A CIA whistleblower, revealing his identity for the first time, tells Axios he saw a secret document in which an agency officialbragged about misleading congressional investigators about Lee Harvey Oswald's activities in Mexico before President Kennedy was assassinated.
"It's a blueprint of a cover-up, how to lie to Congress and the American people," former CIA-State Department historian Thomas L. Pearcy tells Axios.
Why it matters: Pearcy's description of the nearly 50-page document — a CIA inspector general's report — sheds new light on how intelligence agents routinely have covered up facts and records about Kennedy's slaying that still haven't been made public.
The next anti-Trump protest hitting Washington, D.C., will demand the president's impeachment and removal against a backdrop of live music and standup comedy.
Why it matters: This latest protest comes during a record-setting year for U.S. demonstrations amid growing discontent throughout the administration.
The White House is floating an executive order to override state AI laws by launching legal challenges and conditioning federal grants after President Trump publicly backed a federal regulation standard, per a copy of the draft seen by Axios.
Why it matters: It would mark a sharp escalation in the administration's bid to centralize and accelerate U.S. AI policy.
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) on Wednesday, just hours before lawmakers are set vote on whether to censure him.
Why it matters: The panel voted to establish an investigative subcommittee to examine a variety of allegations against Mills, including sexual misconduct.
Affordable homeownership remains one of the most reliable pathways to long-term financial stability, according to the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership's (ANDP) most comprehensive homebuyer wealth study.
Why it's important: For many low- and moderate-income families, home equity represents a large share of net worth. Access to affordable homeownership is essential for building wealth and economic mobility.
President Trump's idea for $2,000 tariff rebate checks is falling flat with Senate Republicans.
Why it matters: Many senators think such a move would require Congressional authorization, and they'd rather see the money go toward reducing the deficit.
Larry Summers has worn many hats in public life: President Clinton's treasury secretary, OpenAI board member, Harvard president and economic advisor. But those roles are now overshadowed by the revelations that he kept in touch with Jeffrey Epstein until a day before the convicted sex offender's 2019 arrest.
Why it matters: Summers is the latest figure caught in the bipartisan push for transparency around Epstein's ties to powerful people.
President Trump repeated his desire to force Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell out, telling the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum on Wednesday that "I'd love to fire his ass ... grossly incompetent."
Why it matters: The escalation of Trump's rhetoric against Powell comes just a day after the president said that he thinks he already knows who he will pick to be the next Fed chair.
The Federal Reserve was more divided than previously known about cutting interest rates, new minutes from the central bank's Oct. 28-29 policy meeting show.
Why it matters: With just weeks before the next meeting, it is unclear whether the Fed will cut rates again with the largest split among officials in years.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will not release the October jobs report, citing the impact from the government shutdown, the agency said on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The lack of data will leave a key gap in economic policymakers' official understanding of how the struggling labor market fared this fall.
The head of Ukraine's largest private energy company says a recent U.S. liquefied natural gas shipment could help his country get through a tough winter — as long as Russian attacks don't cripple his ability to get power to customers.
Why it matters: Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, is racing to bring enough energy online for winter, in part by importing more from the U.S.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) plans to force a vote on censuring Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) and removing him from several committees, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: Democrats have repeatedly threatened such a move against the embattled Florida Republican, but only as a retaliatory tactic to quash GOP censure measures. Mace wants to do it for real this time.
President Trump may soon sign the Epstein files bill into law — but don't expect his administration to actually release documents quickly.
The big picture: The bill's loopholes for "active investigations" and "national security" give Trump officials broad cover to delay or heavily redact documents.
Harvard launched a probe into the ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Larry Summers, the ex-Treasury secretary and former university president, multipleoutletsreported.
Why it matters: The Epstein fallout continues to hit Summers, whose association with the convicted sex offender received widespread attention after their email correspondence was released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.
Businessman Tom Steyer announced Wednesday he's entering the 2026 California governor's race, campaigning on a platform of affordability.
Why it matters: The billionaire and Democratic megadonor joins an already congested race with twenty candidates already in play, but no clear frontrunner.
Democrats have opened a 14-point lead over Republicans in a national NPR/PBS News Marist Poll survey askingwhich party voters would back if the midterms were held today.
Why it matters: It's the largest advantage Democrats have heldin a Marist poll since 2017, yet another positive sign for a party looking to make a comeback next year after a cascade of victories earlier this month in off-year elections.
Former Treasury secretary and Harvard president Larry Summers has resigned from the OpenAI board, he and the company told Axios in separate statements Wednesday, amid new revelations about the depths of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The big picture: The Epstein fallout continues to balloon, now coming for Summers, once one of the nation's pre-eminent economists.
The U.S. Army plans to dramatically increase its purchases of commercially available technology, much to the detriment of bespoke, one-off products and projects, according to Dan Driscoll, the service's top civilian.
Why it matters: That pledge, paired with promises made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this month, could begin reshaping a Pentagon supplier pool that has for decades been dominated by a handful of companies.
The administration is hopeful Americans won't necessarily spend the $2,000 tariff checks President Trump has promised, and instead pump them into "Trump accounts" for kids, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says.
Why it matters: Amid a growing affordability crisis, the Trump administration is arguing inflation is under control and prices will come down soon — while also raising the prospect of pumping hundreds of billions into the economy.
Soaring home prices and a shrinking supply of affordable housing are making it increasingly difficult for families across the U.S. to secure stable homes.
Why it's important: The lack of affordable housing puts families at risk of financial instability, disrupts employment and educational opportunities, and constrains regional economic growth.
JPMorgan Chase on Wednesday announced more than $40 million in philanthropic funding to increase America's housing supply, including more than $20 million in grants and $20 million in flexible loans.
Why it matters: The funds will support innovative financing and construction models to expand and preserve housing, as well as home improvement loans for low- and moderate-income families.
A tech-friendly group, the AI Infrastructure Coalition, will launch Wednesday evening with a reception near the White House, to advocate for "every layer of the AI tech stack — from semiconductor manufacturers and energy providers to hyperscalers, data-center operators, private equity, and AI model developers."
Why it matters: AIIC, which debuts as data centers are becoming a flashpoint nationwide, tells Axios the group will push for President Trump's AI Action Plan and push back on increased scrutiny of the industry.
Republicans are taking a harder line against extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies — and doubling down on an alternative plan that would send the money directly to consumers.
Why it matters: President Trump's opposition to an extension makes it increasingly unlikely that Republicans will agree to renew the tax credits, even though it's not clear how the GOP alternative would work or whether the party can reach a consensus.
A single loose wire on a cargo ship caused a power outage that led to the Baltimore bridge collapse that killed six highway workers last year, a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report released Tuesday found.
The big picture: "This tragedy should have never occurred," NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a Tuesday hearing on the agency's findings into how the Dali ship crashed into the bridge, leading to its collapse that blocked full access to the Port of Baltimore's main shipping channel until June.
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday backed the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops' rare statement criticizing the Trump administration's immigration and mass deportation policies and called on immigrants to be treated with "dignity."
The big picture: The Chicago-born pontiff told reporters the immigration message that the bishops delivered last week was "a very important statement" and "people of goodwill" should listen carefully to what they said.
House Republicans failed to remove Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) from the House Intelligence Committee over newly released files from Jeffrey Epstein's estate revealing she texted with the disgraced financier during a congressional hearing.
Why it matters: Three Republicans voted against their party's measure and another three voted "present" after Democrats threatened a retaliatory vote on removing Rep. Cory Mills from the Armed Services Committee.
House Democrats responded Tuesday to a Republican effort to censure Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) and remove her from the Intelligence Committee by reviving a censure measure against Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) that would kick him off the Armed Services Committee.
Why it matters: This is the third time Democrats have used the threat of a Mills rebuke — or at least a public debate on the topic — to kill a Republican censure effort against one of their members. So far, the strategy has worked.
President Trump said Tuesday evening that he has formally designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, aiming to deepen military cooperation between the two nations.
The big picture: The announcement follows Trump's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (earlier on Tuesday, when MBS pledged to up Riyadh investments in the U.S. from $600 billion to $1 trillion.
Saudi Arabia committed to buying hundreds of U.S.-made tanks, part of a larger spending-and-security conversation between the two countries, the White House said.
Why it matters: It's a massive, long-term commitment — and one that appears to shrug off doubts regarding the tank's role on the battlefield of the future.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are at odds over a recently-passed measure allowing senators to sue the Justice Department for up to $500,000 over obtained phone records.
Why it matters: Johnson (R-La.) is expected to move Wednesday to repeal the measure. But Thune (R-S.D.) defended it Tuesday night, even as some of his own senators expressed concern.
Sen. Ted Cruz has scheduled a Dec. 3 hearing for Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and commercial astronaut renominated to lead NASA, before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
Why it matters: The hearing, Isaacman's second, will give senators an opportunity to ask him fresh questions about his plans for space exploration and the Trump administration's priorities in space.
