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Today โ€” 13 January 2025Axios News

Jack Smith in Jan. 6 report says Trump would have been convicted if he hadn't won in November

13 January 2025 at 22:36

President-elect Trump allegedly spread "demonstrably and, in many cases, obviously false" claims about his 2020 election loss in an effort to overturn results, Special Counsel Jack Smith wrote in the final report of his investigation, published early Tuesday.

Why it matters: The Justice Department already closed its investigations in the face of Trump's electoral victory, and the report marks the end of a lengthy legal battle to hold Trump accountable for his purported role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the events leading up to it.


  • Despite being free of legal danger in the case, Trump waged a protracted legal battle to bar the release of the report.

Driving the news: "The department's view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a president is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the government's proof or the merits of the prosecution, which the office stands fully behind," Smith wrote in the report first shared with NBC News.

  • "Indeed, but for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial."

Catch up quick: Trump was indicted in 2023 and charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.

The Justice Department did not release portions of the report pertaining to Trump's handling of classified documents case because portions of the case against other defendants are ongoing.

Go deeper... READ: Jack Smith's final report on Trump's Jan. 6 case

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

American workers' job enthusiasm hits 10-year low

13 January 2025 at 21:01
Data: Gallup; Note: Employee engagement is defined as the involvement and enthusiasm employees feel toward their work and workplace; Chart: Axios Visuals

Employee engagement โ€” the involvement and enthusiasm employees feel toward their work and workplace โ€” is at a 10-year low, per a Gallup survey out Tuesday.

Why it matters: Workers had a rough 2024: Many felt stuck in jobs as hiring slowed, while others were forced back to the office full-time or felt a spun out by a lot of internal restructuring.


  • Research shows that "when organizations have people with clear roles, who have people who care about them, who feel connected to the mission or purpose of the company, where their opinions count, they tend to produce more," said Jim Harter, Gallup's chief scientist of workplace management.

Zoom in: Gallup measures engagement by surveying full-time and part-time workers across 12 measures โ€” including if they're satisfied with their workplace, know what's expected of them and feel like they have the opportunity to "do what I do best every day."

The measures that saw the biggest drops versus pre-pandemic survey data from March 2020:

  • Fewer employees said they clearly know what is expected of them at work, down 10 points from a high of 56%.
  • Only 39% of workers felt strongly that someone cares about them as a person at work, down from 47%.
  • Only 30% said that someone encourages their development, down from 36%.

Zoom out: The new data follows a separate report late last year, where Gallup identified a "Great Detachment," with more folks saying they're not satisfied at work and want a new job.

The big picture: Engagement had a good run, steadily rising after the 2008 recession as corporate management improved and leaders realized the importance of culture, said Harter.

  • But the pandemic changed everything, and engagement has been falling since 2020 as everyone adjusted to a rapid series of changes in the workplace, from the rise of remote work, to a wave of resignations and hiring, and then a subsequent slowdown.
  • "In the last two years or so, there's just been an overwhelming sort of lack of interest in things like employee engagement," said Massella Dukuly, head of workplace strategy at Charter, a future-of-work media and research company.
  • The attitude seems to be that workers don't have anywhere else to go in this job market, she said.

๐Ÿ’ญ Emily's thought bubble: It seems more than coincidental that workplaces became more focused on good management and culture at a time when interest rates were very low and they could afford such luxuries as making sure employees feel valued.

  • Perhaps high worker engagement was another ZIRP phenomenon.

Scoop: House Democrats' factions try to make nice ahead of Trump return

13 January 2025 at 19:24

House Democrats' two largest ideological factions are trying to tamp down their disagreements ahead of President-elect Trump's return to the White House, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: House Democrats see their number one task as taking on Trump and winning back control of Congress in 2026. Everything else, they say, can wait.


  • "Across the board, I think all of us in the Democratic Caucus want to focus on taking back the majority," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

What we're hearing: Members of both the Progressive Caucus and the center-left New Democrat Coalition โ€” which each contain roughly 100 of the 215 House Democrats, with some overlap โ€” confirmed the talks to Axios.

  • "Those conversations are starting," a Progressive Caucus member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios.
  • A New Dems member said the focus is on "finding common ground."

What they're saying: Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) told Axios there are "conversations being had about trying to make sure that we're unified and cordial and understanding of everybody."

  • After Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) was elected New Dems chair in November, Casar said, "he reached out to me ... about us finding areas of common ground and making sure that we maintain unity across the Dem caucus."
  • Schneider told Axios: "We actually had a meeting, and we both said this โ€” we should be talking to each other every day and the best way to avoid unintended circumstances is to communicate with each other."
  • "So as long as we're talking and not dropping surprises on the other, I think we'll have a good working relationship," Schneider added.

Zoom in: While Republicans' infighting has generally grabbed the headlines over the last two years, Democrats have grappled with their fair share of internal divisions.

  • The Oct. 7 attack and the resulting Israel-Hamas war, in particular, have put House Democrats at odds and resulted in public swiping.
  • The party's 2024 election loss has also resulted in a new round of finger-pointing over which ideological flank of the party was to blame.

Zoom in: Separate from these talks, members of both caucuses also described an informal consensus that is emerging around not endorsing primary challengers against incumbent House Democrats.

  • Said Jayapal: "We are trying to get to a [Democratic] caucus-wide agreement that we do not weigh in against incumbents and that we focus on open seats."
  • Schneider noted the two caucuses "both respected" that practice last cycle and said he "would expect that to continue."

The bottom line: "I think we're all united on ... one purposes, and that's 218 [House seats], the majority," said Schneider.

  • "We need to keep the eyes on that. I want to see Hakeem Jeffries as speaker. I want to see Democrats with gavels in their hands."

Scoop: Blinken to present post-war plan for Gaza on Tuesday

13 January 2025 at 19:16

Secretary of State Tony Blinken will lay out a plan for rebuilding and governing Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war on Tuesday, three U.S. officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: Blinken is down to his last week in Foggy Bottom, but he hopes his blueprint will become a reference point for any future day-after plan for Gaza, including for the incoming Trump administration.


Driving the news: Blinken will lay out his plan in a speech at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday morning amid efforts to conclude a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

  • President-elect Donald Trump told Newsmax on Monday night that Israel and Hamas are "very close" to a deal. "I understand that there has been a handshake and they are getting it finished โ€” maybe by the end of the week," he said. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is participating in the negotiations in Doha.
  • A plan for the post-Hamas governance structure in Gaza would be crucial for efforts to implement the second phase of the Gaza deal, which is designed to lead to a permanent ceasefire and the end of the war.

State of play: Blinken has presented his plan for Gaza's security, administration and reconstruction after a ceasefire agreement is in place to several U.S. allies.

  • "We are ready to hand that over to the Trump administration so it can work on it and run with it when the opportunity is there," he said at a press conference in Paris last week.

Behind the scenes: Blinken's plan has become a highly contentious issue inside the State Department and a source of fierce internal fighting.

  • Some State Department officials were concerned the plan would serve Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's interests and marginalize marginalize the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas.

Catch up-quick: Axios reported in October that Blinken was working on a post-war plan for Gaza based on ideas developed by Israel and the United Arab Emirates and wanted to present it after the presidential election.

  • Blinken appointed his adviser and close friend Jamie Rubin as the point person for the day-after plan.
  • Several week ago, Rubin traveled to Israel and the West Bank to discuss the plan. U.S. officials said Palestinian Authority officials gave Rubin a long list of reservations about the plan, signaling they don't support it.
  • The State Department has briefed the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries on the main points in the speech, U.S. officials said.

Blinken's plan is based on establishing a governing mechanism that will include the involvement of international community and Arab countries that could also send troops to Gaza to stabilize the security situation and deliver humanitarian aid.

  • The speech will call for reform of the Palestinian Authority, while making clear the PA must be a part of any future government in Gaza.
  • The Israeli government wants Arab countries to be involved in a post-war Gaza but has so far refused to agree to any day-after plan which includes the involvement of the Palestinian Authority.
  • Blinken's speech will also reiterate the principles he laid out in Tokyo early in the war and that object to any permanent Israeli occupation of Gaza, the decrease of its territory or the forced transfer of Palestinians from Gaza.
  • State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to comment.

The bottom line: "Blinken wants to try and shape the outcome of the war and he will make clear in his speech how he thinks Israel can turn its tactical wins against Hamas into strategic gains," a U.S. official said.

Starbucks reversing policy on non-paying visitors, enacted after arrest of Black customers

13 January 2025 at 13:23

Starbucks is rolling back a policy that allows people to hang out there or use the bathroom without buying anything.

Why it matters: The chain implemented the policy in 2018, following a national uproar when two Black men who hadn't purchased anything were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia.


The big picture: The shift is part of a new code of conduct at Starbucks cafes.

  • Among the changes will be the posting of signs banning discrimination and harassment, violence or abusive language, outside alcohol, panhandling, drug use, and other disruptive behavior.

What they're saying: "By setting clear expectations for behavior and use of our spaces, we can create a better environment for everyone," Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson says.

Between the lines: It's one of the first big changes after the company hired CEO Brian Niccol, who is under pressure to pull off a turnaround amid disappointing sales.

  • "Our values, developed with input from hundreds of partners, aren't changing," Niccol wrote Thursday in a message posted on Starbuck's website before the policy change surfaced.

Southern California Edison accused of "profits over safety" in L.A. fires lawsuit

13 January 2025 at 17:37

Southern California Edison is being sued by residents and businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire, who allege the Los Angeles utility's equipment may have started the deadly blaze.

The big picture: It's among multiple wildfires that have erupted across the L.A. area since last week in extremely dry conditions with powerful Santa Ana winds, and the National Weather Service has issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning that's set to last until Wednesday.


  • There have been at least 25 reported wildfire-related deaths, including 17 in the Eaton Fire. The 14,117-acre blaze ignited on Jan. 7 and was 33% contained as of Monday evening, per Cal Fire.

Driving the news: The cause of the Eaton Fire is still being investigated, but lawyers for Singleton Schreiber allege in the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs that it may have begun when Edison's electrical equipment contacted or caused sparks to contact surrounding vegetation.

  • The complaint that was filed in the L.A. Superior Court against the utility and Edison International says the utility reported itself to the California Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 9 to say "its equipment was located within the general area of ignition."
  • The complaint added: "Defendants deliberately prioritized profits over safety. This recklessness and conscious disregard for human safety was a substantial factor in bringing about the Eaton Fire."

What they're saying: Southern California Edison spokesperson Jeff Monford said Monday evening SCE was aware that a lawsuit related to the Eaton Fire had been filed, but it had not yet been served with a complaint.

  • "SCE will review the complaint when it is received. The cause of the fire continues to be under investigation," Monford said by phone.
  • "Our hearts remain with our communities during the devastating fires in Southern California, and we remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time. SCE crews, contractors and mutual assistance partners are dedicated to safely restoring power to our customers."

More from Axios:

Americans' faith in most professions dwindles: Gallup

13 January 2025 at 12:46
Data: Gallup; Chart: Axios Visuals

Americans have consistently viewed medical workers, K-12 teachers and military officers as the most ethical professions โ€” but even their ratings have dropped considerably, new Gallup polling shows.

Why it matters: Americans' opinion of the ethics of various professions has stalled at its lowest point โ€” reflective of declining confidence in U.S. institutions overall.


  • "Americans interact with numerous professionals in their daily lives, while depending on others they've never met to maintain an efficient, fair and secure society," per the annual survey data, released Monday.
  • "Whether reflecting personal experience or secondhand reports, Americans' sense of how much they can trust each profession varies widely, likely influencing how they engage with each."

The big picture: The average honesty and ethics ratings for 11 core professions was 30% in Monday's report, down from 40% in 2005.

  • Three professions had "majority negative" ratings: โ€” TV reporters, members of Congress and lobbyists.
  • Those were followed by roles including advertising practitioners, car salespeople, business executives and state officeholders.
  • Day care providers, funeral directors, police officers and auto mechanics enjoyed "net positive" ratings.

The intrigue: Three of the five professions with "majority positive" ratings were in medical fields, but nursing home operators had "net negative" ratings.

  • Despite being among the highest in the list, trust in medical doctors and pharmacists has dropped below pre-pandemic levels.
  • Polling released last year separately showed that more people are trusting in their own ability to assess health information or turn to friends to guidance amid lack of trust in public health agencies.
  • Grade school teachers also received "majority positive ratings," but Americans have expressed growing dissatisfaction with K-12 education.

Zoom in: Trust in judges and clergy have fallen the most, long-term, although ratings were still net positive for both.

  • Trust in judges reached a low of 28% in the honesty and ethics rating, a 21-point decrease since the early 2000s.
  • Public approval of the Supreme Court nearly reached a record low after the court concluded its most recent term, per previous Gallup polling. Approval plunged in particular among Democrats as the high court's rulings have leaned conservative.
  • Meanwhile, every age group has seen declines in religious affiliations during the past decade.

State of play: U.S. trust in mass media hit a historic low last year, and Monday's report echoes low ratings of TV and newspaper reporters.

  • 55% of respondents rated TV reporters as having "majority negative" honesty and ethical standards, a nine percentage point drop since the early 2000s.
  • 45% said the same of newspaper reporters, which have had consistently low ratings over the years.

Flashback: Nurses have earned the highest rating every year but one since they were added to the survey in 1999.

  • "The exception was 2001, when firefighters โ€” included only that year โ€” earned a record 90% trust rating after their heroism in responding to the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers," the report said.

Go deeper: Media trust hits another historic low

Methodology: Telephone interviews were conducted Dec. 2-18 with a random sample of 1,003 adults living in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. The margin of error is ยฑ4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Scoop: Trump team sets red line on Hegseth's FBI background check

13 January 2025 at 16:24

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing is becoming a test of will for Republicans on ensuring FBI files aren't distributed throughout the entire Senate.

Why it matters: The Trump transition team is demanding that the president-elect's nominees be treated the same way they insist Joe Biden's were.


  • That means no FBI background check access for rank-and-file senators, according to two people familiar with the matter.
  • Senate Armed Services chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) have been briefed on the report. Others have not.
  • A member of the Trump transition sat in on the FBI background briefing on Hegseth's file, a source familiar told Axios. The senators weren't given a copy of the file. They also weren't allowed to take notes or pictures.

Zoom in: Wicker privately raised the idea of letting his full committee see Hegseth's file, but Trump officials are opposed to sharing it, according to a person familiar with the matter.

  • The Trump team wants to hold the line on having a consistent standard for all nominees.
  • Look for them to fight any effort to release Hegseth's file, even if Wicker says there's not much of interest.

Zoom out: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Dems are huddling tonight on how to respond, as Axios scooped earlier on Monday.

  • Democrats admit the precedent is on the GOP's side. But they say the nature of Hegseth's nomination โ€” including allegations of sexual misconduct that he's denied โ€” at least deserves a conversation.
  • "We should all be able to see the report and draw our own conclusions about how incomplete it is and even in the modest amount it covers, how much damage it does to Mr. Hegseth," Armed Services committee member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told Axios.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with details on the background briefing.

Special counsel David Weiss slams president in final report on Hunter Biden

13 January 2025 at 16:56

Special counsel David Weiss released a final report Monday on the investigation into Hunter Biden after the case ended when President Biden issued an unconditional pardon for his son last month.

The big picture: Hunter Biden was the first child of a sitting president to face criminal charges. He was convicted on felony gun charges in Delaware in June, and pleaded guilty on felony tax charges in California in September.


Driving the news: Weiss criticized President Biden in the report for claiming his son was unfairly prosecuted in the six-year investigation, calling those "baseless accusations" with "no merit."

  • Weiss said: "The president's characterizations are incorrect based on the facts in this case, and on a more fundamental level, they are wrong."
  • He wrote that "other presidents have pardoned family members, but in doing so, none have taken the occasion as an opportunity to malign the public servants at the Department of Justice based solely on false accusations."
  • Representatives for the White House and Hunter Biden did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Context: Weiss has been overseeing the Hunter Biden case since the first Trump administration as U.S. Attorney for Delaware.

  • When Biden took office, he kept Weiss on finish his work.
  • Attorney General Merrick Garland named Weiss as special counsel in 2023.

Zoom in: Defending his reasoning for the charges, Weiss that he concluded Hunter Biden "had committed each and every one of the elements of a criminal offense" and that "a faithful jury would be more likely to convict than acquit him."

  • At "no time did my decisions take into account personal opinions-mine or anyone else's-about Mr. Biden's moral character, his popularity or unpopularity among the general public or a certain subgroup like a political party, the ethical propriety of his conduct, or other value judgments," he wrote.
  • Weiss said Hunter Biden, "as a well-educated lawyer and businessman ... consciously and willfully" broke the law by failing to pay taxes "despite having access to funds to pay some or all" of them.

Zoom out: Weiss charged both Hunter Biden and former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov during his investigation.

  • In the report, Weiss said his team determined that Smirnov's allegations about Hunter Biden were fabricated.
  • Smirnov pleaded guilty last month to lying about a phone bribery scheme involving Hunter Biden and was sentenced to six years in prison.

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

"Crazy and ridiculous": Enraged Dems warn Johnson not to condition California wildfire aid

13 January 2025 at 16:02

House Democrats are warning Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that tying federal wildfire relief for California to the debt limit could set a new precedent that would come back to bite Republicans.

Why it matters: Disaster prone red states like Florida and Louisiana โ€” Johnson's home state โ€” could face a similar squeeze from Democrats if they retake the House, lawmakers told Axios.


  • "This place is like high school, it's tit for tat when one side breaks a norm. The other side is happy to return the favor," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), pointing to the removal of members from committees as an example.
  • If Johnson conditions the aid, Moskowitz said, "California's our largest delegation. You think they're going to forget about that?"

Driving the news: Johnson told reporters Monday that, "I think that there should probably be conditions on that aid. That's my personal view."

  • "We'll see what the consensus is. I haven't had a chance to socialize that with any of the members over the weekend, because we've all been very busy. But it will be part of the discussion for sure," he said.
  • It's not clear yet whether the idea has full support among Republicans, with centrist Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) telling Axios "that process will play itself out."
  • "We want to provide relief to Americans who were impacted by natural disasters of any kind," he said, but California's "disastrous policy decisions โ€ฆ will be part of a discussion."

What they're saying: "I just think it's a really bad precedent, and, yeah, I do think it could have slingshot effects," Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) told Axios in a brief interview at the Capitol.

  • "Whether it's wildfires in CA, or hurricanes and tornadoes in Louisiana, we should should never condition aid to disaster victims," Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) told Axios, also warning that the move would set a "really dangerous precedent."
  • House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said conditioning aid would be "crazy and ridiculous" and would "completely upend Congress."

Between the lines: Lawmakers in both parties told Axios that Johnson's gambit is a clear acknowledgement that both disaster aid and the debt ceiling will require Democratic votes to pass.

  • Republicans have floated including a debt ceiling increase in the massive party-line fiscal bill they're planning, but that risks touching off a right-wing revolt.
  • "It's not the issue of conditioning, it's the issue of how do we get it done," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), a top House Appropriations Committee member who acknowledged both measures will "probably" need bipartisan support.

Zoom in: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), whose district has been directly hit by the wildfires, said it would "obviously be outrageous and unthinkable for Republicans to react differently to a disaster based upon how people voted."

  • Sherman said he is "not for" conditioning future aid to red states on a partisan objective โ€” offering an immigration reform package as an example.
  • But "if Democrats tied Louisiana relief to making sure Social Security stayed solvent, that's a bipartisan objective," he said.
  • The idea of conditioning aid may also lack universal GOP support, with Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) telling Axios in a statement: "If aid is needed, we need to deliver."

The bottom line: "People have lost their lives, homes, and livelihoods," said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), whose district has also been impacted by the wildfires.

  • "I have zero tolerance for partisan bullsh*t right now."

TikTok ban timeline: Here's where things stand

13 January 2025 at 14:39
Chart: Axios Visuals

A years-long battle over TikTok's fate in the U.S. could finally end this week, with the deadline for a sale or ban of the popular video-sharing platform set for Sunday.

The big picture: The Supreme Court could issue a ruling any day now, though it appears unlikely to deem the sale-or-ban law unconstitutional, even after President-elect Trump asked for time to resolve the matter.


Context: The law passed last year requires ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to either sell the app to a U.S. company or shut down operations in the country by Jan. 19. The deadline could be extended 100 days if a sale is underway.

  • The bill passed with broad bipartisan support and was signed by President Biden.
  • TikTok and a group of its users challenged the law, saying it violates their First Amendment rights.
  • Congress said the law was necessary because ByteDance is controlled by the Chinese government, and that its ability to harvest vast amounts of personal information from American users is a national security threat.

Jan. 10, 2025: SCOTUS hearing

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the law on Jan. 10 and appeared inclined to uphold it.

  • Most of the justices homed in on one central point, Axios' Sam Baker reports: The law would allow TikTok to keep operating if it used an algorithm other than the one created by ByteDance. And ByteDance, as a Chinese company, doesn't have First Amendment rights.
  • "The law doesn't say TikTok has to shut down. It says ByteDance has to divest," Justice Amy Coney Barrett said.

Dec. 27, 2024: Trump asks SCOTUS for ban pause

In a last-ditch effort, Trump asked the Supreme Court to pause the TikTok ban.

  • His argument was not rooted in any of the First Amendment or national security concerns at issue in the case. Rather, he argued the high court should allow him the time to "resolve the dispute through political means."
  • "President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government," the legal brief states.

Dec. 6, 2024: Federal appeals court upholds ban

A federal appeals court ruled the TikTok law is constitutional.

  • The three judge panel's opinion set the stage for the Supreme Court fight.

Context: The Justice Department and TikTok had asked the court for the early December ruling in order to seek SCOTUS review before the law's mid-January deadline.

August 2024: FTC, DOJ sue TikTok and ByteDance

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice filed a joint lawsuit against TikTok and ByteDance, alleging the social media app violates children's online privacy law.

May 2024: TikTok and ByteDance sue U.S.

TikTok and ByteDance sued the U.S. federal government to challenge the law, arguing it's unconstitutional.

April 2024: Biden signs TikTok bill

The Senate passes the bill, sending it to President Biden's desk.

  • Biden shortly after signed the bipartisan law, forcing TikTok's Chinese parent company to divest from its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban, setting up a protracted legal fight over the fate of the app.

March 2024: House passes bill

The House of Representatives passed the TikTok bill.

May 2023: State TikTok ban

  • Montana became the first U.S. state to sign legislation banning TikTok.
  • It came as several other Republican-led states banned TikTok on government-issued devices, but Montana was the first state to impose a total app ban.
  • However, a federal judge in November blocked the ban before it took effect.

March 2023: Congressional testimony

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew defended the company in a hearing before lawmakers, who fiercely advocated for banning the app.

  • Chew at the time repeatedly downplayed the app's connections to China and referenced TikTok's "unprecedented" data security practices compared to unnamed social media competitors.
  • Still, members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce came out in support of a full ban of the app in the U.S.

February 2023: Biden administration action

The Biden administration sought to regulate TikTok and banned the app from federal devices in February 2023.

2022: Project Texas

  • In June 2022, after longstanding pressure from the U.S. government, TikTok began routing all its U.S. user data to Oracle's cloud infrastructure.
  • Oracle then began vetting TikTok's algorithms and content moderation models to ensure they aren't manipulated by Chinese authorities.
  • The move was part of Project Texas, a $1.5 billion plan aimed at ensuring Americans that TikTok is safe, their data is secure and "the platform is free from outside influence." The project name refers to Oracle's headquarters in Texas.
  • TikTok had been preparing Project Texas for over a year by separating its U.S. operations' backend functions and code.

2020: Trump attempts to force sale

Then-President Trump spearheaded the initial effort to ban TikTok with an executive order in 2020, citing national security concerns.

  • He pushed for an acquisition by Microsoft, which fell through. Software giant Oracle then made a bid to become TikTok's "trusted technology partner" in the U.S.
  • After much pressure, TikTok agreed to protect U.S. data through an alliance with Oracle.

What will happen to TikTok on Jan. 19

13 January 2025 at 14:02

The future of accessing TikTok in the U.S. will be decided by the Supreme Court any moment now. So far, the justices seem inclined to uphold a bipartisan law that would ban the app as soon as Jan. 19.

Why it matters: The wildly popular short-form video app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, could imminently vanish from Google and Apple app stores. Beyond disappointing devoted users, the move would also disrupt influencers' multibillion-dollar creator economy.


  • During oral arguments last week, most of the high court's justices homed in on the central point that under the law, TikTok could continue operating with a different algorithm than ByteDance's. And as a Chinese company, ByteDance lacks First Amendment protections.

State of play: TikTok will not instantly disappear from a device where it's already downloaded on Jan. 19. But ByteDance won't be able to issue updates to the app โ€” eventually rendering it useless.

  • The app could more quickly go dark if Oracle decides to immediately stop hosting TikTok's massive video library. A ban could send the stock plunging since it hosts the company's U.S. data.
  • TikTok will not be accessible from an internet browser in the U.S. unless a user employs a VPN, which encrypts internet traffic and hides the user's IP address. VPNs are easily attainable online, but a user may not be able to download updates if their app store account is tied to the U.S.

Zoom in: Some TikTok users and creators are already flocking to other social media apps, based on Axios' review of some newly trending apps.

  • Lemon8, which has the same owner as TikTok and is being promoted by the company as a potential alternative for users, features a mix of Instagram-like photo sharing and TikTok-style short videos. This app and other ByteDance apps would be part of the ban.
  • Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote in English, is a short-form video app that has surged to the first place in the social networking category in the U.S. Apple app store. It also has a mix of video and live-streaming features.
  • Other platforms that have similar vertical video features are YouTube with its YouTube Shorts and Instagram with its Reels. Some users have been posting TikTok content to both of these platforms.

By the numbers: TikTok has a stunning 170 million users in the U.S., and just 32% of Americans support a ban, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

The big picture: The push to ban TikTok in the U.S. stems from the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," signed into law last April by President Biden.

  • The law mandates that ByteDance sell the app by Jan. 19 or face a ban. It gave TikTok up to a year to find an approved buyer for the U.S. version of the app.
  • The law stems from the U.S. government's concerns for national security over its ties to China, including the spread of misinformation and espionage.
  • ByteDance has contested this law, arguing that forced divestment is unconstitutional and infringes on First Amendment rights.

What's next: The Supreme Court could issue an order at any time.

  • President-elect Trump during his first term led initial efforts to ban the app in the U.S. But he's indicated more recently that he's open to trying to save it.

Go deeper: TikTok Supreme Court takeaways

Majority Leader John Thune picks four senators to form his kitchen cabinet

13 January 2025 at 13:52

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is forming his kitchen cabinet โ€” an inner circle of advisers outside of elected leadership, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: A new leader means new alliances and new voices with influence.


Zoom in: Thune is naming four senators as his counselors, a Senate GOP leadership aide tells Axios.

  • Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who helped give Thune his majority as NRSC chair last cycle.
  • MarkWayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a Trump ally and vocal supporter of Thune's leadership bid from the start.
  • John Cornyn (R-Tex.), who ran against Thune for leader and was also a part of McConnell's leadership circle.
  • Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who was praised for leading the effort to rewrite the RNC platform last year โ€” in a Trump-like style.

Zoom out: The unofficial advisory board is invited to join the elected Senate GOP leadership team in regular Monday leadership meetings in Thune's office.

  • Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)
  • GOP conference Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)
  • Policy Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.)
  • Vice Chair of policy James Lankford (R-Okla.)
  • NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.)

Biden confident he left Trump "very strong hand" on foreign policy

13 January 2025 at 12:31

President Biden said Monday that he is leaving the Trump administration a country in a far stronger position than the one he inherited, with a "strong hand to play" when dealing with geopolitical crises.

Why it matters: During his term, Biden sought to counteract much of the "America first" diplomacy enacted during President-elect Trump's administration. Now, his achievements will face the scrutiny of the new Trump administration.


Driving the news: Biden delivered his final foreign policy address at the State Department Monday, a week before Trump will take office.

  • Biden praised his administration's foreign policy achievements and previewed the challenges still ahead, including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
  • "Even so, it's clear: my administration is leaving the next administration with a very strong hand to play. And leaving them an America with more friends and stronger alliances, whose adversaries are weaker and under pressure," Biden said.

Zoom in: Addressing Russia's war in Ukraine, Biden touted the fact that Russia had failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives in the war.

  • Now, the U.S. must use its advantage to press for a "just and lasting peace for Ukraine."
  • It should also work to ensure a "more stable, integrated Middle East," Biden said, before noting that "we are on the brink" of a hostage release and ceasefire in Gaza deal.

The bottom line: "At our best, America leads not only by the example of our power, but the power of our example. The past four years we have used that power, not to go it alone, but instead to bring countries together."

Go deeper:

Scoop: Schumer's private plotting for explosive Hegseth confirmation hearing

13 January 2025 at 10:36

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats on the Armed Services Committee will huddle Monday amid a standoff over Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Only one top Senate Democrat has read Hegseth's FBI background check since it was given to Congress last week. His confirmation hearing begins on Tuesday morning.


  • Paperwork delays meant the background checks and other materials for top Trump nominees were given to lawmakers late. Democrats have pushed for the reports to be available to all members before the hearings.
  • Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the panel's top Democrat, met with Hegseth last week. Reed said the meeting did not relieve his concerns about Hegseth's nomination.
  • Hegseth's hearing is the party's first shot to carry out the demands handed down by Schumer โ€” skewer Trump's nominees and the MAGA brand.

Zoom in: The background report on Hegseth is particularly important given allegations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement of a nonprofit group.

  • Republican senators at the time said the allegations were concerning and wanted more details about the complaints.
  • Hegseth has denied wrongdoing.

The big picture: Schumer has been intimately involved in his caucus' prep for the confirmation hearing showdowns. For him, and for Democrats, the stakes are high.

  • "Republicans spent four years attacking the Democratic brand and we need to use the hearings to begin returning the favor," Schumer told top Democrats in a private meeting in early January.
  • The background check issues will likely rear their head in the hearings. Schumer has criticized Republicans for "rushing" the nomination hearings of nominees like Hegseth.

Southern California faces rare fire warning

13 January 2025 at 20:17

Weather forecasters have only more bad news for firefighters battling the Los Angeles area fires.

Threat level: The National Weather Service's LA forecast office Sunday evening issued a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Red Flag Warning lasting until Wednesday at noon for parts of LA and Ventura counties, warning that high winds could cause "explosive fire growth."


Screenshot: National Weather Service Los Angeles/x
  • The weather service advised residents "to have multiple ways to receive evacuation information" and to "not do anything that could spark a fire."
  • Areas under this warning don't include the Eaton Fire but cover western Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Porter Ranch, Ventura and other parts of the hard-hit region.

Zoom in: Winds during this event will be closer to a typical strong Santa Ana, at 50 mph to 70 mph instead of up to 100 mph as seen last week.

  • But the east-to-west air flow will likely target areas that didn't have such strong winds last week, particularly in Ventura County.
  • "THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION (PDS) FOR PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES!" the NWS said in all caps.
  • Much of Southern California is under some type of Red Flag Warning, with areas of "Extremely Critical" fire weather risk โ€” the highest category from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), from Monday through Wednesday.
Image showing the criteria for ordering a Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag Warning. Image: NWS
  • According to SPC, which issues fire weather outlooks nationally, about 740,000 people are included in the extremely critical area on Monday.
  • About 8.1 million are located in the "critical" fire weather risk classification, which is just below the maximum alert level.

Between the lines: According to the NWS LA office, before this season, the "PDS" classification had only been used twice before. Both were in 2020.

  • However, the warning type has only been in existence for about half a decade.
  • The product is supposed to indicate rare events, but the extraordinarily dry start to the winter wet season this year has meant that the fire season has stretched much deeper into the winter than usual.
  • This means it overlaps with more high wind events, which is something that climate studies show occurring with greater regularity in coming decades.

Yes, but: The Eaton and Palisades Fires aren't included in the particularly dangerous situation portions of the warnings, according to the NWS, but nearby areas are and the heightened concerns relate to new fire starts as well.

The big picture: The region is suffering from hydroclimate whiplash worsened by human-caused climate change.

  • Much of Southern California has received virtually no rain in the past eight months.
  • And seven-day precipitation forecasts don't show measurable rain during the next week, despite January being well into the typical rainy season.

Go deeper:

L.A. fires could be the U.S.' worst natural disaster, Newsom says

Climate change plays key contributing role in LA fires

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

What to know about the confirmation hearings for Trump's Cabinet picks this week

13 January 2025 at 07:33

Some of President-elect Trump's highest profile Cabinet picks will be under fresh scrutiny this week as they brace for tough Senate confirmation hearings that could make or break their nominations.

Why it matters: With Democrats looking to create fireworks and the Republican party deeply divided, the hearings are sure to escalate clashes over Trump's most controversial nominees.


  • Many of Trump's picks have already met with senators individually, but the high-stakes confirmation hearings will offer them the chance to shine.
  • For some, they could also be forced to address lingering questions about their past actions and relevant experience.

Here are the hearings Axios is watching closely:

Pete Hegseth

Just weeks ago, Hegseth's nomination as Defense Secretary seemed doomed. The former Fox News co-host and Army veteran faced allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement and excessive drinking. He has repeatedly denied all the accusations.

What to watch: Hegseth's confirmation hearing is slated for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Kristi Noem

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is Trump's pick for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, where she'd play a crucial role in implementing Trump's immigration agenda.

  • A source close to the governor previously told Axios that her experiences dealing with immigration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have prepared her for the role.

What to watch: Noem's confirmation hearing will take place before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Marco Rubio

Trump's nomination of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to serve as the next secretary of state is one of his surest bets, with the senator enjoying bipartisan support in the run-up to his formal evaluation.

  • Rubio, who has a reputation as a foreign policy hawk, will have his work cut out for him implementing Trump's foreign policy agenda, which includes swift ends to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

What to watch: Rubio's confirmation hearing will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Pam Bondi

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is Trump's pick to serve as attorney general.

  • Bondi's appointment would install a Trump loyalist at the head of the Department of Justice if Trump were to pursue his threats to go after his political enemies.
  • Bondi was Trump's second public pick for the position, after his initial selection, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration facing . The former Florida lawmaker faced sexual misconduct allegations, which he has repeatedly denied.

What to watch: Bondi's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee will be split across two days, beginning Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and Thursday at 10:15 a.m.

Upcoming

Some of the most potentially contentious hearings are still to come and haven't yet been set. Still in the awning are:

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services. Kennedy is well known for his history of spreading vaccine misinformation.
  • Hardline Trump loyalist Kash Patel โ€” who helped push Trump's 2020 election lies โ€” for FBI director. Patel will replace current FBI head Chris Wray, who announced last month that he would resign ahead of Trump's inauguration rather than complete his term.
  • Linda McMahon as secretary of education. McMahon, a former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) executive, has been accused of being complicit in the grooming and sexual exploitation of children. She has denied the allegations.
  • Tulsi Gabbard's nomination as the next director of national intelligence has raised alarm bells in the intelligence community. In 2017, the former Democratic representative for Hawaii met with then Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and subsequently declared him "not the enemy."

Go deeper:

Israel awaits Hamas' response to final Gaza deal draft, officials say

13 January 2025 at 07:01

Israel and mediators from Egypt, the U.S. and Qatar have given Hamas a final draft agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza, two senior Israeli officials and a source familiar with the details said.

Why it matters: The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reached a critical point a week before President-elect Trump is sworn into office.


  • Trump has threatened there would be "hell to pay in the Middle East" if Hamas didn't release the hostages by the time he is inaugurated.
  • About 98 hostages are still being held in Gaza, among them seven Americans. Roughly half of the hostages, including three Americans, are believed to be still alive, according to Israeli intelligence.
  • More than 46,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Driving the news: The sources said the mediators are awaiting Hamas' response to the draft. An Israeli official said the leader of Hamas's military wing in Gaza, Mohammed Sinwar, will decide whether to agree to the deal.

  • Two Israeli officials said Hamas' response is expected in the next 24 hours.
  • Israeli officials said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to make new concessions about the Palestinian prisoners who would be released as part of the deal and about the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors in Gaza.
  • "It seems that we are headed for a deal," an Israeli official said, adding that they are waiting for Hamas' response and "only then will we know for sure."

The other side: A Hamas official told Reuters on Monday that "the negotiation over some core issues made progress and we are working to conclude what remains soon."

The latest: President Biden in a speech at the State Department on Monday said "we are on the brink" of a hostage-release and ceasefire in Gaza deal.

  • "We are pressing hard" to close the deal, Biden said.

A senior Israeli official told reporters in a briefing on Monday that there is "progress in all components of the agreement."

  • "We are working in coordination with the mediators and with both U.S. administrations โ€” the outgoing and incoming. The best, optimal conditions have been created for a deal to take place," the official said.
  • The official added that Israel is ready to immediately implement the deal. "I don't know if it's a matter of hours, days or more until the talks are completed. We want it to happen quickly," the official said.

Zoom in: According to the draft agreement, 33 hostages would be released in the first phase of the deal, including women, children, men over the age of 50 and men under the age of 50 who are wounded and sick.

  • Hamas has not yet provided information on the condition of those 33 hostages, the Israeli official said. Israel's assessment is that most are alive.
  • The hostages would be released gradually throughout the first phase of the agreement, which would last 42 days. At the same time, there would be a ceasefire in Gaza.

During the first phase, Israeli Defense Forces would also gradually withdraw to a buffer zone in Gaza near the border with Israel, the official said. The IDF would leave the Netzarim corridor in the center of the Gaza Strip and the Philadelphi corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt โ€” two areas that have been a sticking point in past negotiations.

  • But Israel won't completely withdraw from Gaza until all of the hostages are returned, the Israeli official said.

Palestinians would also be allowed to return to northern Gaza during the first phase of the deal. An Israeli official said there would be "security arrangements" to ensure no militants or weapons are moved to the northern part of the Strip.

  • Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would also be released, including those who murdered Israelis. The exact number of prisoners to be released will be determined only after Hamas clarifies which of the hostages to be released are alive, the official said.
  • The Israeli official said Palestinian prisoners who murdered Israelis would not be released to the West Bank, but declined to say where they would be released to. Hamas members who participated in the Oct. 7 attack would not be released in the first phase.

On the 16th day of the first phase of the agreement, negotiations would begin on the implementation of the second phase of the deal, which is supposed to end with a full withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip and a permanent ceasefire.

  • The senior Israeli official said in the briefing that the second phase would include the release of all the living and dead hostages still held by Hamas.
  • The deal would also includes an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza , according to the official, who added that Israel is working on a way to prevent Hamas from taking control of the aid in order to make it difficult for the group to govern Gaza again.

Zoom out: Biden spoke on the phone Monday with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim al-Thani and discussed efforts to reach a deal, the White House said. Biden is expected to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday as well.

  • The Qatari emir met on Monday with a delegation of senior Hamas officials led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Haya.
  • The emir also held a joint meeting with Biden's top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss the hostage deal. Both are in Doha for the negotiations.

What they're saying: White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a Bloomberg event in Washington, DC on Monday that there's been "considerable" pressure on Hamas to come to an agreement.

  • "There is a distinct possibility we can get this deal done this week," Sullivan said.
  • Sullivan said he spoke on Monday morning with McGurk, and with the prime minister of Qatar and Israeli negotiators. A source familiar said Israeli Mossad Director David Barnea was on the call. Barnea, Israeli Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar and IDF general Nitzan Alon traveled to Doha on Saturday for talks about the deal.
  • The source said Netanyahu told Biden in a call on Sunday that he wants the deal as it is right now and is willing to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible.
  • "There is a general sense that this is moving in the right direction. It is there for the taking. The question is if we can get everyone to say yes," Sullivan said.

Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for details.

DNC launches new rapid response social media ahead of Trump's return to office

13 January 2025 at 03:01

The Democratic National Committee is tapping veterans of the wildly popular @KamalaHQ social media team for a new rapid response push ahead of Donald Trump's return to office, Axios learned.

Why it matters: The push is the latest sign of the party's efforts to rebrand and bring in new audiences after a disappointing 2024 cycle.


Driving the news: The new rapid response @FactPostNews initiative will try to combat online misinformation and respond to Trump administration actions by pushing out memes, videos and graphics.

  • The account will be run by many of the same people who led the @KamalaHQ social media account during the 2024 campaign.
  • @FactPostNews will start on X, Threads, and Bluesky and will eventually expand to TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
  • "The Republican disinformation machine is powerful, but we believe a stronger weapon is giving people the facts about how Trump and his administration are screwing over the American people," DNC chief mobilization officer Shelby Cole said in a statement.

Between the lines: The account will also take a branding cue from social media accounts that have huge, loyal followings, such as PopCrave and PopBase.

  • The war room relaunch is the latest example of the Democratic Party trying to sharpen its online presence โ€” particularly on alternative media platforms โ€” after the election revealed that Trump's media strategy broke through.

Zoom out: The DNC is also teeing up fresh economic attacks on Trump as he takes office, per a memo obtained by Axios.

  • Over the next several weeks of confirmation hearings, the DNC will try to spotlight the personal wealth of many of Trump's picks for key government positions, per the memo.
  • Trump's projected Cabinet is worth at least $10 billion, according to research by Axios' Zach Basu and the nonprofit Americans for Tax Fairness.
  • The DNC will also warn that Trump's proposed policies will walk back some of the economic progress made under President Biden.
  • "Trump's MAGA loyalists in Congress are gearing up to push through these unfit billionaire picks and Trump's anti-working families agenda," the memo reads.

Zoom out: The economy โ€” and Trump's repeated focus on it on the campaign trail โ€” was a major reason for his victory in November.

The bottom line: It's never too early to start messaging for 2028 (and 2026).

  • With their new initiatives out this week, the DNC is signaling where its priorities will lie, at least in the beginning days of the new Trump administration: Economic messaging and refining their digital outreach.

Go deeper: Dems warm to conservative media after rough 2024

Scoop: House Democrats plan $10 million opening salvo for 2026 campaign

13 January 2025 at 02:00

A non-profit closely aligned with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is preparing its first major investment in the 2026 election with a campaign aimed at dinging Republicans on the economy.

Why it matters: The effort comes as President-elect Trump and congressional Republicans are preparing a hulking fiscal policy package that could define the 119th Congress.


Driving the news: House Majority Forward, the issue advocacy arm of House Majority PAC, is launching a $10 million "economic accountability" campaign.

  • The campaign will include TV and digital ads to "hold Republicans accountable for refusing to lower costs," according to a press release first shared with Axios.
  • It will also involve research and polling to "develop a deeper understanding of how Republican policies are hurting American wallets."
  • HMF president Mike Smith said: "Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans have only just been sworn in, but they're already breaking their promises by failing to lower costs. It's time to stop playing games, and start working for the American people."

Between the lines: The plan represents something of a shift in strategy for Democrats after an abortion-centered message of "freedom" failed to carry them to victory last year.

  • Top Democrats told Axios in the aftermath of the Nov. 5 election that a difficult political environment driven by years of inflation ultimately doomed Vice President Harris.
  • Trump successfully pitched himself as a change candidate, promising to upend the national and global economic order with an agenda of immigration restrictions, trade barriers and dismantling regulations.

The other side: "The failed Biden administration and their allies in Congress decimated our economy with a far-left agenda of reckless spending and extreme America-last policies," said Courtney Parella, a spokesperson for GOP-aligned non-profit American Action Network.

  • "That's why Americans chose and trust Republican leadership โ€” to restore the economy, lower costs, and deliver for families," she said.

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