President Trump on Tuesday alleged judges are trying to stop the administration from seeking out corruption amid attacks on the power of the judicial branch to curb orders from the executive.
The big picture: While influential voices like Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Elon Musk and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) have started calling for the power of courts to be restricted, others in the GOP are pushing back.
Editor's note:This story has been translated to Spanish here.
Parents at risk of being deported under the Trump administration's ramped-up immigration enforcement policies should solidify temporary guardianship plans for their children as soon as possible, legal experts advise.
Why it matters: The uncertainty around how and where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will carry out Trump's deportation orders makes it all the more imperative that families have emergency plans in place before a potential separation, Selene Almazan, legal director of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, told Axios.
The stablecoin economy has bipartisan support, with the backing of significant leaders from both parties. It seems the only question now is how tight regulation is going to be.
Why it matters: Stablecoins power trillions of dollars worth of transaction volume annually on blockchains, which has made the U.S. dollar the universal coin of the realm.
A House Republican is doubling down on his call to deport Somali American Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) with a fundraising email urging supporters to sign a petition to that effect, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's one of the most graphic examples to date of the kind of incivility that has gripped Congress in recent years and fueled a historic exodus of members.
During a closed-door lunch on Tuesday, two top Trump officials urged Republican senators to fast-track $175 billion in new border money.
Why it matters: The White House is turning up the heat as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate GOP Leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) game of reconciliation chicken gets more hostile.
Why it matters: Domestic violence is a deadly problem in the United States. Cosmetologists are positioned to recognize cases of domestic violence and lead victims to help.
Stunning stat: Three women are killed in the U.S. each day by intimate partners.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that the courts should take a "step back" from the challenges to Elon Musk and DOGE's efforts to transform the federal government and "allow these processes to play out."
Why it matters: Johnson said Tuesday that he "wholeheartedly" agrees with Vice President JD Vance's sentiment that "judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power."
A House Republican introduced a bill Tuesday that would enable President Trump's efforts to purchase Greenland — and rename it to "Red, White and Blueland."
Why it matters: Republican lawmakers loyal to Trump have scrambled to put together a series of bills that would codify the president's desire for a new era of American expansionism.
As Elon Musk and his people weave their way through federal agencies, security experts warn that the team's wide-reaching access poses unprecedented risks — including potential data leaks, insider threats, and violations of federal security protocols.
Why it matters: While Musk and President Trump say the Department of Government Efficiency is focused on uncovering fraud, security experts caution that DOGE's rapid onboarding of employees with access to sensitive government data increases the risk of both intentional and accidental security breaches.
Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said he believes the Treasury Department's critical payments system is safe and that the Fed is committed to carrying out its role in the system with integrity.
Why it matters: The system disburses trillions of dollars each year on behalf of America's government, including payouts for Social Security and tax refunds.
Pope Francis denounced the Trump administration's plan to carry out mass deportations of migrants in a letter to U.S. bishops Tuesday, while appearing to take a direct jab at Vice President JD Vance.
Why it matters: Vance — a devout Catholic — has invoked Catholic theology to justify the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement strategy.
Why it matters: This escalates the strategic fight between the two chambers over how to get the Trump tax cuts extended past this year — while also adding billions in spending on deportation infrastructure and the military.
The United States was perceived as the most corrupt it's been since 2012 in a watchdog group's annual index of nations around the globe.
The big picture: The U.S. received its lowest ever Corruption Perceptions Index score since Transparency International's current scale was established in 2012, according to the group's annual global ranking of public sector corruption across 180 countries released Tuesday.
Google Maps users in the U.S. can now officially see the "Gulf of America" label over the Gulf of Mexico.
Why it matters: The name change, ordered by President Trump upon taking office, has sown confusion among journalists, map makers and government agencies.
OpenAI is not for sale — and particularly not to Elon Musk, CEO Sam Altman told Axios on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris.
Why it matters: Altman's comments come one day after his increasingly heated rival Musk made a shock $97.4 billion offer for OpenAI's assets, potentially changing the narrative around the technology's future.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum to reverse the name of the Fort Liberty Army base in North Carolina "back to Fort Bragg," the Pentagon announced Monday.
Why it matters: The base was renamed Fort Liberty in 2023 because it was originally named after Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, but a Pentagon statement on Monday gave its full new name as Fort Roland L. Bragg.
Labor unions are suing the Trump administration in an attempt to stop the Elon Musk-led DOGE team from accessing private information at the Education and Treasury departments and the Office of Personnel Management.
Why it matters: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT)-led lawsuit that was filed in federal court Monday alleges giving DOGE access to this data "violates federal law" and that the departments "improperly disclosed" U.S. citizens' sensitive information.
American students are half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement levels in math and reading, according to an Education Recovery Scorecard report released on Tuesday.
Why it matters: No state showed improvements in both math and reading from 2019 to 2024, according to the Nation's Report Card — a national assessment of math and reading achievement.
Rep. John Larson's (D-Conn.) sudden freeze-up during a speech on the House floor Monday was the "likely an adverse reaction to a new medication," his office said.
Why it matters: A clip of the moment rapidly went viral online, prompting speculation about the 76-year-old congressman's health amid a broader national debate over the age of America's most powerful politicians.
President Trump on Monday imposed blanket 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, an escalation of trade tensions with ripple effects that might be felt by American consumers.
Why it matters: The metals are critical inputs for cars, electric appliances, homebuilding materials and more. Manufacturers will face higher costs that might ultimately be passed to shoppers.
The Trump Department of Justice asked prosecutors Monday to drop federal charges against indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), a source familiar with the matter confirmed.
The big picture: Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove requested the corruption case involving bribery and fraud charges against the first NYC mayor to be indicted while serving in office be dismissed without prejudice "as soon as is practicable."
The GOP's Hill leaders are signaling their eagerness to back up Elon Musk by turning DOGE spending cuts into real legislation.
Why it matters: Musk'sslash-and-burn cuts may be undone by the courts. But he's given congressional Republicans a blueprint for what's possible to cut.
The March 14 government funding deadline is becoming a crucial test of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) toughness in the opposition.
Why it matters: If House GOP leaders settle on a partisan funding package, Schumer is indicating he's willing to stand in the way and plunge into a government shutdown.
President Trump said on Monday that if Hamas doesn't release "all hostages" it is holding in Gaza by noon on Saturday the ceasefire deal with Israel should be canceled.
Why it matters: Trump's public message comes after Hamas announced earlier on Monday that it will suspend the release of three Israeli hostages planned for Saturday due to "Israeli violations."
