A growing number of Democratic officials — even mayoral candidates — are embracing tough-on-crime strategies in ways not seen since the 1990s, seeking to counter President Trump's focus on high violent crime rates in Democrat-led cities, Axios' Russell Contreras reports.

• "Democrats need to get their head(s) out of their asses when it comes to this issue," Sam Bregman, a district attorney and a Democratic candidate for New Mexico governor in 2026, told Axios.

Why it matters: Homicides are declining nationally. But shootings in Chicago and other cities — along with high-profile slayings, especially the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a light-rail train in Charlotte, N.C. — have inspired moderate Democrats to embrace anti-crime plans.

🚓 From New Jersey to New Mexico, Democrats are calling for more police, tougher bail guidelines for repeat offenders, fewer early releases, and more patrols in targeted areas.

• They want more action against crime in subway systems, on Native American reservations, and in rural communities, where Black and Latino residents feel the brunt of violent crime.

🔬 Zoom in: New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered the National Guard to Albuquerque — one of the nation's most violent cities — to help police with crime months before Trump sent troops to Washington, D.C.

• Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, whose tough-on-crime approach was credited with helping her defeat more progressive rivals in 2023, has touted her policies as a key factor in the city's steep drop in homicides.

In New Jersey, Democrats in the state Assembly have proposed a bill that would punish parents (up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine) if their minor children join mass fights or riots — an effort to curb increasingly violent gatherings of youths.

• In California, Democrats are mulling more bipartisan anti-crime ideas after voters last year approved increased prison time for some nonviolent offenses such as shoplifting and drug possession.

⚡ President Trump said he'll send troops to Portland, Ore., a "sanctuary city." Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) said the City of Roses is doing "just fine." Go deeper.

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Halfway through 2025, attacks by far-left extremists outpaced far-right violence for the first time in more than three decades, according to new research from the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Axios' Zachary Basu writes.

• "2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks outnumber those from the violent far right," the report says.

Why it matters: America's domestic terrorism landscape has undergone a remarkable inversion since President Trump took office, as his policies have eased grievances on the far right while intensifying anger on the far left.

By the numbers: CSIS researchers compiled and analyzed a data set of 750 domestic attacks and plots from Jan. 1, 1994, to July 4, 2025, categorizing them into "right," "left," "jihadist," "ethnonationalist" and "other."

• The data show left-wing extremists have carried out 41 attacks since 2016, compared with 152 from the far right over the same period.

💡 Daniel Byman, a Georgetown professor who's the lead author of the CSIS study, told Axios in a phone interview that many "extremists on the far right ... are more comfortable with the Trump policies, and that may be ... why we've seen a reduction in violence."

• Byman warned against the data being used "as an excuse for a crackdown on legitimate organizations."

Explore the data ... Share this story.

Instead of putting "tariff" on the tag, some retailers are slipping costs into shipping, fees or relabeling, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports.

• Why it matters: Trade duties and new import rules are driving up retailer costs, especially in apparel, furniture, holiday décor and toys. Those costs are starting to be passed to consumers.

Retailers are reshaping how prices show up, including raising shipping fees on items that face duties after the late-August end of the "de minimis" exemption on postal shipments to the U.S. worth less than $800.

• Vague charges like "processing" or "import fees" are appearing more often.

Tips for spotting tariffs:

• 📦 Watch shipping. Sudden hikes or higher free-shipping thresholds are a red flag.
• 🧾 Check for vague fees. "Handling," "processing" or "import" charges may mask tariff costs.
• 👗 Look at the rack. Sticker-over-sticker, missing tags, or conflicting signs often mean recent changes.
• 💰 Compare totals. Focus on the out-the-door number, not just the item price.

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111,015 fans, most clad in white, filled Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa., for Penn State's rowdy annual "White Out" game — one of college football's loudest traditions.

• 🦆 The No. 6 Oregon Ducks outlasted the No. 3 Nittany Lions 30-24 in double overtime.

Charlie Kirk — such a hardcore Ducks fan that he was deep into recruiting blogs — had planned to be at the game. In the student section, his fans wore white "FREEDOM" T-shirts like the one Kirk was wearing when he was killed.

ESPN's "College GameDay" crew — Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban and Kirk Herbstreit — joined the White Out on Penn State's Old Main Lawn.

• 📷 Photo: Saban in a Nittany Lion costume.

The looming federal shutdown could be the worst-ever for D.C.'s regional economy, says Brookings fellow Tracy Loh, co-author of a new report about effects of President Trump's cuts on the District, Maryland and Virginia (DMV).

• The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday (Oct. 1) if Congress doesn't pass a spending package.
• President Trump will meet tomorrow at the White House with the top four congressional leaders (both parties) — one day before the deadline to fund the federal government or face a shutdown.

The White House budget office has told agencies to create plans for mass firings of government workers should the shutdown happen. These would go beyond the standard temporary furloughs seen during a shutdown, Axios D.C.'s Mimi Montgomery writes.

• National defense, immigration enforcement and border security jobs would be safe, along with programs funded by Trump's megabill.

Keep reading ... Go deeper: Democrats' uncertain endgame.

• Get Axios D.C.

Readers often ask me to write more about independents, and some chafe at polls that show just the R-D split. Voilà:

A new CNN poll finds 5 tribes of independents:

1. Upbeat Outsiders.
2. Disappointed Middle.
3. Democratic Lookalikes.
4. The Republican Lookalikes.
5. Checked Out.

🧠 CNN polling director Jennifer Agiesta, who led the project, tells me the five subgroups "illuminate why getting disengaged voters to the polls is increasingly more important than persuasion for political campaigns."

• Explore CNN's interactive story.

Russell M. Nelson — the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — died last night, less than a month after his 101st birthday, Axios Salt Lake City's Erin Alberty writes.

• The church's president is revered as a prophet in the Mormon faith, giving him enormous sway over the direction of the church and its 17 million members worldwide.

Dallin H. Oaks — Nelson's First Counselor in the First Presidency, and poised to become the next president — said: "All of us who have worked with Russell M. Nelson, and the many he has taught and associated with, have marveled at his extraordinary modesty for a man of his great accomplishments."

• Keep reading ... Church announcement ... Get Axios Salt Lake City.

As mahjong — China's centuries-old game of tiles — finds new fans, instructors are in high demand, with some turning lessons into thriving businesses, Axios' Sami Sparber writes.

Why it matters: Mahjong fits into a broader embrace of hands-on hobbies that have been popular with grandparents, like pickleball and needlepoint, says Alyssa Gross, founder of a group that's taught over 2,500 people in Chicago.

• It has also become a way for younger Asian Americans to connect with their heritage.

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