President Trump said he's supportive of vaccines on Friday, breaking with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Why it matters: Kennedy has faced widespread criticism for his new vaccine mandates and staffing shake-up at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'ssister and nephew called on the secretary to resign Friday after he questioned the safety of vaccination while testifying before a congressional committee.
Why it matters: The resignation calls came hours before President Trump broke with Kennedy by encouraging the public to take vaccines, and a day after several Republican members of the committee questioned the secretary's fitness following the upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams denied rumors Friday that he is dropping out of the city's mayoral race.
Why it matters: Adams had been the subject of numerous reports this week, which said he received job offers within the Trump administration in exchange for bowing out of the highly watched race.
Trump officials on Friday abruptly cancelled a briefing with top Senate national security and leadership staff about the deadly U.S. strike on a drug vessel off the coast of Venezuela.
Why it matters: Top Democrats this week said they were left in the dark ahead of the operation, which the administration has suggested is the start of a broader military campaign.
The White House has invited Nebraska state senators to Washington next week, giving Trump political aides the opportunity to discuss mid-cycle redistricting with them, according to people familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: State by state, district by district, President Trump wants to draw as many new likely GOP seats as possible ahead of the midterm election.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s forthcoming report on the causes of autism will link the use of Tylenol during pregnancy to the neurodevelopmental disorder and suggest that a form of folate can treat the condition, according to a published report.
Why it matters: Kennedy, who has promoted debunked theories about the disorder, said some of the report's conclusions could be revealed this month.
The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee fired off two letters seeking the personal financial disclosure forms for Corey Lewandowski, a former adviser to President Trump now serving in a temporary role at the Department of Homeland Security.
Driving the news: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) sent letters on Friday to both DHS and the Office of Government Ethics asking for Lewandowski's financial information.
The law requires a public filing after 60 days in the job unless a supervisor allows an exception. If filed, those agencies would hold the records.
Lewandowski, in his own account to the White House, reported working more than 60 days as a special government employee, but his disclosure form hasn't been made public.
What we're reading: "It is abundantly clear that federal law requires Mr. Lewandowski's financial disclosure to be made public," Garcia wrote in both letters.
"To ensure that Congress can perform its constitutional oversight responsibilities and protect the integrity of DHS, we request that you release Mr. Lewandowski's financial disclosure to the Committee as well as publish the disclosure by September 19, 2025."
Garcia requested the disclosure form as well as any potential waivers for public reporting.
What they're saying: "Lots of holding government officials honest and accountable has happened because these reports are made available and filed in a timely fashion," said Jon Golinger, of the liberal watchdog organization Public Citizen.
Context: Despite the temporary nature of Lewandowski's role, he's a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He both travels with the Noem and is involved in decision-making throughout the department.
Garcia previously wrote a letter to DHS seeking information about Lewandowski's work making decisions on grants, government contracts and personnel at the agency as well as any communications with lobbying firms.
The first letter also asked for the number of Lewandowski's workdays (which is legally capped at 130 days per year).
Special government employees do not need to divest from private sector work but are supposed to avoid conflicts of interest. If Lewandowski exceeds 130 days, he will be subject to stricter financial rules.
The other side: "Mr. Lewandowski is a Special Government Employee. His time is kept by a career DHS employee who submits the paperwork on a bi-weekly basis," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Axios.
According to the statement, Lewandowski completed all the required forms for his position and is not being paid a salary or receiving government benefits.
The statement also said that DHS responds to correspondence through official channels.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from DHS.
The non-profit behind the SATs has told schools it is eliminating a tool used to help identify promising high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Why it matters: The College Board's move comes amid Trump administration pressure on schools to end policies that specifically benefit people of color, or even ones that are perceived as doing so.
President Trump on Friday dismissed demands for additional Jeffrey Epstein files as a Democratic "hoax" despite members of his own party demanding more transparency from the administration.
Why it matters: The House Oversight Committee released 33,000 pages of Epstein documents this week, but Trump's handling of the scandal has driven a wedge between the president and his MAGA coalition.
The unemployment rate for Black women rose sharply in August to 7.5%, per government data released Friday morning.
Why it matters: That's significantly higher than the overall unemployment rate, and is partly a result of President Trump's cuts to the federal workforce, which have disproportionately hit Black women.
The Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol will provide former Vice President Kamala Harris with protection until another plan is established, the LAPD confirmed to Axios on Friday.
Why it matters: President Trump recently revoked Harris' Secret Service protection, which had been extended beyond the usual six months provided to vice presidents.
Public Broadcasting Service on Thursday announced a 15% staff cut in response to recent federal funding cuts that stripped PBS and National Public Radio of nearly $1.1 billion in funding for 2026 and 2027.
Why it matters: PBS has received federal funding for more than 50 years. It's used that funding to launch iconic children's and educational programming, such as "Sesame Street" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."
Hiring stalled again in August, with the labor market adding just 22,000 jobs and the unemployment rate at the highest levels since 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Friday.
Why it matters: The economy is rapidly cooling, as global tariffs put pressure on America's businesses.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett pushed back on the criticism that the Supreme Court has become too political or influenced by President Trump, according to a new interview with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell due to air this weekend.
Why it matters: A glut of cases challenging Trump's aggressive use of executive power — including imposing broad tariffs and ending birthright citizenship — could dominate the Supreme Court's docket next term.
The Trump team's move to halt a nearly complete offshore wind project and yank permits for others is worrying interests beyond just that sector.
Why it matters: "[R]evoking wind permits today opens the door to uncertainty for all types of energy projects in the future," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in a wider post on permitting.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is pressing health insurers to warn their enrollees about the upcoming end of Affordable Care Act financial assistance that was expanded during the pandemic.
Why it matters:The letter, shared first with Axios, is part of a growing pressure campaign as Democrats push Republicans to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits that are expiring at the end of the year.
Two nuclear startups' announcements of progress on turning radioactive waste into usable fuel for electricity show the idea is getting its day in the sun.
Why it matters: Oklo and Curio are among the companies touting the concept that U.S. nuclear waste can be a valuable asset and isn't just something to bury.
Why it matters: The resulting standoff could confuse the public on potentially life-and-death decisions. And a state-by-state approach could be inadequate in a major crisis.
Wall Street is bullish on 2026, with many calls seeing a reaccelerating economy.
Why it matters: The economic vibes don't feel great, but the data has yet to indicate a sharp slowdown. With several policy headwinds set to ease, investors are eying an early growth cycle that could lift both stocks and the economy.
President Trump's attempt to rebrand the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act can't mask a grim reality: His economic approval is collapsing, and the data underneath is only getting worse.
Why it matters: Trump is in danger of getting trapped in the same "vibecession" dynamic that doomed President Biden — only this time, the structural signals are flashing red and Trump's signature legislation is toxic.
Why it matters: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, 44, are part of a rising group of millennial and Generation X crypto and tech billionaires who are bolstering President Trump — and could dominate the GOP donor world for decades to come.
Two Venezuelan military aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy ship in international waters in a "highly provocative move" on Thursday, the Pentagon said.
The big picture: The incident came two days after President Trump announced that U.S. forces killed 11 suspected "Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists" in a U.S. military strike that he ordered in the Caribbean Sea off Venezuela's shores.
President Trump hosted the elite of Big Tech at a White House dinner Thursday evening, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft's Bill Gates — and each took turns to lavish praise on him.
Why it matters: The dinner comes at a time when tech leaders are pushing for a hands-off government approach to AI, and as current FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson is an outspoken critic of Big Tech.
The Trump administration is suing Boston and the Massachusetts city's Mayor Michelle Wu over its sanctuary city laws that the Justice Department said Thursday "interfere with the federal government's enforcement of its immigration laws."
The big picture: The suit that was filed in the U.S. District Court in Boston follows similar litigation in other cities over immigration policies, including New York City, Los Angeles and Denver.
House Democrats are facing something of a gray revolution, with some of the party's oldest members refusing to yield to calls for generational change.
Why it matters: Many of those older lawmakers are facing primary challengers, and some Democrats fear such intraparty contests will draw resources away from the fight to retake control of the House.
Former President Biden recently had surgery to remove skin cancer lesions from his forehead, his spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
The big picture: Kelly Scully, the spokesperson, shared a brief statement to outlets including Axios on Biden's treatment after images emerged of the 82-year-old leaving church in Delaware with what appeared to be a gash on his head over the Labor Day weekend.
