Axios

The number of Republicans who approve of President Trump assembling the military off the coast of Venezuela fell by 10 percent over the past month, according to a new survey analysis from YouGov.

Why it matters: While most Republicans still back the military show of force, the falling approval comes at a time when some Republican lawmakers have questioned Trump's claim that he has unilateral power to conduct lethal strikes on boats allegedly smuggling drugs into America.

The United Nations human rights chief on Friday condemned the Trump administration's military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, calling for an investigation.

Why it matters: The administration's escalating campaign faces human rights violation accusations, alienates allies and provokes outrage at home, a collision of military might, international order and a president showing no signs of changing course.

President Trump's post announcing the U.S. would resume nuclear testing featured some inaccuracies, and introduced quite a bit of uncertainty.

Why it matters: Nuclear rhetoric is closely scrutinized — by governments, by defense contractors, by outside analysts — and can have unintended consequences. Trump's Truth Social shocker will have generated significant debate in Moscow and Beijing over the past 24 hours.

The U.S. offered Hamas militants safe passage from areas in Gaza controlled by Israel to parts the group controls, U.S. and Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: The goal of the U.S. proposal, which was conveyed to Hamas on Wednesday by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, was to stabilize the ceasefire and clear the roughly half of Gaza that Israel controls of Hamas militants.

President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced the outlines of a historic trade deal, touching on everything from agriculture to technology exports ... again.

The big picture: The deal announced early this morning overlaps considerably with previous deals Trump and Xi have cut over the past six years. In many cases, in some way or another, those deals fell apart or failed to perform, often with the Chinese changing their plans abruptly.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem denied Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's (D) request to suspend all federal immigration operations across the Chicago area over Halloween weekend.

Why it matters: Pritzker's request came after Chicago residents reported last weekend that federal immigration officers conducted a raid right before a children's Halloween parade.

Bending Spoons, an Italian holding company that buys and seeks to revitalize tech brands like AOL, on Thursday announced a $710 million equity raise at an $11 billion pre-money valuation.

Why it matters: The deal includes $270 million in primary capital that will be used to make further acquisitions, Bending Spoons CEO Luca Ferrari tells Axios.

China has pledged to return its purchases of U.S. soybeans to regular levels in each of the next three years, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday.

Why it matters: China stopped buying U.S. soybeans earlier this year amid President Trump's trade war, depriving American farmers of their largest export market.

U.S. officials have been holding sensitive conversations with a range of countries about establishing an international force to deploy to Gaza and intend to present a plan in the next few weeks, three sources intimately involved in that process tell Axios.

Why it matters: The breakdown in the ceasefire on Tuesday underscored just how fragile the peace is. But the International Stabilization Force (ISF) envisioned in President Trump's plan raises politically explosive questions for Israel, Hamas and the countries considering sending troops.

President Trump said he'll trim China tariffs after talks with Xi Jinping in South Korea in exchange for Beijing's pledge to buy U.S. soybeans and energy, allow exports of rare earth minerals and curb the flow of fentanyl.

Why it matters: A trade truce between the world's two largest economies could bring relief to businesses, investors and consumers.

President Trump announced Wednesday night that the U.S. will resume testing nuclear weapons.

Why it matters: The U.S. hasn't conducted a nuclear test since 1992. If Trump follows through on the decision to resume testing, it could reignite a superpower arms race.

Top Senate Democrats are fuming at their exclusion from a Wednesday briefing on the White House's strikes against boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.

Why it matters: The White House has faced bipartisan pushback for its lack of transparency around the unilateral strikes against alleged drug traffickers.