Axios

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Friday that at least 2,000 Afghan refugees in the U.S. have terrorism ties, during a Fox & Friends interview.

Why it matters: The Trump administration has singled out the Afghan community in the U.S. and suspended immigration applications since the shooting of National Guard members allegedly by an Afghan refugee.

Oil prices are generally sinking this week despite the U.S. seizure of a tanker off Venezuela's coast, saber rattling about doing it again, and Ukraine hitting a Russian tanker in the Black Sea.

Why it matters: Geopolitical strife historically shoves prices upward, especially when oil and oil producers are involved. So what's going on? A few overlapping things...

President Trump's first term opened the age of "Great Power Competition" with China and Russia.

• His second is actively working to end it.

Why it matters: For the past decade, Washington has operated on the bipartisan consensus that China seeks to overtake the United States, Russia seeks to undermine it, and reinforcing alliances in Europe and Asia is key to winning the 21st century.

President Trump's "gold card" program could endanger applicants' money, lead to revoked citizenship, or inspire fraud, legal experts told Axios.

The big picture: Trump's hardline immigration crackdown has disproportionately impacted impoverished households, but the president's Gold Card program could flip the script, causing financial and logistical problems for wealthy applicants.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday delivered dire warnings about Russian President Vladimir Putin and the growing threat of war that Europe faces from the Kremlin.

Why it matters: Rutte warned that Putin won't stop his aggression with Ukraine and could look to attack NATO countries within five years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that the Trump administration hopes to reach a "full understanding" over its peace plan by Christmas, but critical gaps remain on the issues of territory and security guarantees.

Why it matters: Zelensky gave the most detailed picture yet of what has and has not been agreed with Washington. His comments come ahead of a planned meeting between senior officials from Ukraine, France, Germany and the U.K.

The Trump administration began accepting applications for the Trump Gold Card on Wednesday, offering a pay-to-play option for foreign nationals wanting to speed up their path to American residency.

The big picture: The program fast tracks immigration protocols for the very wealthy at the same time the administration is narrowing other paths to residency for refugees, asylum seekers, and low-income people.

The Trump administration is planning to appoint an American two-star general to command the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials.

Why it matters: The appointment will further increase the U.S. responsibility for securing and rebuilding Gaza, which is turning into the biggest U.S. political-civilian-military project in the Middle East in more than two decades.

Eastern Europe is emerging as a hot destination for Americans traveling abroad next year, per new Kayak data shared with Axios.

Why it matters: The post-COVID travel boom shows no signs of cooling, even as affordability is top-of-mind for many Americans.

The Trump administration announced plans Wednesday for a new militarized zone in California, along the U.S.–Mexico border.

The big picture: Some 760 acres of public land in San Diego and Imperial counties is being transferred to the Navy over a three-year period to "support ongoing border security operations" and national defense in the latest militarized zone, per a Department of the Interior statement.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was cheered by a large crowd after she arrived in Oslo early Thursday, hours after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway's capital on her behalf.

Why it matters: It's the first public appearance in 11 months by the 58-year-old industrial engineer who's been under a travel ban for a decade and who has been in hiding since the ruling Maduro regime blocked her from running for president.

Iceland is refusing to take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest — joining Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain in protesting Israel's participation in the European singing competition by boycotting the event.

Why it matters: Eurovision is beloved by many for celebrating cultures with kitsch acts and upbeat songs. Its official slogan is "United By Music," but the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation (RÚV) said in a statement that Israel's participation in the contest had "created disunity" among European Broadcasting Union members and the general public.

The House passed a sweeping defense policy bill Wednesday evening that authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending.

Why it matters: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a traditionally bipartisan bill, but the 2026 legislation contains some pushback against the agenda of the Trump administration, which had earlier called for the measure to pass.