Axios

Nearly 7 million protesters gathered across the U.S. on Saturday to take part in rallies against President Trump and his administration.

Why it matters: This latest round of protests comes as the government shutdown approaches its third week and opposition to Trump's military crackdown on Democratic-led cities grows.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Israel this week as part of a push by the Trump administration for the implementation of the agreement to end the Gaza war, four Israeli officials and one U.S. official with knowledge of the plan said.

Why it matters: The implementation of the first phase of the deal was mostly successful with the release of 20 live Israeli hostages, close to 2000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees released, an initial Israeli withdrawal from large parts of Gaza and a ceasefire.

No Kings protest organizers expect millions to gather across the nation on Saturday, Oct. 18 in an event Republican lawmakers decry as "a hate America rally."

Why it matters: The latest round of protests comes amid growing frustration about the ongoing government shutdown and widespread opposition to President Trump's military crackdown on Democratic-led cities across America.

A coalition led by Martin Luther King III and a Latino group has launched a new campaign to boost civic engagement of Black and Hispanic voters in important states.

The big picture: The initiative comes as the Supreme Court takes up a crucial case that could gut a key piece of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which has historically preserved the political power of people of color.

The White House is using the government shutdown as an opportunity to fire thousands of people — furthering the aims of Elon Musk's DOGE effort earlier this year.

Why it matters: This time the stated focus isn't efficiency or eliminating fraud. It's all about shrinking the federal government — and doing away with programs that run counter to the administration's ideologies.

Maine oyster farmer Graham Platner's Senate campaign is in crisis after reports of offensive online messages over many years.

Why it matters: Many national Democrats seized on Platner as a solution to the party's problems with young men and working-class voters in the wake of their embarrassing losses in 2024.

Rebutting shutdown critics, President Trump's budget office sent Congress a memo Friday arguing that history shows he has the right to move money around to pay the troops.

• The memo cites presidents from George Washington in the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion to John F. Kennedy in creating the Peace Corps in 1961.

Why it matters: By paying the military while other federal workers go without, Trump is eliminating a major pressure point on him to negotiate.

President Trump said Friday he signed a commutation to immediately release former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from prison.

Why it matters: Santos was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison in April, after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The White House finalized a new tariff of 25% on trucks and announced fresh relief measures for U.S. automakers.

Why it matters:Both announcements are huge for the auto industry that has been slammed by President Trump's trade policy.

President Trump filed an emergency appeal Friday, asking the Supreme Court to approve the deployment of the National Guard to Chicago amid his immigration crackdown.

Why it matters: Despite attempts or placements of the National Guard in cities across the U.S., this marks Trump's first effort to overturn a lower federal court ruling about National Guard deployment in the Supreme Court.

President Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a tense meeting on Friday that he doesn't intend to provide long-range Tomahawk missiles, at least for now, two sources briefed on the meeting tell Axios.

Why it matters: Zelensky hoped to leave Washington with commitments around new weapons for Ukraine, but found Trump in a totally different state of mind a day after he held a lengthy call with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Trump made clear his priority now is diplomacy, and he thinks providing Tomahawks could undermine it, the sources say.

The Trump administration is pausing more than $11 billion in projects to mostly Democratic-led cities, the Office of Management and Budget director announced on Friday.

The big picture: The White House is continuing to pressure and blame Democrats over the shutdown, as well as point to the suspension as the reason it is firing workers and cutting spending.

The federal court system will no longer have the money to "sustain full, paid operations" of its 94 district and 13 circuit courts starting on Monday after exhausting the funds it was using for the first few weeks of the government shutdown.

Why it matters: The reduced operations will further bog down a court system already struggling to make it through its normal caseload and add to the hundreds of thousands of employees already furloughed or laid off by the Trump administration this year.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee posted an AI-doctored video today that features Schumer saying — with a grin — that "every day gets better" for Democrats during the shutdown.

• The quote is real. But he never said it on camera.

Why it matters: There's a lot more of this coming fast in the AI era.

President Trump sent wayward Republicans a loud message last week: Cross me at your own peril.

Why it matters: Trump's eleventh-hour decision to endorse Republican Matt Van Epps in a contested Tennessee House primary — which vaulted Van Epps to a lopsided win — showed he has the power to decide GOP primaries with a single post on his Truth Social account.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) helped draw the battle lines over the shutdown. Now he's using them to strengthen his position as the leader of the often-divided Democratic caucus.

Why it matters: His colleagues are taking notice.

GOP lawmakers on Friday asked the Justice Department to refer former special counsel Jack Smith for investigation, claiming that he improperly obtained call logs.

Why it matters: The five Republicans accused Smith of professional misconduct and recommended potential disbarment — escalating President Trump's requests to investigate the prosecutor who led two federal cases against him.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently lamented that Chicago businesses prohibited federal officers from using their bathrooms or eating in certain restaurants, as owners argue is their right under the Third Amendment of the Constitution.

The big picture: Previously relegated to niche online communities like the HistoryMemes Reddit, the Third Amendment is receiving almost as much attention as its big siblings, the First and Second Amendments.

As global tensions reshape the business landscape, geopolitics is a core concern in every boardroom. In this episode, PwC Partner Michelle Horton and Axios Creative House Host Ryan Heath explore how leaders can turn geopolitical uncertainty into strategic advantage.

In this episode, PwC's Rohit Kumar and Anna Green join Axios Creative House Host Ryan Heath to discuss the way today's evolving tax landscape is reshaping business strategy.

President Trump on Friday confirmed a U.S. military strike on an alleged "drug-carrying submarine" in the Caribbean.

Why it matters: Thursday's attack is the first known instance of the U.S. capturing survivors from a suspected drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela, multiple outlets reported.

John Bolton, President Trump's former national security adviser, pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday to eight counts of transmitting national defense information and 10 counts of retaining national defense information.

Why it matters: The charges represent the administration's aggressive move to prosecute a former top aide who became one of Trump's most outspoken critics.

President Trump has begun turning his long list of perceived enemies — ex-officials, prosecutors and critics — into criminal defendants, testing how far political retribution can reach inside the justice system.

Why it matters: Trump's actions increasingly normalize political retribution through the justice system.

President Trump re-filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times on Thursday after the original complaint was dismissed for being unnecessarily long.

Why it matters: The New York Times lawsuit is one of several legal battles involving the president and media organizations — some of which chose to reach multi-million dollar settlements with Trump.

President Trump told Fox Business he's "not a king" ahead of nationwide No Kings protests planned for Saturday while insisting the ongoing government shutdown gives him power to unilaterally cut federal programs.

Why it matters: Top Republicans have repeatedly called the protests "hate America" rallies, although organizers say the event is simply an opportunity for Americans to display their discontent with the Trump administration.

IKEA confirmed that it has raised prices as President Trump's furniture tariffs went into effect this week.

The big picture: The famously budget-conscious Swedish brand has at least partially ended its price-slashing campaign, indicative of the way that tariffs are ultimately hitting consumers rather than businesses.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the White House demanding the publication of the September employment report, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The data release is among the most important delayed by the government shutdown, leaving economic policymakers in the dark about the health of the job market at a critical juncture.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused Speaker Mike Johnson of "hypocrisy" for brushing off questions about a protective order issued against Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.).

Why it matters: It's the latest example of a pattern that has defined Greene's time in Congress: supporting leaders when it suits her political agenda and scorching them when it doesn't.

President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will discuss long-range Tomahawk missiles when they meet at the White House on Friday.

Why it matters: If the U.S. agrees to sell them, if would greatly enhance Ukraine's deep-strike capability — and bring Moscow within range.

First things first: Safe, stable housing is the foundation of financial security for individuals and households across America and critical to economic success. Yet for too many, affordable housing remains out of reach, whether they are seeking to own or rent their homes.

President Trump's relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken a U-turn since the leaders' February meeting devolved into a shouting match, with the two expected to discuss supplying Ukraine with game-changing long-range missiles Friday.

The big picture: Trump repeatedly boasted he could end the Russia-Ukraine war on his first day in office, and nine months later he appears poised to up the ante to force Russia to the negotiating table.

Millions are expected to protest nationwide this weekend for "No Kings Day," raising questions about how to demonstrate safely amid President Trump's law enforcement crackdowns.

The big picture: While most "No Kings" protests in June were peaceful, scattered incidents of violence in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Culpeper, Virginia have renewed focus on protest preparation and demonstrators' rights.

One of President Trump's most visible MAGA allies in Congress is accusing Republicans of losing their "America First" identity.

Why it matters: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) won't cross the line of directly criticizing President Trump. But she told Axios that parts of his second-term agenda are "America Last."

We're back with the second part in our state AI series featuring a peek behind the curtain at how Michigan, Utah and Maryland are using AI and thinking about guidelines around the technology.

Why it matters: States have a unique flexibility to test, deploy and set their own rules for AI as the federal government trails behind on legislation and regulation.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a flurry of tech regulation bills, but it's the legislation he vetoed this week that could shape the national debate over kids' online safety.

Why it matters: The governor's decision underscores the tension between protecting minors and encouraging AI innovation.

The Trump administration's immigration crackdown is projected to reduce the U.S. workforce by 6.8 million people by 2028 and by 15.7 million by 2035, per a study first shared with Axios.

Why it matters: Fewer workers in the labor force could have dramatic effects on the U.S. economy, from lower economic growth to reductions in the nation's goods and services produced.

There's a shutdown in D.C., clashes in Chicago, and economic worries bubbling up all over the country — but at the moment, President Trump seems more focused on Gaza, Ukraine and Venezuela.

Why it matters: Trump's foreign policy focus — and the peace deals he has secured — is the stuff of presidential legacy building. But the globe-trotting risks blurring his "America First" brand.

President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton was indicted on Thursday by a federal grand jury in Maryland for his handling of classified documents, according to a court filing.

Why it matters: Bolton has become a fierce Trump critic since leaving the first administration and has repeatedly warned about the president using the power of the government to target political foes.

Half a dozen House Democrats who are 70 or older were beaten by their younger primary rivals in fundraising between July and September, an Axios analysis has found.

Why it matters: The statistic highlights an unusually large number of credible Democratic primary challenges this election cycle as younger party members mount a major push for generational change.

Former national security adviser John Bolton responded to his indictment Thursday by saying he's become the "latest target" in President Trump's "weaponizing" of the Department of Justice "to charge those he deems to be his enemies."

The big picture: The indictment of Trump's first-term national security adviser for his handling of classified documents comes weeks after former FBI director James Comey was indicted.

Two weeks into the government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer are talking at each other through the media — but not to each other.

Why it matters: Both see President Trump as the key to eventually unlocking real negotiations on health care.