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President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Former President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court ruling to allow the Department of Justice to review classified documents seized from Mar-a-Lago, per a filing. 

Why it matters: Tuesday's emergency request by Trump's legal team marks an escalation in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe.

The latest: Justice Clarence Thomas, who is assigned to oversee emergency requests in the 11th Circuit, requested the DOJ respond to Trump's petition by 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 11.

Driving the news: Trump's legal team in the filing asks that the special master be allowed to review the roughly 100 documents marked as classified that were found at Mar-a-Lago during the August search. 

The former president's legal team argues that the 11th Circuit lacked the judicial authority to stay the special master order "authorizing the review of seized documents bearing classification markings." 

"The eleventh circuit granted a stay of the special master order, effectively compromising the integrity of the well-established policy against piecemeal appellate review and ignoring the District Court's broad discretion without justification," per the filing. 

"This unwarranted stay should be vacated as it impairs substantially the ongoing, time-sensitive work of the special master." 

The big picture: The filing comes after an appeals court panel sided with the DOJ last month and said that it could continue its review of the classified documents as part of its criminal investigation into Trump.

Worth noting: Thomas has faced calls to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and the investigation of the Capitol insurrection given his wife, Ginni Thomas,' active involvement in attempting to overturn the election and keep the former president in power.

Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

Trump asks Supreme Court to weigh in on Mar-a-Lago classified docs probe

Trump's legal team in the Tuesday filing said that the 11th Circuit lacked the judicial authority.

Former President Trump speaks during a Save America rally on Oct. 1 in Warren, Michigan. Photo: Emily Elconin/Getty Images

Donald Trump

Solitary confinement up under Biden, despite promise to reduce practice

The Federal Bureau of Prisons is working to limit solitary confinement but its use continues to rise.

U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters delivers remarks after her swearing in at BOP headquarters.

U.S. Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters delivers remarks after her swearing-in ceremony in August.  Photo: Evelyn Hockstein-Pool/Getty Images

Criminal justice

Republicans and anti-abortion movement leaders doubled down on their support for embattled Georgia Senate nominee Herschel Walker, one day after a detailed report he's denied that alleges Walker paid for a then-girlfriend to have an abortion in 2009.

Why it matters:  Without a Walker victory, Republicans' path to the Senate majority depends largely on Mehmet Oz's campaign in Pennsylvania. 

The latest: "We are full speed ahead in Georgia. This election is about the future of the country. Herschel Walker will make things better, Raphael Warnock is making it worse. Anything else is a distraction," said Senate Leadership Fund president Steven Law, whose super PAC has spent or reserved $37.1 million in the race. 

"Herschel Walker has denied these allegations in the strongest possible terms and we stand firmly alongside him," said Mallory Carroll, spokeswoman for Women Speak Out PAC, the super PAC partner of SBA Pro-Life America. The group said it will continue organizing voters for Walker on the ground through Election Day.

Former President Donald Trump, who urged Walker to run, defended him in a statement saying Walker is being "slandered and maligned." 

The National Republican Senatorial Committee told Axios it stands by Walker. NRSC chairman Rick Scott charged in a statement that Democrats "know they are on the verge of losing the Senate" and "have cranked up the smear machine."

Walker appeared at a prayer luncheon in Atlanta today, from which media was barred. Salleigh Grubbs, chair of the Cobb County GOP, who attended the event, told Axios: "Everybody was supportive of him. They were very loving and very kind and very engaged.”

Grubbs said the latest attack has not affected her support for Walker: "I think there are things that happen in everyone’s personal life. I’m not dissuaded and I don’t think any voters should be dissuaded.”

The big question: Will this resolve be shaken by new developments including Walker's son Christian Walker, a 23-year-old conservative TikTok influencer, accusing his father of lying about his personal life? 

In a series of public posts, he also accused social conservatives of hypocrisy around family values.

Georgia-based conservative commentator Erick Erickson wrote: “Georgia Republicans overnight were burning up my phone with text messages. It didn’t hit home for them until Christian Walker started his tweets, largely throwing his dad under the bus.”

North Georgia conservative talk show host Martha Zoller told Axios that on her show this morning she heard “from a number of people that have pause about what they’ve heard... they’d like to see him give a more robust not only defense but explanation.”

The other side: Democrats tell us the controversy could be particularly damaging with suburban women and rural Black voters — two key constituencies they argue are necessary to win the state. Republicans have so far been struggling to convince skeptical suburban women across the country.

Between the lines: Republicans are already downbeat on their chances of unseating vulnerable Democratic senators in Arizona and New Hampshire because of flawed nominees.

Georgia now threatens to become a third missed opportunity for Senate Republicans.

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Republicans double down on Herschel Walker

Photo illustration of Herschel Walker and elephant trunks.

Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images

Georgia

A judge said Tuesday that former Trump adviser Steve Bannon's trial for allegedly defrauding donors to build a southern border wall is expected late next year, the AP reports. 

Driving the news: Bannon has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include two counts of money laundering stemming from his work with Trump's "We Build the Wall" campaign, as well as fraud and conspiracy charges.

Prosecutors in New York accused Bannon of defrauding donors by diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars to third parties. 

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan said Bannon’s legal team has until February to go over evidence and submit any pretrial motions, AP reports.

Prosecutors said there are four terabytes worth of evidence, which translates to millions of written pages or hundreds of hours of video, per AP.

Background: The case, filed in New York, mirrors a federal case that was dismissed in 2021 after a presidential pardon from Trump.

Go deeper: Bannon charged with money laundering in border wall fundraising case

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details about the case.

Steve Bannon's fraud trial expected in November 2023

The former Trump adviser allegedly defrauded donors as part of a campaign to build a border wall.

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Steve Bannon

Former President Trump and other influential Republicans on Tuesday pledged support for Herschel Walker after a report alleged the Georgia candidate paid for a girlfriend's abortion in 2009.

The big picture: Walker's race against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is viewed as one of GOP's best chances to pick up a Senate seat this November and win back control of the chamber.

Trump said in a statement that Walker "is being slandered and maligned" by the media and the Democrats, adding that he still fully supports him in the Georgia senate race.

"Herschel has properly denied the charges against him, and I have no doubt he is correct," Trump said.

"They are trying to destroy a man who has true greatness in his future, just as he had athletic greatness in his past."

Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee chairwoman, said the report "is an attempt to distract from Warnock's record of failure resulting in rising costs and out of control crime."

"Herschel Walker will deliver a safer and more prosperous Georgia, and the RNC will continue to invest in the Senate race," she tweeted.

Rick Scott, the head of the Senate GOP's campaign arm, said Tuesday the party still supports Walker.

“Herschel has denied these allegations and the NRSC and Republicans stand with him, and Georgians will stand with him too," Scott, who serves as chair of the National Republican Senate Committee, said in a statement.

Scott said Democrats "have cranked up the smear machine" on Walker because "they are on the verge of losing the Senate."

"When the Democrats are losing, as they are right now, they lie and cheat and smear their opponents," Scott said.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion group, told Axios it will stand by Walker, saying the candidate "has denied these allegations in the strongest possible terms and we stand firmly alongside him."

The National Right to Life Committee said in a statement that it "stands behind its endorsement of Herschel Walker" despite the allegations.

"Herschel Walker wants to protect unborn children while Raphael Warnock wants to see them die through unlimited abortion," the NRLC said. "The Democratic party knows it cannot win on the issues, so we once again see an attempted character assassination, a tactic that is sadly all too often encouraged by a compliant and willing media."

Details: The Daily Beast reported Monday that Walker paid for his former girlfriend's abortion. Walker denied the report, saying he planned to sue the Daily Beast for defamation on Tuesday morning, but has yet to do so.

Walker has said on the campaign trail that he opposes abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother.

Walker's son, Christian Walker, also accused his father of "lying" and "making a mockery" of his family Monday night in a series of tweets.

Zoom out: Walker previously admitted he struggled with mental illness in response to previous allegations of violence.

“Most of the things I've done after my struggles have shown people that you can get knocked down and you can get up," he said. "And that's what I want people to realize."

His campaign has also faced accusations that he made false and hyperbolic statements about his past, which included how many children he has.

Go deeper: Herschel Walker's son accuses father of lying about his past

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details.

Trump, GOP leaders back Herschel Walker after abortion report

Former President Trump indicated he still supports Walker in the upcoming midterms.

Heisman Trophy winner and Republican candidate for US Senate Herschel Walker speaks to supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

 Herschel Walker speaks to Trump supporters. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Rick Scott

The Biden administration announced a new $625 million security assistance package for Ukraine on Tuesday that will include key weapons, ammunition and equipment.

Why it matters: This is the U.S.' first military aid package to Ukraine since Russia took the escalatory step of annexing four regions of the country. The package includes advanced mobile rocket launcher systems that have been crucial to Ukrainian forces.

State of play: The Pentagon said the package contains four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as howitzers, artillery and mortar rounds, and small arms ammunition.

This is the first time the U.S. has sent more HIMARS to Ukraine since July, bringing the total to 20, per AP. The weapons have allowed Ukrainian forces to strike bridges used to supply Russian troops, AP said.

The U.S. has now sent Ukraine more than $16.8 billion in aid since the start of the Russian invasion, the Pentagon said.

What they're saying: "As we are demonstrating again today, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with key capabilities to meet their evolving battlefield requirements," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing Tuesday.

"Together with our allies and partners, the United States has been delivering an unprecedented amount of weapons and equipment that Ukraine's forces are ... utilizing very efficiently, including to retake their territory that has been seized illegally by Russia," she added.

"The capabilities we are delivering are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table when the time is right," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Tuesday.

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone on Tuesday, promising "to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes," according to a White House readout of the call.

U.S. announces $625 million in new military aid for Ukraine

"The capabilities we are delivering are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield."

Ukrainian soldiers prepare to move their multiple rocket launcher

Ukrainian soldiers in the Kharkiv region. Photo: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ukraine

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Denver

Axios Denver

Republican firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert is dangerously close to being upset by a little-known Democratic rival, a new poll in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District shows.

By the numbers: Boebert received support from 47% of likely voters, while Democrat Adam Frisch landed at 45% — making the race a statistical tie within the ±4.4 percentage point margin of error. 

7% of voters are undecided, per the poll.

The survey, taken Sept. 29–Oct. 2 by Keating Research, a Democratic firm and one of the most accurate pollsters in Colorado, represents a 5-point swing toward Frisch. In July, Boebert held a 49%-42% advantage.

Unaffiliated voters — those not aligned with a major political party — strongly dislike Boebert, who's known for her Christian nationalist rhetoric, opposition to bipartisan legislation, and lighting rod remarks about guns and immigration. Those voters are shifting toward Frisch as the election progresses, pollsters said.

What they're saying: "With Boebert under 50%, that means she is vulnerable to losing this race," Chris Keating, president and founder of Keating Research, told Axios Denver on Tuesday.

Yes, but: The 3rd District on Colorado's Western Slope overwhelmingly favors Republicans, and the race is not considered competitive by national experts.

Boebert is a fundraising juggernaut and frequent surrogate supporter for Republican candidates across the country.

FiveThirtyEight gives Boebert a 98% chance of winning a second term.

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Lauren Boebert's re-election in jeopardy, new poll shows

Still, Boebert's 3rd District on Colorado's Western Slope overwhelmingly favors the GOP and the race is not even considered competitive.

U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert takes part in The Club 20 political conference at Colorado Mesa University on September 10, 2022 in Grand Junction, Colorado. 

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert takes part in The Club 20 event Sept. 10 in Grand Junction. Photo: RJ Sangosti/Denver Post via Getty Images

Midterm Elections 2022

A reported explosion at Northeastern University last month was a hoax perpetrated by a former employee, who has been arrested and charged for orchestrating the hoax and lying to federal authorities about it.

Driving the news: The FBI announced at a news conference Tuesday that it had arrested Jason Duhaime, 45, a former Northeastern employee from Texas, in connection with the case.

Duhaime, the former new technology manager and director of the Immersive Media Lab at the school, had called 911 on the evening of Sept. 13, claiming that he'd been injured by "sharp objects" flying out of a plastic case he had opened, which also contained a threatening letter, according to a Department of Justice press release.

The FBI Boston division tweeted a photo of the purported plastic case and the letter, which it said was allegedly written by Duhaime and threatened further violence against the lab.

Federal officials began investigating Duhaime the day after the 911 call, citing inconsistencies in his stories and the injuries he'd sustained.

The big picture: Duhaime has been charged with "one count of intentionally conveying false and misleading information related to an explosive device and one count of making materially false statements to a federal law enforcement agent," per the press release.

According to court documents unsealed Tuesday, neither the plastic case nor the letter bore any marks of having been near an explosion. 

When questioned by law inforcement, Duhaime's story didn't line up with what he'd said on his 911 call, but he denied any fabrication, per the DOJ.

Duhaime was arrested in Texas on Tuesday morning and will make his first appearance in federal court in Boston at a later, unspecified date.

What they're saying: “Throughout the course of the investigation, we believe he repeatedly lied to us about what happened inside the lab, faked his injuries, and wrote a rambling letter directed at the lab threatening more violence,” Joseph Bonavolonta, the FBI special agent in charge, said Tuesday, CNN reported.

Boston

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Report of Northeastern University explosion was a hoax, former employee arrested

“Throughout the course of the investigation, we believe he repeatedly lied to us about what happened inside the lab."

A general view of signage on Northeastern University Campus. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Universities

The Supreme Court on Tuesday is hearing arguments in an Alabama redistricting case that could further erode the landmark Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in voting.

Why it matters: It puts on the chopping block a portion of the act that civil rights groups and minority voters have relied on for decades to challenge racially discriminatory redistricting maps.

The ruling could also carry implications for how other states draw their own congressional maps. 

What the Supreme Court is considering in Merrill v. Milligan

The Supreme Court is weighing Alabama's 2021 congressional redistricting map, drawn by the state's GOP-legislature after the 2020 census. 

The congressional map gave Black voters — about 27% of the state — the majority in just one of the state's seven congressional districts, AP notes.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of voters argued that the maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires that states provide minority voters with "an equal opportunity to participate in the political process," by diluting Black voter strength.

The state has defended the Republican-drawn map, saying that it is taking a "race neutral" approach to redistricting and it is asking the court to overturn a lower court decision, per AP.

How the Alabama case got to the Supreme Court — and what they're saying 

A three-judge lower court, including two appointees of former President Trump, in January said Alabama's congressional map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. 

"The appropriate remedy is a congressional redistricting plan that includes either an additional majority-Black congressional district, or an additional district in which Black voters otherwise have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice," the judges said in a 225-page ruling.

The state of Alabama asked the Supreme Court to put the lower court hearing on hold while it appealed, which the justices allowed, AP reports. 

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote sided with the state, putting on hold the lower court ruling, and allowing the congressional map to stand for the 2022 elections.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, with Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor, dissented from the ruling, writing that “[it] forces Black Alabamians to suffer what under” the Voting Rights Act "is clear vote dilution."

Implications of the court's decision on the Voting Rights Act

Civil rights groups and minority voters have relied on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to dispute racially discriminatory maps, per the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice. 

Parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act has been weakened by the Supreme Court at least two times over the last decade.

In 2013, the court eliminated a provision of the act that required oversight of any changes to election laws in some states with a history of discrimination in voting, per AP. 

And last year, the court upheld voting laws that critics said made it more difficult to bring cases under Section 2, per AP. 

The most immediate impacts of the Supreme Court's decision in Merrill v. Milligan could be in Georgia and Louisiana, where courts have already found that Section 2 requires redrawing of congressional maps, per the Brennan Center.

Go deeper... Mapped: Voting rights for 2022

Supreme Court could further erode voting rights. Here’s what to know

The ruling will also carry implications for how other states draw their congressional maps.

 The U.S. Supreme Court Building on October 03, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Voting rights

The son of Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Georgia, accused his father of "lying" and "making a mockery" of his family after a report alleged Walker had paid for his then-girlfriend to have an abortion in 2009.

Why it matters: The abortion allegations and stunning series of tweets from Christian Walker, a 23-year-old conservative TikTok influencer, could hurt Republicans' chances of winning in Georgia — one of the most important Senate battlegrounds in the country.

Christian Walker introduced his father at one of the candidate's earliest fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago, the Florida residence of former President Trump.

Herschel Walker — who says he opposes abortion, with no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother — vigorously denied The Daily Beast report that he paid for his girlfriend's abortion and said he would sue the outlet for defamation on Tuesday morning.

The latest: Christian Walker posted a video message Tuesday where he called out his father for lying and criticized political pundits for how they've responded to the situation.

"Everything's been a lie. Everything's been downplayed. Everything's been cutting corners, the whole thing," Christian Walker said.

"Don't lie. Don't put this on me. This is a candidate issue, not a 'me' issue. I wouldn't have spoken out if there weren't all these lies every day," he added.

"You have no idea what I've been through in my life," he said. "You have no idea what me and my mom have survived. We could have ended this on day one. We haven't. I haven't told any stories. I'm just saying don't lie. Don't lie on my mom. Don't lie."

"You don't get to pretend you're some moral family dad. You don't get to pretend all these things. Talk policy. Talk normal. Do not lie."

Christian Walker first tweeted out criticism of his father Monday night.

 "Every family member of Herschel Walker asked him not to run for office, because we all knew (some of) his past. Every single one. He decided to give us the middle finger and air out all of his dirty laundry in public, while simultaneously lying about it. I'm done," Christian Walker tweeted.

"I know my mom and I would really appreciate if my father Herschel Walker stopped lying and making a mockery of us. You’re not a 'family man' when you left us to bang a bunch of women, threatened to kill us, and had us move over 6 times in 6 months running from your violence," he continued.

Herschel Walker's son accuses father of lying about his past

"Every family member of Herschel Walker asked him not to run for office..."

Tuesday's politics & policy stories

Trump asks Supreme Court to weigh in on Mar-a-Lago classified docs probe

Solitary confinement up under Biden, despite promise to reduce practice

Republicans double down on Herschel Walker

Steve Bannon's fraud trial expected in November 2023

Trump, GOP leaders back Herschel Walker after abortion report

U.S. announces $625 million in new military aid for Ukraine

Lauren Boebert's re-election in jeopardy, new poll shows

Report of Northeastern University explosion was a hoax, former employee arrested

Supreme Court could further erode voting rights. Here’s what to know

Herschel Walker's son accuses father of lying about his past

What Puerto Ricans want to see happen after Fiona

Scoop: Oz to report $17.2 million (including a $7 million loan)

Zelensky pledges fair treatment for Ukrainians in reclaimed territory

COVID-19 dashboard

Dashboard: The latest on Roe v. Wade and abortion

Here are 5 Supreme Court cases to watch this term

Medical groups urge DOJ to investigate threats over gender-affirming care

11 House GOP challengers raised more than $1 million in Q3

The well-funded world of challenging congressional bogeymen