Axios

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's resignation has some Democrats fuming about what they say was an unfair process and even expressing buyer's remorse about voting to expel George Santos from Congress.

Why it matters: Lawmakers' frustrations about a lack of due process in both cases threatens future efforts to remove House members over accusations of grave misconduct.

President Trump announced on Tuesday that he is extending the ceasefire with Iran, with no set deadline, giving diplomacy another chance to produce a deal.

Why it matters: The announcement, which came after a White House meeting with his national security team, landed hours before the ceasefire was set to expire — averting a potential resumption of the war and a massive regional escalation.

Vice President Vance's planned trip to Islamabad on Tuesday was delayed — then postponed indefinitely — after Iran refused to participate in a new round of peace talks, according to U.S. officials and sources with knowledge of the situation.

The latest: Iran's IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran's negotiating team has informed the U.S. through Pakistani mediators that it will not be in Islamabad on Wednesday and sees no prospect for participation in the talks.

President Trump staffed his second-term Cabinet with more women than his first term and than his Republican predecessors, but three women have lost their seat at the table in less than two months.

The big picture: The departure of the women isn't surprising — all three were facing bipartisan pressure over various shortcomings and scandals. But several men in the president's inner circle have their own controversies and remain at their posts.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) resigned from Congress on Tuesday just before the House Ethics Committee was set to recommend a punishment for her.

Why it matters: Cherfilus-McCormick was likely on the cusp of being expelled, with even fellow House Democrats saying they could no longer countenance her continued presence in Congress.

President Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Reserve committed to keeping monetary policy independent from politics at his confirmation hearing Tuesday — as Trump showed no signs of de-escalating a stalemate that is holding up Kevin Warsh's nomination to lead the central bank.

The big picture: Warsh, testifying before the Senate Banking Committee, presented a vision of the Fed "staying in its lane" and focusing on price stability, implicitly attacking the central bank's leadership over the last decade for mission creep.

More Americans approve of Pope Leo XIV than President Trump, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday.

Why it matters: Trump has continued to levy attacks against Leo as the two disagree on the Iran war, and the poll's findings suggest that the president's rhetoric could alienate Catholic Americans who helped catapult him back into the White House.

President Trump has told confidants that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is "begging" for a job in Trump's administration — including attorney general — Axios has learned.

• DeSantis also has expressed interest in being secretary of defense and even a spot on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to six sources briefed on the discussions.

Why it matters: DeSantis has to leave office at the end of his second term in January and is "looking for what to do next," according to one source who said Trump is inclined to consider helping out his understudy-turned-rival-turned-friend.

The AI buildout is the new, powerful force widening America's trade gap.

Why it matters: Shrinking the trade deficit and winning the AI race rank high on President Trump's economic agenda — but those aims are pulling in opposite directions, as AI-related products get a lighter tariff treatment.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency doesn't have access to Anthropic's powerful new Mythos Preview model, even though some other government agencies are using it, two sources tell Axios.

Why it matters: The country's top cyber defense agency, tasked with helping to secure everything from banks to power plants, is on the outside looking in at a time when the industries it works with are deeply concerned about AI-powered cyberattacks overwhelming their defenses.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) proactively met in person with Senate Ethics Committee staff on Friday, Axios has learned.

• The meeting occurred the day after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) publicly accused Gallego of sexual misconduct based on another woman's account, allegations Gallego denies.

Why it matters: It comes at a moment of renewed scrutiny over sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill after two other lawmakers resigned from Congress over sexual assault and misconduct allegations last week.

At Kevin Warsh's Fed confirmation hearing today, Republicans will cast him as a change agent ready to shake up a tradition-bound institution.

Driving the news: In remarks introducing Warsh obtained by Axios, Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) will say the onetime Fed governor "brings a reformer's heart" and "will shake up a stagnant institution at a time when change is sorely needed."

We wrote last week about the societal, academic and economic implications of young Americans scared of AI ("The kids aren't AI-right, Part 1"). Today, we dig deeper into job panic.

Young Americans are scared of more than AI. They're downright panicky about finding a job at all.

• Only 20% of young workers told Gallup in Q4 last year that it's a good time to find a quality job, down from 62% at the pollster's peak for the measure in October 2021. You rarely see mood swings this severe.

Why it matters: For 70 years, a bachelor's degree was the most reliable on-ramp to a stable career. That's no longer true. And that's before AI hits entry-level work at scale.

Calls for more details about President Trump's drug pricing deals are intensifying, with Senate Democrats set to unveil legislation Tuesday as part of a push questioning whether the arrangements really help consumers.

Why it matters: The "most favored nation" deals with 16 pharmaceutical companies are a signature health policy accomplishment the administration is already touting ahead of the midterm elections.

Many House Democrats are ready to vote to expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) from Congress as soon as the House Ethics Committee meets to decide her fate on Tuesday, Axios has found in interviews with over 30 lawmakers.

Why it matters: Republicans are expected to force an expulsion vote, but they will need roughly 80 Democratic votes to remove Cherfilus-McCormick.

Even if the Iran conflict ended now and the Strait of Hormuz fully opened, don't look for a quick return to pre-war gas prices.

Why it matters: Costlier fill-ups are the most direct and visible economic effect of the war for many Americans, and could sway midterm election races.

From the United Nations to the Sunday news shows, Ambassador Mike Waltz has emerged as a key player in advancing the White House's Iran war policy.

Why it matters: Waltz is one of the few administration officials with a military background, a depth of understanding of foreign affairs and a temperament suited for mainstream media interviews.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned to move into a private sector job, White House communications director Steven Cheung announced Monday.

• Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling will serve as acting Labor secretary, he said.

The big picture: Chavez-DeRemer has faced scrutiny over several misconduct scandals, including allegations of mishandling department funds and inappropriate relationships with staff, which the Trump administration called "baseless."