Axios

The annual Association of the U.S. Army conference is underway in Washington, and defense contractors are unveiling new weapons, countermeasures and milestones.

Why it matters: Companies save big announcements for big shows. This year is no exception.

The National Nuclear Security Administration recently conducted an underground explosive test in Nevada to better understand and potentially identify foreign nuclear detonations.

Why it matters: NNSA boss Brandon Williams previously told Axios that China is "clearly" conducting explosive nuclear testing and "trying to hide it," amplifying accusations made this year by State Department arms officials.

• Beijing has denied such a regime and accused the U.S. of stirring the pot.
• Both have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Neither has ratified it.

President Trump told reporters Monday his administration is "looking at" the possibility of firing U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Why it matters: The president's comments follow a series of Wall Street Journal reports alleging that Guilfoyle used her political connections to seek financial favors and promote private business interests.

Both parties will be pressured to intervene more in markets after the midterms as economic frustration animates the new Congress, according to an FGS Global sketch of 2027 Washington scenarios, shared first with Axios.

Why it matters: In a Trump-dominated Washington, Congress ceded much of its power and relevance. That'll change three weeks from Tuesday if Democrats win the House, as expected, and perhaps the Senate in the midterms.

President Trump has privately shared misgivings about livestreaming the firing-squad execution of a former Army major who murdered 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas, according to four people who have spoken with the president.

Why it matters: Trump has been deluged with "negative input" about the idea from a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers as well as advisers inside and outside of his White House, a senior administration official said.

A federal judge on Sunday ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt taxpayer-funded ads featuring President Trump.

Why it matters: The ruling temporarily blocks the ads weeks before November's midterm elections as multiple lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's use of taxpayer money play out in court.

Pete Buttigieg has been able to campaign for Democrats across the country more than many of his potential 2028 rivals this past year. One reason: He doesn't have a job.

• That's by choice. Buttigieg said no when top Democrats urged him to run for governor or the U.S. Senate in Michigan this year.

Why it matters: That decision is a gamble for Buttigieg's presidential ambitions. He's been able to build a national network over the last two years but hasn't added to his relatively thin resume as a former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and Joe Biden's transportation secretary.

President Trump's announcement Sunday about an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine referred to a potential deal that includes each side stopping attacks on oil refineries — and he expects Volodymyr Zelensky to abide by it, a White House official said.

• The official said if attacks on oil refineries cease, a deal to stop hitting power plants and energy grids could come next.

President Trump claimed Sunday that Russia and Ukraine agreed to an "energy ceasefire" and will halt attacks on each other's energy facilities.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tells Axios the announcement "was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree."

Why it matters: An "energy ceasefire" would be a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough ahead of the winter. It remains unclear if Russia indeed agreed to stop the strikes.

America's youth sports boom is quietly rewriting Sunday mornings, turning the family calendar into a competition between the pews and the playing fields.

Why it matters: For generations, churches helped organize American family life around a shared weekly ritual. Youth sports are increasingly filling that role on Sundays — reshaping what families treat as sacred time.