topics

politics-policy

epstein-files

donald-trump

2026-midterm-elections

immigration

behind-the-curtain

race-and-equity

technology

privacy-tech-regulation

automation-and-ai

tiktok-news

big-tech

social-media

cybersecurity

economy

social-security

inflation

tariffs

federal-reserve

jobs

transportation

business

stock-market-news

retail-news

crypto

media

elon-musk

dealmaking

health

rfk-jr

drug-prices

axios-explains-abortion

public-health

world

israel

axios-explains-ukraine

iran

russia

china

energy-climate

nuclear-energy

climate-energy-policy

climate-change

extreme-weather

alternative-energy

electric-vehicles

science

emerging-tech

biomedicine

newsletters

pittsburgh

atlanta

san-diego

charlotte

boulder

washington-dc

kansas-city

dallas

denver

detroit

des-moines

austin

boston

chicago

cleveland

columbus

houston

indianapolis

miami

nashville

new-orleans

nw-arkansas

philadelphia

phoenix

portland

richmond

salt-lake-city

san-antonio

san-francisco

seattle

tampa-bay

twin-cities

raleigh

huntsville

colorado-springs

axios-local

axios-pro

axios-live

the-axios-show

National

Pope Francis is urging for reforms to the United Nations — specifically to the UN Security Council — in an upcoming book, saying the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine have exposed its limitations, according to AFP.

Why it matters: In the book, Francis criticizes the UN as no longer fit for "new realities" and denounces war and the possession of nuclear weapons as immoral, saying its unconscionable states continue to produce such weapons.

What they're saying: The Italian newspaper La Stampa on Sunday published an excerpt of Francis’ new book, titled “I Ask You in the Name of God: Ten Prayers for a Future of Hope."

"To the explicit rejection of my predecessors, the events of the first two decades of this century compel me to add, unambiguously, that there is no occasion in which a war can be considered just," part of the excerpt reads, according to Vatican News.

"There is never a place for the barbarism of war, especially not when contention acquires one of its most unjust faces: that of so-called ‘preventive wars,'" it continues. 

"We must all work together to pave the way for a common hope. We all can, and must, take part in this social process of peace building."

He urges the Security Council to become "more agile and effective ways of resolving conflicts" and for the UN in general to implement "organic reforms" that will help it in "serving the human family," according to AFP.

The big picture: In August, the Vatican for the first time explicitly said Russia was the instigator of the war with Ukraine.

Since then, Francis has gone on to say it can be "morally acceptable" for states to supply weapons to Ukraine to defend itself in the invasion, according to the New York Times.

In his UN General Assembly speech in September, President Biden said the U.S. supports reforms to the Security Council, including adding permanent and non-permanent seats on the council for countries in Africa and Latin America.

UN General Assembly condemns Russian annexation of Ukrainian territories

Pope: Europe's migrant crisis is “disgusting, sinful, criminal"

Pope Francis calls for reforms to the United Nations in new book

There is never a place for the barbarism of war, especially not when contention acquires one of its most unjust faces: that of so-called ‘preventive wars,'" Pope Francis also wrote in an excerpt released Sunday.

Pope Francis waving from the window of the apostolic palace in the Vatican on Oct. 16.

Pope Francis waves from the window of the apostolic palace in the Vatican on Oct. 16. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis

World

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

House Republicans are increasingly confident they can make unexpected inroads into some solidly Democratic congressional districts, including in some of the bluest states in the country: California, Connecticut, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island.

Why it matters: Following the money is as important as following the (limited) congressional public polling. Republicans are now pouring over $25 million into some of the bluest political battlegrounds on the map — a fresh sign that the political winds favor the GOP down the home stretch. 

The Congressional Leadership Fund, aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, has spent or reserved over $23 million on ads in eight Democratic-held districts that President Biden carried by double-digit margins. (Ariz.-4, Calif.-13, Calif.-47, Calif.-49, Conn.-5, N.Y.-17, Ore.-4, R.I.-2.) 

The NRCC is also spending $2.2 million on coordinated or hybrid ad buys with their nominees in five more Democratic-held districts that Biden carried by double-digits. (Calif.-26, Ga.-2, N.M.-3, N.Y.-4, Ore.-6).

Zoom in: Republicans are bullish they can win the Oregon governor's race for the first time since 1982, boosted by an intra-Democratic feud. Democrats are playing furious defense in three Biden-friendly House battlegrounds in Oregon as well. 

In a Rhode Island district that Biden carried by 14 points, a new Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll found Republican Allan Fung leading by eight points over Democrat Seth Magaziner.

In a Connecticut district Biden won by 11, Republicans are spending $2.7 million against Rep. Jahana Hayes. The seat hasn't been seriously contested since 2012, but Republicans nominated a moderate Black state legislator, George Logan, who's demonstrating broad bipartisan appeal.

Democrats are also concerned about several New York battlegrounds, even after an expectation-defying special election victory by Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) in August. Outside GOP groups are spending money to flip four Democratic-held seats in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, while looking to protect an upstate Republican seat in Biden-friendly territory.

The intrigue: One of the New York seats in which Republicans are spending big bucks is the redrawn seat of DCCC chair Sean Patrick Maloney, whose suburban New York City district backed Biden by 10 points. Outside Republican groups are spending over $2 million in attack ads against Maloney to boost Republican state Assemblyman Mike Lawler.

Between the lines: One common denominator in most of these blue-state races: Crime. Murders have been on the rise in major metropolitan areas within these states and near these districts, and the GOP's advertising has hit Democrats over bail reform, reallocating resources away from police, and an overall sense of disorder. 

Another factor, according to one Republican official analyzing internal data, is that abortion isn't quite as motivating of an issue — voters are more confident reproductive rights are secure in states where Republicans are in the minority.

In addition, none of these blue states have hotly contested Senate races driving up turnout, a dynamic that benefits Republicans. One House GOP strategist told Axios that their candidates are overperforming in these blue states, but not yet pulling away in typical swing districts where higher Democratic engagement has kept races closer.

The bottom line: The fact that Biden spent political capital in Democratic strongholds Oregon and California this week — less than a month before Election Day — speaks volumes about the national mood.

Democrats' blue-state headaches

Republicans are trying to make inroads in California, Connecticut, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island.

Illustration of a distressed donkey with an ice pack on its head. 

Midterm elections 2022

To aid its effort to mobilize 300,000 conscripts for the war in Ukraine, Russia has turned to press gangs of military and police personnel to descend on civilian spaces and forcibly enlist men into the war, the Washington Post reported.

Driving the news: The press gangs have begun to make the rounds in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, seizing Russians from apartment buildings, metro stops, cafes and business offices. 

In one such raid, at a construction company's dormitories in Moscow on Thursday, authorities rounded up more than 200 men.

Some men of fighting age have also gone into hiding — quitting their jobs, cutting off contact with people, avoiding going outside — to try to avoid conscription, per the Post.

State of play: Russian authorities have shown up at centers for the homeless and hostels that house labor migrants to round up men and take them to enlistment sites, Russian independent news outlet Mediazona reported Tuesday.

While Putin announced earlier this month that more than 200,000 people had been conscripted since the start of the mobilization, reports have abounded of ethnic minorities and rural Russians being disproportionally affected compared to ethnic Russians and urban residents, per NBC News.

Some 23 Russians even sailed to South Korea in an attempt to evade the draft, having applied for tourist visas. Most were denied entry due to “insufficient documentation and unclear objective," NBC News reported.

The big picture: The announcement of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "partial mobilization" last month was met with backlash, with Russians protesting, attacking military recruiting sites, and even attempting to flee the country to evade conscription.

Late last month, the Kremlin acknowledged that "errors" had been made in the conscription process, as stories proliferated of men who didn't fit the mobilization criteria receiving a draft summons.

Putin announced on Friday that roughly 222,000 people have been mobilized so far and that the mobilization would end in two weeks, per Politico.

Go deeper: Dashboard: Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia targeting civilian areas to forcibly enlist men into Ukraine war

Russian authorities have shown up at centers for the homeless and hostels housing labor migrants to round up men.

A billboard reading "Victory is being Forged in Fire" in central Moscow on October 13, 

A billboard reading "Victory Is Being Forged in Fire" in central Moscow on Oct. 13. Photo: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia

This Week With George Stephanopoulos-9 11 49 Am - 9 12 38 Am-2022-10-16

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that he believes former President Trump took classified documents from the federal government and kept them at his Mar-a-Lago residence as a "trophy."

Why it matters: Christie also said he thinks Trump's actions, as alleged by a Washington Post report last week, amounted to obstruction but said the Justice Department may struggle to concretely prove obstruction occurred if a case is brought against the former president.

The Post reported that a Trump employee told federal agents about being directed by the former president to move boxes of classified documents after the government had subpoenaed Trump.

What they're saying: "Well, yes," Christie said, agreeing with host George Stephanopoulos' description of Trump's actions in the Post report as obstruction.

"Look, none of us, I think, who know him are surprised. He wanted to keep these documents as a trophy. That's what they were more than anything else, he added, saying he did not think Trump took them for "leverage."

"I think it's much more likely that they're a trophy, that he walks around and says, 'Look, I got this, I've got this classified document or that.'"

"Because, remember something, he can't believe he's not president. He can't believe he still doesn't get these documents. And he needs to display to everybody down at Mar-a-Lago, or up in Bedminster during the summer, that he still has some of those trappings."

The big picture: The Department of Justice last week appealed the decision to appoint a special master to review documents retrieved by the FBI through a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago in August.

Go deeper ... Trump: I could "easily" be Israel's prime minister

Chris Christie says Trump kept classified documents as a "trophy"

"Look, none of us, I think, who know him are surprised," Christie said.

Donald Trump

Former President Trump said Sunday that he "could easily be" the prime minister of Israel in a post on his Truth Social account, in which he also said that Jewish people in the U.S. should be more appreciative of what he has done for Israel.

Between the lines: It is not clear what prompted Trump's remarks, but they echo similar comments that the former president has made about the U.S. Jewish community since he was elected in 2016.

Driving the news: "No President has done more for Israel than I have," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

"Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.," Trump wrote.

"Those living in Israel, though, are a different story - Highest approval rating in the World, could easily be P.M.!"

"U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel - Before it is too late!"

What they're saying: The CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League Jonathan Greenblatt said Sunday in a statement: "We don't need the former president, who curries favor with extremists and antisemites, to lecture us about the U.S.-Israel relationship."

"It is not about a quid pro quo; it rests on shared values and security interests. This "Jewsplaining" is insulting and disgusting." 

The American Jewish Committee said: "Support for the Jewish state never gives one license to lecture American Jews, nor does it ever give the right to draw baseless judgments about the ties between U.S. Jews and Israel," per a tweet.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that "Donald Trump's comments were anti-semitic ... and insulting, both to Jews and to our Israeli allies."

Flashback: In 2021, Trump accused U.S. Jews who are not orthodox of "no longer loving Israel" and claimed "evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country." 

Trump added at the time that the fact that around 75% of Jewish voters were planning to support Joe Biden in 2020 was evidence that they either "don't like Israel or don't care about Israel." 

Trump also claimed that Israel once had "absolute power" over Congress but today it's "the exact opposite," referring to former President Obama and President Biden.

Trump's 2021 remarks drew condemnation from the ADL, the American Jewish Committee and other organizations, who said they were antisemitic.

"Past support for Israel doesn't give him license to traffic in radioactive antisemitic tropes — or peddle unfounded conclusions about the unbreakable ties that bind American Jews to Israel. Enough!" the American Jewish Committee wrote on Twitter at the time.

The big picture: Trump's remarks were published on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, which marks the conclusion of the annual Torah reading in synagogues and the beginning of a new cycle.

Trump while in office was very supportive of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and he recognized Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights. 

Go deeper... Trump blasts Netanyahu for disloyalty: "F**k him"

Editor's note: This story has been updated with statements from ADL CEO and national director Jonathan Greenblatt, the American Jewish Committee and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Trump: I could "easily" be Israel's prime minister

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Legacy Sports USA on October 09, 2022 in Mesa, Arizona

Former President Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Legacy Sports on Oct. 9 in Mesa, Ariz. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

China

Axios China

A meeting of top Chinese Communist Party elites, held only once every five years, began Sunday in Beijing.

Why it matters: The gathered leaders at the 20th Party congress are expected to select Chinese President Xi Jinping for a precedent-defying third term as Party leader, meaning his authoritarianism and assertive foreign policies are likely to continue for at least another five years.

Xi is expected to be reconfirmed as president in March. 

What he's saying: Xi painted a picture of a rising China facing a challenging future, and emphasized that security was key to the country's success.

He mentioned the word "security" about 50 times in the speech and said that the country was facing "dangerous storms" —  a reference to growing geopolitical rivalry with the U.S. and other democracies.

Xi praised the crackdown on Hong Kong and doubled down on unification with Taiwan, stating that, “The wheels of history are rolling on towards China’s reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Details: About 2,300 top Party members are attending the meeting, where important political appointments and committee memberships for the next five years will be decided.

Party congresses feature highly choreographed public events and speeches, as well as closed-door meetings.

But delegates arrived at a consensus on the most important decisions prior to the congress, where the outcomes will merely be formalized.

The intrigue: Party leaders typically try to minimize domestic problems and tamp down on dissent in the months leading up to Party congresses, in order to avoid providing fodder for their opponents in internal power struggles.

But the past few months have seen China's economic growth plummet due to strict zero-COVID policies championed by Xi. 

In a rare protest that went viral online and was swiftly censored, someone hung a banner from a bridge in Beijing demanding an end to COVID lockdowns and even calling for Xi to be removed.

What to watch: Besides the big announcement of Xi's third term and other appointments, the congress is expected to pass a revision to the Party's constitution — likely to further enshrine Xi's status as the country's paramount leader, perhaps even as "party chairman," a term not used since Mao Zedong ruled China as a dictator. 

If the congress adopts the title "party chairman" for Xi, that “would open the door for a broader disintegration of China’s political system back into full-blown one-man rule,” Carl Minzner told The Guardian.

“If that happens, it raises the spectre that all the abominable policy failures that inevitably accompany such a shift — whether those that China itself experienced under Mao during the Cultural Revolution, or that Russia today is witnessing under Putin — could repeat themselves.”

Go deeper: What China looks like after a decade of Xi Jinping's rule

Xi opens historic China Party Congress that's expected to cement his rule

Xi is expected to be selected for a precedent-defying third term.

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Pope Francis calls for reforms to the United Nations in new book

Democrats' blue-state headaches

Russia targeting civilian areas to forcibly enlist men into Ukraine war

Chris Christie says Trump kept classified documents as a "trophy"

Trump: I could "easily" be Israel's prime minister

Xi opens historic China Party Congress that's expected to cement his rule

Kari Lake refuses to say whether she will accept election results if she loses

Kinzinger: Trump required by law to testify before Jan. 6 committee

Russia labels deadly training ground shooting as terrorism

How Biden's stock market compares to Trump and Obama

Biden comments on "devastating" Jan. 6th footage