A statue of President Trump holding Jeffrey Epstein's hand was removed from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday — one day after it was erected.
The big picture: The statue, titled "Best Friends Forever," had a permit to remain in place until 8pm ET on Sunday, but Department of the Interior spokesperson Elizabeth Peace said it was removed "because it was not compliant with the permit issued." She did not elaborate on why it was not in compliance.
More ICE detaineesare being held in Texas than any other state, per data collected by the nonpartisan Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).
Trump administration officials and MAGA world personalities quickly blamed Wednesday's shooting at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
The big picture: The rush to point fingers before local police confirmed a motive or the identity of the victims mirrors the rush to assign blame following Charlie Kirk's death, and reflects the fears of rising political violence in the U.S.
A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a Department of Homeland Security policy of withholding funding from states unwilling to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling it "coercive" and "unconstitutional."
The White House unveileda new "Presidential Walk of Fame" Wednesday that shows an autopen machine instead of former President Biden's portrait.
Why it matters: The display reflects President Trump's ongoing effort to delegitimize Biden's final acts as president, particularly the preemptive pardons issued to Jan. 6 committee members.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) drew a clear line in the sand Wednesday on what a deal to stop a government shutdown must look like, telling reporters he will not accept any type of unwritten agreement.
Why it matters: It's the latest stumbling block in the tense and largely fruitless cross-party posturing over the need to extend federal funding past September.
White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich plans to leave the administration at the end of the month to return to the private sector, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Budowich — a longtime adviser to President Trump and a top deputy to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — is the administration's highest-profile staff departure to date.
Use of video clips from Nintendo's Pokémon and comedian Theo Von has prompted a new round of backlash for the Department of Homeland Security after the federal agency included them in social media posts without permission.
The big picture: DHS has repeatedly leaned on memes and internet culture to promote immigration policy — a strategy that has drawn criticism from rights holders and advocates.
President Trump's stunning reversal on Ukraine has barely registered in MAGA circles, underscoring how fatigue and indifference have set in after eight months of failure to end the war.
The big picture: The shooting killed one immigration detainee and critically injured two others, according to the Department of Homeland Security. However, federal officials suggested the sniper's fire was meant to target ICE.
Top Republicans are warning that nominating Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race could jeopardize the party's slim control of the House in 2026.
Why it matters: Paxton has won multiple statewide races. But allies of Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) are citing "internal models" and "public and private polling" to claim Paxton would be general election poison in 2026.
Why it matters: People with autism and their advocates told Axios that treating autism as a disease with a single cause that can be cured rather than a condition to be accommodated contributes to social stigma and undermines efforts to incorporate them into society.
The Trump administration wants a small equity stake in Lithium Americas as it renegotiates the company's $2.26 billion Energy Department loan for the Thacker Pass project in Nevada, a White House official said Tuesday.
The Trump administration threw Argentina a financial life raft this week, and Argentina promptly responded by offering China an enticement in the form of untaxed soybeans.
Why it matters: It's a harsh blow to already struggling U.S. soybean farmers, and illustrates the complex implications of rescuing a close ally.
Big drug companies so far are responding to President Trump's demand they commit to his "most favored nation" pricing policy by raising prices abroad without cutting them in the U.S.
Why it matters: That only gets halfway toward Trump's goal of ending what he calls "global freeloading" and getting other developed countries to foot more of the cost while lowering costs for Americans.
An index that measures the confidence of small-business owners surged to its highest level since 2017.
Why it matters: The index, published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, is somewhat surprising given that other indicators are showing the labor market is deteriorating and inflation is worsening.
The Justice Department's criminal probe of ex-spy chief John Brennan hit a big roadblock after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard withdrew the security clearances of potential witnesses who could have testified against him, four Trump administration officials tell Axios.
MAGA activists aredemanding real-world retribution for Charlie Kirk's assassination, dragging their allies in government down a rabbit hole of online conspiracy theories.
Why it matters: MAGA is hungry for a crackdown — but its enemy is ill-defined, and its definition of success is wholly unclear. A lack of answers from the Trump administration could leave vast swathes of the base deeply disappointed.
The Pentagon is clamping down on press access while simultaneously restricting where, when and how the military and civilian officials engage with the public.
Why it matters: It's a double whammy that could damage not only the public's understanding of national security matters and how taxpayer money is being spent, but also the department's own ability to drive narratives and wage information warfare.
Jimmy Kimmel addressed ABC suspending his show over the late-night host's comments in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing, as it returned to air on Tuesday night.
The big picture: Just before "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" aired, President Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that ABC told his officials the show had been canceled and he thinks he'll "test" the network, noting it settled his lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos' comments for $16 million.
President Trump claimed Tuesday night that ABC told White House officials that Jimmy Kimmel's show had been canceled over his comments in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing.
The big picture: Trump made the claim in a Truth Social post about an hour before "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" returned to air on ABC following a brief suspension, as Sinclair and Nexstar continued to preempt the show across ABC affiliate stations.
Why it matters: Even when we think we've moved on, tragic events can have lingering effects on our minds and bodies, disrupting sleep, elevating stress and even leading to chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Jimmy Kimmel spoke publicly for the first time since his show was briefly suspended ahead of its Tuesday night return, with a post remembering the late TV writer and producer Norman Lear.
The big picture: "Missing this guy today," he wrote in a Tuesday Instagram post featuring a photo of the late-night host with Lear ahead of the return of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
A tiny group of stubborn House Republicans is poised to force an embarrassing vote for the Trump White House.
Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) Epstein files discharge petition can sew up its 218th signature Tuesday in a special election in Arizona.
Why it matters: For House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), it's a tough reminder of the limits of his power. For Trump, it's a rare case in which GOP lawmakers openly defy his sustained pressure.
