Axios

Many Democrats hate Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. But New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker told Axios he "absolutely" supports some of the controversial HHS secretary's policies — particularly when it comes to food.

• Booker likes Kennedy's increased testing of infant formula for micro plastics and other materials, pushing for less ultra-processed food, and his pilot program to have schools serve more-healthful meals, an aide to the senator told Axios.

Why it matters: Booker, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, wants to appeal to some of the health-conscious voters Kennedy rallied during his 2024 presidential bid — first as a Democrat, then as an independent who eventually endorsed Donald Trump.

The White House doesn't expect an agreement to end the war with Iran Sunday and thinks it could take several days for the deal's approval by Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a senior U.S. official said in a briefing with reporters.

Why it matters: While U.S. officials are optimistic that a deal will be signed within days, they also acknowledge it has not been finalized and could still fall apart. "We are in a very good place — but there are ways in which the deal can be undermined," a senior U.S. official said.

A gunman who opened fire near the White House Saturday night died after Secret Service officers shot him.

The big picture: The incident, which happened while President Trump was at the White House, comes four weeks after another gunman allegedly attempted to assassinate him at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Several top Democratic candidates in the midterms are airing scathing ads linking their Republican foes to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal — betting that the Trump administration's reluctance to release the Epstein files still resonates with voters.

Why it matters: Democrats are mostly focusing on high prices, health care and Trump's war against Iran, but some also are trying to tie Republicans to the late sex offender as part of a broader message accusing the GOP of protecting the corrupt elite.

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) has told allies this weekend that she plans to retire, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the matter. She flatly denies it:

• "It's a crazy rumor. A crazy crazy rumor. I'm almost distraught. It's not true. I am still planning on running," she told Axios.

Why it matters: Wilson, 83, would be the latest in a string of House Democrats in their 70s and 80s yielding to pressure from some corners of the party to pass the torch to the next generation.

A shooter is dead after opening fire near the White House Saturday night, adding to a growing list of gunfire incidents targeted at or near President Trump.

The big picture: Saturday's attack is the latest dating back to Trump's first presidential campaign, a record unlike any other modern president has faced. It spans lone gunmen at his rallies, Iranian state-backed murder-for-hire plots and repeated security breaches.

President Trump promised an economic golden age when he returned to office last year.

• Instead, voters are in their crankiest mood in years about their financial outlook — and the pessimism is spreading even to Republicans.

Why it matters: The growing GOP gloom could hardly come at a worse time for Trump and the party — less than six months out from a midterm election that's likely to turn on the economy.

America's classic neighborhood watch programs are fading as AI-powered apps turn neighborhoods into digital watch zones.

Why it matters: The automation of neighborhood safety with tools like Amazon's Ring and the Nextdoor app is quietly dismantling one of the country's most basic forms of civic life: neighbors who actually know each other.

WASHINGTON — Latino voters are increasingly driving the political narrative as economic anxiety and immigration concerns leave a majority undecided in critical swing districts, political experts and media executives said at an Axios event.

Why it matters: As the House map heading into the midterms hinges on razor-thin margins, early engagement and deeper structural investments in Latino communities may dictate the balance of political power.

• Axios Local Texas editor Astrid Galván moderated a discussion with Alicia Menendez, co-anchor of "MSNBC Now," and Axios race and justice reporter Russell Contreras talked with Dave Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst at The Cook Political Report. The May 20 event was sponsored by TelevisaUnivision.

Five key takeaways from the conversation:

1. Latino voters remain up for grabs heading into the election cycle.

• A new TelevisaUnivision/Harris poll showed 52% of registered Latino voters in 17 House swing districts are undecided or could change their mind.
• "These are the swingiest of the swing voters," Menendez said. "We used to be off here and people would talk about us as our own separate thing. ... We are the story now."

2. Financial struggles overshadow other issues, with the Latino swing vote "more attuned to the cost of living," Wasserman said.

• Shifting voting patterns are tied to economic pressures rather than party alignment, he said.
• 73% of Latinos in the new poll stated they are "merely surviving" financially, as affordability remains the top concern.

3. Tough immigration enforcement tactics create deep community anxiety and have altered how community organizers build relationships, Menendez said.

• For example, she said organizers with Make the Road New Jersey reported that residents have become too fearful to answer their front doors.
• "They were having to do a lot more of ... ¡¿Oye tú?! [listen here] .. talking to people through their windows about their basic rights and their rights to vote," Menendez said.

4. Latino support for President Trump is complex and should not be oversimplified as "buyer's remorse."

• "Even if Democrats recover a bit ... I don't think Democrats will get fully back to that [2016] level of support," Wasserman said.

5. Hyperlocal, year-round infrastructure is critical for mobilization, according to Menendez.

• Single mailers or dropping campaign ads right before an election fail to build trust with a diverse demographic, she said.

• "It needs to happen in a civil infrastructure way where you're making people feel safe and supported... in their ability to vote," Menendez said.

Content from the sponsor's segment:

In a View from the Top conversation, TelevisaUnivision CEO Daniel Alegre focused on how politicians can effectively connect with Latino audiences.

• A common mistake candidates make is sending a Spanish-speaking staffer because they don't speak the language themselves.
• "Hispanics actually want the politician to show up," Alegre said, noting that three-quarters of the community want candidates to appear in Spanish-language media even if they speak English. "It means that that individual is in touch with what is happening to Hispanics. The other part is being local and understanding what the local issues really are."

A pro-AI super PAC, fresh off a string of GOP primary victories this week, plans to keep spending in Kentucky's Senate race as the AI industry tries to focus the public's attention on AI's possibilities, not its potential pitfalls.

Why it matters: Leading the Future and its affiliated nonprofit, Build American AI, are looking for allies in the next Congress to pass a national AI framework, while selling voters today on AI's economic upside.