Illegal crossings at the nation's borders have fallen to their lowest point in decades, according to new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) numbers.
Why it matters: The data suggestthat President Trump's hardline immigration approach — especially along the U.S.-Mexico border — may be achieving its goal, even as the administration has not stopped all noncitizens without papers from entry.
Attorney General Pam Bondi dodged questions on the Jeffrey Epstein files and on any clashes with FBI deputy director Dan Bongino during a Tuesday news conference.
Why it matters: The MAGA faithful have been unhappy with Bondi's handling of the case since a Justice Department and FBI memo concluded there's no evidence that convicted sex offender and disgraced financier Epstein kept a "client list" or that he was murdered.
President Trump's visit to Pittsburgh's Energy and Innovation Summit ignited protests from critics who objected to his administration's policies and Carnegie Mellon's role in the event.
The big picture: At a "Stop the Summit" rally near campus, CMU students and faculty criticized the university for hosting Trump, citing his administration's research funding cuts, international students' visa revocations and probes into diversity programs.
Andrew Cuomo finds an unlikely supporter in his renewed bid for New York City mayor: Former New Yorker President Trump.
Why it matters: Trump's nod of support to Cuomo represents a break from their highly public enmity, but it also signals the expansion of the anti-Zohran Mamdani alliance that unites Republicans and some establishment Democrats.
A coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general is urging Congress to ban federal immigration agents from wearing masks or plainclothes during enforcement operations.
Why it matters: It's the latest flashpoint in a growing national effort by blue-state officials to curb what they see as overreaches by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and stop tactics they argue are designed to sow fear.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) abruptly canceled Tuesday's remaining floor votes as opposition from a group of right-wing Republicans stymied efforts to send legislation establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers to President Trump's desk.
Why it matters: Johnson is facing demands to combine the so-called GENIUS Act with two other crypto bills the chamber is considering this week. That would force the Senate to reconsider the legislation, likely leading to significant delays.
President Trump said Tuesday he's speeding up permitting and making it easier for data centers to connect to the electricity grid in announcing $92 billion in AI and energy investments at a Pennsylvania summit.
Why it matters: Trump's endorsement of building new power plants — and locating data centers right next to them — reflects the growing thirst for electricity from the energy-intensive facilities.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a legislation Tuesday to halt any future cuts to Medicaid hospital funding, two weeks after voting for the slashes as part of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill."
The big picture: Hawley has emerged as a key player pushing back on a major Medicaid overhaul, which would include nearly $1 trillion in rollbacks over the next 10 years.
A group of Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are demanding their Republican counterparts hold a public hearing on the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein documents.
Why it matters: Democrats have homed in on a strategy this week of squeezing Republicans on the issue as President Trump comes under fire from his own base.
House Republicans on Tuesday voted down another Democratic procedural maneuver aimed at forcing the Justice Department to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
According to data from Renaissance Capital, there have been just four biotech IPOs this year that have raised over $50 million — down from 10 in the same period last year. Venture bets are slowing too.
Charlie Kirk, one of the most powerful and influential MAGA podcasters, devoted Tuesday's podcast to extensive interviews about Jeffrey Epstein — a day after he and several other MAGA figures suggested they would take President Trump's advice and move on.
Andrew Kolvet, the show's executive producer, told Axios that Monday's viral clip had additional context: "Charlie is not done talking about it. The ball is in the administration's court to find a solution."
Why it matters: The MAGA blowback over the handling of Epstein evidence is a rare instance of the president's base bucking his wishes.
This weekend may offer some clues about whether or not President Trump has any regrets about releasing a meme coin just before he took office.
Why it matters: Selling 200 million Official Trump (TRUMP) tokens on the Solana blockchain gave him multiple billions in paper wealth nearly instantly, but it has also been fodder for Democrats' cries of corruption, and even skepticism from some industry allies.
Over 75 former federal and state judges signed a letter urging lawmakers to reject the "deeply inappropriate" nomination of President Trump's former attorney Emil Bove to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Why it matters: The letter sounds the alarm over Bove's "egregious record" amid mounting controversies.
Second-quarter EV sales fell 6.3% compared to April-June of 2024, and the road ahead looks jarring with the loss of consumer purchase subsidies looming, per new Cox Automotive data.
Why it matters: While sales set a record in 2024, and the first half of 2025 narrowly did, too, the upward march was getting less consistent even before the GOP's new budget law nixed incentives.
President Trump's war on Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell is taking on a more aggressive form, bringing Trump a step closer to trying to oust the head of the Fed.
Why it matters: Trump wants Powell to cut interest rates, but he can't actually do so unilaterally – a committee of 12 decide together.
The simmering MAGA revolt over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files threatens to spill over into the halls of Congress.
Why it matters: Some right-wing Republican lawmakers who have spent years investing political capital in the promise of a grand reveal are now trying to balance their loyalty to President Trump with placating their base.
TAMPA, Fla. — Suspicion is rippling through the MAGA movement, clouding a historic run of conservative victories meant to lay the foundation for President Trump's "Golden Age."
Why it matters: Even at the apex of power, MAGA's populist base remains convinced that shadowy forces are working to unravel its every gain. Trump's recent actions — especially his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case — have only hardened those fears.
President Trump seems to think financial markets are perfectly happy with his tariffs and open to his more aggressive approach, because stocks keep hitting all-time highs.
Meanwhile, financial markets think there's absolutely no chance Trump will go ahead with the tariffs he's threatened, and therefore ... keep bidding assets up to all-time highs.
Why it matters: The two beliefs can't co-exist for much longer, and the disconnect can't end well, either.
President Trump's plan to deport "millions" of immigrants has reached a critical point: Its success likely will depend not on removing criminals, but on telling people who are in the U.S. legally they're no longer welcome.
Why it matters: For all the showy raids and tough talk, the largest targets in Trump's crackdown include immigrants who've had temporary protection to stay in the U.S. — more than 1.2 million people who fled wars, oppression, natural disasters, poverty and more.
Senate leadership is setting up votes, kicking off Tuesday, to claw back billions of dollars of appropriated federal funds. But first, there are GOP senators who need to be appeased.
Why it matters: There are two buckets of GOP Senate skeptics, despite President Trump's threat to withhold his support or endorsement from any Republican who does not vote for the bill.
Nearly 400 Jewish organizations are urging the nation's largest teachers' union to reject a member-approved proposal that would sever ties with the civil rights group Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over the war in Gaza.
Why it matters: The proposal calls for the National Education Association (NEA) to no longer use ADL material on antisemitism and Holocaust education nor promote other ADL statistics or programs.
House Republicans on Monday night voted against attaching a Democratic amendment to landmark cryptocurrency legislation that would force the Justice Department to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Why it matters: It's the outcome Democrats anticipated, and one they plan to gleefully cite as President Trump continues to grapple with the MAGA fallout over the DOJ's handling of the documents.
Senior GOP lawmakers are rallying behind Attorney General Pam Bondi, largely siding with President Trump that she should stay in her office.
Why it matters: The Republican Party is tearing itself apart over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with MAGA faithful turning on Trump for the first time in his second term.
Democrats in Congress are scrambling to take full advantage of President Trump's about-face on releasing documents related to Jeffrey Epstein by driving a lasting wedge between him and his MAGA base.
Why it matters: Democrats have struggled to satisfy their liberal base's growing demands to take the gloves off with Trump. Now, finally, they feel they have found their opening.
A pro-Trump super PAC is expanding its TV advertising blitz against Rep. Thomas Massie, whom the president is targeting for defeat.
Why it matters: Trump's political operation is showing that it is willing to spend big to beat a lone Republican for bucking the president on his "big, beautiful bill."
![Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a news conference at the DEA headquarters on July 15, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. ]](https://images.axios.com/O1lrs1J5fMOmj5AQUK_pDy5iTsw=/0x143:5495x3234/1920x1080/2025/07/15/1752617288426.jpg?w=3840)
