Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) gave two young female staffers each a personalized handgun as a presentwhile they worked in his office in 2024, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the gifts.
Why it matters: The guns, and a surprise musical performance organized by the congressman, are additional examples of Edwards allegedly singling out the young female staffers for unusually personal attention, conduct that is now at the center of a House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment.
WASHINGTON — Addressing the cost of housing in the U.S. will require cooperation from local governments, targeted policy changes and sustained investment, said leaders in government, business and advocacy.
Axios' Nathan Bomey and Neil Irwin moderated the July 16 roundtable discussion. The event was sponsored by Citi.
5 big takeaways from the conversation:
The new law, which went into effect this month, is "a reflection of the magnitude of this issue" and a rare example of what Democrats and Republicans can agree on as a priority, Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.) said.
"Connecting the federal government with the state and local governments will be a longer-term challenge," Bipartisan Policy Center executive vice president Dennis Shea said, but necessary to ensure all communities benefit from the legislation.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development should monitor how local communities use the funds they're granted, said Sara Bronin, founder of the National Zoning Atlas and CEO of Land Use Labs.
Leaders at the state level are focusing on cultivating pro-housing local leaders and improving salience as an "electoral issue for young families," said Haley Lemieux, chief of staff at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
"Homeownership and housing are two separate issues," Vested Communities founder Jason Boseck said, and policy should extend to address renters' needs such as incorporating shared equity. The conversation also included mentions of housing vouchers and preserving existing affordable housing.
Content from the sponsor's remarks:
In opening remarks, Citi head of enterprise services and public affairs Edward Skyler said housing innovation in the U.S. isn't living up to its potential.
In the next five years, Citi is "going to work with for-profit developers [and] nonprofit developers that are doing supportive housing service as well."
A suspect was arrested Monday after setting off fireworks and igniting a fire outside a federal building that houses an immigration court in New York City, an FBI spokesperson said.
The FDA said Monday it still thinks Taylor Farms lettuce is likely behind a Cyclospora outbreak, even after pulling back earlier test results linking the produce to the parasite.
Why it matters: Tracking the source of the diarrhea-causing illness presents a steep challenge for health officials and suppliers, while news of a false positive risks confusing consumers about which recalled products to avoid.
The House Republicans' campaign arm brought in $17.6 million in June, leaving them with $92.7 million in cash on hand, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee is entering the final midterm stretch with a cash advantage over House Democrats, giving GOP leaders another talking point as they try to defy the historical trend that typically favors the party out of power.
Democrats are rallying around former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (D) in the quest to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall after Graham Platner's embattled campaign crashed, burned and ended.
Why it matters: Jackson's expected coronation is another win for the left flank of the Democratic party, which is lining up behind another progressive candidate as their best shot at flipping one of the most important seats to win back Senate control.
Anduril Industries on Monday unveiled Thunder, a military variant of an autonomous rotorcraft jointly developed with Archer Aviation.
Why it matters: Thunder's reveal coincides with the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow in London, and its design appears to align with Project NYX, a British pursuit of robo-wingmen for Boeing-made Apache helicopters.
Anduril was one of four companies shortlisted for NYX in May.
Drivers can expect pump shock déjà vu as the national average gas price again climbed over $4 per gallon Monday, as President Trumpappears poised to escalate the war in Iran.
The big picture: Tanker traffic is once again being choked in the Strait of Hormuz after fighting between Iran and the U.S. reignited, with Washington reinstating a naval blockade that could dramatically escalate tensions.
Last week's dramatic showdown over cutting U.S. aid to Israel offered a glimpse into just how profoundly progressive anger is reshaping Democratic politics.
Why it matters: It's not just that the left is winning seats — they're ousting incumbents and instilling panic among House Democrats, who fear they may be next if they don't take a more hostile posture toward Israel.
X-Bow Systems developed and recently flight-tested an interceptor it's pricing below $100,000, a fraction of what some other well-known air defenses cost, executives told Axios.
Why it matters: Drone-and-missile barrages are chewing through countermeasures worldwide, and reliance on multimillion-dollar munitions has come under great scrutiny.
