Vice President JD Vance considered traveling to Israel on Tuesday but decided against it due to the expansion of Israel's military operation in Gaza, a senior U.S. official told Axios.

Why it matters: The U.S. official said Vance made the decision because he didn't want his trip to suggest the Trump administration endorsed the Israeli decision to launch a massive operation at a time when the U.S. is pushing for a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Between the lines: This isn't about publicly pressuring Israel. Vance officially cited "logistical" reasons for passing on the visit.

• But his decision sheds light on how the U.S. feels about the current Israeli policy in Gaza.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to sign any agreement that would end the war, and has show little flexibility in negotiations despite the urgent efforts of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to make a deal and stave off the Israeli operation.

Driving the news: On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces began mobilizing troops for operation "Gideon's Chariots," which calls for Israel to displace all 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to a "humanitarian zone" and flatten most of the enclave.

• On Sunday, the IDF announced the ground operation was underway in multiple areas of the Gaza Strip.

Behind the scenes: On Saturday, the Trump administration informed the Israeli government that Vance was considering stopping in Israel after attending the pope's inauguration, Israeli officials say.

• Additional discussions took place on Sunday between U.S. and Israeli officials to prepare for Vance's visit. Reports soon popped up in the Israeli press that Vance might arrive on Tuesday.
• Several hours later, a White House official denied the reports in a statement to reporters traveling with the VP. "While the Secret Service has engaged in contingency planning for the addition of several potential countries, no additional visits were at any point decided upon, and logistical constraints have precluded an extension of his travel beyond Rome. He will return to Washington on Monday."
• The VP's office declined to comment for this story beyond that statement.

The intrigue: A U.S. official with knowledge of what actually happened during those several hours told Axios logistics weren't the issue.

• While Vance was deliberating, concerns were raised that a trip to Israel at this time would be perceived by Israel and countries in the region as validation for Israel's expanded operation.
• At that point, Vance decided not to go.

State of play: The Trump administration is trying to cut a deal to halt the operation, release more hostages, and allow aid in to prevent starvation and a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.

• Under pressure from the Trump administration and European allies, the Israeli Security Cabinet decided Sunday to immediately resume the transfer of aid to Gaza through existing channels until a new humanitarian mechanism is operational.
• Witkoff gave Israel and Hamas an updated proposal last week for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and is pressing the parties to accept it, Axios reported on Sunday.

After targeting dyes and other chemicals allowed for use in food, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is zeroing in on the active ingredient in Roundup in his bid to root out what he calls environmental toxins that contribute to chronic disease.

Why it matters: The herbicide glyphosate is expected to feature prominently in a report due out this week from President Trump's Make America Healthy Again Commission, which was charged with identifying top contributors to America's chronic health problems.

• But some warn that clamping down on pesticides could cause major disruption of the food supply, with repercussions for agriculture interests and consumers.

In a speech last week, White House senior health adviser Calley Means previewed the report's findings, pointing to chemical pesticides as contributors to Americans' poor health.

• "Obviously it's because of environmental toxins. We produce and ingest 25% of the world's pesticides," Means said at an event in D.C. launching the MAHA institute. "The leading herbicides and pesticides that we use in the United States — many of them are phased out or banned in every other country in the world."

The big picture: While some environmentalists and wellness influencers have long decried the to use of herbicides and pesticides, glyphosate is the most widely used weedkiller worldwide and the key ingredient in Bayer's Roundup.

• Bayer has said its product has been widely tested and found safe and essential.
• "We support the application of sound science to address the complex causes of chronic disease and food insecurity in America," a Bayer spokesperson told Axios. "We look forward to exploring how we can support the administration's initiatives."

Yes, but: Some researchers who've tested animals or made observational studies have found connections between chemicals such as glyphosate and chronic inflammation, cancer, neurodegenerative disease and autism.

• "All we are doing as scientists here is just trying to show the use is going up substantially every year," said Ramon Velazquez, a researcher at Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center.
• "Are there possible detrimental outcomes? ... Unfortunately, what we're finding with our research and support with others is that the answer is yes."

Friction point: But some White House official have raised concerns about what removing glyphosate would do to the food supply. Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture dispute Kennedy's belief that weedkillers are harmful to health, the Wall Street Journal reported.

• The chemical atrazine, which is banned in Europe, is also expected to be highlighted in the forthcoming commission report as a contributor to poor health, the WSJ reported. Glyphosate is allowed in Europe, though it's controversial because of alleged health and environmental effects.

Kennedy and his supporters regularly point to "environmental toxins" as the underpinnings of disease.

• "It's a carcinogen, an endocrine disruptor, it causes kidney and liver damage. ... It can contribute to reproductive harm, which is a crisis in America today," Zen Honeycutt, founder and executive director of Moms Across America, who's aligned with Kennedy's agenda, told Axios.

Some environmental groups say it's impossible to split the difference and that getting results likely requires strict new regulations.

• Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, which tracks use of glyphosate, pointed to Kennedy's recent effort to remove petroleum-based food dyes that she said amounted to little more than an "understanding" with industry, a point food companies later disputed.
• "It is hard for me to imagine how you can successfully get something like ... glyphosate, that is as widely used as it is, restricted or off the market or narrowing the uses without taking some kind of regulatory action, in this case, a regulatory action that would fall outside of the jurisdiction of the HHS secretary," she said.

Yes, but: Facing ongoing legal challenges, Bayer has warned farmers and retailers it may actually take the product of the market, WSJ reported.

• There are some alternatives that have been suggested to replace glyphosate, including more natural forms of farming, as well as a future where AI-enabled robotic weeders replace chemicals.

Reality check: Means has been working to harmonize Kennedy's goals with MAGA priorities.

• "This report coming out on the 22nd is a scientific assessment. It's a statement of what's happening. It's a statement of these unimpeachable facts," Means said. "Then we get to policy. When it comes to things like regulatory action on pesticides, we don't want a European nanny state system."
• Kip Tom, vice chair for rural policy at the America First Policy Institute, called it a "false choice" between protecting human health and supporting farmers.
• "We remain hopeful that science, innovation, and open dialogue will guide us toward policies that both strengthen American agriculture and reduce the burden of diet-related chronic disease," he told Axios in an emailed statement.

What's next: While there's been a big focus on agricultural chemicals and food safety, there's less consensus around other factors that Kennedy and Means say are poisoning Americans, including seed oils and refined sugars in processed foods, childhood vaccines and a rise in the use of psychiatric medications in teens.

• Leading medical organizations do not support many of those claims.

The Trump administration conceded this weekend what economists, CEOs and consumers already knew: Americans pay for tariffs.

Why it matters: Nearly a decade of Trump trade arguments held that foreign countries, not Americans, paid the ultimate cost of a trade war.

• But the president and his economic team now acknowledge that tariffs are raising prices for everyone, from industrial ports to retail storefronts.

The big picture: Trump's sweeping global tariffs, effectively the highest in nearly a century, are expected to cost the average household more than $2,300 a year, according to the Yale Budget Lab.

• Even companies that once promised to hold the line on those costs, like Walmart, now say they have no choice but to pass them along.
• Inflation may be benign for now, but experts are increasingly convinced that higher prices are only a matter of time.

Catch up quick: After Walmart said this week it would raise prices, a furious Trump insisted on Truth Social that the company "eat the tariffs" — a concession, of sorts, that someone this side of the border had to pay something, somehow.

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent then went on the Sunday TV shows and said that while Walmart would eat some of the tariffs, consumers would have to pay, too.

The intrigue: It was only May 11 that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick insisted people had to drop the "silly arguments" that consumers would pay the costs of trade levies.

• Four days later, the country's largest retailer said that's exactly what they'd have to do.

For the record: "The Administration has consistently maintained that the United States, the world's best and biggest market economy, has the leverage to make our trading partners ultimately bear the cost of tariffs," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.

• "The data backs us up: we've now had three months of below-expectation inflation reports after enacting tariffs, especially on China. Low inflation, robust jobs reports, and trillions in historic investment commitments prove that President Trump's agenda of tariffs, rapid deregulation, tax cuts, and domestic energy production is laying the groundwork to restore American Greatness."

Between the lines: Bessent said Sunday that while consumer prices may rise due to tariffs, people will see even bigger benefits from the falling price of gasoline.

• He argued it was effectively a tax cut for consumers, and would help keep inflation in line.

Reality check: With the average American vehicle using a little under 500 gallons of gas a year, and gas prices per gallon being a little over 40 cents cheaper today than a year ago, the average driver is looking at an annual savings of around $200 per car.

• That's a fraction of what Yale and other budget experts estimate tariffs will cost households.

What to watch: Multiple tariff clocks are ticking — a pause on sweeping reciprocal tariffs ends in early July, and a mutual lowering of duties with China ends in early August, unless deals can be struck between now and then.

• But even if deals are struck later this year, it may be too late to avoid at least some short-term price pain.
• "If Walmart is raising prices, it certainly means that other retailers are going to be raising prices as well," Gabelli Funds analyst Justin McAuliffe wrote last week.

The House Budget Committee approved President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" Sunday after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) convinced a cadre of Republican opponents to drop their opposition pending changes that have not yet been publicly disclosed and may still be in flux.

Why it matters: It's a big win for Johnson and Trump, two days after GOP opposition torpedoed their first attempt at committee passage. But they'll still need to pass it through House Rules and on the House floor, where Republicans have a razor-thin majority.

• The vote was 17-16, with four Republicans voting "present" and all Democrats in opposition.
• GOP Reps. Chip Roy (Texas), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Andrew Clyde (Ga.) and Josh Brecheen (Okla.) voted present after voting "no" on Friday.
• Norman said he was "excited about the changes" in the works for the bill.

Catch up quick: The panel on Friday rejected the bill in a 16-21 vote, touching off a weekend of furious negotiations with GOP holdouts on the committee.

• Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said during Sunday night's session that "most likely there would be some changes" to the measure before it comes to the floor.
• But Arrington said he couldn't comment on specifics or any side deals that might have been struck.
• Johnson told reporters at the Capitol earlier Sunday night that there had been "minor modifications" to the measure, according to multiple reports on X.

Zoom in: One of the stickiest sticking points has been the GOP's massive Medicaid overhaul, with conservatives and moderates pulling in opposite directions on proposed changes.

• Even if they get the package through, Senate Republicans will be waiting with their own fixes, Axios Pro's Peter Sullivan and Victoria Knight report.
• Johnson also has been trying to close a deal with blue state Republicans for a SALT compromise.
• Trump urged Republicans on Friday to support the measure, posting to his Truth Social account: "We don't need 'GRANDSTANDERS' in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!"

Editor's note: The caption on this story was corrected to reflect House Speaker Mike Johnson is a Republican, not a Democrat.

Former President Biden's cancer diagnosis prompted an outpouring of support from across the political spectrum on Sunday, including from President Trump and former Vice President Harris.

The big picture: After Biden's representatives announced he was diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer on Friday, both Democrats and Republicans took to social media to pay tribute.

What they're saying:

Trump said on Truth Social, "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."

Former President Obama said in Facebook tribute to his vice president that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were thinking of the entire Biden family.

• "Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe," Obama said of Biden, who spearheaded the Cancer Moonshot initiative following the death of his son from brain cancer —an effort to cut cancer death rates and improve the experiences of people affected by cancer that he stepped up when he was president.
• "I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace," Obama added. "We pray for a fast and full recovery."

Harris wrote on Bluesky that she and her husband, former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, were saddened to learn of Biden's diagnoses.

• The 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate said they're keeping him, former first lady Jill Biden and their family "in our hearts and prayers," adding: "Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X he's praying for the former president "and the entire Biden family."

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) noted in a video posted to X that as someone who's worked as a urologist, taking care of patients with prostate cancer for three decades, he can say that with "many medical interventions" life expectancy can be extended by several years."

• Murphy's hope is that Biden "will have good, good treatment awaiting him, and that his cancer responds well to the diagnosis."

House Speaker Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) wrote on X, "This is certainly sad news, and the Johnson family will be joining the countless others who are praying for the former President in the wake of his diagnosis."

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Bluesky he's praying for his "friend" Biden and "will be keeping Joe, the entire Biden family, and the medical professionals treating him in our thoughts during this time," adding: "Continue to keep the faith, Joe."

Former Obama Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Facebook, "I'm thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they've done so much to try to spare other families from. Wishing you a speedy, full recovery."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said on X that as a cancer survivor, she knows how difficult this news can be and wished him a full and speedy recovery.

• "I send my love and support to President Biden and his family. He's a ferocious fighter, and I know he'll handle this battle with strength and dignity," she said.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X that she's "sorry to see this news," adding: "Cancer is truly awful. My Dad passed away in 2021 with cancer. Prays for Joe Biden and his family."

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said on X he's praying for Biden "to defeat the cancer he's recently been diagnosed with," adding: "He and Jill have always been fighters and I am confident they will meet this challenge with grit and grace."

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) expressed her sadness on X at Biden's cancer diagnosis and said she's "wishing him and his family well as he begins treatment."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrote on X, "Our hearts are with President Biden and his entire family right now. A man of dignity, strength, and compassion like his deserves to live a long and beautiful life. Sending strength, healing and prayers his way."

Flashback: Lesion removed from Biden's chest was cancerous, doctor says

Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Former President Biden was diagnosed on Friday with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his personal office.

The big picture: He was evaluated earlier this month after doctors found a "small nodule" in his prostate during a routine physical exam.

Driving the news: "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms," according to the statement.

• "On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone," the statement read.
• Some types of cancer, like prostate and breast cancer, are particularly likely to spread to the bones, according to Mayo Clinic. Bone metastasis can cause pain and broken bones.

The cancer appears to be "hormone-sensitive," the statement read, "which allows for effective management."

• Biden and his family "are reviewing treatment options with his physicians," the statement continued.

Context: Gleason scores are a grading system used for prostate cancer, according to Cleveland Clinic.

• They range from six, which is considered low-grade cancer, to 10, which is high-grade.
• Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men, according to the American Cancer Society, and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer.

Flashback: In 2023, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest, but it did not require further treatment.

More from Axios:

• Trump, lawmakers wish Biden well after cancer diagnoses
• Key facts about prostate cancer following Biden's diagnosis

The Israeli Security Cabinet decided on Sunday to immediately resume the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza through existing channels until a new humanitarian aid mechanism starts working, according to two senior Israeli officials.

Why it matters: After the Gaza ceasefire's collapse in early March, Israel halted humanitarian aid into Gaza, resulting in a significant deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

• President Trump said several times over the past week that Palestinian civilians in Gaza are starving.

Driving the news: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which developed the new aid mechanism, announced a few days ago that Israel had agreed to renew the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza using the existing mechanisms until the new arrangements are in place.

• Resuming aid delivery was the key condition of the GHF — established with backing from the U.S. and Israel — for the launch of a new aid delivery mechanism in Gaza, which Israel says will allow aid to be delivered without being controlled by Hamas.
• Senior Israeli officials denied last week that there is a plan to resume aid, asserting that aid would not be allowed into Gaza via the existing mechanisms, but only through the new mechanism.
• However, in recent days, international pressure increased, particularly from the Trump administration and many European countries, demanding that Israel immediately resume humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Behind the scenes: During the Cabinet meeting, representatives from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the IDF said that the food supplies from the United Nations and other aid organizations had been depleted, and therefore there was an urgent need to immediately bring in humanitarian aid, according to an Israeli official.

• The IDF and COGAT's recommendation contradicted statements made just the day before by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who claimed there was no immediate need to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
• A senior Israeli official said that Cabinet ministers were informed that the new aid mechanism for Gaza — operated through GHF and American private contractors — would begin functioning at the earliest on May 24, and therefore, a bridging period was necessary.
• The official added that the Cabinet decided the aid to be transferred would include food, such as flour for bakeries operated by international organizations or by the UAE, as well as medicine for hospitals in the enclave.

The aid will be delivered via the UN World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, and other aid organizations. The senior official emphasized that the aid will be monitored by the international organizations.

• Although the Cabinet did not hold a vote on the decision, it was effectively approved. Far-right Ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich voiced opposition to the renewal of humanitarian aid during the meeting.

What they are saying: The Israeli Prime Minister's office said in a statement that the decision was based on the IDF's recommendation, "and due to the operational need to enable the expansion of the high-intensity fighting to defeat Hamas."

• "Israel will allow the entry of a basic amount of food for the population in order to prevent the development of a famine crisis in the Gaza Strip," the statement said.
• The statement added that a humanitarian crisis would endanger Israel's 'Gideon's Chariots' operation and prevent them from defeating Hamas.
• "Israel will act to deny Hamas the ability to take control of the distribution of humanitarian aid, in order to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas terrorists," the Prime Minister's office said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information throughout.

Pope Leo XIV presided over his inaugural mass on Sunday before a crowd of some 200,000 people.

The big picture: Leo — with world leaders, religious delegations and faithful alike watching — evoked some messages reminiscent of his predecessor Pope Francis and called for love and unity.

• In the crowd were Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The papacy of Leo, who has defended migrant rights, comes amid the backdrop of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which has been condemned by some religious leaders.
• Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff who spent much of his career in Peru, is seen as uniquely positioned to ease divisions between white and Latino Catholics in the U.S., Axios' Russell Contreras reports.

The intrigue: After the mass, Leo — who has called for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine — met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

As he closed his homily, he emphasized, "brothers and sisters, this is the hour for love," according to the New York Times.

• He also called for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and Myanmar.

Go deeper: Why the conclave elected Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV

White House envoy Steve Witkoff has given Israel and Hamas an updated proposal for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and is pressing the parties to accept it, an Israeli official and a source with direct knowledge told Axios.

Why it matters: The Trump administration is trying to stave off a massive Israeli operation in Gaza, release more hostages, and allow aid in to prevent starvation and a humanitarian catastrophe.

• The Israeli military said on Sunday that ground forces began operating in multiple areas in the northern and southern Gaza Strip as part of an operation called "Gideon's Chariots."
• IDF officials said five infantry and armored divisions are participating in the operation, which includes reoccupying the entire Gaza Strip and flattening it.

Behind the scenes: While Israel and Hamas both have negotiation teams in Doha, the real talks about Witkoff's proposal are occurring through other channels at the moment, the sources said.

• The White House envoy has been talking directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his confidant Ron Dermer, as well as with Hamas leadership in Doha through a backchannel facilitated by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah.
• This backchannel was crucial in securing the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander last week.

Witkoff's updated offer is similar to previous ones and includes the release of 10 hostages in return for 45-60 days of ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to an Israeli official and a source with direct knowledge of the proposal.

• But it differs from previous proposals with new language that makes clear the new ceasefire and hostage deal will be the beginning of a broader move that could end the war.
• The new language is aimed at giving guarantees to Hamas that Netanyahu won't be able to unilaterally decide the ceasefire is over and resume the war, as he did in March.

What they're saying: "The new offer tries to give Hamas confidence that it's worth moving forward with a partial deal now, because it could lead to the end of the war later on," a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.

• The sources said Netanyahu has given a positive response, but with many conditions and reservations. Hamas still hasn't given a positive answer, and sources said the group wants to get a clear guarantee that a temporary ceasefire could lead to a permanent one.
• "The talks in Doha in recent days are a facade. This is not where the real negotiations are taking place at the moment. If Hamas and Israel agree to the principles of the Witkoff proposal, the negotiations will move to Doha to discuss the details," an Israeli official said.

Between the lines: Hamas officials were disappointed that Alexander's release hasn't led to a more favorable U.S. position towards them, a source with knowledge of the issue said.

• The Israeli strike that targeted Mohammed Sinwar, the leader of Hamas' military wing, created even more frustration inside Hamas' leadership regarding negotiations with the Trump administration.
• Sinwar is believed to have been killed, along with several other Hamas senior commanders, Israeli officials say.

State of play: The Trump administration is also pressing the Israeli government to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza immediately, sources say.

• Witkoff told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that Trump is concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
• "The Israelis have indicated that they're going to begin to allow a lot more of these trucks to get in," Witkoff said, before adding that the situation is "logistically complicated. And the conditions on the ground are dangerous."
• But, Witkoff continued: "We do not want to see a humanitarian crisis, and we will not allow it to occur on President Trump's watch."

Some Democrats on Sunday expressed a collective responsibility for the party's 2024 election loss amid concerns about former President Biden's mental fitness.

The big picture: Audio obtained by Axios from Biden's October 2023 interviews with special counsel Robert Hur, coupled with new reports that suggested lapses in the former president's memory, have become fodder as Democrats chart their course forward.

• Hur asserted last year that a jury would likely perceive Biden as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," a characterization the then-president's legal counsel described as using "highly prejudicial language."
• Today, many Democrats agree Biden should not have pursued a second term.

Driving the news: "I think we all bear responsibility," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday.

• He added, "In retrospect, you can't defend what the Democratic Party did because we are stuck with a madman, with a corrupt president in the Oval Office, and we should have given ourselves a better chance to win."
• Murphy reflected on his time working with the president throughout 2022 on bipartisan gun reform legislation and in 2023 on Middle East developments. At the time, he said, he saw "a president who was in control."
• But by 2024, Murphy said, the "American public had made up their mind ... that they wanted the Democratic Party to nominate somebody new, and it was absolutely a mistake for the party to not listen to those voters."

Zoom out: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) struck a similar tone in a Sunday interview on ABC News' "This Week," saying, "The Democratic Party needs to be honest."

• Khanna continued, "In light of what has come out, it is painfully obvious President Biden should not have run." He said his party "played too much deference to party leaders, to the old guard, to the advisers" and needed to be "more independent."
• But the California Democrat also emphasized that Biden has led a "remarkable life" and still has "a lot to be proud of in his record," citing the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act and the nation's COVID-19 recovery.
• However, he added, "That doesn't mean, though, that he made the right decision to seek a second term."

Yes, but: Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who was seen as a critical Biden ally during the 2020 campaign, said on CNN's "State of the Union" that he "never saw anything" that made him think "that Joe Biden was not able to do the job."

• He did say that Biden's panic-inducing performance in last year's debate against Trump made him concerned, but he also pointed to Biden's "taxing" schedule and preparation ahead of the showdown.

Flashback: Biden dropped out of the 2024 race in July, handing the baton to then-Vice President Kamala Harris for a sprint to November. That decision, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Sunday, was "very difficult."

• "It's hard to convince somebody to give up their car keys," Kaine said on "Fox News Sunday." "Joe Biden made the decision to give up the office of the presidency, the most powerful office in the world."
• But he contended his constituents are asking him about "economic chaos," President Trump's tariffs and protecting Medicaid — not to "rethink" what Biden did in 2024.

The bottom line: As Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said on CBS News' "Face the Nation," "hindsight is 20/20."

Go deeper: Scoop: Democrats' oldest lawmakers are mostly running again

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said in a Sunday interview that the pending transfer of a Qatari luxury jet "detracts from" what he saw as President Trump's "largely successful" Middle East trip and "gives the appearance of a conflict of interest."

Why it matters: Paul, who has already cautioned against the possible gift to Trump, is one of a group of Republicans who have raised legal, ethical and national security concerns over the prospect of the administration accepting a jet worth roughly $400 million to potentially serve as Air Force One.

• Trump has contended it would be "stupid" not to accept the jet. He characterized the situation as the Department of Defense "getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE."
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has emphasized that gifts from foreign governments are "always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws."

Driving the news: Paul said on ABC's "This Week" that there is "probably a perfectly legal way" the plane could be accepted, but added that he thinks the discussion has "raised more questions than I think it's worth."

• Paul, who said he has in the past pushed to block arms sales to Qatar and Saudi Arabia over alleged human rights abuses, contended, "Could it color the perception of the administration if they have a $400 million plane to be more in favor of these things? Perhaps."
• Paul continued, "It at least gives the appearance of a conflict of interest. I don't think it's worth the headache."

Yes, but: White House envoy Steve Witkoff said on "This Week" the transaction is "perfectly legal," pointing to White House and DOJ assessments.

• "It is a perfectly legal government-to-government, Department of Defense to Department of Defense transaction," he said.
• "They decided to donate something because of all the wonderful things that we've done for them in the past."

Context: Beyond constitutional questions, scholars told Axios, the gift poses possible ethical dilemmas.

• The Trump family company's business interests in the region — including the development of a Trump-named golf club in Qatar — were scrutinized while the president toured the Gulf last week.

The bottom line: The jet, if accepted, would smash presidential gift records.

Go deeper: Scoop: Dem seeks probe into reports Qatar plans to gift plane to Trump

Some consumer prices will likely rise due to tariffs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged on Sunday, even after the White House publicly warned retailers against it.

Why it matters: A week after the president's economic team insisted tariffs would not increase consumer prices, there's a different message: They will, but inflation's in check and other costs are coming down.

The big picture: Consumers' expectations for inflation are through the roof, and retailers are starting to make clear there's nothing they can do to hold prices down in the face of historic tariff rates.

• As public opinion of President Trump's economic performance sinks, his team is trying to balance what consumers see at stores with what officials argue are offsetting benefits, like lower gas and grocery prices.
• They are also fighting the same "vibes" problem the Biden administration had — inflation's getting better, but everyone's feeling worse about it.

Driving the news: Earlier this week, Walmart, the country's largest retailer, said it could no longer hold the line and would have to raise prices on some products in the coming weeks.

• On Saturday, Trump warned Walmart against it, demanding in a Truth Social post that the company "eat the tariffs."
• That followed a furious reaction from the White House in late April, after a report Amazon might show customers the impact of tariffs on some prices (which the company later denied).

What they're saying: Bessent, in Sunday show interviews, acknowledged what was coming.

• "Walmart will be absorbing some of the tariffs, some may get passed on to consumers," he told CNN's "State of the Union."

Yes, but: Bessent said he spoke to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon on Saturday and came away with the view that the company's customers were benefitting economically, more than anything else, as a result of lower gas prices.

• "So, overall, I would expect inflation to remain in line," he said.
• He later described the falling gas prices to NBC's "Meet the Press" as "a direct tax cut for consumers."
• The national average retail price for regular grades of gasoline is about 12% lower today than it was a year ago, per AAA.

The intrigue: Republicans are starting to speak out more forcefully about the impact of tariffs.

• Sen. John Curtis (R-Ut.) told CNN he was concerned about the impact of tariffs on small businesses in particular.
• Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday "there will be higher prices" as a result of tariffs, and he criticized the argument that trade deficits were in and of themselves problematic.

What to watch: Walmart said prices should start to rise in the next couple of weeks — and other retailers may follow soon behind them.

Avery Lotz contributed.

The U.S. may impose some tariffs by region rather than on individual countries, as time runs out to negotiate a laundry list of trade deals globally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday.

Why it matters: The administration is quickly curtailing its 90-deals-in-90-days ambition, acknowledging the practical realities of trying to negotiate complex trade agreements with dozens of countries simultaneously.

Catch up quick: Earlier this week, President Trump told Middle Eastern business leaders that Bessent and Commerce Secretary Scott Lutnick would start to unilaterally advise some countries of their tariff rates in the next two to three weeks.

• "But it's not possible to meet the number of people that want to see us," Trump said.

What they're saying: Bessent, in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, said the U.S. was focused primarily on making deals with a short list of key partners.

• "My other sense is that we will do a lot of regional deals — this is the rate for Central America, this is the rate for this part of Africa — but what we are focused on for right now is the 18 important trading relationships," Bessent said.

Flashback: On April 2, Trump unveiled a sweeping 10% global baseline tariff, plus higher reciprocal tariffs on dozens of other countries.

• On April 9, he set a 90-day pause for those higher tariffs, while leaving the baseline in place.
• So far during that pause, the U.S. has announced a trade deal with the U.K. and a temporary agreement with China to lower tariffs.

Between the lines: Bessent told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that countries that don't negotiate with the U.S. in good faith will see their tariffs go back to whatever Trump announced last month.

• "And the negotiating leverage that President Trump is talking about here is if you don't want to negotiate, then it will spring back to the April 2nd level," Bessent said.

The bottom line: Almost halfway into the president's tariff pause, the administration is taking a more pragmatic view of trade talks, potentially reducing uncertainty for markets about what comes next.

More than ever before, adults are looking online for help with the day-to-day life skills that once might have been taught in home ec classes or handed down from elders.

Why it matters: When we need help, we're not asking mom or dad. We're increasingly asking Google.

The latest: Searches for things like "how to clean bathroom vent," "how to use a mop" or "how to do oil change" have reached an all-time high on Google this year, according to the search engine's data.

The big picture: It's not just Google teaching us how to care for our cars and homes.

• By 2018, more than half of U.S. YouTube users were already saying they used the platform for "figuring out how to do things they haven't done before," according to Pew Research data.
• Or, as one Reddit user said, we're turning to "The University of YouTube."
• Cleaning trends remain one of the most popular content categories on TikTok.
• And AI chatbots like ChatGPT can help explain just about anything.

Zoom in: Surveys have shown we often don't know know to maintain our homes or our cars.

• One potential reason: practical skills training in schools — classes that teach students things like sewing or managing finances — has decreased in the U.S.
• Less than a third of American high schoolers take a class like that, according to the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences.

State of play: "Sometimes we take for granted that kids know how to wash dishes," educator Susan Turgeson told NPR in 2018.

• "I never thought I was going to have to explain, step by step, how to put the drain plug in, the amount of soap to be used."

Yes, but: There are still places for adults to learn the business of adulting IRL.

• Local libraries and universities often have classes for practical life skills. So, too, do clubs, like the Repair Café.

Zoom in: The San Francisco-based Dykes with Drills teaches building workshops in New Orleans, Chicago and, soon, Little Rock, Ark.

• "A lot of people come to our workshops because they're looking to get those skills," says Dykes with Drills executive director Carrie Rasor. "They want to be able to do work on their own houses but have no experience using tools … and tools can be really intimidating."

Plus, Rasor says, there's a lot that can get lost when you try to learn everything online.

• "Until you see somebody in person doing it, it's more difficult to really understand the ins and outs with complex tools," she says. "There's definitely a benefit to having that social connection and interaction and support from others who are learning the same thing."

A Mexican Navy ship struck New York's Brooklyn Bridge Saturday, killing two crew members and injuring others.

The big picture: Of the 277 on board the Cuauhtémoc, 19 were injured, said Mayor Eric Adams in a social media post shared shortly after midnight Sunday.

• Two people, as of Adams' post, remained in critical condition and two others had died.

Driving the news: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a Sunday statement that the two deceased were crew members on the Cuauhtémoc, which was on a goodwill tour heading to Iceland, according to officials.

• The iconic bridge sustained no damage when the ship lost power and slammed into it, Adams said.

What they're saying: NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles said the ship had recently departed a Manhattan pier and was supposed to be heading out to sea when it drifted toward the bridge.

• He later pointed to "some mechanical issues" that likely preceded the crash, but officials emphasized that the information was preliminary.
• The New York City Fire Department was alerted that the crash had occurred around 8:20pm ET Saturday, the department said in a statement.

The masts, where a "couple of sailors" were positioned, struck the bridge, Wilson said at a press briefing. Those sailors were injured.

• The Mexican Navy said in a statement shared on X that the crash will prevent the training ship's cruise for the time being.
• The steel-hulled three-masted barque is nearly 300 feet long with almost 160-foot-tall masts.

No one on the bridge, which is now open, was reported injured, according to the Associated Press.

Catch up quick: Eyewitness video shared by ABC News showed the moment the ship, apparently moving backward, struck the bridge and continued to float down the East River.

• Video of the moment captured traffic on the bridge as the masts snapped against it.
• Go deeper: Misinformation runs rampant after Baltimore bridge collapse

The enduring legacy of President Trump's trip to the Gulf may be the transformation of the Middle East into a global artificial intelligence powerhouse, despite massive risks to the U.S.

Why it matters: The Biden administration saw the Gulf as a backdoor for China to gain access to the computing power needed to advance AI. President Trump and the tech CEOs who joined him in the Middle East see a chance for multibillion-dollar deals.

Driving the news: In deal after deal announced over the week, Trump opened the door for the Gulf to obtain the world's most advanced AI chips.

• In Saudi Arabia, Trump and tech leaders from AMD, Amazon and other companies announced AI-related partnerships worth billions of dollars with a new Saudi-state-backed AI infrastructure startup called Humain. Nvidia said it will ship 18,000 of its cutting-edge AI chips for a 500-megawatt data center being built by Humain.
• In the UAE, Trump and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed said the two countries will partner to build the largest AI data center outside the U.S., in Abu Dhabi.

What they're saying: Trump's AI czar, David Sacks, called the deals a "game-changer in the global AI race" that will "help to cement American technology as the global standard — before our competitors can catch up."

• "The alternative to this framework was to exclude critical geo-strategic, resource-rich friends and allies from our AI ecosystem. This was the Biden policy, and it was foolish in the extreme," Sacks added.
• The White House says last week's announcement by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE are part of a "Trump Effect" bringing the U.S. "a surge of private and foreign investment."

The big picture: The UAE and Saudi Arabia have leaders desperate to make their kingdoms high-tech powers, and deep pockets and abundant energy needed to develop AI. Now, with Trump's help, they'll also have the chips.

• Some experts working on AI heard Trump's pronouncements and envisioned the world's biggest AI data centers sprouting not in the U.S., but in the Gulf.
• Perhaps more pressingly, current and former U.S. officials worry China's biggest AI players — or even its military — will be able to access advanced AI chips they can't legally import into China by deepening partnerships in Gulf states, where Beijing enjoys extensive economic and security ties.

The other side: A group of Democratic lawmakers argued on Friday that Trump announced the deals "to export very large volumes of advanced AI chips to the UAE and Saudi Arabia without credible security assurances to prevent U.S. adversaries from accessing those chips."

• "These deals pose a significant threat to U.S. national security and fundamentally undermine bipartisan efforts to ensure the United States remains the global leader in AI. Rather than putting America first, this deal puts the Gulf first," the statement adds.
• The bipartisan House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party introduced new legislation "to stop advanced U.S. AI chips from falling into the hands of adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party."

The flipside: The White House insists it can safeguard U.S. tech while pursuing these multibillion-dollar deals.

• In announcing the U.S.-UAE partnership, the Department of Commerce — which will have to approve some of the deals — said the tech cooperation will meet "robust U.S. security standards and other efforts to responsibly deploy AI infrastructure, both in the UAE and globally."
• The administration is also working on a policy to replace the Biden-era chip export caps it withdrew ahead of Trump's trip.

Between the lines: Some policymakers and firms like Nvidia and Microsoft have argued overly arduous restrictions risk ceding the field to China, undercutting U.S. AI preeminence rather than bolstering it.

• Under Biden, those business considerations were often trumped by security concerns. The White House asserts the U.S.-UAE AI agreement ensures "U.S. security interests and dominance in AI while extending the American tech stack to an important strategic partner."

President Trump is playing an unusually active role in New York politics — getting involved in local campaigns, commandeering municipal projects and putting a thumb on the scale for both Republicans and Democrats.

Why it matters: Trump is no longer a New York resident, but the city where he built his empire still has a hold on him.

• And the administration isn't afraid to get heavy-handed with the president's former hometown.

Trump's Justice Department dropped corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, over the objections of staunchly conservative career prosecutors.

• Trump repeatedly cast himself and Adams as kindred spirits, largely because they had both been investigated.

His administration is trying hard to kill New York City's new congestion pricing policy, which charges drivers a toll to enter part of Manhattan and uses the revenue to fund public transit.

• The Transportation Department gave New York an ultimatum to scrap congestion pricing last month, and sued when the state didn't comply. Trump has personally attacked the program multiple times — and in some cases has used the opportunity to air other grievances about New York transit.
• "They should get rid of the bike lanes and the sidewalks in the middle of the street," Trump told The New York Post in an interview about congestion pricing. "They're so bad. They're dangerous. These [electric] bikes go at 20 miles an hour. They're whacking people."

The New York Post clearly still has a special place in Trump's media diet.

• He frequently shares its stories on Truth Social, and said last week that the paper's editor in chief should take over The Wall Street Journal.

Trump's Transportation Department recently took over responsibility for a $7 billion renovation of New York's Penn Station — a move Gov. Kathy Hochul praised.

• ""President Trump has made it clear: the days of reckless spending and blank checks are over," Transportation Secretaty Sean Duffy said in a statement announcing that the feds would take over the project from the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Trump is now trying to clear the field so that Rep. Elise Stefanik can run for New York governor without a competitive Republican primary. As part of that effort, he recently took to Truth Social to endorse the county executive in Nassau County for another term — a much smaller race than presidents typically wade into.

• Trump also made an endorsement in a special election for Westchester County Executive, saying on Truth Social that Democrats would turn the wealthy New York suburbs into a safe haven for "criminal aliens."

Flashback: One of Trump's last rallies before the 2024 election was at Madison Square Garden — a noteworthy detour in the final stretch of a campaign, when candidates usually focus their energy on swing states.

• "When I left, New York was the place you wanted to be, and now people just don't speak well of it. But we're going to bring it back, and we're going to bring it back strong," he said.

The bottom line: "This is the city where I was born and raised, and this is the town that taught me that Americans can do anything when they want to," Trump said at the Madison Square Garden rally.

The Pentagon's forced ouster of transgender service members could impact thousands of people and devastate careers, military members and veterans say.

The big picture: While the Trump administration claims its restrictive policies will promote military "readiness," trans soldiers and veterans say the administration's ban is driven by animus rather than evidence — and will mark a substantial loss to the armed services.

Catch up quick: The Pentagon announced earlier this month it would begin removing some 1,000 openly transgender service members and give other active-duty service members 30 days and reservists 60 days to leave or be forced out.

• While there is no exact count of the number of transgender people serving, officials have said 4,240 service members have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
• The policy comes amid years of whiplash. But for nearly two decades, "don't ask, don't tell," which banned gay, lesbian and bisexual people from serving openly, was the military's policy.

What they're saying: Alaina Kupec, a former Naval intelligence officer, told Axios she thinks "this is a path toward don't ask, don't tell again — and it starts with the transgender community."

• "If we use the logic of the president and the secretary of defense, they can make a decision on who is best to serve based on what they think, not what's based on fact," she said.

Zoom out: Commander Emily Shilling, a naval aviator and the president of SPARTA Pride, came out as transgender in 2019, when she knew telling the Navy would mean leaving the service.

• That was until former President Biden's 2020 win offered hope. He reversed the ban from President Trump's first term and again accepted transgender people into the military.
• Shilling went through "every physical test ... every psychological test" to regain her flight clearance post-transition — setting precedent that it was possible.
• "I view myself as living proof that we are high performers capable of doing some of the toughest jobs in the military," Shilling said.

Yes, but: After about two decades of service, Shilling is doing her out-processing to depart the U.S. military.

• Shilling said she's being kicked out, despite her most recent evaluation describing her as an "inspiring leader" with "boundless energy."

Context: Shilling is the lead plaintiff in a challenge to the Pentagon's ban. While lower court judges blocked the policy, the Supreme Court cleared the road for the administration to enforce it as litigation continues.

• A Defense Department official told Axios that waivers will be considered "provided there is a compelling government interest in retaining the Service member that directly supports warfighting capabilities."

But, but, but: The criteria laid out by the DoD say the service member must demonstrate "36 consecutive months of stability" in their sex "without clinically significant distress" and that they "never attempted to transition to any sex other than their sex" to be exempt.

• "How is a trans person who's affected by this policy supposed to ever apply for a waiver?" Shilling asked.
• GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement provided to Axios that allowing the ban to take place is "out of step with the views of the American people, compromises military readiness, and will make America less safe."

Some three decades ago, Kupec faced a conundrum as she grappled with her gender identity. While she started to find clarity, the feeling was also crippling — and it meant departing from the service.

• Kupec said she "came to that breaking point where it was either choose to move forward and live or a darker alternative." She left the Navy and began her public transition several years later.

The bottom line: Trump's claim that being transgender is "not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member" is "complete gaslighting," Kupec said.

• "When we go into conflict, when bullets fly, when missiles are in the air, you want somebody who's there to do the job and to execute the mission — and that's what is first and foremost," she said.

Go deeper: All of the anti-trans executive orders Trump has signed

A British journalist whose BBC documentaries tackled the Nazi dictatorship's chaos has released a new book exploring the minds of those who carried out the Holocaust and how they defended their horrible actions decades later.

Why it matters: "The Nazi Mind: Twelve Warnings from History" released in the U.S. last week comes as antisemitism and new authoritarian regimes are rising around the world.

• It also comes around the 80th anniversary of Allied Forces defeating Nazi Germeny known as VE-Day and as Holocaust denial misinformation spreads online.

London-based author Laurence Rees tells Axios he wasn't interested in calling out any present world leader or current policy, but sought to examine why former Nazis did what they did and later insisted they were right.

• That's where we can draw the warnings, since it shows how lies, propaganda and prejudices can explain away accountability and crimes against humanity, Rees said.
• "Nobody ever said I had a gun to my head, and I just had to do it. It was orders. And the reason they didn't say it is because, actually, none of them ever did have a gun to their heads and had to do it for orders. It's a myth."

Zoom in: The book came from previously unreleased interviews Rees conducted with now dead former Nazis.

• He combines that testimony with new psychological insights around obedience, authority and the brain.
• He shows how the "us" vs "them" evolved into violent bigotry against former neighbors.
• Like his previous works, Rees seeks to debunk widespread misconceptions and get into the minds of former Nazis through their own words.

Context: Rees earned praise for his BBC documentaries and his previous books like "Auschwitz: A New History," sold at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum in Poland because of its sensitivity and reportage.

• He has collected testimonies for Nazi veterans and Holocaust survivors to show the complexities of how the Holocaust evolved overtime.
• Nazi veterans would talk about what the British were doing in India and what the United States did to Native Americans to call out the hypocracy of any criticism of Germany.

The intrigue: The book was released in the U.S. days before hip hop artist Ye released a song praising Adolf Hitler that is spreading online despite attempts to remove it.

• It also follows Elon Musk, the world's richest man, giving what scholars, journalists and rights groups said was a Hitlergruß, or Nazi salute.
• Last year, President Trump repeatedly said undocumented immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country," language echoing the rhetoric of white supremacists and Adolf Hitler.

Yes, but: Rees said he did not write the book to attack Trump because he didn't even know if he'd win the U.S. election.

• "It would be unbelievably presumptuous of me to say, 'Oh, well, here's how this applies in Caracas or in Seoul'," Rees said.
• "So the idea was to write it in such a way that the reader, whilst reading it, makes those links themselves, depending on where and when they are."

More from Axios:

• Auschwitz Museum pressed to speak out on current conflicts
• Auschwitz Museum prepares for 80th anniversary of liberation

President Trump said on Saturday that he is going to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on Monday to try and reach an agreement on a ceasefire.

Why it matters: Trump believes his personal involvement could break the logjam in the diplomatic efforts and has even said that no breakthrough can be achieved without a meeting between him and Putin.

• Trump is pushing hard for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and has threatened that he will impose sanctions on any party that obstructs a deal.
• While Putin has been opposing an unconditional ceasefire Trump hasn't moved forward with sanctions against Russia. On Friday, he said in an interview with Fox that he will use his leverage on Putin if he thinks it is needed.

What he's saying: In an all-caps post on Truth Social, Trump wrote he will speak to Putin on Monday at 10am ET and right after, with Zelensky and other leaders.

• "THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE 'BLOODBATH' THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE," he wrote.
• Trump stressed that he hopes this would lead to a ceasefire.

Driving the news: Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul on Friday to discuss a possible ceasefire in the war, the first such discussions since the early days of Moscow's invasion.

• The meeting came after months of diplomatic pressure by the Trump administration to open talks on ending the war. No ceasefire was agreed in the initial round of talks, but the sides did agree to swap 1,000 prisoners from each side.

State of play: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said.

• Bruce said Rubio delivered to Lavrov a "strong message" from President Trump and emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence.
• Rubio told Lavrov that "the comprehensive peace plan proposed by the U.S. outlines the best way forward," Bruce said.

The other side: "Lavrov noted the positive role of the U.S., which contributed to Kyiv ultimately accepting President Putin's proposal to resume the Istanbul negotiations. He confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue working together with American colleagues in this context," the Russian foreign ministry said.