A regulator doesn't have to explicitly say "don't do something" in order to tell entities it regulates to not do that something, witnesses testified Thursday at a House subcommittee hearing on the debanking of legal digital-asset companies.
Why it matters: Allegations of unfair treatment against multiple businesses in a disfavored but legal industry raise concerns about the subjectivity and opacity in banking regulation.
The NCAA announced Thursday that it's changing its policies to comply with President Trump's executive order banning transgender women from women's sports.
The big picture: The organization, which regulates athletics for 1,100 colleges, indicated two months ago that it has fewer than 10 transgender student-athletes among about 530,000.
A group of House and Senate Democrats said they were denied access to the Environmental Protection Agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Why it matters: It is the third time this week that Democratic lawmakers were blocked from an agency that has been targeted by President Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
A D.C. federal judge called the FDIC's interpretation of a court order to release all documents on a cryptocurrency policy matter "almost laughable" in a hearing transcript the plaintiffs released Thursday.
Why it matters: The judge warned the agency that if it can't reliably prove relevant documents were preserved, it will be in for sanctions from the court.
Americans are as dissatisfied as ever with conditions in the U.S., according to an annal Gallup survey conducted shortly before President Trump's return to the White House.
Why it matters: Trump took office last month at a time of persistent pessimism among Americans, with an average satisfaction score across key elements of U.S. life hovering at just 38%.
A federal judge on Thursday pushed back the deadline for government employees to decide whether or not to take the "buyout" offer from the Trump administration.
Why it matters: The deadline had been midnight Thursday, but there is now a restraining order until Monday.
The White House has directed the General Services Administration to terminate "every single media contract" expensed by the agency, according to an email obtained by Axios.
What they're saying: "GSA team, please do two things," a Trump administration official wrote:
Pull all contracts for Politico, BBC, E&E (Politico sub) and Bloomberg
Pull all media contracts for just GSA - cancel every single media contract today for GSA only.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to visit the Middle East in mid-February, two Israeli officials and two sources with knowledge told Axios.
Why it matters: It would be Rubio's first trip to the region since he assumed office and comes amid the uproar President Trump's "Gaza takeover" plan created in the Middle East.
During his meetings in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a plan for ending the war in Gaza in return for Hamas giving up power and its leaders leaving Gaza, according to two U.S. sources and one Israeli source.
Why it matters: Netanyahu has said he doesn't see a path to a post-war plan for Gaza as long as Hamas is in control. If Hamas relinquishes power and its leaders go into exile, it could open the door for a day-after plan, possibly including President Trump's "Gaza takeover."
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is prioritizing grants to arts organizations that "celebrate and honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence," per an agency email obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The Trump administration's America First policy is now filtering down to arts and cultural grants.
The Senate will vote Thursday evening to confirm Russ Vought as the head of the White House budget office, cementing his appointment despite Democratic opposition.
Why it matters: If confirmed as thedirector of the Office of Management and Budget, Vought would have the power to implement many of the key aspects of Trump's agenda.
The White House outlined its tax priorities in a meeting with House GOP leaders on Thursday — a list that includes campaign promises like ending taxes on tips and Social Security benefits, a White House official tells Axios.
Why it matters: President Trump promised that tax cuts would be a centerpiece of his agenda, but the wishlist presented Thursday also includes the closure of some loopholes typically used by the wealthy.
The Trump administration is suing the city of Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois over sanctuary laws that prohibit local law enforcement from aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in arresting undocumented immigrants.
Why it matters: The lawsuit puts legal pressure on Illinois and other immigration-friendly states as President Trump works to fulfill his campaign promises for mass deportations.
Why it matters: President Trump has moved to swiftly gut critical agencies in order to reshape the federal workforce and cut costs from foundational portions of the federal government.
In a rebuke of the Trump administration, Panama has refuted a claim by the U.S. State Department that American vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without being charged fees.
Why it matters: The dispute comes shortly after the State Department made the announcement Wednesday evening. President Trump has pushed to regain control of the canal — one of the world's most significant pieces of infrastructure.
Tom Brady works in the Fox broadcast booth during a game in September. Photo: Jerome Miron/AP
In his first Super Bowlinside the Fox broadcasting booth, Tom Brady will try to take the same approach he did in his previous 10 appearances in the big game as a player.
What he's saying: "There's no scoreboard for us. Did we feel we approached the game the right way, and were we prepared? Ultimately, it comes down to two things: Was I confident in what I said, and did I enjoy myself? I think if those are yes, then we did a good job," Brady told AP. "I'm very excited for what's ahead."
U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer meets with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) last month. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Jamieson Greer — President Trump's pick to be U.S. trade representative — will tell the Senate Finance Committee at his confirmation hearing Thursday that "America should be a country of producers. We are more than just what we consume."
Why it matters: Greer, a protégé of former Trump trade chief Robert Lighthizer, will hold one of the tariff-happy administration's most important positions.
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has gained access to the inner workings of Health and Human Services, including data systems of the agency that manages a nearly $2 trillion budget, handles Medicare and Medicaid benefits and runs the National Institutes of Health, the world's biggest biomedical research institution.
Why it matters: As they march through the federal bureaucracy, Musk and his team now have a seemingly unfiltered view of the sensitive inner workings of much of U.S. health care.
Donald Trump's administration has used the "catch and release" program to free 461 undocumented immigrants from custody since he took office, partly because of limited detention space in U.S. immigration facilities, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: During his campaign Trump repeatedly criticized the Biden administration's use of "catch and release," and last month he set plans to end the practice.
The Trump administration's gutting of USAID is just a start: Elon Musk and President Trump's Cabinet and advisers are combing through agencies to purge those deemed to be anti-Trump, anti-American or too "woke," top officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Trump promised during his campaign to root out the "Deep State" — generally framed as institutional resistance in D.C. that impedes his agenda. But the speed and tactics of Trump's vengeance-fueled cost-cutting efforts have been surprising.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris' unedited "60 Minutes" interview was posted in full online by CBS News and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) on Wednesday.
The big picture: President Trump filed a lawsuit against the network ahead of his election win over Harris, alleging the interview with the Democratic presidential candidate was deceptively edited. CBS maintains it did nothing wrong and said in a Wednesday post the interview "was not doctored or deceitful."
Thousands gathered in front of state capitols across the U.S. on Wednesday to protest against the Trump administration's aggressive moves to reshape the federal government and American society.
The big picture: Demonstrators nationwide rallied against a slew of policies instated by the president less than three weeks into his term, with protesters denouncing his comments on a U.S. "take over" of Gaza, his immigration crackdown, anti-trans orders and Elon Musk's role in the White House.
A coalition of labor groups filed suit Wednesday seeking to stop DOGE from coming to the Labor Department and gaining access to some of the world's most vital macroeconomic data.
Why it matters: This isn't the first lawsuit against Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, but appears to be one of the first filed as a preventative measure — instead of after some major action.
"This can't go on like this," President Trump said as he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat in the Oval Office on Tuesday, discussing Gaza's rebuild from the rubble.
"Here's what I want to do...," Trump said, according to two officials briefed on the meeting, which included Cabinet members and Trump senior advisers.
Trump then laid out a plan far more ambitious than what he and his aides had discussed earlier in the day: "The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip ... we will develop it."
Driving the news: Trump's earthquake of an announcement — an "audible," staffers called it — continued to ripple around the world Wednesday, drawing some praise but a lot of backlash, namely about its legality and logistics.
Two deadlines are threatening to scuttle Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) precious plan for one, big budget bill.
Why it matters: President Trump's Friday night dinner with senators at Mar-a-Lago is the soft deadline. Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) plan to move his own bill next week is the hard one.
Congressional Democrats' offices are being inundated by phone calls from angry constituents who feel the party should be doing more to combat President Trump and his administration.
Why it matters: Some lawmakers feel their grassroots base is setting expectations too high for what Democrats can actually accomplish as the minority party in both chambers of Congress.
