On Memorial Day, the U.S. honors and mourns service members who died defending the country.
The big picture: From the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery to the Hawaiian islands, Americans gather in remembrance on a day that represents more than just cookouts, travel and sales.
President Trump'sMemorial Day remarks Monday at times offered a traditional, somber tone — but in other moments, the speech strayed into attacks against his predecessor and personal boasts.
The big picture: After starting the day with a string of political jabs in a Memorial Day message on Truth Social, the president honored Gold Star families and fallen soldiers during his remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, as past presidents did.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff told Axios on Monday he is "disappointed" that Hamas has so far failed to accept his proposal for a new Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.
Why it matters: Witkoff has been speaking directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top adviser, Ron Dermer, and with Hamas leadership through a backchannel facilitated by Palestinian American businessman Bishara Bahbah.
The Kremlin dismissed President Trump's criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin as "emotional overload" on Monday.
Why it matters: Trump called Putin "crazy" on Sunday after Russia launched a record-setting drone and missile attack on Ukraine over the weekend as efforts continue to broker a ceasefire.
President Trump used a Memorial Day message shared Monday on Truth Social to bash his White House predecessors and the U.S. court system.
Why it matters: Trump's rhetoric on holidays regularly deviates from that of other presidents, as he uses the occasions to further his political interests.
Prices — not politics — are driving most brands' reputations in this year's Axios Harris Poll 100 rankings, with the election in the rear-view mirror and tariffs and inflation top of mind.
The big picture: The average polarization score — the gap between how Republicans and Democrats view a brand's reputation — dropped to 2.55 points among the 10 highest-rated companies in this year's survey, down from 3.4 a year ago.
Two days after threatening to impose a 50% tariff on imports from the European Union, President Trump on Sunday paused the levies until July and said talks would start "rapidly."
Why it matters: The threat of such a large tariff, on more than $600 billion of goods, sent a chill through markets that feared a sudden re-escalation of the trade war.
What do luxury apparel fans and little kids have in common?
Their favorite brands may have to hike prices due to tariff strain.
The big picture: From Ralph Lauren to Barbie maker Mattel, several household names have recently announced they're looking at higher prices in an effort to offset tariffs.
A dual U.S.-German citizen was arrested for allegedly trying to firebomb the U.S. Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv, Israel, this month, the Department of Justice said Sunday.
The big picture: Joseph Neumayer, 28, allegedly posted on social media that he planned to "burn down the embassy" in Tel Aviv before traveling there, writing, "Death to America," according to a DOJ release.
But some senators are airing their grievances with the sweeping legislation.
The big picture: Republican infighting threatened to tank the GOP-only legislation in the House before it narrowly passed Thursday, and some senators have made it clear they don't back the bill in its current form.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a fiscal hawk who has openly criticized House Republicans' reconciliation bill, predicted Sunday that there are enough in his flock to stop the process "until the president gets serious about spending reduction and reducing the deficit."
The big picture: PushingPresident Trump's "big, beautiful bill" through the House was far from a painless process, but the fiscal package now heads to the Senate, where the chamber is likely to make changes.
A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a gay Guatemalan man who was deported to Mexico despite him saying he had faced violence there.
The big picture: The order to facilitate the return of yet another deportee in a case with similarities to that of Kilmar Armando Ábrego García's battle for release marks an escalation in pressure on the Department of Homeland Security amid its high-speed deportation push.
President Trump may paint China as the enemy, but lately he's been awfully fond of their command-economy playbook.
Why it matters: Trump's extraordinary interventions — which dovetail with what some critics have labeled "MAGA Maoism" — are rattling businesses, consumers and investors, and throwing global markets into turmoil.
Most Americans say they still support goals of the 2020 racial reckoning, including increasing diversity in the workplace and school curricula and recognizing the legacy of enslavement, per a recent survey.
The big picture: Five years after George Floyd's death led to global protests, many of the corporate and institutional pledges inspired by them have fizzled under Trump 2.0. But the survey found glimmers of support for the ideas the protests helped make more mainstream.
The Class of 2025 is begrudgingly entering a job market that is not welcoming them with open arms.
Why it matters: New grads are pessimistic entering the workforce, as the economy could slow. History shows that people who started their careers during economic downturns struggle throughout their lives.
