Manchester, N.H.— New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker railed against the Democratic Party and met privately with state lawmakers in New Hampshire on Friday, sounding a lot like a guy who's planning to run for president.
"I have not written that off," Booker told Axios when asked about a White House run in 2028.
Driving the news: Whatever he decides, it's clear that Booker — who has a reputation as a center-left happy warrior — is now channeling the anger of his party's base as he meets likely primary voters.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — not California Gov. Gavin Newsom — had the most effective ad in California's recent Proposition 50 campaign, according to private research by the Democratic Party's main super PAC, Future Forward.
Future Forward's report, obtained by Axios, found that Ocasio-Cortez's direct-to-camera ad did better than ads featuring Newsom — Prop 50's chief cheerleader — and former President Obama.
New York Times columnist Ezra Klein isn't content with opining about the Democratic Party — he's positioned himself as a powerbroker inside of it.
Why it matters: Klein's columnist-turned-operative role is raising concerns inside the Times and the Democratic Party, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.
Federal Border Patrol agents arrested 81 people on day one of their Charlotte, North Carolina, crackdown that's prompted protests and left businesses shuttered.
The big picture: Charlotte, in what federal officials are calling "Operation Charlotte's Web," is the latest city to be rocked by federal forces and a surge in immigrant arrests as advocates decry the administration's aggressive tactics.
President Trump lambasted Indiana Republicans who resisted his pressure to enter the mid-decade redistricting war, saying any party member who votes against redistricting "should be PRIMARIED."
The big picture: Indiana marks the latest setback in Trump's drive to lock in a GOP House majority through mid-decade gerrymandering — part of his broader push to expand Republican power state by state.
Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie framed their break from President Trump over sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's files as a moral battle for victims.
Why it matters: Greene and Massie are testing whether Republicans can openly defy Trump and survive, betting that standing with Epstein victims is a powerful enough shield to withstand the wrath of a president who has commanded near-absolute loyalty from the MAGA base.
Grocery prices will come down, and consumers should feel a real rebound in purchasing power in the first half of 2026, the Trump administration's top economic officials said Sunday.
Why it matters: The government's own inflation data keeps ticking up, as most shoppers say they're paying more for groceries now than a year ago.
President Trump's promise to send $2,000 tariff dividend checks to most Americans will require legislation to accomplish, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday.
No part of the new media ecosystem was more ascendant, more powerful and more influential in shaping public debate than MAGA was six short months ago.
It helped elect President Trump to a second term, defend Trump, pressure and punish any Republican who didn't back Trump. MAGA was Trump, and Trump was full MAGA.
Why it matters: MAGA is now mired in conflict over Israel, white nationalism, purity tests and disputes among its biggest personalities.
It's still overwhelmingly pro-Trump — but less relevant in shaping the president's agenda, and less capable of uniting to shape perception and dominate conversation on the right. These days, MAGA can spend more time eating its own than feasting on liberals or establishment Republicans.
Fresh off its immigration raids into Los Angeles and Chicago, the Department of Homeland Security has launched its operation in Charlotte and has New Orleans in its sights.
Why it matters: The high-profile operations have led to surges in arrests. But they've also galvanized local resistance efforts, and created a playbook for activists in other cities when ICE comes to town.
Billy Bob Thornton's oilman in "Landman" mirrors a real-world confidence returning to the U.S. oil and gas industry.
Why it matters: The hit drama's second season — premiering Sunday night on Paramount+ — coincides with a supportive White House and rising public support for drilling after years of environmental backlash.
