Trump Demands Senate Pass Voter ID Bill or He Won't Sign Any Other Laws

It is rare to see Supreme Court justices argue with each other in public. Disagreements usually appear months later in written opinions after a case is decided. The justices rarely sit on the same stage and debate how the Court is handling active legal fights. That is what happened Monday when Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Justice Brett Kavanaugh shared a stage and openly clashed over how the Supreme Court has handled emergency appeals tied to President Donald Trump’s policies. The discussio

Iran just named a new supreme leader, the late Ayatollah Khamenei's 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei. President Trump said just days ago that Khamenei's son would be an "unacceptable choice."

The Israeli military has said it carried out several wide-scale waves of strikes across Iran, as supporters of the Islamic Republic staged rallies to celebrate the appointment of a new supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, a hardline Shia Muslim cleric close to the powerful Revolutionary Guards, was chosen on Sunday to succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a strike at the start of the war with the US and Israel nine days ago. In his first reaction to the decision, US President Donald Trump said he was "not happy".

State media in Iran reported that hundreds of thousands of people took part in organized rallies on Monday in support of the country's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Those in attendance pledged allegiances to the 56-year-old, who was appointed despite US President Donald Trump saying he will not accept the appointment, and despite the threats of strikes as part of the joint US-Israeli war in Iran. The appointment comes nine days after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw's defeat in Tuesday's Republican primary in Texas is more than the fall of a prominent conservative lawmaker — it reflects deeper structural changes reshaping the Republican Party in the nation's largest red state. Texas state Rep. Steve Toth unseated the four-term congressman in the GOP primary for Texas' 2nd Congressional District, marking the first time a sitting member of Congress has lost renomination in the 2026 election cycle. Mr. Toth ran an aggressive campaign from the right, arguing that Mr. Crenshaw was insufficiently aligned with the party's conservative grassroots and the political movement surrounding former President Trump. The upset highlights several forces transforming Republican politics in Texas, including growing ideological pressure from the right, the increasing importance of Mr. Trump's influence in primaries and political disruptions caused by mid-decade redistricting.

The Justice Department announced Monday that it reached a tentative settlement in its antitrust suit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment that would spare the business from the threat of being broken apart amid government claims it held an illegal monopoly over concerts and other events. But almost immediately, more than half of the nearly 40 states that had signed on to the department's landmark litigation voiced serious concerns over the deal. Some state attorneys general said they had been left out of negotiations and vowed to continue their fight against the live entertainment behemoth in court.

President Trump told Fox News that he's "not happy" with Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Khamenei was named Iran's new leader over the weekend, according to Iranian state media, taking the place of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war. "Fox and Friends" host Brian Kilmeade said he spoke with the president by phone Sunday, and Mr. Trump said, "I am not happy," with Mojtaba Khamenei's ascendance. Last week, Mr. Trump called Khamenei a "lightweight" who would be "unacceptable" to lead Iran. The president has said more than once that he wants to be involved in approving Iran's new leadership.

President Trump declared the war with Iran "is very complete" and "far ahead of schedule" — as he also considers taking control of the Strait of Hormuz trade route under siege by the Islamic Republic.

<p>Just one-quarter say U.S. should be viewed as an ally or friend – a near 50-point drop from 2023 February 24, 2026 – As American President Donald Trump addresses the union this evening, Canadians may have some interest in the chosen topics, which will likely reference the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down his tariffs, and even Canada’s heartbreaking&#8230;</p> <p>The post <a href="https://angusreid.org/liberals-ascend-to-13-point-lead-in-vote-intention-as-canadians-continue-to-demand-hard-line-on-u-s-trade/">Liberals ascend to 13-point lead in vote intention as Canadians continue to demand hard line on U.S. trade</a> appeared first on <a href="https://angusreid.org">Angus Reid Institute</a>.</p>

<p>One-in-five Trump voters join nearly all Democrats in calling for DHS Secretary’s resignation February 10, 2026 – Protests continue in Minnesota, as at least 50 individuals were arrested this weekend at a federal building outside Minneapolis. And while the Department of Homeland Security reportedly removed 700 officers last week, some 2,000 still remain. For most Americans one of the results&#8230;</p> <p>The post <a href="https://angusreid.org/majority-say-noems-handling-of-minnesota-warrants-resignation-blame-ice-over-protesters-for-deaths/">Majority say Noem’s handling of Minnesota warrants resignation; blame ICE over protesters for deaths</a> appeared first on <a href="https://angusreid.org">Angus Reid Institute</a>.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/iran-ground-troops-special-forces-nuclear" target="_blank">Iran war's</a> fuel-price shock is slamming states that could decide Senate control in November, a potential headache for Republicans defending their majority.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-trump-gas-prices" target="_blank">Affordability</a> was already Democrats' central midterm message, and now the cost of <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Trump's</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/us/politics/polls-wars-us-support.html" target="_blank">unpopular war</a> is on display at the pump.</p><hr /><ul><li>Just 29% of Americans approve of the strikes, and two-thirds — including 44% of Republicans — expect gas prices to keep rising, according to a <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2026-03/Ipsos%20poll%20on%20U.S.%20strikes%20on%20Iran%20Topline%20March%202026.pdf" target="_blank">Reuters/Ipsos poll</a> conducted through Monday.</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers: </strong>Three of the top four weekly jumps in diesel prices hit key midterm Senate races: Texas (+111.6¢), North Carolina (+110.5¢) and Georgia (+107.9¢), according to GasBuddy's <a href="https://x.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/2030987311484432489" target="_blank">Patrick De Haan</a>.</p><ul><li>Regular gasoline <a href="https://x.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/2030985932615131528" target="_blank">spikes</a> also hit battlegrounds. Ohio and Michigan tied for the third-largest jumps at 55 cents. </li><li>A month ago, just nine states averaged gas prices above $3 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. Now that <a href="https://fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com/biggestmovers" target="_blank">number is 48</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Prices vary by state, based on factors like local competition or because producers can sell overseas at surging global prices, De Haan explains to Axios.</p><ul><li>That's why <a href="https://x.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/2030637134399365131" target="_blank">Texas</a>, the nation's top oil-producing state, saw the biggest diesel spike in the country, which may be good news for producers but bad news for everyone filling up.</li><li>The national average for regular gasoline hit $3.55 on Tuesday, up 61 cents from a month ago, according to <a href="https://fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com/home" target="_blank">GasBuddy</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>Trump dismissed the fuel price surge <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116196014942465383" target="_blank">on Truth Social</a>, calling it a "very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace."</p><ul><li>That's a tough sell without a clear threat that "demanded immediate action," says Jon Krosnick, a Stanford political science professor.</li><li>No <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/trump-iran-risks-economy" target="_blank">rally-around-the-flag effect</a> has materialized, <em>Axios' Zachary Basu</em> writes. </li></ul><p><strong>Meanwhile,</strong> <a href="https://x.com/MarkWarner/status/2031081885930074267" target="_blank">Democrats</a> are <a href="https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/03/08/leader-jeffries-on-meet-the-press-were-spending-billions-of-dollars-to-drop-bombs-and-doing-nothing-to-drop-the-high-cost-of-living/" target="_blank">hammering</a> Trump, who <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/state-of-the-union-transcript-trump.html#:~:text=Gasoline%2C%20which%20reached,gallon%20for%20gasoline." target="_blank">touted</a> low gas prices in his State of the Union just days before launching strikes, on cost-of-living concerns. </p><ul><li>Krosnick says gas prices are uniquely visible. The "price of milk," he notes, "is not on a sign outside of grocery stores."</li><li>And the spike presents an unusual case of "attributional clarity," he says: "It's so clear what just happened."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Karen Young, a senior research scholar at Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy, tells Axios the market can't reorient until traffic resumes through the Strait of Hormuz.</p><ul><li>"For the American consumer, yeah, maybe gasoline prices are jumping a bit, but that's kind of the least of your problems," Young says. </li><li>Oil is the invisible cost inside nearly everything Americans buy. It ships the goods, makes the plastics, feeds the fertilizer and fuels the flights.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>De Haan says the eight months until November could be enough time to put pump-price shock in the rearview mirror.</p><ul><li>But if Trump "doesn't reverse course, he certainly could start to bring about a situation that will be more memorable to Americans ahead of the midterms."</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/trump-iran-gas-fuel-strikes" target="_blank">Trump vows to step up Iran bombing, as gas price surge worsens</a></p>

<p>Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wrote in a <a href="https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/ai-5-layer-cake/" target="_blank">blog post</a> Tuesday that decisions about how fast to build AI, who gets access and how to govern it will determine the technology's legacy.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Huang — whose company underpins the AI boom — <a href="https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/author/jen-hsun-huang/" target="_blank">rarely</a> publishes long essays about the tech's broader impact, offering other industry players and investors a rare window into his thinking.</p><hr /><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> Huang argues that chip demand, expansion and hiring are still in the early stages of what he calls a long buildout.</p><ul><li>"AI is one of the most powerful forces shaping the world today. It is not a clever app or a single model; it is essential infrastructure," he writes in his seventh blog post since 2016.</li><li>"Every company will use it. Every country will build it."</li></ul><h2>AI is different from software</h2><p><strong>Huang made the case </strong>that AI breaks the model of how traditional software worked.</p><ul><li>Traditional software runs on pre-written rules coded by humans. AI systems, he argues, generate answers in real time based on context.</li><li>"Every response is newly created. Every answer depends on the context you provide. This is not software retrieving stored instructions. This is software reasoning and generating intelligence on demand," he writes.</li></ul><h2>The boom can create more jobs</h2><p><strong>Huang argues AI will create new kinds of jobs</strong>, especially in infrastructure and skilled trades.</p><ul><li>As the technology handles routine tasks, he writes, companies can serve more customers and expand. This dynamic, he says, ultimately drives hiring.</li><li>"Productivity creates capacity. Capacity creates growth," he writes.</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>There's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/ai-chatgpt-claude-jobs-brain-fry" target="_blank">relentless debate</a> on how <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/ai-ceo-openai-chatgpt-microsoft" target="_blank">AI</a> impacts the labor market, including how it speeds up work and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/14/ai-jobs-productivity-workslop" target="_blank">makes people busier</a>.</p><ul><li>Huang has previously suggested "everybody's jobs will be different" from AI. He also famously said at the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/28/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-youll-lose-your-job-to-somebody-who-uses-ai.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">Milken conference</a> in 2025: "You're not going to lose your job to an AI, but you're going to lose your job to somebody who uses AI."</li></ul><h2>AI is a five-layer cake</h2><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>AI can be understood by looking at the "five-layer stack" that Huang describes as "Energy → chips → infrastructure → models → applications."</p><ul><li>"Every successful application pulls on every layer beneath it, all the way down to the power plant that keeps it alive," he writes.</li></ul><p><strong>Flashback: </strong>The "five-layer cake" framework was originally introduced at the <a href="https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/davos-wef-blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-jensen-huang/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a> in Davos in January.</p><h2>"Trillions" more needed for AI infrastructure</h2><p><strong>What's next: </strong>Huang notes that the AI boom is only just beginning and will require trillions of dollars in additional investment.</p><ul><li>"We have only just begun this buildout," he writes of data centers and infrastructure. "We are a few hundred billion dollars into it. Trillions of dollars of infrastructure still need to be built."</li></ul><h2>AI boom has only just begun</h2><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"We are still early. Much of the infrastructure does not yet exist. Much of the workforce has not yet been trained. Much of the opportunity has not yet been realized. But the direction is clear."</p><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/joe-rogan-jensen-huang-podcast-trump" target="_blank">Nvidia CEO to Joe Rogan: Nobody "really knows" AI's endgame</a></p>

<p>Nearly seven months ago, Ukrainian officials tried to sell the U.S. their battle-proven technology for downing Iranian-made attack drones. They even made a PowerPoint presentation — obtained exclusively by Axios — showing how it could protect American forces and their allies in a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-war-countries-gulf-qatar-us" target="_blank">Middle East war</a>.</p><ul><li>The Trump administration dismissed the Ukrainians, only to reverse course last week because of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/04/politics/us-air-defenses-iran-attack-drones-challenge" target="_blank">more-than-expected </a>drone strikes from Iran.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Snubbing Ukraine's offer ranks as one of the biggest tactical miscalculations by the administration since the bombing of Iran began Feb. 28, two U.S. officials tell Axios.</p><hr /><ul><li>Iran's inexpensive Shahed drones have been linked to the deaths of seven U.S. service members, and have cost the U.S. and its friends in the region millions of dollars to intercept.</li><li>"If there's a tactical error or a mistake we made leading up to this [war in Iran], this was it," a U.S. official acknowledged.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Ukraine is the world's most experienced country in combating Shaheds, which Russia has bought, reproduced and labeled as Geran drones by the thousands for its <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/ukraine-russia-negotiations-zelensky-donbas" target="_blank">invasion</a> of its western neighbor.</p><ul><li>Ukraine has developed a low-cost interceptor drone, among other sensors and air defenses, to shoot down Shahed-style drones.</li></ul><p><strong>Inside the room: </strong>At a closed-door White House <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/18/zelensky-trump-summit-white-house-russia-ukraine" target="_blank">meeting </a>on Aug. 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered the interceptor drones to President Trump as a way to strengthen ties and, according to one official, show his thanks for U.S. support in the face of Russian aggression.</p><ul><li>The Ukrainians made a PowerPoint presentation to U.S. officials that displayed a map of the Middle East and had this prophetic warning: "Iran is improving its Shahed one-way-attack drone design."</li><li>The presentation included the idea of creating "drone combat hubs" in Turkey, Jordan and the Persian Gulf states, where U.S. bases are located, to address the threat from Iran and its proxies. </li><li>"We wanted to build the 'drone walls' and all the things necessary like the radar, et cetera," a Ukrainian official said.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> "At that meeting ... in August, Trump asked his team to work on it, but they have done nothing," the Ukrainian official said.</p><ul><li>A U.S. official who saw the PowerPoint confirmed that Zelensky's team showed the presentation to the administration and theorized the Ukrainian leader is seen by some in the Trump administration as too much of a self-promoter of a client state that doesn't command enough respect.</li><li>"We figured it was Zelensky being Zelensky. Somebody decided not to buy it," the official said.</li><li>On Thursday, the U.S. formally asked Zelensky for anti-drone help, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/world/middleeast/ukraine-shahed-drone-middle-east.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"Iranian retaliatory attacks are down by 90% because their ballistic missile capabilities are being totally demolished," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.</p><ul><li>"This characterization made by these cowardly unnamed sources is not accurate and proves that they are simply outside looking in. [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and the armed forces did an incredible job planning for all possible responses by the Iranian regime, and the undisputed success of Operation Epic Fury speaks for itself."</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>U.S. officials have reported shooting down the overwhelming majority of Iranian missiles and drones. So far, they say, the seven U.S. deaths have been well below initial estimates of 40 fatalities for the opening of the conflict.</p><ul><li>On Friday, the U.S. <a href="https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/us-send-anti-drone-system-mideast-after-successful-130839591" target="_blank">announced plans </a>to deploy its own Shahed-killing drone system, called Merops, amid complaints from regional allies about the attacks. </li><li>One U.S. official told the Associated Press that the response to Iran's drones has so far been "disappointing."</li><li>Another U.S. official acknowledged the Ukrainian drones would have helped if deployed sooner, but added that "our performance in theater has been remarkable."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>The need for new technology is of acute interest to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/26/dan-driscoll-ukraine-russia-negotiations" target="_blank">U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll</a>, nicknamed "the drone guy" in the Pentagon. </p><ul><li>Hegseth rolled out <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-tears-up-red-tape-orders-pentagon-begin-drone-surge-trumps-command" target="_blank">changes </a>last year aimed at outpacing China and Russia in unmanned aerial combat. The Biden administration also had drone-counter-drone initiatives, dubbed Replicator.</li><li>The need for the technology is so great that Trump's sons <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-sons-back-new-drone-company-targeting-pentagon-sales-2f74abca?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqcVcnuOtHnCgV-yw4pEfPycPgWn7edyqcEnxiGJk11nyMQZ5gsbPvMjE__iCFc%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69af5ce4&amp;gaa_sig=QkPOJgjIFjxLUB2-NgjNhUIV2fqllS40y0EloKXWlCzzcfqPUSFGc-j9ZVfYdwBu4F6WQVJqxhy-e-bw5rUCLA%3D%3D" target="_blank">announced </a>a new business venture Monday to supply the Pentagon with Ukrainian drone technology.</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers: </strong>An Iranian Shahed is said to cost $20,000 to $50,000, depending on the model. The Ukrainian interceptors are even cheaper.</p><ul><li>Concerns about intercepting such a cheap, simple target with a multimillion-dollar munition spiked during U.S. fights against Houthi rebels in Yemen, and have remained high since.</li><li>Other countermeasures exist: Footage has emerged of AH-64 Apaches blasting Iranian drones. And the U.K. has promised to send Wildcat helicopters strapped with counter-drone Martlet missiles.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Knowing Trump's "Art of the Deal" mindset, the Ukrainians structured the drone defense offer like a business partnership, promising to help create manufacturing jobs in the U.S.</p><ul><li>In return for giving the U.S. access to its drone and anti-drone system production and know-how, Ukraine proposed to buy American weapons. </li><li>"Our problem was money. Our resources allowed us to produce only 50% of what we can produce. So we wanted the U.S. to invest the other 50% and have a share of the production," the Ukrainian official said.</li><li>Ukraine estimated it could help build as many as 20 million of the weapons to "unleash American drone dominance," the PowerPoint said.</li></ul><p><strong>Months later, in November,</strong> another U.S. official told Axios that military personnel have "been wanting to go to Ukraine and pull the tech and the tactics from the Ukrainian military ... so that we're innovating and learning." </p><ul><li>"The Ukrainians are in a life-and-death, existential crisis, 100%."</li></ul>

<p>Oil <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/oil-prices-gas-iran-war" target="_blank">prices</a> would need to stay high for years — not weeks or months — to drive a lasting shift away from the fossil fuel.</p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> Every time oil spikes, the same question surfaces: Will this push more people into electric cars or install solar panels onto rooftops?</p><hr /><p><strong>State of play:</strong> That's <a href="https://www.threads.com/%40bettemidler/post/DVfZXfQFBfw/photo-posted-by-bette-midler-bettemidler" target="_blank">happening again</a> after oil prices<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/iran-war-oil-market-barrel-cost" target="_blank"> zoomed past</a> the $100-a-barrel mark in the wake of the Iran war. </p><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Prices dropped at least temporarily in the wake of President Trump signaling Monday evening he <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/trump-iran-war-over-soon" target="_blank">wants a quick end to the conflict</a>, as well as talking up ways to lower oil prices.</p><p><strong>Reality check:</strong> Energy transitions hinge on <em>stable </em>policies and market signals that last for decades.</p><ul><li>Temporary price jolts from <em>unstable </em>geopolitical unrest haven't produced durable change — at least not in the U.S.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying</strong>: "Consumers have been riding an oil price roller coaster for 20 years now," said Bob McNally, who leads consultancy Rapidan Energy Group and advised President George W. Bush on energy security. </p><ul><li>This includes everything from the 2008 recession to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.</li><li>"They've learned that booms follow busts, and vice versa. Absent stable and higher fuel prices, we are unlikely to see a rapid and lasting shift to EVs." </li></ul><p><strong>How it works:</strong> This recurring debate often skips key distinctions.</p><ul><li>Oil is used primarily in transportation and priced on a global market. That's why U.S. gasoline prices rise even when domestic production is strong — and why this article centers mostly on cars, not electricity.</li><li>Natural gas is priced more regionally. America's ample supplies help <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/iran-conflict-natural-gas-prices-middle-east" target="_blank">shield<strong> </strong>consumers</a> from global shocks. Gas fuels power plants and industry — but rarely cars. </li><li>This is why oil and gas prices don't move in perfect sync.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out:</strong> The U.S. economy is far less oil-intensive than in past eras of price spikes, which <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/iran-war-oil-gas-price" target="_blank">cushions</a> the blow compared with the 1970s or even the 2000s. </p><ul><li>But people will still face sticker shock at the pump, and their pain is all that will matter to them — not whether it was worse 50 years ago. </li><li>So expect it to show up on the campaign trails. </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Even the most extreme scenarios analysts are currently<strong> </strong>modeling would last months — not years.</p><ul><li>Rystad Energy looked at two- and four-month interruptions to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas. </li><li>The shorter scenario appears more likely, the firm said Monday, though it warned more extreme outcomes beyond even four months "cannot be ruled out."</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>There are two caveats — one geographic, one historic.</p><ul><li>After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Europe significantly reduced its dependence on Russian gas. This was driven partly by Russia itself cutting off supplies, and then Europe scrambling to replace that fuel and more (though Europe still imports some Russian gas.) </li><li>Analysts are calling this moment the biggest disruption in oil-market history, as Axios' Ben Geman <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/iran-energy-shock-lasting-change" target="_blank">reported Monday</a>. If geopolitical turmoil were ever going to force a structural move away from oil, this would be the test.</li></ul><p><strong>"What matters is not</strong> simply how high oil goes, but whether this episode reshapes perceptions of geopolitical risk in a durable way," said Jason Bordoff, founding executive director of Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy who previously advised President Barack Obama on energy security.</p><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> Interest in electric cars tends to surge during periods of high gasoline prices, said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds, the car-buying site. </p><ul><li>However, "[t]he difference today is that consumers are navigating an extremely tough financial environment," Caldwell said by email, pointing to persistently high interest rates and higher transaction costs. </li></ul><p><strong>What we're watching:</strong> How long this all lasts. </p><ul><li>"Ultimately, adoption may hinge on how long consumers believe geopolitical tensions will continue to put upward pressure on oil prices," Caldwell said.</li></ul><p><em>Axios' Joann Muller contributed reporting.</em></p><p><em>Sign up <a href="https://www.axios.com/signup/axios-future-of-energy" target="_blank">here</a> for Axios' Future of Energy newsletter.</em></p>

<p>Ten days into President Trump's <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> campaign, the war has gone global.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-war-countries-gulf-qatar-us" target="_blank">At least 20 countries</a> are now militarily involved — shooting, shielding or quietly supplying — while a widening energy shock punishes nations far from the front lines.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>This isn't World War III. But it may be the closest we've come in decades — drawing in more countries, more great powers and more overlapping conflicts than any crisis since the Cold War.</p><hr /><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Iran has <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-expanding-israel-lebanon-gulf-cyprus" target="_blank">struck at least 10 countries</a> since the war began, hitting U.S. and Israeli bases, Persian Gulf capitals, oil infrastructure and civilian areas in an attempt to impose maximum pain on Washington and its allies.</p><ul><li>Iran has effectively closed the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/us-oil-iran-strait-hormuz-defend" target="_blank">Strait of Hormuz</a> — the narrow chokepoint through which 20% of the world's oil flows — <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/oil-prices-iran-war-strait-hormuz" target="_blank">sending prices</a> for oil, gas, plastics and fertilizers soaring across the globe.</li><li>Israel is fighting on two fronts — pounding Iran while <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-peace-talks" target="_blank">battling Hezbollah on the ground in Lebanon</a>, where more than 500,000 people have been displaced in a week.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>The war has spread far beyond the Middle East, pulling European militaries into the conflict and forcing NATO to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/world/middleeast/turkey-iranian-missile-nato.html" target="_blank">shoot down Iranian missiles over allied territory</a> for the first time.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-will-send-two-warships-red-sea-macron-says-2026-03-09/" target="_blank">France has dispatched</a> its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean, joining <a href="https://defence24.com/armed-forces/uk-sends-a-destroyer-to-cyprus" target="_blank">British warships</a> after an Iranian-made drone struck a U.K. air base on Cyprus, a member of the European Union.</li><li><a href="https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2026/03/09/turkish-deployment-of-f-16s-in-occupied-portion-of-cyprus-raises-tensions-in-eastern-mediterranean/" target="_blank">Greece and Turkey</a> — bitter rivals within NATO — also have rushed forces to Cyprus, where their fighter jets now face each other across a partition line that has <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/07/20/cyprus-marks-51-years-since-turkish-invasion-that-led-to-island-nations-partition" target="_blank">divided the island</a> for 50 years.</li><li>Even <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-send-missiles-uae-deploy-military-surveillance-aircraft-2026-03-09/" target="_blank">Australia</a> said Monday it's sending missiles and a radar plane to help the UAE and other Gulf countries defend themselves from Iran.</li></ul><p><strong>In the meantime</strong>, a U.S. submarine <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-iran-middle-east-ship-sinking-69191dde43154c5176a8aeacc9128748" target="_blank">sank an Iranian warship</a> last week off the coast of Sri Lanka — the first American torpedo kill since the final days of World War II.</p><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>As the shooting war rages, a shadow conflict is playing out among the world's great powers.</p><ul><li>Russia has been sharing satellite imagery of U.S. warships and aircraft with Iran, the Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/06/russia-iran-intelligence-us-targets/" target="_blank">first reported</a>, helping Tehran target American forces across the region.</li><li>Ukraine — which has spent four years defending against the same Iranian-made drones now battering the Gulf — has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/world/middleeast/ukraine-shahed-drone-middle-east.html" target="_blank">deployed specialists and low-cost interceptors</a> to help protect the U.S. and its allies.</li></ul><p><strong>China, </strong>which is set to welcome Trump for a state visit in a matter of weeks, is navigating the war from both sides.</p><ul><li>Facing <a href="http://nytimes.com/2026/03/09/business/china-trade-persian-gulf-iran.html" target="_blank">billions of dollars</a> in economic exposure, China has been calling for a ceasefire and pressuring Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Beijing relies on for roughly 40% of its oil imports.</li><li>At the same time, U.S. intelligence shows China may be preparing to supply Iran with financial assistance, spare parts and missile components, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/russia-aiding-iran-targeting" target="_blank">CNN</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>What to watch: </strong>The Iran war is reshaping every other major conflict on Trump's agenda.</p><ul><li><strong>Ukraine: </strong>U.S.-brokered peace talks planned for Abu Dhabi this week have been <a href="https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4099763-zelensky-trilateral-talks-postponed-due-to-events-surrounding-iran.html" target="_blank">postponed indefinitely</a> because of the war. India is back to buying Russian oil after the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy031d1ny7jo" target="_blank">U.S. waived sanctions</a> to help manage the energy crisis.</li><li><strong>Gaza: </strong>Trump's flagship peace plan <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trumps-gaza-plan-hold-iran-war-pauses-disarmament-talks-sources-say-2026-03-09/" target="_blank">has been on hold</a> since the war began, as the Gulf states that pledged billions to rebuild Gaza now scramble to defend against Iranian missiles.</li><li><strong>Taiwan: </strong>The war is <a href="https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6316290" target="_blank">burning through missile stockpiles</a> the U.S. has spent years building up to deter China in the Pacific — raising urgent questions about what happens if Beijing finally makes a move on Taiwan.</li></ul>

<p>President Trump said the war with <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> will be over "very soon" but made clear it will not happen this week. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Ten days after the war started, <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> has begun for the first time to point to the possibility of it winding down soon.</p><hr /><ul><li>His comments at a press conference were in line with several other public signals from him on Monday.</li><li>Some U.S. officials think Trump's comments were aimed at calming the <a href="https://www.axios.com/economy/stock-market" target="_blank">stock markets</a> in the U.S. and around the world, which were shaken by the war. </li></ul><p><strong>The latest: </strong>Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in response to Trump's comments that they "are the ones who will determine the end of the war," per state media.</p><ul><li>The IRGC added that Tehran would not allow the export of "one litre of oil" from the region if the U.S. and Israeli attacks continued — prompting Trump to <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116202054617775180" target="_blank">respond</a> with a counter-threat on Truth Social:</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/i8dMgXmQYi4oRYNKzaPNFd4Qptw=/2026/03/10/1773103621647.jpeg" /> <div>Screenshot: President Trump/Truth Social</div><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> In a speech before his press conference, Trump said: "We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough." </p><ul><li>When asked about those remarks during the press conference, Trump said he wanted to reach a situation where Iran would not be able to have a nuclear weapons program and would need a long time before it could threaten the region again with ballistic missiles.</li><li>Trump claimed that after 10 days of fighting, the U.S. military is where it thought it would be only after a month of war. </li><li>He listed U.S. military achievements of the war so far: the destruction of the Iranian navy, air force, anti-aircraft systems, radar and telecommunications, and the decimation of Iran's leadership. </li><li>"It's all gone," he said. "We could call it a tremendous success right now. I could call it or we could go further, and we're going to go further, but the big risk on that war has been over for three days." </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Trump focused in his remarks on the rising <a href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/oil-companies" target="_blank">oil</a> prices and claimed it is a short-term situation. Once Iran no longer poses a threat to the region or to commercial shipping, the oil market will be much more stable, he said.</p><ul><li>"If Iran will try harming oil supply it will be hit much stronger by the U.S.," he said.</li></ul><p><strong>What to watch:</strong> Trump said he was "disappointed" with the decision to appoint <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/mojtaba-khamenei-iran-supreme-leader" target="_blank">Mojtaba Khamenei</a> as the new Iranian supreme leader following his father's killing in an Israeli airstrike last month. </p><ul><li>"It will lead to more of the same problem for the country," he said. </li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>Trump refused to say whether Mojtaba Khamenei "has a target on his back," telling reporters it would be "inappropriate" of him to address this.</p><ul><li>He said he wants a new Iranian leader who comes from within Iran, like <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/us-venezuela-diplomatic-consular-relations" target="_blank">in Venezuela</a>, without tearing down completely the country's system like the U.S. did in Iraq. </li><li>But he stressed the new Iranian leader should adopt a different policy than his predecessor.</li><li>"We need a system that could lead to many years of peace, and if we can't have that we might as well get it over with right now," Trump said, hinting that the U.S. and <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> could take more action to change the Iranian regime.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"It is going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again, [Iran] will be getting hit even harder," Trump said.</p><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/oil-prices-gas-iran-war" target="_blank">Iran war's energy price shock is likely to spiral economy-wide</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.</em></p>

<p><strong>DORAL, FL</strong>: President Trump told House Republicans the <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">conflict in Iran</a> will be "over pretty quickly," without giving a firm timeline — and repeated his warning that he would not sign any legislation until the Senate passed the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/trump-wont-sign-bills-save-america-act" target="_blank">SAVE America Act</a>.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The dual messages — boasts about successes abroad, coupled with frustration with Republicans and Democrats at home — competed for attention in his pep-talk to House Republicans at their annual retreat in Florida.</p><hr /><ul><li>"I am not going to sign anything until this is approved," Trump said of the SAVE legislation, which would require photo IDs at polling stations.</li><li>"They'll have to go to the filibuster, and maybe it will be the talking filibuster, like the old days."</li></ul><p><strong>Moments earlier in Washington, </strong>Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) repeated his reluctance to move forward with a talking filibuster, in part because of the unintended consequences.</p><ul><li>"You have to show me how, in the end, it prevails and succeeds," Thune told reporters.</li><li>"What people don't realize, I think, is it's unlimited debate, but it's also unlimited amendments."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> A bill to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-dhs-shutdown-democrats-funding-trump" target="_blank">reopen the Department of Homeland Security</a> is apparently exempt from Trump's threat. He would sign that, an official told the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/4485502/trump-would-sign-legislation-reopen-dhs-despite-save-act-threat/" target="_blank">Washington Examiner</a>.</p><p><strong>Zoom out:</strong> House Republicans are gathering in Doral, Florida, to plot out their legislative strategy for the rest of the year.</p><ul><li>They were also eager for a first-hand update on Iran and the president's plan to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/oil-prices-gas-iran-war" target="_blank">lower energy costs</a>, which have spiked since Israel and the U.S. launched military strikes on Iran 10 days ago.</li><li>For Trump, passing the SAVE America Act is the only legislative item he has for House Republicans' agenda. He even floated attaching the bill to the must-pass reauthorization of FISA.</li></ul><p><strong>On Iran, Trump claimed victory had already been achieved, </strong>while also suggesting that more work needed to be done.</p><ul><li>"We've already won," he said. "But we haven't won enough. We are determined to achieve total victory over this terrorist regime."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Earlier in the day, the president told CBS News that the war "is very complete, pretty much."</p><ul><li>Pressed later by a reporter on whether the war would be over this week, Trump said, "No."</li><li>"Soon, very soon," was how Trump described the timeline.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> Trump also insisted that Democrats are no longer focused on affordability — or at least the word.</p><ul><li>"You notice you don't hear that word anymore," Trump said.</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check:</strong> Democrats are expected to continue hammering Trump on inflation, especially rising gas prices.</p><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> Trump was trying to rally the House GOP around his successes in Iran and his strategy for lowering energy prices at home, but his frustration with the Senate seeped out.</p>

<p>The White House is preparing an executive order formally instructing the federal government to rip out Anthropic's <a href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_blank">AI</a> from its operations, sources familiar with the matter told Axios. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The move would escalate the administration's fight with <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/anthropic-ai-jobs-claude" target="_blank">Anthropic</a>, which is already suing the Pentagon over its supply chain risk designation.</p><hr /><ul><li>It would also formalize a broader push across agencies to remove Claude after <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/anthropic-pentagon-supply-chain-risk-claude" target="_blank">President Trump said</a> his administration would not use "woke" AI.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Government agencies like the Treasury Department have already begun to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/treasury-trump-ai-anthropic-pentagon" target="_blank">offboard Anthropic</a>.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/09/anthropic-sues-pentagon-supply-chain-risk-label" target="_blank">Anthropic in a lawsuit</a> on Monday said Congress in its procurement laws did not give the administration the authority to blacklist a U.S. company over protected speech. </li><li>The administration has argued that Anthropic's "safeguards" pose a national security threat in the context of industry intervening during military operations. </li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong>In his first term, Trump used executive orders to target foreign tech firms on national security grounds, including actions involving Chinese telecom companies and TikTok.</p><ul><li>But there's little precedent for an order severing ties with a specifically named U.S. company outside standard procurement processes.</li><li>In the case of Huawei, Trump did not explicitly name the company in his <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-securing-information-communications-technology-services-supply-chain/" target="_blank">executive order</a> — that took an act of Congress.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next: </strong>The order could be issued as soon as this week, one source familiar said.</p><ul><li>The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>Trump is known for taking an expansive view of presidential authorities and getting creative with the law. </p>

<p>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/2026-house-election-democrat-targets-trump" target="_blank">Andy Ogles</a> (R-Tenn.) sparked furious backlash from congressional colleagues Monday with a social media post stating that "Muslims don't belong in American society."</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Ogles is one of several hard-right Republicans who have inflamed tensions on Capitol Hill in recent months by making <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/11/ilhan-omar-deport-brandon-gill-fundraisng" target="_blank">nakedly anti-Muslim public statements</a>.</p><hr /><ul><li>Just last month, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/randy-fine-anti-muslim-post-censure-resignation" target="_blank">came under fire</a> from colleagues for a post stating: "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one."</li><li>Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retiring centrist who called out Fine's remarks, told Axios of Ogles' comment: "The Constitution says there can be no religious litmus test for those holding public office or government jobs, and I think that applies to citizenship as well."</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>The condemnation was far more scathing from Democrats, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) calling Ogles a "malignant clown" in a <a href="https://x.com/hakeemjeffries/status/2031047848448401865?s=20" target="_blank">post on X</a>.</p><ul><li>He also called Ogles a "pathological liar who has fabricated his whole life story" — referring to <a href="https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/my-body-of-work-speaks-for-itself-tennessee-andy-ogles-says-in-response-to-inflated-resume-claims" target="_blank">reports that Ogles inflated his resumé</a>.</li><li>House Minority Whip <a href="https://x.com/WhipKClark/status/2031028117590962584?s=20" target="_blank">Katherine Clark</a> (D-Mass.) said in her own post: "This disgusting sh*t doesn't belong in American society. And Republicans who support it don't belong in Congress."</li><li>Said Rep. <a href="https://x.com/RepDebDingell/status/2031096200049385635?s=20" target="_blank">Debbie Dingell</a> (D-Mich.), another member of leadership who represents a large Muslim community: "This is as unAmerican as it gets. My Republican colleagues must denounce this immediately."</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>Ogles shot back in a post on X addressed to Jeffries, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and "the high-ranking Democrats flooding X to condemn me," pointing to a spate of alleged terrorist incidents in <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/02/austin-shooting-victims-named" target="_blank">Austin</a> and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/new-york-city-explosive-mamdani-gracie-mansion" target="_blank">New York City</a>.</p><ul><li>"A Muslim shot and killed three Americans in Texas. Two Muslims tried to blow up New York City...again," he said.</li><li>"Meanwhile, all DHS counterterrorism programs are unfunded because you shut them down."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Last summer, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) introduced a <a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hres576/BILLS-119hres576ih.pdf" target="_blank">censure resolution</a> against Ogles for repeatedly calling for the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/27/schumer-mamdani-new-york-city-mayor-deportation" target="_blank">deportation of now-New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani</a>.</p><ul><li>"Anti-Muslim hate, racism, and ethnic slurs have no place in public discourse, and only serve to divide and endanger diverse communities as well as subject public officials across the country to harassment and death threats," the measure says.</li><li>Torres and a spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment about whether he planned to force a vote on the measure.</li><li>House Democrats told Axios there was minimal internal chatter about any kind of coordinated censure effort in the immediate aftermath of Ogles' post.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>Democrats have Ogles as <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/02/23/national-democrats-name-columbia-mayor-chaz-molder-a-priority-candidate" target="_blank">one of their sleeper targets</a> in the November midterm elections.</p><ul><li>The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is hoping that Ogles' proclivity for scandal, combined with their strong recruit in Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, will help them win in the heavily Republican seat.</li><li>Jeffries, in his <a href="https://x.com/hakeemjeffries/status/2031047848448401865?s=20" target="_blank">post on X</a>, said: "Disgusting Islamophobes like you do not belong in Congress or in civilized society. And that's why House Democrats will defeat you in November."</li></ul>

<p>The Lebanese government proposed direct negotiations with <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> — through the Trump administration — aimed at ending the war and reaching a peace agreement, according to five sources with knowledge of the matter.</p><ul><li>Both the U.S. and Israeli responses were cool and deeply skeptical, the sources said.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Lebanon's government is extremely alarmed that the renewed war, triggered by Hezbollah's decision to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-israel-hezbollah-lebanon" target="_blank">launch rockets at Israel</a>, will devastate the country.</p><hr /><ul><li>So far, the Lebanese army has refused to take meaningful action against the Iran-backed militant group.</li><li>And with Washington uninterested in mediating and Israel determined to use the moment to dismantle Hezbollah, a full-scale escalation appears increasingly likely.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> Hezbollah entered the fighting on the second day of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, firing rockets and drones toward Israel and intensifying its attacks in the days that followed.</p><ul><li>Israel responded with massive airstrikes — including in Beirut — and ground incursions into southern Lebanon, expanding its military footprint in the country.</li><li>Hezbollah has since engaged Israeli forces in guerrilla warfare on the ground.</li><li>More than 600,000 Lebanese civilians have fled the south. Beirut's southern suburbs, considered a Hezbollah stronghold, have been nearly emptied after the IDF warned of impending strikes.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> Last week, the Lebanese government approached Tom Barrack — the U.S. ambassador to Turkey — and asked him to mediate with Israel, according to a U.S. official, an Israeli official, and three sources with direct knowledge of the matter.</p><ul><li>The Israeli official said the Lebanese government also claimed some Hezbollah members were open to a deal.</li><li>In an unprecedented step, Lebanon proposed holding immediate direct talks with Israel at the ministerial level in Cyprus.</li><li>Barrack's response was blunt: "Stop with the b*llshit" on disarming Hezbollah, or there's nothing to discuss. "If it's not real action about Hezbollah's weapons, there's no point," a source said.</li></ul><p><strong>Sources say the Israeli government </strong>rejected the outreach outright, signaling it was too late. Its focus is now on eliminating Hezbollah.</p><p><strong>The context:</strong> Barrack is also the U.S. envoy to Syria and Iraq. While he worked the Lebanon file last year, he hasn't been engaged on the issue for several months.</p><ul><li>The U.S. diplomat most recently handling Lebanon was Morgan Ortagus, who left the government in January.</li><li>The current U.S. ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa, is the senior American official formally responsible for Lebanon — but has limited access to decision-makers in Washington.</li><li>The result is a Lebanon portfolio with no clear owner at a moment of acute crisis.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and parliament Speaker Nabih Berri were furious when Hezbollah joined the war — having received assurances from the group's political leadership for weeks that it would stay out of any conflict between Israel and Iran, a source said.</p><ul><li>The episode made clear that Hezbollah's political arm doesn't have real control over its military wing — and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) holds decisive influence over the group's actions.</li><li>That realization drove two historic and unprecedented decisions: banning Hezbollah's military arm and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/lebanon-israel-iran-irgc-hezbollah" target="_blank">ordering the deportation</a> of IRGC members from Lebanese soil.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but:</strong> Lebanese Army commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal has resisted the government's push, refusing to deploy troops against Hezbollah while active fighting continues, the sources said.</p><ul><li>His stance has fueled tensions with Salam and drawn pressure from both Democrats and Republicans in Washington on Aoun to fire him, according to current and former U.S. officials.</li><li>"The Lebanese military remains unwilling — some say unable — to enforce the government's decision outlawing Hezbollah's military and security activities," said Firas Maksad, managing director for Middle East and North Africa at Eurasia Group.</li></ul><p><strong>What to watch:</strong> Lebanon's government is deeply frustrated that it is being largely ignored by the Trump administration. Without active U.S. mediation, the sources say, there is no path to peace talks.</p><ul><li>"There is no interest from the Trump administration to deal with Lebanon," one source with knowledge of the issue told Axios.</li><li>"Nobody in Washington is taking their calls," said a former U.S. official.</li><li>"The Lebanese government was warned and warned and warned this would happen if they don't take action against Hezbollah," said a third source, also a former U.S. official.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next:</strong> Lebanon is launching a diplomatic initiative to pursue direct senior-level negotiations with Israel, Maksad said — aimed at building a post-war order in which Hezbollah no longer dominates the country.</p><ul><li>"The Lebanese state will not, perhaps cannot, create the military conditions to get there. But it will meet Israel and the U.S. at the table once the guns go silent."</li></ul>

<p>Anthropic on Monday sued the Pentagon, alleging its designation as a "supply chain risk" violates the company's First Amendment rights and exceeds the government's authority.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Supply chain risk designations are usually reserved for foreign adversaries that pose a national security risk — a punishment that could be hard for the government to square as it relied on Claude for operations in Iran.</p><hr /><p><strong>State of play:</strong> The Pentagon last week <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/pentagon-anthropic-amodei-apology" target="_blank">designated</a> Anthropic a supply chain risk, meaning companies must stop using Claude in cases directly tied to the department.</p><ul><li>President Trump also <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/anthropic-pentagon-supply-chain-risk-claude" target="_blank">told</a> the federal government in a Truth Social post to stop using Anthropic's technology, and some <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/treasury-trump-ai-anthropic-pentagon" target="_blank">agencies</a> have begun offboarding the tools.</li></ul><p><strong>Anthropic is asking courts </strong>to undo the supply chain risk designation, block its enforcement and require federal agencies to withdraw directives to drop the company.</p><ul><li>The company says its two lawsuits are not meant to force the government to work with Anthropic, but prevent officials from blacklisting companies over policy disagreements.</li></ul><p><strong>What's inside: </strong>The first lawsuit — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California — claims the designation punishes Anthropic for being outspoken about its views on AI policy, including its advocacy for safeguards against its technology being used for mass domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons.</p><ul><li>The Pentagon has a right to disagree and choose not to work with Anthropic, the company argues, but it can't stigmatize the company as a security risk over protected speech.</li><li>The case challenges the statutory authority underpinning the Pentagon's designation, 10 U.S.C. 3252, arguing that Congress required the department to use the least restrictive means to protect the government and mitigate supply chain risk, not punish a supplier.</li></ul><p><strong>Procurement laws passed by Congress</strong> do not give the Pentagon or President Trump the power to blacklist a company, Anthropic says.</p><ul><li>Companies including Microsoft and Google have said they'll be able to continue non-defense related work with Anthropic.</li></ul><p><strong>A second, shorter lawsuit was filed </strong>in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals because another statute the government invoked can only be challenged there and similar arguments are being made there, Anthropic says.</p><ul><li>The company is seeking relief in both jurisdictions.</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>The Pentagon argues the dispute is about operational control, not speech.</p><ul><li>Department officials say this has always been about the military's ability to use technology legally, without a vendor inserting itself into the chain of command and putting warfighters at risk.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> This doesn't preclude the two sides from reaching an agreement.</p><ul><li>Defense undersecretary Emil Michael last week told <a href="https://www.piratewires.com/p/inside-pentagon-anthropic-deal-culture-clash" target="_blank">Pirate Wires</a> he would be open-minded: "I have a responsibility to the Department of War, and if there was a way to ensure that we had the best technology, I have no ego about it."</li></ul><p><strong>What's next: </strong>Anthropic says it's committed to continuing to serve the Pentagon amid major combat operations.</p><ul><li>"Seeking judicial review does not change our longstanding commitment to harnessing AI to protect our national security, but this is a necessary step to protect our business, our customers, and our partners," an Anthropic spokesperson said. </li><li>"We will continue to pursue every path toward resolution, including dialogue with the government." </li></ul>

<p>Oil prices on Sunday crossed into triple digits for the first time since 2022 — a stark sign of how the <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> war is throttling global supplies and raising consumers' costs.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The psychologically important $100-a-barrel mark is going to increase pain for consumers, many of whom don't support the war and didn't have any real warning that it was coming.</p><hr /><ul><li>It's also a political setback for President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a>, who has relished in touting lower gasoline prices on his watch.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>The global benchmark Brent <a href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/oil-companies" target="_blank">crude</a> was trading initially Sunday evening at $101.81, while WTI, the main U.S. metric, was at $101.56. Brent later climbed over $108.</p><ul><li>U.S. oil prices <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-soars-25-gold-drops-iran-war-jolts-global-commodity-markets-2026-03-09/" target="_blank">surged</a> further later in the evening and were <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html" target="_blank">near</a> $120 a barrel ‌overnight ahead of the start of the week's trading.</li></ul><div>Data: <a href="https://financialmodelingprep.com/" target="_blank">Financial Modeling Prep</a>; Chart: Axios Visuals</div><p><strong>Stunning stat: </strong>The Iran war has disrupted 20% of global oil supply for nine days and counting, said Rapidan Energy Group in a note Sunday evening.</p><ul><li>That's "more than double the previous record set during the Suez Crisis of 1956-57, which disrupted just under 10%," according to the statement.</li></ul><p><strong>Friction point:</strong> U.S. drivers are already feeling the effects of crude prices that have now climbed more than 30% since military strikes on Iran began.</p><ul><li>Average U.S. regular gasoline prices have shot up from roughly $3 per gallon before the strikes to $3.45 on Sunday, per AAA tracking, and more increases loom.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>High risks are keeping tankers away from the narrow Strait of Hormuz off Iran — a vital transit point for energy shipments.</p><ul><li>The price also reflects other risks the expanding conflict poses to regional oil production, processing, storage and export infrastructure.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116196014942465383" target="_blank">wrote</a> on Truth Social Sunday evening: "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!"</p><p><strong>Flashback:</strong> It's the first time oil prices have reached $100 since 2022, when dislocation and risk from <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/russia" target="_blank">Russia's</a> invasion of Ukraine occurred alongside the post-COVID demand surge.</p><p><strong>State of play:</strong> Trump administration officials are scrambling to contain the cost increases.</p><ul><li>The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. is offering political risk insurance and guarantees, though the usefulness to the shipping industry remains <a href="https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20260305266/trump-has-a-plan-to-open-the-strait-of-hormuz-here-are-the-obstacles-it-faces" target="_blank">unclear</a>.</li><li>Trump has also floated potential naval escorts, and on Thursday the Treasury Department issued a 30-day sanctions <a href="https://link.axios.com/click/44542613.66637/aHR0cHM6Ly9vZmFjLnRyZWFzdXJ5Lmdvdi9yZWNlbnQtYWN0aW9ucy8yMDI2MDMwNV8zMz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2dlbmVyYXRlJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/68da272a17a3b9f8320eb3eeBe97f7e72" target="_blank">waiver</a> to enable Indian refiners to buy more Russian oil.</li><li>Energy Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/trump-oil-prices-iran-fear-strait-hormuz" target="_blank">Chris Wright</a> said on "Fox News Sunday" that higher prices are "a small price to pay to get to a world where energy prices are returned back to where they were, and I'm talking weeks, certainly not months."</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but:</strong> White House options are limited.</p><ul><li>"Oil and LNG prices will continue climbing until credible measures enable resumed shipment through the strait," Eurasia Group analysts said in a note Friday while prices were still in the $90s.</li><li>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/schumer-republicans-trump-oil-reserve-gas-prices" target="_blank">called on</a> Trump to release oil from the national stockpile — an idea that Republicans have been slow to embrace.</li><li>Tapping the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/31/strategic-petroleum-reserve-gas-prices-biden" target="_self">Strategic Petroleum Reserve</a> could deprive Republicans of a talking point: that then-President Biden's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/31/biden-strategic-petroleum-reserve-oil-release" target="_self">move to do so</a> in 2022 was done for purely political reasons.</li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong>Despite the recent spikes, prices at the pump are nowhere near historical highs.</p><ul><li>The average price briefly breached $5 per gallon in mid-2022.</li></ul><p><strong>What we're watching:</strong> The strains on the system are likely to get worse as storage space runs out.</p><ul><li>"Production shut-ins in Iraq and Kuwait are already happening and might spread to UAE and even Saudi Arabia over time," Barclays' Amarpreet Singh said in a note Friday.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> If the current situation persists for another couple of weeks, Brent prices could test $120, Singh wrote — a stunning turnabout from what had been a pretty soft and well-supplied global market.</p><ul><li>"These numbers might seem too high, especially given widespread pessimism about the oil market outlook heading into this year, but we reiterate that fundamentals are stronger and risks are bigger than the Russia-Ukraine conflict, when we saw these levels materialize," he wrote.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper... </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/us-dismayed-israel-iran-fuel-strikes" target="_blank">Scoop: U.S. dismayed by Israel's Iran fuel strikes, sources say</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from President Trump and Rapidan Energy Group and with further details on surging oil prices, including a graph.</em></p>

<p>Mojtaba Khamenei will succeed <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-khamenei-killed-israel" target="_blank">his father</a>, Ali <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-leader-ali-khamenei-what-to-know" target="_blank">Khameni,</a> as Iran's next supreme leader, Iranian state media reported Sunday.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The move consolidates hardline control even as U.S. and Israeli strikes pound the country.</p><hr /><ul><li>The regime is at its most vulnerable state since the 1979 revolution, and critics have previously <a href="https://www.cfr.org/reports/leadership-transition-in-iran" target="_blank">railed</a> against Mojtaba's rise, citing his limited formal experience, modest theological credentials and the regime's aversion to dynastic rule.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>Assembly of Experts issued a statement calling on the Iranian people to "keep unity and pledge allegiance to the new supreme leader."</p><ul><li>Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pledged allegiance to the new leader and said it's "ready to fully obey" his commands, according to Tehran's Farns news agency.</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> acknowledged to Axios during a Thursday interview that the younger Khamenei was the most likely successor, but he made clear he found this outcome unacceptable.</p><ul><li>"Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/us-venezuela-diplomatic-consular-relations" target="_blank">Delcy [Rodriguez]</a> in Venezuela," <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">Trump told Axios</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick: </strong>The U.S. and Israel killed Ali Khamenei in "<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-attack-trump-us-israel-strikes" target="_blank">major combat operations</a>" after Iran refused to agree to a nuclear deal.</p><ul><li>The attacks also targeted Mojtaba and other senior officials, but the younger Khamenei survived. </li><li>Ali Khamenei's top security adviser Ali Shamkhani, IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh<strong> </strong>are <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-khamenei-killed-israel" target="_blank">dead</a>, scrambling the top of the Iranian government.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> Ali allegedly floated potential successors with stronger administrative and theological credentials, and Mojtaba wasn't among them, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.</p><p><strong>Mojtaba, </strong>Ali's second-eldest son, was born in 1969. His childhood was shaped by both the 1979 Iranian Revolution that toppled the previous dynasty and by his father's rise to power, first as president in 1981, then as supreme leader in 1989.</p><ul><li>A <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-leaders-son-hardliner-with-backroom-influence-2025-06-23/" target="_blank">cleric</a>, Mojtaba <a href="https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/mojtaba-khamenei-supreme-leaders-gatekeeper-guardian#:~:text=Mojtaba%20Khamenei%20is%20the%20second%2Deldest%20son%20of,installing%20allies%20and%20influence%20in%20the%20IRGC**" target="_blank">studied</a> under the late Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, who called for killing Iranian youths who promoted "Western immorality."</li></ul><p><strong>Mojtaba joined</strong> the Revolutionary Guard at 17, serving during the Iran-Iraq War in the Habib Battalion.</p><ul><li>The battalion is a "notoriously ideological unit" led by one of the founders of Hezbollah, <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/mojtaba-khamenei-iran-reform/" target="_blank">according</a> to the Atlantic Council. Many of its alumni later became high-ranking members of the regime's security and intelligence bodies.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Mojtaba is expected to be more hardline than his father, and his ascent means the Iranian regime may get more repressive. </p><ul><li>He has close ties to some of the most "ideologically extremist clerics" who have been at the forefront of the regime's most violent crackdowns, per the Council.</li><li>Mojtaba also allegedly engineered the 2005 election that installed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president. In the 2009 election, protesters <a href="https://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/green-movement" target="_blank">flooded</a> the streets to insist Ahmadinejad didn't win again, and Mojtaba reportedly personally supervised how the IRGC crushed these demonstrations.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Mojtaba reportedly oversees a massive business empire of luxury properties and investments worldwide, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-28/how-iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-s-son-built-a-global-property-empire" target="_blank">according</a> to Bloomberg.</p><ul><li>He does not list the investments under his name but has amassed wealth despite 2019 U.S. <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm824" target="_blank">sanctions</a> for his role in his father's inner circle.</li><li>At the time, the Treasury said Mojtaba worked to "advance his father's destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives." </li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-attack-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei" target="_blank">Israel targets Khamenei, top leaders in bid to bring down Iran's regime</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.</em></p><p><em>Barak Ravid contributed reporting.</em></p>

<p>Democratic National Committee chair <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/01/ken-martin-dnc-chair-2024" target="_blank">Ken Martin</a> is facing a growing crisis of confidence within his party, more than two dozen Democrats tell Axios.</p><ul><li>Donors, operatives and some DNC members are questioning his leadership, fundraising ability and handling of the party's still-secret <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/22/dnc-2024-autopsy-harris-gaza" target="_blank">"autopsy"</a> of the 2024 election loss.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The DNC's dysfunction likely won't affect this year's midterms, and Democrats have <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/19/republican-angst-voter-turnout" target="_blank">overperformed</a> in recent elections. But it could have huge consequences for the party's ability to meet the challenges of the 2028 presidential race.</p><hr /><ul><li>The DNC will play a crucial role in organizing Democrats' 2028 primary and in building the infrastructure for the party's next presidential<strong> </strong>nominee.</li><li>But the DNC has been in a perpetual state of near-insolvency, mired by internal finger-pointing since the 2024 election, and Martin hasn't been able to fix the problems.</li><li>It's not just the usual DNC critics — Martin's allies and would-be allies who want him to succeed say they're increasingly worried and believe he hasn't created space for candid feedback and a course correction.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Democratic sources tell Axios that Martin has shown a thin skin and that he personalizes criticism in a way that can be self-defeating.</p><ul><li>Many DNC officials, donors, and other Democrats believe honest feedback would be greeted with hostility.</li><li>Thirteen months into his tenure as DNC chair, the limelight — and the criticism that has come with it — appear to have taken a toll on Martin, who often seems melancholy and put-upon, his allies told Axios.</li></ul><p><strong>There's also been internal frustration </strong>about Martin's reliance on longtime allies from Minnesota, whom some insiders refer to as the "Minnesota Mafia."</p><ul><li>Some Democrats say Martin hasn't grown to trust many people in the DNC office and has become more insular in recent months.</li></ul><p><strong>National Democrats also say Martin </strong>has a habit of over-promising and under-delivering.</p><ul><li>Martin frustrated many party leaders last fall by promising much more money to Virginia and New Jersey for their elections than the party was able to afford. While the party made historic investments, the exaggerated commitments annoyed many national Democrats. </li></ul><p><strong>As recently as January, </strong>Martin<strong> </strong>was still privately pushing the idea of a midterm Democratic convention despite being advised that he was committing money the party didn't have.</p><ul><li>The DNC recently canceled its midterm convention plans.</li><li>Martin told those inside the DNC this wasn't because of the expected costs, but because state parties wanted to focus on this year's primaries instead.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Many<strong> </strong>Democrats agree on one thing — the DNC chair's first priority is fundraising, and Martin is falling short on that.</p><ul><li>The DNC has teetered on the edge of insolvency during the past year. It has about $15 million cash on hand but is more than $17 million in debt.</li><li>Last October, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/20/dnc-loan-elections-fundraising-00663982" target="_blank">the DNC took out $15 million</a> in loans to help keep the committee afloat.</li></ul><p><strong>Leaders privately have discussed</strong> the possibility of limited layoffs in the coming months. A DNC official told Axios the committee has no plans for staff layoffs.</p><ul><li>Some Democrats have bristled at Martin's media-heavy schedule while the party is struggling financially.</li><li>Several donors told Axios they met with Martin or had a call with him early in his tenure, but haven't heard from him since.</li></ul><p><strong>Would-be allies say Martin has held a grudge </strong>against donors who opposed him in the race for chair last year.</p><ul><li>One donor who didn't support Martin in the race put it bluntly: "He needs all of us, and he's not asking us to do anything."</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>DNC spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said Martin "has invested early and aggressively in the Democratic Party's infrastructure .... Winning now, in 2028, and for years to come is the DNC's North Star. Anything else is just gossip and noise."</p><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>It's always difficult for a party chair to raise money in the first year after the party loses the White House — as Democrats did in 2016 and 2024.</p><ul><li>Martin <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/20/dnc-fundraising-record-ken-martin" target="_blank">had good fundraising initially</a>, but he's been <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/22/dnc-kamala-harris-campaign-debt" target="_blank">burdened by a $20 million-plus debt</a> from Kamala Harris' campaign.</li></ul><p><strong>Donors and activists remain angry</strong> about Donald Trump's return to the presidency, and the DNC is often a convenient punching bag.</p><ul><li>Many of the party's stars who may run for president in 2028 haven't been as helpful as they could be despite requests to do more. </li><li>Several other groups in the Democratic ecosystem also have struggled with fundraising since the 2024 election because of some donors' disillusionment.</li></ul><p><strong>While Martin has many critics</strong>, they often have contradictory ideas of what he should or shouldn't be doing.</p><ul><li>Despite the swipes at Martin's leadership, Democrats have been winning up and down the ballot over the past year. The party has benefitted from anger over Trump's policies, and Martin has invested a large amount of money in state parties.</li><li>The DNC has announced the dates of the 2028 Democratic convention and is on course to settle its presidential primary calendar in the coming months.</li><li>"The DNC is on track financially to deliver wins this November, in 2028, and for years to come thanks to strategic and aggressive early investments that are already paying off," said Chris Lowe, co-chair of the DNC's national finance committee.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> Few issues will set off Martin's critics more quickly than his handling of the DNC's "autopsy" on the 2024 campaign. </p><ul><li>They say it was a debacle that reflects larger problems with his leadership that need to be addressed before the presidential campaign officially starts next year.</li><li>Allies advised Martin not to do an autopsy or promise to make the report public, but he did both.</li></ul><p><strong>Martin entrusted his confidante Paul Rivera </strong>with the task despite Rivera's lack of experience on recent presidential campaigns.</p><ul><li>Some people interviewed for the report said the process felt disorganized, and that Rivera appeared to tell people what they wanted to hear when he interviewed them.</li><li>Many Democratic campaign and super PAC leaders from the 2024 presidential race told Axios they never spoke with Rivera.</li><li>Late last summer, Rivera's team made hasty attempts to contact some top Democrats before the report's intended release.</li></ul><p><strong>After repeated delays</strong> on one of his signature promises, Martin <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/19/dnc-2024-election-autopsy-backlash" target="_blank">said in December </a>he wouldn't publish the report — infuriating many Democrats and teams for potential 2028 candidates.</p><ul><li>It also further alienated some donors. </li><li>"You spent donor money to do the autopsy and then didn't provide" it, one told Axios. "It's not your money." </li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> People briefed on the report told Axios there essentially are two versions: a large, "Frankenstein monster" of documents that includes interviews without any narrative or through-line, and a shorter, vague document that's similar to what Democrats have said publicly.</p><ul><li>Martin hiding the document has made it an object of fascination among activists who believe it includes details the DNC is hiding for nefarious purposes.</li><li>Martin argued in December that releasing the report would result in more finger-pointing and wouldn't help the party move forward. Many of his allies agree.</li></ul><p><strong>Even now, few people</strong> outside of Martin's inner circle have read the autopsy, though he says its recommendations are being implemented.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Trump</a> said Sunday he won't sign any bills until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, which would require <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/24/trump-order-voting-proof-of-citizenship-blocked" target="_blank">proof of citizenship</a> and photo ID<strong> </strong>to vote.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Trump has pushed for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/trump-nationalize-election-2020-fraud-claims" target="_blank">sweeping changes</a> to how Americans vote ahead of midterm elections that could decide the fate of his presidential agenda.</p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news: "</strong>It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else," the president <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116193527873859174" target="_blank">wrote</a> on Truth Social.</p><ul><li>While Trump threatens to create his own gridlock, lawmakers remain at an <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-dhs-shutdown-democrats-funding-trump" target="_blank">impasse on funding</a> the Department of Homeland Security. Even if they did reach a deal, Trump's pledge could presumably mean he wouldn't sign it.</li><li>He also called for provisions to further restrict mail-in voting and gender-affirming care not already in the House-passed version.</li><li>It's unclear if he's asking for new legislation to encompass those demands. Reached for clarificaton, the White House referred Axios to Trump's post when asked whether the president would refuse to sign a DHS funding bill.</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>If the president does not <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S7-C2-1/ALDE_00013644/" target="_blank">sign</a> a bill within 10 days of presentment while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.</p><ul><li>But if Congress adjourns while the bill is awaiting signature, the unsigned bill dies.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>In his post, Trump applauded conservative activist Scott Presler for encouraging the Senate to use a talking filibuster to pass the bill, which cleared the House last month.</p><ul><li>Senate Majority Leader John Thune has <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/top-senate-republicans-skeptical-talking-filibuster-save-america-act-rcna260834" target="_blank">expressed</a> <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/26/politics/voter-id-save-act-filibuster" target="_blank">skepticism</a> about the tactic, which he says would require unity among the Republican conference. </li><li>Republicans have framed the effort as necessary to stop noncitizen voting, but that is both <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/noncitizen-voting-missing-millions" target="_blank">illegal</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/us/politics/noncitizen-voters-save-tool.html?register=email&amp;auth=register-email" target="_blank">rare</a>, <em>Axios' Jason Lalljee</em> writes.</li></ul><p><strong>Friction point: </strong>"[S]o be it," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2030666289602072866" target="_blank">responded</a> to the president's post.</p><ul><li>"Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances."</li><li>Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) was more dismissive, noting <a href="https://x.com/MaxwellFrostFL" target="_blank">on X</a> that Congress "ain't passing any bills anyways so" — a nod to the broader legislative dysfunction that preceded Trump's threat.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/save-america-act-trump-voter-id" target="_blank">How the SAVE America Act could impact 21 million voters</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This story was updated with a response from the White House.</em></p>

<p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Sunday called on President Trump to release oil from the national stockpile to counter <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/trump-oil-prices-iran-fear-strait-hormuz" target="_blank">soaring gas prices</a> — an idea that Republicans have been slow to embrace.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Tapping the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/31/strategic-petroleum-reserve-gas-prices-biden" target="_blank">Strategic Petroleum Reserve</a> (SPR) could deprive Republicans of a talking point: That then-President Biden's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/31/biden-strategic-petroleum-reserve-oil-release" target="_blank">move to do so</a> in 2022 was done for purely political reasons.</p><hr /><ul><li>Republicans' message — as outlined on Sunday's political talk shows — is that the uptick in prices following last week's attacks on Iran is motivated largely by market fears and won't last long.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: "</strong>Due to Donald Trump's reckless war of choice, gas prices have surged to their highest levels in years," Schumer said in an <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2030685264574562789" target="_blank">X post</a>. "His response? 'If they rise, they rise.' He couldn't care less.</p><ul><li>"Today, I demanded Trump release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve IMMEDIATELY to bring relief to Americans at the pump."</li><li>The reserve holds hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil in underground salt caverns along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Biden in 2022 ordered <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/31/biden-strategic-petroleum-reserve-oil-release" target="_blank">an historic release</a> from the reserve to halt soaring gas prices.</li></ul><p><strong>Flashback:</strong> Energy Secretary Chris Wright <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/aging-caverns-imperil-trump-push-to-refill-petroleum-reserve/" target="_blank">told lawmakers</a> last year that more than $100 million of repairs were needed to bring the storage facilities back to full capacity and that nearly filling it back up could cost billions of dollars.</p><p><strong>The other side: </strong>In response to a reporter's question this weekend about about tapping the reserve, Trump criticized Biden for depleting it.</p><ul><li>"Biden used them so that he can get some extra votes in the elections ... He brought it down to the lowest level it has ever been," Trump said.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Wright said Sunday that the administration has other short-term options.</p><ul><li>"We have been deploying it during a period of low oil prices to put some oil back into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve," Wright said on "Fox News Sunday."</li><li>"But yes, it shouldn't have been deleted — depleted for the 2022 midterm elections as the Biden administration did. But, again, we've done many other moves that allow the world to remain fully supplied with oil during this relatively brief conflict."</li><li>Wright maintained that higher prices are "a small price to pay to get to a world where energy prices are returned back to where they were, and I'm talking weeks, certainly not months."</li></ul><p><strong>What we're watching:</strong> How much more of a political football the reserve becomes.</p>

<p>A federal judge on Saturday ruled that efforts to delegate control of the U.S. Agency for Global Media to Trump ally Kari Lake were unlawful, therefore voiding Lake's actions as the acting head of the agency over the past year. </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The ruling notably invalidates Lake's directive to lay off hundreds of employees across USAGM and the government-funded broadcasters it governs, such as Voice of America.</p><hr /><ul><li>It also voids other actions Lake took to reduce spending, including the cancellation of USAGM's lease on new office space and a significant reduction of broadcasting capabilities across USAGM-supported broadcasters. </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> In a summary judgement, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said Lake's brief appointment as CEO of USAGM last year was unlawful because she was not authorized by Congress to take that position.</p><ul><li>Other roles she was assigned in which she acted as the de facto head of the agency, including senior adviser and deputy CEO, were also ruled unlawful.</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> The <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/16/trump-guts-voice-america-rf-europe" target="_blank">Trump</a> administration last March ordered nearly all 1,300 employees of VOA to be placed on leave and said it would cut funding for other USAGM broadcasters and subsidiaries.</p><ul><li>A lawsuit was <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/24/voa-employees-lawsuit-trump-usagm" target="_blank">filed</a> shortly after to seek relief from efforts to shutter VOA and its sister networks, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.</li><li>The complaint was filed by VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara, VOA journalist Jessica Jerreat and USAGM director of strategy and performance assessment Kathryn Neeper, alongside other USAGM employees. </li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> In a statement Widakuswara, Neeper and Jerreat said they felt "vindicated" and "deeply grateful," in response to the ruling. </p><ul><li>"The judge's ruling that Kari Lake's actions shall have no force or effect is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love," they said.</li><li>"Even as we work through what this ruling means for colleagues harmed by her actions, it brings renewed hope and momentum to the next phase of our fight: restoring VOA's global operations and ensuring we continue to produce journalism, not propaganda."</li></ul><p><strong>The other side:</strong> "The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government," Lake said in a statement.</p><ul><li>"An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM. Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different. We strongly disagree with this decision and will appeal."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Judge Lamberth's <a href="https://savevoa.com/timeline.html" target="_blank">previous rulings</a> suggested he was likely to rule in favor of the plaintiffs. </p><ul><li>In April, he <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/23/trump-voice-of-america-ruling-voa-employees-return" target="_blank">ruled</a> that VOA workers who were placed on leave or fired should return to work and that the Trump administration must restore funding to the VOA and other U.S. government-funded news outlets.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but:</strong> While the judge's order voids Lake's efforts, much of the impact made to USAGM and its broadcasters can't be reversed. </p><ul><li>Lake canceled USAGM's lease on new office space last year. </li></ul><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> U.S. government-funded broadcasters for decades have relied on bipartisan support to combat foreign propaganda with authoritative and truthful storytelling. </p><ul><li>While the Trump administration has sought to gut USAGM, Congress, which authorizes the body's funding, has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/13/voice-of-america-trump-congress-funding/" target="_blank">continued to fund </a>the agency, </li></ul>

<p>The U.S. and <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> have discussed sending special forces into <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a> to secure its stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later stage of the war, according to four sources with knowledge of the discussions.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon is one of President Trump's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-attack-trump-us-israel-strikes" target="_blank">stated war objectives</a>. The regime's 450 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium — convertible to weapons grade within weeks — is one key to that goal.</p><hr /><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Any operation to seize the material would likely require U.S. or Israeli troops on Iranian soil, navigating heavily fortified underground facilities in the middle of a war.</p><ul><li>It remains unclear whether it would be an American, Israeli or joint mission.</li><li>It would likely only take place after both countries are confident Iran's military can no longer mount a serious threat to the forces involved.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes: </strong>At a congressional briefing Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked whether Iran's enriched uranium would be secured. "People are going to have to go and get it," he said, without specifying who.</p><ul><li>An Israeli defense official said Trump and his team are seriously considering sending special operations units into Iran for specific missions.</li><li>A U.S. official said the administration has discussed two options: removing the material from Iran entirely, or bringing in nuclear experts to dilute it on-site.</li><li>The mission would likely involve special operators alongside scientists, possibly from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Two sources with knowledge of the issue said such operations were part of a menu of options presented to Trump before the war.</p><ul><li>NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-privately-shown-serious-interest-us-ground-troops-iran-rcna262176" target="_blank">reported</a> on Friday that Trump has discussed the idea of deploying a small contingent of U.S. troops in Iran for specific strategic purposes.</li><li>Semafor <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/03/07/2026/trumps-iran-options-include-special-operations-raid-on-nuclear-sites" target="_blank">reported</a> Trump's Iran options include Special Operations raids on nuclear sites.</li></ul><p><strong>The U.S. official laid out </strong>the operational challenge of securing Iran's uranium: "The first question is, where is it? The second question is, how do we get to it and how do we get physical control?"</p><ul><li>"And then, it would be a decision of the president and the Department of War, CIA, as to whether we wanted to physically transport it or dilute it on premises."</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday that ground troops were possible — but only "for a very good reason."</p><ul><li>"If we ever did that, [the Iranians] would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight on the ground level," he said.</li><li>Asked specifically whether troops might go in to secure nuclear material, Trump didn't rule it out. "At some point maybe we will. We haven't gone after it. We wouldn't do it now. Maybe we will do it later."</li><li>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios that Trump "wisely keeps all options available to him open, and does not rule things out."</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Beyond the uranium, administration officials tell Axios there has also been discussion of seizing <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/the-oil-island-that-could-break-iran/" target="_blank">Kharg Island</a>, a strategic terminal responsible for roughly 90% of Iran's crude oil exports.</p><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last June buried Iran's uranium stockpile under rubble. The Iranians themselves haven't been able to reach it since, U.S. and Israeli officials say.</p><ul><li>The strikes also destroyed nearly all of Iran's centrifuges, and there's no evidence that enrichment has resumed. </li><li>U.S. and Israeli officials say most of the stockpile sits in the underground tunnels of the nuclear facility in Isfahan, while the rest is split between Fordow and Natanz.</li><li>In the opening days of the war, U.S. and Israel conducted strikes on Natanz and Isfahan that appeared aimed at sealing the entrances, likely to prevent any material from being moved.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>The U.S. and Israel see Iran's 450 kilograms of 60%-enriched uranium as a serious threat, as it would take only weeks to enrich it to weapons grade.</p><ul><li>If the entire stockpile reached 90% purity, it would be enough material for 11 nuclear bombs.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"Boots on the ground for Trump is not the same as what it means for the media," a senior U.S. official said.</p><ul><li>"Small special ops raids — not a big force going in," another source added.</li><li>"What has been discussed hasn't been thought of in terms of boots on the ground," a third source said. "People think Fallujah. That's not what has been discussed."</li></ul>

<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/22/sinners-oscar-nominations-record-coogler-jordan" target="_blank">"Sinners"</a> isn't just a commercial success, it's the latest disruptor to a film industry that covets intellectual property. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Director Ryan<strong> </strong>Coogler, who secured a rare agreement with Warner Bros. that grants him ownership of the film in 2050, could become the first Black person to win Best Director at the Academy Awards, which airs March 15. </p><hr /><ul><li>He made history Sunday as the first person to direct two Actor Awards best ensemble winners for "Sinners" and "Black Panther." </li><li>The vampire thriller<strong> </strong>secured 16 <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/22/oscar-nominees-streaming-where-to-watch" target="_blank">Oscar nominations</a>, breaking a long-standing record for the most-nominated film of all time and made almost <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2153611265/" target="_blank">$370 million</a> worldwide, more than four times its $90 million budget.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> <strong>"</strong>Sinners" signals a decisive power shift in Hollywood — from distributor back to creator.</p><ul><li>Major studio executives are <a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/to-hollywood-the-scariest-part-of-sinners-is-ryan-coogler.html" target="_blank">seeing</a> other directors demand the same terms, making talent relationships difficult to manage, Vulture reports.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Coogler, 39, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ryan-coogler-owning-sinners-movie-rights-2025-4" target="_blank">told Business Insider</a> he was motivated by the movie's narrative—centering on two brothers fighting for their juke joint in the Jim Crow South. </p><ul><li>The filmmaker will directly receive royalties from streaming, broadcasts, licensing and merchandising that would normally go to the studio.</li><li>He says he will not seek ownership of future films. </li><li>A publicist for Coogler could not make him available for an interview for this story.</li></ul><div>Chart: Axios Visuals</div><p><strong>The other side: </strong>On <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/15nL0TtuuAiUXlQZjjCsUM" target="_blank">a recent episode</a> of "The Town with Matthew Belloni," Sony Film CEO<strong> </strong>Tom Rothman explained that he turned the film down because he didn't want to "institutionalize" the type of deal Coogler wanted. </p><ul><li>"You can never ruin your business for one movie...the profitability that underlines a movie studio is its library."</li></ul><p><strong>Rothman claimed </strong>that the ownership deal Quentin Tarantino <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/tarantino-scored-a-rare-deal-once-a-time-hollywood-1225415/" target="_blank">got from Sony</a> for 2019's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" was "grandfathered in" from his earlier days making movies for Miramax.</p><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Coogler's reputation of directing box office and critically-acclaimed successes like "Black Panther" and "Creed" preceded him when Warner Bros. execs green-lit "Sinners."</p><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>Ana-Christina Ramón, director of the Entertainment and Media Research Initiative at UCLA, says it's difficult to know how many similar deals exist since those particulars are not usually made public.</p><ul><li>"The one thing that I found interesting is the fact that [the details] were leaked for an African American filmmaker."</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/22/sinners-oscar-nominations-record-coogler-jordan" target="_blank">Vampire thriller "Sinners" breaks Oscar nomination record</a></p>

<p>The United States has an extensive history of <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-iran-war-iraq-venezuela" target="_blank">interventionism</a>, but President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> has grown especially frank about his intentions abroad in recent months. </p><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Trump <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">told</a> Axios this week that he must be involved in picking Iran's next leader, which — alongside his recent moves in Cuba and Venezuela — demonstrate that aggressive military force has become part and parcel of his foreign policy. </p><ul><li>It wouldn't be the first time, however, that the U.S. has pushed for specific leaders to fill the vacancies it helped create. </li></ul><hr /><p><strong>Catch up quick: </strong>Trump on Thursday acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is his most likely successor — a move the president opposes. </p><ul><li> "Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," Trump said.</li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> in January ousted that nation's dictator, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/maduro-capture-trump-venezuela-operation" target="_self">Nicolás Maduro</a>, and exerted de facto control over its oil-rich petroleum company.</li></ul><p><strong>The latest: </strong>"As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we're also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba," Trump said on Saturday at the first <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/trump-shield-americas-summit-noem-envoy" target="_blank">Shield of the Americas Summit</a>, adding the country's "at the end of the line." </p><p><strong>Context: </strong>The American government frequently cited the spread of communism as a reason for intervening abroad during the 20th century, but many scholars have <a href="https://kjis.org/journal/view.html?pn=search&amp;uid=33&amp;vmd=Full#N33" target="_blank">suggested</a> that in these instances, the U.S. was primarily <a href="https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/united-fruit-company-instigates-coup-guatemala" target="_blank">protecting its own financial interests</a> overseas. </p><ul><li>According to one <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0738894216661190" target="_blank">2016 study</a>, the U.S. performed at least 81 interventions in foreign elections between 1946 to 2000.</li></ul><p><em>Here are times the U.S. has facilitated foreign leadership appointments: </em></p><h2>Guatemala</h2><p><strong>The CIA</strong> orchestrated a coup in Guatemala in 1954, overthrowing democratically-elected President Jacobo Árbenz. </p><ul><li>The operation, called <a href="https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000134974.pdf" target="_blank">PBSuccess</a>, replaced the left-leaning Árbenz with military dictator Carlos Castillo Armas, ostensibly to freeze the spread of communism. </li><li>U.S.-organized rebels played a crucial role in the plan to oust Arbenz, with the CIA picking Castillo Armas as their leader, according to political scientist <a href="https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/guatemala-invasion" target="_blank">Gordon L. Bowen</a>. </li><li>After Arbenz officially resigned, the U.S. flew Castillo Armas into Guatemala City and he was named president shortly after. </li></ul><p><strong>Reality check:</strong> Fear that<strong> </strong>Árbenz's land reforms would threaten the American-owned United Fruit Company, which owned <a href="https://www2.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/pdf/historylabs/Guatemalan_Coup_student%3ARS01.pdf" target="_blank">42%</a> of Guatemala's land and paid no taxes, was likely what spurred the CIA into action, historians say. </p><ul><li>Former President Eisenhower's "decision to topple Árbenz was influenced more by commercial interests than by geostrategic interests," political scientist Jaechun Kim <a href="https://kjis.org/journal/view.html?pn=search&amp;uid=33&amp;vmd=Full#N33" target="_blank">noted</a> in a 2010 journal, but "it is true that security and economic interest are intertwined to a certain extent." </li></ul><h2>Iran</h2><p><strong>The CIA </strong>orchestrated a coup to topple Iran's democratically-elected prime minister, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/in-first-cia-acknowledges-1953-coup-it-backed-to-overthrow-leader-of-iran-was-undemocratic" target="_blank">Mohammad Mosaddegh</a>, in 1953. </p><ul><li>Declassified CIA <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/19/cia-admits-role-1953-iranian-coup" target="_blank">documents</a> include a draft internal history of the coup titled <a href="http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB435/docs/Doc%202%20-%201954-00-00%20Summary%20of%20Wilber%20history.pdf" target="_blank">"Campaign to install a pro-western government in Iran,"</a> which outlines the CIA's intent to "effect the fall of the Mosaddeq government" and "replace it with a pro-western government under the Shah's leadership with Zahedi as its prime minister." </li><li>Zahedi became prime minister shortly after the coup. </li><li>The documents claim the <a href="https://history.stanford.edu/news/aug-19-1953-operation-ajax-priya-satia" target="_blank">coup</a> was meant to prevent possible <a href="https://www.cjfp.org/untangling-a-diplomatic-history-an-analysis-of-american-interventionist-policy-in-iran-from-1951-1954/" target="_blank">Soviet influence</a> in Iran.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Historian Ervand Abrahamian has argued the U.S. was mainly concerned with <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/119/article/505494/pdf" target="_blank">securing its oil interests</a>, given that Mosaddegh had nationalized the Iranian oil industry. </p><h2>Other interventions </h2><p><strong>Zoom out:</strong> The United States has financially and militarily backed many other coups abroad, whether or not it played an outsized role in picking leaders to fill vacancies. </p><ul><li>Notable examples include <a href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/congo-decolonization" target="_blank">the Republic of Congo</a> (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), in which the CIA <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/10/17/patrice-lumumba-congo-washington-00121755" target="_blank">encouraged and assisted in the assassination</a> of the country's first elected prime minister in 1961. </li><li>In Chile, former President Nixon and the CIA spent <a href="https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/94chile.pdf" target="_blank">$8 million</a> on covert actions to oust Salvador Allende, a socialist president elected in 1970. Eventually, Allende was overthrown in a Chilean military coup, which the U.S. government <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/10/1193755188/chile-coup-50-years-pinochet-kissinger-human-rights-allende" target="_blank">denied</a> having a direct hand in. </li><li>The CIA attempted to facilitate regime overthrows or intervene in governments across Latin America in particular, targeting countries such as the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/13/archives/cia-is-reported-to-have-helped-in-trujillo-death-material-support.html" target="_blank">Dominican Republic</a>, <a href="https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB465/" target="_blank">Brazil</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/27/us-honduras-coup" target="_blank">Honduras</a> and <a href="https://cri.fiu.edu/us-cuba-relations/chronology-of-us-cuba-relations/" target="_blank">Cuba</a>.</li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been updated with Trump's latest remarks.</em></p>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> said Saturday "we've knocked out 42 navy ships" in three days, adding that the US is doing "very well" in Iran.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Trump bragged about dominance in Iran and hinted at possible action in Cuba at the first Shield of the Americas Summit, which has outgoing Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/markwayne-mullin-homeland-security-secretary-nominee" target="_blank">Kristi Noem</a> at the helm.</p><hr /><ul><li>The summit underscores Trump's willingness to reassert American control under his so-called "<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/07/trump-monroe-donroe-doctrine-venezuela-greenland-cuba-colombia" target="_blank">Donroe Doctrine</a>," though modern U.S. presidents have typically shied away from exerting as much American influence over the Western Hemisphere.</li><li><strong>"</strong>We knocked out their Air Force. We knocked out their communications, and all telecommunications has gone," Trump said of Iran. </li></ul><p><strong>The other side:</strong> Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi <a href="https://x.com/araghchi/status/2030338085783826477?s=20" target="_blank">said</a> on X Saturday the Iranian president "expressed openness to de-escalation within our region-provided that our neighbors' airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian People."</p><ul><li>"Gesture to our neighbors was almost immediately killed by President Trump."</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>The U.S. president said the focus right now is on Iran but he'll "take care" of Cuba.</p><ul><li>The Trump administration had already indicated an openness to regime change in the country and is investigating the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/18/marco-rubio-cuba-secret-talks" target="_self">Cuban</a> government's claim it <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/25/us-trump-4-americans-killed-cuba-florida-boat-republican" target="_blank">killed four people</a> aboard a Florida-tagged boat near the Villa Clara coast last month.</li><li>"Cuba's at the end of the line," Trump said. "They're very much at the end of the line. They have no money. They have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that's been bad for a long time."</li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong>The summit comes as the president devotes much of his second term reshaping global trade while strong-arming southern leaders to commit more resources to stopping illegal immigration.</p><ul><li>"After years of neglect, President Trump established the 'Donroe Doctrine' to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Axios in an emailed statement.</li><li>"The President has successfully strengthened our relationships in our own backyard to make the entire region safer and more stable."</li></ul><p><em>Here's what to know about the summit:</em></p><h2>Who's attending?</h2><p><strong>Secretary of State</strong> Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer join Trump in Doral, Florida on Saturday.</p><ul><li>Noem also attended in her new role as special envoy to the Shield of the Americas.</li></ul><p><strong>The coalition is stacked </strong>with America's "strongest likeminded allies" in the hemisphere, a brief State Department <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/03/the-united-states-to-host-the-shield-of-the-americas-summit/" target="_blank">news release</a> notes.</p><p><strong>They include,</strong> per a White House official:</p><ul><li>Argentine Republic President Javier Milei</li><li>Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira</li><li>Chile President-elect José Antonio Kast</li><li>Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles</li><li>Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader</li><li>Ecuadorian Constitutional President Daniel Noboa</li><li>El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele</li><li>Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali</li><li>Honduran President Nasry "Tito" Asfura</li><li>Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino Quintero</li><li>Paraguayan President Santiago Peña</li><li>Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Trump-installed Venezuelan President <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/us-venezuela-diplomatic-consular-relations" target="_blank">Delcy Rodríguez</a> — who came to power after Trump captured former leader Nicolás Maduro, in one of Trump's most high-profile examples of executing the "Donroe Doctrine" — will not attend.</p><h2>What's the summit's goal?</h2><p><strong>A White House spokesperson </strong>told Axios that the initiative will "advance cutting-edge strategies to defeat narco-terrorist cartels and stop illegal mass migration to make America and the entire Western Hemisphere safer."</p><ul><li>The president is also expected to tout a newly-signed joint security <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/4423347/hegseth-promotes-regional-border-security-signs-joint-security-declaration-at-i/" target="_blank">declaration</a> that reaffirms the U.S. and 17 leaders across the hemisphere's "commitment to peace, sovereignty and stability in the region."</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/kristi-noem-dhs-trump-inside-firing" target="_blank">How the ice finally broke under Kristi Noem</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been updated with remarks from President Trump and the Iranian foreign minister.</em></p>

<p>President Trump threatened early Saturday morning to step up the bombing campaign in <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran</a>, saying it may expand to people and regions that hadn't been targeted previously.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The war is entering its second week, with no let-up in sight.</p><hr /><ul><li>The domestic impacts, meanwhile, are compounding — especially the surge in energy prices that threatens to complicate <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-trump-gas-prices" target="_blank">Trump's affordability</a> agenda.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran's bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time," the president <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116187586876366061" target="_blank">said</a> in a Truth Social post just after 6 a.m. ET Saturday. </p><ul><li>Trump also said Iran had promised to cease any further strikes against neighboring countries. That was an apparent reference to an overnight <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ceqvwrydzpqt?post=asset%3A3b995012-6019-4586-838f-4c5da824b0a6#post" target="_blank">video broadcast </a>from Iran's president, ordering the country's armed forces not to attack neighbors unless struck first. </li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>The war's impacts are already being felt clearly at home, with a historic spike in energy prices that could add up to tens of billions of dollars in higher<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/oil-gasoline-prices-trump-hormuz-russia" target="_blank"> consumer and business fuel costs.</a></p><ul><li>Retail gasoline prices rose another 9 cents Friday, <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/" target="_blank">per AAA</a>, and are up 43 cents in the last week, to the highest levels since late 2024. The national average a week ago is roughly the national low today.</li><li>Diesel prices have risen even faster — an all-time record surge of 22.3 cents just on Friday, per <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gasbuddyguy.bsky.social/post/3mggy4on2yk2c" target="_blank">GasBuddy's</a> Patrick De Haan. The crucial trucking fuel is now up more than 71 cents in just the last week.</li></ul><p><strong>By the numbers:</strong> Both of those will add up in different ways. </p><ul><li>Consumers will spend an extra $175 million a day at the pump versus a week ago, De Haan <a href="https://gaspriceguy.substack.com/p/global-oil-shock-why-gasoline-and?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=1173467&amp;post_id=190202805&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=true&amp;r=whc4&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank">said</a>.</li><li>The problem for commercial drivers and their customers is as bad or worse. Truckers commonly add fuel surcharges when diesel prices rise; at current levels, some <a href="http://national-delivery.com/Fuel_Surcharge" target="_blank">will charge</a> more than $600 extra per 1,000 miles driven.</li></ul><p><strong>For the record: </strong>The administration insists it's taking measures that will get energy prices in check quickly. </p><ul><li>"President Trump's entire energy team, from the White House to the National Energy Dominance Council to Secretaries Wright and Bessent, have a game plan to keep oil prices stable throughout Operation Epic Fury," press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Friday night.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>The war isn't stopping — and neither, for now, is the surge in gas prices either. </p><p><strong><em>Ben Geman contributed reporting to this story. </em></strong></p><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been updated with industry background and White House comment. </em></p>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> is mired in risk:</p><ul><li>Risk his <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran war of choice</a> goes bad.</li><li>Risk the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/jobs-february-unemployment-trump" target="_blank">February job losses</a> are a trend, not a blip.</li><li>Risk the <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/04/stock-market-today-live-updates-iran-war.html" target="_blank">stock market</a> keeps dropping.</li><li>Risk his <a href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_blank">tariffs</a>, and now <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/oil-gasoline-prices-trump-hormuz-russia" target="_blank">soaring oil costs</a>, are pushing prices higher.</li><li>Risk that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/trump-signs-executive-order-state-ai-laws" target="_blank">deregulated AI</a> accelerates job losses.</li><li>Risk that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/democrats-texas-talarico-voter-turnout" target="_blank">Democratic enthusiasm</a> leads to a midterm wipeout.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Trump fancies himself a high-risk, high-reward president, a confidence cheered by the vast majority of Republican officials and voters. But risk is risk — and by most measures, it's rising everywhere.</p><hr /><p><strong>By the numbers:</strong> Early polling on the Iran war suggests there may be little or no reward to be had, particularly with the swing voters Trump has lost over affordability concerns.</p><ul><li>Pollster <a href="https://elliott.gelliottmorris.com/" target="_blank">G. Elliott Morris</a> took an <a href="https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/polls-us-iran-attack-2026-03-06" target="_blank">average of high-quality surveys</a> and found just 38% of Americans support U.S. military strikes in Iran — lower than retrospective support for the war in Iraq in 2014.</li><li>Most Republicans support the war. But no broader rally-around-the-flag effect has materialized.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>For years, Trump, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/03/02/vance-trump-iran-war-00806812" target="_blank">Vice President Vance</a> and the broader MAGA movement argued that war with Iran would be catastrophic — too costly, too risky, too likely to spiral.</p><ul><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-military-deaths-0a3f1532ec1953d51898e5b5e2b625d6" target="_blank">Six U.S. service members</a> have died <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-military-deaths-89d44a0fa557d026794e5cee132d724d" target="_blank">since the opening strikes</a>. Trump <a href="https://time.com/7382697/trump-iran-war/" target="_blank">told TIME</a> when asked whether Americans should be worried about retaliatory attacks at home: "I guess ... When you go to war, some people will die."</li><li>The first 100 hours of the war alone are <a href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/37-billion-estimated-cost-epic-furys-first-100-hours" target="_blank">estimated</a> to have cost $3.7 billion. Oil prices are up more than 25%, with the instability threatening <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ab7d597d-5e72-4cbf-8d3b-53815695d68f" target="_blank">Persian Gulf investments</a> that Trump has made central to his economic vision.</li><li>Trump <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">told Axios</a> he must be "involved" in selecting Iran's next leader — but also acknowledged the worst-case scenario: "We do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person."</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Some Middle East experts, including hawkish Trump allies in Washington, believe the president is playing with fire by encouraging <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-war-us-israel-kurds-cia-mossad" target="_blank">Kurdish militants</a> to cross into Iran and fight the regime.</p><ul><li>The possibility of a brutal civil war — in an ethnically diverse country of 93 million — could tip Iran into the prolonged chaos that defined George W. Bush's legacy in Iraq.</li><li>Trump, asked about polls showing most Americans oppose the war, told the <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/trump-wont-rule-out-sending-us-troops-into-iran-if-necessary-tells-the-post-i-dont-care-about-polling/" target="_blank">New York Post</a> he's not worried: "I think that the polling is very good, but I don't care about polling. I have to do the right thing."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Even before his attack on Iran rattled global markets, Trump was losing the argument on the economy — historically his strongest issue.</p><ul><li>New data show the economy shed 92,000 jobs in February — far worse than the 60,000-job gain economists expected, and the third time in five months the labor market has contracted.</li><li>Surging oil prices threaten to reverse the genuine progress Trump has made on gas prices and inflation, with new risks to the kitchen-table costs at the core of voters' affordability concerns.</li><li>His tariffs — sold as a path to cheaper goods and more American jobs — have so far delivered neither, with prices rising and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/economy/us-jobs-report-february" target="_blank">manufacturing shedding jobs</a> for 13 of the past 14 months.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>The Trump administration has gone all-in on AI accelerationism, pressuring <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/white-house-red-state-ai-laws-scrutiny" target="_blank">GOP state lawmakers</a> to back off on safety regulations that could constrain the technology's explosive growth.</p><ul><li>This might be Trump's biggest bet of all: AI could supercharge the economy and cement his legacy as the president who unleashed the next industrial revolution.</li><li>But most Americans are <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/24/ai-biggest-threats-2028-election" target="_blank">deeply skeptical and anxious</a>, fearing AI could accelerate job displacement, hollow out the middle class and eventually threaten humanity itself.</li></ul><p><strong>White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai </strong>said in a statement to Axios: "The biggest risk America faces is backing down from President Trump's America First agenda and abandoning the president's push to secure our borders, mass deport criminal illegal aliens, safeguard our national security, and restore America as the most dynamic economy in the world."</p><ul><li>"The so-called 'experts' have repeatedly predicted doom and gloom since President Trump took office, and they have repeatedly been proven wrong. President Trump and his administration are laser-focused on continuing to deliver for the American people."</li></ul><p><strong>What to watch: </strong>Trump's biggest political risk is losing Congress in November, and watching his second term collapse into investigations, impeachment and legislative gridlock.</p><ul><li>The midterm environment is trending against Republicans across every early indicator — primary turnout, generic ballot polling and special election results.</li><li>A swift, clean victory in Iran could help stabilize Trump's numbers. A prolonged conflict — with casualties, spiking prices and no clear endgame — could turn a difficult midterm map into a wipeout.</li></ul><p><em><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/behind-the-curtain-trump-iran-war-tariffs-anthropic" target="_blank">Go deeper</a>: Trump's power play.</em></p>

<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/trump-iran-war-kurds-soldiers-iraq" target="_self">Iraq's Kurds</a> are caught in a three-way vise as the Iran war spills across their border:</p><ul><li>They're uncertain, based on <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-iran-war-will-trump-help-iranian-kurdish-fighters-attack-regime/" target="_blank">President Trump's messaging</a>, whether the U.S. actually wants regime change next door.</li><li>They're under pressure to open the border from Iranian Kurds who want to fight the regime.</li><li>And they're facing a public threat — backed by a private warning — that Iran will retaliate if those militants attack from Iraqi Kurdish soil.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The Kurds of northern Iraq have carved out a stable, semi-autonomous region in one of the world's most volatile neighborhoods. Now, the war next door is threatening to make their neutrality impossible to hold.</p><hr /><ul><li>"The Kurds must not be the tip of the spear in this conflict," a senior Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) official told Axios.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Iraq's Kurdish government prides itself on talking to all sides. But Iran changed its otherwise friendly tone Friday in a stark communique about Iranian Kurdish militants sheltering across the border.</p><ul><li>"Should their continued presence and plotting be permitted, or should these groups or [Zionist] regime elements enter the borders of the Islamic Republic through the Region, all facilities of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq ... will be targeted on a massive scale," Ali Akbar Ahmadian, an Iranian Defense Council official, said in a written statement.</li><li>Iranian officials called the Iraqi Kurdish government on Friday to draw attention to the post and make clear it was official policy, the KRG official said.</li><li>"They don't need hypersonic missiles to hurt us. 200 Shahed drones could cause a lot of damage here. We have no air defense systems. We don't have any ways to knock these things out of the skies," the official warned.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Trump has sent multiple different signals about what he wants to see unfold in Iran, calling for regime change without communicating what that looks like or how the U.S. will enforce it.</p><ul><li>"Certainly, we are staying neutral as Iraqi Kurds because there is no clarity for us on what the U.S. policy is. Is it full regime change? Or just a change in personnel?" the KRG official said.</li><li>"Our assessment is there cannot be regime change without boots on the ground, and our assessment is that the U.S. is not sending boots on the ground," they added.</li><li>Trump <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/trump-iran-war-kurds-iraq" target="_self">spoke to two Iraqi Kurdish leaders</a> after launching the war Saturday but did not seek their support for an invasion, the official claimed.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Though Israel and the U.S. are carrying out a joint operation, their interests and activities diverge in both Iran and Iraq .</p><ul><li>"Israel is far more aggressive on this, both on the on the military side of it, but also in terms of pushing Iranian Kurds ... to be part of this war," the official said, adding that he saw no evidence of U.S. efforts to arm or incite Kurds to attack Iran.</li><li>"Israel wants an annihilation of the current order in Iran and they will not stop until that happens. It's very existential," they said. "I can't see them accepting Regime Lite. I can see the United States accepting Regime Lite...Venezuela Plus."</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Amir Karimi, co-chair of the Iranian Kurdish group PJAK, told Axios that armed members of his group are already inside Iran — but said a significant uprising won't happen without U.S. backing.</p><ul><li>"In the past, two major uprisings were not supported, which allowed the regime to prolong its survival," Karimi said, noting his group is contact with U.S. officials but not the Israeli government or its Mossad spy agency.</li></ul><p><strong>Another official </strong>with the Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) told Axios that the Peshmerga — Iraq's Kurdish armed forces — have so far managed to prevent Iranian Kurdish militants from launching an offensive into Iran from Iraqi territory.</p><ul><li>Iraqi Kurdish leaders decided to stay neutral in the war for now, partially because they're concerned the U.S. might abandon them at some point, the official said.</li><li>"We have trust issues from the past and we don't want to get involved. Who is going to defend us if the Iranian regime ends up surviving this?" they asked</li><li>The Iranian Kurdish fighters inside Iraq are also not as battle-hardened as Kurdish forces who fought in Syria, and they lack the training, numbers and equipment to mount an effective invasion force, Iraqi Kurdish officials say.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next: </strong>Iraqi Kurdish officials expect Trump to measure success narrowly, pointing to the four goals he has laid out: destroying Iran's navy, missile program, terrorist proxies and nuclear program.</p><ul><li>But they also recognize — as does Iran — that Trump only has three years let in office.</li><li>"The Iranians have thousands of years of built-up patience," one Kurdish official said. "They know that in a couple of years, there might be a new president in the United States, and who knows what's going to happen in Israel. Their goal right now is to outlast this."</li></ul>

<p>President Trump is positioning himself as a central architect of <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran's</a> post-war future, demanding "<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/trump-iran-war-unconditional-surrender" target="_blank">UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER</a>" on Friday.</p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> is signaling ambitions that extend beyond military action into reshaping Iran's political and economic order just as he did in <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/us-venezuela-diplomatic-consular-relations" target="_blank">Venezuela</a>. But experts warn it's not that simple.</p><hr /><p><em>Here are three promises Trump has made on Iran thus far. </em></p><h2>Choosing a successor </h2><p><strong>Trump acknowledged </strong>that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of assassinated Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-khamenei-killed-israel" target="_self">Ali Khamenei</a>, is the most likely successor — but <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">Trump told Axios Thursday</a> he opposes that outcome. </p><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Srinjoy Bose, an associate professor of international relations at Australia's University of New South Wales, tells Axios it "is an extension of his approach to international politics vis-à-vis Venezuela," Gaza and his <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/19/trumps-board-of-peace-members-countries-list" target="_blank">Board of Peace</a>.</p><ul><li>It echoes the 1953 U.S.-backed coup that overthrew Iran's democratically elected leader and installed Mohammad <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/us-iran-leader-crown-prince-reza-pahlavi" target="_blank">Reza Pahlavi</a> as shah until he was deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Bose says.</li><li>Daniel Schneiderman, director of global policy programs at Penn Washington, says, "The size, scope and scale of Iran's military and also the way the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is endemic in everyday life" makes it very different from Venezuela.</li><li>Tehran had a "long time to prepare" for war, and it's unlikely there will be a "leadership transition that ultimately satisfies the White House," says Schneiderman, a former Defense Department official in the <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/joe-biden" target="_blank">Biden</a> administration.</li><li>"Although I'm sure part of the plan here is how do we get to good enough? That's what they did in Venezuela ... so what does that looks like in Iran? The political costs of getting to good enough after what's been done is serious. Because for the Iranians, survival of the regime in some form is a win." </li></ul><h2>Total immunity </h2><p><strong>Trump <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-hosts-2025-major-league-soccer-championship-team/674786" target="_blank">urged</a> </strong>IRGC members, military and the police on Thursday to "lay down their arms" and assured them they'd be "perfectly safe with total immunity, or you'll face absolutely guaranteed death."</p><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>There's no guarantee that if Iranians take up arms against the regime, "which is what he is hoping," they will be protected by Trump or the international community, Bose says.</p><ul><li>Schneiderman calls it "an important signal," but adds, "there has to be real substance behind it."</li><li> "I just wonder how much meat there is below the surface," he says.</li></ul><h2>Reducing oil prices </h2><p><strong>The administration has scrambled</strong> to keep gas prices down as the war spills over into a crucial shipping lane, with Trump offering "political risk insurance and guarantees" for energy tankers. </p><p><strong>State of play:</strong> Trump said additional action to "dramatically increase the stability" of the Middle East, oil prices and stock markets is "imminent" without providing specifics.</p><ul><li>Though Trump often touts falling gas prices, volatility and rising energy costs could pose a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-trump-gas-prices" target="_blank">political risk</a> for Republicans ahead of the midterms. </li><li>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday <a href="https://x.com/SecScottBessent/status/2029714253725262232" target="_blank">announced</a> a 30-day waiver allowing India to buy Russian oil, which India <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/trump-india-russia-oil-tariff-executive-order" target="_blank">had stopped importing</a> as part of a tariff deal.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>Oil and gasoline prices <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/oil-gasoline-prices-trump-hormuz-russia" target="_blank">rose Friday</a>, with gas up nearly 11% since the war started.</p><ul><li>This is one of the "unintended strategic consequences of these decisions that you make to go to war," Schneiderman says. </li><li>"There are second- and third-order effects that a solid and sound planning process for a decision like the one to go to war with Iran would have accounted for."</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"Thanks to President Trump's leadership in his first term and current term, the United States remains the largest crude oil and natural gas producer in the world," Leavitt said. </p><ul><li>His "entire energy team" has a "game plan" to keep oil prices stable throughout throughout the U.S. operation, per Leavitt's statement.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">Exclusive: Trump says he must be involved in picking Iran's next leader</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.</em></p>

<p>A new civil rights report argues that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/national-archives-portal-civil-rights-cold-cases" target="_blank">lynchings </a>of Black men didn't end in America — they evolved — and that some deaths today may still be misclassified as suicides or accidents.</p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> If killings are misclassified, families can lose their paths to justice, and possible patterns of racial violence can remain hidden in plain sight.</p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Mississippi-based civil rights group JULIAN identified 70 "modern-day lynchings" in seven southern states from 2000 to 2025 <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1twIekbOTlto0wEtY0uAL_0IW__VV1Ity/view" target="_blank">in a report</a> released last month. </p><ul><li>The report, called The Crimson Record, lists cases across Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama and says the total could exceed 100 when suspicious deaths are included.</li><li>Mississippi had the most cases with 20.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "The moment a case is ruled a suicide, it's no longer investigated as a potential homicide," JULIAN founder Jill Collen Jefferson told Axios.</p><p><strong>Case in point:</strong> Jermaine Carter, a Black man found hanging from a tree in Greenwood, Mississippi, in December 2010, was ruled a suicide by local authorities, though his family and civil-rights groups have long challenged that finding.</p><ul><li>Rodney Thompson's death was also initially described as a suicide after neighbors found him hanging from a tree in his southeast Memphis backyard in November 2009.</li><li>Authorities in Memphis and Leflore County, Mississippi, did not respond to Axios' requests for comment.</li></ul><p><strong>Advocates point to</strong> recent deaths — including the case last month of <a href="https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/cobb-county-officials-press-conference-update-kyle-bassinga-death/85-d3bf5311-481a-49f5-aee1-7cb26ddcd97c" target="_blank">Kyle Bassinga</a> in Metro Atlanta — as examples of how these situations can quickly become contested between <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVMSGxYCZA6/?igsh=Ync4anA5M28zOXRo" target="_blank">communities and investigators</a>. <strong> </strong></p><ul><li>Bassinga was found hanging in a wooded area of a Cobb County park after being reported missing, prompting speculation about foul play.</li><li>Cobb County police and officials declined an interview request, referring Axios to a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ai7CmgPSy/" target="_blank">prior public statement</a> that maintained investigators found "no indicators" of another person's involvement and are treating the case as a suicide while awaiting autopsy results.</li><li>Authorities warned that online misinformation has fueled fear, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing. </li></ul><p><strong>Jefferson says cases</strong> like Bassinga's show the need to consider homicide from the start. </p><ul><li>"It defies logic to assume someone climbed eight or nine feet into a tree with no ladder, no chair, no evidence of how they got there," Jefferson said.</li></ul><p><strong>Context:</strong> Civil rights attorney and legal analyst Sunny Slaughter, who was not involved in the report, said death investigations often hinge on medical examiner determinations, which can influence whether police pursue a homicide inquiry. </p><ul><li>Families can challenge such rulings, she said, but investigations rarely shift unless the medical examiner changes the manner of death.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Sociologist Amy Kate Bailey of the University of Illinois Chicago, who studies <a href="https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/history-lynching-america" target="_blank">historical lynching</a> records, said disputes over how deaths are classified have long been part of the historical record.</p><ul><li>"There's a really important conceptual thread that links historical campaigns of racial terror to patterns we still see today," Bailey said, referencing research that includes <a href="https://eji.org/reports/reconstruction-in-america-overview/" target="_blank">nearly 6,500 documented racial terror lynchings</a> between 1865 and 1950.</li><li>"Violence changes form over time, but the underlying dynamics don't just disappear."</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> In March 2022, President Biden signed the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/03/29/biden-congress-lynching-bill" target="_blank">Emmett Till Antilynching Act</a>, making lynching a federal hate crime for the first time after more than a century of failed efforts.</p><ul><li>The law targets conspiracies to commit hate crimes resulting in death or serious injury, with penalties up to 30 years.</li></ul><p><strong>JULIAN's memo calls</strong> the law "toothless," with no widely reported prosecutions having been brought under the statute.</p><ul><li>"Lynching didn't stop — it adapted," Jefferson said. "If we don't investigate these deaths with the possibility of homicide in mind, we may never know what really happened."</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/18/newspapers-lynchings-racist-violence-journalism" target="_blank">"Printing Hate" details U.S. newspapers' roles in lynchings</a></p>

<p>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/trump-johnson-texas-california-new-york-districts" target="_blank">Kevin Kiley</a> (R-Calif.) said Friday he is registering as "no party preference," rather than as a Republican, as he seeks reelection to Congress.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The move comes after Kiley's Republican-leaning district was broken apart in mid-decade redistricting, forcing him to run in far more Democratic-leaning territory.</p><hr /><ul><li>Kiley's announcement sparked considerable confusion among his colleagues, with several lawmakers asking GOP leadership for clarity on whether he will continue to contribute to their slim House majority.</li><li>One House Republican, asked if Kiley is staying in the GOP conference, told Axios: "I hope to God he is."</li><li>A Kiley spokesperson told Axios it is "not official yet" whether he will leave the party or the conference now, adding: "For now, he's just filing as an independent for his reelection campaign."</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"Gerrymandering is a plague on democracy ... but there's a way we can fight back and protect our democracy," Kiley said in a video <a href="https://x.com/KevinKileyCA/status/2030096771335213064?s=20" target="_blank">posted to X</a>.</p><ul><li>"By removing partisanship from the equation," he continued. "Today, I've just filed for reelection as 'no party preference.' This means I will not have a party affiliation on the ballot or as an officeholder."</li><li>Kiley noted that most local government positions in California are <a href="https://californiaglobe.com/fr/frequently-asked-questions-about-nonpartisan-races-in-california/" target="_blank">decided in nonpartisan elections</a> — though state and federal candidates can identify with a party.</li></ul><p><strong>"It's no secret</strong> that I've been frustrated, at times disgusted, with the hyper-partisanship in Congress," he added. </p><ul><li>"In the last year it's led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a massive increase in health care costs and, of course, a pointless redistricting war."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Kiley is facing a large field of rivals in both parties to represent California's 6th District, including Democrats Richard Pan and Thien Ho.</p><ul><li>Kiley is easily the most well-funded candidate in the race, with nearly $2.1 million in fundraising receipts as of the end of 2025 compared to Ho's $380,000 and Pan's $320,000.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Running as an independent is an increasingly popular tactic for candidates running in hostile territory.</p><ul><li>Democrats gave way to independents Evan McMullin in Utah's 2022 U.S. Senate election and Dan Osborn in Nebraska's 2024 U.S. Senate election.</li><li>Osborn is again running as an independent for U.S. Senate this cycle, with independent <a href="https://www.kxlh.com/news/bodnar-announces-independent-run-for-senate" target="_blank">Seth Bodnar</a> vying to be the de facto Democratic nominee for Senate in Montana.</li></ul><p><em>Axios' Kate Santaliz contributed reporting for this story.</em></p>

<p>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/22/san-diego-congress-review-2025-legislation-reelection-prop-50" target="_blank">Darrell Issa</a> (R-Calif.) is expected to drop his bid for reelection just ahead of California's congressional filing deadline on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The development shakes up the race for his seat significantly, with another Republican ally of Issa's <a href="https://x.com/ACampaNajjar/status/2030015272715952542?s=20" target="_blank">reportedly filing to run</a> instead.</p><hr /><ul><li>Issa's website was recently changed to display his PAC's logo rather than that of his campaign, Punchbowl News <a href="https://x.com/allymutnick/status/2030029363861967030?s=20" target="_blank">reported</a>.</li><li>Issa has maintained publicly that he is running for reelection. A campaign spokesperson declined to comment on whether Issa is retiring.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Issa's reelection prospects were thrown into doubt last year after California voters <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/11/05/california-prop-50-passes-election-results-redistricting" target="_blank">approved redrawing</a> the state's congressional maps.</p><ul><li>Democrats in the California state legislature redrew Issa's safely Republican district to lean slightly Democratic as part of an effort to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/05/california-prop-50-redistricting-gerrymandering" target="_blank">offset mid-decade redistricting in Texas</a>.</li><li>Several Democrats have been running to unseat Issa, including Ammar Campa-Najjar — Issa's opponent in 2020 — and San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Campa-Najjar told Axios that he personally witnessed Jim Desmond, a Republican ally of Issa who had been running to unseat Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), re-register to run for Issa's seat instead.</p><ul><li>He said in a video <a href="https://x.com/ACampaNajjar/status/2030015272715952542?s=20" target="_blank">posted to X</a> that another Republican, State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, is also expected to file for the seat.</li><li>Desmond and DeMaio did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Issa's move comes after the 119th House already broke the record for the most retirements of any Congress in the 21st century, as Axios' Kate Santaliz and Hans Nichols reported <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/members-of-congress-retirements-record-high" target="_blank">earlier this week</a>.</p><ul><li>55 House members — 34 Republicans and 21 Democrats — are <a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/casualty-list" target="_blank">leaving the House</a> either to run for another office or retire from political life altogether. </li><li>The high figure reflects a perfect storm of factors pushing lawmakers to leave, including <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/gop-senate-midterms-2026" target="_blank">Republican anxiety</a> about losing the House in November, a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/house-democrats-old-primary-age-larson-sherman" target="_blank">generational war among Democrats</a> and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/25/congress-retirements-mtg-threats-censures-trump" target="_blank">general dissatisfaction</a> with congressional productivity and quality of life.</li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting. </em></p>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> told Axios Friday that his demand for Iran's "unconditional surrender" could mean the complete destruction of the regime's military capabilities — not necessarily a formal surrender.</p><ul><li>"Unconditional surrender could be that [the Iranians] announce it. But it could also be when they can't fight any longer because they don't have anyone or anything to fight with," he said in a phone interview.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Trump's explanation came hours after he appeared to leave no visible off-ramp for Iran, ruling out any kind of "deal" as he demanded "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/116182551337254643" target="_blank">post on Truth Social</a>.</p><hr /><ul><li>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said on Fox News that "unconditional surrender" means Trump determining "that Iran can no longer pose a threat to the U.S. and our troops in the Middle East."</li><li>Leavitt listed U.S. objectives as destroying Iran's navy, eliminating its ballistic missile threat, ensuring it cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and weakening its regional proxies.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Several hours before Trump's statement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian <a href="https://x.com/drpezeshkian/status/2029877231942590545" target="_blank">wrote on X</a> that "some countries have begun mediation efforts" to stop the war. </p><ul><li>"Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity &amp; sovereignty. Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict," he wrote. </li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday morning.</p><ul><li>He added that after the current regime surrenders, "GREAT &amp; ACCEPTABLE Leader(s)" must be selected. </li><li>Trump pledged that the U.S. and its allies would help rebuild the country and make it prosperous after the war: "IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)" he wrote.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>On Thursday, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">Trump told Axios</a> he wants to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next supreme leader to ensure the successor doesn't pursue policies that lead to another war.</p><p><strong>The other side: </strong>The speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf <a href="https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2029964090618085864?s=20" target="_blank">wrote on X</a> that Iran will not allow Trump to "dictate terms to a nation."</p><ul><li>"Trump still doesn't realize what calamity he has brought upon himself and the American soldiers by martyring our Imam," he said, adding that Iran's fate "will be determined solely by the proud Iranian nation, not by Epstein's gang."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> "If this is the official position of the U.S. administration, and given the fact that the current regime in Iran will not surrender, then the campaign will have to continue until the collapse of the current regime," said Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies and the Atlantic Council.</p><ul><li>"Anything short of that would effectively be considered a failure, despite all the operational successes of the campaign," he added.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Arab foreign ministers in a series of phone calls Thursday that the war is expected to last several more weeks, according to sources with direct knowledge of the conversations.</p><ul><li>Rubio said the current military focus is on Iran's missile launchers, stockpiles and factories.</li><li>He told the ministers the U.S. goal is not regime change — while simultaneously making clear Washington wants different people running the country, the sources said.</li></ul><p><strong>Rubio added that there is currently</strong> no U.S. dialogue with the Iranian regime, and that any talks now would undermine ongoing military objectives.</p><ul><li>Trump said Thursday that Iran wants to negotiate but that he told them they are "too late."</li><li>The State Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. </li></ul><p><strong>State of play:</strong> U.S. and Israeli strikes entered their seventh day Friday with growing intensity. Iran and its proxies — <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/06/lebanon-israel-iran-irgc-hezbollah" target="_blank">Hezbollah in Lebanon</a> and Shia militias in Iraq — continue launching missiles and drones at U.S. bases, Israel and Gulf states.</p><ul><li>But the pace and scope of Iranian attacks has significantly decreased: CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Iranian missile attacks have fallen 90% since the war's first day.</li><li>U.S. and Israeli officials claimed Thursday that 60% of Iran's missile launchers and stockpiles have been destroyed.</li></ul><p><strong>On Friday,</strong> Israeli fighter jets struck a heavily fortified bunker beneath the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's compound — his emergency command center.</p><ul><li>IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Efi Defrin said Israel believes senior Iranian officials had been using the bunker in recent days and is still assessing whether anyone was inside at the time of the strike.</li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been updated with responses from Iranian officials.</em></p>

<img src="https://images.axios.com/etBERSAifygAyE1v3IdR9_XgdfQ=/2026/03/06/1772794265608.jpeg" /> <div>Via <a href="https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2029665925062881522" target="_blank">X</a></div><p>Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) <a href="https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2029665925062881522" target="_blank">suggested</a> Tucker Carlson should run for president after President Trump <a href="https://x.com/jonkarl/status/2029650210125652143" target="_blank">told</a> ABC News that Carlson had "lost his way."</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Carlson is one of the right's most-influential voices and he will remain so as long as influential figures like Greene want to see him in the White House.</p><hr /><ul><li>Carlson has said no to a presidential bid in the past, and the highly likely scenario is that he backs Vice President <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/22/vance-rubio-2028-trump-question" target="_blank">JD Vance's expected campaign</a> to succeed Trump in 2028.</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> "Tucker has lost his way," Trump told ABC New's Jonathan Karl in a phone interview. "I knew that a long time ago, and he's not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that."</p><ul><li>Carlson <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/oliverdarcy.bsky.social/post/3mgdpiiy5bs23" target="_blank">responded</a> to <a href="https://www.status.news/" target="_blank">Status</a> founder Oliver Darcy: "There are times I get annoyed with Trump, right now definitely included ... but I'll always love him no matter what he says about me."</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Greene floated a Carlson 2028 bid while coming to his defense over his opposition to the Iran war, which he called "absolutely disgusting and evil."</p><ul><li>"I SUPPORT TUCKER. Trump doesn't even know what MAGA is anymore and turned it into MIGA," Greene <a href="https://x.com/FmrRepMTG/status/2029665925062881522" target="_blank">posted</a> on X.</li><li>"Trump is not America First, he's donor first. Tucker would beat Trump if he ran for President and Trump tried to violate the constitution and tried to run again for a third term."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out:</strong> Carlson's and Greene's criticisms of Trump break on the fault line of Israel, echoed by fellow media figures like Steve Bannon and and Megyn Kelly.</p><ul><li>MAGA's Jewish influencers, like Laura Loomer and Mark Levin, have branded those critics antisemitic.</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>Though it's tempting to see a MAGA civil war over Israel and the war in Iran, it's largely unfolding in the elite podcaster and influencer space.</p><ul><li>Public and private polling show a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/palestinians-israelis-us-polling-gallup" target="_blank">super-majority</a> of Republicans still support Israel and support Trump's war, unlike independents and Democrats.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> Trump has repeatedly said that "MAGA is me." And the polling indicates he's right.</p><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/rubio-trump-iran-israel-attacks" target="_blank">Rubio's war remarks blow open MAGA's Israel divide</a></p>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> seethed when the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-illegal" target="_blank">Supreme Court stripped away</a> his unilateral tariff authority, the first real check on his presidency.</p><ul><li>Then he set out to impose his will on every remaining vector of American power — smashing norms and shrugging off Congress in a historic, 14-day show of executive force.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Over the past two weeks, Trump launched a massive Middle East war, blacklisted the hottest AI company on the planet, ordered new global tariffs, and presided over the biggest media merger in two decades.</p><hr /><ul><li>He did it all unilaterally — without passing a single law, and without pretending he needed to. <em>Axios' Zachary Basu narrates this epic fortnight:</em></li></ul><p><strong>The tariffs: </strong>On Feb. 20, hours after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump imposed a new 10% global tariff under a separate emergency law — daring the courts to stop him again.</p><ul><li>By sidestepping the court's ruling rather than accepting it, Trump sent an unmistakable message: No institution — not Congress, not the judiciary — would constrain his ability to reshape the global economy.</li></ul><p><strong>The merger: </strong>On Feb. 26, Netflix walked away from the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery — handing Trump allies Larry and David Ellison control of CNN, HBO and Hollywood's two most storied studios.</p><ul><li>Paramount's David Ellison privately assured Trump officials last year that he would make sweeping changes to CNN, a network despised by the president, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/paramount-netflix-warner-bros-battle-ellisons-a86fe15c?st=PTJrJQ&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink" target="_blank">reported</a>.</li><li>The Ellisons' emerging media empire — CBS, TikTok and soon CNN — gives Trump allies unprecedented influence on what Americans watch, read and scroll.</li></ul><p><strong>The blacklist: </strong>On Feb. 27, Trump <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/anthropic-pentagon-supply-chain-risk-claude" target="_blank">ordered every federal agency</a> to stop doing business with Anthropic after the $380 billion AI startup refused to give the Pentagon unfettered access to its technology.</p><ul><li>The Pentagon then designated Anthropic a "supply chain risk" — a label typically reserved for adversarial foreign companies, and one that a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-anthropic-supply-chain-risk-reaction" target="_blank">former Trump AI adviser</a> called "attempted corporate murder."</li><li>"I fired Anthropic like dogs," Trump <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/05/trump-unleashed-president-bullish-on-iran-eyeing-regime-change-in-cuba-and-impatient-with-ukraine-00814292" target="_blank">told Politico</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>The war: </strong>On Feb. 28, Trump did what no president before him had dared — launch a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-attack-trump-us-israel-strikes" target="_blank">full military assault</a> on an Iranian regime that has tormented the United States since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.</p><ul><li>Some U.S. officials have been careful not to call it a "war" — a label that <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/declarations-of-war.htm" target="_blank">connotes</a> congressional approval — or admit that "regime change" is the goal. The president hasn't bothered with either pretense.</li><li>On Thursday, Trump told Axios he <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">must be personally involved</a> in selecting Iran's next leader just as he was in Venezuela, where interim President Delcy Rodríguez has become a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/trump-us-venezuela-gold-deal" target="_blank">compliant conduit</a> for U.S. interests.</li><li>In the same interview with Axios' Barak Ravid, Trump demanded that Israel's president <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/trump-netanyahu-pardon-israel-iran-war" target="_blank">pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a> — seeking to simultaneously pick Iran's next leader and shield his war partner from criminal prosecution.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Trump has spent his second term <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/23/trump-unprecedented-presidency-behind-the-curtain" target="_blank">systematically testing</a> how much power a president can seize without Congress, the courts or public opinion stopping him. The answer, so far: almost limitless.</p><ul><li>Trump has signed fewer laws than any modern president at this stage — because he doesn't need them. Executive orders, military force and the bully pulpit have proven more efficient.</li><li>Trump's advisers say he's content using unilateral powers, and congressional Republicans — with rare exceptions — have cheered him on at every turn.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>What's all the more remarkable is that Trump is doing this with most of America opposed to his performance in office — and to these specific actions.</p><ul><li>A <a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54224-donald-trump-record-low-net-job-approval-second-term-february-27-march-2-2026-economist-yougov-poll" target="_blank">Economist/YouGov poll</a> conducted as the Iran war began found Trump's disapproval at 59% — a second-term record. His net approval, according to <a href="https://www.natesilver.net/p/trump-approval-ratings-nate-silver-bulletin" target="_blank">Nate Silver's average</a>, sits at -13.</li><li>An <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26490187/cnn-poll-on-trump-at-one-year.pdf" target="_blank">January poll by CNN</a> found 58% of Americans say Trump has already gone too far in using presidential power — a figure collected before the most aggressive stretch of his presidency.</li></ul><p><em><a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/23/trump-unprecedented-presidency-behind-the-curtain" target="_blank">Go deeper</a>: "The most unprecedented presidency in 250 years."</em></p>

<p>Like it or not, consumers are already consulting <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/25/health-care-ai-assistant-red-tape" target="_blank">AI for medical advice</a><strong> </strong>whenever they want to.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>This is opening access to medical information in an entirely new way. The problem is, that advice may not always be very good.</p><hr /><p><strong>Where it stands: </strong>OpenAI <a href="https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/2cb29276-68cd-4ec6-a5f4-c01c5e7a36e9/OpenAI-AI-as-a-Healthcare-Ally-Jan-2026.pdf" target="_blank">put out some numbers</a> in January: More than 40 million people ask its ChatGPT health care-related questions every day, and 1 in 4 of the tool's approximately 800 million regular users submits a health care prompt every week.</p><ul><li>The careful debate over how AI should be deployed, regulated and evaluated in clinical settings often fails to acknowledge that the cat's already out of the bag when it comes to direct-to-consumer use.</li><li>"Too often people are using this as an expert and not as an assistant," American Medical Association CEO John Whyte told Axios in an interview.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Everyone pretty much agrees that you shouldn't replace your doctor with AI, at least not yet. But a more realistic question is how helpful it is when your doctor isn't available — or if you don't have one.</p><ul><li>"We've made accessibility to medical information and medical judgment so hard in this country, and ChatGPT makes it so easy," said Ashish Jha, the former White House COVID response coordinator under President Biden and former<strong> </strong>dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.</li><li>"The idea that these tools have to be as good as a physician is absurd given how much more convenient they are."</li><li>"I think there's a risk of bad things happening. ... Is it dangerous? I think the status quo is dangerous," said Bob Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF and the author of "A Giant Leap: How AI is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future."</li><li>"The question is without it, what would you have done?" Wachter added.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>A recent study <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04297-7" target="_blank">published in <em>Nature</em></a> found that ChatGPT under-triaged about half of health care emergencies in a test performed by researchers.</p><ul><li>Karan Singhal, who leads the company's health AI team, said its latest GPT-5 models correctly refer emergency cases nearly 99% of the time. In real life, she said, health conversations in ChatGPT typically unfold over multiple turns, where the model asks follow-up questions and gathers more context before responding.</li></ul><p><strong>What we're watching: </strong>What new state and federal guardrails are put around AI in health care.</p><ul><li>"We don't regulate the availability of information in the United States," said David Blumenthal, former president of the Commonwealth Fund, but "it's possible that rating agencies may arise that will address the reliability of different chatbots for different functions."</li></ul><p><strong>Some takeaways</strong> from my conversations with experts:</p><p><strong>1. AI seems to be better at some things than others. </strong>Chatbots can be good at explaining lab results or coming up with a list of questions to ask your doctor ahead of a visit, Whyte said.</p><ul><li>That doesn't mean people are actually using it for what it's good at.</li><li>Jha, who said that large language models aren't yet "ready for prime time" when it comes to diagnosing illness, still thinks people will use it for clues to what ails them "because they've been using Google for diagnosis and this is so much better than Google."</li><li>Ultimately, "I don't think we have a super clear understanding of what it's good for and what it's not," Jha said.</li></ul><p><strong>2. Output is super dependent on input. </strong>And your average person may not know the correct inputs.</p><ul><li>"The way a patient's question can be phrased can lead to variability in how an LLM responds," said Duke University's Monica Agrawal.</li><li>"If they have incomplete context or they share a subjective impression or they have a misconception when they're seeking advice, LLMs have an ability more so than a doctor to reinforce those misconceptions."</li></ul><p><strong>3. The <em>way</em> it says things can be problematic. </strong>"I worry some of these LLMs speak with a level of confidence that is really unjustified," Jha said.</p><ul><li>It is also problematic that models generally are built to tell people what they want to hear, Agrawal said. "In the places where a doctor might push back ... we're not seeing necessarily the same behavior in models."</li><li>"If you say, 'I have a headache,' I don't say, 'Oh I think you have a migraine' — I would say, 'Tell me more about it,'" Wachter said. "The tools don't naturally do that, and I think the consumer-facing tools of the future will."</li></ul><p><strong>4. Most people using AI don't have the expertise to spot mistakes. </strong>There's a divide between "professional use of these tools and the laypeople use of these tools," Wachter said.</p><ul><li>Whereas they can be extremely helpful to doctors, your average patient probably doesn't have the medical knowledge to identify when a response doesn't apply or seems off.</li></ul><p><strong>What we're watching: </strong>Today's models are constantly being re-trained — and generally improved.</p>

<p>GOP lawmakers in several red states want to pass AI safety bills, but their efforts are being chilled by the fear of angering the White House.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> State lawmakers eager to tackle AI over concerns about kids, jobs and privacy are facing pushback from the White House, with tensions poised to spike next week.</p><hr /><ul><li>The Trump administration's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/trump-signs-executive-order-state-ai-laws" target="_blank">pending</a> list of "onerous" state AI laws could set up a federal crackdown on state regulation and reshape who writes the rules for AI.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> The White House has made it clear — states should back off on AI laws in almost all cases until a federal framework passes. </p><ul><li>Next week, the administration<strong> </strong>is expected to announce <a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1422986/dl" target="_blank">which</a> state-level AI laws it has identified as "onerous" that should be referred to the AI Litigation Task Force at the Justice Department, per President Trump's <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/eliminating-state-law-obstruction-of-national-artificial-intelligence-policy/" target="_blank">executive order</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>This week, 50 Republican state lawmakers <a href="https://ari.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/State-Lawmaker-Letter-Let-States-Legislate-on-AI.pdf" target="_blank">wrote to</a> President Trump that they are "deeply concerned by the work of officials seeking to pressure lawmakers in Utah and other states to abandon legislation aimed at mitigating risks at leading AI labs and safeguarding constituents, including young people, from AI's worst harms."</p><ul><li>"We firmly believe state-led efforts are fully consistent with conservative principles and with your stated goals of promoting human flourishing while accelerating innovation."</li></ul><p><strong>In Utah, </strong>White House meddling<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/15/white-house-utah-ai-transparency-bill" target="_blank">completely knocked</a> an AI bill off-course, Axios first reported, driving pro-AI safety advocates in the state to take out <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/utah-billboards-david-sacks-ai-bill" target="_blank">billboards</a> targeting White House AI czar David Sacks.</p><ul><li>"The bill is unfortunately dead," Melissa McKay, policy director for Utah-based advocacy group Child First Policy Center,<strong> </strong>told Axios. "The mid-session attack memo from the White House created enough confusion and conflicting opinions to doom it."</li></ul><p><strong>In Florida, </strong>the Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed AI Bill of Rights passed the state Senate this week, but <a href="https://floridianpress.com/2026/03/florida-senate-passes-ai-bill-of-rights-house-approval-unlikely/" target="_blank">intervention</a> in the House will keep it from hitting the floor.</p><ul><li>State House Speaker Daniel Perez told <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/03/04/desantis-ai-bill-of-rights-clears-senate-but-house-wont-touch-it/" target="_blank">reporters</a> this week that he won't bring up the bill and he shares the White House's view on state AI laws.</li><li>A spokesperson for DeSantis declined to comment on the future of the bill.</li></ul><p><strong>In Ohio,</strong> <a href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/11/17/whats-in-ohios-proposal-banning-ai-personhood/" target="_blank">a bill that would ban AI from any form of legal personhood</a> is currently being overhauled, said its sponsor, state Rep. Thad Claggett, who signed onto the 50-lawmaker letter.</p><ul><li>"We know how incredibly difficult it is for Congress to deal with leading-edge stuff, and that's okay. But, we are very interested in protecting our people, and so we're going to continue to work," he told Axios. </li><li>He said he will engage the White House at some point to see if they have any input on his bill, but he won't reach out until the bill is ready.</li></ul><p><strong>The other side:</strong> The White House did not directly respond to questions about the GOP state lawmaker letter, the AI litigation task force or the Ohio bill.</p><p><strong>What we're watching:</strong> The executive order calls for the administration to identify laws, not bills that are in the works. </p><ul><li>So it's most likely that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/newsom-signs-major-california-ai-bill" target="_blank">California</a> and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/19/new-york-ai-safety-bill-hochul" target="_blank">New York</a>'s AI frontier safety laws will be targeted first. Plus, Colorado's <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/12/17/colorado-ai-law-trump-executive-order" target="_blank">AI law</a> was the only one specifically called out by name in Trump's order.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> The tension between GOP state lawmakers who want to pass AI bills and a White House dead set on fending off as many state AI laws as possible is only heating up.</p>

<p>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/tony-gonzales-affair-staffer-gop-resignation-calls" target="_blank">Tony Gonzales</a> (R-Texas) will not seek reelection, he announced late Thursday.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>His announcement came hours after <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/mike-johnson-tony-gonzales-affair-staffer-reelection" target="_blank">Speaker Mike Johnson</a> (R-La.) and his House GOP leadership team called on Gonzales to drop out of his race after the Texas Republican admitted to having an affair with a former staffer.</p><hr /><ul><li>The House Ethics Committee <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/house-ethics-investigation-tony-gonzales-affair" target="_self">formally launched an investigation</a> into Gonzales the morning after his March 3 primary election, which saw him headed to a runoff election.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Gonzales' departure turns the 23rd District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, into an open-seat battleground overnight without the advantage of a Republican incumbency.</p><ul><li>He was facing <a href="https://link.axios.com/click/44308670.17894/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL3Nhbi1hbnRvbmlvLzIwMjQvMDQvMDIvdGV4YXMtZWxlY3Rpb24tdG9ueS1nb256YWxlcy1icmFuZG9uLWhlcnJlcmEtZ3Vucz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX3NhbmFudG9uaW8mc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/68f8db115c7e806e100f9c66Bc2c15ef7" target="_blank">Brandon Herrera</a> in the primary runoff. Gonzales received 41.7% of the primary vote and Herrera received 43.3%.</li><li>The seat had been a swing seat, but the last Democrat to win was Pete Gallego in 2012.</li></ul><p><strong>What he's saying: </strong>"After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I've always had in my district," <a href="https://x.com/reptonygonzales/status/2029772094481842245?s=46" target="_blank">said</a> Gonzales, who was first elected to the House in 2020, in a statement posted to X.</p><ul><li>"Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Gonzales was mum on the affair allegations for months before Wednesday, when he called it a "<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/04/tony-gonzales-admits-affair-staffer-suicide-texas-23rd-district-congress/?utm_source=thetexastribune.beehiiv.com&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=breaking-news-rep-tony-gonzales-admits-affair-with-aide-who-died-by-suicide&amp;_bhlid=99c1002ae77ece26899fa78d856ab420afc943d5&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">lapse in judgment</a>."</p><ul><li>The staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, died in September 2025.</li><li>The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.</li></ul><p><strong>The latest:</strong> Herrera posted late Thursday night on X: "I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision. I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves. From the border, to oil theft, water rights, data centers, and many other issues. It's an honor to be chosen and together we will make Texas proud."</p><p><strong>What's next: </strong>Herrera will face Katy Padilla Stout in November.</p><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Brandon Herrera received 43.3% of the primary vote (not Tony Gonzales) and updated with a statement from Herrera.</em></p>

<p>The U.S. and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/07/trump-venezuela-oil-power-play" target="_blank">Venezuela</a> "have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations," the State Department announced Thursday.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The historic deal with a former U.S. foe comes as President Trump pushes to apply his actions in Caracas that led to the capture of former leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/maduro-capture-reasons-us-venezuela" target="_blank">Nicolás Maduro</a> to Iran, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">telling Axios</a> Thursday that he must be involved in picking a successor to assassinated Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-khamenei-killed-israel" target="_self">Ali Khamenei</a>.</p><hr /><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> administration officials visited Venezuela this week, where Interior Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/trump-us-venezuela-gold-deal" target="_blank">Doug Burgum met</a> with acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez to discuss oil and mineral opportunities, and help shepherd a multimillion-dollar gold deal.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela," per a State Department <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/03/a-statement-on-u-s-venezuela-relations/" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p><ul><li>"Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government."</li></ul><p><strong>The Venezuelan National Executive</strong> has reaffirmed its commitment to diplomatic and energy cooperation with the U.S., according to a <a href="https://vicepresidencia.gob.ve/noticias/" target="_blank">statement</a> posted to Rodríguez's webpage.</p><ul><li>Rodríguez expressed the Venezuelan government's "full willingness to build a joint work agenda based on respect and mutual benefit" during Burgum's two-day visit.</li><li>She "sent a message of openness" to the Trump administration that reaffirmed Venezuela's "willingness to maintain a diplomatic agenda of peace and economic cooperation," the statement added.</li></ul><p><strong>Flashback: </strong>Maduro directed Venezuela to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2019/01/27/venezuela-united-states-diplomats-embassy" target="_blank">cut ties</a> with the U.S. in 2019 after Trump recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's interim president.</p><ul><li>Guaidó's representatives administered Venezuelan embassies and consulates in the U.S. until his ouster in 2023, when they all <a href="https://diplomatictimes.net/2023/01/10/venezuela-embassy-in-washington-us-operated-by-opposition-shuts-down/" target="_blank">closed</a> as a result.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper... </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/trump-us-venezuela-gold-deal" target="_blank">Scoop: Trump officials broker massive U.S.-Venezuela gold deal</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.</em></p>

<p>President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-dhs-shutdown-democrats-funding-trump" target="_blank">Kristi Noem</a> on Thursday after he consulted allies and advisers — all of whom told him it was time for her to go, sources tell Axios.</p><ul><li>"She burnt up a ton of goodwill," an adviser who spoke with <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> told Axios. "It was everywhere. It was everything."</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Trump's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-ice-dhs" target="_blank">firing of Noem</a> was the biggest personnel shake-up of his second term. It showed the backlash against her was so great that Trump was willing to dismiss the nation's domestic security chief as he's launching a war abroad.</p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> The ice under Noem was getting thinner and thinner even before this week, when she made two humiliating appearances before House and Senate committees.</p><ul><li>During those public sessions, Noem was subject to bipartisan probing about alleged mismanagement of DHS, her self-promotion at huge taxpayer expense and even a rumored extramarital affair with her de facto chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski.</li><li>Under oath, Noem refused to deny an affair.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Noem recently <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/noem-luxury-jets-dhs-deportations" target="_blank">drew scrutiny</a> from administration officials and congressional leaders for spending deportation funds to buy two luxury Gulfstream jets and leasing a Boeing Business Jet 737, which Noem said would be used for "executive air travel and for deportations." </p><ul><li>But the 737's luxurious interior, with a bedroom and bar onboard, would be unlike any other plane used to deport unauthorized immigrants.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Noem and Lewandowski then lent the 737 to First Lady Melania Trump, who used it on several flights from D.C. to New York. The first lady's office didn't respond to a request for comment.</p><ul><li>"They're smart. Corey is really smart. I don't take that away from them. Because they flew the first lady on it, they think they're bulletproof," an administration official said, calling the move to involve the first lady an "insurance policy" for the spending.</li><li>Planned cost for the three planes: More than $270 million, making it "the world's worst deal to buy an aircraft," an administration official told <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/noem-luxury-jets-dhs-deportations" target="_blank">Axios </a>on Saturday.</li><li>Trump was made aware of the situation and, another official said, spoke with Lewandowski this week about him and Noem moving on. </li><li>"It wasn't a positive call," the official said.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>The plane deal and congressional hearings were the final demerits for Noem, whose reputation in Trump's eyes had taken a beating for her handling of the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, where federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens. </p><ul><li>"Minneapolis was just a disaster. We were supposed to be stopping fraud from Somalian illegals. But we wind up shooting two people in the middle of the street," one of the Trump advisers told Axios. </li><li>At this week's hearings, Noem also struggled to explain why FEMA money meant for disaster relief last year was still held up.</li><li>"She had no goodwill on Capitol Hill," the adviser said. "She mismanaged FEMA. She didn't show up to hearings. She was disrespectful. No one liked her."</li></ul><p><strong>Inside the room: </strong>White House officials hope Noem's firing could help break a congressional logjam over DHS funding. Trump quickly tapped Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin as her replacement. </p><ul><li>The agency has been shut down for almost three weeks as tensions have escalated with Iran, leaving DHS's cyber security sub-agency with furloughed staff and others working without pay. </li><li>Democrats quickly <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-dhs-shutdown-democrats-funding-trump" target="_blank">dismissed</a> the idea that Noem leaving was enough to earn their votes.</li><li>"Democrats were complaining about Noem. Now she's gone," an administration official said. "If they want to still fight the president at a time we need a fully funded Homeland Security department, especially after he made a personnel move they wanted, that's on them to look unreasonable."</li></ul><p><strong>Follow the money: </strong>Trump distanced himself from the controversy over Noem's immigration ad campaign's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/15/trump-self-deportation-ads-noem" target="_blank">contracts</a> that cost about $200 million for production and air time.</p><ul><li>As of Thursday, at least $79 million had been spent to air the immigration ads prominently featuring Noem, according to data from AdImpact. </li><li>Just before dismissing her Thursday with a face-saving newly created administration post, Trump told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-didnt-sign-off-200-million-border-security-ad-campaign-2026-03-05/" target="_blank">Reuters</a> that "I never knew anything about" the ad campaign, which Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said was self-aggrandizing because of how it featured Noem.</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check:</strong> Trump's claims contradict what two senior White House officials told Axios last year when the ad campaign was approved.</p><ul><li>Trump even saw versions of the ads before they were aired. He critiqued one commercial with Noem riding a horse, saying "it wasn't her best," another official said, echoing comments Noem made at last year's CPAC convention.</li><li>"He said: 'I want you in the ads, and I want your face in the ads,' " Noem recalled Trump telling her in February 2025.</li><li>"But," she said Trump told her, "I want [in] the first ad .... I want you to thank me for closing the border."</li></ul><p><strong>More from Axios:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/noem-dhs-controversies-minnesota-ads-planes" target="_blank">5 controversies that dogged Noem's DHS tenure</a></li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/senate-gop-cheers-trumps-decision-to-dump-noem" target="_blank">Senate GOP cheers Trump's decision to dump Noem</a></li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/pam-bondi-kristi-noem-democrats-epstein-impeach" target="_blank">Dems turn their sights to Pam Bondi after Noem firing</a></li></ul>

<p>The Pentagon has formally designated <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/pentagon-anthropic-white-house-amodei" target="_blank">Anthropic</a> a supply chain risk, as CEO Dario Amodei apologized Thursday for a leaked memo criticizing the Trump administration. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The dispute has raised fundamental questions over AI governance and cast a shadow over the industry's relationship with Washington. </p><hr /><ul><li>Amodei won a legion of fans — and Anthropic's Claude a flood of new users — for his initial strong stance in a dispute over how AI could be used by the military. </li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Despite the apology, Anthropic still plans to sue over the Pentagon's designation of the company as a supply chain risk, which Anthropic says is narrow and only restricts certain activities. </p><p><strong>"It was a difficult day for the company,</strong> and I apologize for the tone of the post," a new blog post from Amodei said Thursday, referring to an <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/pentagon-anthropic-white-house-amodei" target="_blank">explosive internal memo</a> to staff that put negotiations in jeopardy. </p><ul><li>"It does not reflect my careful or considered views. It was also written six days ago and is an out of date assessment of the current situation," Amodei said in the post, a copy of which was obtained by Axios. </li><li>Amodei says Anthropic did not leak the post or ask anyone else to do it. </li><li>The company's "most important" goal now, he added, "is making sure that our war fighters and national security experts are not deprived of the important tools in the middle of war."</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>"DOW officially informed Anthropic leadership the company and its products are deemed a supply chain risk, effective immediately," a senior Pentagon official said in a statement. </p><ul><li>"The military will not allow a vendor to insert itself into the chain of command by restricting the lawful use of a critical capability and put our warfighters at risk." </li></ul><p><strong>Others in the industry viewed </strong>the Pentagon's supply chain designation as narrow as well. </p><ul><li>"Our lawyers have studied the designation and have concluded that Anthropic products, including Claude, can remain available to our customers—other than the Department of War—through platforms such as M365, GitHub, and Microsoft's AI Foundry and that we can continue to work with Anthropic on non-defense related projects," a Microsoft spokesperson said.</li></ul><p><strong>Tension point: </strong>As of Thursday night, the Pentagon was still actively using Claude to provide support for military operations, including in Iran, according to a source familiar.</p><p><strong>Behind the scenes: </strong>The Pentagon's deadline for Anthropic to adhere to its "all lawful purposes" standard came and went last Friday at 5:01pm, but days passed and no formal designation of a supply chain risk had been sent. </p><ul><li>OpenAI announced a deal with the Pentagon soon after the deadline passed, but it was quickly criticized as lacking the proper protections for mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons, prompting CEO Sam Altman to come back with <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/openai-pentagon-ai-surveillance" target="_blank">stronger language</a> on Tuesday.</li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Microsoft. </em></p>

<p>Attorney General Pam Bondi may suffer the most collateral damage from DHS Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-ice-dhs" target="_blank">Kristi Noem's firing</a>, with congressional Democrats now saying it gives them space to focus their criticism and scrutiny squarely on her.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Bondi has already faced intense flak from Congress over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with lawmakers in both parties accusing her of being insufficiently transparent.</p><hr /><ul><li>Five Republicans on the House Oversight Committee voted with Democrats on Wednesday to subpoena Bondi to testify about the Epstein matter.</li><li>And Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) on Thursday <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/pam-bondi-impeach-democrat-epstein-files-doj-ag" target="_blank">introduced articles of impeachment</a> against Bondi, charging her with obstruction of Congress and dereliction of duty for withholding Epstein documents.</li><li>A DOJ spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the impeachment measure.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), asked about Noem's ouster at a press conference Thursday, name-checked Bondi and White House adviser Stephen Miller as the two who have "got to go" next.</p><ul><li>"We're going to approach those two toxic individuals with the same intensity that has now led to the termination of Kristi Noem," he said.</li><li>House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin told Axios: "Look there's a culture of lawlessness and chaos in the Cabinet and Noem was a big part of it, but Bondi is a central part of it and she's been at the heart of the Epstein cover-up."</li><li>"Pam Bondi is the most high-profile member of the Cabinet that is involved in corruption, so I think a lot of folks are going to look at that," said Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.).</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Politics is also at play, of course, with polling that suggests Bondi is <a href="https://www.270towin.com/uploads/Atlas-US-1225.pdf" target="_blank">one of the least popular</a> Trump Cabinet official helping to fuel these efforts. </p><ul><li>"The president does has a proclivity for getting rid of people who are dragging him down," said Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), a senior Oversight Committee member.</li><li>"Kristi Noem was dragging him down and I think Pam Bondi is too on the Epstein thing. ... She's causing the president some pain right now and I would not be surprised if he was thinking about getting rid of her."</li></ul><p><strong>Flashback: </strong>Bondi clashed ferociously with Democrats at a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/pam-bondi-hearing-congress-democrats-epstein" target="_blank">House Judiciary Committee hearing</a> last month, in which she referred to Raskin as a "washed-up, loser lawyer."</p><ul><li>Democrats and even some Republicans also raged at her after it was revealed that the Justice Department was <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/pam-bondi-trump-spying-congress-doj-epstein" target="_blank">cataloguing members' searches</a> of unredacted Epstein files.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>The heat is also not fully off Noem. "I'm not done with her yet, she still needs to get impeached," said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), who has <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/kristi-noem-impeachment-democrat-dhs-rfk-trump" target="_blank">pushed for impeachment hearings</a>.</p><ul><li>Noting that Noem now <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-fired-moved" target="_blank">has a new</a> — albeit lower profile role — in the Trump administration, Ramirez told Axios: "If we end up impeaching her and taking it to the Senate, she'll never be able to serve in any public position."</li><li>Impeachment is a long shot, however, with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress. The Senate also requires a two-thirds majority to convict in an impeachment trial.</li></ul>

<p>Azerbaijan's ambassador to the U.S. told Axios his country is taking "appropriate defensive and precautionary measures" following an <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei" target="_blank">Iranian</a> drone strike on the Nakhchivan exclave.</p><ul><li>Asked if he was worried about another attack, ambassador Khazar Ibrahim said it's "not about worrying." Instead: "We are calculating, we are looking at facts, and we are making decisions."</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The salvo, which Iran denied responsibility for, again <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-war-countries-gulf-qatar-us" target="_blank">widens a war</a> that is just days-old and has killed many, including American troops.</p><hr /><p><strong>The latest: </strong>Baku and Washington are in close contact regarding the incident, according to Ibrahim.</p><ul><li>The two governments have a track record of cooperation, including overflight and refueling rights during the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/06/trump-bush-war-on-terror-immigration" target="_blank">global war on terror</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Videos seen by Axios show an explosion and black smoke near the Nakhchivan International Airport. A loud buzzing sound can be heard before impact.</p><ul><li>Iran must apologize, provide an "official explanation, ensure those responsible for this crime are held accountable, and also, of course, ensure never again these kinds of things happen," Ibrahim said.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Azerbaijan's <a href="https://mod.gov.az/en/news/statement-by-the-ministry-of-defense-of-the-republic-of-azerbaijan-56665.html" target="_blank">defense ministry</a> said the "technical specifications" of the drones used are under investigation. </p><ul><li>Iran has leaned heavily on its Shahed, which experts have likened to a poor man's cruise missile.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/20/azerbaijan-armenia-trump-deal-defense" target="_blank">Azerbaijan wants deeper U.S. ties after Armenia peace deal</a></p>

<p>The House on Thursday rejected an effort to advance legislation that would restrict President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> from using further <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">military action in Iran</a>.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The failed vote amounts to an endorsement of Trump's military campaign in Iran from Congress, which has the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-iran-congress-war-powers-vote" target="_blank">constitutional authority</a> to declare war.</p><hr /><ul><li>The 212<strong>-</strong>219<strong> </strong>vote comes one day after the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/iran-senate-war-powers-vote-democrats-tim-kaine" target="_blank">Senate rejected</a> a similar measure, mainly along party lines. </li><li>Two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Warren Davison (R-Ohio) — voted with the majority of Democrats in support of the measure.</li><li>Four Democrats — Reps. Jared Golden (Maine), Henry Cuellar (Texas) and Greg Landsman (Ohio) and Juan Vargas (Calif.) — voted against it. </li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines</strong>: A handful of Democrats are <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/democrats-iran-war-powers-trump-vote-house" target="_blank">backing a resolution</a> that would give the Trump administration more leeway, directing the president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran within 30 days of the Feb. 28 attack, barring congressional approval.</p><ul><li>The stronger measure the House voted on Thursday had the backing of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and the rest of Democratic leadership, putting Thursday's opponents<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/democrats-iran-war-powers-vote-primary" target="_blank"> on an island</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>The vote follows<strong> </strong>several days of classified Capitol Hill briefings from top Trump officials that left both parties questioning how long the U.S. operation in Iran will last.</p><ul><li>Congressional Republicans have largely rallied behind the military campaign, though some GOP lawmakers have drawn red lines on sending ground troops or raised concerns that the war could drag out longer than anticipated. </li><li>Democrats have argued that the administration has failed to provide sufficient justification for and information about the attack.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday that passage of a War Powers resolution would "empower our enemies." </p><ul><li>"Congress has a constitutional right to exercise its oversight authority, and we will, but we also have a duty and obligation not to undercut our own national security," Johnson said.</li><li>"The moral hazard posed by a government no longer constrained by the constitution is a grave threat," Davidson, one of the two Republicans to support the measure, said in a floor speech Wednesday. </li></ul><p><strong>What's next:</strong> The Pentagon is preparing to send Congress a supplemental funding request, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said.</p><p><em>Editor's note: This story was updated with more information.</em></p>

<p>Republican senators celebrated President Trump's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-ice-dhs" target="_blank">decision to replace</a> Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Sen. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/markwayne-mullin-homeland-security-secretary-nominee" target="_blank">Markwayne Mullin</a> (R-Okla.). </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Congressional Republicans — along with the White House — are eager to turn the page on a department that's dragging down the party's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/trump-ice-support-abolish-half-americans-record-poll" target="_blank">image on immigration</a>, the very issue it rode to victory in 2024.</p><hr /><ul><li>Trump wasn't a "happy cowboy" about Noem and her <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/15/trump-self-deportation-ads-noem" target="_blank">$200 million media campaign</a>, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said. Many Senate Republicans were just as angry as the president and were already preparing Thursday afternoon for a fast confirmation process for Mullin. </li><li>Mullin is "pretty well vetted around here, so hopefully we can get the process going because I think that's a position that's going to need to be filled quickly," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play:</strong> Democrats, while declaring good riddance to Noem, insisted that a change at the top would not unlock <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-dhs-shutdown-democrats-funding-trump" target="_blank">funding for DHS,</a> which has been shut down since Feb. 14.</p><ul><li>"No one person can straighten this up until the president changes the whole agency," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "This is not an issue of personnel. This is an issue of policy."</li><li>"I'm not going to vote for $1 more for that agency as long as they are body-slamming American citizens, barging into American homes without warrants or murdering Americans," Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said.</li></ul><p><strong>Still, Booker acknowledged</strong> that Mullin's confirmation is likely a foregone conclusion.</p><ul><li>"If it's a 50-vote threshold, I would imagine he will be confirmed," Booker told Axios. Cabinet nominations require only a simple majority.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> There's a serious beef between Mullen and Sen. Ran Paul (R-Ky.), the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security &amp; Governmental Affairs, which will handle Mullin's nomination.</p><ul><li>"Rand Paul's a freaking snake," Mullin told a group at home in Tulsa last month. "And I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did," he said, apparently referring to a 2017 assault on Paul that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2017/12/15/paul-suffered-five-broken-ribs-in-attack-1513306692" target="_blank">left him with five fractured ribs</a>. </li><li>"And I told him that to his face," <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5746273-markwayne-mullin-rand-paul-gop-rift/" target="_blank">Mullin said</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Trump's Truth Social announcement that he was replacing Noem was read aloud by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), who was hosting a lunch for colleagues off the Senate floor.</p><ul><li>"Jim Banks was flagging me down. He's like, 'Look at your phone. Look at your phone,'" Schmitt said. "So I saw it and just announced it to the group."</li><li>"Markwayne will do a great job. He's strong on the border, and that's what we need," Schmitt added.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out:</strong> Trump had been sounding out GOP senators in recent days about naming Mullin and made clear his anger at Noem for spending more than $200 million on an advertising campaign.</p><ul><li>"The president asked me what I thought about him, and I told him that I was very fond of Markwayne. I think he's smart," Kennedy said.</li><li>In a contentious Tuesday hearing, Kennedy grilled Noem over a $200 million ad campaign that she said the president had authorized. </li></ul><p><strong>Sen Thom Tillis </strong>(R-N.C.) berated her<strong> </strong>for her overall performance and brought up an anecdote in her memoir where she <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/02/scoop-kristi-noem-needled-by-launch-of-new-house-group" target="_blank">bragged about killing a dog</a>. </p><ul><li>"Senator Markwayne Mullin is a great guy and a great choice to lead DHS," Tillis said Thursday <a href="https://x.com/SenThomTillis/status/2029642281997770948" target="_blank">on X</a>. </li><li>"Another big positive: he likes dogs."</li></ul>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> on Thursday announced Sen. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/markwayne-mullin-homeland-security-secretary-nominee" target="_blank">Markwayne Mullin</a> (R-Okla.) as his pick to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-ice-dhs" target="_blank">take over</a> as Homeland Security Secretary, replacing <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/26/kristi-noem-impeachment-democrats-minnesota-ice" target="_blank">Kristi Noem</a>, who has been given a new position. </p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> Rather than outright firing top appointees, Trump has opted in his second term to shuffle them into new roles — a contrast with the record number of firings in his first administration. </p><hr /><ul><li>While announcing her departure from DHS on Thursday, Trump praised Noem's tenure, saying she "has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!)" and thanking her for her service at the agency.</li><li>Noem will be "moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere," and more details on the initiative will be announced Saturday, the president added. </li><li>Reports that Trump planned to fire Noem had circulated for weeks amid a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/noem-dhs-controversies-minnesota-ads-planes" target="_blank">series of controversies</a>.</li></ul><p><em>Here are the Trump allies who have been relocated. </em></p><h2>Mike Waltz </h2><p>In 2025, Trump <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/01/waltz-resigns-trump-admin-signal-scandal" target="_blank">removed Mike Waltz</a> from his role as national security adviser — a post he held for about a month — and nominated him to serve as United States ambassador to the United Nations.</p><p><strong>Context:</strong> The move came after Waltz inadvertently included a journalist in a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/26/trump-signal-group-chat-members" target="_blank">Signal chat</a> discussing sensitive details about the timing, sequencing and results of <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/15/us-air-strikes-houthis-yemen" target="_blank">strikes</a> against Houthi rebels in Yemen. </p><ul><li>Though administration officials said <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/25/trump-signal-houthi-group-chat-defend-waltz" target="_self">no classified information</a> was shared in messages later published by The Atlantic, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/25/signal-app-trump-official-yemen-atlantic" target="_self">security experts</a> and lawmakers said the incident raised serious concerns about how officials handle <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/26/signal-chat-trump-officials-lawsuit-hegseth" target="_blank">secure communications</a>. </li><li>Trump replaced Waltz on an interim basis with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/27/trump-cabinet-rubio-vought-patel" target="_blank">juggled multiple roles</a> within the administration. </li></ul><p><strong>The other side:</strong> Several <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/24/atlantic-yemen-signal-hegseth-jeffrey-goldberg" target="_blank">Democratic lawmakers</a> called for Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be fired after Signalgate. </p><h2>Billy Long</h2><p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/04/trump-billy-long-irs" target="_blank">Billy Long</a> announced his departure from the Internal Revenue Service less than two months after being sworn in as commissioner, saying Trump had tapped him to serve as ambassador to Iceland. </p><ul><li>"I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda," Long <a href="https://x.com/auctnr1/status/1953917753854759307" target="_blank">said</a> in August. "Exciting times ahead!"</li><li>The IRS faced <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/20/irs-layoffs-trump-doge" target="_self">deep job cuts</a> amid a DOGE-driven purge of the federal government, as well as <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/21/irs-federal-workers-taxes-harvard" target="_self">significant leadership churn</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Worth noting:</strong> Trump nominated <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/05/trump-fed-bessent" target="_self">Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent</a> as the agency's acting head, marking the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/previous-irs-commissioners" target="_blank">sixth</a> person to lead the IRS in the president's second term. </p><h2>Greg Bovino</h2><p>Amid Trump's immigration crackdown in Minnesota, Border Patrol commander <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/26/bovino-leads-trump-immigration-crackdown" target="_blank">Greg Bovino</a> was pulled from his leadership role in the state and reassigned as chief of the El Centro, Calif., border sector. </p><ul><li><strong>State of play:</strong> Trump and <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/05/tim-walz-drop-out-minnesota-governor-race" target="_blank">Gov. Tim Walz</a> (D-MN) had a "productive" phone call on the situation in Minnesota just hours before Bonino's replacement was announced.</li><li>The move also came just days after a Border Patrol agent <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/25/minnesota-rare-legal-steps-investigation-alex-pretti-shooting" target="_blank">fatally shot Pretti</a>.</li><li>Trump sent border czar Tom <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/26/tom-homan-minnesota-border-czar-trump-about" target="_self">Homan</a> to Minneapolis to take over immigration operations, saying Homan will "report directly to me."</li><li>Weeks later, Homan announced the 10-week crackdown in the Twin Cities had <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/02/12/trump-ice-metro-surge-ends-minneapolis" target="_blank">officially ended</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/noem-dhs-controversies-minnesota-ads-planes" target="_blank">5 controversies that dogged Noem's DHS tenure</a></p>

<p>Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) filed articles of impeachment against Attorney General <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/pam-bondi-hearing-congress-democrats-epstein" target="_blank">Pam Bondi</a> on Thursday over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The effort is an extreme long shot, but it shows where Democrats are turning their attention now that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-ice-dhs" target="_blank">DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is out</a>.</p><hr /><ul><li>The House Oversight Committee voted on a bipartisan basis Wednesday <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/house-oversight-subpoena-pam-bondi-epstein" target="_blank">to subpoena Bondi</a> over the Epstein files.</li><li>The subpoena was offered by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), but all Democrats voted for it along with four other Republicans.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Thanedar introduced <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27773108-thanedar-pam-bondi-impeachment-articles/" target="_blank">three articles of impeachment</a> charging Bondi with obstruction of Congress, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice, and weaponizing and politicizing the DOJ.</p><ul><li>Thanedar said that Bondi is "illegally withholding millions of Epstein Files" after Congress <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/18/house-votes-to-release-jeffrey-epstein-files" target="_blank">passed a law</a> requiring DOJ to release all of its documents related to the deceased billionaire and convicted sex offender.</li><li>"Her conduct is a spit in the face to survivors everywhere, and we cannot allow it to continue," he said.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>This is the third time since Trump took office last year that Thanedar has tried to impeach either the president or one of his Cabinet officials.</p><ul><li>He initially sought to force a vote on his articles of impeachment against Trump in May, but <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/14/trump-impeachment-house-vote-shri-thanedar" target="_blank">scrapped those plans</a> at the last minute.</li><li>Thanedar has also moved to impeach Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/pete-hegseth-impeachment-democrat-shri-thanedar" target="_blank">Pete Hegseth</a> over "<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/02/pentagon-signalgate-defense-department-congress-review" target="_blank">Signalgate</a>" and reports of double-tap strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>Neither of these efforts has gained much traction with Thanedar's fellow Democrats, let alone the Republicans who control the House.</p><ul><li>A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</li></ul><p>Read the articles of impeachment here: </p>

<p>Department of Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/26/kristi-noem-impeachment-democrats-minnesota-ice" target="_blank">Kristi Noem</a> is leaving the department and he will nominate Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as her replacement, President Trump said Thursday. </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Noem's exit leaves Trump's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/24/trump-deportation-judges-margolin" target="_blank">mass deportation</a> agenda without its most prominent face amid a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/trump-ice-support-abolish-half-americans-record-poll" target="_blank">public backlash</a>.</p><hr /><p><strong>What he's saying:</strong> Trump said Noem will be "moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida." </p><ul><li>He also said Mullin will start on March 31, calling him a "A MAGA Warrior" who "truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda." </li><li>"Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN." </li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> Noem drew bipartisan fury after accusing<strong> </strong>Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti and mother <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-shooting-victim-identified-renee-nicole-good-minneapolis" target="_blank">Renee Nicole Good</a> of being <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/25/trump-officials-stick-terrorist-label-on-americans-killed-by-dhs" target="_blank">domestic terrorists</a> after both were shot and killed by federal agents in January.</p><ul><li>She also criticized Pretti for carrying a gun with ammunition to protest ICE enforcement, suggesting he was "wishing to inflict harm on officers."</li><li>Some <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/16/trump-polling-immigration-approval-rating-ice-noem" target="_blank">Trump administration advisers</a> have discussed "recalibrating" the White House's immigration enforcement approach as polling shows declining support for Trump's immigration policies.</li><li>Half of Americans supported <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/trump-ice-support-abolish-half-americans-record-poll" target="_blank">abolishing ICE</a> in an early March YouGov poll, a sign of how much support has eroded for one of Trump's signature political strengths on Noem's watch.</li></ul><p><strong>Noem thanked Trump </strong>for the reassignment in a <a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/2029647010002055467" target="_blank">statement</a> on X Thursday afternoon, saying she looked forward to working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the new post.</p><ul><li>"In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise" forged at DHS, she said, going on to tout "historic accomplishments" at the department.</li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong>Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to depart Trump's second term. </p><ul><li>Across his first term, Trump's Cabinet saw <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/tracking-turnover-in-the-trump-administration/" target="_blank">turnover</a> of 14 secretaries.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> As of March 5, roughly 190 co-sponsors had expressed support for <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/26/kristi-noem-impeachment-democrats-minnesota-ice" target="_blank">impeaching Noem</a> after the Pretti shooting. </p><ul><li>Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) posted on <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/2016134093256200369" target="_blank">X</a> asking Trump to "immediately fire" Noem, saying she is "betraying DHS's core mission." </li><li>Republican Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — both of whom voted to confirm Noem — demanded her resignation in January. </li><li>At a March 3 Senate Judiciary oversight hearing, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/noem-tillis-senate-oversight-testimony-dhs" target="_blank">Tillis called</a> Noem's tenure "a disaster" and threatened to block all of Trump's nominations until she answered his questions.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Noem oversaw a series of militarized immigration surges in major U.S. cities, operations that put the most aggressive enforcement tactics on vivid, often violent display.</p><ul><li>The controversies didn't stop at immigration enforcement. She <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/climate/noem-dhs-fema-delays.html" target="_blank">bottlenecked FEMA's Hurricane Helene disaster relief</a> by requiring her personal approval on <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/03/04/noem-fema-aid-delay-report/" target="_blank">expenses</a> over $100,000, cycled through three acting FEMA administrators, and presided over mass cuts to that agency's workforce. </li><li>She also spent nearly $300 million in border security funds on a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/noem-luxury-jets-dhs-deportations" target="_blank">luxury jet fleet</a> and $220 million more <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/noem-defends-220-million-ad-campaign-amid-lawmaker-scrutiny-2026-03-04/" target="_blank">on ads featuring her</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/16/trump-polling-immigration-approval-rating-ice-noem" target="_blank">Trump's immigration erosion worries his team</a></p><p><em>Editor's note: This story was updated with additional details.</em></p>

<p>Top House and Senate Democrats said Thursday that <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-ice-dhs" target="_blank">Kristi Noem's departure</a> as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security will not be enough for them to support funding for the agency.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>DHS has been shut down for nearly three weeks, with the White House and congressional Democrats offering little indication that they are close to a deal.</p><hr /><ul><li>"A change in personnel is not sufficient, we need a change in policy," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.</li><li>Said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.): "The problems at this agency transcend any one person. The rot is deep. The president has to end the violence and rein in ICE."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Noem's removal was just one demand Democrats made for unsticking DHS funding. They have also laid out <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/05/ice-funding-democrats-republicans-schumer-jeffries-letter" target="_blank">10 reforms to immigration enforcement</a> policies they want to see.</p><ul><li>The proposals include prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks, requiring them to display their IDs, restricting their ability to use force and blocking them from conducting operations at schools, churches and medical facilities. </li><li>"I am so happy that one of the worst administrative leaders I've ever seen is gone. But the agency itself is still reckless and out of control," said Sen Cory Booker (D-N.J.).</li></ul><p><strong>The latest: </strong>Shortly after Noem's exit was announced, the Senate once again failed to advance a DHS funding bill.</p><ul><li>The chamber voted 51 to 45 in favor of proceeding to the bill, but it needed 60 votes to overcome the filibuster. </li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>"It's not like Kristi Noem was involved in negotiating anything," Jeffries said, calling her a "lackey" and offering little comment on her would-be replacement, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).</p><ul><li>"We were dealing with the White House before, and we're going to continue to deal with the White House at this point."</li></ul>

<p>Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is poised to be<strong> </strong>the next Homeland Security Secretary, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-ice-dhs" target="_blank">replacing Kristi Noem</a>, President Trump announced Thursday.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Mullin is a staunchly MAGA firebrand and will likely be in lockstep with <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump's</a> immigration agenda.</p><hr /><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN," Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116178030946996760" target="_blank">said on Truth Social</a>.</p><ul><li>Mullin, who will need Senate confirmation, had previously hinted at being <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/24/trump-native-american-mullin-gabbard" target="_blank">open</a> to an administration position.</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick: </strong>Trump was <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/rump-kristi-noem-replacements-dhs-secretary-congress-hearings-rcna261915" target="_blank">reportedly</a> unhappy with Noem,<strong> </strong>who became the face of his nationwide immigration crackdown.</p><ul><li>Noem came under fire in Congress this week with both Democrats <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/republicans-noem-dhs-grassley-tillis-kennedy" target="_blank">and Republicans</a> slamming her handling of the administration's immigration intiatives.</li><li>Trump said Noem will serve as special envoy to a new "Shield of the Americas" initiative for security in the Western hemisphere.</li></ul><p><em>Here's what to know about the Oklahoman:</em></p><h2>What's Mullin's background?</h2><p><strong>Mullin is the second member </strong>of the Cherokee Nation<strong> </strong>to serve in the Senate, per his office's <a href="https://www.mullin.senate.gov/about/biography/" target="_blank">website</a>. </p><ul><li>He's a rancher and business owner who spent ten years in the House of Representatives before becoming a senator in 2023.</li><li>Mullin serves on<strong> </strong>Senate Armed Services, Appropriations, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Indian Affairs Committees.</li></ul><h2>Mullin's relationship with Trump</h2><p><strong>Mullin has a very close relationship</strong> with the president, having previously <a href="https://x.com/MarkwayneMullin/status/1324715866227937281" target="_blank">supported</a> Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.</p><ul><li>In Senate Majority Leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/26/markwayne-mullin-house-senate-divide-00206090" target="_blank">words</a>, Mullin functioned as a "Senate whisperer" for Trump, explaining the legislature's positions and successfully influencing the president.</li><li>He was a key surrogate for the president during his 2024 campaign, reaching out to indigenous voters in battleground states.</li></ul><h2>What backlash has Mullin faced?</h2><p><strong>Mullin, a former </strong>mixed martial arts fighter, famously <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/14/mullin-teamsters-near-brawl-congress-hearing" target="_blank">challenged</a> Teamsters president Sean O'Brien to a fight during a congressional hearing in 2023 after reading a critical social media post O'Brien had written about him.</p><ul><li>Mullin said, "You want to run your mouth. We can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here."</li><li>The testy exchange continued, but there was no physical altercation.</li></ul><p><strong>The Oklahoman once </strong>faced a multi-year ethics <a href="https://conduct.house.gov/reports/investigations/oce-referral-regarding-rep-markwayne-mullin#:~:text=On%20August%2010%2C%202018%2C%20the,substantially%20complied%20with%20the%20advice." target="_blank">investigation</a> for his continued involvement in his family's businesses while serving the House.</p><ul><li>The investigatory committee concluded in 2018 he had made "good faith efforts" to comply with ethics rules, but required he return $40,000 "mistakenly paid to him."</li></ul><p><strong>Mullin came under fire in</strong> January 2025 for defending then-Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth against <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/11/13/pete-hegseth-fox-news-host-defense-secretary" target="_blank">allegations</a> of alcohol abuse by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEIDXtk4GjU" target="_blank">accusing</a> his fellow senators of workplace intoxication and hypocrisy.</p><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/republicans-noem-dhs-grassley-tillis-kennedy" target="_blank">Republicans grill Noem over her management of DHS</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/noem-lewandowski-homeland-security-firings" target="_blank">Kristi Noem</a> is on her way out at the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/republicans-trump-immigration-dhs-noem-minnesota" target="_blank">Department of Homeland Security</a> after a tenure marred by personal controversies and an unpopular immigration crackdown. </p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> Noem has long been a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/jeffries-trump-kristi-noem-impeachment-fire-dhs" target="_blank">target</a> for Democrats, but her leadership also angered some congressional <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/28/republicans-congress-noem-impeachment" target="_blank">Republicans</a>. She becomes the first Cabinet secretary to be removed from their post in President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a>'s second term.</p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Trump announced Thursday that he plans to tap Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to replace Noem.</p><ul><li>Noem will move to a position as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a "new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere" that Trump said will be announced Saturday. </li></ul><p><em>Here are the controversies that led up to Noem's departure:</em></p><h2>1. Alex Pretti comments</h2><p><strong>Noem came under fire</strong> for claiming that Alex Pretti, a protester who federal immigration agents shot and killed in Minnesota, wanted to "kill" agents and "committed an act of domestic terrorism."</p><ul><li>The incendiary and misleading rhetoric set off <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/trump-stephen-miller-massacre-minnesota-shooting" target="_blank">a blame game</a> within the administration.</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick: </strong>The DHS statement <a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2015115351797780500" target="_blank">shared</a> to X soon after Pretti was killed said an agent "[f]earing for his life" fired "defensive shots" after attempting to "disarm" Pretti, saying it "looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement."</p><ul><li>Noem also inaccurately said Pretti was "brandishing" his weapon. </li><li>Bystander videos showed Pretti never reached for his gun and had been disarmed before he was shot.</li></ul><h2>2. Ad blitz</h2><p><strong>DHS spent millions </strong>on ads promoting Trump's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/15/trump-self-deportation-ads-noem" target="_blank">mass deportation agenda</a> through videos starring Noem.</p><ul><li>Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT8dyabbffs" target="_blank">questioned</a> Noem in early March during a congressional hearing about how the ads square with her "concern for [government] waste."</li><li>Noem responded that Trump "tasked me with getting the message out to the country" and beyond.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Noem was also pressed on whether Trump<strong> </strong>asked her to run the advertisements. She said that they "had that conversation, yes, before I was put in this position ... and since then as well."</p><ul><li><a href="https://punchbowl.news/article/border/immigration/is-noem-done/" target="_blank">Multiple</a> <a href="https://x.com/AudreyFahlberg/status/2029553600439972174" target="_blank">outlets</a> reported that Noem's contention that Trump approved the ad blitz enraged the president.</li><li> A ProPublica <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group" target="_blank">investigation</a> uncovered ties to a company run by Noem's former chief spokesperson's husband. Noem said she had nothing to do with picking the contractors for the ads.</li></ul><h2>3. Luxury jets</h2><p><strong>Noem's plan </strong>to use border funds for a multi-million-dollar jet fleet <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/noem-luxury-jets-dhs-deportations" target="_blank">horrified top officials</a>.</p><ul><li>Noem <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/us/politics/kristi-noem-dhs-gulfstream.html" target="_blank">purchased</a> two Gulfstream G700 luxury jets. A third plane, a Boeing 737, was being leased with plans to buy it for about $70 million.</li><li>The funding comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill's DHS infusion.</li></ul><p><strong>Pressed about the jets</strong> in her recent Senate hearing, Noem said they were used for "long-range command and control aircraft" and said purchasing the aircraft will "save the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars."</p><ul><li>A DHS spokesperson told Axios in a statement late last month, "Anyone who runs a business in the real world will tell you that owning a work vehicle is less expensive than dealing with long-term rental costs."</li></ul><h2>4. Lewandowski's role</h2><p><strong>Corey Lewandowski, a top aide </strong>acting as Noem's de-facto chief-of-staff, has been <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/23/corey-lewandowski-kristi-noem-homeland-security" target="_blank">a source of controversy</a> himself.</p><ul><li>A Wall Street Journal report about Lewandowski <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/chaos-kristi-noem-homeland-security-f095ac95?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqdgf8yHgjqoSHmmhQSsbQZXpgdzFFeHNO18WbNCJTIGa1uOv2uHIax6RwXmeKY%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69a9c42a&amp;gaa_sig=1HLf5RCUiJe8nJd5WW9lXDZdEhyHKPNckRhGQGVm1uPRncdX8ok9DN4Ywu-WWvca0f_uH3uBbXfr3gBnQhkhRA%3D%3D" target="_blank">firing a pilot</a> over Noem's misplaced blanket became new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6hD-PQj_m0" target="_blank">fodder</a> for her critics.</li><li>Once Noem's political adviser, his<strong> </strong>outsized influence at DHS as a "special government employee" has <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/14/white-house-dhs-lewandowski-noem" target="_blank">raised eyebrows</a>.</li></ul><h2>5. A Capitol Hill castigation</h2><p><strong>Noem's final appearance</strong> on the Hill as a Cabinet secretary drew a number of <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/republicans-noem-dhs-grassley-tillis-kennedy" target="_blank">fiery rebukes</a> from both sides of the aisle.</p><ul><li>Sen. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/noem-tillis-senate-oversight-testimony-dhs" target="_blank">Thom Tillis</a> (R-N.C.) called her a "disappointment" and said that "what we've seen is a disaster under your leadership." He had previously called for her to resign.</li><li>He also cited a letter from DHS's Office of the Inspector General as evidence of Noem's leadership missteps, saying the office has "10 different instances under Ms. Noem's leadership where they've been misled and not allowed to pursue investigations that they think are critically important."</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> As <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/09/ice-approval-rating-plummets-trump-immigration" target="_blank">Americans sour</a> on Trump's immigration crackdown, there's no guarantee the DHS drama will end with Noem's departure. </p><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/03/noem-dhs-border-wall-construction-contracts" target="_blank">Scoop: 200 miles of Trump's border wall held up by Noem's DHS</a></p>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> told Axios on Thursday that Israeli President Isaac Herzog must pardon Prime Minister <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/iran-netanyahu-trump-white-house-talks" target="_blank">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> "today" — calling Herzog "a disgrace" for failing to act over the last year.</p><ul><li>"Every day I talk to Bibi about the war. I want him to focus on the war and not on the f*cking court case. I want the only pressure on Bibi to be the fighting against Iran," Trump said in a phone interview.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Trump has been <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/25/trump-cancel-netanyahu-corruption-trial" target="_blank">pushing for a Netanyahu pardon</a> since last June, arguing that his trial on corruption charges — ongoing since 2020 — is a "witch hunt" akin to the U.S. president's own legal troubles.</p><hr /><ul><li>But Thursday's comments — which Trump raised himself, unprompted — marked a dramatic escalation and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/03/trump-netanyahu-corruption-trial-60-minutes" target="_blank">direct intervention</a> in Israel's legal system at a moment of active war.</li></ul><p><strong>What he is saying:</strong> "The president ... should give Bibi the pardon today. I don't want anything on Bibi's mind other than fighting against Iran," Trump told Axios.</p><ul><li>Trump claimed Herzog promised him five times over the past year that he would grant the pardon and never followed through. "He told me he would give it to him. But he has held it over Bibi's head for a year."</li><li>"Tell him I am exposing him. That president better damn well give him the pardon right now — and stop using it as leverage for his own political career," he said.</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>A senior Israeli official pushed back on Trump's account, saying Herzog never promised a pardon.</p><ul><li>Herzog told Trump advisers Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee that he would consider the request in line with legal procedures, the official said.</li></ul><p><strong>"At a time when we are all mobilized</strong>, the President is not dealing with the issue of a pardon for Prime Minister Netanyahu," Herzog's office said in a statement.</p><ul><li>The statement praised Trump as "the leader of the free world" and "a central ally of Israel" — before delivering a pointed rebuke: "Israel is a sovereign state governed by the rule of law."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Trump said Netanyahu "should not be on trial over wine and cigars" — a reference to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2019/11/21/netanyahu-indicted-for-bribery-fraud-breach-of-trust" target="_blank">charges alleging</a> he received hundreds of thousands of dollars in cigars, champagne, jewelry and other gifts from billionaires in exchange for political favors.</p><ul><li>Trump added that Netanyahu is a wartime prime minister who "should not be in jail" and said he refuses to meet Herzog until the pardon is granted.</li><li>A Trump adviser who has spoken to the president about the pardon told Axios: "Half of us know Bibi's full of crap, and half of us kind of think Bibi's a genius." Some believe both, the adviser added.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Trump's public pressure may be self-defeating.</p><ul><li>Israeli legal experts say that if Herzog grants the pardon now, it could be challenged before the Supreme Court on the grounds that it was the product of foreign political coercion rather than a legitimate legal process.</li><li>Netanyahu's trial has been suspended regardless — the courts are closed under the emergency measures declared since the start of the war, other than for urgent matters.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>The legal process of reviewing Netanyahu's pardon is still ongoing, with Herzog not yet receiving final legal opinions from all relevant government lawyers.</p><ul><li>"[O]nce the process is complete, the President of the State will examine the request in accordance with the law, the best interests of the state, and his conscience, and without any influence from external or internal pressures of any kind," Herzog's office said.</li></ul><p><strong>Netanyahu has refused to admit</strong> any wrongdoing or express remorse — two key conditions for receiving a pardon under Israeli law.</p><ul><li>His testimony remains ongoing, with Netanyahu and his lawyers repeatedly using delay tactics to shorten or cancel hearings. He has contradicted himself at points in his testimony</li><li>"The President has previously expressed publicly his position that it would be appropriate for the relevant systems to engage in substantive dialogue with the aim of reaching an agreed arrangement, including the possibility of a plea deal, in the Prime Minister's case," Herzog's office said.</li></ul>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> told Axios in an interview Thursday that he needs to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader — just as he was in Venezuela.</p><ul><li>Trump revealed this exclusively in an eight-minute phone call — his <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-iran-war-israel-off-ramps" target="_blank">second conversation</a> with us to explain his war planning.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Trump acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of assassinated supreme leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-khamenei-killed-israel" target="_blank">Ali Khamenei</a>, is the most likely successor — while making clear he finds that outcome unacceptable.</p><hr /><ul><li>For several days, the Iranian regime has postponed the announcement of the new supreme leader. But statements by Iranian politicians on Thursday suggested an announcement could be imminent.</li></ul><p><strong>What he's saying:</strong> "They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," Trump said.</p><ul><li>He added that he refuses to accept a new Iranian leader who would continue Khamenei's policies, which he said would force the U.S. back to war "in five years."</li><li>"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Trump said.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Trump's comments represent an extraordinary claim of American power over Iran's political future, further muddying the objectives of the massive U.S. military campaign he launched on Saturday.</p><ul><li>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other U.S. officials have denied that the goal of the operation is "regime change," focusing instead on degrading Iran's missile capabilities, nuclear program and Navy.</li><li>Asked Tuesday who could replace Khamenei, Trump <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/world/middleeast/iranian-leaders-trum.html" target="_blank">told reporters</a> at the White House: "Most of the people we had in mind are dead."</li></ul><p><strong>The backdrop: </strong>Mojtaba Khamenei — the 56-year-old son of the assassinated supreme leader — has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed his father, though no formal announcement has been made.</p><ul><li>A hardline cleric with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Khamenei has never held public office.</li><li>Israel <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-supreme-leader-council-israel-strike" target="_blank">bombed the Iranian building</a> in Qom housing the clerical body responsible for selecting Iran's next supreme leader on Tuesday, seeking to disrupt the vote-counting.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Trump compared the Iran succession to his intervention in Venezuela, where vice president <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/04/delcy-rodriguez-maduro-venezuela-attack" target="_blank">Delcy Rodriguez</a> took over after U.S. forces captured <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/maduro-capture-trump-venezuela-operation" target="_blank">Nicolás Maduro</a> in January.</p><ul><li>In his State of the Union address, Trump called Venezuela "our new friend and partner" and said the U.S. had received more than 80 million barrels of oil since the Maduro operation.</li><li>Trump praised Rodriguez on Wednesday — saying "the oil is beginning to flow" — after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Caracas and Rodriguez <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-interior-secretary-meets-with-rodriguez-mining-companies-venezuela-visit-2026-03-04/" target="_blank">announced plans</a> to reform the country's mining laws.</li></ul>

<p>The <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-expanding-israel-lebanon-gulf-cyprus" target="_blank">war in Iran</a> has rapidly expanded beyond the Middle East, pulling in U.S. allies and bystanders alike.</p><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> Since the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-attack-trump-us-israel-strikes" target="_blank">U.S. strikes</a> began on Saturday, Iran has retaliated against Israel and multiple Gulf states, plunging the region further into chaos.</p><hr /><ul><li>U.S. embassies across the region remain on high alert, with the State Department urging Americans to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/state-department-iran-trump-flights-middle-east-americans" target="_blank">leave immediately</a>.</li></ul><p><em>Here's what we know about the countries involved.</em></p><h2>Countries involved with Iran war</h2><p><strong>United States:</strong> President Trump ignited the conflict last Saturday with a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-us-israel-strikes-operation-epic-fury" target="_blank">massive military operation</a> aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear program, its missile arsenal and its proxy networks — and ultimately forcing <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-iran-war-iraq-venezuela" target="_blank">regime change</a>.</p><ul><li>At least <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" target="_blank">six U.S. service members</a> have died since the conflict began.</li></ul><p><strong>Israel: </strong>The U.S. and Israel coordinated the attack after months of <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/iran-nuclear-talks-geneva" target="_blank">failed negotiations</a> over Iran's nuclear program.</p><ul><li>Israeli strikes <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-khamenei-killed-israel" target="_blank">killed</a> Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-leader-ali-khamenei-what-to-know" target="_blank">Ali Khamenei</a>, along with dozens of senior Iranian officials.</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/_d45K3nsH66wxzhgJhTf3kbKX88=/2026/03/03/1772561309533.jpeg" /> <div>Cars driving on a highway with thick black smoke rising over industrial buildings in Doha after reported Iranian strikes. Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images</div><p><strong>United Arab Emirates:</strong> The U.S. ally has absorbed some <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/uae-iran-missiles-strike-israel" target="_blank">800 projectiles</a> from Iran since the war began.</p><ul><li>Iranian drones struck a luxury hotel on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah and ignited fires at <a href="https://x.com/Reuters/status/2028058918153277638" target="_blank">Jebel Ali Port</a>, one of the region's most critical commercial hubs.</li><li>The UAE closed its embassy in Tehran and is now <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/uae-iran-missiles-strike-israel" target="_blank">considering military action</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Qatar: </strong>The tiny Gulf nation, which has historically had friendly ties with both the U.S. and Iran, suspended most of its natural gas production after Iranian drones struck two of its energy facilities.</p><ul><li>Qatar's air force also <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/2/qatar-says-it-downed-two-iranian-fighter-jets-as-conflict-widens" target="_blank">shot down</a> two Iranian Su-24 fighter jets.</li></ul><p><strong>Kuwait:</strong> Iran attacked Kuwait on the first day of war in an attack that led to the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/02/politics/six-soldiers-killed-in-iranian-strike-kuwait" target="_blank">first American deaths</a>.</p><ul><li>U.S. officials said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jets-downed-kuwait-friendly-fire-iran-f15-1151e092db4597e93e83c04f3b44bddc" target="_blank">American fighter jets</a> were mistakenly downed by friendly Kuwaiti fire on Monday. All six members ejected and are in stable condition.</li></ul><p><strong>Bahrain: </strong>Iran targeted U.S. bases in Bahrain, with <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c9q5p44y3pyo" target="_blank">videos showing smoke</a> rising from near the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Manama.</p><ul><li>Iranian drones also hit several residential buildings in Bahrain's capital.</li></ul><p><strong>Oman: </strong>Iran expanded its strikes to include <a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2028553001644736808?s=20" target="_blank">U.S. bases in Oman</a> on the second day of the war.</p><ul><li>Notably, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/iran-us-nuclear-talks-oman" target="_blank">Oman</a> had been mediating indirect nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.</li></ul><p><strong>Saudi Arabia: </strong>Iran targeted U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia on the second day of strikes. </p><ul><li>On Monday, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-us-embassy-riyadh-saudi-arabia-drones" target="_blank">Iran attacked the U.S. embassy</a> in Riyadh.</li><li>Iranian drones struck the Ras Tanura oil refinery — one of the world's largest — forcing a <a href="https://x.com/ReutersBiz/status/2028520711061663916" target="_blank">partial shutdown</a>. Israeli officials believe Saudi Arabia may also take military action in response, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/uae-iran-missiles-strike-israel" target="_blank">reports</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Jordan: </strong>Iran fired missiles and drones at U.S. military installations in the country. </p><p><strong>Lebanon:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-israel-hezbollah-lebanon" target="_blank">Hezbollah entered the war</a> on Iran's side, launching missiles and drones at Israel on Monday — breaking a ceasefire that had been in place since November 2024.</p><ul><li>Israel responded with heavy airstrikes across Lebanon, killing at least 40 people, including several Hezbollah commanders. Israel also launched an incursion into southern Lebanon.</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/pO3I_6vy48-O3zUuCDANRLZ0sd8=/2026/03/03/1772561432077.jpeg" /> <div>Thick plumes of smoke rising above buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut following heavy bombardment by Israeli forces. Photo: Ibrahim Amro/AFP via Getty Images.</div><p><strong>Iraq:</strong> Iran struck the Kurdish region of Iraq, which it views as closely aligned with the U.S.</p><ul><li>Pro-Iranian militias also attacked U.S. bases in Iraq, and their supporters attempted to storm the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-expanding-israel-lebanon-gulf-cyprus" target="_blank">U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Cyprus: </strong>Drones struck the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/british-air-base-cyprus-hit-by-suspected-drone-strike-sky-news-reports-2026-03-02/" target="_blank">British Royal Air Force base</a> at Akrotiri in Cyprus, pulling the U.K. and the European Union into the conflict. Cypriot press <a href="https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/03/02/new-security-threat-declared-at-akrotiri" target="_blank">reported</a> the strikes likely came from Hezbollah.</p><p><strong>Azerbaijan: </strong>Iranian drones hit a local airport and civilian areas in the country on Thursday, attacking, <a href="https://mod.gov.az/en/news/statement-by-the-ministry-of-defense-of-the-republic-of-azerbaijan-56665.html" target="_blank">Azerbaijani Defense Ministry</a> said.</p><ul><li>Azerbaijan said it would prepare for "necessary retaliatory measures to defend the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty."</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/f1s6yKBGhILCDMKXduU4FVVo_Lk=/2026/03/03/1772561545871.jpeg" /> <div>Military aircraft approaches RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on March 3. Photo: Alexis Mitas/Getty Image</div><p><strong>United Kingdom: </strong>After an Iranian drone struck the U.K base in Cyprus, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the U.S. to use British air bases to strike Iranian missile sites and dispatched a Royal Navy destroyer and counter-drone helicopters to the region.</p><p><strong>France and Germany: </strong>Both EU powers initially called for a return to negotiations, but opened up to the possibility to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-strikes-2026/card/france-germany-and-u-k-open-door-to-striking-iranian-launchers-PhfbLLjEI6oueLay5W7e?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqdobC8kLdcUWoreNqrk_Iax1xWPn2vjnCr4U41XUeBWLVkSqWutApZogt0S_-8%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69a741e4&amp;gaa_sig=kRuZufmGsdNQIiIRSYJOiEOtvJk9W4iM-DApp27tBbwRKoEn5hg-C5CC_bb8WieALeA4x0LoyYRi5LVuQOr6iw%3D%3D" target="_blank">striking Iran</a> after Iranian strikes hit their personnel — including a German army camp in Jordan. </p><ul><li>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the White House on Tuesday and discussed the conflict with Trump.</li></ul><p><strong>More from Axios:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-iran-war-iraq-venezuela" target="_blank">How Trump's Iran gamble breaks from past regime overthrows</a></li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/rubio-trump-iran-israel-attacks" target="_blank">Rubio's war remarks blow open MAGA's Israel divide</a></li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/senate-democrats-iran-war-funding" target="_blank">Inside Democrats' long game on Iran</a></li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This story was updated with new developments.</em></p>

<p>In less than one week, the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-expanding-israel-lebanon-gulf-cyprus" target="_blank">Iran war</a> has produced a remarkable string of combat firsts that pull back the curtain on an American military boosted by AI and stocked with upgraded weapons.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Some of America's defense-tech advancements have been on full display during Operation Epic Fury. The <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/iran-briefing-trump-congress-democrats-war-powers" target="_blank">Trump administration</a> has been happy to confirm — and flex — the results.</p><ul><li>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that Washington is "punching" Tehran while it's down, "which is exactly how it should be."</li></ul><hr /><p><strong>Here's what's </strong>catching our eyes:</p><p><strong>1. The U.S. military used, and may still be using,</strong> Anthropic's AI tools, despite President Trump's insistence on blackballing the company.</p><ul><li>The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-strikes-2026/card/u-s-strikes-in-middle-east-use-anthropic-hours-after-trump-ban-ozNO0iClZpfpL7K7ElJ2?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqeCZkjO7KULAO6tgGWeyQtKk02A81Lp5zpszdpb0pinZuicJmHaodh_UYn8yIg%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69a8a269&amp;gaa_sig=aXnYjXLf-E65valoYAEYTWoX6yRy9ZEV9eKd18K_6wqOwDnTkxs-JNxy5tXq5KGY4_schv2qBpm22hxqVmEMuQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a> first reported its usage in the operation. Combatant commands around the world, it reported, employ Claude.</li><li>The Pentagon has previously used AI to synthesize documents, streamline logistics, simulate situations and identify objects in drone feeds.</li></ul><p><strong>2. U.S. troops for </strong>the first time used two highly anticipated weapons: The Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) and Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System drones (<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/us-iran-military-drones-lucas-shahed" target="_blank">LUCAS</a>).</p><ul><li>PrSM is a Lockheed Martin-made ballistic missile, compatible with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. </li><li>LUCAS is a low-cost drone — $35,000 a pop — and is based on Iran's own delta-wing Shahed, which has also been coopted by Russia (Geran) and Houthi rebels (Waid).</li><li>"We took them back to America, made them better, and fired them right back at Iran," Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said <a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2028983418801803741?s=20" target="_blank">in a prerecorded video</a>.</li><li>"I just could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform leveraging innovation to create dilemmas for the enemy."</li></ul><p><strong>3. The F-35,</strong> long dogged by cost overruns and delays, is having a breakthrough moment in combat.</p><ul><li>An <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-attack-trump-us-israel-strikes" target="_blank">Israeli Air Force</a> F-35I took out an Iranian Air Force Yak-130. The Israel Defense Forces described it as the "first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 'Adir.'"</li><li>And Royal Air Force F-35Bs downed drones over Jordan while backed by Typhoons and a Voyager tanker, according to the defense ministry.</li></ul><p><strong>4. A U.S. Navy submarine sank</strong> an Iranian warship with a single Mk 48 torpedo in the Indian Ocean.</p><ul><li>It's the first American torpedo attack to sink an enemy ship since World War II. </li><li>"This is an incredible demonstration of America's global reach," Joint Chiefs Chairman <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/iran-strike-trump-gen-dan-caine-vance-rubio" target="_blank">Gen. Dan Caine</a> said at the Pentagon briefing.</li><li>"To hunt, find and kill an out-of-area deployer is something that only the United States can do at this type of scale."</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>It's also worth noting:</p><ol><li>The Defense Department's public narrative indicates these <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/14/trump-venezuela-greenland-raytheon-budget" target="_blank">new weapons</a> are performing as advertised. Malfunctions are unlikely to surface anytime soon.</li><li>The department also remains a slow-moving behemoth. Weapons and vehicles can take years to develop and run wildly over budget.</li></ol><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/15/trump-department-of-war-rebrand-cost-estimate" target="_blank">Trump's "Department of War" rebrand could cost $125 million</a></p>

<p>"Turn Texas blue" has been more of a punchline than a battle cry in the Lone Star State lately, but Democrats' enthusiastic turnout in <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_blank">Tuesday's Senate primary</a> has given them hope for November.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> In counties across Texas, Democratic voters made up a dramatically larger percentage of the electorate than in 2024 — with big increases in hot battlegrounds such as mostly Hispanic South Texas and the well-off suburbs of North Texas.</p><hr /><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Democrats and what appeared to be a significant number of crossover voters were drawn to the polls by the combination of two popular Democratic contenders for the U.S. Senate, a particularly nasty race on the GOP side, and the usual X factor — <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Trump</a>.</p><p><strong>James Talarico's win</strong> over U.S. Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/11/talarico-crockett-us-senate-texas-advertising" target="_blank">Jasmine Crockett </a>came with the usual caveats for Texas Democrats — namely, whether a party that hasn't won a statewide election since 1994 can really win in November.</p><ul><li>But there were sparks of encouragement for Democrats nearly everywhere they looked:</li></ul><p><strong>In South Texas' mostly Hispanic Cameron County </strong>— which Trump won by nearly 6 points in 2024 as Republicans posted unprecedented gains among Latinos — 71% of the primary voters cast ballots for Democrats.</p><ul><li>Talarico won the county with nearly twice the votes Crockett received and more than three times what Sen. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/texas-senate-trump-cornyn-endorsement" target="_blank">John Cornyn</a> got in topping Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the county's GOP primary.</li><li>That scenario was repeated throughout South Texas, where Talarico dominated in majority-Hispanic counties.</li></ul><p><strong>In red-leaning, fast-growing Collin County</strong> just north of Dallas — where no Democrat has won the presidential race since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 — 57% of the votes cast Tuesday were in the Democratic primary.</p><ul><li>Talarico won that suburb, which has been trending toward Democrats in recent years but which Trump won by more than 11 points in 2024.</li></ul><p><strong>In Tarrant County, </strong>home to Fort Worth and one of the largest urban jurisdictions Trump won in the last election, 57% of the votes cast Tuesday went to Democrats. </p><ul><li>Crockett topped Talarico there, as she did in Dallas and Houston amid high turnout in areas with large Black populations.</li></ul><p><strong>Other Republican-led counties</strong> also reported significantly more action in the Democratic primary than on the GOP side, including Williamson County, which is just north of solidly blue Austin and includes Round Rock, where Talarico lives.</p><ul><li>About 56% of the votes cast in Williamson County were in the Democratic primary, with Talarico winning easily. </li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "This is proof that there's something happening in Texas," Talarico — a seminarian who's made "progressive Christianity" his calling card — told supporters in his victory speech.</p><ul><li>He thanked young voters, independents, Republicans, fellow Democrats and others he counted as supporters. </li></ul><p><strong>Reality check:</strong> A midterm primary isn't a general election, when far more voters cast ballots and more people are paying attention. Republicans have the advantage in Texas, even without Trump on the ballot.</p><ul><li>"Texas is to Democrats what Minnesota is to Republicans," GOP strategist Hogan Gidley told CBS News. "In large part it's Fool's gold."</li><li>"We always talk about winning Minnesota ... and we always lose it by a few points. This could happen here in Texas as well" to Democrats.</li></ul>

<p>Texas Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/25/dan-crenshaw-tucker-carlson-kill" target="_blank">Dan Crenshaw</a> owes his defeat in this week's Republican primary to a billionaire megadonor who was hellbent on ending Crenshaw's career, sources tell Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Texas banker <a href="https://x.com/HOUBizJournal/status/1971798220612178020" target="_blank">Robert Marling</a>'s role in funding an anti-Crenshaw advertising blitz starkly illustrates how a lone billionaire can banish a member of Congress.</p><hr /><ul><li>In this case, Marling's clout meant Crenshaw was the first House incumbent to be ousted in 2026. Crenshaw lost to Texas state Rep. <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/steve-toth-texas-dan-crenshaw-21953975.php" target="_blank">Steve Toth</a>, a hard-line conservative who doesn't have Crenshaw's independent streak. </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Marling donated $675,000 in the GOP primary, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the amount spent by a super PAC opposed to Crenshaw. </p><ul><li>Marling's contributions bankrolled a stream of mailers and TV ads that have inundated Crenshaw's southeastern Texas district since the beginning of the year.</li></ul><p><strong>Marling — a prolific donor </strong>to <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Trump</a> and conservative causes — played a "massive" role in the race, one person involved in the primary told Axios.</p><ul><li>"Short of Robert's involvement, Dan would be reelected," said another.</li></ul><p><strong>The backstory:</strong> There's an ongoing feud between the Crenshaw and Marling camps — and a dispute about how it began.</p><p><strong>Sources close to Marling</strong> say it started several years ago, when he invited Crenshaw to appear at an annual conservative youth summit. Crenshaw said he would speak only if audience members wore masks, so the story goes, and Marling said no. (A person close to Crenshaw denies this happened.)</p><ul><li>Then, a year ago, Crenshaw told a person close to Marling that he wanted to put Marling's "head through a wall." (Crenshaw's team also denies this.)</li></ul><p><strong>A Crenshaw ally </strong>said the bad blood has to do with the peculiarities of Texas' 2nd District — specifically that Crenshaw represents the Harris County (Houston) portion of the district, and Marling resides in the Montgomery County portion, in Houston's northern suburbs.</p><ul><li>This source said there's been a rivalry between the two counties, and that Marling wanted the district's representative to be from Montgomery County, which he found in Toth.</li><li>Others point to ideology: Marling simply didn't regard Crenshaw as conservative enough, they say. </li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "There was no 'feud,' " Crenshaw told Axios. "A feud requires two people. I've never met Marling or even know him. Marling is a conspiratorial old man."</p><ul><li>Marling declined to comment.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>In December, a strategist from a pro-Toth super PAC visited Marling, asked for a $250,000 donation and outlined how the money would be spent. Marling said yes.</p><ul><li>Marling cut a $25,000 check in January, and another for $200,000 on Feb. 10.</li></ul><p><strong>By early February,</strong> the Marling-bankrolled offensive had taken a toll on Crenshaw. The pro-Toth super PAC's polling indicated Toth had cut substantially into Crenshaw's lead.</p><ul><li>Marling also worked behind the scenes, telling people around Trump — including House Speaker Mike Johnson — that he hoped the president wouldn't endorse Crenshaw.</li><li>Trump ended up not endorsing in the primary.</li></ul><p><strong>Things then took a turn</strong> on Feb. 24, when Crenshaw took to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CrenshawforCongress/posts/follow-the-money-steve-toths-super-pac-is-almost-entirely-funded-by-a-colony-rid/1486551489495501/" target="_blank">social media</a> to attack Marling, who he said was "funding all those slanderous mailers ... about me."</p><ul><li>Crenshaw also accused Marling's Woodforest National Bank of loaning $20 million to Colony Ridge, a residential development near Houston that conservatives say is a haven for undocumented immigrants.</li><li>A person close to Marling said he wasn't involved with Woodforest at the time of the loan.</li></ul><p><strong>Marling then struck back — </strong>launching an <a href="https://x.com/marling_robert" target="_blank">X account</a> devoted to attacking Crenshaw.</p><ul><li>"Dan is feeling the pressure because he has lost his way in our district," Marling wrote.</li></ul><p><strong>Marling cut a final $200,000</strong> check during the last week of the primary campaign. The money funded an ad in which Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) endorsed Toth. </p><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Cruz had several reasons for getting involved in the race, including his longstanding relationship with Marling, sources familiar with Cruz's thinking told Axios.</p><ul><li>Marling has been a donor to Cruz since 2011, and was a major backer of his 2016 presidential bid. Cruz attended the funeral of Marling's daughter in 2022.</li><li>"It's a family affair in Cruzworld," said one of the people involved in the primary.</li></ul><p><strong>The Club for Growth</strong>, a conservative group Marling has funded in the past, also chipped in to run the ad. (Turning Point USA, another organization Marling has bankrolled, also backed Toth.)</p><p><strong>In the end, the primary wasn't close: </strong>Crenshaw lost to Toth, 55% to 40%.</p><p><strong>Marling was vacationing </strong>with his wife, Kim, in the Caribbean when Tuesday's results came in.</p><ul><li>"This is so great," he texted a friend.</li></ul><p><em>This story has been updated to include a comment from Crenshaw.</em></p>

<p>A top trade court ordered the Trump administration on Wednesday to start <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-scotus-tariff-refund-battle" target="_blank">refunding tariffs</a> to U.S. businesses. </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The order is the most significant to date in what is expected to be a politically fraught, and possibly lengthy, process of getting hundreds of billions of dollars back to importers.</p><hr /><ul><li>It comes roughly two weeks after the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-illegal" target="_blank">Supreme Court smacked down</a> many of the tariffs that President Trump has imposed since taking office.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "We want to work out a method by which those importers can make a claim for duties which were unlawfully applied," Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton said during a hearing on Wednesday, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-orders-trump-administration-finalize-goods-entering-us-without-assessing-2026-03-04/" target="_blank">Reuters</a>. </p><ul><li>The order, which the <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> administration is expected to appeal, directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to start the refund process. </li><li>Eaton ordered CBP to remove the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) <a href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_blank">tariffs</a> — struck down by the Supreme Court last month — from pending imports where companies have already paid the duties, effectively clearing the way for refunds on those transactions.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> The order says that all importers that "were subject to IEEPA duties were entitled to the benefit of" the Supreme Court ruling. This suggests all businesses that paid the illegal tariffs should get reimbursed, even if they don't sue to receive them.</p><ul><li>Thousands of businesses have already sued for assurance they would get refunds — including household names like FedEx and Dyson.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but:</strong> It's still unclear whether and to what extent consumers will benefit. </p><ul><li>Many firms passed along at least some tariff-related costs to consumers. But the government keeps no record of what's passed along or not. </li><li>In recent weeks, some, like FedEx, have <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-tariffs-refund-fedex-supreme-court" target="_blank">vowed to return that money</a> to shoppers.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>A federal appeals court earlier this week denied the Trump administration's request to delay refunds for 90 days.</p><ul><li>That decision allowed the Court of International Trade to start working out how refunds should be processed. </li><li>In an earlier filing on Wednesday, top CBP official Brandon Lord said the agency would issue the refunds with interest, though he said that the government "still requires a review period to ensure no violation of other Customs laws and no other duties, taxes, or fees are owed."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Eaton suggested the process would not be as arduous as the government had indicated.</p><ul><li>"We live in the age of computers," Eaton <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-03-04-2026/card/aw1J0qOUK4BmsTV5xhHr" target="_blank">said</a>, per the Wall Street Journal. </li><li>Eaton asked the government to provide updates at a hearing scheduled for Friday.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-tariffs-refund-fedex-supreme-court" target="_blank">The companies pledging tariff refunds to customers and how to get them</a></p>

<p>Militants from several Kurdish Iranian factions are preparing for a possible ground offensive against <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran's</a> regime in the northwestern part of the country, according to U.S. and Israeli officials and a senior official in one of the factions. </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> A <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/trump-iran-war-kurds-iraq" target="_blank">Kurdish</a> ground offensive coordinated with the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Tehran could increase pressure on the regime and encourage an internal rebellion that could spread to other parts of Iran.</p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> Six days before the war began, five dissident Kurdish Iranian groups sheltering in Iraq <a href="https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/02/iranian-kurdish-groups-unite-against-tehran-regime-as-iraqi-militias-threaten-kurdistan-region.php" target="_blank">announced</a> the formation of the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan to fight Iran.</p><ul><li>These Kurdish factions have thousands of soldiers along the Iran-Iraq border and control strategic areas. </li><li>In recent weeks, the Kurdish Iranian factions sent hundreds of their members from the camp on the Iraqi side of the border to the Iranian side as part of preparation for a possible attack against regime forces, a source close to one of the factions said.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> The Iranian Kurdish militias are backed by the Mossad and the CIA, two U.S. and Israeli officials and a third source with knowledge said.</p><ul><li>The goal is to try to take over a specific territory in the Kurdish region inside Iran in order to challenge the regime and inspire a broader uprising, a U.S. official said. </li><li>"The war started with a kinetic phase by the U.S. and Israeli militaries, but as the war continues there will be other efforts by the Mossad and the CIA," an Israeli official said. </li><li>Secretary of State <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/rubio-trump-iran-israel-attacks" target="_blank">Marco Rubio</a> told Congress in a closed-door briefing on Tuesday: "We're not arming the Kurds. But you never know with the Israelis."</li><li>The role of the CIA in the plan was first reported by <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/03/politics/cia-arming-kurds-iran" target="_blank">CNN</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>The idea to support the Kurdish Iranian factions and use them for a ground offensive from Iraq into Iran came initially from Israeli Prime Minister <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/trump-netanyahu-call-iran-war-israel-coordination" target="_blank">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> and the Mossad, with the CIA joining the effort at a later stage, a second U.S. official said.</p><ul><li>Israeli officials promised the Kurdish Iranian factions not only military support but also political support for a Kurdish autonomous region in a future Iran if the regime collapsed, the official claimed.</li><li>"The problem is that the Kurdish Iranian factions don't have enough military power and could end up as cannon fodder," the official said. </li><li>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> hasn't agreed to any plan for supporting an offensive by Kurdish Iranian militias against the regime.</li><li>The CIA and Mossad declined to comment. </li></ul><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> Trump spoke by phone on Sunday with Kurdish leaders in Iraq Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani to discuss the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-expanding-israel-lebanon-gulf-cyprus" target="_self">U.S.-Israeli war</a> with Iran and what might come next, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/trump-iran-war-kurds-iraq" target="_blank">Axios reported</a>.</p><ul><li>A U.S. official said the call went well but both Barzani and Talabani expressed reservations about getting involved in any ground invasion into Iran. </li><li>CNN reported that Trump spoke separately to the leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), Mustafa Hijri.</li><li>Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi spoke on Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and expressed concern about a possible ground incursion by the Kurdish Iranian factions into Iran. </li><li>"The Iraqi prime minister emphasized that the Iraqi government will under no circumstances allow any threat to be directed at Iran from Iraqi territory," the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement. </li></ul><p><strong>State of play:</strong> In the days since the war with Iran started, Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrikes against Iranian military border positions in the Kurdistan region and against Iranian revolutionary guards' bases and police stations in the area. </p><ul><li>Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Wednesday that the city of Bukan in northwestern Iran, near the border with Iraq, was under heavily bombing.</li><li>On Wednesday, the Kurdish Iranian factions denied that they started a ground offensive. A Kurdish source said such an offensive could start later this week, but said the different factions are waiting for a U.S. "green light" to go in. </li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper... </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/trump-iran-war-kurds-soldiers-iraq" target="_blank">Who are the Kurds and why they could play a big role in the Iran war</a></p><p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/trump-iran-war-kurds-iraq" target="_blank">Scoop: Trump calls Kurdish leaders in Iran war effort</a></p>

<p>The race between Reps. Al Green (D-Texas) and Christian Menefee (D-Texas) for a Houston-based U.S. House seat quickly went from largely cordial to venomous on Wednesday after the two were <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/03/04/al-green-christian-menefee-primary-election-results-2026" target="_blank">forced into a head-to-head primary</a>.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Green and Menefee will now have to spend the next 12 weeks campaigning against each other while simultaneously serving together in Congress.</p><hr /><ul><li>"I am challenging Mr. Menefee to a debate ... right away, but I also challenge him to come to work," Green told Axios on Wednesday, citing the fact that Menefee missed nine of his first 29 roll call votes.</li><li>Menefee dismissed his opponent's attack as "desperate."</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Green and Menefee both failed to clear 50% in Tuesday's free-for-all primary, meaning they will have to go to a runoff on May 26.</p><ul><li>Menfee had 46% of the vote while Green had a little over 44% with over 95% of votes tallied, according to the Texas Secretary of State's <a href="https://goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-enr-ui/races" target="_blank">Office</a>.</li><li>Other candidates garnered nearly 10% of the vote, collectively.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Green, 78, has served in Congress since 2004, while Menefee, 37, was first elected in a special election in January to replace Rep. Sylvester Turner, who <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/05/sylvester-turner-house-democrat-texas-dies" target="_blank">died last March.</a></p><ul><li>Menefee then had to face off with Green after Texas Republicans reduced the number of safely Democratic seats in Houston as part of their mid-decade redrawing of the state's congressional lines.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>Asked about the results outside a House Democratic caucus meeting Wednesday afternoon, Green told Axios it was a "very successful" campaign.</p><ul><li>"I was running against the crypto industry, they put $1.5 million in, that we know of, against me," he added. "I and others knew that there would be a runoff."</li><li>Green said of Menefee's voting record: "Within his first month in Congress, after having sworn that he was going to come here and vote ... he missed a week. ... My voting record is 97.9% over 20 years."</li><li>"He missed six votes in one day, and then missed additional votes as well. We had a classified briefing on the Iran war, he wasn't there," Green added. "He needs to know that this is where we work."</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>Green's comments came after Menefee, who had thus far run a positive campaign, said in an <a href="https://x.com/CDMenefee/status/2029025501806027136?s=20" target="_blank">election night speech</a>: "A 20-year incumbent, getting desperate, got negative."</p><ul><li>Green's campaign ran a now-deleted ad against Menefee, accusing him of making a "<a href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/03/04/al-green-christian-menefee-primary-election-results-2026" target="_blank">deal with the devil</a>" with "Trump crypto cronies," Axios' Jay Jordan and Shafaq Patel reported.</li><li>"Al Green, you can tear us down, but I'm gonna build us up," Menefee said in his election night speechAnd I will not lose my integrity for no damn elected office."</li></ul><p><strong>Asked Wednesday</strong> about Green's latest comments, Menefee said,<strong> </strong>"That sounds like the remarks of somebody who is desperate because they've been in office 20 years and they were down on the first ballot."</p><ul><li>He told reporters he looked forward to continuing the campaign, adding: "I'm sure we're going to be successful."</li><li>Asked about the shifting tone of the campaign, Menefee said, "You'd have to ask the congressman about that. I respect the congressman and his service."</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Menefee and Green agree on at least one thing, which is that the Democratic grassroots' demands for generational change has not played a significant role in their race.</p><ul><li>Asked if he thinks age was a factor in his first place finish, Menefee told Axios, "Not at all."</li><li>Said Green: "I am the generational change."</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/texas-results-senate-midterms-primary" target="_blank">Texas warning signs: 4 takeaways from the first primaries of 2026</a></p>

<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/anthropic-ai-iran-maduro-pentagon" target="_blank">Anthropic</a> CEO Dario Amodei's comments to staff disparaging the Trump administration could blow up chances of a resolution between the AI company and the Pentagon, an administration official tells Axios. </p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Rival OpenAI — and lawmakers across party lines — are pushing for an agreement, as the Pentagon's threat to designate Anthropic a supply chain risk looms. </p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>The Information <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/anthropic-ceo-told-employees-openai-pentagon-deal-safety-theater" target="_blank">reported</a> that Amodei sent a memo to staff last Friday saying President Trump disliked Anthropic for not giving him "dictator-style praise."</p><ul><li>Amodei said the OpenAI-Pentagon deal was "safety theater," according to the report.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"Ultimately this is about our warfighters having the best tools to win a fight and you can't trust Claude isn't secretly carrying out Dario's agenda in a classified setting," the administration official said. </p><ul><li>Anthropic has maintained it does not want operational control over the Pentagon's use of Claude and that it should be left to warfighters, a source familiar told Axios.</li><li>Company executives have also told the Pentagon they regret that sentiment wasn't captured well in the media coverage, the source added.</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>The two sides had been making progress toward a resolution over the past couple of days, and it's unclear how much the leaked memo will derail talks, a source familiar told Axios.</p><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> It's been a highly public standoff between the Pentagon and Anthropic, with personal insults aplenty.</p><ul><li>It appears not much is changing. </li></ul>

<p>The <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/hillary-clinton-deposition-epstein-investigation-house-oversight" target="_blank">House Oversight Committee</a> voted on a bipartisan basis Wednesday to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi over the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/30/epstein-files-release-january-trump-clinton" target="_blank">Jeffrey Epstein files. </a></p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> It's the latest step in the committee's monthslong probe into Epstein, and comes as lawmakers have grown increasingly frustrated with Bondi's handling of the release of the Epstein files.</p><hr /><ul><li>Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) offered the subpoena.</li><li>Every Democrat — plus GOP Reps. Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Lauren Boebert (Colo.) and Scott Perry (Pa.) — voted in favor of subpoenaing Bondi in a 24-19 vote. </li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "AG Bondi claims the DOJ has released all of the Epstein files. The record is clear: they have not," Mace <a href="https://x.com/RepNancyMace/status/2029256140190523658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2029256140190523658%7Ctwgr%5E4aaa85ae61177c08e3929b2238a6e98a7adadea2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews4.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Frep-mace-moves-to-subpoena-attorney-general-pam-bondi-over-missing-epstein-files-nancy-mace-jeffrey-epstein-department-of-justice" target="_blank">posted on X</a> Wednesday. </p><ul><li>"Three million documents have been released, and we still don't have the full truth. Videos are missing. Audio is missing. Logs are missing. There are millions more documents out there," she added. </li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> After the nearly unanimous passage of the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/epstein-files-unredacted-doj-massie-khanna" target="_blank">Epstein Files Transparency Act</a>, the Department of Justice was required to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/30/epstein-files-release-january-trump-clinton" target="_blank">release all of its files on Epstein</a>. </p><ul><li>After a delay in the release, the DOJ announced that it would be withholding millions of pages of files. </li><li>Some members of Congress, which have access to the unredacted versions of the documents, have also claimed that DOJ has taken down some files. </li></ul>

<p>President Trump and tech CEOs expressed confidence Wednesday that they can contain soaring electricity rates with a new <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/25/trump-data-center-electricity-ratepayer-protection-pledge" target="_blank">data center pledge</a><strong> </strong>that formalizes and expands on what companies already are doing.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> With rising power bills <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/10/13/data-centers-us-pushback" target="_blank">turning</a> AI and data centers into<strong> </strong>an election-year issue, Trump — who campaigned on a promise to cut costs — is eager to show he's trying to protect consumers.</p><hr /><ul><li>Skeptical Democrats and some energy observers, however, say that far more than voluntary<strong> </strong>pledges are needed.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Oracle, xAI and OpenAI signed the pledge during an event with Trump, who <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/25/trump-data-center-electricity-ratepayer-protection-pledge" target="_blank">mentioned</a> the initiative during last week's State of the Union address.</p><ul><li>The agreement calls for the companies to negotiate separate electricity rate structures with utilities and states. They would commit to paying those rates for power as well as for any necessary infrastructure.</li><li>Administration officials emphasized that those payments would be made regardless of whether companies use the electricity.</li><li>The companies also commit to hiring and training workers from within communities hosting data centers. Some opposition has come from local officials citing the relatively few jobs the centers create once they're built.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: "</strong>They need some PR help," Trump said of the tech companies that have shouldered the blame for higher costs.</p><ul><li>Addressing the executives, he added: "You're going to have great energy sources, because you're going to build them yourself. And if they're not good, you'll make them a little bit bigger and better, right?"</li><li>Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data center energy, said in a statement that the pledge will push her company to look at ways to avoid burdening ratepayers.</li><li>She cited a <a href="https://www.gstatic.com/marketing-cms/44/6b/dbb3456040b486886bb8aff87588/the-capacity-commitment-framework-ccf-jan.pdf" target="_blank">new contract model</a> developed last year requiring large energy users to guarantee funding for new power and infrastructure.</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check:</strong> Data centers are only <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/29/electric-power-bill-costs-ai-grid-reasons" target="_blank">one reason</a> why electricity rates and power demand have gone up. Energy observers say the pressure being put on the electricity grid to handle more transmission is a big reason. </p><p>Others include:</p><ul><li>Higher prices for equipment to meet the extra demand.</li><li>Bureaucratic delays and denials of permits for new projects.</li><li>Weather-related threats requiring stronger towers, poles and other equipment. </li></ul><p><strong>"Trump's desire to manage</strong> energy costs for households via the Ratepayer Protection Plan will be challenging to effect as costs are layered throughout the energy system," said Ben Heininger, U.S. data center energy lead at consulting firm Baringa.</p><ul><li>Sierra Club principal adviser Jeremy Fisher called the agreement "a pinky promise, nothing more."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Electricity markets also are largely regulated at the state and regional levels, limiting how much impact Washington can have.</p><ul><li>Administration officials said the public nature of the pledge will give companies a strong incentive to hold up their end of the bargain as they negotiate with states and communities.</li><li>"We're not worried about people going rogue or cowboy on it," one administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>Ahead of Wednesday's announcement, several tech giants had vowed to prevent consumers from getting stuck with the energy bills for the AI buildout.</p><ul><li>Among those companies was Microsoft, whose president, Brad Smith, <a href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-future-of-energy-dc885190-efd1-11f0-9e78-41a7c4dc08b1.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_newslettertest_politics_policy&amp;stream=top#story3" target="_blank">said</a> in January that the company will "pay our way" to ensure its data centers don't raise power prices</li><li>The administration official who spoke with reporters said the pledge is "a little more comprehensive" than what companies had earlier promised.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the trade association of electrical equipment makers, issued a statement ahead of Wednesday's meeting urging Congress to act on <a href="https://www.makeitelectric.org/newsroom/news/statement-nema-applauds-introduction-of-legislation-to-accelerate-grid-expansion-modernize-electric-power-transmission-system/" target="_blank">several</a> <a href="https://www.makeitelectric.org/newsroom/news/statement-nema-commends-house-on-passage-of-urgent-electrical-supply-chain-legislation/" target="_blank">bills</a> aimed at upgrading the grid.</p><ul><li>Many industry groups also have cited the need for Capitol Hill to pass comprehensive legislation that would speed the issuing of federal permits — an issue that's been <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/22/permitting-talks-dead-offshore-wind-halt" target="_blank">stuck</a> in partisan gridlock.</li><li>Administration officials said its approach will move things along much faster.</li><li>"Legislation is slow moving, and it's a very blunt tool, and of course, it doesn't foresee what's coming next and what's going to happen," the administration official said.</li></ul>

<p>Progressive groups are preparing to primary any House Democrat who votes against a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/democrats-iran-war-powers-vote-trump" target="_blank">War Powers Resolution</a> constraining the Trump administration from carrying out military operations in Iran, Axios has learned.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The threat raises the stakes of a highly charged Thursday vote that has split a group of hawkish Democratic centrists from the rest of their party.</p><hr /><ul><li>"Any Democrat voting against this resolution is really voting against the base of the party, and it will be a very politically perilous vote," a senior progressive House Democrat told Axios.</li><li>The lawmaker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not been previously publicized, said there are "several progressive groups that will primary anyone" who votes no.</li><li>"They're already preparing. If the filing deadline has passed, they'll do it in '28," the House Democrat added. "It's basically inviting a primary challenge."</li></ul><p><strong>Another House progressive</strong> told Axios that progressive groups are "organizing calls into their districts to make sure that every Democrat votes for" the resolution.</p><ul><li>"My understanding is that if they're doing that level of organizing now, they're going to hold them accountable," the lawmaker said.</li><li>"As they should," the lawmaker added.</li></ul><p><strong>What we're hearing: </strong>The first lawmaker cited Justice Democrats, MoveOn, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and OurRevolution as groups involved in the effort.</p><ul><li>Justice Democrats spokesperson Usamah Andrabi told Axios: "Any Democrat that votes against war powers is supporting Trump's war on Iran and deserves to be primaried because all voters across the political spectrum are wholeheartedly against it." </li><li>Said MoveOn spokesperson Britt Jacovich: "MoveOn members have no plans to throw their support behind members of Congress who refused to do their job and stop Trump from expanding his war. All options are on the table to make sure that our members' voices are heard loud and clear."</li><li>OurRevolution spokesperson Paco Fabian told Axios: "When elected officials ... fail to stand with working people demanding peace and accountability, they risk losing the trust of the voters who put them in office. And when that trust is broken, voters often begin looking for leaders who will fight for them."</li></ul><p>The PCCC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"I'm voting no," said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), adding that these groups should "focus on affordability."</p><ul><li>Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) declined to say how he plans to vote and, asked if he is concerned about backlash, quipped, "I'm Jewish, I always have anxiety."</li><li>Another undecided House Democrat, who declined to speak on the record, told Axios: "I live my life doing ... what I believe is the right thing. Bring it."</li><li>A group of six House Democrats has introduced an <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/democrats-iran-war-powers-trump-vote-house" target="_blank">alternative War Powers Resolution</a> that would give the administration more time to withdraw, though several of them have said they support both measures.</li></ul><p><strong>Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.)</strong> also wouldn't say Wednesday afternoon how he was voting. </p><ul><li>Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), standing next to Suozzi, asked him, "Are you going to do the right thing?"</li><li>"I'm going to do the right thing," Suozzi replied, without specifying which way he believes that to be.</li><li>"He's going to do the right thing," Huffman said.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>This measure is supported by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and the rest of Democratic leadership, putting these holdouts on an island.</p><ul><li>Jeffries and other top Democrats, including Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.), made "emphatic" cases for the resolution in a closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday, sources told Axios. </li><li>Jeffries, in the meeting, cited <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-views-divided-us-action-against-iran" target="_blank">Fox News polling</a> that shows middling approval for military intervention in Iran and called it a "war of choice," according to sources.</li><li>House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) told Axios on Tuesday that she is whipping the vote, meaning that her deputies are privately cajoling colleagues not to break ranks.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>As with members like Rep. <a href="https://www.startribune.com/ice-agent-surge-minnesota-protests-federal-enforcement/601591429" target="_blank">Angie Craig</a> (D-Minn.), who now says she regrets voting for the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/29/laken-riley-act-what-to-know-trump-immigration-law" target="_blank">Laken Riley Act</a> last year, this is a vote that could follow members well beyond a single news cycle.</p>

<p>President Trump is expected to endorse Sen. John Cornyn in the <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/cornyn-paxton-runoff-texas-republican-senate-primary" target="_blank">Texas Senate race</a>, a source with knowledge of the talks tells Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday that whoever he doesn't endorse in the runoff between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton should drop out of the race.</p><hr /><p><strong>The background: </strong>Cornyn and Paxton finished first and second place in Tuesday's primary, but neither reached the majority threshold to avoid a May 26 runoff. That sets the stage for a potentially <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/john-cornyn-paxton-texas-senate-primary" target="_blank">bitter and expensive slog</a>.</p><ul><li>Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/gop-worry-texas-senate-primaries" target="_blank">John Thune</a> (R-S.D.) has for much of the last year been lobbying Trump to endorse Cornyn, arguing that he would be a stronger general election candidate than Paxton, who has endured a number of scandals during his tenure as attorney general.</li><li>The Thune-backed Senate Leadership Fund and its affiliates have spent tens of millions of dollars in support of Cornyn.</li><li>Trump has held off calls to endorse, saying he views Cornyn and Paxton as allies.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/03/trump-cornyn-endorsement-texas/686232/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a> first reported the news of Trump's expected endorsement. </p><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>For months, Trump advisers and establishment Republicans in Texas and Washington urged the president to back Cornyn because they fear Paxton is electoral poison due to his personal and ethical problems.</p><ul><li>Top Republicans say the need for Trump to endorse Cornyn is greater in the wake of state Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_blank">James Talarico's win</a> over Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic Senate primary.</li><li>Republicans regarded Talarico as the stronger general election candidate than Crockett, who focused on turning out the Democratic base. </li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line</strong>: Neither Paxton nor Cornyn have agreed (at this point) to drop out if they miss out on Trump's endorsement. </p>

<p>Some five days into the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-war-countries-gulf-qatar-us" target="_blank">sprawling Middle East conflict</a> sparked by <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-attack-trump-us-israel-strikes" target="_blank">U.S.-Israeli strikes</a> on Iran, significantly more Americans disapprove than approve of the attacks across several polls.</p><p><strong>The big picture: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">President Trump</a> has offered a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/trump-iran-strike-plan-timeline-interviews" target="_blank">mixed bag of motivations</a> for the strikes and his plans to resolve the rapidly escalating conflict that has <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" target="_blank">killed six</a> U.S. service members.</p><hr /><ul><li>If early polling is any indication, the White House's reasoning isn't resonating with Americans.</li></ul><p><strong>Case in point:</strong> Nearly six in ten Americans disapproved of the decision to take military action in Iran, according to a Feb. 28 to March 1 CNN <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27693899-rel3a-iran/" target="_blank">poll</a> conducted by SSRS of 1,004 U.S. adults. Forty-one percent said they approved.</p><ul><li>Six in ten also said they don't think Trump has a clear plan for handling the situation, and 39% said the U.S. did not put in enough diplomatic effort before using military force.</li><li>There is a sharp partisan divide: While 82% of Democrats and 68% of Independents or others strongly or somewhat disapproved, just 23% of Republicans shared that sentiment.</li></ul><div>Data: <a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54201-how-americans-feel-about-the-us-attack-on-iran" target="_blank">Yougov poll</a>; Chart: Axios Visuals</div><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>That party divide is shown across numerous <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2026/trump-iran-strikes-poll-americans/" target="_blank">polls</a> which repeatedly depict a wary public, though significant shares of Republicans said they approve the strikes.</p><ul><li>A Monday YouGov <a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/daily-results/20260302-7d911-1" target="_blank">survey</a> of more than 1,600 U.S. adults found that nearly half (48%) strongly or somewhat disapproved of the attack, including the vast majority of Democrats (78%) and Independents (55%). Republicans overwhelmingly approved (76%). </li><li>43% of Americans disapproved the strikes in a Reuters-Ipsos <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/more-americans-disapprove-approve-us-strikes-against-iran" target="_blank">poll</a> released Sunday<strong> </strong>of more than 1,200 U.S. adults, though more than half of Republicans (55%) approve. Notably, 31% of Republicans polled said they weren't sure if they approved or not. </li><li>Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-views-divided-us-action-against-iran" target="_blank">polling</a><strong> </strong>found a more even split, with half of voters saying they approved of the strikes. A vast majority of the GOP agreed (84%), compared to 20% of Democrats and 40% of Independents.</li></ul><p><strong>Still, the strikes</strong> put Trump on a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/rubio-trump-iran-israel-attacks" target="_blank">collision course</a> with influential <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/maga-iran-strikes-reaction-trump" target="_blank">MAGA world voices</a> who oppose the war but are more out of step with the president's base than he is.</p><ul><li>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement provided to Axios that "President Trump makes decisions based on what's in the best interest of the United States and the American people."</li><li>She continued, "Right now, the White House's main priority is working alongside the Pentagon and the interagencies to ensure the continued and ultimate success of the operation."</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>The administration is <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/iran-assassination-plot-trump-leader-killed" target="_blank">striking a victorious tone</a>. But the public appears cautious of a conflict <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/01/trump-speech-iran-war-us-combat-deaths" target="_blank">Trump warned</a> would "likely" take more American lives.</p><p><em>Methodology: The margin of error for the March 2 YouGov survey is approximately 3%. The CNN study was conducted Feb. 28-March 1 with a margin of error of </em>±<em>3.9. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted Feb. 28 – March 1 by Ipsos with a margin of error of ± 2.8 points. The Fox News survey was conducted Feb. 28-March 2 and includes interviews with a sample of 1,004 registered voters with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.</em></p><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/iran-trump-nuclear-talks-trust-poll-ap-norc" target="_blank">Americans fear Iran but question Trump's judgment: poll</a></p>

<p>Texas state Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/09/09/democrat-james-talarico-us-senate" target="_blank">James Talarico</a> of Austin defeated U.S. Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/12/jasmine-crockett-house-democrats-senate-texas" target="_blank">Jasmine Crockett</a> of Dallas for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Talarico's victory sets the stage for a battle royal that promises to be among the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/james-talarico-raises-62-million-for-texas-senate-bid" target="_blank">most expensive contests</a> of the year, as Democrats hope President Trump's unpopularity translates to red-state victories.</p><hr /><ul><li>It also further raises the profile of Talarico, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/colbert-cbs-talarico-interview-fcc-trump-carr" target="_blank">a media darling</a> who has framed his argument against Republicans in <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/15/how-texas-talarico-is-leveraging-social-media-in-his-bid-for-the-senate" target="_blank">terms of his Christian faith</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> "Tonight our campaign is shocking the nation," Talarico <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2026/james-talarico-primary-night-remarks/674469" target="_blank">said</a> Tuesday night in Austin.</p><p><strong>The latest:</strong> Crockett issued a statement Wednesday conceding the race to Talarico and called on the party to unify behind him. </p><ul><li>As of noon CST Wednesday, Talarico had 52.8% of the vote, and Crockett 45.9%, per results from 92% of polling locations statewide according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue:</strong> Voting in Dallas County, Crockett's home base, was wracked with <a href="https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2026/03/04/dallas-county-precinct-voting-problems-jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-democrats-gop/" target="_blank">confusion</a>. </p><ul><li>Ahead of the election, Dallas and Williamson counties had closed centralized voting centers, which had been commonly used by voters of both parties, at the <a href="https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2026/01/09/dallas-williamson-2026-primary-election-countywide-find-my-voting-precinct/" target="_blank">behest of local Republicans</a>.</li><li>Some voters reported scrambling to figure out their polling place and district court judges <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/vote-texas/williamson-county-extended-polling-location-hours-georgetown/269-13bc2ddf-03a3-4eb6-b01e-b6d0a2f5cefb" target="_blank">extended</a> <a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/judge-extends-polling-hours-after-dallas-county-voters-turned-away" target="_blank">polling hours</a> in both counties.</li><li>But late Tuesday the Texas Supreme Court <a href="https://www.txcourts.gov/supreme/orders-opinions/2026/march/march-3-2026/" target="_blank">ordered</a> the counties to separate any votes cast by voters not in line by 7pm.</li><li>"I can tell you now that people have been disenfranchised," Crockett told supporters Tuesday night.</li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong>Texas has not elected a Democratic candidate statewide <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/24/texas-democrat-primary-turnout-high" target="_blank">since 1994</a>.</p><p><strong>Follow the money:</strong> Ahead of the final weeks of the race, Talarico's campaign had $4.8 million and Crockett's campaign had $3.5 million in cash on hand, per the most recent campaign finance filings.</p><ul><li>On top of that, millions of dollars <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/02/01/cornyn-paxton-talarico-crockett-senate-texas-fundraising" target="_blank">flooded the race</a> from political action committees supporting the candidates.</li><li>Talarico for TX Senate and Lone Star Rising PAC, a pro-Talarico committee, were slated to spend about $16 million in advertising over the final month of the race, per data from advertising analytics site AdImpact.</li><li>Over the same period, Crockett for TX Senate was scheduled to spend about $3.5 million, with another $500,000 from the Texas Forward PAC, per AdImpact.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next: </strong>Talarico will face the winner of a <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/cornyn-paxton-runoff-texas-republican-senate-primary" target="_blank">Republican primary runoff</a> between U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.</p><p><strong>Flashback: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/colbert-cbs-talarico-interview-fcc-trump-carr" target="_blank">Colbert defies CBS over interview with Texas Senate candidate</a></p>

<p>One House Republican lost his seat outright in <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/texas-results-senate-midterms-primary" target="_blank">Texas' primary elections</a> Tuesday night, and four other House members will face grueling, 12-week runoff campaigns.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>While short of a full-on wipeout, it's not the kind of result that instills confidence in lawmakers who are trying to withstand the anti-incumbency wave roiling both parties right now.</p><hr /><ul><li>A staggering 30 House Democrats are facing at least one primary challenger who has raised $100,000 or more. A dozen of them have been out-raised by their rivals, as Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/democrats-2026-midterms-house-primaries-jeffries" target="_blank">reported on Tuesday</a>.</li><li>There is less of a concerted effort to unseat incumbent Republicans, but <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/21/redistricting-2026-midterms-democrats-gop-texas-caifornia" target="_blank">mid-cycle redistricting</a> and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/22/trump-massie-congress-2026" target="_blank">anti-endorsements</a><strong> </strong>from President Trump are keeping things interesting.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2020/08/27/rep-dan-crenshaw-does-not-address-trump-by-name-during-rnc-speech" target="_blank">Dan Crenshaw</a> (R-Texas), a longtime target of the right, was defeated in Texas' 2nd district by Texas state Rep. Steve Toth who criticized him as insufficiently conservative.</p><ul><li><strong>Texas' 18th: </strong>Reps. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/al-green-censure-state-of-the-union-protest" target="_blank">Al Green</a> (D-Texas), 78, and Christian Menefee (D-Texas), 37, are set for a runoff after being forced to fight for one Houston-based seat by Texas Republicans' mid-decade redistricting.</li><li><strong>Texas' 23rd: </strong>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/24/tony-gonzales-alleged-affair-democrat-resign" target="_blank">Tony Gonzales</a> (R-Texas) will go to a runoff with right-wing gun influencer and past opponent Brandon Herrera. Gonzales faces a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/04/house-ethics-investigation-tony-gonzales-affair" target="_blank">House Ethics probe</a> over an alleged affair with a staffer who died by suicide.</li><li><strong>Texas' 33rd: </strong>Freshman<strong> </strong>Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas) is facing a runoff with former Rep. Colin Allred, who had <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/01/colin-allred-texas-senate-primary-fundraising" target="_blank">millions to spend</a> from his <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/allred-drops-out-texas-senate-primary-house-seat" target="_blank">abandoned Senate bid</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>The varied reasons for these results highlight just how many anti-incumbency crosscurrents lawmakers in both parties are facing this cycle.</p><ul><li><strong>Ideology: </strong>Moderate and establishment House members are defending themselves from charges of being too weak or willing to compromise with the opposing party at a moment where hyper-partisanship has never been more in vogue.</li><li><strong>Age: </strong>President Biden's halting debate performance in 2024 has reverberated throughout the Democratic Party, with grassroots activists trying to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/05/house-democrats-old-retire-holmes-norton-nadler-jeffries" target="_blank">oust as many of the party's oldest lawmakers</a> as they can.</li><li><strong>Redistricting: </strong>Texas' mid-decade redrawing of its congressional maps opened the floodgates, with Democrats forcing multiple Republicans to fight for the same district in California and potentially Virginia.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>In North Carolina's 4th district, Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/04/foushee-allam-north-carolina-election-results-congress-democrat-primary" target="_blank">Valerie Foushee</a> (D-N.C.) may narrowly fend off progressive challenger Nida Allam.</p><ul><li>That race saw considerable spending from outside groups, with Allam trying to outflank Foushee to her left and go after her on <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-trump-foushee-allam-nc-platner-democrats" target="_blank">issues like Iran</a>.</li><li>As in the case of the Green vs. Menefee, there was an also an element of <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/07/nancy-pelosi-retire-democrats-age-hoyer-garcia" target="_blank">Democrats' generational civil war</a> in this race: Foushee is 69, while Allam is just 32.</li></ul><p><strong>What's next: </strong>There are dozens of Democratic primaries, from Hawaii to California to Tennessee to Massachusetts, in which incumbents are trying to fend off well-funded, younger insurgents.</p><ul><li>On the Republican side, Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.) are facing off for a single seat due to mid-decade redistricting.</li><li>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/thomas-massie-mike-johnson-house-margin" target="_blank">Thomas Massie</a> (R-Ky.) is being challenged by Trump-backed Ed Gallrein. Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), who recently had his Trump endorsement rescinded, also has a primary challenger.</li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This article has been corrected to reflect that it's Rep. Jeff Hurd who faces a primary challenger (not former Rep. Will Hurd).</em></p>

<p>Voters are on the verge of sending multiple House incumbents packing but gave four-term Sen. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/cornyn-paxton-runoff-texas-republican-senate-primary" target="_blank">John Cornyn</a> (R-Texas) hope that he can defeat Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a runoff in May.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/gop-worry-texas-senate-primaries" target="_blank">GOP's worst nightmare</a>, in which Paxton led Cornyn or even defeated him outright Tuesday in the first primary elections of the 2026 midterms, didn't happen. </p><hr /><ul><li>National Republicans are concerned that Paxton, a conservative firebrand, could lose in the general election — or at least force them to spend money on a red state.</li><li>Texas' Democratic Senate primary has its own controversy:<strong> </strong>Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/25/texas-senate-democrats-jasmine-crockett-james-talarico" target="_blank">Jasmine Crockett</a> claimed voters were "disenfranchised" and vowed to sue over confusion on polling places in Dallas County. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/04/talarico-crockett-democratic-primary-senate-texas" target="_blank">AP called the race</a> for state Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/colbert-cbs-talarico-interview-fcc-trump-carr" target="_blank">James Talarico</a> early Wednesday.</li></ul><h2>4 takeaways</h2><p><strong>1) The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/us/elections/cornyn-talarico-texas-senate-money.html" target="_blank">most expensive primary</a> ever gets an encore</strong>: Cornyn showed surprise strength, setting up 2+ months of an expensive, nasty primary race before a May 26 runoff against Paxton. </p><ul><li>Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) finished a distant third.</li><li>Now Cornyn and Paxton will compete for President Trump's endorsement — a priceless prize in a primary that has already cost the Republican Party close to $100 million.</li></ul><p><strong>2) Populist seminarian leads anti-Trump brawler:</strong> Crockett highlighted Trump's insults of her and boasted she "drives the president crazy." Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, talked about winning over Trump voters and zeroed in on promises like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JamesTalaricoTX/videos/our-first-tv-ad-just-hit-the-airwaves-together-were-going-to-win-this-race-and-f/1772148910126634/" target="_blank">standing up</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUYE8APEYhD/" target="_blank">to billionaires</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKmq--3gOLo" target="_blank">taking on Big Pharma</a>.</p><ul><li>Former Vice President Harris, eyeing a 2028 White House run, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/27/kamala-harris-jasmine-crockett-robocall-texas-senate-democratic-primary/" target="_blank">recorded a robocall</a> for Crockett calling her a "fighter." It wasn't enough to push Crockett over the finish line.</li><li>Talarico and his allies outspent Crockett and her supporters $25 million to $5 million on ads, according to AdImpact.</li></ul><p><strong>3) Warning signs for incumbents, older reps: </strong>Texas redistricting contributed to GOP Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/25/dan-crenshaw-tucker-carlson-kill" target="_blank">Dan Crenshaw's</a> loss to state Rep. Steve Toth. </p><ul><li>It complicated life for Democratic Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/03/04/al-green-christian-menefee-primary-election-results-2026" target="_blank">Al Green</a>, 78, whose former district was turned into a GOP safe seat. That forced him to run in the neighboring 18th, where a runoff looks possible against Democratic Rep. Christian Menefee, 37.</li><li>A runoff also looks likely for Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/11/19/dallas-congresswoman-to-run-for-reelection-after-redistricted-map-struck-down" target="_blank">Julie Johnson</a> (D-Texas), who trails former Rep. Colin Allred by double digits. Allred is trying to reclaim his old seat after a failed Senate bid. </li><li>In North Carolina, Democratic Rep. <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/04/foushee-allam-north-carolina-election-results-congress-democrat-primary" target="_blank">Valerie Foushee</a>, 69, is narrowly leading county commissioner Nida Allam, 32, in a race that is still too close to call.</li></ul><p>4) <strong>Huge Latino voter surge for Democrats:</strong> In heavily Hispanic counties along the Rio Grande Valley, Democratic turnout was up big.</p><ul><li>In Texas' 34th district, which Trump won 52%-48% in 2024, roughly twice as many voters participated in the Democratic primary compared to the Republican primary. </li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect AP projecting that Texas state Rep. James Talarico beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett.</em></p>

<p>U.S. and Ecuadorian forces announced <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/25/mexico-cartel-leaders-el-mencho-us-drug-trafficking" target="_blank">drug-trafficking</a> military crackdown operations in Ecuador on Tuesday.</p><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>U.S. Southern Command in a Tuesday night statement <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4420523/ecuadorian-and-us-military-forces-launch-operations-against-narco-terrorists/" target="_blank">said</a> the operations targeted "<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/19/trump-cartels-terrorist-mexico-latin-america" target="_blank">Designated Terrorist Organizations</a>" and hailed the cooperation as "a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism."</p><hr /><ul><li>SOUTHCOM's commander, Marine Gen. Francis Donovan, met in Quito with senior Ecuadorian officials including President Daniel Noboa on Sunday and Monday "to discuss security cooperation" and reaffirm the U.S. "commitment to supporting the nation's efforts to confront narco-terrorism and strengthen regional security," per an earlier <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4419140/gen-donovan-visits-ecuador/" target="_blank">statement</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>The military announcements came hours after Noboa <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0sMEx4Yqt76Tx3LzC8ReGXiHvi6Yd7mwNeMZ5mAS2o7zFvQfyoNhjbmo2YC37qrRvl&amp;id=61553746207707" target="_blank">said</a> on Facebook that there would be "joint operations with regional allies, including the United States" in March as his nation began "a new phase against drug terrorism and illegal mining."</p><ul><li>The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador earlier on Tuesday shared on X images that it said were the result of a successful joint operation between the United States, the European Union's Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and Ecuadorian authorities:</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/x8y2WaM91O-DzkIO4x9zc0EfZ0k=/2026/03/04/1772603369140.jpeg" /> <div>Screenshot: U.S. Embassy Ecuador/X</div><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>The operation dismantled the transnational drug trafficking organization associated with Hernán Ruilova Barzola and linked to the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/10/ecuador-state-of-emergency-gang-crime" target="_blank">Los Lobos cartel</a>, per the post.</p><ul><li>The Drug Enforcement Agency <a href="https://x.com/DEAHQ/status/2028972770906750981" target="_blank">said</a> on X "16 suspects were arrested, and 6 tons of cocaine were seized in Europe" during this operation that involved the DEA's Europe division.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Targeting drug trafficking has been a priority of President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump's</a> second term and the U.S. military is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/29/us/us-caribbean-pacific-boat-strikes.html" target="_blank">estimated</a> to have carried out more than 40 deadly strikes in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean in the past six months.</p><ul><li>In January, Trump ordered a raid on <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/trump-says-us-captured-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro" target="_self">Nicolás Maduro's</a> fortified compound in Caracas that resulted in the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/03/maduro-capture-trump-venezuela-operation" target="_blank">Venezuelan leader's capture</a> and subsequent arrest on charges related to alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies, to which he's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/05/maduro-trial-charges-court-case-arraignment-trump" target="_blank">pleaded not guilty</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>More from Axios:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/overdose-crisis-polydrugs-fentanyl" target="_blank">The overdose crisis is shrinking — and mutating</a></li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/anthropic-claude-maduro-raid-pentagon" target="_blank">Pentagon used Anthropic's Claude during Maduro raid</a></li><li><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/trump-military-iran-strikes-us-deploy" target="_blank">6 ways Trump escalated military force in his second term</a></li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.</em></p>

<p>Security researchers used relatively simple jailbreaking techniques to trick <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/01/07/utah-ai-drug-prescriptions-doctronic" target="_blank">the AI system</a> powering Utah's new prescription refill bot.</p><ul><li>Researchers were able to make the bot spread vaccine conspiracy theories, triple a patient's prescribed pain medication dosage, and recommend methamphetamine as treatment.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Critics warned this pilot could create safety risks — and researchers say the flaws persist, despite alerting the company in January.</p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>In a report shared first with Axios, <a href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_blank">AI</a> red-teaming firm Mindgard said it manipulated health tech startup Doctronic's system into tripling an OxyContin dose, mislabeling methamphetamine, and spreading false vaccine claims.</p><ul><li>Doing this didn't require much effort, Aaron Portnoy, chief product officer at Mindgard, told Axios. </li><li>"These targets are some of the easiest things that I've broken in my entire career," Portnoy said. "That's a bit dangerous when you have this ease of exploitation connected to sensitive use cases." </li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>The testing was conducted on Doctronic's public chatbot, while Utah operates the tool inside a state regulatory sandbox. </p><ul><li>However, researchers argue vulnerabilities in the underlying system could still pose risks if guardrails fail.</li><li>"We take security research seriously and welcome responsible disclosure," Matt Pavelle, Doctronic co-founder and co-CEO, told Axios in a statement. "Our security and clinical safety programs include ongoing adversarial testing, and we appreciate researchers who help us do that."</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> In <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/06/artificial-intelligence-prescribing-medications-utah-00709122" target="_blank">December</a>, Utah's Department of Commerce launched a <a href="https://commerce.utah.gov/2026/01/06/news-release-utah-and-doctronic-announce-groundbreaking-partnership-for-ai-prescription-medication-renewals/" target="_blank">pilot</a> allowing patients with chronic conditions to renew certain medications through Doctronic's AI system without a doctor's direct sign-off. </p><ul><li>The partnership marked the first time an AI system was legally allowed to participate in routine prescription renewals in the U.S.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Researchers said they altered the bot's "baseline knowledge" by feeding it fake regulatory updates. </p><ul><li>They convinced the system that COVID-19 vaccines had been suspended. (They have not been.) </li><li>They changed the standard OxyContin dose to 30 milligrams every 12 hours — triple the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/oxycodone-oral-route/description/drg-20074193" target="_blank">typical levels</a> for most adults.</li><li>They also reclassified methamphetamine as an "unrestricted therapeutic" in the system. </li></ul><p><strong>Threat level: </strong>A malicious user could manipulate clinical outputs within a session, influencing refill recommendations or medical summaries.</p><ul><li>However, Pavelle noted that nationwide, a licensed physician reviews any prescriptions before they're authorized. In the Utah program, prescriptions must meet "strict medication eligibility rules and protocol checks that prevent unsafe or inappropriate recommendations." </li><li>"Controlled substances like OxyContin are categorically excluded from all Doctronic programs regardless of what appears in a conversation or generated note," he added.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> Mindgard said it contacted Doctronic's support team on Jan. 23 and received an automated message two days later saying the issue was resolved.</p><ul><li>After notifying the company Jan. 27 that the flaws still existed and that it planned to go public, the ticket was again closed two days later, researchers said.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Preventing these attacks requires layered defenses and continuous security testing, Portnoy said, not just surface-level guardrails.</p><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/16/ai-models-hacking-stanford-openai-warnings" target="_blank">AI models are perfecting their hacking skills</a></p>

<p>President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a>'s claim that America has a "virtually unlimited" munitions stockpile and could fight a war "forever," could soon be tested as counterattacks target military bases and U.S. Embassies across the Middle East in what has become a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-expanding-israel-lebanon-gulf-cyprus" target="_blank">rapidly-widening conflict</a>.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-races-to-accomplish-iran-mission-before-munitions-run-out-c014acbc?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqd1XPmix0Sqe0GkATEilHt9owVTH_CK-XjtdrtufT2PkwYi6c5VjuzhNLyljCA%3D&amp;gaa_ts=69a70785&amp;gaa_sig=qkpqsO_tJgtYEM7OUeQC9epC-Wgs7CgZKt3a0HfsPZymXWAPsxRhl4JPu32w19DnxLlxlwCHYUKxdCIGbQYfJA%3D%3D" target="_blank">Reporting</a> suggests that the U.S. stockpile and that of key allies, such as Israel and Gulf nations, are dwindling faster than production can replace the weapons.</p><hr /><ul><li>The problem is particularly notable given that other countries are <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/uae-iran-missiles-strike-israel" target="_blank">considering</a> whether to jump into the war.</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: "</strong>The United States Munitions Stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better," the president <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116163464520215003" target="_blank">wrote</a> on Truth Social Monday night.</p><ul><li>"At the highest end, we have a good supply, but are not where we want to be. Much additional high grade weaponry is stored for us in outlying countries," he added.</li></ul><p><strong>Context:</strong> It was not immediately clear what the president meant by "medium and upper medium grade" munitions.</p><ul><li>The White House referred Axios to the president's Tuesday comments at the White House. </li><li>The Pentagon referred Axios to a <a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/2028891599028318593?s=20" target="_blank">post</a> that says the U.S. has "everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the President's choosing and on any timeline." </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Before the Iran strike, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine reportedly said stockpiling munitions could be a crucial limiting factor in a potential extended attack on the U.S.</p><ul><li>Israel's stockpile is currently bolstering American defenses, but its supplies were already low after years of regional conflict.</li></ul><p><strong>Threat level: </strong>U.S. interceptor stockpiles, which are used to stop incoming missiles, are also <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-28/iranian-missile-attacks-set-to-strain-us-interceptor-stockpiles" target="_blank">dwindling</a>.</p><ul><li>Iran fired <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/world/middleeast/gulf-states-strikes.html" target="_blank">about</a> 400 missiles and over 800 drones in the first two days of strikes, according to government reports. </li><li>Many were <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-28/iranian-missile-attacks-set-to-strain-us-interceptor-stockpiles" target="_blank">intercepted</a>, but sustained barrages could strain Western defenses. The exact number of U.S. air-defense interceptors is classified.</li></ul><p><strong>Trump has downplayed </strong>Iran's ability to keep the pace of missiles going, saying Tuesday that Iran is "running out of launchers," but will continue firing for a "while."</p><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Even before the strikes, the Pentagon made procuring more munitions a key spending priority, <a href="https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2026/03/03/war-with-iran-puts-pressure-on-munitions-inventories-and-signals-future-demand/#:~:text=A%20reconciliation%20spending%20plan%20recently,munitions%20procurement%20to%20new%20heights." target="_blank">per</a> Forecast International's Defense &amp; Security Monitor.</p><ul><li>The 2025 reconciliation bill included roughly $25 billion to buy munitions and increase production. New <a href="https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2026/02/17/accelerating-u-s-missile-development-and-naval-posture-in-the-indo-pacific/" target="_blank">deals</a> with defense contractors Lockheed Martin and RTX to boost missile production are also in place — including making sure that the U.S. receives over 1,000 long-range Tomahawk missiles a year.</li></ul><p><strong>Thought bubble from Axios Future of Defense author Colin Demarest: </strong>Iran is flooding its neighbors with missiles, drones and decoys that demand reactions from Western air defenses, some of which are worth millions of dollars a pop and take months to replenish. </p><ul><li>An outgunned Tehran knows this — and is playing an existential numbers game.</li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-supreme-leader-council-israel-strike" target="_blank">Israel bombs council choosing Iran's next supreme leader, official says</a></p>

<p>House Democrats left a Tuesday night briefing on <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/3-us-fighter-jets-friendly-fire-kuwait" target="_blank">Iran</a> expressing even greater frustration towards the Trump administration than they had going in, with several lawmakers describing it as "bullsh*t."</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Democrats are full steam ahead on <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/trump-iran-congress-war-powers-vote" target="_blank">forcing a vote this week</a> on a resolution that would constrain Trump from unilaterally waging war with Iran.</p><hr /><ul><li>Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), one of House Democrats' most vulnerable battleground-district members, said his thinking was "not at all" changed by the briefing and that he will be "supporting our resolution."</li><li>'They're coming in and bullsh*ting us just like ... they did with Venezuela," said Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.), another swing-district Democrat.</li><li>Even Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), who is backing a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/democrats-iran-war-powers-trump-vote-house" target="_blank">softer, centrist alternative</a> to the war powers resolution that Democratic leadership is pushing, said coming out of the briefing that he supports both measures.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs chair <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-hegseth-pentagon-briefing" target="_blank">Dan Caine</a> briefed senators on Tuesday afternoon and House members later that evening.</p><ul><li>"It was one of the most productive briefings I've been a part of," Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) told reporters. "I think that they assuaged a lot of concerns."</li><li>Republicans and Democrats alike pressed the briefers on the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/state-department-iran-trump-flights-middle-east-americans" target="_blank">administration's plan to evacuate Americans</a> stuck in the Middle East, according to multiple lawmakers.</li><li>"A couple of Republicans asked that question. ... 'How are we going to get those people out, I'm getting calls from constituents,'" Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) told Axios.</li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but: </strong>Other than that mild pushback, the briefing went pretty much as one would expect, lawmakers said, with Republicans largely praising the operation and Democrats feeling ignored and uninformed.</p><ul><li>"When the Republicans came up to ask questions, they just wanted to kiss Donald Trump's and Pete Hegseth's ass," said Min. "They stonewalled on Democratic questions and just said, 'No that's not true.'" </li><li>One GOP question "seemed straight like it came from the Oval Office," Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told Axios, adding that he would be "better [off] spending my time watching CNN" than hearing from the briefers.</li><li>Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) called the briefing "thoroughly unconvincing."</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>Going into the briefing, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) turned to Cohen and said, "Ready to consume some bullshit, Steve?"</p><ul><li>Coming out, he told Axios: "Yeah, there was some bullsh*t involved, some editorializing ... and a lot of, frankly, questions from Republicans that are just cheerleading speeches."</li></ul>

<p>Half of Americans now <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/14/abolish-ice-protests-trump-administration" target="_blank">support abolishing ICE</a>, compared with just 39% who oppose eliminating the agency, according to a new YouGov <a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54225-support-for-abolishing-ice-reaches-50-percent-february-27-march-2-2026-economist-yougov-poll" target="_blank">poll</a>. </p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> It's the first time in YouGov's polling history that support for abolishing ICE has reached 50%, capping a steady rise since January amid the Trump administration's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/15/trump-insurrection-act-minneapolis-ice-protests" target="_blank">immigration crackdown</a>. </p><hr /><ul><li>While Democrats have largely supported abolishing ICE in 2026 polling, this survey also marks a new high for Independents, with 52% backing the idea. </li><li>A majority of Republicans (68%) still oppose abolishing ICE, but in another record-high finding, 23% now say they support eliminating the agency. </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Even among Americans who don't favor abolishing ICE, there's broad support for restricting <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/18/california-trump-ice-id-mask-lawsuit-administration-agents" target="_blank">federal agents' powers</a>. </p><ul><li>Three-quarters of Americans say ICE officers should be required to wear uniforms identifying them as agency personnel, while just 14% disagree. </li><li>Large majorities across party lines support uniform requirements — 92% of Democrats, 57% of Republicans and 77% of Independents.</li><li>Most Americans (59%) say ICE agents shouldn't be allowed to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/19/states-cities-bans-ice-agents-masks-id" target="_blank">wear masks</a> that cover their faces, including 87% of Democrats and 68% of Independents. </li></ul><p><strong>Yes, but:</strong> Republicans are more supportive of agents wearing face coverings, with 65% saying they should be allowed to hide their faces, compared with 20% who disagree. </p><p><strong>Go deeper:</strong> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/27/ice-trump-alex-pretti-minnesota-minneapolis-americans-poll" target="_blank">Americans' confidence in ICE plummets after Minneapolis shootings</a></p><p><em>Methodology: This online survey was conducted among 1,515 U.S. adults, Feb. 27 to March 2. Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 3.4%.</em></p>

<p>Last Monday, Israeli Prime Minister <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/netanyahu-trump-iran-negotiations" target="_blank">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> called President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> with a stunning tip: Iran's supreme leader and his top advisers were all set to meet at one location in Tehran on Saturday morning.</p><ul><li>They could all be killed in a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-khamenei-killed-israel" target="_blank">single devastating airstrike</a>, Netanyahu told Trump and his team, according to three sources briefed on the discussion.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> The Feb. 23 call — held from the White House Situation Room and unreported until now — was a pivotal moment that set the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/iran-war-countries-gulf-qatar-us" target="_blank">Iran war</a> in motion.</p><hr /><ul><li>It answers the question that lawmakers, MAGA skeptics and world leaders have all been asking since Saturday: why now?</li><li>The answer: Ayatollah <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/iran-leader-ali-khamenei-what-to-know" target="_blank">Ali Khamenei</a> and his inner circle were irresistible targets of opportunity that neither Trump nor Netanyahu wanted to pass up.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Trump was already <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/01/trump-iran-war-attack-behind-scenes" target="_blank">leaning toward striking Iran</a> before learning the new intelligence about Khamenei. What he hadn't decided was when — until Netanyahu called.</p><ul><li>The Feb. 23 call was part of months of intensive coordination between the two leaders, who met twice and spoke by phone 15 times in the two months leading to the war, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.</li><li>The U.S. and Israel had considered striking a week earlier than Saturday, but <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-strike-israel-delay-trump" target="_blank">postponed</a> for intelligence and operational reasons, including bad weather.</li></ul><p><strong>Inside the room: </strong>An initial CIA check, conducted at Trump's direction, confirmed the information about Khamenei gathered by Israeli military intelligence.</p><ul><li>Preparations accelerated as Trump told Netanyahu he would consider moving forward — but first came the president's <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/25/trump-sotu-speech-takeaways" target="_blank">State of the Union address</a> the following night.</li><li>U.S. officials said Trump made a "deliberate decision" not to focus excessively on Iran so as not to spook the ayatollah and drive him underground before the strike could be executed.</li></ul><p><strong>By Thursday</strong>, the CIA had fully "confirmed that these people were all going to be together, and we needed to take advantage of it," a source said.</p><ul><li>That same day, Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/25/witkoff-iran-deal-indefinite-geneva-talks" target="_blank">Steve Witkoff</a> called from Geneva after hours of talks with Iranian officials and delivered a blunt verdict: negotiations were going nowhere.</li><li>"If you decide you want to do diplomacy, we will push and fight to get a deal. But these guys showed us they weren't willing to make the deal you will be satisfied with," a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the call said Trump was told.</li></ul><p><strong>Trump was now convinced</strong> of two things: the intelligence was solid, and diplomacy was dead. On Friday at 3:38 p.m. EST, he gave the final order.</p><ul><li>Eleven hours later, bombs fell on Tehran, Khamenei was killed and the war had begun.</li></ul><img src="https://images.axios.com/B1w_B893dDErjukltK_HrVFhf8w=/2026/03/03/1772580040951.jpeg" /> <div>An Iranian flag is planted in the rubble of a police station on March 3 in Tehran. Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images</div><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> Trump saw Netanyahu as a close partner and was genuinely open to his counsel on Iran — but he was also determined to exhaust diplomacy first.</p><ul><li>"One side of the house was negotiating and the other side of the house was doing joint military planning" with Israel, a U.S. official said. "He was assessing both things all the time."</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Under fire for suggesting the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/rubio-trump-iran-israel-attacks" target="_blank">U.S. had been dragged in by Israel</a>, Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted Tuesday that this operation "had to happen anyway," and that it was simply "a question of timing."</p><ul><li>"This weekend presented a unique opportunity to take joint action against this threat," he told reporters on Capitol Hill. "We wanted this to have maximum success."</li><li>"Trump wanted to strike earlier — in early January. It was Bibi who asked to delay," one Israeli official said, stressing that the timing was "fully coordinated" with "the understanding that it would be carried out jointly."</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>The original plan called for a strike in late March or early April, giving the administration time to build public support. Netanyahu pushed to move faster, a U.S. official told Axios.</p><ul><li>The official said Netanyahu began "agitating" and warning that Iranian opposition leaders sheltering in safe houses were in danger of being killed by the regime.</li></ul><p><strong>The accelerated timeline</strong> left the administration flat-footed: Rather than spending weeks building the public case for war, the White House found itself justifying the strikes after the bombs had already fallen.</p><ul><li>"We didn't make the case in advance as well as we could have because the opportunity came on us so fast," the official said. </li><li>Another official acknowledged there was <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/rubio-trump-iran-israel-attacks" target="_blank">muddled messaging from Rubio</a> and from the White House, which started making the case for war after the attack, rather than before.</li></ul><p><strong>Friction point:</strong> Because Trump and Netanyahu disguised their Saturday attack, many U.S. citizens were caught completely unaware and stranded as Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.</p><ul><li>Rubio's State Department scrambled to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/state-department-iran-trump-flights-middle-east-americans" target="_blank">mount an emergency evacuation</a> effort for more than 1,500 Americans who requested assistance getting out of the region.</li><li>Asked by reporters Tuesday why there was no evacuation plan, Trump replied: "Well, because it happened all very quickly."</li></ul><p><strong>The other side: </strong>Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter declined to comment on the specifics of the Feb. 23 call, but denied that Netanyahu was "agitating" or ever raised the threat to Iranian opposition leaders as a reason to accelerate.</p><ul><li>"Over the past year, we have worked more closely than ever with our partners in the United States regarding Iran, and we see eye to eye on the danger Iran poses to Israel, to the United States, and to the free world," Leiter told Axios.</li><li>"Anyone who knows President Trump understands that he is a strong leader who cannot be steered," the ambassador said.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line: </strong>Trump was equally dismissive Tuesday of any suggestion that Netanyahu drove the decision.</p><ul><li>"We were having negotiations with these lunatics and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first. I felt strongly about that. If anything, I might have forced Israel's hand," he said.</li><li>The White House did not dispute Axios' reporting and pointed to Trump's and Rubio's public comments Tuesday.</li></ul>

<p>Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos never met with President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a> or any White House officials last week when he visited Washington, according to sources familiar with the engagement. </p><ul><li>Sarandos was informed shortly after arriving at the White House that his meeting was canceled because of a last-minute scheduling conflict, and then he promptly left the building.</li></ul><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Media onlookers were quick to speculate that Sarandos' meeting at the White House on Thursday prompted Netflix to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/26/paramount-skydance-superior-offer-wbd" target="_self">drop out</a> of the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery.</p><hr /><ul><li>But Netflix had already determined at that point that it wouldn't up its bid, Sarandos <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-01/netflix-s-co-ceo-explains-why-he-quit-the-warner-bros-fight?embedded-checkout=true" target="_blank">told</a> Bloomberg.</li><li>Trump talked to Sarandos on the phone later that evening after Netflix had already announced it didn't plan to continue bidding, a source familiar with the matter told Axios. </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> Sarandos' call was the first time he had spoken to the president in several weeks.</p><ul><li>When they spoke about the deal last year, Trump advised Sarandos not to overpay for the asset, the source noted.</li><li>Netflix declined to comment when asked about the call. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> Sarandos did meet with Justice Department officials last Thursday in D.C. </p><ul><li>A source familiar with the conversations characterized the meeting with DOJ officials as productive. Another noted that DOJ officials never threatened Netflix and told Sarandos they planned to run a fair process.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Sarandos' visit to the White House hit a nerve with Democratic lawmakers, who on Monday <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/democratic-lawmakers-letter-trump-officials-warner-bros-discovery-deal-rcna261348" target="_blank">alleged</a> the streaming giant's meetings with Trump administration officials may have discouraged the company from upping its bid, therefore handing the WBD deal to Paramount. </p><ul><li>A source told Axios that Sarandos' D.C. visit was scheduled weeks in advance of Paramount submitting its final offer. </li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Both Paramount's and Netflix's bids would have faced regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and abroad, but the merger fight ultimately came down to who was willing to pay the highest price. For Netflix, the deal wasn't financially prudent. </p><ul><li>"Our decision not to increase our offer reflects our disciplined financial approach and our clear assessment of value, and was not driven by regulatory considerations of any kind," a Netflix spokesperson said.</li><li>"We continue to believe that the transaction we negotiated would have created meaningful shareholder value and offered a clear, achievable path to regulatory approval." </li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> In recent months, Trump signaled he could weigh in on the regulatory review of the deal. But according to Sarandos, Trump's interest appeared limited to how the transaction might affect CNN.</p><ul><li>Sarandos told Bloomberg in an interview published Sunday: "Once it was clear that we weren't in the CNN business, it was a lot less interesting. He didn't care that much more about our deal." </li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/investors-paramount-warner-brothers" target="_blank">Investors still aren't all sold on Paramount-WBD deal</a></p>

<p>President Trump said the U.S. will "immediately" offer "political risk insurance and guarantees" for energy tankers and other ships in <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">the Gulf region</a>, and that the Navy will escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The White House is trying to ease oil price spikes that are starting to boost U.S. gasoline prices. Oil prices retreated Tuesday as word of the plans began to emerge.</p><hr /><ul><li>His <a href="https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116166926920657651" target="_blank">statement</a> on Truth Social comes as tankers are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway abutting Iran that handles a whopping one-fourth or so of the world's maritime oil trade, and huge amounts of liquefied natural gas, too.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> Trump said the financial assurances would be offered through the U.S. Development Finance Corp. at a "very reasonable price."</p><ul><li>"If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible," he wrote. </li><li>"No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD."</li></ul><p><strong>Catch up quick: </strong>TPH &amp; Co., in a note earlier Tuesday, said "skyrocketing shipping (new all-time highs) and insurance rates" are a key reason why traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has largely ground to a halt.</p><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>In addition to soaring rates, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ship-insurers-cancel-war-risk-cover-due-iran-conflict-2026-03-02/" target="_blank">reported</a> cancellations of some coverage has vastly cut transit through the vital oil choke points.</p><ul><li>It's among the reasons why the conflict is pushing up crude oil and other energy commodity prices, which is already filtering down to U.S. gasoline pumps.</li><li>The nationwide average price for regular gasoline is $3.11 per gallon, an 11-cent increase over yesterday, per AAA.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines: </strong>Rising gasoline prices — alongside rising electricity costs — are a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/02/iran-war-trump-gas-prices" target="_blank">political risk</a> for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.</p><p><strong>What we're watching: </strong>The White House hasn't provided details of the new plans.</p><ul><li>But they already could be affecting oil prices. The global benchmark Brent crude retreated back to slightly over $80 per barrel Tuesday afternoon after hitting $85 for the first time since 2024 earlier in the day.</li><li>But prices remain elevated since the conflict began — up around 10% from where they closed last Friday.</li></ul><p><em>Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.</em></p>

<p>Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, once a Manhattan neighbor of <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/epstein-files" target="_blank">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, voluntarily agreed to an interview with the House Oversight Committee over past ties to the convicted sex offender, Axios has learned.</p><ul><li><strong>Lutnick told Axios: </strong>"I look forward to appearing before the committee. I have done nothing wrong and I want to set the record straight."</li></ul><hr /><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Lutnick's past association with Epstein has been under growing scrutiny since the Cabinet secretary appeared in Justice Department files. </p><ul><li>White House spokesman Kush Desai told Axios: "Secretary Lutnick continues to be a critical asset for President Trump, having played a key role in securing major trade and investment deals. The entire Trump administration, including Secretary Lutnick, remains focused on delivering more wins for the American people."</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong>The closed-door interview, with a transcript to be released, will take place in the coming weeks. </p><ul><li>Lutnick hasn't been accused of wrongdoing.</li></ul><p><strong>House Oversight Chair </strong>James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement to Axios: "Secretary Lutnick has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for a transcribed interview."</p><ul><li>"I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency and appreciate his willingness to engage with the Committee. I look forward to his testimony."</li><li>Axios is told the transcript will be released after review by Lutnick's attorney — standard committee practice for transcribed interviews.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture: </strong>Democrats in both the <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/27/congress/dems-will-force-lutnick-subpoena-vote-00803881" target="_blank">House</a> and <a href="https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-merkley-press-lutnick-for-answers-on-epstein-ties" target="_blank">Senate</a> have been raising pressure on Lutnick. </p><ul><li>Senate Democrats, in <a href="https://www.merkley.senate.gov/van-hollen-merkley-press-lutnick-for-answers-on-epstein-ties/" target="_blank">a letter</a> to Lutnick on Friday, asked him to turn over all records of his connection to Epstein and Epstein allies, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/epstein-lutnick-democrats-probe" target="_blank">Axios scooped</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>President Trump </strong>has repeatedly backed Lutnick, and <a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-tells-reporters-he-doesnt-like-seeing-former-president-bill-clinton-deposed-d3926a335fcb496da9939658ead09291" target="_blank">said Friday</a> about possible testimony: "Howard would go in and do whatever he has to say. He's a very innocent guy — doing a good job."</p><ul><li>A slew of high-profile Americans are named in Epstein files released by the Justice Department, and few have given a detailed public accounting of their interactions with the disgraced financier, whose death in jail in 2019 was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0" target="_blank">ruled a suicide</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> Lutnick, 64, called Comer to tell the chairman he's willing to address any questions from the committee, an administration source told Axios. </p><ul><li>Lutnick <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democratic-senator-questions-us-commerce-secretarys-fitness-job-amid-epstein-2026-02-10/" target="_blank">also testified</a> about Epstein at a Senate Appropriations hearing on Feb. 10. Lutnick said: "I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person."</li></ul><p><strong>The backdrop:</strong> Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked about Lutnick during last week's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-hillary-bill-clinton-deposition-house-investigation-299d82e8549f4d994dcb081c3876585c" target="_blank">six hours</a> of House testimony about Epstein. </p><ul><li>In video <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-releases-bill-and-hillary-clinton-deposition-videos/" target="_blank">released by the committee</a> on Monday, Clinton sparred with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) when asked about her connection to Lutnick. </li><li>Clinton worked with Lutnick in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and became visibly perturbed and pounded her palm on the table as she responded to Mace, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-deposition-3d5cf44a6b2f5c0333e41a3e3f86c06c" target="_blank">AP reports</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Lutnick said</strong> on a <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/10/01/us-news/howard-lutnick-calls-ex-neighbor-jeffrey-epstein-greatest-blackmailer-ever/" target="_blank">New York Post podcast</a> last fall that after seeing the creepy "massage room" during a tour of Epstein's townhouse in 2005, "my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again."</p><ul><li>But the DOJ's Epstein files <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-clinton-jeffrey-epstein-deposition-congress-9ea23ac5a5ffd1c7b9511e46308e8b21" target="_blank">later showed</a> Lutnick had two engagements with Epstein years later: He met at Epstein's home in 2011, and in 2012 his family had lunch with Epstein on his private Caribbean island.</li><li><a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5731446-lutnick-admits-epstein-island-visit/" target="_blank">Lutnick told</a> the Senate Appropriations Committee last month that he visited the island with his wife, children and nannies. "I don't recall why we did it," he said.</li></ul><p><em><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/19/prince-andrew-yoon-suk-yeol-epstein-america" target="_blank">Go deeper</a>: Global leaders in Epstein files.</em></p>

<p>Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is threatening to disrupt Senate business over <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/28/noem-luxury-jets-dhs-deportations" target="_blank">Kristi Noem's</a> leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>Tillis, who is not running for re-election, has <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/01/29/tillis-calls-for-noem-to-be-replaced" target="_blank">spearheaded</a> GOP criticism of Noem in the narrowly divided Senate and seized on Tuesday's oversight hearing to turn up the pressure. </p><hr /><p><strong>Driving the news:</strong> At a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, Tillis berated Noem over stalled FEMA funding and agency responses, including for hurricane recovery in northwest North Carolina, and his outstanding request for information on Operation Charlotte's Web, a surge of immigration officers in Charlotte last fall. </p><ul><li>"As of today, I'll be informing leadership that I'm putting a hold on any en bloc nominations until I get a response," Tillis said in a fiery speech.</li><li>"And in two weeks, if I don't get a response, I'm going to deny quorum and mark up in as many committees as I can until I get a response."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Tillis also submitted to the committee a letter from the Office of the Inspector General that claims Noem has misled or stopped investigations on 10 different matters. </p><ul><li>Noem didn't immediately respond to the accusation during Tuesday's hearing.</li><li>"Does anybody have any idea how bad it has to be for the OIG in this agency to come out and do this publicly. That is stonewalling, that's a failure of leadership, and that is why I've called for your resignation," Tillis said.</li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong>In his final year in office, Tillis is becoming a stumbling block for the Trump administration. </p><ul><li>He has also said he will <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/05/republicans-kevin-warsh-fed-chair-powell" target="_blank">oppose</a> President Trump's nominee to chair the Federal Reserve while the DOJ has an ongoing investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell. </li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/20/noem-lewandowski-homeland-security-firings" target="_blank">Noem tightens her grip on DHS</a></p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/virginia-lawmakers-send-sweeping-gun-control-bill-to-democrat-governor-spanberger.jpg?id=65182112&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C53%2C0%2C54" /><br /><br /><p>Virginians are quickly learning the fruits of electing Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger and other Democrat legislators as the legislative session draws to an end in the commonwealth. </p><p>On Monday, Democrats in both chambers passed a sweeping <a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB217" target="_blank">gun control law</a> that will soon land on Spanberger's desk. </p><p class="pull-quote">'These are simply semiautomatic firearms that law abiding citizens own.'</p><p>The <a href="https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195940.PDF" target="_blank">bill</a>, HB217, places a ban on new sales of "assault firearms" and makes it illegal to possess high-capacity magazines exceeding 15 rounds of ammunition.</p><p><a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-308.2:2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virginia law</a> defines an "assault firearm" as "any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock."</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/virginians-oppose-richmonds-war-on-the-second-amendment-poll" target="_self">Virginians oppose Richmond's war on the Second Amendment: Poll</a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="9fc9f" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/delegate-dan-helmer-d.jpg?id=65182231&amp;width=980" /> <small class="image-media media-caption">Delegate Dan Helmer (D)</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by Valerie Plesch for The Washington Post via Getty Images</small></p><p>Sponsored by Del. Dan Helmer (D), the bill would make these offenses a Class 1 misdemeanor. Class 1 misdemeanors are punishable by "confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both," according to <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter1/section18.2-11/" target="_blank">Virginia law</a>.</p><p>Spanberger's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Blaze News.</p><p>Chris Stone with the Virginia-based Gun Owners of America <a href="https://wtop.com/virginia/2026/03/virginia-house-approves-gun-control-bills-over-gop-objections/" target="_blank">said</a>, “Semiautomatic weapons, as they would like to call them, ‘assault weapons,’ have been owned by the public for years, and rifles of any kind are very rarely used in the commission of a crime. We don’t even like to use the term ‘assault weapon,’ because it’s just made up. These are simply semiautomatic firearms that law abiding citizens own.”</p><p>Another <a href="https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB110" target="_blank">proposed bill</a> would impose a civil penalty of up to a $500 fine for persons who store their firearms in their vehicle. The vehicle could also be towed for "safekeeping." </p><p>Stone pointed out the catch-22 that lawful gun owners would find themselves in if that bill ever became law.</p><p>"Because of the litany of ‘gun free zone’ laws that we have in this state, if you go to somewhere where you can’t legally bring your firearm in, law-abiding citizens who have a concealed handgun permit are going to leave that firearm in their car," Stone said.</p><p>Helmer has been busy sponsoring other bills as well, including a "first of its kind" <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-legislation-prohibiting-schools-jan-6-falsehoods/" target="_blank">bill</a> that dictates that school instruction must "not describe, portray, or present as credible a description or portrayal of the actions precipitating or involved in the events of the January 6, 2021, insurrection as peaceful protest."</p><p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em></p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/j6-committee-s-anti-trump-storyteller-referred-to-doj-for-criminal-charges-report.jpg?id=65175531&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C20%2C0%2C87" /><br /><br /><p>The Jan. 6 Select Committee's various improprieties and its prioritization of narrative over facts have been exposed. Nevertheless, key participants in the Democrat-led lawfare campaign have so far managed to evade consequence. That might soon change.</p><p>House Republicans have reportedly referred Jan. 6 committee star witness Cassidy Hutchinson to the Department of Justice for criminal charges.</p><p class="pull-quote">The USSS agents ... directly refuted the fundamentals of her story.</p><p>A pair of sources reportedly familiar with recent developments <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/cassidy-hutchinson-january-6-house-republicans-criminal-referral" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">told</a> CNN that Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk (Ga.), the chairman of the Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, recently made the referral, which was co-signed by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).</p><p>The referral reportedly accuses Hutchinson — who milked her time in the limelight for a <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Enough/Cassidy-Hutchinson/9781668028292" target="_blank">book deal</a> — of lying to Congress in her public testimony in June 2022.</p><p>This is undoubtedly good news for President Donald Trump, who claimed Hutchinson "made up" stories about him during her testimony.</p><p>"Our great Secret Service has totally CRUSHED Cassidy Hutchinson’s (who I barely knew) made up (FAKE!) stories about me roughing up Secret Service Agents from the back seat of the Beast (Limo)," Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/112117265391620612" target="_blank">noted</a> in March 2024. "Has she now changed her testimony? Will she be prosecuted for what she did and said?"</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/judges-violated-the-law-by-keeping-pipe-bomb-suspect-brian-cole-jr-jailed-attorney-tells-appeals-court" target="_blank">Judges violated the law by keeping pipe-bomb suspect Brian Cole Jr. jailed, attorney tells appeals court </a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="73631" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65178664&amp;width=980" /><small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images</small></p><p>Blaze News has reached out to the Department of Justice and Loudermilk's office for comment. CNN indicated that Hutchinson's current and former lawyers did not respond to multiple inquiries.</p><p>Loudermilk released a congressional <a href="https://cha.house.gov/_cache/files/d/9/d96ba6ce-03fb-4fc8-a4a7-5b5daf19d064/4F510144C1F427873D3298D955C8E19F.initial-findings-report.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> in March 2024 alleging that the Jan. 6 Select Committee — manned by outspoken critics of President Donald Trump — erased records; hid numerous transcribed interviews; failed to turn recordings over to GOP lawmakers; and suppressed evidence that failed to conform to Democrats' preferred narrative.</p><p>The report, penned by the House Administration Committee's oversight subpanel, also impeached Hutchinson's character and testimony.</p><p>Hutchinson, who served as assistant to Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows, sat for six transcribed interviews and one publicized hearing with the committee.</p><p>The report noted that on June 20, 2022, in her fourth transcribed interview with the Jan. 6 committee, Hutchinson told a previously unheard tale about how on January 6, 2021, Trump allegedly got into a scuffle with a Secret Service agent and attempted to wrest control of the presidential limousine after his speech at the Ellipse.</p><p>Hutchinson's allegations pertained to supposed incidents to which she was not an eyewitness.</p><p>The Jan. 6 committee didn't bother interviewing either of the two Secret Service agents referenced in Hutchinson's testimony who were actually present at the time of the alleged events or anyone else implicated prior to her testimony.</p><p>When the committee put questions to the USSS agents some four months after Hutchinson's testimony, they directly refuted the fundamentals of her story.</p><p>In December 2024, Loudermilk released another damning <a href="https://cha.house.gov/_cache/files/6/d/6dae7b82-7683-4f56-a177-ba98695e600d/145DD5A70E967DEEC1F511764D3E6FA1.final-interim-report.pdf" target="_blank">congressional report</a>, this time alleging that:</p><ul><li>former White House employee Alyssa Farah Griffin back-channeled with former Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), the vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee, to help Hutchinson change her story; </li><li>Hutchinson had secret conversations with Cheney without her attorney's knowledge; and</li><li>"Hutchinson committed perjury when she lied under oath to the Select Committee."</li></ul><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65178100&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>The Texas Senate Republican primary is heating up after neither John Cornyn nor Ken Paxton secured a majority of the vote, and President Trump — who previously declined to endorse either candidate — may be about to make a decision.</p><p>And that decision will likely be influenced by Paxton’s announcement that if the Senate passes the long-awaited SAVE Act, he will drop out of the race.</p><p>“The Republican Primary Race for the United States Senate in the Great State of Texas, a State I LOVE and won 3 times in Record Numbers ... cannot, for the good of the Party, and our Country, itself, be allowed to go on any longer. IT MUST STOP NOW,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.</p><p>“We have an easy to beat, Radical Left Opponent, and we have to TOTALLY FOCUS on putting him away, quickly and decisively! Both John and Ken ran great races, but not good enough. Now, this one, must be perfect!” he continued.</p><h3></h3><br /><span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span><p>“I will be making my Endorsement soon, and I will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE! Is that fair? We must win in November!!!!” he concluded.</p><p>“Of course, Ken Paxton is a Texan patriot,” BlazeTV host John Doyle says on “The John Doyle Show.” “So Senate Majority Leader John Thune encouraged Trump to endorse pro-amnesty John Cornyn, and the rumors are essentially that John Thune is using the SAVE Act, a policy by the way that is supported by 80% of Americans, as a kind of leverage of Trump.”</p><p>“Essentially like extorting him into endorsing this Cornyn character. So basically, he’s saying he’s not going to pass the SAVE Act unless Trump personally intervenes to endorse, like, literally this establishment RINO pro-amnesty,” he continues.</p><p>Doyle also points out that Thune has “been an extremely ineffective Senate leader.”</p><p>“He’s passed the fewest bills ever. He’s blocked Trump’s recess appointments. Generally, just slowed down the administration, right? He’s failed on the SAVE Act despite promising repeatedly to pass it,” he says, adding, “This is literally the most important thing that could ever be done, literally ever.”</p><h2>Want more from John Doyle?</h2><p>To enjoy more of the truth about America and join the fight to restore a country that has been betrayed by its own leaders, <a href="https://get.blazetv.com/doyle/?utm_source=theblaze&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=article_shortcode_rufo-lomez" target="_blank">subscribe to BlazeTV</a> — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.</p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/what-shia-labeouf-s-public-struggle-shows-us-about-christian-redemption.jpg?id=65172733&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C1%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>Hollywood is a factory of fakery. Social media accounts run by publicists. Apologies written by lawyers. Whole personalities assembled by committee.</p><p>In Hollywood, sincerity is often the most convincing special effect of all.</p><p class="pull-quote">'My behavior’s dirty, ugly, disgusting, so I gotta eat it.'</p><p>Which is why Shia LaBeouf has always felt like an anomaly.</p><h2>Storm before the calm</h2><p>LaBeouf is many things: talented, erratic, often self-destructive. His life reads less like a biography than a weather report — storms, brief calm, then another system moving in. He wears his heart on his sleeve, his wounds on his face, and his worst moments out in public.</p><p>In an industry built on careful concealment, he seems incapable of it. Most actors learn early to construct a polite distance between who they are and what the world sees. LaBeouf apparently never built that wall.</p><p>So when trouble comes — and with him it usually does — everyone gets a front-row seat.</p><p>And that’s what makes the story unmistakably Christian. The prodigal son does not return home polished and rehabilitated. He comes back hungry, broken, and not entirely sure how he got there.</p><h2>Sitting in the wreckage</h2><p>For LaBeouf, arrest is not a new experience. The <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shia-labeouf-arrested-new-orleans-brawl-mardi-gras-rcna259363" target="_blank">latest</a> came last month during Mardi Gras in New Orleans: a misdemeanor battery charge after he allegedly struck multiple people in a drunken altercation. He surrendered voluntarily, spent time in Orleans Parish Prison, and days later <a href="https://youtu.be/4K9RDZg4y7o?si=HXQ2uk36-I_VSRvD" target="_blank">appeared on camera</a> telling journalist Andrew Callaghan of Channel 5 News: “My behavior’s dirty, ugly, disgusting, so I gotta eat it.”</p><p>No spin. No intermediary. Just a man sitting in the wreckage and describing it plainly.</p><p>It would be easy to write him off as another Hollywood cautionary tale. But Christian charity means resisting the reflex to write someone off — especially when someone’s collapse has a visible beginning.</p><p>Shia LaBeouf didn’t arrive at dysfunction by accident.</p><h2>Childhood's end</h2><p>He grew up in Echo Park, Los Angeles, in conditions most of us would struggle to imagine. His father, a Vietnam veteran and heroin addict, cycled in and out of rehab while young Shia attended AA meetings beside him.</p><p>At 10 years old, he <a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a19181320/shia-labeouf-interview-2018/" target="_blank">overheard</a> his mother being raped. His father, lost in a flashback, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_LaBeouf" target="_blank">once pointed</a> a gun at him.</p><p>What looks like a difficult childhood is, in truth, something closer to a disaster.</p><p>Fame arrived far too soon. By his early teens he was earning $8,000 a week on Disney’s "Even Stevens" — more money than his struggling family had ever seen, handed to a boy still too young to drive.</p><p>He told the story to Callaghan almost casually, as if describing someone else’s life: adult money, adult industry, adult temptations, and no adult judgment.</p><p>Hollywood didn’t ease LaBeouf into the spotlight. It vacuumed him into it. Once inside, there was no version of that world equipped to deal with a traumatized child carrying a fat paycheck and no psychological scaffolding. That he grew up volatile and self-destructive shouldn’t surprise anyone.</p><p>None of this excuses bad behavior. Accountability is still accountability. But understanding where destruction begins does not weaken judgment. It makes compassion possible.</p><h2>Immersion in the Spirit</h2><p>In 2022, LaBeouf was <a href="https://youtu.be/uiAzXbgVoaI?si=mU-qYnJQLrp_7oMx" target="_blank">cast as Padre Pio</a>, the Italian friar known for the stigmata and for his fierce spiritual intensity. He prepared the way serious actors do — research, immersion, method.</p><p>What he did not expect was the role swallowing him whole.</p><p>“It stops being prep of a movie,” <a href="https://youtu.be/hjxKG4mR3U4?si=OLXRTYqubTcomC6P" target="_blank">he told</a> Bishop Robert Barron in an interview ahead of the film's premiere, “and starts being something that feels beyond all that.”</p><p>At one point he was living in a seminary parking lot, he says. He studied the Gospels. He spent time around Capuchin friars whose lives revolved around prayer, confession, and the slow disciplines of faith.</p><p>He was <a href="https://www.archny.org/posts/padre-pio-actor-shia-labeouf-fully-entered-the-catholic-church-on-new-years-eve" target="_blank">confirmed</a> in the Catholic Church on New Year’s Eve 2024 at Old Mission Santa Inés, sponsored by a Capuchin friar. He attends Mass regularly. He prays the rosary. He venerates the Eucharist. He <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVZBovACTKS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==" target="_blank">quotes G.K. Chesterton</a> on the way mysticism keeps a man sane.</p><p>He is, in other words, exactly the kind of convert the Gospel of Luke had in mind.</p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/align/animator-tom-bancroft-from-the-lion-king-to-the-king-of-kings" target="_self"><strong>Animator Tom Bancroft: From 'The Lion King' to the King of Kings</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-16x9"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="e9f03" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65172772&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">tombancroftstudio.com</small></p><h2>Hitting the wall</h2><p>The prodigal son did not arrive home rehabilitated. He arrived desperate — and was met, before he could finish speaking, by a father already running to meet him.</p><p>LaBeouf is still mid-journey. He’s divorced, co-parenting with his ex-wife, carrying the weight of serious allegations, trying to put a life back together.</p><p>The Callaghan interview shows a man wrestling with himself in real time. Not performing repentance, but attempting the slow, humiliating work of it.</p><p>He talks about suicidal lows. About addiction cycles. About the moment he believes grace finally broke through: “You got to hit your head into the wall hard enough where you just go, ‘F**k it.’"</p><p>Crude language. Sound theology.</p><p>Christian redemption isn’t tidy. It unfolds through relapses, humiliations, and moments of clarity that usually arrive after the damage is done.</p><p>What LaBeouf offers isn’t a polished testimony.</p><p>It’s something rarer — a man still caught in the fall even as he reaches for redemption.</p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/mullin-inherits-a-mess-at-dhs-heres-how-he-can-still-save-trumps-legacy.jpg?id=65174115&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C25%2C0%2C82" /><br /><br /><p>A few weeks ago, <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/phase-one-was-quality-control-phase-two-needs-to-be-quantity-control">I wrote</a>: “Everyone in America has an opinion on what has gone right or wrong at the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies, particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.” I added — a little too coyly — that I had “a pretty good sense of what happened.”</p><p>That restraint served a purpose at the time. It also left too much unsaid.</p><p class="pull-quote">The mass deportation agenda remains central to Trump’s legacy. Markwayne Mullin has a chance to deliver what the last year only promised. We’re counting on him.</p><p>Now that President Trump has removed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary and <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-removes-dhs-secretary-noem-and-announces-her-replacement">nominated Senator Markwayne Mullin</a> (R-Okla.) to replace her, it’s worth putting real detail behind the diagnosis. Not to salt the wound, but to fix what needs fixing. Trump’s <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/13/trump-deportation-immigrants-springfield-ohio-aurora-colorado" target="_blank">signature promise</a> — “the largest deportation operation in American history” — matters too much for anyone to pretend the last year went smoothly.</p><p>Start with the numbers. They’re too low to fulfill the promise.</p><p>ICE stopped releasing deportation data. The congressionally mandated annual report still hasn’t arrived. In the vacuum, we’ve been left with third-party estimates — the New York Times put removals at <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/18/us/trump-deportation-numbers-immigration-crackdown.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">about 230,000</a> in 2025 — and with shifting DHS press-shop claims that bounce between hundreds of thousands and “millions.” The Times figure sits closer to reality than the chest-thumping.</p><p>Instead of mass deportations, we got mass communications.</p><p>The department’s strategy leaned heavily on television ads, memes, charged language, and <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/12/trump-mass-deportation-statistics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">inflated-sounding claims</a> meant to create the impression that deportations were happening at historic scale. The result landed in the worst possible place: It antagonized the left and the media without delivering results big enough to justify the noise. I don’t lose sleep over angry leftists. I do care when the administration absorbs political heat without gaining operational ground.</p><p>Trump World isn’t immune to polling, media narratives, and the feedback loop they create. A loud rollout without the matching numbers gave activists, consultants, and industry a pretext to flood weak-kneed Republican offices on Capitol Hill. Those calls turned into pressure on the administration. The incentive became delay, and delay followed.</p><p>Then came the optics problem.</p><p>Turning the DHS secretary role into a traveling cosplay routine didn’t land, and it didn’t project command. Instead, it projected awkwardness — and in a department built for seriousness, that matters.</p><p>The larger issue was always fit. Excitement around Trump’s cabinet picks made people charitable, and that’s understandable. The president earned that deference. But putting Noem in charge of DHS — the department most central to the core thesis of Trump’s campaign — never quite made sense. People in the enforcement world tried to build working relationships. Many got brushed off. Meanwhile, operational leaders inside DHS did what Noem didn’t: They cultivated the advocates who could help the mission move.</p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/phase-one-was-quality-control-phase-two-needs-to-be-quantity-control"><strong>‘Phase one’ was quality control. ‘Phase two’ needs to be quantity control.</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-16x9"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="9ddb5" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65174110&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C21%2C0%2C85" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images</small></p><p>The divide became public. Post-Minneapolis, Tom Homan’s profile rose quickly as Trump tapped him to manage the response. Inside DHS, the camps had already formed. Anyone in Washington with a foot in the enforcement world knew who was on “Team Kristi and Corey [Lewandowski]” and who wasn’t. <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/16/dhs-border-chief-office-renovation-00735316" target="_blank">Leaks followed</a>. Finger-pointing followed. Journalists got fed a steady diet of dysfunction. Morale dropped as firings and reassignments became the department’s background music.</p><p>What drove most of the internal warfare was money — specifically, contracts — and the scramble to control tens of billions authorized through the One Big Beautiful Bill.</p><p>DHS adopted a policy requiring Noem personally to review and sign off on contracts over $100,000. Combined with stripping authority from agency heads, that amounted to centralized control in the secretary’s office.</p><p>In practice, the authority filtered through a small circle and ran through Corey Lewandowski in a “special government employee” capacity. The backlog became delay, and the delays hit the mission: Border wall contracts sat for months while steel prices rose. Detention capacity grew slowly because leadership chased flashy, low-capacity facilities with catchy names — Cornhusker Clink, Speedway Slammer, Louisiana Lockup — announced with social media fanfare but built at higher cost, higher litigation risk, and lower throughput than traditional providers.</p><p>It looked like a communications strategy pretending to be a detention strategy.</p><p>Personnel choices compounded the problem. Noem brought in people with little operational or policy experience in immigration enforcement. Her decision to install a late-20s former Wildlife and Fisheries official as deputy ICE director raised eyebrows. Outside the formal chain of command, an equally inexperienced cast appeared in spaces normally reserved for officials who have spent years in homeland security. Over time, <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/how-kristi-noems-chief-corey-lewandowski-ran-her-dhs-tenure-into-the-ground/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">allegations of self-dealing spread</a> — and the pattern made it harder to dismiss them as rumor.</p><p>The best example was the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-border-immigration-kennedy-ad-campaign-bc1525f1d10a468c892d0cb5cf3907b0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$220 million ad campaign</a> that prominently featured Noem. Reports of unusual processes and favored vendors circulated. When lawmakers — Republicans and Democrats — pressed for answers, Noem did little to restore confidence. Given the broader self-promotion pattern, any benefit of the doubt evaporated.</p><p>Then came the hearings. <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noem-house-dems-clash-tension-filled-oversight-hearing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">They were brutal</a>.</p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/memo-to-trump-stop-negotiating-and-ramp-up-deportations"><strong>Memo to Trump: Stop negotiating and ramp up deportations</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-16x9"> <img alt="Memo to Trump: Stop negotiating and ramp up deportations" class="rm-shortcode" id="84a60" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/memo-to-trump-stop-negotiating-and-ramp-up-deportations.jpg?id=65174101&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C78%2C0%2C30" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by Sean Bascom/Anadolu via Getty Images</small></p><p>Before both the House and the Senate, Noem failed to convince members that she could lead the department, and she struggled to answer accusations of scandal and self-dealing. But the fatal error came when she violated the one rule for any Cabinet witness: Don’t drag the president into your mess.</p><p>Under questioning from Sen. John Kennedy about the ad campaign, Noem told him the president personally approved the spending. Kennedy looked stunned. Trump later denied it — and the claim never made much sense in the first place. That answer ended whatever internal support remained. In the middle of a sudden war, it still managed to blow up the news cycle. With few defenders inside the building or outside it, the wagons never circled.</p><p>So what now?</p><p>Markwayne Mullin has a massive job ahead of him. He inherits some real wins — especially the restored control of the southern border — but he also inherits a department bruised by internal warfare, low output numbers, and credibility damage.</p><p>A few suggestions, offered plainly:</p><p>First, “<a href="https://x.com/MHowellTweets/status/2030112714392035708" target="_blank">commas, not drama</a>.” Let the mission speak louder than the messaging. Raise the deportation numbers. If the numbers move, everything else gets easier.</p><p>Second, cauterize the past. If Mullin doesn’t create distance from what happened before, he’ll spend the next year answering for it — including under subpoena if Democrats take the House.</p><p>Third, build a firewall through oversight. Let Trump-appointed Inspector General Joseph Cuffari review the controversies. Put the facts on paper, separate the department from the personalities, and move forward. Mullin needs the ability to say, credibly, that he’s fixing the mission, not protecting a mess he didn’t create.</p><p>Fourth, trust the serious people already inside DHS. The department has highly capable operators. Back them. Empower them. Leadership requires followers, and followers don’t materialize through threats, leaks, and infighting.</p><p>The mass deportation agenda remains central to Trump’s legacy. Mullin has a chance to deliver what the last year only promised.</p><p>We’re counting on him.</p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65174338&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>Last week, President Trump announced that Kristi Noem would be replaced as Secretary of Homeland Security by Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and reassigned to the newly created position of Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.</p><p>“Let me translate what this usually means in Washington and may mean this time,” Glenn Beck says.</p><p>“When a president moves somebody into a job that hasn’t been fully defined yet, it usually means one of two things: either A, yeah, bye-bye, you’re being pushed aside, or B, you’re being moved in to run something that is bigger but isn’t public yet.”</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"> <span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span> </p><p>Which category does Noem fall into?</p><p>Glenn speculates that it’s the latter.</p><p>“If you look at the timing, this doesn’t feel like a demotion,” he says.</p><p>Despite the “mixed signals” coming from Trump, who at times does appear “pissed at her,” Glenn believes that Noem’s reassignment has more to do with the “reorganization of the battlefield.”</p><p>“It’s the shield of the Americas. I know that doesn’t mean anything, but follow me on this. Right now, the United States is looking at a hemisphere and a hemisphere problem that most Americans still don’t fully understand or see,” he says.</p><p>“When Donald Trump was running for re-election, we were standing backstage someplace, and he was getting ready to go on. He said, ‘You want to look like a prophet? You know what you need to talk about? You just keep talking about Panama,”’ he recounts, noting that Trump’s words were deeply confusing to him at the time.</p><p>However, shortly after the election, the president sure enough divulged intentions to take back the Panama Canal.</p><p>“He understood what was happening with Panama and China. China had taken the entire Panama Canal and was controlling it,” Glenn says.</p><p>The Panama plans were soon followed by talk of Greenland, then Venezuela, Cuba, cartels in Mexico and Central America, Russia in Caracas, and Iranian proxies in the region.</p><p>“The southern hemisphere has become the new front line of great power competition. [President Trump] is declaring the western hemisphere is ours, OK? And DHS, the Department of <em><em>Homeland</em></em> Security, was not designed for that,” Glenn says.</p><p>What Trump is up against, he explains, is “hemisphere-level instability.”</p><p>“We have the migration waves. We have state collapse. We have cartels that are moving people and drugs and weapons and intelligence. We have foreign adversaries embedding themselves inside of all of that chaos,” Glenn explains. “So if you’re the president ... you’re saying, ‘We have got to shore up America to make sure we last another 150, 250 years.’”</p><p>Perhaps Noem’s reassignment has more to do with this: “[making] sure that our darkest, Russia, China, Iran, are not running operations in this hemisphere.”</p><p>“Shield of the Americas. Think about the name. It’s not border control; it’s not immigration enforcement. It’s a shield of the Americas, the entire western hemisphere,” Glenn says. “That doesn’t sound like DHS. That sounds more like strategic security architecture for the western hemisphere, doesn<strong></strong>’t it?”</p><p>To hear more of his theory on Kristi Noem’s reassignment, watch the video above.</p><h2>Want more from Glenn Beck?</h2><p>To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, <a href="https://get.blazetv.com/glenn/?utm_source=theblaze&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=article_shortcode_glennbeck" target="_blank">subscribe to BlazeTV</a> — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.</p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/data-centers-are-a-hidden-tax-on-your-burger.jpg?id=65174023&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C58%2C0%2C150" /><br /><br /><p>Last September, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DO9y9vEDdIJ/" target="_blank">warned</a> that the United States has “offshored our food, our beef cattle, our citrus.” She put the problem plainly: “If we can’t feed ourselves, this is a national security issue.” Fair enough. So why does so much of government land-use policy push projects that devour farmland — hyperscale data centers, utility-scale solar farms, and the sprawling infrastructure that comes with them?</p><p>If Washington wanted to drive up land prices, make farming harder, and funnel a generation of acreage into non-agricultural uses, it couldn’t improve on the current playbook. The uniparty does this everywhere, and red states often lead the charge.</p><h2>Data centers: The ‘cloud’ that drains the water</h2><p>Texas is suffering through a long drought. Yet Amarillo has approved an 18 million square-foot data center on what used to be cattle country. Land-grabs tell only part of the story. Data centers also drink water — and they don’t act like the kind of clouds that bring rain.</p><p>Reports indicate the Amarillo facility alone could use <a href="https://x.com/mavsmarie/status/2027413768981074287?s=46" target="_blank">912 million gallons</a> of water per year. Large data centers can guzzle up to 5 million gallons per day, matching the daily use of a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people. That kind of demand crowds out ranchers and farmers who already operate under tight margins and tight water allocations.</p><p class="pull-quote">If food security is national security, then farmland is strategic territory. Let’s start acting like it.</p><p>Texas data centers used roughly <a href="https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/land-lines-magazine/articles/land-water-impacts-data-centers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">49 billion gallons of water</a> in 2025, rising to 399 billion gallons by 2030 — enough to lower Lake Mead by more than 16 feet annually. Meanwhile, ranchers face reduced access, higher pumping costs, and deeper draws from shrinking aquifers. Less water means <a href="https://worldpressinstitute.org/in-arid-texas-data-centers-are-thirsty-for-water/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">smaller herds</a>, smaller harvests, and <a href="https://andthewest.stanford.edu/2025/thirsty-for-power-and-water-ai-crunching-data-centers-sprout-across-the-west/#:~:text=Beans%20to%20bits%20The%20agricultural,from%20nearby%20Columbia%20River%20hydropower." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more pressure to sell</a>.</p><p>That’s how the cycle locks in. Water becomes scarce. Ranching becomes less viable. Landowners get squeezed. Tech developers show up with wads of cash and tax incentives. Grazing land disappears for good.</p><p>On what planet does it make sense to trade the beef and food we need for speculative gains from chatbots and cloud-based generative AI?</p><p>Maybe Elon Musk has the right idea when he suggests building data centers in space. Texas doesn’t need them planted on top of its ranches.</p><p>Some red states now treat these projects as untouchable “economic development,” even when they wreck local quality of life. Ohio offers <a href="https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/ohio-epa-weighs-allowing-data-centers-to-release-wastewater-into-rivers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a telling example</a>. An Ohio EPA draft permit for a data center states: “It has been determined that a lowering of water quality … is necessary to accommodate important social and economic development in the state of Ohio.”</p><p>That sentence says everything. Regulators will sacrifice water quality to accommodate the newest corporate appetite. Families and landowners can adapt.</p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/return/living-brain-cell-chatbot" target="_self"><strong>Living human brain cells are training a chatbot to be ‘more like us’</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-16x9"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="37b05" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65173975&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C53%2C0%2C54" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images </small></p><h2>Solar ‘farms’ crushing farmland</h2><p>President Trump has criticized the solar agenda from day one. He has called utility-scale solar inefficient and ugly — and he’s right about the aesthetics. Yet the administration now treats <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/interior-jump-starts-solar-energy-permitting/" target="_blank">solar as a power source</a> for data centers, while some MAGA influencers and pollsters try to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/02/katie-miller-solar-power-trump/" target="_blank">sell the right on the plan</a>. Pairing solar with hyperscale AI facilities accelerates the transfer of land out of food production.</p><p>Utility-scale solar typically requires five to 10 acres per megawatt. A solar build meant to feed a one-gigawatt hyperscale facility can swallow 5,000 to 10,000 acres. Supporters respond with percentages: Solar uses only a small share of total farmland. That dodge ignores where developers build. They don’t chase scrub. They target flat, well-drained, <a href="https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/renewable/solar/solar-power-depletes-farmlands-of-rich-soil/" target="_blank">high-quality fields</a> with cheap and easy access to transmission.</p><p>Follow the incentives. In states such as Indiana and Illinois, solar leases reportedly offer $900 to $1,500 per acre annually — far above the average return from corn and soybean ground. Landowners take the deal. Young farmers get priced out. Rural communities lose working land and the local economies that depend on it.</p><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/solar-capacity-grows-some-americas-most-productive-farmland-is-risk-2024-04-27/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Weekend-Briefing&amp;utm_term=042724&amp;user_email=b1f33c724f72e6ae81530a646d129e79a9988a48c9ad389eee85b1a662118766" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Reuters reported</a> that in Indiana counties such as Pulaski, Starke, and Jasper, solar projects have secured 4% to 12% of some of the most fertile cropland. That’s not “marginal land.” That’s the kind of ground America needs to keep producing.</p><p>Tax breaks pour gasoline on the fire. Federal and state subsidies for data centers, solar farms, and battery installations push up land values and rents. In Pulaski County, Indiana, cropland rents reportedly <a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/solar-energy-expansion-and-its-impacts-on-rural-communities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jumped 26% since 2020</a> amid solar growth, outpacing state and national averages. Young families trying to farm don’t compete with subsidized megaprojects.</p><p>Indiana Republicans have compounded the damage by <a href="https://archive.is/20260302201607/https:/www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2026/03/02/a-carbon-sequestration-bill-failed-then-lawmakers-bent-the-rules-to-revive-it/88904748007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">greasing the skids</a> for carbon capture pipelines and special regulatory favors tied to the “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Stop-the-Mid-States-Corridor-Project-100068231971578/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mid-States Corridor</a>,” which will take even more farmland out of service.</p><p>Indiana’s own Department of Agriculture reports the state lost roughly 345,000 acres of agricultural land between 2010 and 2022. Residential sprawl drives much of that loss. Industrial conversion is accelerating — and data centers paired with solar build-outs speed it up.</p><p>So what exactly are these conservatives conserving?</p><p>Imports keep climbing. In 2023, imports supplied 59% of fresh fruit availability and 35% of fresh vegetables — up from 50% and 20% in 2007. America has the land to feed itself and then some, yet policymakers keep nudging production overseas. Mexico alone accounts for over half of imported fruits and vegetables, valued at more than $20 billion.</p><p>God gave this country an abundance of fertile land. He gave sun and rain to grow food. Our leaders now treat that ground as a blank canvas for industrial build-outs that don’t feed anyone.</p><p>If food security is national security, then farmland is strategic territory. Let’s start acting like it.</p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/trump-says-war-against-iran-is-nearly-over-and-gives-regime-warning-not-to-try-anything-cute.png?id=65174118&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C25%2C0%2C26" /><br /><br /><p>After only 10 days of the military operation against Iran, President Donald Trump said that it is close to being complete.</p><p>The president made the comments to a reporter over a phone interview Monday as oil prices skyrocketed and the stock market took a dive.</p><p class="pull-quote">'They've shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute.'</p><p>"I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications. They've got no air force," the president <a href="https://x.com/weijia/status/2031086856679412042" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a> to Weijia Jiang, a CBS reporter.</p><p>Jiang posted the comments on social media.</p><p>The president added that the operation was far ahead of an initial estimated time frame of four to five weeks.</p><p>He also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had threatened to shut down and was the cause of the spike in oil prices. The president <a href="https://x.com/weijia/status/2031089231695851549" target="_blank">said</a> he was considering "taking it over" and threatened Iran further.</p><p>"They've shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute or it's going to be the end of that country," he added.</p><p>The stock market <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/08/stock-market-today-live-updates.html" target="_blank">recovered</a> much of its losses, and oil markets dropped in value after the president's comments were reported.</p><p>A Russian official also <a href="https://x.com/phildstewart/status/2031094561590710440" target="_blank">said</a> Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin shared proposals to end the war on Iran in a phone call with Trump.</p><p>The president <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/iran-promises-to-cease-attacks-on-neighboring-countries-as-trump-warns-it-will-be-hit-very-hard" target="_blank">said</a> Saturday that Iran was looking to end its strikes against its neighbors.</p><p>"Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore," he wrote. "This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack. They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East."</p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/iran-promises-to-cease-attacks-on-neighboring-countries-as-trump-warns-it-will-be-hit-very-hard" target="_blank"><strong>Iran promises to cease attacks on neighboring countries as Trump warns it will be ‘hit very hard’</strong></a><span></span></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"> <span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span></p><p>Jiang also asked the president to comment on the news that the Iranian regime had chosen Mojtaba Khamenei to become the next supreme leader.</p><p>"I have no message for him. None whatsoever," Trump <a href="https://x.com/weijia/status/2031088157567897927" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a>.</p><p><em><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em></em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self"><em>Sign up here</em></a><em><em>! </em></em></p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/shock-nbc-poll-reveals-american-voters-true-feelings-about-ice-and-democrats.jpg?id=65174114&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C107" /><br /><br /><p>As President Donald Trump continues his push to secure the nation, a new <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27777984-nbc-news-march-2026-poll-03-08-2024-release-final/" target="_blank">NBC News</a> survey reveals that American voters hold positions on enforcement of immigration laws that are at odds with the mainstream media narrative. The poll, conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies, shows that when it comes to border security, voters prefer the Republican Party over the Democratic Party by a staggering 27-point lead.</p><p class="pull-quote">The American people have more faith in the agency protecting the border than in the party that has consistently undermined it.</p><p>The survey was conducted between Feb. 27 and March 3, 2026. It included interviews with 1,000 registered voters, with 620 respondents reached via cell phone and 309 interviewed through an online survey sent via text message. The results, which have a margin of error of ±3.10%, reveal a growing divide. </p><p>The poll also has shocking news for the Democratic Party. According to the survey, 38% of voters have a positive view of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. By comparison, only 30% of voters have a positive view of the Democratic Party. This eight-point gap suggests that despite radical "Abolish ICE" <a href="https://x.com/Ilhan/status/2027125778987581702?s=20" target="_blank">rhetoric</a> from progressives, the American people have more faith in the agency protecting the border than in the party that has consistently undermined it.</p><p>In a post on X, Fox News legal analyst <a href="https://x.com/JonathanTurley/status/2031035995416912199" target="_blank">Jonathan Turley noted</a>, "[The Democratic Party] barely edged out Iran in popularity. As Democrats push airports toward a shutdown during peak Spring break travel, they could soon lose not just to Iran but Ebola in future polls."</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/anti-ice-inflatable-frogs-join-democrats-at-state-of-the-union-counter-event" target="_blank">Anti-ICE inflatable frogs join Democrats at State of the Union counter event</a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="a8602" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65174128&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C53%2C0%2C54" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images</small></p><p>Republicans hold their largest issue-based advantage on the border, far outpacing the 22-point lead they hold on the issue of crime. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party trails significantly on these pressing security concerns.</p><p>While 50% of voters say they prefer a Democrat-controlled Congress, they are simultaneously backing the Trump administration's firm stance on the U.S. border and immigration enforcement.</p><p><em><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em></em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self"><em>Sign up here</em></a><em><em>!</em></em></p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/trump-s-doj-reaches-agreement-with-ticketmaster-to-lower-prices-but-some-states-already-reject-it.png?id=65173970&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C25%2C0%2C26" /><br /><br /><p>The U.S. Dept. of Justice <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/justice-department-and-live-nation-reach-settlement-over-ticketmaster-illegal-monopoly-case" target="_blank">said</a> it had reached a tentative deal in the antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment on Monday.</p><p>Critics of the event ticket outlet have accused the company of seeking a monopoly in the industry in order to artificially maintain high sales fees.</p><p class="pull-quote">'We will continue our lawsuit to protect consumers and restore fair competition to the live entertainment industry.'</p><p>"Live Nation Ticketmaster created a dominant conglomerate with an unprecedented amount of control over the live ticketing market, resulting in monopoly power it has used to entrench its position in the marketplace," Mark Meador <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/the-ticketmaster-scam-trump-vows-to-crush" target="_self">wrote</a> in 2024 before being nominated to FTC commissioner.</p><p>On Monday, a senior Justice Department official said anonymously <a href="https://apnews.com/article/livenation-antitrust-justice-department-0a6ef66f497e5f626096de753bfff8ce?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+New+Content+%28Feed%29&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank">in a call</a> with reporters that the deal was a "win-win for everybody."</p><p>Live Nation has agreed to divest itself of 13 amphitheaters in the U.S. as a part of the deal, which also includes a $280 million fine.</p><p>The official said a double-digit number of states have signaled that they will agree with the deal.</p><p>New York Attorney General Letitia James was among those who said they would not go along with the deal and continue their own lawsuits against the companies.</p><p>"My attorney general colleagues and I have a strong case against Live Nation, and we will continue our lawsuit to protect consumers and restore fair competition to the live entertainment industry," James said.</p><p>Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) ridiculed President Donald Trump over the deal in a post on social media.</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/its-time-to-join-the-fight-and-expose-ticketmaster" target="_self">It’s time to join the fight and expose Ticketmaster</a> </strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"> <span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span> </p><p>"Donald 'Art of the Deal' Trump settled the Ticketmaster-Live Nation antitrust case," <a href="https://x.com/ewarren/status/2031090421254717635" target="_blank">Warren wrote</a>.</p><p>"If you love going to concerts, Trump's deal means you'll keep paying a 'Ticketmaster Tax.' And artists will keep getting bullied," she added. "It's time to break up Ticketmaster-Live Nation."</p><p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em></p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/dad-accused-of-killing-daughter-s-alleged-rapist-wins-republican-sheriff-nomination-we-re-just-getting-started.png?id=53827144&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=6%2C0%2C7%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>An <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/tag/arkansas" target="_blank">Arkansas father</a> who is facing second-degree murder charges for allegedly killing his teen daughter's suspected sexual abuser has won the Republican nomination for county sheriff.</p><p>As <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/how-an-arkansas-dad-accused-of-shooting-67-year-old-male-who-was-with-his-missing-daughter-just-14-could-beat-murder-charge" target="_self">Blaze News reported in October 2024</a>, Aaron Spencer woke up to find his 14-year-old daughter missing from the family’s home. Police were notified about the missing girl.</p><p class="pull-quote">'Michael Fosler is [expletive] dead on the side of the road for trying to kidnap my daughter. I had no choice.'</p><p>Spencer got in his vehicle to try to track down his missing daughter and spotted a white Ford truck on the highway owned by Michael Fosler — the 67-year-old man accused of raping Spencer's daughter.</p><p>The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office said in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lonokecountysheriffsoffice/posts/pfbid02qetBstG2FAKse1bio1QQnhmjrzmpgYvbWbGqtzxvnehRuqqmoJBLUoARcj2MZaokl" target="_blank">press release</a>, "While en route, deputies were notified that the father, Aaron Spencer, had located the juvenile in a vehicle with Michael Fosler."</p><p>The affidavit said Spencer used his vehicle to rear-end Fosler’s Ford F-150 truck at an intersection, which forced it off the road and into a ditch.</p><p>Citing court records, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/03/06/aaron-spencer-arkansas-sheriff-primary-murder-charge/89005179007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">USA Today</a> reported that Spencer "then got out of his car and started firing a gun at Fosler. He fired 16 times, court records state, noting 15 bullets hit Fosler."</p><p>Court documents said Spencer pistol-whipped Fosler in the face after firing the shots.</p><p>Court records show Spencer then called 911 and said, "Michael Fosler is [expletive] dead on the side of the road for trying to kidnap my daughter. I had no choice."</p><p>Police said Fosler was pronounced dead at the <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/tag/crime" target="_blank">crime scene</a>.</p><p><span></span>Spencer was arrested, charged with second-degree murder in connection with Fosler's death, and then released from the Lonoke County Detention Center after posting bail.</p><p>Court documents said Spencer went to the home of a female acquaintance of Fosler on July 8, 2024, told the woman that Fosler raped his underage daughter, and then demanded Fosler's phone number and home address.</p><p>Spencer instructed the woman not to call anyone, including the police, according to court documents.</p><p>However, Fosler's acquaintance revealed the situation to one of her family members, who was a mandated reporter. According to USA Today, "Mandated reporters are required to notify law enforcement officials or social services about suspected cases of child abuse."</p><p>The mandated reporter alerted the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office about the rape allegations, court records stated.</p><p>Court records said two officers went to Spencer's residence as part of the investigation into the rape of his minor daughter.</p><p>Court docs said the interaction between Spencer and officers was recorded on a police bodycam, and one of the officers is heard telling Spencer, "We still don't live in a country where you can take the law into your own hands," to which Spencer responded with an expletive.</p><p>Officials with the Wade Knox Children's Advocacy Center interviewed Spencer's daughter, according to court records.</p><p> USA Today reported that police obtained an arrest warrant for Fosler for a charge of rape and one count of internet stalking of a child — both of which are felonies.</p><p>USA Today said Fosler was arrested and then released from jail on $50,000 bond on July 17, 2024.</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/anna-kepner-murder-cruise-ship-stepbrother" target="_self">'Want him buried': Family's explosive words surface after cheerleader's stepbrother reportedly charged in her death on cruise</a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"> <span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span></p><p>Spencer's sister-in-law in 2025 launched a <a href="https://www.givesendgo.com/SpencerFamilySupport?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=post&amp;utm_campaign=SpencerFamilySupport&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawQby55leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEem8NOIYBAgSDNmed7F0SWVCKG85P-E5rYfc8eqXpYYLGePvo1D6x3YRZeCBM_aem_Fb41Z5OylhyA5EFzV-lGEw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GiveSendGo</a> crowdfunding campaign, which has raised over $100,000 in an effort to keep their "family afloat amid Aaron’s daunting legal proceedings."</p><p>"Beginning in the spring of 2024, my then 13-year-old niece was targeted by a predator, groomed, and assaulted multiple times," the crowdfunding listing said.</p><p><span></span>As <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/aaron-spencer-murder-case-child-sex-crimes" target="_self">Blaze News reported in October 2024</a>, Spencer launched a political campaign to become the new Lonoke County Sheriff despite awaiting trial in connection with the alleged murder of Fosler.</p><p>The <a href="https://enr.totalresults.com/arkansas/lonoke#election=7f77a178-af02-40ec-92db-c5cc50882c68&amp;contest=4bf4fc06-4f9e-45b1-b931-dc44e2e79c00&amp;filter=County&amp;search=Spencer&amp;bucket=results" target="_blank">Arkansas secretary of state</a> revealed that Spencer won more than 53% of the vote in last Tuesday's three-person GOP primary, easily defeating incumbent Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley and David Bufford.</p><p>Spencer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0myT2CaZ2VDNX6V57LKuqscQHFLzX4msUjoaADyo5mSu418H7jSRUVtRoHiVUFwHgl&amp;id=61582302083686" target="_blank">said</a> of his victory, "Lonoke County sent a clear message last night, and we're just getting started."</p><p>"I'm running to restore accountability and integrity to the sheriff's office, and the people of this county just showed they want the same thing," the father said on his campaign Facebook page. "Let's finish the job and build a safer, stronger Lonoke County together."</p><p>Sheriff Staley congratulated Spencer by saying in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElectJohnStaley/posts/pfbid02cxfBox6d7HgqPR1JXqhA91XwboJwVt3GuVpY5eYUefDSTqkXycSJbpTo6wmFNVqfl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a>, "Tonight, the voters made their decision in the Republican Primary, and I respect the decision."</p><p>Staley had been the Lonoke County Sheriff for the last 13 years.</p><p>Spencer — a husband, father, combat veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, contractor, and farmer — now will face off against Democrat nominee Brian Mitchell Sr. in November.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/arkansas-man-accused-killing-daughters-alleged-abuser-wins-sheriff-race-gop-nomination" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fox News</a> noted that Spencer will be prohibited from serving as sheriff if he is convicted of the murder charge.</p><p>Spencer's trial initially was scheduled for January but has been postponed. He has pleaded not guilty.</p><p>Spencer's lawyers released a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LassiterandCassinelli/posts/pfbid02CJfMNDbf3AB9EAHAjrci9HxhEabYu2fk9MzgQDiXC5GnpGzxpHesJmmDkS5SGsifl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a> Friday: "Aaron did exactly what Arkansas law allows and exactly what any father would do: He protected his daughter and himself from harm."</p><p>"We said from the beginning that Aaron was justified under Arkansas law in protecting his daughter, and every time the facts have come into focus, that conclusion has only become clearer," the Lassiter & Cassinelli legal team proclaimed.</p><p>His lawyers also characterized Spencer's supporters as "parents, veterans, and neighbors who watched the system fail and support a father who stepped up."</p><p>"Lonoke County residents have rallied behind Aaron Spencer not just in his legal defense, but in his broader mission to bring accountability to a county government that has long operated without it," the statement said.</p><p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self">Sign up here</a>!</em></p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65169858&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>President Donald Trump spent years campaigning against the failures of American foreign policy — but not necessarily against American power itself.</p><p>Which is why Trump’s bold global moves suggest a doctrine that rejects nation-building and ideological crusades in favor of something far simpler: an America First approach to global dominance.</p><p>“It’s only March, but already it’s proven to be a pretty remarkably action-packed year. You know, just three days in, Trump successfully plucks up Nicolas Maduro from his bed in Venezuela, extradites him back to the United States, where he’s facing numerous felony charges stemming from involvement in narco-terrorism,” John Doyle explains.</p><p>“Then, the end of February, Trump launches Operation Epic Fury, of course, a military campaign to destroy Iran’s offensive capabilities,” he continues.</p><h3></h3><br /><span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span><p>“On Tuesday, though, the U.S. and Ecuador launched a joint military operation against narcoterrorists in the South American country,” he adds.</p><p>But it appears that Trump is only getting started.</p><p>“A lot of analysts, I’ve been seeing this, are saying that Trump is perhaps planning an intervention in Cuba. ... In his second term, he’s floated the idea of, you know, a friendly takeover. We can guess how friendly such a takeover would actually be. But Trump’s clearly trying to frame Cuba as a failing state, which it is,” Doyle says.</p><p>And while many Americans are skeptical of Trump’s recent actions, particularly Operation Epic Fury, Doyle points out that Trump is “doing what he thinks is best for America, not what’s best for abstractions like liberal democracy, not what’s best for transgender people in Timbuktu, what is best for America.”</p><p>“He does think in terms of empire. All of his criticism about American Empire has not been so much on the empire itself, but more on the people managing it. What does he say? ‘Our leaders are stupid,’” Doyle explains.</p><p>“His problem with us going into Iraq was not that we went into Iraq necessarily, but that we went in to pursue a nation-building project, and we didn’t even take the oil. He said this as it was going on. He said this on the debate stage in 2016. This is pretty consistent for Donald Trump,” he says.</p><p>“And, of course, it’s true that Trump won the election in 2016 by denouncing, again, certain aspects of the American Empire — you know, our involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan. But it is incorrect ultimately to characterize Trump as opposed to empire itself,” he continues.</p><p>“In fact, if anything, the American Empire is actually doing a lot better with Trump at the helm,” he adds.</p><h2>Want more from John Doyle?</h2><p>To enjoy more of the truth about America and join the fight to restore a country that has been betrayed by its own leaders, <a href="https://get.blazetv.com/doyle/?utm_source=theblaze&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=article_shortcode_rufo-lomez" target="_blank">subscribe to BlazeTV</a> — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.</p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/david-french-catches-flak-for-claiming-talarico-a-pro-abortion-democrat-acts-like-a-christian.jpg?id=65172995&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C107" /><br /><br /><p>New York Times opinion writer David French, a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/opinion/james-talarico-christian-democrat-texas-primary.html" target="_blank">self-described</a> evangelical conservative, has made a habit out of supporting radical leftists over those Republican officials who have time and again delivered meaningful results for the causes of life and liberty.</p><p>French <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/11/opinion/harris-trump-conservatives-abortion.html" target="_blank">announced</a> in 2024, for example, that he was supporting then-candidate Kamala Harris over President Donald Trump "to save conservatism."</p><p class="pull-quote">'French always saves his most demonic takes for Sunday morning columns.'</p><p>The former National Review writer's rationale was that the GOP supposedly wouldn't survive another Trump term but could be rebuilt as a "force for genuine good" in the event that Harris — an advocate for <a href="https://reproductivefreedomforall.org/lawmaker/kamala-harris/" target="_blank">abortion</a>, <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/prominent-victim-of-the-sex-change-regime-endorses-trump-in-gut-wrenching-ad" target="_blank">child sex-rejection procedures</a>, and <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/harris-not-only-threatened-to-storm-the-homes-of-legal-gunowners-she-supported-a-pistol-ban" target="_blank">infringements on the Second Amendment</a> — won.</p><p>Although his propaganda didn't work in 2024, French clearly hasn't given up on promoting radical leftists and is now promoting James Talarico, the Democrat state representative hoping to succeed Republican John Cornyn in the U.S. Senate.</p><p>French — who has not only <a href="https://archive.ph/G4cha" target="_blank">embraced</a> homosexual "marriage" but also non-Christian speech codes about <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/shows/relatable/trans-ideologys-newest-victim" target="_blank">gender</a> — <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/opinion/james-talarico-christian-democrat-texas-primary.html" target="_blank">claimed</a> in an editorial on Sunday that "Talarico shines" as "one of the few openly Christian politicians in the United States who acts like a Christian, and by acting like a Christian he reveals a profound contrast with so many members of the MAGA Christian movement that’s dominated American political life for 10 years."</p><p>French proffered Talarico's Senate primary victory speech, during which he criticized competition, as an example of the Democrat's supposed Christianity in action, "right heart," and loving ways.</p><p>"I am tired of being pitted against my neighbor. I’m tired of being told to hate my neighbor. It’s been more than 10 years of this kind of politics," said Talarico. "Politics as blood sport, politics as trolling and owning, politics as total war. It tears families apart. It ends friendships, and it leaves us all feeling terrible all the time."</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/democrats-swapped-crocketts-preening-for-talaricos-pulpit-and-it-worked" target="_blank">Democrats swapped Crockett’s preening for Talarico’s pulpit — and it worked </a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="958b3" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65173001&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C53%2C0%2C54" /><small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Image</small></p><p>Though gushing about Talarico's supposed Christian decency and compassionate public face, French neglected to mention any of the Democrat's nastier remarks about those political opponents and fellow Christians with whom he fundamentally disagrees.</p><p>Talarico <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/opinion/james-talarico-christian-democrat-texas-primary.html" target="_blank">previously suggested</a>, for example, that Trump is a "business cheat, a pathological liar, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/03/politics/doug-emhoff-acknowledges-affair-during-first-marriage/index.html" target="_blank">a serial adulterer</a>, a twice-impeached insurrectionist, a convicted felon, an adjudicated rapist," many of whose supporters "have forgotten all about Jesus."</p><p>Trump sued ABC News over host George Stephanopoulos' false on-air assertion that the president had been found civilly liable for rape. Per the terms of the late 2024 settlement, ABC News <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/12/14/nx-s1-5229089/abc-e-jean-carroll-trump-george-stephanopoulos" target="_blank">ultimately agreed</a> to pay $15 million toward Trump's presidential library.</p><p>Despite the apparent narrowness of Talarico's love and understanding, French — making no secret of his soft spot for Cornyn and hard liking for Talarico — presented the Democrat challenger as the supposedly virtuous antithesis of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.</p><p>French's case relies not only on selective outrage and his apparent ability to judge the hearts of men but on severing both candidates from their relevant activities, namely their work in office.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"> <span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span></p><p>"For too long we've evaluated Christians in politics primarily through their policy positions," wrote French. "Yet this is exactly backward."</p><p>French expressed outrage over Paxton's failed marriage and portrayed him as an exemplar of vice while strategically ignoring Talarico's:</p><ul><li>support for the dehumanization and elimination of the unborn, as signaled by his <a href="https://texasrighttolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/House-050-2025.pdf" target="_blank">0% score</a> on the Texas Right to Life's pro-life scorecard and his correlated <a href="https://choicetracker.org/tx/people/james-talarico/82771968" target="_blank">recognition</a> as "a Pro-Choice Champion" by the Texas Choice Tracker;</li><li><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/align/james-talarico-bible-abortion" target="_self">attempted use</a> of scripture, specifically Genesis 2:7 and the Annunciation, to justify the slaughter of the unborn;</li><li>votes <a href="https://legiscan.com/TX/rollcall/SB14/id/1324381" target="_blank">against</a> sparing children from sex-rejection mutilations as well as <a href="https://legiscan.com/TX/rollcall/SB15/id/1327441" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">against</a> keeping men out of girls' sports;</li><li><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/06/16/james-talarico-texas-democrats-00101231" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">claim</a> that displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms is "deeply un-Christian";</li><li><a href="https://x.com/jamestalarico/status/1589402191764533248" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">claim</a> that the Supreme Court's <em></em><em>Dobbs</em> ruling was effectively "un-Christian";</li><li><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/god-non-binary-texas-dem-nominee-talaricos-past-remarks-abortion-race-gender-draw-scrutiny" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">claim</a> that God is "non-binary";</li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBlaze/videos/tx-dem-nominee-for-us-senate-modern-science-proves-there-are-six-genders/1122203806658333/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">claim</a> that there are six sexes, despite the clear <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201%3A27&amp;version=KJV" target="_blank">assertion</a> in Genesis, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them"; </li><li><a href="https://x.com/jamestalarico/status/1655699432627683334?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">complaint</a> that "Republican politicians are banning drag queens in the name of protecting children"; and</li><li><a href="https://x.com/SteveGuest/status/2030815371473633435?s=20" target="_blank">claim</a> that "you can't call yourself a Christian and destroy God's creation with greenhouse gases."</li></ul><p>Critics blasted French over his commentary, suggesting that his understanding of "decency" is confused if not outright deceptive.</p><p>Radio host Erick Erickson <a href="https://x.com/EWErickson/status/2030719709264662913?s=20" target="_blank">noted</a>, "It is not decent to twist scripture to lead others to hell. It is not decent to claim whiteness itself is like a virus. It is not decent to use Christ’s conception as a justification for abortion. It is not decent to reduce women to 'neighbors with uteruses.' Only if you have been radicalized by your critics can you land at this position."</p><p class="pull-quote">'Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape.'</p><p>"David French is endorsing a guy who wants free abortion mills in every courthouse and who also claims God is trans," <a href="https://x.com/seanmdav/status/2030707511049728430?s=20" target="_blank">wrote</a> Sean Davis, CEO of the Federalist. "That French always saves his most demonic takes for Sunday morning columns is a pretty good indicator of who he actually worships now."</p><p>William Wolfe, executive director for the Center for Baptist Leadership, alluded to the conspiring demons in C.S Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters," <a href="https://x.com/WilliamWolfe/status/2030735520158933001?s=20" target="_blank">writing</a>, "Now tell them that pro-abortion, pro-child mutilation politician who preaches that God is non-binary is a 'shining' example of a Christian. Your affectionate uncle, Screwtape."</p><p>Weeks prior to French's opinion piece, BlazeTV host Steve Deace suggested that Talarico was an "object and a vessel of malevolence. All right? When he speaks, he's not deceived; he's the deceiver. ... He is who Paul would have said in Acts, 'You are a son of the devil.' He knows what he is doing."</p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/china-is-at-war-with-us-start-acting-like-it.jpg?id=65173073&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C54%2C0%2C125" /><br /><br /><p>Communist China isn’t hiding its ambitions. Beijing wants to displace the United States as the world’s leading power. It <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3874713-cia-director-cant-say-what-chinese-leadership-knew-about-spy-balloon/" target="_blank">flies spy balloons</a> over our country, runs influence operations, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-china-technology-disputes-intellectual-property-europe-e749a72e" target="_blank">steals technology</a>, pressures neighbors, <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/china-america-navy-taiwan-strait-transit-freedom-overflight-1783997" target="_blank">menaces Taiwan</a>, and <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343917/how-china-overtook-us-hypersonic-arms-and-may-leave-air-defences-powerless" target="_blank">builds missiles</a> and ships meant to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/satellite-images-expose-china-practising-blowing-up-us-warships/news-story/564e6ac42ad821f7227eab88683717ad" target="_blank">drive America out</a> of the Western Pacific.</p><p>The Pentagon’s newly released <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF" target="_blank">National Defense Strategy</a> puts the People’s Republic of China at the center of the threat picture. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth frames the task in blunt terms: “peace through strength,” including a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific so that China can’t “dominate us or our allies.”</p><p class="pull-quote">China won’t ‘take over the world’ in some comic-book way. But it will keep testing the seams of American power — and it will keep exploiting our habits of denial and delay.</p><p>That doesn’t mean the United States and China are “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Destined-War-America-Escape-Thucydidess/dp/0544935276" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">destined for war.</a>” China’s weaknesses cut against that. It lacks the kind of soft power that makes alliances easy and coercion unnecessary. Outside its borders, China inspires far more fear than admiration. <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/china-is-facing-a-demographic-bomb-and-it-could-handcuff-beijing-s-ambitions/ar-AA1UWT7S" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Demographic collapse</a> also looms. The one-child policy left China facing an aging population and a shrinking workforce.</p><p>None of that makes Beijing harmless. A declining regime can still lash out. It can still intimidate neighbors, manipulate markets, and exploit American openness. It can also run influence operations in plain sight — through front companies, academic partnerships, lobbying, investment vehicles, and the slow capture of key choke points in tech and infrastructure.</p><p>That calls for something Washington too often refuses to do: enforce rules like a serious country.</p><p>Start with basic <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/05/23/house-ethics-committee-ends-probe-into-swalwells-interaction-with-fang-fang/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">counterintelligence hygiene</a>. Aggressively investigate covert foreign influence. Enforce FARA. Protect sensitive research. Tighten screening around critical supply chains. Treat strategic industries like strategic industries. Strip Chinese “<a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/01/17/manchurian-generation-ballot-flood-more-than-1-million-chinese-with-u-s-citizenship-could-vote-in-2030-elections/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">paper Americans</a>” of their citizenship and <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/exclusive-meet-the-chinese-congressman-accused-of-abusing-21-kids-in-us-surrogacy-scheme/ar-AA1JEA2W" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">deport them</a>.</p><p>This is where internal discipline matters as much as external posture. A national strategy collapses when parts of the bureaucracy slow-walk it, freelance against it, or treat it like optional guidance.</p><p>Consider the recent ouster of Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater. She was in charge of the Department of Justice’s antitrust division until last month. But she butted heads repeatedly with Attorney General Pam Bondi. Their disagreements slid into <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2026/02/12/gail-slater-pam-bondi-antitrust-doj-jd-vance-hewlett-packard/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">insubordination</a>. Slater <a href="https://x.com/reaganreese_/status/2022071636812345536" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">allegedly lied</a> to Bondi on national security matters that appeared to help China.</p><p><strong>RELATED:</strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/columns/opinion/iran-china-and-trumps-art-of-the-squeal" target="_self"><strong> </strong><strong>Iran, China, and Trump’s ‘art of the squeal’</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-16x9"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="24fe4" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65173069&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C35%2C0%2C72" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">White House via X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images</small></p><p>For example, Slater opposed the Hewlett-Packard Enterprise <a href="https://www.hpe.com/us/en/newsroom/press-release/2025/07/hewlett-packard-enterprise-closes-acquisition-of-juniper-networks-to-offer-industry-leading-comprehensive-cloud-native-ai-driven-portfolio.html" target="_blank">acquisition</a> of Juniper Networks, which national security experts say is essential to combat Chinese tech dominance. Blocking the deal would have hurt U.S. industry and helped Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Happily, the administration overruled her and approved the deal.</p><p>Washington can’t run a serious China policy with internal sabotage, bureaucratic drift, or officials acting like they answer to a different set of priorities.</p><p>The same standard applies to national security decisions in the tech arena. If competition with Huawei and China’s tech ecosystem matters — and it does — then Washington should evaluate mergers, procurement, and infrastructure policy through that lens, not just through abstract theories divorced from geopolitical reality. America needs to win the next generation of networks, not regulate itself into strategic dependence.</p><p>China won’t “take over the world” in some comic-book way. But it will keep testing the seams of American power — and it will keep exploiting our habits of denial and delay.</p><p>Peace through strength isn’t a slogan. It’s a posture: defend critical systems, enforce the law, remove vulnerabilities, and stop treating strategic competition like a seminar topic. The first step is simple and unglamorous: clean up our own house, then face Beijing with the seriousness the moment demands.</p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/activist-judge-rules-trump-appointee-doesn-t-have-authority-to-order-mass-layoffs-at-voice-of-america.png?id=65172892&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C51" /><br /><br /><p>Another federal judge has <a href="https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/kari-lake-dismantle-voice-of-america?taid=69ae4246e9e7b00001532dcf&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=trueanthem&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank">ruled</a> against the Trump administration after a group of fired employees filed a lawsuit to oppose layoffs ordered at Voice of America.</p><p>President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-admin-to-dismantle-irretrievably-broken-government-media-agency" target="_blank">nominated</a> Kari Lake to oversee the federal multimedia broadcaster in March 2025 as part of an order to reduce redundant government agencies.</p><p class="pull-quote">'We don't have anyone in our foreign bureaus. We don't have anybody, basically, to cover the news.'</p><p>On Saturday, U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Lake did not have the authority to order the layoffs, but it is unclear how the agency will proceed after the ruling.</p><p>"Only the Appointments Clause or the Vacancies Act's exclusive structure may authorize service as a principal officer, and Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution," Lamberth wrote in the ruling.</p><p>Lamberth also noted that Lake had not been approved by the U.S. Senate.</p><p>The journalists who filed the lawsuit included Voice of America White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara, Kate Neeper, and Jessica Jerreat.</p><p>"We feel vindicated and deeply grateful. The judge's ruling that Kari Lake's actions shall have no force or effect is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love," reads a <a href="https://x.com/savevoanow/status/2030461339139731808" target="_blank">statement</a> from the journalists.</p><p>"Even as we work through what this ruling means for colleagues harmed by her actions, it brings renewed hope and momentum to the next phase of our fight," they added, "restoring VOA's global operations and ensuring we continue to produce journalism, not propaganda."</p><p>About 85% of the staff at VOA and the U.S. Agency for Global Media has been fired since March 2025, which includes about 1,400 workers.</p><p>"There's about 120 working right now, and that's all based in D.C.," Widakuswara <a href="https://wtop.com/local/2026/03/future-of-voice-of-america-unclear-after-judge-rules-kari-lake-had-no-authority-to-overhaul-voa/" target="_blank">said</a>. "We don't have anyone in our foreign bureaus. We don't have anybody, basically, to cover the news."</p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/judge-trump-slavery-nps-site" target="_blank"><strong>Judge orders Trump administration to restore slavery exhibits to presidential home site</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"> <span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span> </p><p>Lake excoriated the judge and indicated the government would appeal the ruling.</p><p>"The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government," she wrote on social media.</p><p>"An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM," she added. <br />"Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different."</p><em><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em></em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self"><u><em>Sign up here</em></u></a><em><em>!</em></em>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/liberal-media-covers-for-saturday-s-nyc-terror-attack-suspects-then-the-facts-come-out.jpg?id=65172636&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C107" /><br /><br /><p>Many news outlets glossed over key details about the <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/counter-protester-lights-explosive-amid-anti-mamdani-protest-utters-allahu-akbar-but-nyc-mayor-rips-bigotry-and-racism" target="_blank">attempted bombing</a> in New York City over the weekend, in some instances misleadingly portraying the attack outside Gracie Mansion as a threat to the city's first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani (D), and omitting the motivations and apparent Islamic radicalization of the suspects.</p><p>Mamdani refused to acknowledge the suspects' identities and instead focused his messaging on blaming the initial protest, "Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City," which the mayor claimed was "rooted in bigotry and racism."</p><p class="pull-quote">'What any honest person would call an IED, the New York Times calls "smoking jars of metal and fuses."'</p><p>The <a href="https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/suspicious-devices-outside-nyc-mayors-gracie-mansion/6473590/" target="_blank">media</a> initially <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gracie-mansion-suspicious-devices-rcna262237" target="_blank">echoed</a> Mamdani's <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/northeast/suspicious-device-thrown-outside-gracie-mansion-police/" target="_blank">framing</a>.</p><p>The New York Times released an early <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/nyregion/gracie-mansion-protests.html" target="_blank">report</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nytimes/posts/the-police-in-manhattan-arrested-six-people-on-saturday-during-a-clash-between-f/1316120247037102/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">titled</a>, "Smoking Jars of Metal and Fuses Thrown at Protest Near Mayor's House," in which the outlet was quick to label the anti-Islamic protesters as "far-right" and led by "the far-right provocateur Jake Lang." </p><p>The report detailed how the "turbulent scene" began with Lang's demonstration, noting that one of his fellow protesters sprayed counter-protesters with mace before a counter-protester threw two smoking objects in their direction. The framing of the report suggested that the anti-Islam protesters were the initial aggressors in the confrontation.</p><p>The Times described the two suspects accused of bringing the "smoking objects" merely as "counterprotesters," without delving into their potential motivations, political leanings, or signs of radicalization.</p><p>No explosions or injuries were reported.</p><p><strong><span></span>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/counter-protester-lights-explosive-amid-anti-mamdani-protest-utters-allahu-akbar-but-nyc-mayor-rips-bigotry-and-racism" target="_blank"><strong>Counter-protester lights explosive amid anti-Mamdani protest, utters 'Allahu Akbar' — but NYC mayor rips 'bigotry and racism'</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-16x9"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="c1b4a" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65172641&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C9%2C0%2C98" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. Photo by Leonardo MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images</small></p><p>Author Hans Mahncke criticized the Times' headline, writing in a <a href="https://x.com/HansMahncke/status/2030688999543537754" target="_blank">post</a> on social media, "What any honest person would call an IED, the New York Times calls 'smoking jars of metal and fuses.'" The headline of the Times' article was later updated to "Homemade Bomb Thrown at Protest Near N.Y.C. Mayor's House, Police Say." </p><p>At the same time that early news reports were surfacing, videos posted to social media showed one of the suspects shouting, "Allahu Akbar," while tossing an IED toward anti-Islam protesters. </p><p>Even with the release of this and similar videos, the <a href="https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/03/islamophobic-demonstration-outside-gracie-mansion-leads-6-arrests/411968/" target="_blank">media</a> was slow to <a href="https://abc7.com/post/gracie-mansion-investigation-6-arrested-suspicious-devices-thrown-outside-mayor-zohran-mamdanis-home-new-york-city/18690548/" target="_blank">report</a> that Islamic radicals potentially carried out the attempted bombing.</p><p>The media began covering this angle only after the New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-investigation-terrorism-explosive-device-new-york-city-mayor-mamdani-gracie-mansion/" target="_blank">stated</a> that the attempted bombing was being investigated as ISIS-inspired terrorism.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/09/nyregion/gracie-mansion-bomb-investigation-nyc" target="_blank">Times</a> later reported that the suspects had viewed ISIS videos online, according to two anonymous officials. The homemade bombs reportedly contained triacetone triperoxide, made from precursor materials that have been linked to ISIS in the past, including in the Paris <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/10-years-after-bataclan-massacre-paris-is-still-scarred-by-islamic-state-attacks" target="_blank">attacks</a> in 2015.</p><p><strong>RELATED: </strong><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/shows/the-glenn-beck-program/glenn-beck-exposes-commie-mamdanis-free-day-care-scam-36k-per-kid-55-more-than-private-and-the-socialist-trap-coming" target="_blank"><strong>Glenn Beck exposes commie Mamdani's 'free' day-care scam: $36K per kid — 55% more than private — and the socialist trap coming</strong></a></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-16x9"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="cb63e" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=65172645&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C53%2C0%2C54" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images</small></p><p>Tisch, who confirmed that the IEDs were real and potentially lethal, released more details about the suspects in a <a href="https://x.com/NYPDPC/status/2030695186410463401" target="_blank">post</a> on X.</p><p>"Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested on scene yesterday and are in custody in connection with this matter. The NYPD is working on this investigation with our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI through our Joint Terrorism Task Force," Tisch wrote.</p><p>Despite Tisch's announcement, Mamdani held fast to his original position. </p><p>During a Monday-morning <a href="https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2030992802629255313?s=20" target="_blank">press conference</a>, Mamdani again criticized "white supremacy" and condemned the anti-Muslim protest. While he denounced violence, he described many of the counter-protesters as "peaceful." He did not mention that the suspects appear to be radicalized Muslims.</p><p><em>Editor's note: This article's headline has been corrected after publication to make clear that the act took place on Saturday, not Sunday.</em><br /></p><p><em><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em></em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self"><em><em>Sign up here</em></em></a><em><em>!</em></em></p>

<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/schumer-versus-schumer-damning-footage-exposes-democrat-flip-flop.jpg?id=65172405&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;coordinates=0%2C72%2C0%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is a vociferous opponent of the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22" target="_blank">Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act</a>, sometimes referred to as the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116196711651701576" target="_blank">SAVE America Act</a>, which would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/favorability/chuck-schumer" target="_blank">unpopular</a> senator has <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/news/press-releases/leader-schumer-floor-remarks-on-how-the-save-act-would-disenfranchise-millions-of-american-voters-says-it-is-dead-on-arrival-in-the-senate" target="_blank">characterized</a> the act — the passage of which President Donald Trump has <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116193527873859174" target="_blank">made a condition</a> of his ratification of other bills — as "Jim Crow 2.0," a "fringe piece of legislation," and as "extreme as it gets."</p><p class="pull-quote">'Americans see the hypocrisy.'</p><p>Schumer was not, however, always opposed to measures protecting the benefits owed only to American citizens.</p><p>Decades-old footage has once again <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2030770603959968105" target="_blank">gone viral</a> online, showing Schumer previously making the case that valid U.S. identification ensures against rampant fraud by noncitizens.</p><p>When discussing a proposed amendment to the Republican-sponsored <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3734" target="_blank">Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act</a> in March 1996, then-Rep. Chuck Schumer <a href="https://www.c-span.org/clip/house-proceeding/user-clip-schumer-on-social-security-illegal-immigration/5161974" target="_blank">stated</a>, "Let's admit the truth: Everywhere people go, they're asked for a Social Security card. In fact, one way to prove you’re a bona fide person who can have a job is to ask for a driver’s license and a Social Security card."</p><p>“This is an anti-fraud amendment. All over, where we go, people say, 'Well, why can't you stop illegal immigrants or others from coming here?' And the number-one answer we give our constituents is, 'When they come here, they can get jobs, get benefits against the law because of fraud,'" said Schumer.</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/illegal-alien-allegedly-voted-in-2024-federal-election-when-trump-and-kamala-were-on-the-ballot" target="_blank">Illegal alien allegedly voted in 2024 federal election, when Trump and Kamala were on the ballot</a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="4e74a" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.png?id=65172358&amp;width=1245&amp;height=700&amp;quality=50&amp;coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" /><small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images</small></p><p>In the video — an excerpt of which the White House <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2023791635436630393?s=20" target="_blank">shared</a> online last month — the Democrat also blasts opposition to the "anti-fraud measure."</p><p>Responding to the remarks made by the Schumer of yesteryear, Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) <a href="https://x.com/SenAshleyMoody/status/2024193760855269516?s=20" target="_blank">wrote</a>, "Americans see the hypocrisy. Pass the Save America Act."</p><p>"The only thing that's changed here is Democrat messaging," <a href="https://x.com/RepRalphNorman/status/2023868832105037879?s=20" target="_blank">wrote</a> Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). "EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON recognizes that securing U.S. elections is commonsense."</p><p>North Carolina Rep. Mark Harris (R) <a href="https://x.com/RepMarkHarrisNC/status/2023844240804208812?s=20" target="_blank">urged</a> Schumer, "Listen to your past self."</p><p>"I guess new Chuck Schumer changed his mind," <a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/2024641323207446766?s=20" target="_blank">wrote</a> Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).</p><p>On Sunday, Schumer <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2030666289602072866?s=20" target="_blank">recycled</a> his "Jim Crow 2.0" talking point and claimed that the SAVE Act would "disenfranchise tens of millions of people."</p><p>"If Trump is saying he won’t sign any bills until the SAVE Act is passed, then so be it: there will be total gridlock in the Senate," continued Schumer. "Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances."</p><p>A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll from February <a href="https://harvardharrispoll.com/press-release-february-2026/" target="_blank">revealed</a> that a supermajority — 71% — of U.S. voters support the SAVE Act, including 50% of Democrats. When polled on the particulars of the legislation, 75% of U.S. voters said they supported proof of citizenship; 81% said they supported voter ID; and 80% said they supported states removing noncitizens from voter rolls.</p><p>The poll also found that 85% of respondents, including a majority across all political parties, said that only American citizens should be able to vote.</p><p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em></p>

<p>Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is rolling out a seven-figure television advertising campaign Tuesday featuring President Donald Trump’s endorsement while targeting rival Rick Jackson over his healthcare company’s recruitment platform being used for Planned Parenthood job listings and positions tied to transgender medical treatments ahead of the May 19 Republican primary.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/10/exclusive-burt-jones-launches-seven-figure-tv-blitz-highlighting-trump-endorsement-exposing-rick-jackson-ahead-of-georgia-gop-primary/" rel="nofollow">EXCLUSIVE &#8212; Burt Jones Launches Seven-Figure TV Blitz Highlighting Trump Endorsement, Exposing Rick Jackson Ahead of Georgia GOP Primary</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.breitbart.com" rel="nofollow">Breitbart</a>.</p>

Markets stem losses as Trump says Iran war will end "very soon," but Tehran says it's "prepared to continue attacking" indefinitely, and it won't let oil leave the Gulf.

Iran continued retaliatory strikes across the Middle East and threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said Monday he would not allow "a terrorist regime to hold the world hostage and attempt to stop the globe's oil supply." CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman has the latest from Tel Aviv.

Senate Democrats railed against Justice Clarence Thomas on Tuesday amid reports that the Supreme Court conservative failed to disclose luxury travel, gifts and a real estate transaction involving a GOP megadonor, but their plan to investigate the conservative jurist remains unclear.

The Fulton County District Attorney's office said some fake electors for Donald Trump have implicated each other in potential criminal activity and is seeking to disqualify their lawyer, according to a new court filing.

'I'M MAKING MY BIGGEST PLEA TONIGHT' ... TRUMP SAYS HE'S GOING TO PUSH '4 OR 5' REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO FINALLY PASS THE SAVE AMERICA ACT... ERIC DAUGHERTY: BREAKING: President Trump confirms he's going to get the NAMES of the 4-5 GOP senators refusing to pass the SAVE America Act

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had initially been a little bit “upset” when he learned the United States military had destroyed high quality Iranian ships instead of capturing and repurposing them. Trump made the comments while speaking at the Republican Members Conference, saying that he’d wondered at first why it wouldn’t have ...

Senate Republican leaders are signaling that the path forward for the SAVE act demanded by President Donald Trump could be far more complicated than some conservatives expect. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) suggested much of the current pressure campaign surrounding the legislation is being driven online rather than inside the ...

The Justice Department moved Friday to block a lawsuit from Missouri challenging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for allowing the abortion drug mifepristone to be shipped through the mail.  A filing from the DOJ argued that allowing the suit to move forward would inhibit a safety study on the abortion pill being conducted by ...

Marjorie Dannenfelser serves as president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. She has been called “the woman who brought down Roe.”  * * *  Late last Friday, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice asked a judge to dismiss Missouri v. FDA, a case brought by pro-life states over FDA rules that allow abortion drugs to ...

The Trump administration designated another branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization Monday, marking its fourth such designation in an effort to curb the Islamic extremist group active throughout the world. The designation targets the Muslim Brotherhood’s Sudanese chapter, whose fighters the Trump administration says received training from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ...

Trump Denies U.S. Responsibility for Bombing of Girls&#8217; School That Killed 175 in Iran, Huge Crowds Rally in Tehran to Support New Supreme Leader and Oppose U.S.-Israeli Assault, State Department Orders U.S. Diplomats to Leave Saudi Arabia as Iran Strikes Gulf Neighbors, U.N. Warns Israel&#8217;s Assault on Lebanon Has Displaced 700,000 People, Oil Prices Fall After Soaring to Nearly $120 a Barrel as Trump Sends Mixed Messages on Iran War, Ukraine Sends Drone Experts to Counter Iranian Attacks Across Mideast, <span class="caps">FBI</span> Requests Arizona Voting Records Related to Joe Biden&#8217;s 2020 Election Victory, New Mexico Investigators Search Epstein&#8217;s Former Ranch After Reopening Probe Closed in 2019, <span class="caps">FBI</span> Releases Previously Withheld Documents from Epstein Files Alleging Sexual Assault by Trump, Video Refutes <span class="caps">ICE</span> Claim That Ruben Ray Martinez &#8220;Ran Over&#8221; Federal Agent Before Fatal Shooting, Teen Mariachi Musicians Released wIth Family from <span class="caps">ICE</span> Jail After Lawmakers Intervene, Two Men Charged with Terrorism for Allegedly Throwing Bombs Outside <span class="caps">NYC</span> Mayor Mamdani&#8217;s Residence, Judge Rules Kari Lake Unlawfully Led U.S. Agency for Global Media, Voids Cuts and Layoffs

We get an update on the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran from Israel, where reports are growing of discrimination against non-Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel attempting to seek shelter from Iranian drone and missile attacks. While Jewish neighborhoods are &#8220;well protected&#8221; by bomb shelters, shelters are much rarer in Palestinian neighborhoods within the highly segregated country, explains Israeli journalist Orly Noy. &#8220;This is the meaning of a supremacist, racist regime,&#8221; she says.</p> <p>Noy, whose Iranian Jewish family immigrated to Israel during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, also points out that public focus on Iran has allowed the &#8220;ethnic cleansing&#8221; of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to continue with minimal international outcry. This settler and soldier-led violence, coupled with Israel&#8217;s ongoing restrictions and humanitarian aid, are &#8220;part of the continuing genocide, the infliction of measures and policies meant to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians,&#8221; says Amnesty International&#8217;s Agnès Callamard. &#8220;The control over humanitarian organization is very clear. It is meant to control those who dare speak up, those who are on the ground and are witnesses to the ongoing genocide.&#8221;

Iran has selected Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as Iran&#8217;s supreme leader. The elder Khamenei was assassinated in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on February 28. Iran selected the &#8220;hard-liner&#8221; Mojtaba Khamenei in defiance of President Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he can choose Iran&#8217;s next leader. His selection also contradicts the Islamic Republic&#8217;s previous resistance to hereditary succession. &#8220;The war changed everything,&#8221; says Iranian American political analyst Hooman Majd, who adds that Iran&#8217;s leadership sees the conflict as &#8220;existential&#8221; and is therefore carrying out retaliatory attacks throughout the region to &#8220;make it painful economically and in many other ways for the United States and for Israel to continue the war.&#8221;</p> <p>Meanwhile, preliminary investigations by <em>The New York Times</em>, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International indicate that the U.S. military carried out the strike on an elementary school in Minab, Iran, that killed over 100 young girls. &#8220;It is a war against people,&#8221; says Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard, who is calling for the school massacre to be investigated as a war crime.</p> <p>&#8220;Iran is going to be changed forever,&#8221; says Majd, rejecting claims from U.S. leaders that military intervention has created the conditions for a civilian uprising. &#8220;For them to be able to rise up and take control of the government is just a pipe dream. I mean, how are they supposed to do that when they&#8217;re being killed or are running away from missiles almost on a daily basis?&#8221;

Toxic Black Raindrops Fall on Tehran Following U.S.-Israeli Attacks on Fuel Depots, Video Shows U.S. Missile Struck Iranian Girls&#8217; School, Killing 175, Contradicting Trump&#8217;s Denials, Mojtaba Khamenei, Son of Ayatollah Assassinated by U.S. and Israel, Named Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader, State Department Declares Iran War an &#8220;Emergency,&#8221; Speeding Sale of 20,000+ Bombs to Israel, Iran Fires Missiles and Drones at Israel, U.S. Bases and Mideast Nations, Killing Several People, Lebanon Says Israeli Attacks Have Displaced Over Half a Million People, Israeli Settlers&#8217; Attacks Kill 6 Palestinians in a Week Across Occupied West Bank, Paramedic and Two Children Among Palestinians Killed in Israel&#8217;s Latest Attacks on Gaza, Pentagon Reports Seventh Combat Death of U.S. Service Member in Iran War, Oil Surges Past $110 Per Barrel Amid U.S.-Israeli Attack on Iran, Unemployment Rate Hits 4.4% After U.S. Economy Unexpectedly Loses 92,000 Jobs in February, Women Around the World Demonstrate Against Gender-Based Violence, Marking International Women&#8217;s Day, U.S. and Ecuador Launch Joint Operation to Bomb Drug Traffickers&#8217; Training Camp Near Colombian Border, U.S. Military Kills Six Men in an Attack on Alleged Drug Boat in the Eastern Pacific, Trump Gathers Leaders from 12 Latin American Countries for &#8220;Shield of the Americas&#8221; Summit, 35-Year-Old Former Rapper Balendra Shah Set to Become Nepal&#8217;s Next Prime Minister, Civil Rights Leaders and Former U.S. Presidents Attend Rev. Jesse Jackson&#8217;s Funeral

President Trump is hosting right-wing leaders from across Latin America in Miami for a summit discussing his so-called Shield of the Americas initiative. This comes as the U.S. deploys special forces to Ecuador and as Trump hints about regime change in Cuba. &#8220;This summit is … an opportunity for Trump to play out a moment of imperial fantasy in front of fans in South Florida,&#8221; says Jake Johnston, director of international research at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. The leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago will attend, says the White House.

Kristi Noem has been ousted from her position as homeland security secretary after intensifying calls for her resignation. Noem&#8217;s tenure has been marked by allegations of corruption, deadly immigration raids and legal challenges. ProPublica reporter Justin Elliott has reported extensively on Noem&#8217;s tenure, including a $200 million ad campaign that may have been the inciting incident for her firing. &#8220;This did not go through the normal competitive process,&#8221; says Elliott. Instead, the ad &#8220;went to a Delaware <span class="caps">LLC</span> that was formed only a few days before.&#8221;</p> <p>President Trump has announced Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as the new homeland security secretary. Mullin &#8220;has been known as a hard-liner,&#8221; says Chris Stein, senior politics reporter for <em>The Guardian US</em>. Stein adds that the Trump administration will continue its aggressive immigration policies despite the change in leadership.

House Narrowly Rejects Resolution to Limit Trump&#8217;s Power to Wage War on Iran, Iran Says U.S. and Israel Have Attacked 3,600 Civilian Sites, Hegseth Says &#8220;We Have Only Just Begun to Fight&#8221; as <span class="caps">CENTCOM</span> Prepares for 100 Days of War, Iranian Strikes on Mideast Oil Sites Trigger Global Energy Chaos, Israel&#8217;s Renewed Assault on Lebanon Kills 123, with Hundreds of Thousands Displaced, Stocks of Medical Supplies in Gaza &#8220;Critically Low&#8221; as Israel Closes Gaza Border Crossings, Trump Fires Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, Names Sen. Markwayne Mullin as Replacement, <span class="caps">ICE</span> Arrests Nashville Journalist Whose Stories Criticized Federal Agents, 169 Are Killed, Including Civilians, as Insurgents Raid Town in South Sudan, More Than 200 Die as Heavy Rains Trigger Landslide at Coltan Mine in Eastern <span class="caps">DRC</span>, Bernard Lafayette, Who Joined Freedom Rides to Fight for Voting Rights, Dies at 85, Family and Friends to Honor Rev. Jesse Jackson at Chicago Memorial Service

Senate Votes 53-47 to Reject Resolution Reining In Trump&#8217;s War Powers, Pentagon Chief Says U.S. and Israel Will Continue to Attack Iran &#8220;Without Mercy&#8221;, Iran Denies Striking Azerbaijan and Turkey as Its Missiles Target U.S. Bases and Oil Tankers, Israel Continues Bombing Beirut and Expands Forced Evacuation Orders in Southern Lebanon, CodePink Disrupts Heritage Foundation Gathering to Protest Support for Iran War, Report Finds Global Heating Is Driving Sea Level Rise Far Faster Than Previously Believed, More Than a Dozen Measles Cases Detected at Texas <span class="caps">ICE</span> Tent Camp, <span class="caps">ICE</span> Slashed Basic Training to Speed Trump&#8217;s Mass Deportation Campaign, Minnesota Gov. Walz Condemns <span class="caps">ICE</span> Crackdown and Medicaid Funding Freeze as &#8220;Political Retribution&#8221;, Cuba Suffers Another Massive Blackout as U.S. Oil Blockade Worsens Humanitarian Crisis, Venezuela Announces Mining Law Reforms Granting Access to U.S. Companies, House Committee Subpoenas Attorney General Pam Bondi to Testify About Epstein Files, Report Finds Catholic Priests in Rhode Island Sexually Abused Hundreds of Children for Decades

U.S. Sinks Iranian Naval Ship in Indian Ocean as War on Iran Enters 5th Day, Iran to Pick New Supreme Leader Following Assassination of Khamenei, <span class="caps">CIA</span> Reportedly Working to Arm Kurdish Militias to Spark Uprising in Iran, After Classified Briefing, Senators Warn U.S. Could Send Troops into Iran, Spanish PM Calls for Immediate End to U.S.-Israeli War on Iran, Anti-U.S. Protests Continue in Pakistan Days After Marines Opened Fired During Protest in Karachi, Report: U.S. Commander Told Troops &#8220;Trump Has Been Anointed by Jesus&#8221; to Wage War on Iran, U.S. Deploys Special Forces to Ecuador in New Expansion of U.S. Operations in Latin America, Texas Primaries: Talarico Defeats Crockett; Cornyn, Paxton Headed to Runoff, Noem Refuses to Apologize for Linking Renee Good and Alex Pretti to Domestic Terrorism, Haitian Asylum Seeker with Infected Tooth Dies in <span class="caps">ICE</span> Custody in Arizona, Father of Accused School Shooter Convicted of Murder for Giving Gun to His Son

The U.S. is sending more troops and fighter jets to the Middle East as the regional war expands four days after the U.S. and Israel assassinated Iran&#8217;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and struck sites across Iran. At least 787 people have died so far in Iran, according to local authorities. Iranian American journalist Negar Mortazavi says the feeling on the ground is of &#8220;horror and anxiety&#8221; and that U.S. officials don&#8217;t seem to understand that &#8220;starting a war with Iran is going to potentially be even more difficult and challenging than the war in Iraq, which already was a big failure on the U.S. side.&#8221;

Death Toll Climbs to 787 as U.S. and Israel Step Up Bombings Across Iran, Iran Says There&#8217;s Been No Release of Radiation After Strike on Natanz Nuclear Facility, Gulf Nations&#8217; Stockpiles of Interceptors Dwindle Amid Iran&#8217;s Relentless Drone and Missile Attacks, Israel Bombs Beirut for Second Consecutive Day as Soldiers Reinvade Southern Lebanon, Israel Accused of Resuming &#8220;Starvation Policy&#8221; After Closing Gaza Border Crossings, In First Remarks Since Initiating War on Iran, Trump Quickly Pivots to Ballroom Plans, Secretary of State Marco Rubio Says Israel&#8217;s War Plans Compelled U.S. to Join Assault on Iran, Pentagon Used Claude AI to Attack Iran Just Hours After Trump&#8217;s Ban on Anthropic, Gamblers Use Polymarket &#8220;Prediction Market&#8221; to Wager $529 Million on Iran Strikes, Texas Senate Primary Pits Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett Against State Rep. James Talarico, <span class="caps">DOJ</span> Indicts Another 30 People over Minnesota Church Protest of Pastor Who Works for <span class="caps">ICE</span>, U.S. Attorney in Minnesota Faces Criminal Contempt Charges for Defying Court Orders, Iraqi Human Rights Activist and Feminist Yanar Mohammed Is Murdered Outside Her Baghdad Home

As the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran enters its third day, dragging much of the Middle East into armed conflict, we speak with two Iranian American scholars about the situation.</p> <p>&#8220;It&#8217;s quite a devastating attack on the infrastructure of the country, both in terms of the state infrastructure and civilian infrastructure,&#8221; says Golnar Nikpour, associate professor of modern Iranian history at Dartmouth College. She notes that far from leading to a popular uprising against the government, as President Trump has encouraged, the U.S.-Israeli attacks have forced Iranians to worry about their immediate safety from the bombs.</p> <p>&#8220;These attacks are causing much suffering for Iranian people, and it&#8217;s destroying the space in which Iranians were struggling for social justice and civil liberties,&#8221; says Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi, a fierce critic of the government who was once imprisoned on death row in Iran but who nevertheless opposes the war. &#8220;I&#8217;m very pessimistic about the possibility of a regime change in Iran without having a clear idea of what is going to replace it.&#8221;</p> <p>According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 550 people have been killed in Iran since Saturday, when the U.S. and Israel began an intense bombing campaign and assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A number of other top Iranian officials have also been killed. Iran has retaliated by launching missiles targeting Israel, as well as U.S. allies across the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus, where an Iranian drone hit a British air base. Fighting has also resumed between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

U.S. and Israel Launch Joint Attack on Iran, Killing Supreme Leader and Hundreds of Civilians, Trump Calls for Regime Change in Iran, Says U.S. Attacks Could Continue for Weeks, Iran Retaliates with Drone and Missile Strikes on Israel, Gulf Nations, Israel Bombs Beirut and Southern Lebanon, Killing at Least 31, U.K.'s Starmer Approves U.S. Strikes from British Bases as Spain's Sánchez Condemns Attack on Iran, Russia, China Condemn Iran Strikes in Emergency Meeting of U.N. Security Council, Congress Moves to Take Up War Powers Resolution After Trump Begins Bombing Iran, 24 Killed in Pakistan as Protesters Torch U.N. Offices and Attempt to Storm U.S. Consulate, <span class="caps">FBI</span> Opens Terrorism Investigation After Gunman Kills 2 and Wounds 14 at Austin, TX Bar, Trump Says U.S. Might &#8220;Have a Friendly Takeover of Cuba&#8221; Amid U.S. Fuel Blockade, Bill Clinton Tells House Committee He Had No Knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein&#8217;s Crimes, North Dakota Judge Approves $345 Million Verdict Against Greenpeace over Pipeline Protests

Federal agents detained a Columbia University student early Thursday after Department of Homeland Security officers allegedly gained access to a university-owned residence by presenting a fake missing person poster of a 5-year-old. As news broke of the student, Ellie Aghayeva, and her detention, students and community members rallied en masse demanding her release and an end to immigration enforcement on campus. Due to restrictions implemented by the university in response to pro-Palestine protests, the students were unable to protest on campus proper, but instead took to nearby streets.</p> <p>Aghayeva was released Thursday afternoon, shortly after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani brought up her case during a meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss housing. “For that decision to be quickly flipped is remarkable because it shows the power of opposition, but also how loose and flippant these arrests are, and how maybe unnecessary they are,” says <em>Zeteo&#8217;s</em> Prem Thakker, who has been reporting on the case.</p> <p>Columbia’s active response, including its legal support of Aghayeva, marked a departure from previous high-profile immigration arrests of its students. Mohsen Mahdawi, a former Columbia University student who last year was also detained by <span class="caps">DHS</span>, says Aghayeva’s arrest in campus housing is a direct result of the university administration’s abdication of its responsibility to protect its students. “Columbia University administration did not have the backbone, in fact, to file any lawsuits against the Trump administration for violating basic rights,” says Mahdawi. “This is actually what the Trump administration intended to do, which is to fracture liberal institutions and turn the administrations against their students.”

As fallout from the Epstein files continues, we speak with investigative journalist Barry Levine, author of <em>The Spider: Inside the Tangled Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell</em>. Recordings of the House Oversight depositions of Bill and Hillary Clinton are set to be released today and tomorrow. The Clintons were called by House Republicans to testify on their relationships with Jeffrey Epstein, but Levine emphasizes that credible allegations tying either the Clintons or Donald Trump to Epstein’s criminal activities are currently limited. Meanwhile, files known to contain allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by President Trump have been withheld or removed by the Department of Justice. Levine says that the focus on the Clintons is a political distraction targeted at Trump’s “perceived enemies” while millions of documents on the Epstein case that could directly implicate his other associates have still not been released or unredacted for the public. “There are men who are out there who took part in the sex trafficking that have not been brought to justice,” says Levine.

U.S. and Iran Conclude Indirect Talks With No Deal on Iran&#8217;s Nuclear Program, Pakistan Launches Cross-Border Strikes on Afghanistan, Declaring &#8220;Open War&#8221; on Taliban, Russia Strikes Cities Across Ukraine Ahead of Talks Between U.S. and Ukrainian Envoys, Hillary Clinton Tells Congressional Committee She &#8220;Never Met Jeffrey Epstein&#8221;, Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill 6 Palestinians in Latest Breach of U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire, <span class="caps">ICE</span> Agents&#8217; Car Chase Through Newark Ends in Multi-Car Crash That Injured Children, <span class="caps">ICE</span> Agents Use False Pretense to Detain Columbia University Student Without a Warrant, <span class="caps">NYC</span> Mayor Mamdani Asks Trump to Dismiss Immigration Cases Against Pro-Palestinian Activists, Mamdani Pitches Trump on Federal Funds for Affordable Housing in New York, Netflix Drops Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, Clearing Path for Merger With Paramount Skydance, <span class="caps">FBI</span> Fires More Agents Who Investigated Trump&#8217;s Mishandling of Classified Documents

U.S. and Iran Hold Indirect Talks Over Iran&#8217;s Nuclear Program Amid Trump&#8217;s Threats to Attack, Cuba Says Border Guards Fired on Heavily Armed Exiles in US-Registered Speedboat, Killing 4, Aid Groups Appeal to Israeli Supreme Court to Overturn Ban on Humanitarian Operations, State Department Offers Consular Services in Illegal Israeli West Bank Settlements, <span class="caps">NYT</span>: Documents Related to Trump Accuser are Missing from DOJ&#8217;s Release of Epstein Files, Larry Summers to Resign as Harvard Professor Over Epstein Ties, Federal Judge Rules Trump Admin&#8217;s Policy of Deporting Immigrants to &#8220;Third Countries&#8221; Unlawful, Blind Rohingya Refugee Found Dead After Being Abandoned by Border Patrol , Congressmember Omar Demands Probe Into the Arrest of Her Guest Aliya Rahman at the State of the Union, Trump Administration Freezes Medicaid Reimbursements to Minnesota, Senate Democrats Grill Trump&#8217;s Nominee for Surgeon General Over Her Position on Vaccines, Anthropic Drops Safety Pledge as Hegseth Demands Pentagon Access to AI Models, Brazil&#8217;s Supreme Court Sentences Five Men to Prison for Marielle Franco Murder

Many Democratic lawmakers boycotted Tuesday&#8217;s State of the Union address to attend alternative events, including our guest Congressmember Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, who gave the Working Families Party response to President Trump. &#8220;The president is disgraceful, and I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s worth our time to give him an audience,&#8221; says Lee, who encourages opponents to keep challenging his falsehoods. &#8220;When you take away the lie, there is no foundation for President Trump.&#8221;</p> <p>Lee also challenges Trump&#8217;s claims about non-citizen voting, which experts say is exceedingly rare, and the decision by Republican House leadership to deny honors to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson at the Capitol following the civil rights icon&#8217;s death.

Trump Defends His Immigration Crackdown in State of the Union Address, Several <span class="caps">GOP</span> Lawmakers Call on Rep. Gonzales to Resign over Allegations of Affair with Staffer, Pentagon Pressures Anthropic to Allow Full Access to Its AI Models, Mexico&#8217;s Gov&#8217;t Warns of Legal Action Against Musk After He Falsely Links Sheinbaum to Drug Cartels, Reuters: Iran Close to Deal to Purchase Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles from China, Whistleblower Claims <span class="caps">FBI</span> Agents Delayed to Crime Scenes Due to Kash Patel&#8217;s Use of Agency&#8217;s Private Jets, Trump Administration Sues University of California over Allegations of Antisemitism at <span class="caps">UCLA</span>, <span class="caps">WSJ</span>: Trump Considers Issuing Executive Order to Force U.S. Banks to Collect Citizenship Information, More Than Two Dozen People Killed in <span class="caps">RSF</span> Raid in North Darfur, <span class="caps">BBC</span> Edits Out References to Trump&#8217;s Crackdown in Minneapolis from Broadcast of <span class="caps">BAFTA</span> Awards, South Carolina Enlists Help of Public Health Experts Outside the <span class="caps">CDC</span> to Contain Measles Outbreak, 15 Democratic-Led States Sue the Trump Administration to Reverse CDC&#8217;s Vaccine Policy, At Least 30 People Reported Dead in Brazil from Floods and Landslides

The drug was approved to treat cerebral folate deficiency, a rare genetic condition.

The Public Integrity Project’s lawsuit argues ByteDance still maintains an “operational relationship” with TikTok, therefore violating the ban passed in 2024.

Justice Jackson lamented that the high court has taken up a high volume of emergency petitions during the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump said he&apos;s &quot;not happy&quot; with Iran&apos;s choice of new supreme leader, saying he does not believe Mojtaba Khamenei &quot;can live in peace.&quot;

Trump outlined a five-point legislative bucket list he says will secure GOP midterm victories, including voter ID and transgender policy restrictions at Republican conference.

Republicans push to alter Senate filibuster rules to pass Trump&apos;s SAVE Act requiring citizenship proof for voting, despite significant procedural hurdles.

In a letter to President Trump, members of the Republican Main Street Caucus back Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead Homeland Security after Kristi Noem&apos;s ouster.

Senate Republicans are still divided on using the talking filibuster for voter ID legislation as Senate Democrats vow to block the bill.

Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi also reacted to President Trump&rsquo;s claims that he&rsquo;ll pick the next Iranian Supreme Leader.&nbsp;

It's now "functionally impossible" for Republicans to redraw House maps for the 2026 midterms if the Supreme Court guts the Voting Rights Act.

&ldquo;The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries," Trump said.

Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian program that shields eligible migrants from deportation and allows them to work.

<p>Union density in Australia has been in free fall for decades. In 1992, nearly 40 percent of workers were union members; today, that figure hovers around 12.5 percent for public sector unions. In the private sector it is closer to 8 percent. Strikes and industrial action have collapsed even more dramatically. Militancy has not simply [&hellip;]</p>

Maritime traffic through the critical waterway has ground to a halt amid the fighting.

There’s no doubt that the Roberts Court has reallocated power to the people. <img src="https://i0.wp.com/www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/john-roberts.jpg?fit=617%2C360&#038;ssl=1" />

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing back against calls to rewrite Senate rules to pass President Donald Trump's top election reform priority, setting up a clash within the Republican Party over how to advance legislation requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship.

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson reportedly is launching an investigation into the Food and Drug Administration's recent denials of treatments for rare diseases.

President Donald Trump on Monday urged Republican lawmakers to pass the SAVE Act, legislation aimed at ensuring that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections. Trump pressed lawmakers to prioritize the measure, arguing it is necessary to protect election integrity ...

Georgia voters head to the polls on Tuesday to choose the successor to Republican firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene in a closely watched U.S. House special election seen as a test of President Donald Trump's sway in the state's most conservative district. Trump has endorsed...

A new NBC News poll showing weaker approval for President Donald Trump on inflation than his overall job performance highlights the central political challenge facing Republicans ahead of the midterm elections, polling analyst Patrick Allocco told Newsmax on Monday.

Alina Habba, senior adviser to the attorney general, told Newsmax on Monday that President Donald Trump does not want war but absolutely will fight terrorism.

"Everyday, I wake up and he has created more chaos," Behar complained.&nbsp;

"Blake Moore not only put a Republican majority at risk but the entire Trump-agenda," state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee told The Post.

The Trump administration, which said it is investigating harassment, sued the University of Pennsylvania after it refused a request to provide information about Jewish students and staff.

In a rare joint appearance, Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Brett M. Kavanaugh offered sharply different views on how the court should handle emergency requests.

In a phone call with CBS News Monday, Trump said "the war is very complete." But at a separate event with Republican lawmakers, he said the U.S. still needed to achieve "ultimate victory."

The case of Khalil, who was detained last March, sits at the vanguard of a battle of immigrants' due process and civil rights, and the Trump administration's mass detention and deportation policies.

The Republican leader of Arizona's state Senate said Monday he has handed over records related to the 2020 presidential election to the FBI in the latest sign that the Trump administration is acting on the president's longstanding falsehoods about a race he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

The U.S.-Israeli war in Iran is now in its 10th day with no signs of letting up. But President Trump insisted the war is "very complete," adding the U.S. is far ahead of his four to five week estimated time frame for the conflict. Special correspondent Leila Molana-Allen reports.

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the political fallout of military action in Iran, Trump's focus on the Save America Act and how Republicans are feeling about the midterms.

“He paved the road for so many others to follow,” former President Barack Obama said of the civil rights legend.

John Cornyn and his allies are trying to turn a surprising lead over firebrand Ken Paxton into a decisive presidential nod.

Even in the most heavily Republican counties where Attorney General Ken Paxton might have expected to benefit from a MAGA base, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn largely held his own.

Sen. John Cornyn is in the fight of his career — and national Republicans fear they could lose the seat if he falls.

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Newport, on the quirky, impossibly beautiful Oregon coast finds itself a battleground in Trump's war on immigrants.

<p>An Obama-appointed judge blocked key portions of the Trump administration&#8217;s policy to restrict the appeal process for illegal immigrants facing deportation.&#160; In a Sunday ruling,... <a class="call-to-action" href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/09/obama-appointed-judge-blocks-key-part-of-trump-deportation-appeal-overhaul/">Read More</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/09/obama-appointed-judge-blocks-key-part-of-trump-deportation-appeal-overhaul/">What to Know About Judge Who Blocked Trump Immigration Court Reform</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/">The Daily Signal</a>.</p>

<p>The public approves of President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict in Iran at roughly the same level as his overall job performance, a new... <a class="call-to-action" href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/09/poll-reveals-popularity-of-trump-iran-performance/">Read More</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/09/poll-reveals-popularity-of-trump-iran-performance/">Poll Reveals Popularity of Trump’s Iran Performance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/">The Daily Signal</a>.</p>

<p>President Donald Trump says a sharp increase in high oil prices is a “small price to pay” in the fight against Iran. “Short-term oil prices,... <a class="call-to-action" href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/09/high-oil-prices-small-price-to-pay-for-peace-trump-declares/">Read More</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/09/high-oil-prices-small-price-to-pay-for-peace-trump-declares/">High Oil Prices ‘Small Price to Pay’ for ‘Peace,’ Trump Declares  </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/">The Daily Signal</a>.</p>

<p>MIAMI, March 8 (Reuters) &#8211; U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened to withhold his signature from any other legislation until Congress passes a Republican-backed... <a class="call-to-action" href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/08/trump-vows-to-not-sign-any-legislation-until-save-america-act-is-passed/">Read More</a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/03/08/trump-vows-to-not-sign-any-legislation-until-save-america-act-is-passed/">Trump: &#8216;I Won&#8217;t Sign&#8217; Any Other Bills Until SAVE America Act Is Passed</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/">The Daily Signal</a>.</p>

The tariffs ruling reveals justices split over doctrine, not Donald Trump

Daniel Knowles, our Midwest correspondent, on why the civil-rights fight feels newly urgent

The Republicans’ internal fight could prove more toxic than the Democrats’

The clash over Donald Trump’s appointees risks becoming a circus, says Charlotte Howard, our New York bureau chief

But some justices sound hesitant to impose the rule nationwide

Some Republicans fret about a quagmire, and the president’s contempt for democracy

His remaining options for sending in the troops are legally fraught

This time the president has the capital’s developers on his side, and possibly public opinion too

Fighting among conservative influencers reveals broader rifts within the Republican Party

What overturning one case of dismissal means for the presidency

So far, the courts are largely holding fast against politically motivated prosecutions

How the Supreme Court ushered in a surge in executions

If the courts don’t stop them, Hispanic voters may punish them

The Supreme Court seems likely to say no

Some of his levies may soon be toast

The justices are weighing whether to gut the Voting Rights Act

A third of Republicans support deporting citizens who disagree with Donald Trump

What to expect from the nine justices, including SCOTUSbot’s predictions

Winning is becoming about prosecution, not just public policy

But, so far, only those in enemy territory

The appellate court ruling sets up a showdown at the Supreme Court

James Talarico wants his party to fight for the Christian vote in Texas

The politics are particularly potent today, but their origins are older than the republic itself

The strange case of vaccine-injury courts

Some brawl in public while others pursue cross-party deals

The college drop-out fighting to preserve Donald Trump’s youth vote

Republicans bring the biggest changes to health care in 15 years

The president is using emergency cases to expand his power

The Supreme Court curtails judges’ ability to block the president’s agenda

The young socialist could exemplify the sort of leader the Democrats need. He also offers Republicans an easy target

<img alt="Lady justice statue." class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" src="https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Lady-Justice-1200x675.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; margin-bottom: 5px;" />Rogue judges across the country are putting the Constitution through the paper shredder to give their leftist allies the outcomes they want.

<img alt="Donald Trump" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" src="https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Donald-Trump-1-1200x675.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; margin-bottom: 5px;" />The midterms are still eight months from now, and all it takes is a little focus and the will to push Trump’s team and Republicans in Congress to do the work.

<img alt="Trump Tower" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" src="https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/7539776260_ce3355c85f_h-1-1200x675.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; margin-bottom: 5px;" />Across a decade, not a single senior official has faced criminal accountability, or in many cases any accountability at all.

<p>The president delivered a vague and contradictory forecast on the future of the war in Middle East. Plus, how to recognize a psychopath</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/info/2018/sep/17/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed"><strong>Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here</strong></a></p></li></ul><p>Good morning.</p><p>Donald Trump has said <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/09/us-israel-strikes-iran-supreme-leader">the war in Iran is “very complete, pretty much”</a>, as the economic toll of the joint US-Israeli operation rises, disrupting global oil trade and threatening to engulf the Middle East in a regional war.</p><p><strong>Any unintended consequences so far?</strong> Among others, it has probably <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/10/north-korea-nuclear-weapons-trump-iran-war">reinforced North Korea’s decision</a> to build a nuclear arsenal.</p><p><strong>Do we know yet who bombed the Minab school</strong><strong>? </strong>Trump blamed Iran without evidence. All the actual evidence <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/10/iran-minab-school-bombing-shajareh-tayyebeh-primary-what-evidence-us-responsible">indicates the US was responsible</a>.</p><p><strong>This is a developing story. </strong>Follow the latest updates <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/mar/10/iran-war-live-updates-iranian-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-middle-east-tehran-oil-prices-latest-news">here</a>.</p><p><strong>Who did X say were the most prolific state actors?</strong> Russia, followed by Iran and China.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/10/first-thing-trump-iran-war-very-complete-pretty-much-economic-toll">Continue reading...</a>

<p>Federal judge said prosecutors picked to replace Alina Habba repeated error of bypassing congressional approval</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>Three prosecutors installed by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Donald Trump’s administration</a> to lead the New Jersey attorney general’s office after the president’s former personal lawyer was disqualified from the role in December were also illegally appointed, a federal judge has ruled.</p><p>Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, handpicked the three to replace Alina Habba, who <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/08/alina-habba-resign-new-jersey-federal-prosecutor">resigned</a> after a succession of district and appeals court rulings that she was serving illegally because she never received Senate confirmation.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/10/attorneys-appointed-pam-bondi-trump">Continue reading...</a>

<p>Election will be a test of Trump’s sway and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in the southern state</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>A special election for the successor to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s congressional district in Georgia on Tuesday will be a test of Donald Trump’s sway, and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in a deep-red pocket of the southern state.</p><p>Republican former prosecutor Clay Fuller is likely to come out of Tuesday’s jungle primary, in which the top two candidates go to a runoff regardless of party, alongside <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/30/shawn-harris-marjorie-taylor-green-georgia">retired army general Shawn Harris</a>, a Democrat. The two would face a run-off election on 7 April.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/10/marjorie-taylor-greene-house-seat-georgia-primary">Continue reading...</a>

<p>Yes, many Americans are struggling, but it’s good to know the first family can still afford Earth’s most expensive provisions. Morale is everything, isn’t it?</p><p>In the absence of any clearly and consistently stated aims from the US administration, maybe each day of the Iran war just needs a moodboard description. In which case, Sunday was a tale of two nepo babies. In Iran, the high-level executive search for the new ayatollah concluded that the old ayatollah’s son was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/ali-khameneis-son-mojtaba-chosen-as-irans-new-supreme-leader">the best man for the position</a>. It’s not for me to assess his job prospects, but you’d hope his supermarket order doesn’t contain any “ripen at home” pears.</p><p>Meanwhile, across the world, in LA, Donald Trump’s eldest granddaughter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDa8__sXB3o&amp;t=335s]">posted a YouTube video</a> titled “I Brought My Secret Service to Erewhon”. By way of background, Erewhon is Earth’s most pretentiously extravagant hipster food shop, and, as Kai was at pains to brag, “the most expensive grocery store pretty much out there. Everything’s crazy expensive! So we’re going to get my favourite stuff.”</p><p>Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/10/shock-awe-trump-granddaughter-kai-war-effort-shopper">Continue reading...</a>

<p>Trump is wielding imperial powers created by a decades-long master plan. The only way to stop his war is to cut off the money</p><p></p><p>Donald Trump has now ordered <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/peace-president-donald-trump-breaks-record-for-attacking-the-most-countries/">military attacks</a> on more countries than any prior president. These assaults do not merely betray his <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/01/trump-promised-no-wars-now-hes-a-bush-style-regime-change-president">campaign promises</a>. Launched without congressional authorization, Trump’s bombings and incursions also betray the constitution – an inherently anti-monarch document that exclusively vests warmaking powers in the legislative branch in order to prevent such grave decisions from being made by any one person determined to become a king.</p><p>Trump clearly perceives himself in such royal terms – he’s <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/king-trump-rcna192912">said</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/06/donald-trump-sean-hannity-dictator-day-one-response-iowa-town-hall">as much</a>. But as we show in the new season of our investigative podcast series <a href="https://www.masterplanpodcast.com">Master Plan: The Kingmakers</a>, Trump did not create the kingly authority he is now employing. He is exercising powers concentrated in the executive branch by previous presidents and courts. And if history is any guide, the only weapon that can stop a mad king is Congress’s power of the purse – a power that Democrats once effectively wielded, but today seem hesitant to brandish, even amid a wildly unpopular Iran incursion that some fear is a precursor to the second world war.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/10/democrats-trump-iran-war">Continue reading...</a>

<p>Calls for a popular uprising and empty promises of help are reckless in the extreme – and no answer to my country’s plight</p><ul><li><p>Nasrin Parvaz is a women’s rights activist and torture survivor from Iran</p></li></ul><p>I have been watching the news from inside Iran, unable to hold in my sorrow. As an Iranian who was imprisoned and tortured by the regime, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/15/iran-protests-survivors-regime-freedom">I have been pleading</a> with the world’s human rights organisations and media to keep a focus on the country’s plight. But now I see US-Israeli bombs falling on Iran, and some Iranians celebrating this war while innocent people die. My heart is breaking for my country.</p><p>Let us be clear: when Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu conspired to launch their war, it was not out of a desire to free the Iranian people from the tyranny of the regime. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/03/trump-israel-iran-war">Netanyahu said on the second day of the war</a>: “This coalition of forces allows us to do what I have yearned to do for 40 years.” He has named this operation “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/28/us-israel-strikes-iran-tehran-response-visual-guide">Lion’s Roar</a>”. Meanwhile, Iranian monarchists celebrate the carnage, waving the shah’s version of the country’s flag with its crowned lion and sun.</p><p>Nasrin Parvaz is a women’s rights activist and torture survivor from Iran. Her books include A Prison Memoir: One Woman’s Struggle in Iran, and the novel The Secret Letters from X to A</p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/letters">letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20underneath%20your%20letter.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author’s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20if%20your%20letter%20is%20used.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/10/us-israel-war-iranian-people">Continue reading...</a>

<p>FTSE 100 opens higher and European markets rise as US president describes conflict as ‘very complete’</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/mar/10/oil-price-drops-stocks-rebound-trump-iran-war-end-market-news">Business live – latest updates</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/mar/10/iran-war-live-updates-iranian-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-middle-east-tehran-oil-prices-latest-news">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Oil prices have tumbled from four-year highs, capping an extraordinary 24 hours in global markets and prompting global stocks to rebound after Donald Trump suggested the US-Israel war on Iran could end “very soon”.</p><p>Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged as high as $119.50 a barrel on Monday as the Middle East conflict intensified fears of a deepening energy supply crisis.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/10/oil-prices-drop-trump-iran-war">Continue reading...</a>

<p>Merger to take drone firm public is latest business move by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr as father is in White House</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>A golf club company backed by the sons of Donald Trump is merging with drone manufacturer Powerus in a deal designed to take the drone technology company public.</p><p>The merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings is the latest in Eric and Donald Trump Jr’s growing investments in the drone sector, following last month’s $1.5bn tie-up between Israeli drone maker XTEND and Florida-based JFB Construction Holdings. Drones have become a major procurement priority for the Pentagon and are widely used in Ukraine, where dense air defense systems near the frontlines limit the deployment of conventional aircraft.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/09/trump-family-business-drones-merger">Continue reading...</a>

<p>Donald Trump has fired his controversial US homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, after weeks of bipartisan complaints about her leadership. As the public face of an aggressive immigration crackdown that prompted lawsuits and nationwide anti-ICE protests, Noem’s year-long tenure was plagued by multiple controversies, including accusing two US citizens killed by immigration agents of ‘domestic terrorism’. What exactly led to Noem’s firing and what do we know about her replacement? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian US live news editor Chris Michael </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2026/mar/06/trump-fires-kristi-noem-what-does-it-mean-for-ice-the-latest">Continue reading...</a>

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the only Republican senator to vote last week for a resolution to halt military action against Iran, says it will be very hard to persuade GOP colleagues to vote to limit President Trump’s authority as commander-in-chief now that U.S. forces are actively engaged in strikes against Iran. Paul sounded pessimistic about&#8230;

A drone company that names President Trump’s sons among its top investors shared plans to merge with a golf course operator on Monday.  In a press release, Aureus Greenway Holdings Inc. (AGH) announced a reverse merger agreement with American drone company Powerus to form Powerus Corporation.&#160; AGH owns and operates two public golf country clubs&#8230;

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary on Tuesday threatened President Trump after the president warned Iran against stopping oil from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. &#8220;The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats,&#8221; Secretary Ali Larijani wrote on social platform X in a post translated by The Associated Press. &#8220;Even those bigger&#8230;

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday granted expanded approval to Wellcovorin for the ultra-rare disease cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) in both children and adults, the same prescription drug that the Trump administration touted from the Oval Office as a potential treatment for symptoms of autism last year. Senior administration officials announced that Wellcovorin,&#8230;

When Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader, some observers held out hope that a generational transition might open a path to diplomacy. That hope is misplaced.

Anthropic’s clash with the Pentagon is reigniting fears of government surveillance, as experts warn the capabilities of artificial intelligence, paired with the Trump administration’s sweeping data collections, pose new threats to individual privacy. Just over a year after President Trump welcomed AI firms into government, theWhite House’s unprecedented reach for personal data has left some&#8230;

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is standing his ground against President Trump’s campaign to pressure Republicans to radically reinterpret the filibuster rule to pass sweeping voting reform, a contest of wills that could paralyze the chamber for the rest of the year. Thune on Monday dismissed the prospect of forcing Senate Democrats to use&#8230;

Republicans on Capitol Hill are growing worried about President Trump&#8217;s bet that Americans are willing to swallow higher gas prices due to the conflict with Iran, especially ahead of the November elections.&#160; The president, only weeks ago in his State of the Union address, had pointed to lowering gas prices as a major victory for&#8230;

Over a dozen candidates are vying to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the President Trump loyalist turned critic, in a Tuesday special election. Trump has endorsed&#160;Republican Clay Fuller,&#160;a district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, in the heated race where all candidates, regardless of party, are running on one ballot. The GOP&#8230;

President Trump suggested the war with Iran could be coming to a close during a press conference at his Miami resort on Monday, which immediately followed his address to House Republicans at their annual retreat.&#160; “Very soon,” Trump said when asked when the war would end. “Look, everything they have is gone, including their leadership.”&#8230;

DORAL, Fla. &#8211; President Trump on Monday pushed for the passage of a GOP voting requirements bill, telling House Republicans that enacting the legislation will “guarantee the midterms” and reiterating that he won’t sign any other bills until it gets passed.&#160; “It will guarantee the midterms. If you don’t get it, big trouble,” Trump said&#8230;

President Trump on Monday described the war against Iran as an “excursion” that would be over soon, as the president contends with spiking oil prices, troop casualties, allies under attack and low support among the American public.  “This was just an excursion into something that had to be done. We&#8217;re getting very close to finishing&#8230;

President Trump and the Pentagon are offering conflicting signals on how long the U.S. war with Iran will last, as officials in Tehran prepare to dig in for a longer fight and with the economic fallout from the clash hurting the U.S. and global economy. Trump on Monday suggested victory is in sight but with&#8230;

Democrats are pouncing on a spike in gas prices and expected soaring airline fares, blaming President Trump’s handling of the war in Iran for deepening economic pain on Americans.&#160; In interviews, statements and in a flurry of social media posts, Democrats have sharpened their arguments — repeatedly linking Trump’s decision to enter the Iran conflict&#8230;

President Trump is holding a press conference Monday evening, after addressing the House Republican caucus in Miami. It follows a weekend of developments in the war against Iran. Oil prices surged overnight Monday, settling near $100 a barrel as the conflict shows no signs of slowing down. Energy Secretary&#160;Chris Wright&#160;on Sunday downplayed concerns about the&#8230;

President Trump on Monday is scheduled to address Republicans at their annual retreat in Miami. House Republicans are gathering at Trump’s Doral, Fla., resort for a three-day issues conference aimed at charting their legislative agenda for the year ahead and sharpening their message for the&#160;2026 midterm elections. The meeting comes after a turbulent week for&#8230;

A libertarian public-interest firm that helped topple President Trump’s emergency tariffs at the Supreme Court sued him Monday over his new levies, contending they also are illegal.  “This Court has been down this road before,” Liberty Justice Center wrote in its complaint.  The suit challenges Trump’s global 10 percent tariff — which he pledged to raise to 15 percent — quickly imposed after the Supreme Court struck down the bulk of the president’s previous&#8230;

Conservative Justice Annette Ziegler announced Monday that she will retire from the Wisconsin Supreme Court when her term ends, delivering a blow to Republicans who have seen liberals take over the high court&#8217;s majority in recent years. “After three decades on the bench, now is the right time for me to step away to spend&#8230;

Artificial intelligence company&#160;Anthropic filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Monday challenging the Pentagon’s decision to label the company and&#160;its products as a&#160;“supply chain risk” after negotiations over safety guardrails fell apart earlier this month. &#160; The suit,&#160;filed in federal court&#160;in California&#160;on Monday,&#160;argues the designation and President Trump’s order&#160;for&#160;all&#160;federal&#160;agencies&#160;to&#160;cease&#160;the&#160;use of Anthropic&#160;are “unprecedented&#160;and unlawful.” &#160; The&#8230;

<p>A pro-Palestine group launched the first of $2 million in ad buys aiming to exploit Republican rifts over Israel. They hope Democrats will take note.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://theintercept.com/2026/03/04/iran-israel-us-war-republican-democrat-midterms/">Trump’s Iran War Is Dividing Republicans. Pro-Palestine Groups Want Democrats to Exploit the Rifts.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://theintercept.com">The Intercept</a>.</p>

<p>Israel’s plan to strike Iran would put American lives at risk, the secretary of state said. Rather than confronting Israel, the U.S. joined their war.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://theintercept.com/2026/03/03/rubio-trump-iran-israel-war/">Rubio Admits That America Is Fighting Israel’s War</a> appeared first on <a href="https://theintercept.com">The Intercept</a>.</p>

<p>Elie Mystal</p> <div><img alt="" src="https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2264635808-275x173.jpg" /></div> <div> <div class="wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek"> <p>In this week’s <em>Elie v. US</em>, <em>The Nation</em>’s justice correspondent shares his thoughts on the Texas primaries. Plus, a terrible Supreme Court decision and a bad play by Major League Baseball.</p> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/newsletter-crockett-talarico-texas/">An Argument Against Voting for the “Electable” Guy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.thenation.com">The Nation</a>.</p>

<p>The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as other senior Iranian officials, adds a new dimension to the rapidly evolving conflict.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.twz.com/news-features/iranian-supreme-leader-khamenei-killed-in-strikes-trump-declares">Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed In Strikes, Trump Declares</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twz.com">The War Zone</a>.</p>

<p>President Donald Trump on Monday successfully urged Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese to grant the Iranian women’s soccer team diplomatic protection after the hardline regime branded them "wartime traitors" for refusing to sing the Islamic Republic’s national anthem during a game last week.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://freebeacon.com/trump-administration/trump-says-australian-pm-will-grant-iranian-womens-soccer-players-asylum-after-phone-call/">Australian PM Will Grant Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Asylum After Trump Mounts Pressure Campaign</a> appeared first on <a href="https://freebeacon.com"></a>.</p>

<p>A left-wing activist group is teaching liberals in Washington, D.C., and "across the United States" how to increase their chances of serving as jurors on cases brought by the Trump Department of Justice so they can undermine its chances of securing convictions, training materials reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon show.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://freebeacon.com/democrats/left-wing-activist-group-teaches-liberals-how-to-get-through-jury-selection-and-vote-not-guilty-on-trump-doj-prosecutions-recordings-show/">Left-Wing Activist Group Teaches Liberals How To Get Through Jury Selection and Vote &#039;Not Guilty&#039; on Trump DOJ Prosecutions, Recordings Show</a> appeared first on <a href="https://freebeacon.com"></a>.</p>

<p>President Donald Trump’s aggregate approval rating among Republican voters has climbed to 86 percent amid Operation Epic Fury, the highest own-party approval rating recorded for any 21st-century president at this point in a second term, CNN's chief data analyst Harry Enten reported Thursday.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://freebeacon.com/latest-news/trumps-approval-rating-with-gop-hits-86-percent-amid-operation-epic-fury/">Trump’s Approval Rating With GOP Hits 86 Percent Amid Operation Epic Fury</a> appeared first on <a href="https://freebeacon.com"></a>.</p>

During a public forum, Jackson and conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh offered differing views of President Trump’s wins before the high court.

A federal grand jury in Arizona has subpoenaed records from a review Republican lawmakers conducted of the 2020 presidential results that confirmed Trump lost.

Environmentalists in Guam and the Trump administration are squaring off over the Air Force’s disposal of hazardous munitions on a beach.

President Trump on Monday said other countries might have been responsible for firing a Tomahawk missile that hit an Iranian school on the first day of U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic.

President Trump told Republican House members Monday that the war in the Middle East will be only a "short-term excursion."

A conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justice first elected in 2007 announced Monday that she will not seek a third 10-year term next year, giving liberals another chance to expand their majority as cases affecting redistricting, union rights, school funding and other hot button issues await.