Try this on for size: Five (5!) of the candidates in the GOP primary to replace Rep. Byron Donalds have previously run for Congress ... in a different state.
Why it matters: President Trump turned Florida into the GOP's power center. Now, ambitious Republican politicians are flocking there to reboot their careers and grab a safe seat.
President Trump and other Republican officials are spreading videos of Democrats wearing sombreros and handlebar mustaches on social media, prompting backlash from across the aisle.
Why it matters: The references to Latino culture allude to Republican claims that Democrats shut down the government to fund health care for undocumented immigrants, an allegation that party leaders have denied.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved another generic version of the abortion drug mifepristone, drawing outrage from anti-abortion groups and lawmakers.
Why it matters: The decision adds to conservative scrutiny of the agency and Commissioner Marty Makaryamid a push to impose new limits on dispensing the abortion pill.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed to purge the military's "beardos" with strict grooming rules, but what may seem like an attempt at mere uniformity could undercut religious traditions and health protections for some soldiers.
Why it matters: A uniformity push could force some service members — Sikhs, Muslims and some Jewish troops — to choose between service and faith and penalize those with skin conditions exacerbated by shaving.
President Trump referenced Project 2025 Thursday despite distancing himself from it during his 2024 campaign.
Why it matters: Project 2025 became a political flashpoint during last year's presidential campaign because of its controversial outline for reshaping American life.
The Energy Department's termination of $7.56 billion of financial awards includes cuts spanning renewables, hydrogen, transmission, cleaner use of fossil fuels and more.
Why it matters: The cuts — aimed mostly at Democratic-led states and announced in broad strokes on Wednesday night — speed the reversal of Biden-era climate and clean energy finance.
Government food assistance programs may be at risk if Congress is unable to reach a funding agreement to stop the shutdown in the coming weeks.
Why it matters: Millions of mothers, infants and low-income families who rely on WIC and SNAP — programs commonly known as food stamps — could lose that support in a long-term shutdown.
Some Portlanders are getting ready to protest the looming deployment of federal troops in the most Portland way possible: by baring it all on bicycles.
Driving the news: The folks behind the World Naked Bike Ride are planning for an "emergency" event "in response to the military being deployed in our city," per an Instagram post from the organizers.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought is behind the scenes of the Trump administration's response to the ongoing government shutdown.
Why it matters: Vought was a co-architect of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, widely seen as a roadmap for President Trump's policies. Also having led the OMB during Trump's first term, Vought has openly criticized the federal government and its workforce.
More women are leaving the workforce, pushed out by a lack of child care support and stricter return-to-office policies, a new analysis from KPMG finds.
Why it matters: The exodus translates to less income and financial stability for households, as well as fewer career growth opportunities for women.
There's fallout for the overall economy, too: Businesses lose productive and experienced workers, and growth slows.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that the Trump administration would release details next week on "substantial support" for American farmers.
Why it matters: The farm economy has been devastated by White House trade policies, and officials have hinted at using tariff revenue to fund bailouts.
President Trumpsaid Thursday he will meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, "of PROJECT 2025 Fame," to discuss agency cuts on day two of the government shutdown.
FBI Director Kash Patel ended the bureau's long-standing partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the prominent civil rights group that has worked with law enforcement to combat antisemitism and extremism.
Why it matters: His announcement came after the ADL faced right-wing backlash for its web pages on the Christian Identity movement and Turning Point USA, the group founded by slain MAGA activist Charlie Kirk.
The Energy Department said Wednesday night it's terminating $7.56 billion worth of financial awards that support 223 projects funded via several of its clean-energy offices.
Why it matters: It's among the starkest reversals of Biden-era DOE financial support for low-carbon energy and manufacturing initiatives.
Liberal activist David Hogg's political group is off to a shaky start in his mission to knock out Democratic incumbents and usher in a new generation of leaders.
Why it matters: Hogg, 25, was elected the Democratic National Committee's vice chair this year before resigning amid an internal rebellion. He's one of the most divisive figures in the party's civil war over why it lost the 2024 election and how to move forward.
Americans say it's harder to afford their groceries now than it was a year ago, a warning sign for President Trump and Republicans, in the latest Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll.
Why it matters: Everyone's gotta eat. High food prices disproportionately impact working-class voters, the very people Trump promised lower grocery prices on the campaign trail a year ago.
For the third year in a row, the percentage of Americans who say they have a great deal or a fair amount of trust in the mass media has fallen to a record low, according to a new Gallup survey.
Startling stat: Today, only 28% of Americans say they have a great deal or a fair amount of trust in the mass media, down from 68% in 1972.
The big picture: But with the GOP controlling the White House and Congress, they're using government websites to air their grievances — and in doing so consumer advocacy group Public Citizen alleges the Trump administration has violated the Hatch Act, which limits federal workers' partisan political activities.
Since the government shutdown began early Wednesday, out-of-office emails have emerged at several federal agencies blaming Democrats for the situation.
Why it matters: The Trump administration's encouragement for furloughed workers to use an automessage template may violate the Anti-Lobbying Act, which says "the use of appropriated funds for certain lobbying activities designed to support or defeat legislation pending before Congress" is prohibited, per Public Citizen, a national consumer advocacy group.
ICE officials may pop up at the 2026 Super Bowl, an adviser to Homeland Security signaled Wednesday, three days after Bad Bunny was named the halftime headliner.
The big picture: The Trump administration has been accused of racial profiling, in some instances, allegedly targeting Latino citizens in ICE raids.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called Jeffrey Epstein, his former neighbor, the "greatest blackmailer ever" during a new interview.
Why it matters: The top Trump secretary's comments contrast with the Justice Department's and FBI's July findings that there's "no credible evidence" that the sex offender blackmailed prominent individuals or kept a "client list."
Across the U.S., young people are struggling to transition from high school to meaningful careers.
Here's why: This transition requires coordinated guidance, work-based learning and aligned coursework. But many students are left to navigate fragmented systems that don't sufficiently support employers' requirements.
Key numbers: 70% of U.S. jobs require some postsecondary education — but only half of students earn a credential beyond high school within six years of graduation.
