Designating illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) should "at least be a discussion," President Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday during Axios' Future of Defense Summit.
The big picture: Homan emphasized fentanyl is a dangerous drug, citing U.S. death tolls he said are around 73,000 annually and noted the number was higher during the Biden administration.
A flood of conservative media outlets took the Pentagon up on its new restrictions to gain access to the building that many mainstream outlets rejected.
Why it matters: The announcement advances the fundamental reshaping of the Pentagon press corps into one more overtly supportive of President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is doubling down on his support for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, saying there might be "one or two more important issues" than the Marine veteran's tattoos.
"I'm not overly impressed by a squad of media running around saying, 'what do you think about the tattoo on Graham Platner's chest," Sanders tells Axios' Alex Thompson on "The Axios Show."
Why it matters: Platner's campaign has been in turmoil over the past week after reports of years old posts on Reddit that included disparaging comments about rural white people, Black diners, and police officers.
The U.S. imposed new sanctions against Russia's two biggest oil companies on Wednesday in an effort to press Russian leader Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire, President Trump said.
Why it matters: This is the first time the U.S. has imposed sanctions against Russia over the war with Ukraine since Trump assumed office.
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow met Wednesday with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) — the vice chair of Senate Democrats' campaign arm, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Party leaders are backing McMorrow's opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), in the state's fractious primary — and McMorrow has said she won't back Chuck Schumer as leader if she's elected.
Congress has been left in the dark about the U.S. military strikes off the coast of Venezuela, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said on Wednesday at Axios' Future of Defense Summit.
Why it matters: The U.S. has conducted multiple strikes in the Caribbean Sea as part of an operation aimed at stopping drugs and possibly toppling Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, but some in Congress have questioned the strikes.
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) is surprised by the pace at which China's military arsenal is advancing, she said Wednesday at Axios' Future of Defense Summit.
Why it matters: China is positioning itself as the U.S.'s leading geopolitical competitor.
State Sen. Scott Wiener officially announced Wednesday that he will run for the congressional seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
Why it matters: Wiener's announcement adds a dash of clarity to next year's cloudy midterm picture, as everyone waits to see if the 85-year-old Pelosi will seek another term.
Democrats, Republicans and President Trump are "failing to govern" amid the ongoing government shutdown, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday during Axios' Future of Defense Summit.
Why it matters: Panetta warned that defense spending can't depend on a patchwork of continuing resolutions, and that the funding gap signals to adversaries globally that "democracy is not working."
ICE expects to deport more than 600,000 undocumented immigrants by the end of the year, President Trump's border czar Tom Homan said at Axios' Future of Defense Summit on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The estimate comes as the Trump administration touted that approximately 1.6 million undocumented immigrants have "voluntarily" self-deported, and another 400,000 were deported in the first 250 days of Trump's second term.
Calling top military leaders to Quantico for a political speech was a "waste of time," former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta saidWednesday at Axios' Future of Defense Summit.
Why it matters: President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would have been better served using that gathering of top generals and admirals to prepare for 21st Century threats, Panetta said.
Author Michael Wolff sued first lady Melania Trump Tuesday after her legal team threatened him with a $1 billion lawsuit if he doesn't "immediately retract" and apologize for allegedly defamatory remarks linking her to Jeffrey Epstein.
The big picture: Wolff claims the first lady's lawsuit threat is an attempt to silence him through intimidation and the potential for large legal fees.
Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have invited the entire Senate to a rare bipartisan lunch tomorrow at the Capitol, multiple sources told Axios.
Why it matters: With talks to re-open the federal government stuck in the mud, organizers see the full bipartisan lunch as a chance for the two sides to mingle — and a potential forum to kickstart discussions.
Vice President Vance on Wednesday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "give a shot" to the Gaza ceasefire deal and help implement it, two U.S. officials and one Israeli official familiar with the meeting told Axios.
Why it matters:Vance met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem as an air train of U.S. officials began arriving in Israel to work on stabilizing the fragile ceasefire, the Trump administration's biggest diplomatic breakthrough so far.
Seven of the nine universities approached by the Trump administration have declined an agreement that would have given them preferential funding in exchange for changes to their policies.
Why it matters: The institutions' unwillingness to acquiesce to President Trump's policy demands could set the stage for another round of higher ed retaliation from the administration.
Legal scholars told Axios that if the Justice Department hands President Trump the millions in damages he requested in past administrative claims, it would present an egregious breach of ethical safeguards.
The big picture: Trump has staffed the nation's top law enforcement roles with loyalists, including those who have previously defended him in court, while the DOJ has purged those who took part in prosecuting the president.
Democrat Jeff Merkley's Senate floor speech warning that "tyranny has arrived" in America is closing in on 20 hours as the government shutdown enters its fourth week.
Why it matters: Democrats are increasingly using marathon speeches as a tactic to draw attention to what they say is an increasing authoritarianism emanating from the Trump administration.
Graham Platner, the Maine Democratic Senate candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, said that he has covered up a tattoo that has been widely recognized as a Nazi symbol.
The big picture: Platner's campaign has been marred by controversy, between his tattoo and resurfaced social media poststhat include racial stereotypes and crude comments about sexual assault victims.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said Wednesday she "will strongly be considering" a run for U.S. Senate, citing polling that suggests she would be a frontrunner in the Democratic primary.
Why it matters: Crockett has built a national brand as the exact kind of tough political brawler that Democratic voters are increasingly looking to in their primaries.
A man drove a vehicle into the U.S. Secret Service vehicle gate outside the White House on Tuesday night before being arrested, the USSS said.
The big picture: President Trump was inside the White House when the crash happened. While the building wasn't locked down, the Secret Service told Axios in a statement first shared with the New York Times that some closures around the complex would remain temporarily "as teams investigate the cause and manner of the collision."
Days of Tomahawks-for-Ukraine discourse at the highest levels publicly elided one topic, arguably the most critical: how they'd actually fire them.
Why it matters: A bullet is nothing without a gun. Likewise, a pallet of sophisticated missiles is a target — not a threat — without a way to let them loose.
Kyiv's lack of readily available launchers likely further complicated the high-wire act of sharing weapons that would bring Moscow within range.
The Democratic National Committee paid $1.6 million in September to cover debt from Kamala Harris' 2024 campaign — bringing the DNC's total payout to the campaign to more than $20 million, and counting.
Why it matters: The DNC is trying to rebuild in the aftermath of 2024, and is being hampered by debts the party racked up last year.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction, fueled by dissatisfaction with President Trump's impact on the economy, immigration, race relations and the nation's global standing, according to a new poll with a big, broad sample.
Even among Republicans, a significant share — nearly 30% — gave Trump low marks on the economy and how the government is functioning.
Why it matters: The survey offers a snapshot of the nation's sour mood just more than a year before the 2026 midterms — and suggests that anger could rewire political alliances and test the durability of Trump's support.
The White House and GOP officials are on a PR offensive to tout gasoline prices that — depending on how you slice the data — are at their lowest since either May 2021 or last December.
Why it matters: Average prices are hoveringaround $3 per gallon or have already dipped below that. It adds intrigue to a huge question: Who gains politically when pump prices fall but power bills rise?
A growing number of people — including AI pioneers and other prominent tech figures — want to stop the development of AI that can outperform all humans.
A group of scientists, policymakers and actors is calling for a pause on superintelligence until it's proven safe and controllable.
Why it matters: AI development is moving at breakneck speed with minimal oversight and with the full-throated endorsement of the Trump administration.
Some Democratic-led states are copying the Trump administration, posting banners to government websites blaming Republicans for gaps in SNAP benefits starting Nov. 1.
Why it matters: The GOP has heavily pushed the idea that Democrats areresponsible for the shutdown with banner messages across various federal websites.
President Trump on Tuesday evening dined with some of the Republican Party's biggest contributors on the White House's Rose Garden patio, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The private dinner illustrates how Trump is using the trappings of the White House to reward mega-donors who are aligned with his political agenda and interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is abandoning the appearance of 2026 neutrality as controversies pile up around progressive candidate Graham Platner.
Why it matters: The Maine Senate primary race is a full-fledged fight between the party's establishment and its left wing.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee sees Michigan as a "starting point" for expanding Senate Majority Leader John Thune's majority next year, top officials told donors on a Tuesday call.
