Axios

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) told Axios he is considering introducing articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over reports he authorized a second strike on a purported drug boat in the Caribbean.

Why it matters: Thanedar could once again find himself in conflict with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who dismissed the prospect of impeachment during a press conference on Monday.

The 14 FEMA employees who signed the so-called Katrina declaration went back to work for a little while Monday — but the Department of Homeland Security now says that should never have happened.

Why it matters: A spokesperson for DHS told Axios in an email that their employees' reinstatement was unauthorized.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) signaled Monday that Democrats are unlikely to pursue impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over alleged follow-up strikes against boats in the Caribbean.

Why it matters: Impeachment has been a fraught subject for Democrats this year, with Jeffries acknowledging that Republican control of both chambers of Congress makes any impeachment effort virtually dead on arrival.

President Trump's doctor revealed Monday the justification for the president's October MRI scan, saying the results were "perfectly normal."

The big picture: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are vital to tracking major health issues such as tumors, strokes and spinal cord conditions, among several other potential issues.

A Navy admiral and not Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed a September strike on a suspected drug boat near Venezuela where the military was reportedly ordered to kill survivors, the White House said Monday.

Why it matters: The White House defended the legality of the attack, but Congress has vowed to investigate with some members warning that, if substantiated, the deaths could violate the laws of war.

President Trump on Sunday said that he would "absolutely" denaturalize certain Americans if he could.

The big picture: The Trump administration has intensified its immigration crackdown after last week's deadly attack on National Guard members, with the president placing naturalized Americans in his crosshairs as well.

Multiple bomb threats were received at Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) offices across New York on Monday, the Senate minority leader announced in a statement.

Driving the news: Schumer said his offices in Rochester, Binghamton and Long Island were targeted with bomb threats via emails with the subject line "MAGA."

The White House on Monday defended the legality of its strikes on suspected drug boats from Venezuela and the surrounding area following a Washington Post report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a second attack on a ship to kill survivors.

The big picture: Military experts warn the attacks could be illegal and lawmakers are demanding more information about the lethal strikes, which are often announced by President Trump or Hegseth on social media.

President Trump's physician said in a memo released Monday that the results of a "preventative" October MRI were "perfectly normal."

The big picture: Trump, 79, did not initially disclose that he had the procedure. Democrats have seized on the secrecy and questioned his mental capacity and fitness.

Tennessee's 7th Congressional District was designed just a few years ago to hand Republicans an easy win, but this year it has become an unlikely battleground with a credible Democratic candidate vying for an upset.

Why it matters: Republicans and Democrats alike are looking at the special election on Tuesday as a critical bellwether heading into the 2026 midterms.

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are investigating FBI Director Kash Patel's reported use of a government jet to visit his girlfriend and take other personal trips, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Patel's leadership of the nation's principal federal law enforcement agency has been under intense scrutiny since before he was even sworn in, and this adds more fuel to the fire.

Travelers without a Real ID will soon face a $45 fee to fly domestically, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on Monday.

Why it matters: The new charge is more than double what was previously announced.

Odds are building that President Trump will appoint White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett as the next Federal Reserve chair.

Why it matters: The pick would put a Trump loyalist in the world's most powerful economic policymaking seat, allowing him to push for the much lower interest rates the White House has been demanding.

• Hassett would have closer ties to the sitting president than any Fed chair appointee has had in modern times.

Research firm BloombergNEF sees U.S. power demand from data centers reaching 106 gigawatts by 2035, per an analysis issued Monday.

Why it matters: That's a 36% upward revision from its April outlook, "illustrating just how quickly the sector is expanding," the analysis said.

A federal appeals court on Monday disqualified President Trump's former personal attorney Alina Habba from serving as U.S. attorney for New Jersey.

The big picture: Trump has installed loyalist attorneys to several prominent posts, but the courts have thwarted him in certain cases.

The White House is decked out in Christmas decor for the holiday season.

The big picture: This year's theme, "Home is Where the Heart Is," is a bit pared down, especially without the East Wing to decorate. Despite that, there are still intricate details throughout including "Be Best" ornaments, a Lego portrait of the president and thousands of butterflies.

President Trump said he believes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's denial of a report alleging he ordered military forces to leave no survivors in a strike on a suspected drug trafficking boat from Venezuela.

The big picture: The U.S. has ramped up its military pressure on Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro despite legal experts and lawmakers sounding the alarm over the legality of the strikes on alleged drug traffickers that have killed dozens.

Every president back to Bill Clinton enjoyed full party control of Congress and fantasized about lasting, durable governing dominance.

• Every president back to Bill Clinton lost it within two years.

Why it matters: Nothing captures the volatility of American politics better than this win-big, lose-quick phenomenon. It's like a new law of political gravity: What the swing voter giveth, the swing voter abruptly taketh away.

• President Trump would need to defy gravity to avoid the same fate that hit him during his first term … and hit Joe Biden … and Barack Obama … and George W. Bush … and Clinton.

Bill Gates says he would support deploying artificial cooling technologies to lower global temperatures — but only if the planet hits so-called climate tipping points.

Why it matters: The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist is a major funder of research into this controversial technology, and his comments in a recent interview with Axios are among his most expansive yet.

President Trump said Sunday he's decided who he'll nominate to be the next Federal Reserve chair, but he wouldn't be drawn on whether the pick is National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett.

The big picture: Current Fed Chair Jerome Powell has faced months of complaints and demands from Trump to lower interest rates and his term is due to expire in May.

President Trump said Sunday he plans to "honor" two West Virginia National Guard members who were shot in an ambush-style attack in Washington, D.C., last week.

What he's saying: Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the White House that he'd invited the parents of 20-year-old Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who died of her injuries, to the White House.

President Trump said Sunday he'll release the results of his "perfect" October MRI scan.

Why it matters: The 79-year-old president has faced scrutiny over his health this year, and leading Democratic figures have called for him to release the MRI test results.