President Trump and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) plan to host a tele-rally Thursday evening aimed at energizing Republican voters ahead of Tuesday's statewide elections.
Why it matters: Republicans know they need to counter the energy – and anger – on the Democratic side if they to want win the attorney general's race, their best statewide shot in the off-year election.
The Trump administration won't allow more than 7,500 refugees to enter America in FY2026, a record-low cap that prioritizes admitting Afrikaners, or white South Africans, into the country.
Why it matters: The plunge cements the president's sharp pivot away from America's historic refugee policies and stands in stark contrast to the 125,000 refugees admitted under the last year of the Biden administration.
CEOs represented by the Business Roundtable, one of the nation's most influential business lobby groups, along with more than a dozen trade groups, urged Congress to reopen the government in a statement Thursday.
Why it matters: Some 200 or so CEOs of major U.S. companies, from Apple to Walmart, belong to the Business Roundtable, which warns that the prolonged government shutdown is causing economic damage, some of which is irreversible.
"The longer the shutdown persists, the larger and more durable the economic damage becomes — and some of it could never be recovered," the group says in its statement.
16 trade associations also joined the statement, representing a range of industries, including the American Bankers Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association, National Association of Home Builders and National Association of Manufacturers.
The big picture: The shutdown is now in its 30th day, and pressure is building on lawmakers to broker a deal.
Around 42 million Americans are at risk of losing their food benefits, or SNAP, beginning Saturday.
More than 65,000 small businesses that contract with the federal government have $3 billion at risk each week the shutdown persists, the Chamber of Commerce said in an analysis released Thursday.
"The Chamber is again calling on Congress to immediately pass the continuing resolution to reopen and fund the government," Neil Bradley, chief policy officer for the lobby group, said in a statement.
Zoom in: The airline industry in particular is eager to get back to business.
Air traffic controllers and other airport workers are going without pay, straining air travel in the U.S.
On Thursday, CEOs from American Airlines and United attended a roundtable to press for an end to the stalemate, Reuters reports.
"Delta Air Lines implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government so that our air traffic controllers, TSA and CPB officers charged with the safety and efficiency of our national airspace can collect the paychecks they deserve," the company said in a statement.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details.
As the government shutdown stretches into its 30th day, more Americans blame President Trump and Republicans than Democrats for the impasse, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll.
Why it matters: More Americans are growing deeply worried about what is now the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history — one that will soon cut off food stamp benefits and has already left more than a million Americans without a paycheck.
SNAP benefits are likely to run out this week due to the federal government shutdown, but major changes are still set to take effect for enrollees.
The big picture: The changes to the program outlined inPresident Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) mark a historic cut to the social safety net, which experts say could leave more people hungry and uninsured.
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik has built out an extensive political team as she prepares to launch a 2026 campaign for New York governor in November, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Stefanik, one of President Trump's most prominent backers on Capitol Hill, is looking to become the first Republican to be elected New York governor in more than two decades.
The United States hasn't tested nuclear weapons in three decades — but that might be about to change.
The big picture: President Trump called for renewed nuclear tests on Wednesday, something the U.S. has shied away from because of environmental concerns and escalating global conflicts, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem denied Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's (D) request to suspend all federal immigration operations across the Chicago area over Halloween weekend.
Why it matters: Pritzker's request came after Chicago residents reported last weekend that federal immigration officers conducted a raid right before a children's Halloween parade.
Workers whose organizations are deemed to have ties to a "substantial illegal purpose" will be cut off from a major student loan forgiveness program under a Trump administration rule set to be published in the Federal Register Friday.
The big picture: Those activities range from "supporting terrorism" to providing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to children or teens, forms of gender-affirming care that can be given to transgender young people.
A group of 15 Democratic representatives alleged Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement discreetly furloughed the majorityof its congressional relations team during the shutdown, making it difficult for lawmakers to get answers about agency operations.
The big picture: Lawmakers said in a letter sent to ICE director Todd Lyons that with the team's absence, they have been unable to determine the location and status of detainees, and cannot answer "time-sensitive" questions from constituents about ICE.
House Democrats left a briefing on President Trump's strikes against alleged drug boats furious at the absence of lawyers to explain the administration's legal reasoning.
Why it matters: Lawmakers in both parties have for months been railing against the administration for not providing more evidence that the targets were indeed drug smugglers and that the strikes were legally justified.
Turning Point USA, the right-wing group founded by Charlie Kirk, is trying to become a force in MAGA media with guerrilla-style reporting segments that are drawing millions of viewers on social media.
Why it matters: The reports on the TPUSA Frontlines site are the latest sign of how Turning Point — long known for Kirk's campus tours and its mobilization of young voters — is shifting in the aftermath of Kirk's assassination in September.
Downtown districts across the U.S. have experienced widespread business closures, empty spaces and reduced foot traffic.
The pandemic accelerated long-term shifts that were already underway as e-commerce, remote work and changing consumer habits altered downtown economies.
Why it's important: These districts play an outsized role in community economies, serving as cultural and economic hubs that bring together jobs, residences, businesses, public spaces and anchor institutions.
The Pentagon is ordering National Guard "Quick Reaction Force" teams to be trained to respond to civil unrest across the country and ready to deploy by the start of next year, according a memo reviewed by multipleoutlets.
The big picture: The Trump administration has used the Guard in unprecedented ways to target Democratic-led cities where the president alleges crime is rampant. That's triggered outrage over the use of federal troops on U.S. soil and serious legal concerns.
Then-President Biden "didn't want that debate," former Vice President Harris said in a new interview, describing a reluctant president whose fateful night on stage accelerated President Trump's return to the White House.
Why it matters: Harris' remarks tap into Democrats' broader reckoning over how denial, deference and age shaped their 2024 collapse.
A former Illinois sheriff's deputy has been convicted of second-degree murder after body cam footage showed him fatally shooting a 36-year-old Black woman who had called 911 for help last year.
The big picture: Sean Grayson's conviction on Wednesday was a rare case of an officer facing trial for excessive force, even after states passed police reforms following the 2020 murder of George Floyd.
New York State officials are taking fresh steps toward Gov. Kathy Hochul's goal of developing at least 1 gigawatt of new nuclear power upstate, per announcements shared with Axios ahead of their release.
Why it matters: Nuclear power has growing and cross-aisle momentum, and New York's move follows this week's new U.S.-industry partnership aimed at building $80 billion worth of projects.
Lucid Motors will soon unveil a vehicle-to-home power product, and the luxury EV startup is also talking with third-party dealerships in Europe — a departure from its direct-to-consumer model.
Why it matters: Those steps, shared by interim CEO Marc Winterhoff in an interview, illustrate how Lucid is adapting on the fraught, expensive road from buzzy startup to commercial-scale automaker.
The Trump administration's $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants could exacerbate the shortage of doctors in poor and outlying areas and widen disparities in care, according to research published in JAMA on Wednesday.
Why it matters: More than 11,000 doctors — or roughly 1% of the U.S. physician workforce — were sponsored for H-1B visas last year. Visa holders were likelier than their domestic counterparts to fill critical gaps in health care, such as primary care and psychiatry.
The cost of hiring help to care for an elderly or a sick person at home is skyrocketing.
Why it matters: A labor shortage and surging demand from an aging population was already driving up prices, and nowthe White House's crackdown on immigration and funding cuts are making things worse.
Small business owners are at an impasse — 74% report they plan to grow, seeing a future where they can expand their businesses. But they're feeling held back by factors like accessing affordable capital, hiring difficulties and capitalizing on new technologies.
Here's the deal: Giving small business owners a voice in Washington, D.C. helps policymakers understand their needs and shape better policies. But when you're a small business owner juggling every aspect of your business, finding time and opportunities to advocate for those priorities at a national level isn't easy.
U.S. officials have been holding sensitive conversations with a range of countries about establishing an international force to deploy to Gaza and intend to present a plan in the next few weeks, three sources intimately involved in that process tell Axios.
Why it matters: The breakdown in the ceasefire on Tuesday underscored just how fragile the peace is. But the International Stabilization Force (ISF) envisioned in President Trump's plan raises politically explosive questions for Israel, Hamas and the countries considering sending troops.
Bill Gates' shift from "doomsday" climate warnings to a focus on improving human lives is triggering sharp reactions from scientists and activists.
Why it matters: As one of the world's most prominent funders of both climate and global health efforts, Gates' positioning influences the political and philanthropic center.
President Trump said he'll trim China tariffs after talks with Xi Jinping in South Korea in exchange for Beijing's pledge to buy U.S. soybeans and energy, allow exports of rare earth minerals and curb the flow of fentanyl.
Why it matters: A trade truce between the world's two largest economies could bring relief to businesses, investors and consumers.
President Trump announced Wednesday night that the U.S. will resume testing nuclear weapons.
Why it matters: The U.S. hasn't conducted a nuclear test since 1992. If Trump follows through on the decision to resume testing, it could reignite a superpower arms race.
Top Senate Democrats are fuming at their exclusion from a Wednesday briefing on the White House's strikes against boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.
Why it matters: The White House has faced bipartisan pushback for its lack of transparency around the unilateral strikes against alleged drug traffickers.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune showed uncharacteristic fury on the Senate floor on Wednesday, scorching Democrats for refusing to reopen the government.
"[W]e tried to do that 13 times! You voted 'no' 13 times," Thune (R-S.D.) said in response to Sen. Ben Ray Luján's (D-N.M.) request for a vote on SNAP benefits.
"You all just figured out, 29 days in, that, oh, there might be some consequences," Thune added.
Why it matters: Despite Thune's anger, there are signs of a potential breakthrough.
