Donald Trump made the Village People "great again" for conservatives, and now the 1970s disco group will be featured during his inauguration weekend, along with Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Why it matters: Trump is personally picking his celebration's musical acts to represent his eclectic tastes, an inauguration official tells Axios. The Village People earned a special place in MAGA world because their 1978 hit "YMCA" inspired what's now known as "The Trump Dance" (yes, it has a Wikipedia entry).
Gov. Ron DeSantis faced forceful pushback from legislative leaders in his own party after calling for a special session to boost President-elect Trump's planned crackdown on undocumented immigration.
Why it matters: DeSantis has rarely faced public resistance from GOP lawmakers during his tenure. Monday's defiant response could signal a less compliant Legislature as he enters his final two years as governor.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is forming his kitchen cabinet — an inner circle of advisers outside of elected leadership, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: A new leader means new alliances and new voices with influence.
Americans have consistently viewed medical workers, K-12 teachers and military officers as the most ethical professions — but even their ratings have dropped considerably, new Gallup polling shows.
Why it matters: Americans' opinion of the ethics of various professions has stalled at its lowest point — reflective of declining confidence in U.S. institutions overall.
President Biden said Monday that he is leaving the Trump administration a country in a far stronger position than the one he inherited, with a "strong hand to play" when dealing with geopolitical crises.
Why it matters: During his term, Biden sought to counteract much of the "America first" diplomacy enacted during President-elect Trump's administration. Now, his achievements will face the scrutiny of the new Trump administration.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats on the Armed Services Committee will huddle Monday amid a standoff over Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Only one top Senate Democrat has read Hegseth's FBI background check since it was given to Congress last week. His confirmation hearing begins on Tuesday morning.
Country music star Carrie Underwood will perform at President-elect Trump's inauguration next week, Trump's transition team confirmed to Axios Monday.
Why it matters: Underwood is a more high-profile performer than the musical guests at Trump's 2017 inauguration, signaling that the entertainment industry's hesitance to embrace Trump has thawed since he left office.
House Republicans on Monday introduced a bill that would allow President-elect Trump to enter into negotiations with Denmark to acquire Greenland.
Why it matters: It's the latest in a series of proposed Republican legislation to bring Trump's vision of a new, sprawling American empire to fruition.
Israel and mediators from Egypt, the U.S. and Qatar have given Hamas a final draft agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza,two senior Israeli officials and a source familiar with the details said.
Why it matters: The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reached a critical point a week before President-elect Trump is sworn into office.
Donald Trump's idea of a perfect negotiation is one in which he presents himself as being so extreme and unpredictable that the other side gives him exactly what he wants before he even needs to ask for it.
By that standard, at least when it comes to the billionaire class, he's doing extremely well so far.
The big picture: Billionaires, by definition, have enough money that they can simply do things their own way and tell anyone they like to bugger off. Even the president.
Insurers who administer private Medicare plans could see a more than $21 billion pay increase in 2026 under a plan proposed by the Biden administration on Friday.
The big picture: The adjustment would be a boon for UnitedHealth Group, the country's largest Medicare Advantage insurer. Other major MA players like Humana and CVS Health would also benefit.
A non-profit closely aligned with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is preparing its first major investment in the 2026 election with a campaign aimed at dinging Republicans on the economy.
Why it matters: The effort comes as President-elect Trump and congressional Republicans are preparing a hulking fiscal policy package that could define the 119th Congress.
Los Angeles County is facing "critical fire conditions" after firefighters have for days battled deadly wildfires that have razed entire neighborhoods, and the situation is expected to worsen this week.
Threat level: The National Weather Service issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" red flag warning that's due to start early Tuesday into Wednesday for parts of L.A. County and Ventura County, warning that winds will be high enough to cause "explosive fire growth."
A historic Black community that grew out of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s is among the communities wiped away by devastating wildfires charring through Los Angeles County.
The big picture: The Eaton Fire has all but flatted the many Black-owned homes and businesses in the unincorporated area of Altadena, California, in San Gabriel Valley and the Verdugos regions.
FBI director Christopher Wray said in a "60 Minutes" interview airing Sunday he's retiring early because he didn't want to thrust the bureau "deeper into the fray" after facing intense criticism from President-elect Trump.
