Axios PM

April 22, 2026
π Happy Earth Day! Today's newsletter, edited by Alex Fitzpatrick, is 549 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.
β‘οΈ Situational awareness: The Trump administration is expected to move to reclassify marijuana as soon as today, Axios' Marc Caputo and Josephine Walker scoop. Go deeper.
1 big thing: Hardly anybody likes Congress


Americans' disapproval of Congress is tied for an all-time high, according to new Gallup data out today.
- 86% of Americans say they disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job, matching the high-water mark last reached in November 2015.
π Just 10% say they approve β a hair above the all-time low of 9%.
- That's based on an April 1β15 survey of 1,001 U.S. adults.
π« π The partisan breakdown paints an especially stark picture.
- Republican support for Congress has cratered, falling from 63% as recently as March 2025 to just 20% in the latest survey.


Gallup points out: "Beyond the ongoing DHS funding impasse, congressional disapproval ... may reflect Republicans' frustration over Congress not passing legislation, including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which passed the House in 2025 and would require citizenship documentation to register to vote."
- The pollster also cites tensions over the Iran war, high gas prices and high-profile ethics scandals.
2. π Most polluted cities


Nearly half of Americans (44%) are living in places with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, Alex Fitzpatrick writes from the American Lung Association's 2026 State of the Air report.
- That's over 152 million people,Β and despite "decades of successful efforts to reduce sources of air pollution."
π₯ The big picture: Climate change is fueling extreme heat, drought and wildfires that contribute to unhealthy air conditions nationwide, the group says.
- That's making it "harder to protect ... hard-fought progress on air quality and human health."
π Zoom in: Three California metros β L.A., Visalia and Bakersfield β had the most high ozone days across 2022-2024, on average.
- Fairbanks, Alaska; Eugene, Ore.; and Bakersfield, Calif. topped the list for average daily particle pollution.
3. β‘οΈ Catch me up

- βοΈ The Trump administration is in talks to bail out Spirit Airlines in a deal that would prop up the budget carrier as it scrambles to avoid liquidation, Axios' Nathan Bomey reports.
- π―οΈ Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) died at age 80, after serving in Congress for more than 20 years. Get the latest.
- π The CDC won't publish a study showing that the COVID vaccine dramatically cut hospitalizations last winter, citing methodology concerns, The Washington Post reports. Gift link.
- π° The Rockefeller Foundation is putting $100 million toward helping U.S. workers adapt to tech-driven changes in the labor market, Axios' Ashley Gold reports. Go deeper.
4. π 1 for the road: Organs by drone

The nonprofit operating most of the country's organ transplant system is teaming up with NASA to see whether drones can improve deliveries, Axios' Maya Goldman reports.
- The United Network for Organ Sharing says drones could cut costs and transport times, plus add flexibility.
π§ββοΈ The collaboration will first test whether drones can carry sensitive biological materials around obstacles and beyond operators' visual line of sight.
- Next, researchers will see whether an animal test organ can remain viable in the face of unstable temperatures and potential tissue damage caused by lack of blood flow.
π If early tests go well, researchers will see whether drone systems can be scaled up for time-critical medical deliveries.
π¬ Thanks for reading! Please invite your friends to join PM.
Sign up for Axios PM

