Axios

Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House may soon be no more, after a new statement from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and pressure from Congressional Republicans to get rid of it.

Why it matters: The two-block-long mural was a giant rebuke to President Trump, created by Mayor Bowser during protests in June 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd.

President Trump speaks to Congress — and the country — in a live address tonight where he is expected to outline his plans and priorities for his second term.

Why it matters: In Trump's first six weeks, he has started a federal government overhaul, driven by DOGE, launched a mass deportation campaign and imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Tuesday that his office has launched a criminal investigation into Andrew and Tristan Tate, prominent right-wing influencers who returned to the U.S. last week.

The big picture: The arrival of Tate brothers in Florida set off alarms after Romanian prosecutors suddenly lifted travel restrictions against the pair as they were awaiting trial on human trafficking charges.

American farmers are bracing for impact as President Trump's trade war threatens foreign markets for U.S. agricultural products.

Why it matters: Ag, food and related industries made up about 5.5% of the U.S. economy in 2023, contributing more than $1.5 trillion to GDP, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The Trump administration is planning to withdraw a lawsuit that seeks to allow Idaho hospitals to perform emergency abortions using an exception to the state's near-total abortion ban, according to a court filing.

Why it matters: This would mark a reversal from Biden administration efforts to clarify that federal directives on emergency health care take precedence over state abortion bans.

President Trump's 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as new levies on Chinese imports took effect on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Trump's confirmation of the tariffs sent markets sliding amid fears it could raise prices for U.S. customers, hurt the economy and prompt a trade war.

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denounced the Trump administration's takeover of the White House press pool on Tuesday.

The big picture: Her comments come as President Trump targets traditional media, putting transparent coverage of the government in jeopardy as Americans' trust in the press dips to an all-time low.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday sent federal disease experts to assist in the response to the intensifying measles outbreak in Texas

Why it matters: The move indicates that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and the Trump administration are starting to prioritize the response after Kennedy downplayed the threat last week, describing such outbreaks as "not unusual."

The number of migrants illegally crossing the U.S. southern border plummeted in February to the lowest level seen in decades, according to internal data obtained by Axios.

The big picture: Crossings had been trending down for several months, driven by policies on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border, experts say. But the numbers have plunged since Trump began implementing — and broadcasting — his sweeping immigration crackdown.

In the wake of a judge's ruling pausing the terminations of federal probationary employees, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is now telling agencies that they're the ones with the power to fire workers.

Why it matters: The firings of as many as 30,000 probationary federal workers have sparked chaos, stress and confusion, as well as disrupted work, across the government.

First Lady Melania Trump invited more than a dozen guests with "stories about the disaster wrought by the previous administration" to President Trump's address to Congress, the White House said Tuesday.

The big picture: Melania Trump's guest list includes individuals who represent key tenets of Trump administration policy.

The United Auto Workers union on Tuesday hailed President Trump's new tariffs, saying it's necessary "to end the free trade disaster."

Why it matters: With about 1 million members, including retired workers, the UAW is one of the most powerful unions in America.

House Republicans' campaign chief urged GOP lawmakers Tuesday to shift from in-person to virtual town halls in response to a Trump-fueled surge in protests at such events.

Why it matters: Republicans believe they are being baited by liberal groups into confrontational moments and are determined not to fall into what they believe is a trap being set for them.

Canada's Justin Trudeau skewered President Trump over aggressive tariffs that went into effect Tuesday, claiming they hurt Americans and would be subject to retaliatory measures.

Why it matters: Relations between the two longtime allies are rapidly souring. The Canadian prime minister accused Trump of launching a "trade war" aimed at tanking the economy of its closest friend.

President Trump's super PAC is charging as much as $1 million a plate for fundraisers that feature the president, two sources familiar with the events tell Axios.

Why it matters: The eye-popping figure shows Trump's political operation is hell-bent on banking as much as $500 million this summer, as Axios previously reported, in order to push his agenda, help allies and punish foes.

President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs Tuesday on America's largest trading partners, triggering a global trade war that promises to affect the wallets of everyday Americans.

Why it matters: After running — and winning — on a promise to curb inflation, Trump's trade war threatens to raise prices for everything from food and clothes to cars and computers.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is cracking down on plans among his members to try to disrupt or draw attention away from President Trump's speech to Congress on Tuesday evening.

Why it matters: Many Democrats are facing a torrent of pressure from their grassroots base to stage more overt acts of resistance, but a good chunk of the party feels that too rowdy a display could backfire.

BlackRock on Tuesday said it agreed to acquire two ports serving the Panama Canal from Hong Kong's CK Hutchinson, as part of a larger $22.8 billion deal.

Why it matters: President Trump has threatened to retake control of the Panama Canal, due to what he perceives as unfair treatment of U.S. vessels because of Chinese influence.

The Justice Department announced Monday it would review the case of Tina Peters, the former Colorado county clerk convicted of tampering with election machines to prove the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump.

Why it matters: The move is the latest indication that the Trump administration will use the DOJ to aid his allies and pursue those who stand in the president's way.

Some Democrats are inviting fired federal workers to be their guests to President Trump's joint speech to Congress on Tuesday.

Why it matters: The move is an effort from Democrats to show they stand with the thousands of federal employees impacted by the federal government's job cuts and funding freezes.

Democratic lawmakers are discussing a litany of options to protest at President Trump's speech to Congress on Tuesday, including through outright disruption, a half dozen House Democrats told Axios.

Why it matters: Some of these tactics go beyond their leaders' recommendation that members bring guests hurt by Trump and DOGE. This sets up a potential clash between the party's traditionalists and its more combative anti-Trump wing.

The Trump administration has informed NOAA that two pivotal centers for weather forecasting will soon have their leases canceled, sources told Axios.

Why it matters: One of the buildings is the nerve center for generating national weather forecasts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday expressed regret for his Oval Office spat with President Trump last week and said he's ready to sign a U.S. minerals deal "any time and in any convenient format."

Why it matters: Zelensky's statement, a day after Trump suspended all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, was an attempt to adhere to the conditions laid out by the White House for ending the diplomatic crisis.

New tariffs are expected to cause food prices to rise in the coming days, especially on produce from Mexico, Target CEO Brian Cornell warned Tuesday.

Why it matters: President Trump's long-promised tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada went into effect Tuesday along with an additional 10% levy on Chinese imports.

The State Department is waiving $95 million in military assistance to the Lebanese armed forces amid the Trump administration's nearly 90-day foreign-aid freeze, two U.S. officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The waiver suggests the Trump administration intends to try to strengthen Lebanon's military and the new government that took office in January.

President Trump wrote that "all federal funding will STOP" for schools or universities that allow "illegal protests" in a social media post Tuesday.

The big picture: While Trump did not specifically mention pro-Palestinian protesters Tuesday, he has previously said his administration will deport student "aliens" who joined "pro-jihadist" demonstrations and revoke visas for "Hamas sympathizers."

A Democratic boycott is developing ahead of President Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Democratic leaders have asked lawmakers to show up to the speech with people affected by DOGE and Trump's federal funding freeze.

President Trump's prints could be on OPEC+'s decision Monday to start adding barrels next month after repeatedly delaying production hikes.

Why it matters: Oil prices fell to 2025 lows after OPEC+ said eight members would slowly start unwinding 2.2 million barrels per day of voluntary curbs.

Three-quarters of Americans support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, but remain divided over support for laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, according to a Public Religion Research Institute survey out Tuesday.

Why it matters: President Trump made attacks against trans people a central part of his campaign — and many of his earliest actions in office have targeted or rolled back protections for trans Americans.

Health care may not feature prominently in President Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday night, but whatever he says about Medicaid will be closely parsed.

Why it matters: Trump has said he would "love and cherish" the safety net program, but it still could be in the crosshairs as Congress looks for ways to pay for an extension of the president's 2017 tax cuts.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is introducing a major bipartisan, union-backed labor bill on Tuesday, according to a draft first obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: It's the first time in decades a Republican has spearheaded pro-union reforms. It comes as the Senate looks likely to confirm President Trump's pro-labor nominee Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as soon as this week to lead the Labor Department.

In nearly three weeks as Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. certainly hasn't allayed concerns that he'll bring his vaccine criticism — most if not all of it unfounded — into his role as the nation's top health care official.

Why it matters: Several of Kennedy's vaccine-related actions have stoked fears that the anti-vaccine movement has gained a powerful foothold within the federal government in the midst of a worsening measles outbreak in Texas, one of the worst flu seasons in more than a decade and a circulating bird flu virus that has pandemic potential.

President Trump is making good on tariff threats that will raise the stakes of his trade war with China and potentially ignite another in North America.

Why it matters: It breaks a pattern of head fakes that Wall Street and businesses large and small had hoped would continue.

Vice President JD Vance said Monday the Trump administration is working with Russia to end its war on Ukraine and that the "door is open" for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if he's "willing to seriously talk peace."

Why it matters: In his first interview since Friday's heated White House exchange that Vance and President Trump had with Zelensky, the vice president on Fox News criticized Ukraine's leader and argued that it's in Kyiv's best interests to sign a minerals deal with the U.S.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee began hashing out what to do on taxes in a closed-door meeting Monday evening.

Why it matters: Don't expect the budget resolution that barely passed the House last week to stay as is. The two chambers passed very different budget resolutions.

Democratic senators are preparing to pummel three of President Trump's top State Department nominees on Tuesday, turning their confirmation hearings into a proxy war on the U.S. commitment to NATO and support for Ukraine.

Why it matters: It's the Democrats' first chance to punch back on what they saw as Trump's assault on Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday.

The U.S. pledged more than $65 billion in military assistance to Ukraine under the Biden administration, but President Trump decided Monday to pull the plug, at least temporarily.

The big picture: Following a contentious televised meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump debated his next steps in the crisis with Ukraine, and indicated a possible suspension of U.S. military aid.

President Trump decided to pause and review all military aid to Ukraine days after the public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, two White House officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The decision that was taken after a meeting on Monday between Trump and his senior adviser would increase pressure on Zelensky and create more difficulties for Ukraine's military.