Axios

President Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday that the government would buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds in an effort to reduce housing costs.

Why it matters: The directive is one of a series of steps that Trump has recently announced to address the affordability concerns of voters. It's not clear it would make a big impact on housing.

The new East Wing addition is slated to be two stories, and rise to the same height as the White House, according to plans the architect for President Trump's ballroom revealed Thursday.

• The glowup could now also include adding a second-story addition to the existing West Wing colonnade so the two wings are symmetrical.

Just hours after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the ICE officer "did exactly what he was taught to do."

Why it matters: The department's own rules for the use of force suggest it's an undecided question whether the officer acted appropriately, and former DHS officials are criticizing anyone who's rushing to judgment.

A Democrat bill to revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years passed in the House Thursday with the help of 17 Republicans.

Why it matters: The dramatic 230-196 vote marked a rare rebuke by some Republicans of their own leadership, driven by concerns about spiking health care costs in an election year dominated by affordability concerns.

President Trump will likely select a new Federal Reserve chair this month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday, as he gave new details on the search for America's next top central banker.

The big picture: In one of the most consequential appointments of his term, Trump has publicly mused about the process and suggested he has already decided. Bessent, who has led the search process, said one of four remaining candidates is yet to be interviewed.

• Rick Rieder, a BlackRock executive, is the remaining finalist to be interviewed, Bessent said.
• White House aide Kevin Hassett and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh are thought to be the leading candidates, and current Fed governor Christopher Waller has also interviewed.

A pair of House members is asking the federal judge who oversaw the Ghislaine Maxwell case to appoint a special master charged with compelling the Justice Department to release all of its files on Jeffrey Epstein.

Why it matters: The DOJ has faced criticism from Epstein survivors and lawmakers in both parties for failing to meet a Dec. 19 statutory deadline to release all the Epstein files.

Five Republicans broke from President Trump in voting to advance the war powers resolution that would curb further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval.

Why it matters: The GOP largely stands behind the operation in Venezuela. The rare rebuke sparked fury from the president, who called for the five lawmakers — including vulnerable incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) — to "never be elected to office again."

Avelo Airlines is cutting ties with ICE less than a year after inking a deal to carry out deportations for the agency.

Why it matters: Avelo appears to be the only commercial airline carrying out full aircraft deportation flights on a regular schedule for ICE, the AP noted last year.

A large swath of House Republicans flipped their positions Thursday on a pair of bills, voting to sustain the first two vetoes of President Trump's second term.

Why it matters: The votes mark yet another sign of Trump's influence over the GOP House, which has largely aligned itself with him — in this case, in defiance of pleas from their own members.

Venezuela will release an "important number" of political prisoners, including both citizens and foreigners, the South American country's top legislator said on Thursday.

The big picture: The announcement, from National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez, could signal that the regime is softening its long-standing limits on political dissent — a move the opposition in Venezuela has demanded for years.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) will propose sweeping reforms to DHS, including requiring a warrant for arrests, banning masks during enforcement operations and requiring Border Patrol to remain at the border after an ICE officer killed a woman in Minneapolis this week, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It's one of the biggest anti-ICE pushes by elected Democrats since the days of "Abolish ICE" — and less than two years after an election where Democrats feel like they got beaten badly on the immigration issue.

Nearly six years after the murder of George Floyd, Minnesota is bracing for unrest under a Trump administration far more inclined to use federal force than it was in 2020.

Why it matters: Few states capture the convulsions of modern politics as vividly as Minnesota, where the fatal ICE shooting of a U.S. citizen has again inflamed America's deepest divisions.

The worsening U.S. penny shortage has prompted the Federal Reserve to resume accepting penny deposits on Jan. 14 at more coin distribution locations.

Why it matters: The move could ease checkout friction for cash-paying shoppers, where a lack of coins has led to rounding, confusion and longer lines.

The federal government restricted Minnesota investigators' access to case materials and evidence in the fatal shooting by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, officials said on Thursday.

Why it matters: The move lets the Trump administration have unilateral purview over the investigation into the suspect tasked with carrying out the president's immigration agenda.

Disrupting Venezuela's power grid is well within the reach of U.S. military hackers — not only because they're among the world's most capable cyber operators, but because the country's electrical infrastructure is exceptionally fragile.

Why it matters: Trump said that ahead of the raid to capture Nicolás Maduro, "the lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise we have." Former officials and cybersecurity experts tell Axios the blackouts had several telltale signs of a military-led cyber operation.

The Senate on Thursday voted in favor of blocking President Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela without congressional approval after the U.S. captured the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro.

Why it matters: Enough Republicans broke with Trump to advance the war powers resolution — a rare and notable rebuke of the president — even as most of the GOP stands behind the operation in Venezuela.

President Trump's advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Wednesday in Paris with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to discuss the U.S. plan for peace in Ukraine, according to a source with knowledge.

Why it matters: After reaching an agreement with Ukraine on almost all aspects of Trump's plan, the White House wants to get a clear response from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the proposal.

The architects of Project 2025 released a roadmap on Thursday for the American family that encourages heterosexual marriage and childbearing along with increased government intervention in such affairs.

Why it matters: The Heritage Foundation report outlines next steps for the pro-natalist movement against the backdrop of a historic low in new births.

President Trump's decision to yank the U.S. from UN climate change agencies will set back international progress on addressing the climate, observers say.

Why it matters: The U.S. is the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and provides much of the scientific heft addressing the problem.

The head of the U.S. oil industry's leading lobbying group on Thursday predicted "tremendous interest" in Venezuela from American companies — but only if "big requirements" around security and other areas are met.

Why it matters: President Trump is hoping that U.S. producers invest in reviving output from Venezuela's broken-down oil fields.

President Trump's latest command economy performance is aimed at large institutional investors in single-family homes, pledging to block them from buying more.

Why it matters: This is his first public break with private equity since returning to office, and a rare time when he might find common ground with Democrats.

Once hesitant or disapproving of using the U.S. military to invade Venezuela, the vast majority of Republicans now say they approve of President Trump's raid and the stunning capture of Nicolás Maduro, a new poll found.

Why it matters: Trump tested his base's appetite for new international incursions — and they have rallied behind him since the stunning Venezuela operation and his claim that the U.S. will "run" the Latin American country.

Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) on Thursday will introduce legislation to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative for five years, according to a bill summary shared first with Axios.

Why it matters: The program is meant to boost quantum research and development — which experts say could lead to scientific breakthroughs and keep the U.S. globally competitive — but Congress let it expire in 2023.

In honor of World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and COPD Awareness Month, Axios' Kristen Burkhalter spoke with Josie Cooper, executive director of the Alliance for Patient Access, about the urgent policy priorities in respiratory health and how the COPD Action Alliance is pushing for change.

AI and military needs could worsen what's already shaping up as a looming copper supply gap in coming decades, new analysis finds.

Why it matters: Copper supply is foundational to energy transition including EVs and renewables — even as traditional uses like construction and machinery grow, as you can see above.

Five days after the toppling of Nicolás Maduro, let's take stock of knowns and unknowns about Venezuela's oil and White House plans.

Why it matters: The White House sees control of Venezuela's oil as a pillar of its hemispheric strategy — and a big U.S. business opening.

Within minutes of yesterday's fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, the country had splintered into two irreconcilable camps — one crying murder, the other terrorism.

Why it matters: In another era, responsible actors might have treated a tragedy like this with restraint and calls for a thorough investigation. In today's hyperpartisan climate, it became an instant Rorschach test.

President Trump is moving to eject America's adversaries from the Western Hemisphere, seizing on the momentum of an extraordinary show of force in Venezuela.

Why it matters: With allies and adversaries still reeling from the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, Trump is seeking to cement a new world order through strict enforcement of his "Donroe Doctrine."

There have been at least seven officer-involved shootings, two of them fatal, since President Trump surged Homeland Security agents in city-by-city operations in early 2025.

The big picture: ICE's presence isn't welcomed in some of the cities where it's operating. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey said ICE agents should "get the f*ck out" on Wednesday after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman in the city.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro touted his push to lower costs for voters Thursday as he launched a reelection campaign that could help raise his national profile ahead of a potential run for president in 2028.

Why it matters: The Democratic governor's allies hope he could gain an edge in setting up a run for the White House if he wins by a large margin this year and shows he has long coattails in his critical swing state.

A shooting outside a Salt Lake City church on Wednesday has killed two people and injured at least six others, police in Utah's capital said.

The big picture: Three of those injured in the shooting at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in the city's west side are in critical condition, authorities said.

President Trump spoke on Wednesday with Colombia's President Gustavo Petro and the two said they agreed to meet at the White House soon.

Why it matters: It was the first between the two leaders. The call was an attempt to de-escalate tensions between the U.S. and Colombia after a war of words between Trump and Petro that included threats of using military force.

A man known as "Lectern Guy" for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot filed to run for local office in Florida on Tuesday, exactly five years after the insurrection.

Why it matters: Adam Johnson's run for the Tampa Bay-area Manatee County Commission is the latest example of the narrative shift around Jan. 6 during the second Trump administration.

President Trump on Wednesday announced plans to withdraw the U.S. from dozens of global organizations, including the United Nations climate change agencies.

Why it matters: It's among the biggest and most extreme steps this administration has taken to retreat from the global stage and pull back foreign spending.

Rank-and-file Democrats are starting to make serious noise about using the threat of a government shutdown to force substantive changes at ICE.

Why it matters: Their anger, after an ICE officer shot and killed a 37-year-old woman today in Minneapolis, sets them on a collision course with party leaders.

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said earlier this week that a shutdown was not on the table.
• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, asked if the appropriations process should be used to constrain ICE, told us: "We're focused right now on … advancing the Affordable Care Act tax credits."

But progressive lawmakers see the end-of-January funding cliff as a leverage point to exploit, as they fume about the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem.

President Trump's attorney filed a motion Wednesday requesting the Fulton County District Attorney's office pay more than $6 million in legal fees, following the end of the long-running Georgia election interference case last year.

The big picture: The request aligns with a Georgia law passed last year that allows defendants to seek reimbursement for their attorney fees if charges are dismissed — legislation widely viewed as a response to Trump's prosecution in the state.

Members of Congress made as many visits to ICE facilities in 2025 as the prior three years combined, according to agency data seen by Axios.

Why it matters: By law, members can visit ICE detention sites at any time. But the agency has tried to limit that access, accusing Democratic lawmakers of using the visits for political theatrics.

Rank-and-file Democrats are starting to make serious noise about using the threat of a government shutdown to force substantive changes at ICE.

Why it matters: Their anger, after an ICE officer shot and killed a 37-year-old woman Wednesday in Minneapolis, sets them on a collision course with party leaders.