President Biden said on Monday the U.S. will do everything possible to get a new hostage deal and pause in fighting in Gaza.
Why it matters: His comments come a day ahead of a critical meeting between U.S. Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials in Cairo about the hostage talks. Biden's strategy for the Gaza war is largely dependent on getting a hostage deal and pause in the fighting that will allow the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid and time to work on day-after diplomatic solutions.
Former President Trump's recent anti-NATO comments fit into his longtime disdain for the defensive alliance, but went a step further with the suggestion he'd stand by Russia if it invaded a NATO ally.
The big picture: The comments from the GOP presidential frontrunner ignited a wave of backlash. They signal a second Trump presidency could further upend the U.S. role in NATO, fundamentally reshaping the international order.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr. told NBC News in an interview that the U.S.' credibility in its military alliances is "at stake" when asked to respond to former President Trump's recent comments on NATO.
Why it matters: Trump said at a South Carolina rally over the weekend he would not defend a NATO member against an attack by Russia if the country did not meet defensive spending levels obligated by the treat — and would "encourage" Moscow "to do whatever the hell they want" to such an ally.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will resume his "normal duties" on Tuesday following his recent hospitalization for a bladder issue, the Pentagon announced Monday.
The latest: Austin underwent non-surgical procedures under anesthesia on Monday to address the bladder issue, officials with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said Monday.
President Biden's re-election campaign officially launched its TikTok account on Sunday with a Super Bowl-themed video.
Why it matters: The move comes after Axios first reported in November that the Biden campaign has been weighing joining the app to reach younger voters on the platform, despite data security concerns surrounding the Chinese-owned company.
The Elie Wiesel Foundation has agreed to house the personal papers of the late Nobel Peace Laureate and Holocaust survivor at the Florida Holocaust Museum — and the museum plans to recreate his working space for visitors.
The big picture: The announcement — and a massive project to digitize Wiesel'sunfinished manuscripts and correspondence with world leaders — comes as museums race to save testimonies from the last generation of Holocaust survivors.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Monday blasted former President Trump's suggestion thathe encouraged Russia to attack "delinquent" NATO allies, saying "no sane American President would encourage" such an action.
Why it matters: The comments set off a fresh round of worry among some anti-Trump Republicans and international observers on how a second Trump presidency could impact the United States' role in the international military alliance.
Hundreds of adult dancers are urging the Washington state legislature to adopt a so-called "strippers' bill of rights," which they say would help protect them from customers and club owners alike.
Why it matters: Dancers say they've been assaulted and threatened on the job without adequate security staff there to step in, all while having to pay excessive fees to strip club owners in order to perform.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apologized to his family Sunday night after a super PAC backing his presidential bid ran a Super Bowl ad that mirrored a 1960 presidential campaign ad for his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy.
Why it matters: The ad was an extraordinarily expensive investment and generated online buzz for the long-shot presidential candidate who is seeking to boost his national name recognition.
Aboard Air Force One en route to tour the southern border in January 2023, President Biden sat at the head of his conference table and exploded with fury.
The president lit into his team, which included then-Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon, Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall and other immigration officials. He demanded obscure immigration data points — and vented when his staff didn't have them handy.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby is being promoted to an expanded role, a White House official said Sunday.
Why it matters: Kirby, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, has become the public face of the Biden administration's response to the Israel-Hamas war, and Axios' Alex Thompson notes he's a favorite of the president.
