Source
Axios
Axios (website)
Axios is an American news website based in Arlington, Virginia. It was founded in 2016 and launched the following year by former Politico journalists Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz. The site's name is based on the Ancient Greek ἄξιος.
From Wikipedia ↗, text under CC BY-SA 4.0; logo from Wikimedia Commons
- Type
- News outlet
- Lean
- Left-leaning
- Left-Center−2.8 of ±10
- High0.9 of 10 (lower is better)
- High
- Website
- axios.com ↗
- Feed
- RSS ↗
- Articles stored
- 956
- Tracked since
- Aug 15, 2026
Down: MBFC factual reporting score, 0 most factual to 10 least.
Bias and credibility ratings by Media Bias/Fact Check.
Axios on MBFC ↗Publishing rhythm
How many articles Axios published over the last 14 days, by publication time, and at which hours of the day.
Top keywords
All keyword charts for Axios →The people, places, organizations and topics Axios covered most that day, by the share of its stories that mention them. Article counts are shown for context.
No keywords that day yet.
Latest articles
You won't need to stay up all night Tuesday to spot a big Democratic wave in the 2026 midterm elections . But it could take days — or even weeks — to know whether Republicans have survived a smaller one and held on to the House or Senate. Why it matters: A handful of early results in key states and congressional districts will tell us whether Democrats are headed for a landslide or disappointment. What we're watching: Florida, Florida, Florida. Most polls close at 7pm ET, and the state counts quickly — ready for release when the Panhandle finally calls it a night an hour later. At 8:01pm , refresh your browser and watch FL-14. The great mid-cycle redistricting wars transformed this Tampa-based district from Harris +8 to Trump +11. If Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor survives, Republicans can all but kiss their majority goodbye, according to party strategists. Next up is FL-25. The country's most expensive general election race is playing out in a district that went from Harris +4 to Trump +9. If Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz's race is close — or too close to call early in the night — House Republicans can keep hope alive. While you're at it, this is a good time to check on South Carolina's Senate race, where polls close at 7pm and the state counts relatively fast. If Sen. Darline Graham loses to Annie Andrews in the Trump +18 state, Senate Republicans can say goodbye to their majority. (And they'll be sweating if it's close.) "Underperformance is rarely isolated," said Jason Thielman, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2024. "If you see the GOP underperforming early in the East, it is likely going to continue as you move further West." At 9pm, check in on Virginia: The commonwealth's polls close at 7pm, but historically tight races often aren't called until the 9pm hour. If Democrats flip VA-01, a Trump +5 seat, they're in for a very good night. If they flip VA-05, a Trump +12 seat, they're in for a great night. Between the lines: VA-02 could tell us whether a strong Republican candidate can survive a Democratic wave, and whether Speaker Mike Johnson can keep his job. Trump carried the Hampton Roads district by just 0.2 percentage points in 2024, while Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans won by 3.8 points. The AP didn't call her race until 5:28pm ET the following Wednesday. GOP strategists believe Kiggans has run a nearly flawless campaign. If even she gets swept away in a 50-50 district, other Republicans in a low-single-digit Trump seat should brace for impact. If she holds on, that could bode well for Sen. Susan Collins in Maine and Rep. Ashley Hinson in the Iowa Senate race. The intrigue: Also keep an eye on Kentucky's 6th District. Polls close there at 6pm ET, but the state takes a more genteel approach to counting ballots. If Democrats take the open Lexington-based seat (Trump +15), Republicans will be downing their bourbon. Neat. Moving west: Polls close in Ohio at 7:30pm and Texas at 8pm ET, but Texas counts faster. If Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton holds on, Republicans still have a path to keeping their Senate majority. Iowa polls close at 9pm ET. If Hinson is looking good, the night might not be as bad as many Republicans feared. The bottom line: Don't stay up for the Senate results in either Maine or Alaska. Even a clear win (or defeat) for Collins may not be obvious until Wednesday. In 2020, when she won by nearly 9 percentage points, the AP didn't call the race until lunchtime Wednesday. In Alaska, with its ranked-choice voting, results could take weeks.
Hans Nichols ·
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told the country's top three military commanders that a renewed attack by the U.S. and Israel ״must be met with an immediate and effective response, without geographical limitations״ in order to achieve "maximum deterrence," according to a statement from his office. Why it matters: This is the first publicly disclosed meeting between Khamenei and all the top commanders of Iran's armed forces since the war began. It comes as President Trump weighs major strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. Khamenei hasn't been seen or heard in public since he was wounded in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war. He has only issued written statements, which raised questions about his condition. The unusual apparent meeting took place a day after Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran for more than 12 hours in an effort to reach a deal to restart direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and avoid an outbreak of war after the midterms. The discussions continued in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday. What he's saying: "If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it will be the Islamic Republic of Iran's Armed Forces and the Iranian nation that determine when and under what conditions those hostilities will end," Khamenei told the commanders, according to the statement. Zoom in: According to the statement, the meeting included armed forces chief of staff Gen. Ali Abdollahi, army commander Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Maj. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi. The commanders briefed Khamenei on the state of military readiness along the Gulf coastline and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, and Iran's northwestern and southeastern borders. They also reported "a several-fold increase" in production of various types of ammunition and reconnaissance, support, and combat weapons. Khamenei instructed the commanders that the "target bank" must be updated "so that all types of the American-Zionist enemy's material and non-material assets fall within the reach of the Armed Forces." Khamenei praised "the intelligent steadfastness" of Iran's proxies across the region and stressed "the unity of the different arenas" as a "decisive and strategic" element for Iran.
Barak Ravid ·
The world's biggest crypto heist is the latest feat by North Korean hackers who have spent years perfecting an arsenal of financial theft, social engineering and sophisticated cyberattacks. Why it matters : The suspected North Korean hackers behind the $6.3 billion Binance theft appear to have combined familiar hacking tactics with extraordinary speed and automation — raising fresh questions about how AI could supercharge their already sophisticated operations. Driving the news : Binance said late Thursday that its blockchain partners have frozen at least $3 billion of those $6.3 billion assets on-chain so far, and it believes the hackers gained initial access by compromising one engineer's laptop alongside other "points of breach." Several blockchain investigation firms have tied the hack to TraderTraitor, a group linked to the North Korean government's Lazarus Group collective. Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said in a video on social media Friday that the attackers also used a "self-destruct mechanism that destroyed tooling and traces" as they went, making it more difficult to investigate what happened. "This was a complex attack," he said. The big picture: North Korean government hackers have spent more than a decade carrying out financial heists and disruptive cyberattacks, and they have turned cryptocurrency theft into an industrial-scale operation. In 2016, hackers attempted to steal nearly $1 billion from Bangladesh's central bank, successfully making off with $81 million. In 2017, North Korea was blamed for the WannaCry ransomware outbreak , which disrupted hundreds of thousands of computers across more than 150 countries. In recent years, the country has intensified its focus on pillaging crypto exchanges in part because the digital assets can more easily be transferred and laundered across borders — although those attacks tend to leave more of a paper trail. The same North Korean hacking group, TraderTraitor, also set the last record for the world's largest crypto heist last year when they stole $1.5 billion from the ByBit crypto exchange. Between the lines: North Korean hackers are only getting better and faster at their attacks, experts tell Axios. "They're essentially crowding out other threat actors by stealing the bulk of the value that's taken in any given year," Eric Jardine, head of research at Chainalysis, told Axios. Zoom in : Chainalysis said in a research report Friday that hackers made off with the billions of funds in as little as 20 minutes. The hackers also laundered and destroyed evidence of their operations at an unprecedented speed, suggesting they used automation throughout the heist, researchers found. Researchers at TRM Labs found that the hackers started preparing for the attack just 36 hours before it began. "There were transactions happening with a frequency and a scale that just meant there could not have been someone involved in the approval of these," Jardine said. "It had to have been done by a computer." The intrigue: Social engineering and automation has been hallmarks of the latest North Korean cyberattacks, Vijay Balasubramaniyan, CEO and co-founder of Pindrop Security, told Axios. Advances in AI-powered video and audio tools have allowed North Koreans to vastly expand their widespread IT worker fraud , where American companies are tricked into hiring North Koreans for IT jobs. Balasubramaniyan said last year, North Korean job applicants made up 1 in every 343 applications. This year, across their customer base, these applicants make up 1 in 47. "It is absolutely underpinning everything," Balasubramaniyan said. "It's just not AI, it's the scale of AI — you have so many AI choices that the number of such tools is crazy, the cost is so cheap and it's becoming an ecosystem." What to watch: Law enforcement and blockchain investigators may still be able to recover the other half of the stolen Binance funds if they enter specific exchange infrastructure and operators can move quickly enough to freeze them, Jardine said. "It's still early days," he added. Go deeper: How North Korea's IT army is hacking the global job market
Sam Sabin ·
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 American Community Survey 1-year estimates; Table: Russell Contreras/Axios Homeowners were nearly twice as likely as renters to have an electric vehicle in 2025, new Census data show, revealing a striking divide in America's shift to electric cars. Why it matters : Homeownership is just one factor in EV adoption, but reliable access to charging is critical — giving homeowners with private driveways or garages an advantage over renters, particularly those in multifamily buildings. By the numbers: About 7.3 million U.S. households — 5.5% of the nation's 134 million — reported having at least one EV, according to the 2025 American Community Survey released Thursday. Homeowners reported EVs at a rate of 6.4%, compared with 3.6% of renters. California led the nation at 13.8% overall, more than twice the national rate. North Dakota (1.3%), Wyoming (1.6%) and Louisiana (1.6%) ranked among the lowest. State of play: For the first time, the Census Bureau asked households with vehicles kept at home whether they owned or leased an EV, offering a nationwide snapshot of who has gone electric. The figures cover fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Our thought bubble: Many factors, including local government policies, can influence EV adoption rates, but ultimately, it comes down to affordability and access to charging, says Axios Transportation Correspondent Joann Muller . Homeowners with higher incomes are more likely to afford EVs, sometimes as a second car. The intrigue: A 2026 study by researchers at the University of Vermont and University of California, Davis, found higher home-charger installation costs at rental properties in Burlington, Vermont. Renters were also less likely to adopt fully electric vehicles, even after researchers accounted for home values and vehicle preferences. Zoom in: Even California, the nation's EV leader, has a sharp homeowner-renter divide, new Census data show. About 17.7% of homeowners reported an EV, compared with 8.9% of renters. Santa Clara County, home to much of Silicon Valley, led the nation at 24.1% of households — roughly 163,000 households. Zoom out: Washington (8.9%), Hawaii (8.5%) and Nevada (8.2%) ranked among the leading states. Outside California, Boulder County, Colorado, and Loudoun County, Virginia, each recorded 13.9%. Yes, but: California renters reported EVs at a higher rate than homeowners nationwide. The Census figures don't track charging access or explain why households choose EVs. With only one year of data, they also can't tell us whether the homeowner-renter gap has grown.
Russell Contreras ·
The latest wave of hyperscaler earnings is spooking Wall Street. Bulls and bears alike have evidence to validate their wildest dreams — or their worst nightmares. Why it matters : The market's AI obsession has entered its Jekyll and Hyde era, with the latest earnings from tech giants offering contrary signals about the AI boom. Driving the news : The tech-heavy Nasdaq briefly sank into correction territory, falling 10% from its prior peak, losing $1.2 trillion in value for the month of October, after a slew of earnings reports pointed to AI's big risks. But it wasn't all horror: within the earnings statements, some investors found proof that the AI bet is going exactly as it should. Here are three examples of the AI trade's deepest contradictions — the good and the scary — from the earnings releases and calls of the Big Tech hyperscalers. Google: The scary: AI overviews are cannibalizing Google's core business: ad revenue from search. Yes, search queries are up, but results in AI mode have lower margins. The company has lost more than $500 billion in market value post-earnings, bringing the broader tech sector along with it. The good: Google Cloud is closing in on Microsoft's Azure cloud revenue, a stunning development given that Google was an also-ran in the cloud game only a few years ago. Much of Google's success is tied to demand for its TPU chips, which analysts expect to see massive growth in coming quarters. The takeaway: Google's predicament mirrors the problems of many tech giants, where AI represents a true threat to the golden goose but presents new opportunities if they can move fast enough. Microsoft and Amazon: The good: Both companies had explosive cloud growth, though the market was disappointed Amazon's wasn't higher. Microsoft touted its OpenAI investment and Amazon its Anthropic holdings. The iffy: Those private AI investments can help or hurt: Amazon's net income fell despite soaring operating profits, as it didn't repeat the pretax gain from its Anthropic investment that boosted earnings a year earlier. Microsoft's OpenAI investment boosted its net income slightly, which lifted its profit growth. The takeaway: Check under the hood. Is any given hyperscaler's earnings growth coming from private investments in AI labs, or is it due to their underlying business? Data: FactSet, company filings; Chart: Axios/Matt Phillips Free cash flow The good: Sure, some of the most asset-light tech companies have turned free cash flow negative to fund their AI ambitions, but they say that's because demand is outstripping supply! You want these businesses to keep investing in infrastructure to meet that demand and turn it into revenue. The bad: If there's a hit to that demand, and these companies poured trillions into creating more supply, that's, well, a recipe for a bit of a popped bubble situation. The takeaway: Watch the demand picture. Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, is bullish, but told Axios that a major cyber event that hits the core of AI demand could be a downside risk. The bottom line: Tech stocks are broadly under pressure following these results. DeepWater partner Gene Munster says the street is waking up to the risks of an agentic world: How does Google make money without ad search revenue? How does Amazon make money if shoppers are using bots? But those existential issues aren't stopping the AI capex spending spree, for now.
Madison Mills ·
A federal judge Friday blocked the Trump administration from threatening election workers with criminal prosecution for counting ballots cast by registered voters the administration claims are ineligible. Why it matters: The emergency order, issued four days before the midterms , prohibits federal pressure to sideline ballots based solely on allegations of ineligibility and forces the Justice Department to walk back threats it already sent to election officials. The big picture: The ruling adds to a series of courtroom losses for the administration, as federal officials intensify election-related investigations and challenges across the country. Judges are warning that federal threats and investigations are driving citizens out of elections and putting lawful votes at risk. Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson found that the Justice and Homeland Security departments likely violated the Voting Rights Act's prohibition on voter intimidation and exceeded their constitutional authority over elections. Her temporary restraining order prohibits demands that states remove registered voters, withhold their ballots or stop counting votes solely because the administration claims the voters are ineligible. It also bars threats of criminal prosecution against election workers who refuse those demands or process ballots in accordance with election laws. The judge ordered prosecutors to disclose pending search warrant applications, grand jury subpoenas and other demands related to its lists of allegedly ineligible voters. What she's saying: Thompson found the administration's actions forced election workers to choose between complying with "Defendants' unlawful demands" or risk criminal prosecution for performing their jobs. "In the lead-up to the election," she wrote, "high-ranking DOJ and DHS officials have engaged in a campaign to intimidate, threaten, and coerce state and local officials and employees who are engaged in administering the ongoing midterm 2026 election." Zoom out: The ruling comes amid a sweeping federal campaign to obtain voter records, investigate suspected noncitizen voting and threaten state officials over election administration. Since May 2025, the DOJ has filed 31 lawsuits seeking sensitive voter records. So far, 27 have been dismissed. In July, the DOJ warned election officials in all 50 states they could face criminal charges for knowingly allowing noncitizens to vote. On Thursday, it sent another round of letters nationwide, warning of criminal penalties for violating election-record preservation requirements. The other side: DOJ has defended its election-related actions as necessary to enforce federal prohibitions on noncitizen voting. The department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment, but a spokesperson previously told Axios the government would not wait for a "more convenient time" to enforce election laws. Reality check: Noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal. Research finds it is rare. Zoom in: In the final days of the election, the administration has stepped up its legal fights across the country. California: The DOJ sued to set aside ballots from more than 20,000 voters it suspects are noncitizens, threatened election workers and issued grand jury subpoenas. An appeals court rejected its emergency request Friday, warning of "potentially catastrophic effects on the entire system." Washington: Federal prosecutors demanded officials segregate ballots from more than 400 voters. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said the federal list included U.S. citizens and was unreliable. Arizona: Prosecutors announced Friday evening an investigation into three Democratic-aligned registration groups after a right-wing outlet published an undercover video. The DOJ also requested the state's and Maricopa County's top election officials review registrations. Alaska: The DOJ sued to delay certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses reelection and if votes for a similarly named candidate could have changed the outcome. Prosecutors confirmed a criminal investigation Friday into an alleged Democratic effort to recruit the other Sullivan. In a separate ruling Friday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals left in place restrictions on DHS election-related field operations involving known or suspected U.S. citizens in nine states through Election Day. The underlying order, by Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, found that federal threats had already caused citizens to "withdraw from participating in electoral activity." The appeals court also questioned the timing: "In an operation ostensibly focused on past voter fraud, the government could have aggressively pursued its campaign against non-citizen voting well before these elections commenced."
Andrew Pantazi ·
Qatari mediators held talks in Tehran for more than 12 hours on Friday in an effort to reach a deal to restart direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and avoid an outbreak of war after the midterms, according to diplomatic sources. The discussions will continue in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday. Why it matters: The U.S. is now just days away from a possible military operation that would inflict enormous damage on Iran and likely lead to retaliatory strikes against Israel and a host of Gulf countries. Driving the news: A diplomatic source said Qatari mediators were in regular contact with the White House during Friday's daylong session. "There was positive progress. Talks are still ongoing in an effort to unlock a deal between the U.S. and Iran," the source said. The Qataris are prodding the U.S. and Iran to agree on a set of reciprocal steps that would be implemented over a few days and get the parties back to direct talks on the Iranian nuclear program and other issues. A U.S. official said two competing demands have stymied the talks so far: the Trump administration's insistence that Iran make nuclear concessions as part of resuming talks, and Iran's stipulation that the U.S. first lift its naval blockade, release frozen funds and allow it to sell oil. The Qataris are trying to convince Iran to allow U.N. inspectors to visit its bombed nuclear sites as a confidence-building measure that the U.S. would respond to with some sanctions relief. The intrigue: Inside Trump's inner circle, there are different opinions on what he should do. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are highly skeptical that any nuclear agreement can be reached with the current Iranian regime. They think Trump's legacy should be to weaken the regime even more, including with further strikes, a U.S. official said. The person said that while Vice President Vance and Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner want to resume negotiations, Trump is skeptical Iran will ever agree to a deal he finds acceptable. "There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking. ... We have time, frankly. It's a war, but it is not a typical war," Trump told reporters on Friday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is leading an economic pressure campaign dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast," is one of Trump's closest aides urging him to let the initiative play out rather than rush back into combat. Zoom out: Countries in the region like Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been urging Iran to agree to resume negotiations before the midterms, a regional source said. One U.S. official said Trump might be more inclined to order a major military operation if Republicans lose badly in the midterms. "If he feels embarrassed or disenfranchised he will do something bold. That's what everyone are telling the Iranians. Their best shot to get a deal is right now," the official said. A White House official said the election results won't be a factor in Trump's decision-making about Iran. The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Turkey urged Trump in recent days to allow more time for diplomacy. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is lobbying Trump to launch a joint operation against Iran immediately after the election. The big picture: Renewed war could lead to massive destruction not only in Iran but in Gulf countries, exacerbating the global energy crisis. Iran has vowed to respond to any U.S. strikes on its energy infrastructure by attacking oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Any U.S. attack on Iran would be conducted jointly with Israel. Iran would likely retaliate with missile strikes, while Hezbollah could also wage attacks on Israel.
Barak Ravid ·
The Justice Department is investigating the Arizona voter registration efforts of three Democratic-aligned groups after an "undercover" video purported to show volunteers willing to register non-citizens. Why it matters: The Friday announcement comes four days before the Nov. 3 election, and nearly a month after Arizona's registration deadline passed, timing one Republican former elections official says could sow unnecessary doubt about the results. Driving the news: In a news release , the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona announced it has "opened a case into recent reporting about three non-profit organizations registering non-citizens to vote in Arizona." The groups are nonprofits Worker Power and Stand Indivisible AZ, as well as When We Count, a voter-registration program of the Democratic National Committee. DNC spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández wrote to Axios, "We are not aware of any instances of our fellows … registering a noncitizen to vote." He called the allegations "fabricated" and "inspired by right-wing operatives." The other two groups did not immediately respond. State of play: The "recent reporting" appears to reference an Oct. 22 video by Muckraker , a right-wing media outlet with a marred past . The video shows a man posing as a felon or noncitizen and asking if he can register to vote. The U.S. attorney's office has "already referred the matter to the FBI," per the announcement. Between the lines: In letters to both Republican Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap and Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Courchaine wrote that it "appears these organizations … may have violated" a state law about knowingly registering ineligible persons. However, the video does not show them registering anyone, only discussing it. U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine asked both men for "a review of registrations submitted by these groups to ensure only United States Citizens were registered to vote." The U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to questions from Axios about what additional evidence, if any, it has against the groups. The big picture: The Arizona probe comes as the Justice Department has begun waging election legal challenges across the nation. The DOJ has sued 30 states and D.C. seeking detailed voter registration records and has lost in every case decided so far. Separately, a federal appeals court rejected Friday its bid to set aside mail ballots from 20,000 California voters, saying the department's claims it suspects them of being noncitizens was "not credible." And in Alaska, federal prosecutors confirmed Friday a criminal investigation involving a Senate candidate sharing the name of Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The DOJ is also seeking to segregate ballots there. The intrigue: The letters to the recorder and secretary of state are almost identical, except for one subtle difference. The letter to Heap , a Republican ally of President Trump, concludes with "I know you are dedicated to securing Arizona's elections." The one to Fontes , a Democrat critical of Trump, instead says, "I trust that you are dedicated." Reality check: Former Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell, a Republican, questions the timing of the announcement, warning it could mislead voters. Voter registration closed weeks ago, and elections officials have little time to review registrations. She also says that registrations would be checked for eligibility and the chance of an ineligible person receiving a ballot is low. What they're saying: "It just seems like we keep seeing these little steps to confuse people," Purcell says. Flashback: Arizona has been at the center of election-fraud conspiracy theories since President Trump's 2020 defeat, including a Republican-commissioned review of Maricopa County ballots by the firm Cyber Ninjas. The widely criticized review ultimately confirmed Joe Biden's victory. Heap won his office in 2024 backed by election-deniers, and just last week, he settled a lawsuit involving U.S. citizens whom his office had barred from voting, despite a county attorney's investigation confirming their citizenship. What we're watching: It's unclear whether Heap or Fontes will review the registrations as requested. Neither immediately responded to Axios' questions.
Zach Buchanan ·
A federal appeals court rejected the Justice Department's emergency bid to set aside mail ballots tied to more than 20,000 California voters the Trump administration suspects are noncitizens. Why it matters: The 2–1 ruling leaves California's election procedures intact just days before the midterms, with the judges citing doubts about the DOJ's voter list and the risk of disenfranchising eligible voters. The ruling is a major setback for a DOJ that has doubled down on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the Golden State. What they're saying: The majority cited the lower court's finding that the DOJ's process for identifying suspected noncitizens was "not credible," undermining its claims. "Granting [the United States]'s request would provoke catastrophic change, upending the administration of the election," it wrote, quoting the district court's finding. "There is a material risk that granting the United States its requested relief would result in disenfranchisement and could jeopardize [Los Angeles] County's entire election." The other side: Ninth U.S. Circuit Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented, arguing that counting votes from noncitizens dilutes the power of citizens. "The federal government proposes a modest remedy—stopping California from mixing the ballots of citizens and suspected noncitizens. This solution would not cancel any vote but would allow time to verify the eligibility of suspected noncitizens." The White House and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Catch up quick: The DOJ sued California in mid October for refusing to segregate the ballots it asserted were sent to noncitizens. A district court denied the request for an injunction, deciding that the federal law the DOJ was relying on to bring the suit did not supersede existing state law. The Trump administration appealed, leading to Friday's decision. The administration can now appeal again to the Supreme Court. Zoom out: Trump has continued to make false claims of widespread voter fraud throughout the year, which some election officials and voting rights groups argue could undermine trust in America's elections. Trump reacted to the district court's decision to reject the DOJ's arguments Thursday morning, claiming if elections in California "were honest," with an "honest vote count," he would have won the state "by a lot" when he ran for president. Trump provided no evidence for the claim. Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Josephine Walker ·
A federal judge said Friday she plans to appoint a special master to investigate whether Justice and Interior Department officials misled the court about the Trump administration's plans to renovate a D.C. golf course, according to news reports . Why it matters: The investigation could lead to professional sanctions, contempt proceedings or criminal referrals against administration officials over allegations government lawyers misled the judge. Driving the news: U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes opened a hearing Friday by reading ethics rules requiring attorneys to be truthful with courts, then questioned Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr. about the administration's conflicting accounts, according to news reports. Trump announced Oct. 18 the golf course would close Nov. 15 for roughly 15 months of renovations. Woodward told the court the next day there was "no plan to close the course." On Oct. 28, the Justice Department acknowledged Trump had directed the closure. Catch up quick: A preservation group and two golfers are suing the administration over what they say is President Trump's illegal plan to convert the historic, public East Potomac Golf Links into a championship-level golf course. After government crews cut down more than 400 trees, Reyes barred further tree removal without court approval and required 10 business days' notice before closing the park or making irreversible changes. The administration has appealed. What they're saying: "The Department of Justice will not be deterred from executing on the President's agenda," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The White House and DOI didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. What's next: Reyes said she intends to appoint a special master who could review documents, question witnesses under oath and hold hearings. The government would have five business days to object after a special master is selected, the Washington Post reported . This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Go deeper: Exclusive: Congress presses Trump on D.C. golf course plans
Josephine Walker ·
Have you seen the Oct. 29 clip ? The one where a guy compared a Trump rally to the 1978 Jonestown massacre while he was live on Fox News. "Wait, the Jonestown massacre?" Fox correspondent Lucas Tomlinson asked. "There's nothing like seeing a cult right up front, man," the interviewee responded. "Maybe this is not a Trump supporter," the reporter said before turning to another attendee. But not before the man got a plug in: "MadPark Designs," he said, pointing to his hat. Why it matters: MadPark Designs is a Charlotte screen printer launched in 2018 that prints for local businesses, musicians and organizations, and creates some of its own graphics. And that guy in the video — Tom Hoyle — is the co-owner and a local. The clip of him at the Rock Hill Trump rally on Oct. 29 has 5.3 million views on Mother Jones' Instagram and 206K views on TMZ's TikTok . It's also been posted on countless other pages, and was continuing to rack up views as of Friday afternoon. The latest: MadPark is now selling T-shirts for $28 with his now-viral quote and a skeleton graphic. "I think some people are going to dress up as Tom for Halloween," he told Axios. Courtesy of MadPark Designs Backstory: Hoyle said he planned to cause a commotion by yelling out as Trump was speaking, as protesters have done at other North Carolina campaign events. But before Trump got on stage, the Fox News reporter asked Hoyle for an interview. He later told Axios it was "divine intervention" and said he freestyled the cult comparison. Hoyle said the Secret Service came over and asked him to leave after the Fox interview. He wasn't even out of Rock Hill before his phone started lighting up with texts and calls from people viewing the clip, he added. What's next: He said he's tossing ideas around for another shirt, but doesn't want to get ahead of himself.
Alexandria Sands ·
The U.S. naval blockade, sweeping economic sanctions and obstruction of overland export routes have crippled Iran's economy and intensified pressure on the regime, according to a new Treasury Department report obtained by Axios. Why it matters: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is leading an economic pressure campaign dubbed "Operation Economic Outcast," is one of Trump's closest aides urging him to let the initiative play out rather than rush back into combat. Though the report doesn't argue that the Iranian regime is close to collapsing, it does lay out the Treasury Department's view that its efforts have crippled Iran's economy and limited its ability to generate revenue. Driving the news: As he did before Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025 and Operation Epic Fury in February, Trump is pursuing dual tracks — trying to reach a deal to restart peace talks while also preparing to possibly resume major combat operations after the midterms. The Treasury campaign, which launched in late August, is a third track. But U.S. officials say it needs more time to destabilize the regime and potentially convince the Iranian leadership to make concessions at the negotiations table. On Thursday, Trump met with his top national security and foreign policy aides to discuss the war. U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper, who commands forces in the Middle East, briefed Trump on the ongoing naval blockade . Bessent discussed the economic pressure campaign. "Bessent is telling the President the economic pressure campaign is working and that things are getting worse in Iran and that this could further destabilize the regime and push the Supreme Leader to agree to a deal," a U.S. official said. Zoom in: The Treasury report highlights several indicators of Iran's economic crisis: Currency collapse: The Iranian rial has lost roughly a quarter of its value since the operation began in August. In October, the unofficial exchange rate reached a record low of 2.687 million rials to the dollar. "The currency's decline reflects mounting pressure on Iran's economy and financial system, eroding purchasing power and making it increasingly costly for the regime to access goods and services abroad," the report argues. Soaring inflation: Iran's annual inflation rate reached 90% in September, compared to roughly 35% in early 2025. Oil exports: Iran has not loaded any oil onto tankers since Aug. 25 because of the blockade and sanctions, the report says. Tehran has also sold off its remaining oil stranded at sea, according to Kpler, which tracks maritime trade. Between the lines: The report details how the U.S. is seeking to cut Iran off not only from oil revenue but also from international trade routes, commercial aviation, banking networks and even digital currency alternatives. It states that Iran's effort to reroute trade overland around the U.S. naval blockade is facing major bottlenecks at borders with Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Thousands of trucks are reportedly stranded at the Turkish border, facing delays of up to 20 days, while hundreds more are waiting at the Pakistani border, the report says. The UAE, Oman, Iraq, Georgia and Azerbaijan have barred Iranian airlines and canceled flights to Iran. Turkey has suspended all Mahan Air flights. Iranian banks have faced additional restrictions in Turkey, Lebanon and the UAE, while Treasury is targeting cryptocurrency exchanges used to evade sanctions.
Barak Ravid ·
A Texas grand jury indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales with a charge of second-degree aggravated assault Friday after prosecutors said he deliberately drove his SUV into a fleeing immigrant in early October. Why it matters: This may be the first time an ICE agent has ever been indicted in Texas, making it a rare case of a federal immigration officer facing state charges. What they're saying: Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced the grand jury's charge of second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, namely a motor vehicle. Morales faces two to 20 years if convicted, Teare said. "Just because you have an ICE badge or any badge, if you are in Harris County and you are violating our community members' constitutional rights, there will be repercussions," he said. Catch up quick: Morales struck Miguel Parra Hernandez on Oct. 10 as Parra Hernandez fled on foot. Parra Hernandez, a Mexican national who has lived in Harris County for more than 30 years, had no criminal record and no pending immigration proceedings against him before the incident, Teare said. ICE has said Morales and other agents were looking for a different man identified as a deportation target, but that man's relatives say he died nearly a decade ago. Teare said Parra Hernandez is still rehabilitating from his injuries but is in ICE custody. The other side: An ICE spokesperson called the indictment "nothing more than a political stunt by Houston sanctuary politicians" in a statement to Axios. "Federal officers acting in the course of their duties can only be investigated by other Federal agencies. Local governments do not have the authority to run such an investigation." "Allegations that ICE struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez intentionally are RECKLESS and FALSE. The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct." Zoom out: Teare said Morales was among the "surge hires" as part of efforts to speed up President Trump's mass deportation agenda. The DA declined to go into detail about the agent's prior work history, but said he could "unequivocally tell you that I've reviewed 1000s of job applications and resumes for law enforcement officers from around the state, and I'm not familiar with a single agency that would have hired this person based on his past." He also said he had "concerns about a number of the individuals that were hired during that surge" based on the investigation, and "concerns about the length of time that they're trained, and about what that training entails." What we're watching: Morales could attempt to move the case to federal court and argue federal law shields him from state prosecution. Teare said he was prepared to litigate such a move. Go deeper: Questions about Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's killing by ICE remain - Axios Houston
Josephine Walker ·
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is endorsing a trio of insurgent Democratic candidates who are challenging his fellow California House Democrats, Axios has learned. Why it matters: This is an aggressive move by a potential 2028 presidential contender who styles himself as one of the few Democrats willing to get into direct confrontations with the party establishment. He has backed members of the progressive "Bloc" who have refused to commit to voting for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as speaker. This is territory where even other high-profile House progressives — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), another potential 2028er — have largely refused to tread. Driving the news: "Today I'm endorsing three new generation leaders Angela Gonzales-Torres, Eric Jones, and Mai Vang," Khanna said in a statement first shared with Axios. Gonzales-Torres, a former local elected official challenging Rep. Jimmy Gomez, "will join us in our fight against corruption, to stand up for survivors, and to lead with a moral vision," Khanna said. Khanna said he has known Jones — a venture capitalist running against Rep. Mike Thompson — "for many years," calling him "a change agent who understands the working class and building a better life for those left out." Vang, a Sacramento City Council member running against Rep. Doris Matsui, "will call out the genocide in Gaza, be for taxing billionaires, and stand for Medicare for All and the working class," Khanna said. Between the lines: Khanna said he has a "tremendous respect and admiration," for Thompson, 75, who has been in office since 1999. "But voters are crying out for change." Khanna said of Matsui, 82, who has held her seat since 2005: "I respect Doris Matsui's incredible service to our state and nation. This is the time to pass the baton." Jones is 35. Vang is 41. Khanna did not reference Gomez, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over allegations of sexual misconduct. Gomez has admitted to "personal mistakes outside my marriage," but said his actions were "consensual" and denied breaking House rules. Asked about potential backlash from his colleagues for endorsing against fellow Democratic incumbents, Khanna said in a brief interview with Axios, "I think we need a new politics in this country, and we need a new party." "I've always been a reformer and independent-minded, that's what I believe," he added. The other side: A spokesperson for Gomez's campaign told Axios, "Instead of some Silicon Valley politician, the people of Los Angeles care a lot more about what Planned Parenthood thinks, what local teachers, nurses, and unions think – and they all support Jimmy Gomez." Said Thomas Dowling, a spokesperson for Thompson: "San Francisco venture capitalist Eric Jones and his Silicon Valley supporters are trying to buy our congressional seat, but it's not for sale. Mike's support comes from the people who actually live here." Matsui's campaign manager Bill Wong told Axios: "Voters in our district care about real results. Doris Matsui delivers. That's why the local teachers, firefighters, nurses, and women's and environmental organizations who see those results up close are standing with her." The intrigue: Khanna previously endorsed Thompson this cycle, which the latter congressman touted on social media as recently as May. The Thompson campaign even sent out a text to supporters, the content of which was shared with Axios, that reads: "This is Ro Khanna. I endorsed Mike Thompson for CA-4." Asked about the apparent discrepancy, Khanna told Axios: "I wanted to endorse [Gonzales]-Torres and then Mai Vang ... and I just thought, 'it's time for new blood,' and wanted to endorse Eric Jones." "I think very highly of Mike. I had, with the delegation, endorsed him earlier, so it's nothing against him. I just think it's a new generation and we're seeing bolder progressives win across the country," he added. Catch up quick: Matsui, Thompson and Gomez are each locked in Democrat vs. Democrat general elections with their rivals. All candidates ran in a single jungle primary in June, with the top two finishers — regardless of party — moving to the Nov. 3 general election. That means, unlike the rest of their colleagues who faced primary challenges, the trio will have to wait a little longer to find out if they will be returning to Capitol Hill next January. State of play: Jones and Gonzales-Torres both finished second in their respective primaries, while Vang narrowly came out ahead of Matsui. Polls have shown Jones leading Thompson and Gonzales-Torres essentially tied with Gomez. A senior House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts on Matsui's reelection, said party leaders "think she is gone" next Congress.
Andrew Solender ·
Pope Leo XIV voted in the 2026 Illinois midterm elections using a mail-in ballot, the Vatican confirmed Friday, becoming the first sitting pope known to vote in an American election. Why it matters: The pontiff, an American citizen, may be the first to vote in any secular democratic election. Joliet radio station WJOL first reported Oct. 23 that Leo had requested a mail-in ballot. What they're saying: The pope believes "in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement . The Vatican said Leo "has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so" and that "in keeping with this long-standing practice of civic participation, he has submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago." Pope Leo also voted whenever eligible during his years living in Peru, the Vatican's statement said. Zoom in: The pope's ballot includes Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker 's reelection bid, the race to succeed Sen. Dick Durbin and a House contest between Democratic Rep. Jonathan Jackson and Republican Christian Maxwell. Jackson, the son of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, won his district handily in 2024. The pontiff's ballot will have to travel from Vatican city to Joliet, Illinois. Worth noting : Leo has voted in both Democratic and Republican primaries in the last two decades. The clerk's office in Will County, Illinois, where Leo is registered to vote, did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Zoom out: The pope, who has been recovering from lung cancer surgery , met with Chicago-area advocates Wednesday who are supporting immigrants at an ICE facility in Broadview , Illinois. He's also clashed with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic, over the war in Iran and the treatment of immigrants in America. Go deeper: Pope Leo XIV discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery Axios Chicago's Carrie Shepherd contributed.
Josephine Walker ·
Democrats weighing 2028 presidential bids are piling onto the AI hate wave in their messaging, per an analysis shared exclusively with Axios. Why it matters: Democrats are turning AI anxiety into a political rallying cry ahead of 2028, while Republicans remain divided over how to respond. Driving the news: 2028 contenders including Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Jon Ossoff and more have all increased their AI commentary in recent months, per new research from Upswing, conducted on behalf of Reset Tech, a nonprofit advocating for tech regulation. Among 21 Democrats named as potential 2028 contenders, tech mentions on X nearly quadrupled, and press release mentions nearly tripled since the start of the year. Tech is now the second-most common topic in releases, trailing only jobs and the economy, with the highest concentration of mentions around data centers and phone bans in schools. To gather the data, Upswing analyzed nearly 30,000 X posts from 38 accounts associated with 21 potential presidential contenders and 3,868 press releases from 16 officeholders between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15. Between the lines: Democrats are galvanizing around AI as a winning issue. Democrats are "taking a meaningful advantage" on AI after the topic was initially seen as a "jump ball" for both major political parties, Rishi Bharwani, U.S. director of Reset Tech, told Axios. AI regulation has gone from the back burner to a top issue over the last six months, he added. While the economy is still what matters most to voters, AI is increasingly part of the financial conversation as it dominates markets and the macroeconomic backdrop. Zoom in: It's not just messaging. While data center bans have been proposed in Democratic- and Republican-majority states, New York is so far the only one to pass a moratorium. House Democrats drafted a resolution opposing government bailouts for AI companies if the so-called "bubble" bursts. There are also a variety of legislative proposals, including model transparency measures and kill switches. Zoom out: This comes amid a groundswell of anti-AI sentiment among voters. Most Americans across the political spectrum take the risks of AI causing harm seriously, per a September YouGov poll of nearly 1,500 voters. Likely voters trust Democrats more than Republicans to respond to artificial intelligence, the poll said. The other side: Republicans are caught between their base being concerned by AI and President Trump's unfettered embrace of the industry. Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump to varying degrees. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), for example, has been among the loudest about state-level regulation on the technology. The bottom line: Democrats are coalescing around a more critical stance on AI, but whether it meaningfully impacts elections remains to be seen.
Madison Mills, Maria Curi ·
President Trump's energy policies and investment deals could become major targets of Democratic investigations if the party wins control of either chamber of Congress. Why it matters: Congressional probes could expose new details about the administration's dealings with major companies and foreign governments. What they're saying: House Democrats are likely to take a "shotgun" approach of "throwing everything out there and then seeing what sticks in the realm of popular opinion," TD Cowen analyst John Miller said via email. Democrats will be looking for agencies that exceeded their authority, deals involving administration officials' families, or both, Miller said. The big picture: Scratch the surface of Democrats' biggest potential oversight targets, and energy is everywhere. Russia. Trump's dealings with Moscow will again be front and center — and so will the energy dimension. Democrats in both chambers are likely to investigate Trump's diesel deal with Moscow, which they claim violates a 2022 law barring imports of Russian fuels. The inquiries could also extend to U.S. banks and ports, which lawmakers have already warned could face congressional investigation. Venezuela. "We expect Venezuela to be the subject of a number of inquiries," RBC Capital Markets analysts said in a note. Democrats have already raised questions about whether any oil companies knew about plans to depose Nicolás Maduro. Investigations could also examine the legality of the Pentagon's 35% stake in the corporate parent North American Blue Energy Partners and the terms of the deal, the note states. The Iran war. High gasoline and diesel prices give Democrats another reason to scrutinize the decision to attack Iran, especially if pain at the pump persists. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have already pressed major oil and gas companies about their profits during the conflict. AI and data centers. Wider and intense oversight of AI will touch on data centers' energy use and power costs — a topic various Democrats have already been probing. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, with its expansive jurisdiction, will be the "center of gravity" on data centers, according to Alyssa DaCunha, who co-chairs the congressional investigations practice at the law firm WilmerHale. Oversight could also extend to Trump administration efforts to spur data center development on federal lands amid the public backlash. Investments and family ties. "We ... expect congressional reviews of the government's equity stakes in several critical mineral firms," RBC analysts write. Democrats in both chambers are very interested in how the deals may benefit the families of President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Offshore wind deals. Several panels are poised to investigate Interior Department agreements to pay energy companies to relinquish offshore leases and redirect investment into fossil fuels. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who would head the Natural Resources Committee, has signaled plans . So has Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the Appropriations panel that oversees Interior. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who's likely to get the powerful Judiciary Committee gavel, has called it illegal, while Whitehouse, who's in line for Senate Judiciary if Dems retake, has also raised legal concerns. What they're saying: "The Democrats are already telegraphing that, once again, they have no agenda to improve the lives of Americans and will instead continue their decade-long obsession with investigating President Trump," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement. What we're watching: Political space for legislation beyond messaging bills will be limited but not completely absent.
Ben Geman ·
America's corporate titans greeted President Trump's 2024 victory with open checkbooks , 12-figure investment pledges and fawning tributes to his coming "Golden Age." Two years later, on the eve of a potential blue wave, Democrats are preparing to greet those same executives with a stack of subpoenas . Why it matters: The CEOs who staked their reputations and fortunes on MAGA's staying power could spend the final two years of Trump's presidency defending their dealings under oath. The big picture: A Democratic House would carry its campaign against billionaire power and corruption deep into corporate America, scrutinizing the relationships between Trump's White House and the executives who courted him . Corporate leaders now face a delicate balancing act: rebuilding ties with Democrats while avoiding retaliation from a president who still controls federal contracts, tariffs and regulators. Already, companies that scrambled to dismantle DEI programs or fund Trump's ballroom are hiring Democratic lobbyists , pushing back against the administration and rediscovering the virtues of bipartisanship. Zoom in: Elon Musk is taking a more confrontational approach. The billionaire, who has poured $445 million into Republican super PACs this election cycle alone, has threatened retaliation against Democrats preparing to investigate his sprawling business empire and tenure in the White House. DOGE: As head of Trump's short-lived cost-cutting initiative, Musk gutted USAID, drove mass federal layoffs and gave his team access to sensitive government systems. Investigators want to know whether his companies benefited from contracts or regulatory decisions while he wielded power inside the White House. Ukraine: A fierce critic of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Musk ordered Starlink restrictions that disrupted Ukraine's military satellite communications. Democrats are now demanding records of his communications with Trump and Vladimir Putin . Musk responds to reports that Democrats plan to investigate him. Screenshot via X. Zoom out: Across corporate America, the pursuit of Trump's favor has left a trail of donations, deals and concessions that Democrats are determined to follow. AI accelerationists: Trump has made the AI boom a centerpiece of his economic agenda, while giving industry leaders extraordinary influence over regulation and chip exports. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, who set the template for corporate America's reconciliation with MAGA, is among the AI leaders likely to face scrutiny for pressing Trump to back off safety regulation. Media consolidation: Trump ally Larry Ellison helped finance his son David's rise to control of CBS and CNN, culminating in a $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. Along the way, Paramount paid $16 million to settle Trump's lawsuit against CBS while seeking federal approval for its Skydance merger. Elite law firms: Trump's pressure campaign against the legal establishment yielded $940 million in pledged free legal services and concessions on diversity policies from nine major firms. Democrats are probing the terms of those agreements and whether the firms compromised their independence to appease the White House. Ballroom donors: Trump's massive White House construction project has drawn at least $333 million in private commitments , including $25 million apiece from Apple and Nvidia. Many donors — including some who kept their contributions secret — have lucrative business before the administration. Equity deals: Trump has transformed the U.S. government into a major corporate investor, striking roughly $30 billion in equity and warrant arrangements spanning more than 40 companies. Democrats are questioning how the beneficiaries were selected and whether political connections influenced the deals. Fossil fuel giants: Trump asked oil executives to raise $1 billion for his 2024 campaign while promising sweeping regulatory relief. His administration has since delivered major tax breaks and environmental rollbacks, prompting a Democratic probe of the industry's political contributions and the government benefits that followed. The bottom line: Corporate America's old instinct for bipartisan relationships existed for a reason. The same executives who spent the past two years seeking Trump's favor could spend the next two explaining exactly how they obtained it.
Zachary Basu ·
El Salvador's strongman president, Nayib Bukele , is sending thousands of troops to Haiti to boost the island's push to wipe out its gang problem — and find four of his military personnel who were captured in a recent ambush. Bukele called President Trump on Tuesday to make sure he had no problem with this major military escalation, to which Haiti's government has agreed. "Do what you have to do," Trump told him, according to sources briefed on the call. Why it matters: If it works, Bukele's troop surge could stabilize Haiti, a country 700 miles from Florida that has been devastated by deadly gang violence and has lacked a president since the last one, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated five years ago. If it doesn't work, it could increase Haiti's death toll well beyond the 5,700-plus killed in gang violence this year, embarrass Bukele and mark yet another failed international effort to restore stability to the country. Haiti also may be a test case for Bukele and security contractor Erik Prince — a Trump and Bukele ally also operating in Haiti — to act as public-private proxies for U.S. muscle in the hemisphere. El Salvador announced Wednesday it was deploying as many as 2,000 troops to Haiti. That number could double or triple, sources say. "We didn't come to Haiti to make money, because no one is paying us to do it. We came to Haiti to fight against the wicked," Bukele, writing in Haitian Creole, wrote Thursday on X . Zoom in: Along with other countries, El Salvador has been part of a UN-established initiative called the Gang Suppression Force, or GSF, operating in Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince. On Oct. 18, four Salvadoran aviation technicians were ambushed and remain unaccounted for, according to the Miami Herald . Three days later, Bukele posted a warning on X : "I want you, the gang leaders, to understand one thing very clearly: Today's attack is nothing compared to what is coming if we do not get all four hostages back alive." "We have already finished with the gangs in El Salvador, and we can finish with you too," he wrote. Zoom out: First elected in 2019, Bukele rose to political fame and infamy for wiping out the MS-13 gang in El Salvador in a campaign of brute military force and mass incarceration. Bukele's efforts transformed El Salvador from a murder capital to what's widely viewed as one of the Western Hemisphere's safest countries. Bukele, who has a strong relationship with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, endeared himself to the new Trump administration by agreeing to accept third-country migrants who were mass-deported from the U.S. and then locked up in Bukele's notorious CECOT prison. Driving the news: Bukele's force was authorized to operate on the island in a bilateral agreement with Haiti approved on Wednesday as Salvadoran special forces and hardware began pouring in. Also Wednesday, Haiti's electoral council postponed presidential elections until next year because of the gang violence. Between the lines: Bukele's force appears to be operating parallel to the GSF — to which it currently belongs — and Prince's private security firm, Vectus Global, a successor to Blackwater. Florida Rep. Brian Mast (R), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the UN-backed GSF is too bureaucratic and timid. The GSF's predecessor, led by Kenya, was too feckless and, at a cost of $1 billion, too expensive, he said. "We spent the equivalent of $1 million per Kenyan and the situation was worse at the end," Mast said. To show the butchery of Haitian gangs, Mast shared with Axios a video of a Haitian man who was hacked to death by machetes for helping the GSF. Rape, arson, extortion and kidnapping are rampant on the island. Beyond El Salvador finding its four missing personnel, Mast said, "I hope the mission is revenge, retribution and destruction of the gangs. Somebody needs to be there with motive and motivation." "Now the fight is personal to them and the fight will be taken to the gangs," he added. "The U.S. wants to be out of this and not spend millions on nothing." The intrigue: Bukele had proposed that the Trump administration let El Salvador pacify Haiti as a U.S. proxy force, but "Rubio wanted to stay away from that. He wants to keep Haiti off the radar," a source familiar with the discussions told Axios. Bukele had requested military equipment from the U.S., including drones and transport planes, but it was officially denied, according to another source who said that Colombia ultimately may act as an unofficial go-between to supply Bukele's force with no U.S. fingerprints on the mission. Inside the room : When Bukele called Trump on Tuesday, the president expressed sympathy and condolences over the plight of Bukele's missing military personnel, a White House official said. "Bukele doesn't want the U.S. to suddenly cut him off at the knees for going in," a source briefed on the call said. Trump's focus on Haiti is largely limited to making sure it takes back its citizens who were in the U.S. under temporary protected status, which Trump terminated last year. "Bukele told the president he was confidant he could do the job. But it might get messy," the source briefed on the call said. "The gangs f*cked with the wrong guy. He has something to prove."
Marc Caputo ·
A bipartisan deal to speed energy development is facing concerns it could favor natural gas over renewables because of President Trump's opposition to wind and solar. Why it matters: The worries from Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) could complicate efforts to pass the bill before year's end, highlighting divisions even among Democrats who have long supported permitting reform. Driving the news: Casten, a former energy executive and leading Democratic voice on permitting reform, said he isn't yet backing the bill and is negotiating changes with Senate Democrats to prevent it from disproportionately benefiting natural gas. "My test for the bill is: I talk to energy developers, and ask, 'What would you build in response to this bill?' And the answer I get overwhelmingly is a lot of gas," Casten told Axios on stage at a University of Chicago event Wednesday. "I think you have to look at the bill in the context of everything else that the Trump administration has done." The big picture: The AI boom is fueling demand for electricity, prompting a rush to build natural gas power plants alongside renewable energy projects. The permitting deal could help determine which technologies benefit most from that expansion. Catch up quick: The bill, sponsored by two Republicans and two Democrats who lead the Senate's energy and environment committees, would speed construction of power lines and other energy infrastructure. An initial procedural vote is scheduled for Nov. 9, shortly after the midterm elections, setting up a potential push to pass the legislation before the new Congress takes office. Threat level: The bill aims to prevent political favoritism in energy permitting, but Casten worries one provision could have the opposite effect. It would allow developers to challenge discriminatory permitting decisions in part by comparing them with decisions made over the previous five years. Casten argues that as Trump's second term becomes part of that historical benchmark, the administration's treatment of renewable energy could effectively become the new normal. What we're hearing: The five-year provision is emerging as a concern in negotiations over the bill. "This is definitely one of the key issues that folks are thinking about right now," said an industry official tracking the negotiations closely, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss congressional feedback. Clarifying or strengthening the language would "go a long way to reassuring folks who are on the fence," the official added. Zoom out: Divisions among Democrats are emerging about the overall bill. Former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and climate activist Tom Steyer are urging its passage, while four Senate Democrats are demanding the restoration of canceled clean-energy grants and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) is calling for its defeat. Yes, but: Casten also praised the bill's overall structure and said relatively small changes could win his support. He's negotiating those changes with Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). "I think the structure of the bill is good," he said. "I think there are modest changes we could make to it to make sure it works and doesn't sort of create like a gold rush for gas." He favors passing the bill before year's end, unlike some Democrats who have suggested waiting to see whether the midterm elections give their party more power next year. What they're saying: The White House said it supports the bipartisan deal and is pushing for a vote. "The text of the legislation has been published, and all that is left to do is vote. We are in direct conversations with the lead negotiators in the Senate," a White House official said. A Heinrich spokesperson said the bill "will expedite the approval of clean energy projects and put more clean, cheaper electricity on the grid." The bottom line: The midterms could upend these delicate negotiations just days before the Senate's Nov. 9 procedural vote. Editor's note: Amy is a journalism fellow at the University of Chicago's Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and moderated Wednesday's event featuring Casten.
Amy Harder ·