Axios

President Trump during the State of the Union on Tuesday revealed he is awarding Connor Hellebuyck, the Team USA goalie who helped the men's Olympic hockey team win gold at the 2026 games, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Why it matters: The award is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor and is usually presented to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields, per the Library of Congress.

The State of the Union quickly got physical on Tuesday when Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) mounted yet another protest from inside the House chamber that prompted multiple Republicans to confront him.

Why it matters: The demonstration resulted in Green getting escorted out of the House chamber, the second time in as many years he has been ejected from a Trump speech to Congress.

A House Republican who has been at the forefront of transparency efforts around the Jeffrey Epstein files ia planning to display her support for the late convicted sex offender's victims during Trump's State of the Union, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Trump isn't expected to mention Epstein during the address, but Democrats are trying to ensure the issue looms large Tuesday night.

President Trump is signaling that tax cuts will be the centerpiece of his State of the Union address Tuesday night — and the cornerstone of his legislative agenda for the rest of the year.

Why it matters: In theory, House Republicans are enthusiastic about another round of tax cuts in a potential second reconciliation package.

• In practice, many of them want to see the specifics of Trump's tax-cut proposals before fully endorsing them.

The Trump administration is considering requiring banks to collect proof of citizenship from customers via an executive order, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday.

The big picture: In addition to President Trump's expansive deportation efforts, his administration has escalated efforts over the past year to cut off noncitizens from access to jobs, aid and financial services.

• It's unclear whether these efforts, or a possible ban on holding bank accounts, might apply even to noncitizens authorized to live and work in the U.S.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is placing an early and aggressive bet on Alaska: a $1 million investment to build out the party's on-the-ground infrastructure, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The money is clear evidence that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is convinced his path to the majority runs through Alaska — and that his plans are broader than just flooding the airwaves with TV ads.

The men's hockey final for the 2026 Winter Olympics was the most watched sporting event that started before 9am ET in U.S. history and NBC Sports' second-most watched hockey game ever, NBCUniversal said on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Team USA's 2-1 victory in overtime against Canada contributed to a ratings success for NBCUniversal's broadcast of the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Warner Bros. Discovery said that Paramount Skydance raised its offer price to $31 per share from $30 and added that the updated bid "could reasonably be expected" to lead to a superior proposal.

Why it matters: It's a signal that Paramount's campaign to acquire all of WBD isn't over, potentially reigniting a bidding war with Netflix.

A growing list of Democrats have announced special guests they've invited to President Trump's State of the Union — many of them people directly impacted by the administration's immigration policies.

The big picture: Amid a Department of Homeland Security shutdown and standoff between the GOP and Democrats over Trump's ICE enforcement, Democrats are aiming to draw attention away from the president's remarks in a more pointed way.

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick is advising Pennsylvanians in Mexico to stay in close contact with the U.S. State Department.

The big picture: Violence following the killing of a Mexican cartel leader has erupted in Mexico, leaving some Americans — and potentially Pittsburghers — stuck in a tough situation.