Three Democratic senators will introduce amendments around national security issues Thursday morning ahead of a Senate Banking Committee markup on stablecoin legislation, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The markup on the GENIUS Act is a key step in advancing a stablecoin bill, one of the top digital asset-related priorities for Republican lawmakers in the new Congress.
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked parts of President Trump's executive order targeting law firm Perkins Coie.
Why it matters: The law firm, which appealed to the court to issue a restraining order, claimed that Trump's directive violated its rights to free speech and due process.
Former Rep. Mike Rogers is expected to announce soon that he's entering the Michigan Senate race next year, and already has tapped one of President Trump's 2024 campaign leaders as a senior adviser.
Why it matters: Rogers' hire of Chris LaCivita is a signal that Rogers is aggressively aligning himself with Trump's MAGA movement for 2026.
About 1 in 15 U.S. adults has been on scene at a mass shooting, a new University of Colorado Boulder study published in JAMA Network Open reveals.
Why it matters: The study underscores the pervasiveness of gun violence in the U.S. and the increasing likelihood that everyday Americans could be caught in the crossfire.
Senate Democrats left a private meeting Wednesday saying there aren't enough votes to advance the short-term funding bill that passed the House on Tuesday.
Why it matters: This raises the chances of a government shutdown this weekend. Democrats are in the unusual position of being willing to risk a shutdown to negotiate a better deal with Republicans.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and seven other GOP House members on Wednesday called for a "domestic terrorism" investigation into attacks against Tesla and Elon Musk.
Why it matters: #TeslaTakedown protests have largely been peaceful, but the letter from the members of Congress is an attempt to paint the entire opposition movement and Democrats as supporting violence.
The big picture: U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman had blocked any attempt by the Trump administration earlier this week to deport Khalil, a lawful permanent U.S. resident with a green card, until the court said otherwise.
The Trump Medicare innovation center plans to cancela half dozen trials to change the way health providers are paid by the end of the year as it aligns itself with the goals of the Make America Healthy Again movement, multiple people familiar with the plans told Axios.
The big picture: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation leadership said they want to focus on models that are likely to meet criteria for expansion and that promote the goals of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s public health agenda, said a person with knowledge who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
Why it matters: Trump's re-election campaign hinged on lowering prices, but voters are beginning to notice his policies — from a trade war with the U.S.' closest trading partners to mass deportations — are expected to do the opposite.
President Trump's letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was delivered on Wednesday by a senior adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a press statement.
Why it matters: Trump said last week that he sent a letter to Khamenei, proposing direct negotiations between the countries on a new nuclear deal.
Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) is "definitely considering" running to replace Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in 2026 after she announced her plans to retire, a source familiar with his thinking told Axios.
Why it matters: The 44-year-old congressman, first elected in 2018, would become the first openly gay male senator if elected — a major milestone.
Senate GOP leaders and Finance committee members will meet with President Trump at the White House on Thursday to make their case on how to make his 2017 tax cuts permanent, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The Senate and the House need to get on the same page to start moving on their biggest legislative priority of the year. Trump will be key to making that happen.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) announced Wednesday that she won't seek reelection in 2026, further complicating Democrats' efforts to win back a majority.
Why it matters: Senate Democrats are already defending open seats in the battleground states of Michigan and Minnesota. Adding New Hampshire to the list makes reclaiming a majority an even tougher proposition.
Canadians staying in the U.S. for longer than 30 days — a norm for many snowbirds who spend their winters south of the border — will have to register with U.S. immigration authorities.
Why it matters: It marks yet another escalation in the friction between the U.S. and its northern neighbors, as President Trump pushes an on-again, off-again trade war with Canada and taunts the U.S. ally with annexation.
Inflation eased in February: The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% last month, while the gauge that excludes food and energy prices increased by a similar amount, the Labor Department said on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Inflation cooled as tariffs began to take effect, though economists warn about higher consumer prices and an economic slowdown as the trade war intensifies.
The Department of Education announced Tuesday it was laying off nearly half of its staff, in what appears to be the first step in President Trump's plan to shutter the agency altogether.
Why it matters: The Department of Education plays a crucial role in making education access and quality more equitable for students nationwide.
Lockheed Martin is eyeing everythingfrom its command-and-control networks to its F-35 stealth fighter to its Sentinel A4 radar for Golden Dome, the rebranded missile shield sought by President Trump.
Why it matters: "In terms of importance for the defense of the nation, it's similar to the Manhattan Project," Frank St. John, the company's chief operating officer, said in an interview.
A key difference between past and future, though, is the "wide array" of existing, deployed equipment that will "form the basis," he said.
Antisemitic conspiracy theories are flooding America's most popular pro-Trump podcasts, exposing deep political and moral fissures at the heart of the new MAGA coalition.
Why it matters: At a moment of record-high antisemitism in the U.S., an astonishing split screen has emerged between the Trump administration and prominent influencers that reliably spread MAGA's message.
As Elon Musk's slash-and-burn budget cuts hit Republican and Democratic areas alike, some GOP lawmakers are privately back-channeling with the Trump administration to try to shield their constituents from the fallout.
Why it matters: Republicans have largely cheered on DOGE in public — but behind the scenes, many of President Trump's allies fear potential political backlash to the cuts, and are scrambling to limit the damage.
Donald Trump Jr. is endorsing Rep. Byron Donalds for Florida governor, following in his father's footsteps and cementing Donalds as the frontrunner over possible contender Casey DeSantis, the state's first lady.
Why it matters: The move by Trump Jr. — a key player in MAGA media — comes after a presidential race in which Donalds was a constant pro-Trump presence on the campaign trail.
The European Union announced Wednesday counter tariffs of 26 billion euros ($28.33 billion) on U.S. goods, "matching the economic scope" of President Trump's levies.
The big picture: Trump's 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports took effect earlier on Wednesday.
Greenland's center-right Demokraatit opposition party claimed victory in the territory's election Tuesday, in what could be one of the most consequential polls in its history.
Why it matters: The new government will need to navigate President Trump's intense public interest in acquiring the resource-richterritory, as the Arctic region attracts more global attention.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday called President Trump's economic policies "the most important thing America has ever had."
The big picture: Concerns are building that the Trump administration's tariffs might trigger a recession and CBS News' Nancy Cordes asked Lutnick whether the policies would "be worth it if they lead to a recession, even a short-term recession."
President Trump on Tuesday imposed new retaliatory tariffs on Canada and insisted the only solution was for the country to join the U.S. — but then reversed his decision after Ontario agreed not to levy electricity exports.
Why it matters: The pullback was the latest example of the on-again, off-again volatility that has disrupted financial markets.
The Department of Education is cutting its workforce of more than 4,100 people by nearly 50%, the agency announced on Tuesday evening.
The big picture: Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed to Fox News the action was the first step toward President Trump's plans for a total shutdown of the agency.
The arrest of Columbia University protest leader Mahmoud Khalil by federal agents last week has sparked demonstrations in several U.S. cities.
The big picture: Free-speech advocates are questioning the Trump administration's authority to arrest Khalil,a lawful permanent U.S. resident with a green card, while the White House argues it's not a First Amendment issue.
Elon Musk has told the White House he plans to give $100 million to President Trump's political operation, according to a person familiar with his plans.
Why it matters: The contribution is unheard of in both amount and type: Musk, who is technically a special government employee, is the world's richest person.
Sen. Adam Schiff's (D-Calif.) "all-of-the-above" approach to social media is starting to pay off.
Why it matters:Democrats are in the wilderness and admit they need a new media strategy. Schiff has embraced it all, from TikTok to YouTube, X and Bluesky.
President Trump's top GOP detractors in Congress have something in common — they're from Kentucky.
Why it matters: Rep. Thomas Massie, Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul are comfortable telling their leadership "no," and two Kentucky races are drawing MAGA attention.
