The fallout from U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran has disrupted air travel and prompted the State Department to issue a worldwide caution for Americans in addition to warnings against visiting several countries in the Middle East.
The big picture: Thousands of flights have been canceled, major airports in the region have shut, and the State Department on Monday urged Americans to "DEPART NOW" from 14 countries and two Palestinian territories via commercial transportation "due to serious safety risks," per a post to X by Mora Namdar, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs.
U.S. counterterrorism and intelligence teams are on high alert and law enforcement in major cities has bolstered security in the wake of this weekend's strikes on Iran.
The big picture: FBI director Kash Patel instructed federal counterterrorism and intelligence to "mobilize all assisting security assets needed" after placing them on high alert Saturday, per a post to X, while law enforcement in D.C., New York City and Los Angeles are among those to take additional steps.
House retirements are now tied with 2018, a midterm election that handed Republicans 40 losses and Democrats the majority.
Why it matters: The House is on the cusp of breaking the record set eight years ago for the most retirements this century (you'd have to go back to 1992 to find more).
The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it is looking into allegations Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) over-billed her congressional office for funds to maintain her home in D.C.
Why it matters: The charges, which Mace's lawyer called "fundamentally flawed," could add further mayhem to her bid for governor of South Carolina.
Congressional security officials are instituting "heightened security measures" at the U.S. Capitol in response to escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to a notice to House offices obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: It is a signal of how seriously domestic law enforcement is taking the possibility of attacks on U.S. soil related to ongoing U.S. operations in Iran.
President Trump has made a scattershot case for Israel and America's joint attacks on Iran through a series of one-on-one interviews with various media outlets.
The big picture: The mission's timelines and goals vary depending on when and to whom Trump is speaking as the administration tries to assure the American public the operation will not be another prolonged war in the Middle East.
President Trump's historic strikes on Iran happened without Congress' approval, becoming the latest example of the president sidelining the GOP-controlled legislature in his second term.
Why it matters: Since returning to office, Trump has bypassed Congress and asserted executive power in unprecedented ways that could have long-term consequences for the U.S. and international order.
Democrats in the House and Senate are readying their response to the Pentagon's fight with Anthropic, including a measure to prevent federal agencies from punishing AI companies over disputes, sources familiar with the matter tell Axios.
Why it matters: The administration's unprecedented blacklisting of a leading American AI company could spur Congress to act on AI guardrails.
Corporations are starting to find their backbone: from AI labs resisting military ultimatums to retailers successfully suing the president.
Why it matters: The prevailing corporate strategy has been one of high-profile compliance, particularly with the Trump administration. Now, corporates are pushing back, because the cost of that compliance is existential.
Kalshi, one of the world's largest prediction market companies, struck a deal with the Associated Press to license its elections data starting with the 2026 midterms.
Why it matters: As the popularity of betting booms in the U.S., prediction markets are trying to distinguish themselves with partnerships that boost the credibility of information presented on their platforms.
In his first live address since striking Iran, President Trump said the initial U.S. military plan called for four to five weeks of combat operations — but that the campaign is moving "substantially ahead" of schedule.
Why it matters: Trump has floated several possible timelines and "off ramps," keeping his plans vague as reporters have pressed him on the scope, duration and goals of the massive U.S.-Israel bombing campaign.
The Treasury Department is officially pulling the plug on Anthropic's AI tools at the direction of President Trump, Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday.
Why it matters: The move marks the next step in one of the most aggressive federal actions against a major American AI company.
A Saudi oil refinery — one of the world's largest — suffered "limited" damage overnight from an Iranian attack, per the kingdom's press agency and multiple news reports.
Why it matters: "The attack on Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery marks a significant escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure now squarely in Iran's sights," Torbjorn Soltvedt, a top analyst with risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, said in a note.
The U.S. military operation against Iran, dubbed "Epic Fury," will not end "overnight," Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said at a Pentagon press conference Monday.
Why it matters: The briefing marked the first time senior Trump administration officials publicly described the ongoing combat operations and took questions from reporters since the fighting began Saturday.
GOP operatives tell Axios they're worried that their worst possible scenario is unfolding in the Texas Senate primaries.
Why it matters: Sen. John Cornyn's seat has long been a virtual lock for the GOP. But competitive races in both parties' primaries Tuesday — and the national headwinds facing Republicans — have blown up all assumptions.
No president in the modern era has ordered more military strikes against as many different countries as Donald Trump.
He's attacked seven nations, three of which — Iran, Nigeria and Venezuela — had never been targeted by U.S. military strikes. He authorized more individual air strikes in 2025 than President Biden did in four years.
Why it matters: Trump explicitly ran as the anti-war candidate. The White House argues he still is — that he always exhausts diplomacy before acting, and that projecting overwhelming force is itself a path to lasting peace.
President Trump's strikes on Iran have emerged as a potent issue in Democratic congressional primaries just days after the start of military operations in the region.
Why it matters: The new internal divide threatens to add even more upheaval to a midterm campaign that has been marked by severe fractures in the Democratic coalition.
Hezbollah fired several missiles from Lebanon towards Israel on Sunday, two days after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, the Tehran-backed militant group and the IDF said.
Why it matters: This would expand the current conflict to another country in the region and threatens to seriously destabilize Lebanon.
Crude oil prices soared to their highest level in slightly over a yearin early trading in Asian markets Sunday night.
Why it matters: The surge from the Asia markets' opening is an early concrete sign that prices at the pump could go up because of supply disruptions from the strikes against Iran.
The U.S. and Israel originally planned to attack Iran a week earlier than they did, but the opening strike was delayed for operational and intelligence reasons, according to senior U.S. and Israeli officials.
Why it matters: The delay gave President Trump another week to choose between the two parallel tracks — diplomacy and war — he had been walking for nearly two months.
A Waymo robotaxi picking up a passenger near Sunday morning's mass shooting in Austin blocked an ambulance from reaching the scene, according to a bystander video. Waymo and EMS officials confirmed the video shows the company's vehicle blocking the ambulance.
Why it matters: The incident raises fresh questions about how autonomous vehicles operate near chaotic emergency scenes — and whether the technology is fully prepared for unpredictable, high-stakes situations.
