Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) compared U.S. political polarization and fatigue to family dynamics in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press."

The big picture: The comments from the only two ordained ministers in the Senate come as the nation grapples with a divisive post-election ideological divide.

• Case in point: Lawmakers grappled this week with gaining bipartisan support for a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.
• The full interview with NBC's Kristen Welker will air on a special edition of "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning.

Zoom in: Warnock said bipartisan work "is as basic as the American covenant," according to a transcript provided to Axios.

• He added that while there are differences of opinion, "the issue is our humanity and trying to build and strengthen the American family."
• Asked how lawmakers can reach across the aisle, Lankford said he believes most people don't identify first with their parties but rather as human beings and neighbors. The question, he said, is how to get "people who disagree [to] sit down and figure it out? That's where we are."
• He added, "Unfortunately, Washington, D.C. is a mirror to the country that the country doesn't really like."
• Rather than trying to figure out how to be bipartisan, "we're supposed to figure out how to solve problems," Lankford said. "I think that's the emotion of the country, is they want it to be fixed, but they can't figure out how it's going to actually happen.

Between the lines: The percentage of Americans who say they have a great deal or a fair amount of trust in the mass media has fallen to a record low.

• Engagement with political news and news generally is also down considerably compared to the previous presidential primary election cycle.

The bottom line: Warnock said he thinks what "we're dealing with is the fundamental assault on that basic understanding that we are the American family" and that "all families have a complicated story."

• He added, "We have differences, but we sit together and we work it out."

Go deeper: MLK's daughter urges Americans not to tune out Trump's inauguration

If you're feeling behind on your Christmas shopping, you're not alone.

The big picture: A majority of holiday shoppers plan to finish buying gifts the week leading up to Christmas, an annual survey found.

• "Whether shoppers have planned out their shopping list or are waiting until the last minute," many are still shopping in the days before Dec. 25 said Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategy at Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Yes, but: 58% of shoppers started checking off their gift lists in early November, according to the data from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in late November drive many shoppers to get their gifts in early at discounted prices.
• Even with the early start, 62% of shoppers didn't expect to start wrapping their holiday purchases until December.

Zoom in: As of early December, Americans had purchased half the gifts on their shopping lists on average, while only 10% were finished.

• The near-majority of shoppers (49%) finish their shopping online. They're also going to department stores, discount stores and clothing and accessory stores.

Between the lines: Most shoppers opt for a head start on shopping to spread out their spending.

• Each shopper is expected to spend an average of $902 across gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items.
• Avoiding crowds and the stress of last minute shopping are other top reasons people start holiday shopping early.

Super Saturday shopping

Super Saturday, the last Saturday before Christmas, falls on Dec. 21 this year and is one of the biggest shopping days of the season.

• An estimated 157.2 million people plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas, according to the NRF survey.
• That's up from 141.9 million Super Saturday shoppers last year and is the second-highest number after 2022's 158.5 million figure.

What they're saying: Katherine Cullen, NRF vice president of industry and consumer insights, noted Super Saturday is one of the last opportunities to buy the remaining items on peoples' shopping lists.

• "With a shortened window between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, consumers will be hitting stores and shopping online to get those final gifts and to take advantage of special promotions and deals," she added.

More from Axios:

• Record holiday travel expected to end a busy year
• Flashing yellow light for consumer
• Why food recalls are mounting this year

Elon Musk seemingly endorsed the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Friday.

The big picture: The X owner has used his social media platform to promote his own ideologies. Since gaining more influence in the incoming Trump administration, the billionaire CEO appears to be exercising that power over politics in the U.S. and abroad.

• Musk has shown recent support for other European right-wing populist politicians, including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and British politician Nigel Farage, who is big Trump champion in the U.K.

Driving the news: "Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk posted on X.

• His message was in response to a post from German right-wing influencer Naomi Seibt, criticizing conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz.

Context: Germany will hold a snap election in February, after a center-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed.

• AfD became the first far-right party this year to win a regional election in Germany since World War II.

What to watch: The party last month said it would throw out three of its members who were arrested on suspicion of having joined an "extremist" paramilitary group.

More from Axios:

• Elon Musk, volatility junkie, disrupts the regular order
• Musk's maxed-out megaphone: Shutdown power play will be hard to repeat
• Democrats rage at "unelected co-president" Elon Musk

Holiday travelers fretting over how a government shutdown would affect their flights can breathe easy — now that both chambers of Congress have approved a temporary stopgap avoiding the prospect.

The big picture: An estimated 40 million people are expected to fly during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and TSA agents and air traffic controllers will continue to work.

• A TSA spokesperson told Axios "While our personnel have prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel," a lengthy shutdown could have meant longer wait times at airports.

State of play: The clock was ticking toward a government shutdown at 12:01 am Saturday, but about 30 minutes later the Senate followed the GOP-controlled House in defying President-elect Trump and nixing a plan to fund the federal government that Trump favored.

• A shutdown could have cost the U.S. travel economy $1 billion per week, impacting millions of travelers, businesses and federal workers nationwide, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

Zoom in: Non-essential federal employees also would have stopped working.

• Air traffic controllers — already facing a nationwide shortage — and TSA employees at airport checkpoints are considered essential employees and would have been asked to work without pay.

By the numbers: 59,000 of the TSA's 62,000 employees are considered essential and would have continued working without pay in the event of a shutdown, the agency told Axios.

• However, during a five-week partial government shutdown over the holidays from 2018 to 2019, hundreds of TSA agents called out sick from work.

Between the lines: 60% of Americans would have considered altering their travel plans if a shutdown occurred, with many choosing to cancel or avoid flights altogether, an Ipsos survey found.

What they're saying: Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement before Congress approved the spending that "a prolonged government shutdown threatens holiday travel disruptions that Americans won't tolerate."

• He called lawmakers' passage of the spending resolution "the right decision" on Saturday and said the bill "provides both certainty for critical federal travel operations and disaster relief for hurricane-devastated communities across the southeast."
• "Let's hope that how we got here isn't a precursor for all of the important decisions ahead," Freeman added.

More from Axios:

• Record holiday travel expected to end a busy year
• Trump opposes Johnson's spending deal to avert government shutdown
• Why food recalls are mounting this year

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the latest congressional actions and an updated statement from the U.S. Travel Association.

From carrots to eggs to onions to milk and ice cream, food recalls have mounted this year.

The big picture: Food and cosmetic recalls, which the Food and Drug Administration categorizes together, nearly doubled from 2012 to 2024.

• During the 2024 fiscal year that ended in September, such recalls reached the highest level since before the pandemic, FDA data show.
• "This is going to continue to increase before it gets better," per Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University professor and food safety advocate who said his son died as a result of an E. coli outbreak.

State of play: The rise in such incidents can partially be attributed to an increase in consumer demand for ready-to-eat foods and prepackaged meals, Detwiler told Axios in a phone interview.

• "With greater convenience comes more risk," he said. Those types of foods are often consumed without any additional cooking, which would potentially kill listeria, Detwiler said.
• "We're also dealing with a scenario where we're having increased globalization of food production, which not only creates more opportunities for contamination at multiple points in the supply chain, but it creates more scenarios where there's blind spots."
• Critical failures in sanitation inspections from the federal government are also an issue, he said, pointing to this year's Boar's Head outbreak.

By the numbers: There were 1,908 recalled food and cosmetics products in the fiscal year that ended in September, per FDA data. Another 263 have been issued so far in the 2025 fiscal year, as of Dec. 12.

• That's the highest number of recalls for the category since 2019, when there were 2,046.

Health impacts: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million people get sick from food-borne diseases each year in the U.S. 128,000 of them are hospitalized and 3,000 die.

• More people die every year from food-borne diseases in the U.S. than in the 9/11 terrorist attack.

Zoom in: The 2024 recalls included a wide range of food products from vegetables to meat to apple juice, which sickened many people in the U.S.

• Notably, Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc. recalled some 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products for possible listeria contamination this year. At least 57 people were hospitalized and 9 deaths were reported, per the CDC.
• Cases in an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders infected more than 100 people in 14 states, according to health authorities. Fresh onions were removed from select Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants as a result.

Zoom out: So who is responsible for food safety in the U.S.? It's complicated.

• Federal agencies are tasked with providing guidelines and regulations for food. A chunk of the responsibility also falls to the states.
• Within U.S. states, there are about 3,000 different jurisdictions for food safety, Detwiler said. "And not everyone's on the same page."

The bottom line: Detwiler emphasized that individuals need to be their own advocates in terms of food safety.

• If you think something is wrong with your food or how it's being handled, say something, Detwiler said.

Go deeper: Food recalls reach highest level since before pandemic

A record number of holiday travelers are expected to close out an already busy year at airports and on roads across the U.S.

The big picture: More than 119 million Americans are projected to travel during the Christmas and New Year's holiday period, narrowly surpassing the previous record set pre-pandemic in 2019, per AAA.

• The TSA expects to screen nearly 40 million people moving through airports over the holidays — a more than 6% increase from last year.

Zoom out: The projections round off a year that set holiday travel records for Memorial Day, July Fourth and Thanksgiving.

Zoom in: 119.3 million people are projected to travel 50 miles or more from home over the year-end holiday period from Saturday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 1, per AAA.

• That's three million more travelers compared to last year.
• The domestic travel projection narrowly surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers.

What they're saying: "This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that," Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. "This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we're anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday."

Driving to holidays destinations

Nearly 90% of holiday travelers will be driving to their destinations, per AAA.

• That's 107 million people expected to be on the roads — 2.5 million more than last year.

Worth noting: Gas prices are lower this holiday season than last year.

• "Gas demand in December goes down as the weather gets colder, more people work remotely, and holiday shoppers purchase their gifts online versus in person," AAA said.

Best and worst times to drive

Travel times on the roads could be up to 30% longer during the holiday period, per INRIX, which provides transportation data and insights.

• The worst traffic delays are expected the weekends before Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Sunday, December 22 is projected to be the nation's worst day to travel, per INRIX.
• The holidays themselves are expected to have minimal congestion.

What they're saying: "Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours during the week," Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said. "If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the evening commute."

Holiday air travel record

The TSA expects to screen nearly 40 million people from Dec. 19 to Jan. 2.

• The busiest travel days at airports are projected to be Dec. 20, 27 and 30.

Be smart: Travelers are taking to the skies in record numbers, so plan to arrive to the airport at least two hours prior to your flight's scheduled boarding time, the agency advises.

Record travel by bus, train and cruise

The number of people traveling by bus, train and cruise this holiday season is up nearly 10% compared to last year, according to AAA.

• Some 4.47 million people will use these modes of travel, marking the highest number in 20 years.
• Domestic cruise bookings are also up 37% compared to last holiday season.

Where is everyone going?

Tropical weather destinations are the top choices for people's end-of-year travel, based on AAA booking data from Dec. 21, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025.

• Many of the most popular domestic destinations are in Florida — Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa.
• Also on the list are Anaheim/Los Angeles in California, Las Vegas in Nevada, Honolulu in Hawaii, New York City, Charleston in South Carolina and New Orleans in Louisiana.

Go deeper: The Christmas tree value play

The attempted assassination of President-elect Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13 was "preventable and should not have happened," a bipartisan task force concluded in a report released Tuesday.

The big picture: In a 180-page report, the House panel blamed institutional breakdowns in the Secret Service as well as failures in security planning and execution, most notably missteps in securing the building complex where the shooter fired eight shots.

• The shooting by a lone gunman killed one person and wounded the then-Republican presidential nominee and two others.

What they found: "The various failures in planning, execution, and leadership on and before July 13, 2024, and the preexisting conditions that undermined the effectiveness of the human and material assets deployed that day, coalesced to create an environment in which the former President — and everyone at the campaign event — were exposed to grave danger," the report states.

• "The Secret Service did not provide clear guidance to its state and local partners about which entity was responsible for the area," the House panel wrote.
• "An expressed lack of manpower and assets was not sufficiently addressed, resulting in coverage gaps on the ground," the report continued.

Yes, but: The response to the second assassination attempt against Trump about two months later in West Palm Beach, Florida, "demonstrated how properly executed protective measures can foil an attempted assassination," the panel found.

Zoom in: The report includes recommendations that the Secret Service strengthen its capabilities by evaluating its budget, staffing and personnel retention challenges.

• The agency may benefit, the panel wrote, from reducing the number of people under its protection.
• The task force also recommended that Congress consider moving some of the Secret Service's "investigative functions" to a different agency within or outside of the Department of Homeland Security.

What they're saying: Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi told Axios in a statement that the agency "appreciates the diligence" of the task force and that the findings match its internal investigation.

• "Today's report reinforces our resolve to bring change to the Secret Service," he added. "We continue to take action to acquire new technologies, strengthen training, develop our personnel, and seek resources to fortify the Secret Service."

Zoom out: U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, the top-ranking Democrat on the task force, told Axios that the American people should feel confident about the security of elected officials regardless of partisan affiliation.

• "Our next step will be, not just being sure that they take responsibility, but assuring accountability and that changes are made so it doesn't happen again," he said.
• Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Context: The Secret Service faced intense scrutiny following the assassination attempt and agency director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the aftermath.

• In the weeks after the initial assassination attempt, Congress members voted unanimously in favor of creating a task force to investigate the shooting.
• The panel comprised of seven Republicans and six Democrats was tasked with investigating all actions by agencies and officials at local, state and federal levels related to the shooting.

Go deeper: U.S. Rep. Jason Crow reacts to the Trump assassination report

Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was denied bail in Pennsylvania Tuesday, according to a Blair County Courthouse clerk.

The big picture: Following a nationwide manhunt, Mangione, 26, was arrested in Pennsylvania Monday on forgery and gun charges. He faces murder and other charges in New York.

• He faces one count of murder, two of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one of third-degree criminal possession of a firearm, per a New York court docket.
• Mangione's attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters Tuesday Mangione will plead not guilty to the Pennsylvania charges and suggested he would do the same with the N.Y. counts.
• "I haven't seen any evidence that he's the shooter," Dickey said.

Driving the news: Mangione did not waive extradition to New York, which means he will be held in Pennsylvania until his next hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, Blair County Courthouse Clerk Robin Patton told Axios.

• Dickey said in court that the defense is seeking a hearing, per AP.
• Mangione has 14 days to file a writ of habeas corpus to challenge his detention. If he does so, a hearing will then be scheduled.
• The Blair County District Attorney's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

What he's saying: While Mangione was being led into the courthouse, he could be heard shouting, in part, "it's completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people. It's lived experience!" according to video of the event.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information.

Go deeper: N.Y. prosecutors file murder charge against suspect in CEO's death

President-elect Trump is looking to fill his Cabinet and administration with familiar faces from one of his favorite right-leaning television networks.

The big picture: At least a dozen current or former Fox News employees have made Trump's cut for his "central casting" Cabinet, as have frequent network guests.

• Trump has had a love-hate relationship with Fox News, but still made nearly 20 appearances on the network from August-November.

Between the lines: As in his first term, Trump appears to be treating hiring for top government posts like a casting call. Sources told Axios he's weighed in on job candidates' TV appearances to gauge how effective they would be at conveying his MAGA message.

What they're saying: When asked why he nominated so many affiliated to Fox News, Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that he was elected with "a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail — and his Cabinet picks reflect his priority to put America First."

• She added that Trump will "continue to appoint highly-qualified men and women who have the talent, experience, and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again."

Here's a look at his administration picks with Fox News affiliations.

Kimberly Guilfoyle

Former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle was tapped by Trump to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece.

• She worked at Fox News from 2006 to 2018, co-hosting "The Five" from 2011 to 2018, until her abrupt departure.

Sean Duffy

Transportation Secretary nominee Sean Duffy used to be a Fox News contributor. The former Wisconsin congressman co-hosted "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business until Trump nominated him last month.

• Duffy is a former reality star, having appeared on MTV's "The Real World: Boston" and other spinoffs.
• He's married to fellow Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, whom he met on "Road Rules: All Stars," which followed alumni of "The Real World."

Pete Hegseth

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was a co-host on FOX & Friends Weekend and has appeared on multiple FOX Nation series since joining as a contributor in 2014.

• Since the decorated U.S. Army veteran was tapped to lead the Pentagon, he has faced allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement and excessive drinking.
• Trump is reportedly considering backup options in case Hegseth's nomination falters.

Monica Crowley

Monica Crowley is Trump's pick to serve as "Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol," a key public relations role in the State Department.

• The conservative political commentator was a Fox News contributor on and off for nearly two decades.

Mike Huckabee

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to Israel.

• Huckabee hosted a weekly show on Fox for about seven years and stepped down before an unsuccessful presidential bid. He later resumed his show on a Christian cable network.

Tulsi Gabbard

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawai'i), an Iraq War veteran, is Trump's pick to serve as director of National Intelligence.

• Gabbard joined Fox News as a paid contributor in 2022 after leaving the Democratic Party.
• She's had many backers in pro-Trump media, including Tucker Carlson, who frequently interviewed her when he was a Fox News host.

Tom Homan

Tom Homan, the former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Trump's first administration, will return in his second administration as "border czar."

• He joined Fox as a contributor in August 2018 after retiring from ICE and was a contributor at the network until last month.

Sebastian Gorka

Former Trump administration aide Sebastian Gorka was nominated to serve as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism.

• The conservative radio host and former Breitbart staffer with hard-right views on Islam was known for his fiery TV appearances defending Trump while in the White House.
• He left the White House in 2017 and became the first former Trump administration official to join Fox News. He was a contributor until 2019 and later became a Newsmax host.

Keith Kellogg

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's pick for special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

• He joined Fox as a contributor after serving as national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence. He was a regular on the network, where he provided national security and military strategy analysis.

Marty Makary

Johns Hopkins professor Marty Makary was tapped to lead the Food and Drug Administration.

• The surgeon joined Fox News as a contributor in 2019. Makary often criticized public health officials on COVID and mask mandates, per Media Matters.

Janette Nesheiwat

Janette Nesheiwat is Trump's selection for surgeon general. She's a medical director at CityMD, a group of urgent care centers in New York

• Nesheiwat joined Fox News as contributor during the onset of the pandemic. She cautioned against vaccinations.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy, an investor and biotech entrepreneur, was selected to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk.

• He was recently tapped to host a limited five-episode series called "Truths with Vivek Ramaswamy" on Fox Nation, the subscription streaming service from Fox News.

Go deeper: Trump administration 2.0: Tracking his Cabinet, White House picks

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect Kimberly Guilfoyle's nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece.

A tsunami warning was issued and later called off on Thursday after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California.

The big picture: The National Weather Service cancelled the alert just before noon local time, saying there was no destructive tsunami recorded and no such danger to areas that received warnings, including San Francisco.

Driving the news: The earthquake struck around 10:44 am PT off the coast of Humboldt County and was felt across the Bay Area, according to USGS.

• According to information from the U.S. Geological Survey, strong shaking likely affected areas near Fortuna and Eureka, Calif., closest to the epicenter offshore.
• The tsunami was originally expected to strike San Francisco beginning at around 12:10pm local time (3:10pm ET), and other areas along the California and Oregon coasts as early as 11:10am, according to a National Weather Service bulletin.
• FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell was briefed on the potential tsunami.

Catch up quick: Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning ranging from southwestern Oregon on the northern end to the Santa Cruz area in California on the southern end.

• The Berkeley Police Department issued evacuation orders at the time, saying people in certain areas faced immediate danger and should leave.
• The tsunami warning was in place for just over an hour before the NWS called it off.

Editor's note: This breaking news story has been updated throughout, including substantial updates after the National Weather Service called off the tsunami warning.

President-elect Trump's transition team reached an agreement with the Department of Justice on Tuesday to allow background checks of his upcoming administration's nominees.

Why it matters: The move allows the president-elect's intended aides and staffers to gain security clearances prior to his taking office so they can access classified materials — key for a seamless transition.

• It also means Trump's Cabinet picks will have to go through a background check process before the Senate votes on their confirmations.
• Some Republicans Senators like Susan Collins of Maine had called for nominees to go through the background check process.

Yes, but: It wasn't immediately clear whether Trump's nominees can opt out of the background checks.

• Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Driving the news: The transition team said in a statement that is has entered into a Memorandum Of Understanding with the DOJ as "the next step in the ongoing preparation of senior administration officials."

• The move will allow Trump's team to submit names for background checks and security clearances.
• "Ultimately, this will afford the transition process additional insights, and it facilitates our agency landing teams gaining access to the information they need to prepare for leadership of the federal agencies and departments," per the transition team.

What they're saying: "This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," Trump's chief of staff pick, Susie Wiles, said in a statement.

Context: Trump's team signed a separate agreement with the Biden White House last week — months after the process was supposed to start — to allow the incoming administration access to federal agency information it needs to prepare to take over the government.

• The DOJ agreement was put off at the time as the parties continued to work on it.
• Investigators have been on standby to process the clearances.

Go deeper: Trump administration 2.0: Tracking his Cabinet, White House picks

President-elect Trump said Wednesday he spoke to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum about stopping migration into the U.S.

The big picture: It comes a day after the recently-inaugurated Sheinbaum said she would impose tariffs in retaliation to those proposed by Trump.

• The U.S. president-elect said this week he would impose a 25% tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional tariffs for China, in order to stop the flow of drugs and migrants, effective Jan. 20.

State of play: Trump said in a post on Truth Social Wednesday that he had "a wonderful conversation" with Sheinbaum, claiming she "agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border."

• He said they also talked about "what can be done to stop the massive drug inflow into the United States, and also, U.S. consumption of these drugs."
• Sheinbaum in her own statement earlier Wednesday said she and Trump discussed Mexico's strategy on migration and that she told him caravans are not arriving at the northern border as they're being taken care of in Mexico.
• The Mexican president said they also discussed strengthening collaboration on security issues and a campaign to prevent the consumption of fentanyl.

Zoom out: Mexico has massively stepped up its immigration enforcement at its border with Guatemala, contributing largely to the drop in U.S.-Mexico border crossings.

• Under Sheinbaum's presidency, the U.S. could see continued cooperation on migration, including massive efforts from the Mexican government to detain migrants at its border with Guatemala and elsewhere in the country — before people head to the U.S., Axios' Marina E. Franco reports.
• But Trump's promises of mass deportations would entail expelling people into Mexican territory, which would draw pushback because it'd overwhelm the country's capacity to manage the flow.

Go deeper: Mexico's president would impose retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's plan

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, President elect-Trump's pick for special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, has pushed a proposal to end the war between the two countries through NATO ruling out membership for Ukraine "for an extended period" and Ukraine putting off its goal of reclaiming its lost territory.

Why it matters: Trump named Kellogg as his choice for special envoy on Wednesday, months after Reuters reported on Kellogg's policy plan in June. The plan for a ceasefire signals U.S. support for the war effort would be scaled back.

• It also would mark a shift from the Biden administration's stance on the war and could be met with pushback from European allies.

Zoom in: Kellogg, who served as national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, co-authored a research report detailing his Ukraine policy proposal with former NSA chief of staff Fred Fleitz.

• "The United States would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia will make no further advances and will not attack again after a cease-fire or peace agreement," Kellogg and Fleitz state in the plan.
• But future U.S. military aid will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia, according to the report.
• To convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to join peace talks, "President Biden and other NATO leaders should offer to put off NATO membership for Ukraine for an extended period in exchange for a comprehensive and verifiable peace deal with security guarantees," the pair wrote.
• Meanwhile, Ukraine "would not be asked to relinquish the goal of regaining all its territory," but would agree to try to do so through diplomacy, with the recognition it probably won't happen until after Putin leaves office.

The big picture: Trump has vowed to end the war in Ukraine using his personal relationship with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to get a peace deal.

• With just two months until Trump is inaugurated, Biden has ditched his own guardrails limiting Kyiv's use of U.S. weapons.
• Russia, meanwhile, has responded by revising a nuclear doctrine to effectively lower the country's threshold for using nuclear weapons — a move sparking MAGA fears of "World War III" and testing Trump's warning to Putin not to escalate the conflict.

In announcing his pick Wednesday, Trump said on Truth Social that Kellogg, 80, has been "with me right from the beginning!"

• He added, "Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!"

Go deeper: Ukraine's lame duck danger: Biden and Putin escalate before Trump arrives

Editor's note: This story was updated to more precisely reflect Kellogg's comments. Kellogg and Fleitz wrote that Ukraine should agree not to try to regain its territory by force under a peace deal, not that it should cede its territory to Russia, as the article previously stated.

While President-elect Trump's 2016 win sparked shock, outrage and massive protests, the response to his 2024 victory has been more muted.

The big picture: 2016 birthed The Resistance, a political movement to protest Trumpism online and in the streets. There's still plenty of resistance to Trump across the country, but little mass mobilization.

• That could change as Trump moves to implement his agenda. But experts and activists expect the renewed resistance to come in different forms.

Flashback: Trump won in 2016 despite trailing in the polls, and within weeks of the infamous Access Hollywood tape and multiple sexual assault allegations.

This time Democratic voters, particularly women, were just as disappointed but less shocked, says Lisa Mueller, a political science professor at Macalester College.

• "So they didn't have the same acute trigger to rush to the barricades that they did the first time," says Mueller, who studies why social movements succeed or fail. "It's very likely that there is some disillusionment with activism."
• Mitchell Brown, professor of political science at Auburn University, says one big factor is what cognitive psychologists call habituation.
• "When you first see something unexpected, it's really jarring and you react strongly," she says. "But the more you see and normalize something that was unexpected ... the more habituated you become to it."

State of play: "It doesn't hurt the case to reflect first and resist second," says Mark Brilliant, a history professor at UC Berkeley, adding that prominent Democratic lawmakers "are urging their party-mates to look inward, which is always a good place to turn after defeat."

Zoom in: Some activist groups are working with a new resistance playbook and pivoting their strategies.

• Tamika Middleton, managing director at Women's March, told Axios the organization is trying to find new ways to mobilize people, such as holding local-level training sessions on combating misinformation and sharing strategies for immigrants to protect themselves.
• The group is also trying to build out a coalition with other activist groups working on issues from abortion to immigrant rights.
• "We have been through a Trump presidency before, so we have some sense of what it is that we anticipate, and also some sense of what we need," Middleton says. "We know that we need a bigger, more robust movement, which means that we have to be bringing in as many people as possible."

Between the lines: An event scheduled for January — dubbed "The People's March" — will inevitably be compared to the massive Women's March eight years earlier, which garnered hundreds of thousands of participants and spurred nationwide sister marches.

• Some activists are wary that turnout will be much smaller.

What to watch: A part of the shifting playbook could be a more focused approach, targeting specific Trump policies versus Trumpism as a whole.

• Protests are unlikely to unseat Trump, but they could build momentum around "a specific policy outcome," Mueller says.

The bottom line: "The exhaustion is real" among those who organized against Trump during his first term, only to see him elected again, Middleton says.

• "Part of what is beautiful about what mobilization offers inside of these moments, is that they activate and bring in new people who have new energy."

President-elect Trump announced a slew of nominations to lead health agencies Friday.

State of play: He will nominate doctor and former Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fl.) to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Marty Makary for FDA Commissioner and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General.

The big picture: Trump's picks to lead health agencies, like the HHS, CMS and the FDA, have so far signaled his second administration will have a starkly different and possibly unpredictable agenda.

• He's named figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz, who do not have experience running large government agencies

What he's saying: "Americans have lost trust in the CDC and in our Federal Health Authorities, who have engaged in censorship, data manipulation, and misinformation," Trump said when announcing Weldon's nomination on Truth Social Friday.

• "Dave will proudly restore the CDC to its true purpose, and will work to end the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and Make America Healthy Again!" he added.
• Trump also said the "FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator," and that Makary will "course-correct and refocus the Agency."
• Of Nesheiwat, Trump said, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked on the front lines in New York City treating thousands of Americans" and that her "expertise and leadership have been pivotal during some of the most challenging Healthcare crises of our time."

Go deeper: Trump 2.0 health picks signal a changed agenda

President-elect Trump will nominate Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R- Ore.) for Labor secretary.

The big picture: The one-term Oregon Republican lost her reelection bid this month to a Democratic state lawmaker.

• Prior to Trump's announcement, Chavez-DeRemer won backing from Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, who spoke at the Republican National Convention.

What he's saying: "Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America's workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America," Trump said on Truth Social Friday.

• "I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs," he added.

Go deeper: Trump taps hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to run Treasury

President-elect Trump said Thursday he will nominate Pam Bondi for attorney general, after his previous pick, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), withdrew his name from consideration.

The big picture: The attorney general could be one of the most important roles in the second Trump White House. The president-elect has made clear his desire to have a loyalist in the nation's highest law enforcement role to carry out his agenda, which could include investigating adversaries.

• Republican lawmakers expressed aversion and disdain for Trump's initial choice of the scandal-prone Gaetz for the nation's highest law enforcement role.

Zoom in: Gaetz on Thursday evening praised the president-elect for picking Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and a longtime Trump ally who led the America First Policy Institute.

• "Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families," Trump said on his TruthSocial platform.
• "Then, as Florida's first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term — We saved many lives!" he added.

What's next: Bondi will need the backing of at least 50 senators to get confirmed when the new administration takes office. The candidate can only afford to lose three Senate Republicans' votes.

Why it matters: The person confirmed by the Senate to be attorney general will help lead the implementation of Trump's agenda and steer any efforts to investigate — and prosecute — the president-elect's enemies, Axios' Erin Doherty reports.

Catch up quick: Gaetz withdrew on Nov. 21 as Trump's choice for attorney general after being dogged by allegations of sexual impropriety and drug use.

• The highly controversial pick's path to confirmation was becoming "a distraction" to the White House transition, Gaetz said.
• Gaetz bowed out a day after the House Ethics Committee — which was investigating him over allegations of sex trafficking, corruption and drug use — voted against releasing a report of its findings. The report stemmed from allegations of sexual misconduct with minors.
• The Ethics committee was later notified of a second sexual encounter between Gaetz and a woman who was 17 at the time, CNN reported. The outlet said his withdrawal from AG consideration came after they asked him for comment about the incident.
• The woman testified to both sexual encounters in a civil deposition as part of a related lawsuit, per CNN.
• Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

What he's saying: Gaetz said on X that Trump had made a "stellar" selection with Bondi.

• "Pam and I worked closely together when she was Florida's Attorney General and I chaired Criminal Justice in the state house," he said.
• "She's a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ."

More from Axios:

• Congress breathes sigh of relief as Gaetz withdraws AG bid
• What to know about Matt Gaetz
• What to know about the sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Gaetz

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Walmart, the biggest retailer in the U.S., is the latest to indicate it may raise prices if President-elect Trump's planned tariffs take effect.

The big picture: Trump has vowed to impose sweeping tariffs in his next administration, sending companies scrambling to shift production out of China, stock up on inventory and weigh price increases.

State of play: As companies brace for an increase in the cost of importing products, shoppers can expect to see a reflection at their favorites stores.

• Consumers could lose $46 billion to $78 billion in spending power each year if the new tariffs are implemented, per a National Retail Federation study published this month.
• "If the tariffs go into effect at the levels that have been spoken about, retailers will have no choice but to put up prices," GlobalData managing director Neil Saunders said.
• "So one of the things they will have to do is pass some of those cost increases over to consumers in the form of higher prices," he said, adding it will be a "move of last resort for a lot of retailers."
• Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump and the incoming White House press secretary, told Business Insider: "In his first term, President Trump instituted tariffs against China that created jobs, spurred investment, and resulted in no inflation," adding that Trump would "work quickly" to create jobs and lower taxes.

Zoom in:

Here's a look at retailers that have said they'd likely hike prices if such tariffs are instated:

• Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman told Axios Tuesday that the company is concerned about significantly increased tariffs "because they could lead to increased costs for customers."
• Walmart's CFO John David Rainey told CNBC Tuesday that while the company "never want to raise prices ... there probably will be cases where prices will go up for consumers."
• Lowe's CFO Brandon Sink said on an earnings call Tuesday that about 40% of the company's cost for sold goods is from outside of the U.S. He said tariffs "certainly would add product costs," but added "timing and details remain uncertain at this point," per CNBC.
• Autozone CEO Philip Daniele said on an earnings call, "If we get tariffs, we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer," per Benzinga.
• Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle said the company may be forced to raise prices, too, in order to cover additional tariff charges, according to Benzinga.
• Stanley Black & Decker CEO Donald Allan said to analysts in an October earnings call that the manufacturing firm was looking at "a variety of different scenarios" to prepare for Trump's tariffs proposal and "coming out of the gate, there would be price increases associated with tariffs that we put into the market," per Business Insider.

Zoom out: Some companies are looking to change where they import goods from to circumvent potential tariff's under the next Trump administration.

• Steve Madden CEO Edward Rosenfeld said last week that the $3 billion shoe company has been "planning for a potential scenario in which we would have to move goods out of China more quickly."
• Since Trump's election win, they've put that plan into motion. "You should expect to see the percentage of goods that we sourced from China to begin to come down more rapidly going forward."

What we're watching: Target and TJX Companies will have earnings calls Wednesday, with several other retailers scheduled for later this week.

• Representatives from Target, Kroger, Costco and Sam's Club did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment on the proposed tariffs.

More from Axios:

• How Trump can impose tariffs without Congress
• Trump tariff fears prompt supply chain scramble
• Trump's tariffs: How they work, and who would pay

A record 80 million Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year, according to AAA projections.

The big picture: That's an increase of 1.7 million people from last year's record-shattering figure.

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing for the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record, expecting to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2.
• "Certain foods, such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves – which are considered liquids or gels – must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces," the TSA reminded air travelers.

Between the lines: Those traveling by car and plane — and potentially even by ship — can expect traffic, long lines and delays with millions more people heading elsewhere for the holiday.

What they're saying: "Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we're expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising," Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement.

• TSA Administrator David Pekoske is expecting a very busy week at airports across the country, saying the agency "is ready to accommodate record passenger volumes."
• "The 10 busiest travel days in TSA's history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue," Pekoske added.

Busiest Thanksgiving travel days by car

71.7 million people are expected to travel by car between Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Dec. 2, per AAA.

• That's an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to last year.
• The worst times to travel by car are next Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, according to INRIX, which provides transportation data and insights. The best time is Thanksgiving Day itself.
• Drivers returning home Sunday after the holiday should leave early in the morning, INRIX said.

What we're watching: Gas prices are lower this season compared to 2023, when the national average on Thanksgiving Day was $3.26.

• "Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving," AAA said.

Where we're going: Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, and Phoenix are the cities with the highest rental demand this Thanksgiving, according to Hertz.

• The busiest car pick-up day is expected to day before Thanksgiving, and the busiest return days will be Monday and Tuesday following the holiday.

Thanksgiving air travel record

Air travel is expected to set a new record, with a projected 5.84 million people flying domestically during the holiday week.

• That's up 2% from last year and nearly 11% over 2019. 
• The increase comes even as air travelers are paying 3% more for domestic Thanksgiving flights this year, per AAA booking data.
• International flight bookings are also up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, due in part to a 5% decrease in cost, per AAA.

Busiest days for Thanksgiving travel by air

The busiest air travel days will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday, the TSA projects.

• The agency expects to screen more than 2.8 million people on Tuesday, Nov. 26, about 2.9 million people on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and more than 3 million people on Sunday, Dec. 1.
• To get through TSA quickly, the agency advised passengers to pack smart, avoid bringing prohibited items and ensure all liquids are 3.4 ounces or less if in a carry-on bag.

Holiday travel by bus, cruise and train

Another 2.3 million people are expected to travel via other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises and trains, per AAA.

• The category is seeing an increase of almost 9% compared to last year and an 18% jump over 2019, which AAA attributes in large part to the popularity of cruises.
• Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% from last Thanksgiving.

Go deeper: Walmart shares Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 deals

Former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) was tapped by President-elect Trump on Monday to serve as Secretary of Transportation.

Why it matters: If confirmed, the Fox News contributor and former reality star will be tasked with handling the nation's air, rail and supply-chain issues.

State of play: Duffy is the second Fox News personality selected by for the new administration, following Trump's Pentagon pick, Pete Hegseth.

• Trump himself launched a political career after becoming a household name via NBC's "The Apprentice."

Duffy's background

Duffy, 53, was born in Hayward, Wisconsin, and was one of 11 children.

• A former lumberjack athlete, Duffy has a marketing degree from St. Mary's University and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.
• Duffy is married to fellow Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy and they have nine children.

Reality star

"The Real World: Boston"

Duffy was on MTV's "The Real World: Boston" in 1997. The reality show followed a group of strangers living together for several months.

• Duffy was a 25-year-old aspiring lawyer at the time. His biography for the show called him "a true lumberjack" and "a typical Midwestern boy" who was "brought up in a strict Irish-Catholic family."
• A conservative Republican, he clashed with a cast member described as liberal.

Road Rules

The following year, Duffy appeared on "Road Rules: All Stars," which followed alumni of "The Real World."

• There he where he met his future wife, Rachel, who had appeared on "The Real World: San Francisco."
• In 2002, Duffy also appeared on "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons."
• Both he and wife appeared in a 2008 segment on "The Real World Awards Bash."

Political career

• Duffy, a special prosecutor, was appointed to serve as Ashland County District Attorney in 2002 and was reelected later that year and again for three more terms.
• He then won a House seat for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district as part of the 2010 Tea Party wave, AP reports.
• Serving in Congress from 2011 to 2019, Duffy was a member of the Financial Services Committee and chair of the subcommittee on insurance and housing.
• He resigned in 2019 after learning the child he and his wife were expecting was diagnosed with a heart condition and other complications.

Fox News

Duffy and Dagen McDowell premiered as co-hosts of "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business in 2023. Duffy is also a contributor on Fox News.

• Fox News Media said following Trump's announcement that Duffy is departing the network effective Monday, and"The Bottom Line" will continue with McDowell and rotating co-hosts.
• His wife, Campos-Duffy, was once a guest host on ABC's "The View" and has been co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend since 2021, alongside Hegseth.
• She is one of several Fox News hosts who have defended Hegseth following reports that one of his tattoos had been flagged as a potential white nationalist symbol.

More from Axios:

• Trump taps Fox News' Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary
• Trump administration 2.0: Tracking his Cabinet, White House picks
• What to know about Matt Gaetz, Trump's attorney general pick