusing the Green Party nominee in Pennsylvania's 7th District of trying to

Democrats seem to be leaning into a specific midterm strategy, especially on socials: bringing sexy back. Unbuttoned shirts on CNN. Exposed biceps on the rally stage. Made-for- TikTok thirst trap b-roll. And the return of the tan suit. Why it matters: The left is leaning into candidates who look young, energetic and even desirable , with fresh faces often eclipsing the older guard. "We see a rise in young millennials, or the top part of Gen Z, trying to get into office," says Grace Weinstein, a

Data: FBI ; Note: 2021 data was estimated due to a low number of agencies reporting; Chart: Noah Bressner/Axios The U.S. violent crime rate plunged 9.7% last year — the largest annual drop since the FBI's national estimates began in 1936 — according to the bureau's data released Friday and reviewed by Axios. Why it matters: The FBI's 2025 report indicated that the post-pandemic declines in violent crime accelerated sharply last year in communities of all sizes across the U.S. (That drop appeared

Tuesday is the Florida Man primary . "It's really weird," one political pro said. Why it matters: Florida, MAGA's beating heart, is President Trump's home and was a top, successful target of his redistricting push to add more GOP-leaning congressional seats. Zoom in: What makes some of the contests stand out isn't their competitiveness — it's how they invoke the wacky Florida Man internet meme. These campaigns featured carpetbaggers, racial conflict, homophobia, struggling socialists, antisemiti

House Democrats who have comfortably held their seats for decades are suddenly finding the ground shifting beneath their feet as primary voters revolt against the party's old guard. Why it matters: The anti-establishment revolution that has swept Democratic primaries this year is poised to drastically alter the makeup of the party caucus and Congress as a whole. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) became the latest victim of this trend: The 78-year-old lost his primary by more than 20 percentage points t

President Trump has a new rule for America's partners: Cross him in one theater, and the consequences will follow you into the next. Why it matters: Trump has spent his second term battering U.S. allies , humiliating their leaders and using decades-old security relationships to settle personal and political scores. The Iran war has only deepened those impulses: Trump is growing angrier at allies that stayed out of the conflict — and punishing them as he struggles to end it. Zoom in: South Korea

Young people raised on swiping, DMing and streaming are doing something bold: going out. Why it matters: Amid a loneliness epidemic , millennials and Gen Zers are craving IRL connection — enough to show up for meetups built around activities once considered solitary, or " grandma hobbies ." The latest: They're leaving the house to play chess , birdwatch and read in silence together. "It's very easy to sit inside and rot just by yourself," Cole Robinson, president of the Audubon on Campus Trinity

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chart: Courtenay Brown/Axios America is experiencing its biggest prescription drug price deflation in generations. Why it matters: By one important measure, there is a striking reversal underway for one of health care's most stubbornly expensive necessities amid a major Washington push to lower drug costs. By the numbers: Prescription drug prices fell 0.8% in July and are down 3.1% from a year ago — the steepest annual decline in more than six decades, according

The centrist Democratic group Third Way recently declared "war" on democratic socialists to head off what they fear could be a far-left hijacking of the party ahead of 2028. But establishment Democrats have made clear what they're against without making much of a case for what they're for. Why it matters: It's hard to beat something with nothing. Democratic socialism, whatever you think of it, is easy to grasp: Tax billionaires and redistribute wealth. Provide government-funded health care and c

The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it is investigating Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) over allegations of sexual misconduct. Why it matters: Gomez is the latest House member to face scrutiny over alleged sexual misconduct amid a string of incidents that have prompted calls to tighten Congress' rules. Gomez said in a statement that he's made "personal mistakes outside my marriage," but said his actions were "consensual" and did not violate the law or House Ethics rules. "I take

Years of destructive fires are forcing utilities to prioritize wildfire resilience as they plan the next generation of the U.S. electric grid. Why it matters: Utilities aren't just expanding the electric grid — they're designing it to withstand a more fire-prone climate . This year's wildfire season is exceeding the 10-year average for both the number of fires and acres burned. The big picture: The U.S. is embarking on one of the biggest grid expansions in decades just as wildfire risk is becomi

Imagine a chatbot built to keep you talking a little longer. To change your mind about something. Or persuade you to buy something. Now imagine it could draw on everything it knows about you — including the fears, insecurities and private details you shared in conversation — to do it. Why it matters: Few rules directly govern that scenario today, making AI companies' promises about how they use consumer data especially consequential. The big picture: In the first installment of Axios' "What they

President Trump said Sunday he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. military exercises with South Korea. The big picture: Trump cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for condemning the drills — and also noted on Truth Social that South Korea declined his request to help the U.S. denuclearize Iran . What he's saying: "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usua

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is laughing off "Woke 1." But she's carrying baggage from the 2020 era of cultural progressivism that some Democrats say is an obstacle to a future presidential run. Why it matters: AOC's pivot to the cultural center — which she began to roll out last week in a high-profile ABC interview by saying, "Woke 1 was crazy" — is potential damage control for her past remarks about law enforcement, immigration and a range of social issues. Ocasio-Cortez told ABC tha

Hamas leaders reaffirmed their commitment to disarm and demilitarize Gaza in a meeting with President Trump's adviser Jared Kushner in Egypt on Sunday, according to a source with direct knowledge. Why it matters: Kushner used the rare direct meeting to press Hamas for tangible steps on disarmament , warning that Israel doesn't trust the group to follow through. The source described the 90-minute meeting as "very productive" at making sure Hamas takes practical steps to fulfill its commitments. T

Attorney General Todd Blanche refused Sunday to pledge the Justice Department's independence from the White House, saying he would consider President Trump's views on individual prosecutions. Why it matters: Trump has remade the DOJ , ousting longtime staffers , urging prosecutions of rivals and installing his former lawyer as attorney general. Blanche made the stakes clear: Trump's wishes can shape who gets investigated and prosecuted . What he's saying: "No, I'm not going to pledge that," Blan

In mid-May, U.S. negotiators trying to reach a deal with Iran to end the war ran into a problem: They couldn't tell if the people across the table actually spoke for the country's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). So Trump administration officials did something unconventional — they went around Iran's negotiators and reached out directly to IRGC leadership. The person they tapped for the backchannel was Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, who had so

Whether framed on an office wall, collecting dust in a box or still a distant dream, the college diploma is getting a hard reappraisal. Why it matters: College was once sold as a ticket to the American dream. But students today are taking a tougher look at the college tradeoff: burdensome debt and no guarantee of a dream career — or employment at all, as AI threatens the jobs the degrees were meant to unlock. "People didn't ask whether college mattered 20 years ago," says Courtney Brown, the vic

Students — and their parents — are searching for future-proof college majors for an AI -powered world. Why it matters: AI is changing the skills employers expect from entry-level workers, while colleges are rethinking how to prepare students for the transition. The big picture: Rumors of the death of jobs might be greatly exaggerated , but college students and graduates are still worried about what comes next. College instructors and administrators need to spend more time thinking about what stu

President Trump said Friday that he isn't concerned about the state of the USS Abraham Lincoln, despite calls from lawmakers to investigate reports of mental health issues for those onboard. Why it matters: The San Diego-based aircraft carrier has been deployed for nine months, and numerous reports have indicated that crew members' families are concerned about a lack of food and other basic supplies. At least one sailor has gone overboard , prompting the Navy to launch an investigation and The M

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to stalking charges tied to the 2024 broad daylight killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Why it matters: Mangione's lawyers are now using Friday's federal plea to request that all but one separate state charge be dismissed. They claimed double jeopardy, a legal protection that prevents a person from being charged twice for the same offense, arguing that the weapons and murder counts against him should not move forw

Data: International Trade Administration ; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios Even as U.S. policy has walled off Washington, D.C., from friends across the pond, Americans' travel overseas is reaching new heights. Why it matters: Much like the resilient consumer , the American tourist keeps riding the post-COVID travel wave , even as debt delays life milestones and global perceptions of the U.S. slip. Driving the news: More than 56 million U.S. residents traveled overseas last year, according to the Internat

Dorm rooms are tiny. The dorm decor economy is not. The big picture: College dorms are becoming customized, social-media-ready micro-apartments, but the market looks wildly different depending on which side of the Mason-Dixon line your campus sits. Zoom out: The multi-thousand-dollar "designer dorm" industry has grown alongside viral TikTok dorm tours and hauls, and parents hoping to make their child's transition to college easier. Shelly Gates, founder of Mary Margaret Designs, an interior desi

Data: Census Bureau ; Chart: Neil Irwin/Axios American consumers have powered the economy forward this year. In July, they took a breather. Why it matters: While the underlying trend in consumer demand appears solid, retail sales hit an air pocket last month, suggesting a bumpier path ahead for overall growth. Combined with a weak jobs report last week and two subdued inflation readings this week, it points to the Federal Reserve having room to be patient on potential interest rate increases thi

Data: University of Michigan ; Note: August 2026 number is preliminary; Chart: Neil Irwin/Axios Public opinion about the economy appears to be souring further this month, per the preliminary release of the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. By the numbers: Overall sentiment fell 8% in the early days of August, after two consecutive months of improvement. The index fell to 51, from 55.2 in July. That remains above the recent lows reached in the spring, when gasoline prices were so

A wave of top OpenAI executives — including Sam Altman's top deputy, a longtime chief operating officer and the chief revenue officer — has left in the span of a month as the company retools its leadership ahead of an expected IPO. Why it matters: Co-founder Greg Brockman is getting more involved across every level of the company to build out a leadership team he hopes will catapult OpenAI past Anthropic in enterprise adoption, according to a source familiar with the matter. Zoom in: OpenAI's re

Data: U.S. Census, USDA ; Note: Census data and BLS rural designations are released in different years; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals The U.S. is projected to become majority-minority in 2046, but hundreds of rural pockets crossed that demographic benchmark years ago, an Axios analysis finds. Why it matters: The evolving face of rural America, driven both by immigration and increased mobility, has invigorated communities, increased their diversity — and presented new challenges. Rural governme

Willie Nelson has become an unlikely barometer of America's biggest infrastructure fights. He once protested the Keystone XL pipeline and fracking. Today, he's fighting data centers. Why it matters: The American icon's latest cause underscores how the politics surrounding AI infrastructure are beginning to resemble the last decade's fights over fossil fuels. "The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter)," Ne

The search for a winning message on AI is pushing candidates and lawmakers into unexpected political territory. Why it matters: With the midterms approaching, AI is creating alliances across party lines while opening fissures within them. Here are three ways AI is scrambling the political map. 1. Centrist Democrats versus progressives on data centers New York made waves as the first state to impose a data center moratorium — a product of Gov. Kathy Hochul joining forces with progressive state Se

Republicans have a new name on their growing list of progressive midterm targets: Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan , fresh off a landslide Senate primary win. Why it matters: With President Trump 's approval ratings in the 30s, Republicans are trying to turn the midterms from a referendum on him into a choice between the GOP and a Democratic Party they argue has moved sharply to the left. That means portraying some progressive Democrats who've won statewide primaries as national foils. The stra

What's the common thread connecting AI advances, biological breakthroughs, a preponderance of high-risk-high-reward research, escalating geopolitical tensions and a hollowed-out U.S. public health sector? They all heighten the risk that one day a lethal human-made pathogen will emerge, either accidentally or intentionally, and we won't be ready for it. Why it matters: The same advances that make this a pivotal moment for medical innovation are intensifying the risk of catastrophic lab mishaps, t

White House deputy national security adviser Andy Baker is leaving the administration in the coming weeks. Why it matters: Baker, who also served as national security advisor to Vice President Vance, was among the staffers most central to the administration's foreign policy and national security decision-making over the last 18 months. Baker was also personally involved in negotiations with Iran this year. Cliff Sims, who succeeded Baker as Vance's national security adviser earlier this summer,

When Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump met in the Oval Office two weeks ago, the president asked the Israeli prime minister how he was doing in the polls ahead of an Oct. 27 election. Netanyahu paused. Then one of his advisers piped up: "Mr. President, he is winning," the aide said, according to a U.S. official familiar with the exchange. Why it matters: Netanyahu is not winning. And so far, Trump hasn't given him the endorsement he hopes for, despite being asked about it repeatedly by reporte

Photo: Marc Caputo/Axios Marco Rubio has three official Trump administration jobs and a fourth unofficial title: Viral meme star. He's been featured in countless "Rubio Realizing" images doctored to capture his grim reaction to being "assigned" more jobs, depending on the news of the day or the crisis du jour in the White House. Why it matters: For his 55th birthday on May 28, White House staffers and President Trump gifted Rubio with a gold-framed collage of their 68 favorite "Rubio Realizing"

President Trump's top political hands had some surprising advice for Senate Republicans last week: Talk more about health care. Why it matters: Trump and the MAGA base are fixated on the voter-ID and proof-of-citizenship SAVE Act . But Republican message testing from Trump's own pollster suggests candidates are better off focusing elsewhere. Driving the news: Top Trumpworld campaign officials, including James Blair, pollster Tony Fabrizio and Senate Leadership Fund executive director Alex Latcha