President Trump said Saturday that the money that's being spent on Affordable Care Act subsidies now should be sent directly to consumers — a position that's likely to complicate the government shutdown deadlock even more.
Why it matters: Trump's statement in a Truth Social post puts further pressure on Republicans to reject Democratic demands to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits as a condition for voting to end the shutdown.
Local journalists face a new wave of threats and intimidation amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, marking the most intense press freedom clashes since the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
Why it matters: The surge underscores the vulnerability of local reporters covering federal and local actions.
Other countries are finding new ways to support local news, offering lessons for how the U.S. could address those same economic challenges.
Why it matters: The U.S. relies far more on philanthropy to support local news than other Western democracies, says Rodney Benson, professor and former chair of NYU's Department of Media, Culture, and Communication.
The Supreme Court late Friday allowed the Trump administration to temporarily halt SNAP payments even as states were gearing up to distribute the money.
Why it matters: Some 42 million Americans who rely on the program for nutritional assistance were waiting on their November payments as the longest government shutdown in history drags on.
James Talarico, a Texas Democrat running for U.S. Senate who has put his faith at the forefront of his campaign, follows several adult film performers, escorts and OnlyFans models on Instagram, according to an Axios review.
The big picture: Talarico, 36, a seminarian and state House member, has become a sensation in Texas politics by talking about how his Christianity is the basis for his Democratic politics.
Look under almost every element of President Trump's second-term foreign policy — from the trade war with China, to peace in Ukraine, to annexing Greenland — and you'll find critical minerals.
Why it matters: China has the U.S. in a bind when it comes to supplies of rare earths and other scarce minerals, and President Xi Jinping has proved he's willing to squeeze. That's why Trump was so intent on signing a one-year trade truce with Beijing, and why he's scouring the world for alternative sources.
Palantir co-founder and CEO Alex Karp said on "The Axios Show" that Democrats privately tell him they doubt New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani can accomplish his ambitious agenda.
Why it matters: Karp is part of an influential group of tech billionaires who have broken with the Democratic Party and aligned themselves with President Trump.
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik aims to challenge New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year's elections — and survive a tough midterm environment — by targeting New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani as much as her actual opponents.
Why it matters: Stefanik's gambit pulls back the curtain on a big part of Republicans' emerging 2026 strategy — weather President Trump's growing unpopularity by casting Democrats as socialists in Mamdani's mold.
America's national parks — partially open despite the government shutdown — have become playgrounds for unsupervised visitors who are wreaking havoc on wildlife and fragile ecosystems.
Why it matters: President Trump's decision to keep the parks open against the wishes of conservationists risks causing permanent damage to some of America's most beloved locations.
A federal court ruled Friday that the Trump administration unlawfully altered furloughed employees' automated out-of-office emails without their consent, using partisan language to blame "Democrat Senators" for the shutdown.
The big picture: The decision is a warning to the administration about its messaging tactics during the shutdown, particularly its attempts to curb federal workers' free speech.
The Trump administration's request to block a judge's ruling requiring full payment of SNAP benefits by Nov. 7 wasdenied Fridayby an appeals court.
Why it matters: The USDA must now issue full benefits by the end of the day to the millions enrolled in the program, though Attorney General Pam Bondi said shortly after the decision that the administration has filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court.
