Axios

Trump International Airport could soon serve as the welcome mat for visitors to Nashville.

Driving the news: On the eve of President-elect Trump's inauguration, a Tennessee Republican lawmaker has filed legislation to rename Nashville International Airport in his honor.

Why it matters: It's not unusual for airports to be named after presidents, but Trump is not particularly popular in liberal Nashville.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed Friday that Democratic senators had sent him a letter alleging "he has a clear and direct interest in obtaining favors" from Donald Trump and is using his donations "to cozy up" to the incoming administration to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

Why it matters: Altman was one of several tech titans who donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration. In a statement to Axios in response to the senators' letter, an OpenAI spokesperson said: "Sam believes that President Trump will lead our country during a pivotal moment for AI and American innovation, and looks forward to working with him and his administration."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune notched his first big win Friday by clearing the filibuster on the Laken Riley Act. It'll almost certainly pass Monday with ease.

Why it matters: It's a specific, popular, bipartisan bill. But it also hands Thune a chance to prove he's serious about promises made during the GOP leadership election.

GOP tax writers are gathering support for creative ways to make the price tag $0 for extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts.

Why it matters: The procedural and budgetary gambit will free Republicans from the burden of finding the $4 trillion in spending cuts. But deficit hawks, including member of the House Freedom Caucus, haven't completely signed off on the novel approach.

Chinese AI makers have learned to build powerful models that perform almost as well as the best ones in the U.S. — for less money and with much less demand for energy, Axios' Scott Rosenberg and Alison Snyder report.

• V3, an open-source model developed by Chinese firm DeepSeek, performs about as well on various benchmark tests as OpenAI and Anthropic's most advanced models.
• DeepSeek says it cost just $5.6 million to train V3 — compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars American companies have spent to build and train their models.

🤖 Between the lines: The Biden administration has done a lot to advance AI in the U.S. and keep those advancements out of the Chinese government's hands.

Most Americans — 53% — are already giving President-elect Trump credit for improving the economy, Axios' Sam Baker writes from a new survey by Axios and The Harris Poll.

• That's mainly driven by Republicans. 47% of independents and 34% of Democrats also give Trump some preemptive credit.

💡 Reality check: Trump hasn't made any economic policy since Election Day. And the quantifiable signs that the economy is good — low unemployment, inflation well below its peak and strong consumer spending — haven't materially changed since before Election Day.

1. 🥶 President-elect Trump's inauguration will move inside the Capitol Rotunda, due to Monday's frigid forecast. Capital One Arena will open for spectators to watch the ceremony, and Trump said he will join the crowd there afterward. Ronald Reagan's 1985 swearing-in was the last to move indoors. Go deeper.
2. ⚖️ The Supreme Court upheld the law that could ban TikTok, saying it doesn't violate the First Amendment. The ruling puts more pressure on Trump's administration to figure out a long-term solution. Go deeper.

A new 3-on-3 league that could revolutionize women's basketball launches today in Miami, Axios' Everett Cook writes.

• Unrivaled — founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier— is part of the explosive growth of women's sports.

⛹️‍♀️ Between the lines: WNBA players have long played overseas in the off-season to supplement their meager league salaries. Unrivaled gives them a chance to earn extra cash in the U.S., while growing the American fan base.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has been appointed fill the state's U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Why it matters: Husted will serve at least two years in office, with the pick giving Ohio a pair of pro-Trump freshman senators.

President-elect Trump sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill on Friday by announcing that his inaugural ceremonies will take place indoors, leaving members of Congress guessing about their plans.

Why it matters: Monday's proceedings will now take place in the Capitol rotunda — an extremely limited space — meaning many lawmakers will likely not be able to attend.

Arcane arguments made by vaccine critics — many false or misleading — about how some vaccines are tested could have significant implications if one of their own becomes the nation's top health official.

Why it matters: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump's choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has said he isn't going to take away vaccines from anyone, although he'll be able to use the bully pulpit to sow fear if he so chooses.

President-elect Trump's inaugural ceremony Monday will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda due to the weather forecast in Washington, D.C., he posted on Truth Social.

The big picture: Ronald Reagan's 1985 presidential swearing-in was the last to move indoors because of cold temperatures.

TikTok could disappear for U.S. users as soon as this Sunday if a ban — even a short one — goes into effect.

Why it matters: The future of the wildly popular app is in question after the Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law to ban the app if it wasn't sold by its Chinese parent company by Jan. 19.

President-elect Trump spoke Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone just days before the U.S. presidential inauguration.

Why it matters: Trump said last month he exchanged messages with Xi after winning the election but didn't confirm they spoke. The president-elect has promised to implement aggressive tariffs on imports from China and could also be forced to determine the fate of TikTok upon taking office.

President Biden on Friday said he believes the Equal Rights Amendment is the "law of the land" as the U.S. Constitution's 28th Amendment — though with only days left in his term, his power on the issue is not immediately clear.

Why it matters: The measure proposed more than a century ago would guarantee equal rights, legally, regardless of sex. The president claims it has met the standards to become part of the constitution, which would require the National Archivist to formally publish or certify it.

President Biden plans to write a book after leaving office, the White House confirmed to Axios, giving him an opportunity to try and shape the narrative around his presidency and the tumultuous weeks leading to his historic withdrawal from the 2024 race.

Why it matters: There's a glut of reporting coming out on Biden's fateful decision to run again in 2024 and ultimately step aside after his disastrous debate with President-elect Trump — most of it unflattering to the 82-year-old president.

Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to clear a critical hurdle on legislation that would require the detention of undocumented immigrants arrested for certain crimes.

Why it matters: The Laken Riley Act is on track to be the first bill passed out of the 119th Congress, giving President-elect Trump an early victory on his top second-term priority.

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that could ban TikTok in the U.S.

The big picture: The court unanimously rejected TikTok's claims that the law violates the First Amendment.

China's ByteDance has called America's bluff on the future of TikTok, and it's beginning to look like a smart bet.

State of play: U.S. politicians from both parties are scrambling to save the app's availability, despite having previously supported a ban.

It's not too soon to draw big conclusions about Joe Biden's presidency, even though his legacy rests partly on how much Donald Trump unwinds his policies.

Why it matters: Biden funneled unprecedented federal resources into climate and low-carbon energy, going way, way beyond Obama-era initiatives.

Medicare will seek to negotiate lower prices for Novo Nordisk's popular but pricey GLP-1 drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, along with 14 other drugs, the Biden administration announced Friday morning.

Why it matters: The announcement kicks off the second round of price negotiations between Medicare and drugmakers. The talks, which stem from the Inflation Reduction Act and have already survived multiple court challenges, are projected to save taxpayers billions of dollars.

A majority of Americans across nearly all demographic groups said DEI initiatives have made no impact on their personal careers, according to a newly released Harris Poll/Axios Vibes survey.

Why it matters: Republican lawmakers and activists have vilified DEI, a term for diversity, equity and inclusion policies used by employers. Companies have responded by rolling back programs.

Monday is both Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Why it matters: The U.S. Postal Service, stock markets, banks and many schools are closed for the federal holiday, but not because it's the day President-elect Trump is sworn in as the 47th president.

Just about all the biggest names in tech will be in Washington on Monday for President-elect Trump's inauguration — a much different scene than the beginning of his first term.

Where it stands: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is the latest addition to the Big Tech guest list for Trump's swearing-in.

Mayors across the country, representing nearly 35 million Americans, are warning of a severe and worsening housing shortfall, according to a new survey from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

The big picture: There aren't enough homes in the U.S. to keep up with demand, with some estimates putting total housing shortage in the millions of units.

Mark Zuckerberg is living his best life in the Trump 2.0 era, despite the President-elect's campaign threat to jail him.

The big picture: Zuckerberg has spent the post-election months cozying up to Trump, including through a Mar-a-Lago visit and $1 million inauguration donation.

Eight years ago, Donald Trump took office with a dark message about "American carnage" — a nation ravaged by crime, poverty and drugs. As he returns to the White House on Monday, his team is stressing "unity" and "light."

Why it matters: It's unclear whether Trump's inaugural message will resist his typical doomsday rhetoric about the America he's inheriting, but the inauguration festivities he's planning do suggest a cheerier tone.

LOS ANGELES — Elon Musk and his allies are waging a ruthless information war in California, sensing opportunity in the ashes of the most destructive wildfires in state history.

Why it matters: For decades, Republicans have tried and failed to end Democrats' near-monopoly on power in the nation's most populous state. This time, they insist, the conditions are ripe for a reckoning.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) will meet with President-elect Trump on Friday, his office announced.

The big picture: After the New York Times reported on the previously unannounced Mar-a-Lago meeting three days out from Trump's inauguration, Adams' spokesperson Fabien Levy released a statement on Thursday saying the mayor looked forward to having "productive" talks with Trump "on how we can move our city and country forward."

The deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages being held in Gaza and begin a ceasefire was officially signed by negotiators in Doha on Thursday, according to two sources familiar with the issue. But the Israeli government isn't expected to vote on it until Saturday night.

Why it matters: The delay in the vote will postpone the start of the ceasefire and the release of the first three hostages from Sunday to at least Monday, according to Israeli officials.

Apple is suspending its new artificial intelligence feature summarizing alerts for news and entertainment apps after facing complaints from news outlets and press freedom groups about generating false and inaccurate information.

Why it matters: The BBC lodged an official complaint after the Apple Intelligence summaries generated an inaccurate headline of a report by the British outlet that incorrectly represented a report on Luigi Mangione, the suspect in last month's killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, by suggesting he had committed suicide.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients has an alarm set for 4:20 a.m. But he rarely needs it — he usually beats the buzzer by 10-15 minutes.

• His first two tasks of the day: 20 minutes of transcendental meditation ... followed by four shots of espresso. He does an hour of work, then a workout, and is in the office by 7:30 a.m.

Idaho, Kansas and Missouri can proceed with their push against abortion pill mifepristone, a judge in Texas ruled Thursday.

The big picture: The Republican-led states are seeking to roll back federal rules on the drug to make it harder for people to access the abortion pill through telehealth prescriptions.

China's leader Xi Jinping is sending a top envoy to attend President-elect Trump's inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Beijing confirmed.

Why it matters: The "unprecedented" deployment of Xi's special representative, Vice President Han Zheng, is intended to reduce tensions with the U.S. after Trump threatened to impose major tariffs on China and other countries, per the Financial Times, which first reported the news.

Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell's conspicuous silence is starting to spook Tulsi Gabbard's team.

Why it matters: The Trump transition thinks Gabbard, the director of national intelligence nominee, can get confirmed even with a "no" vote from McConnell. But his public opposition — if it materializes — could open the door to other GOP defectors.

• Gabbard's team isn't banking on McConnell's vote, sources tell us.

A surprising number of Johnson's House Republicans are on board with Trump's new flavor of U.S. expansion.

• Even more surprising: The backers cut across the sometimes-warring factions of the House GOP.

Why it matters: "People who were snickering or laughing about it when it was first brought up are starting to actually realize it's a legitimate issue," centrist Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told us.

• "This is real," said Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), a member of the right-wing Freedom Caucus. "There are going to be some serious conversations."

Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) conspicuous silence is starting to spook Tulsi Gabbard's team.

Why it matters: President-elect Trump Trump's transition thinks Gabbard, the nominee for director of national intelligence, can get confirmed even with a "no" vote from McConnell. But his public opposition — if it materializes — could open the door to other GOP defectors.

A group of House Republicans are emerging as frequent co-sponsors of legislation to bring President-elect Trump's vision of an American empire to fruition.

Why it matters: This group spans the House Republican conference's ideological spectrum, from some of its most moderate members to its most right-wing.