The bald eagle is now officially the national bird of the U.S. after President Biden signed into law legislation amending a code to formally recognize the previously unofficial American emblem.

Why it matters: "The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782," per a statement from Preston Cook, co-chair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center, after Congress passed earlier this month the bill that was sent to Biden's desk.

• "With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity," added Cook, who spearheaded the legislative effort with Minnesota Reps. Brad Finstad (R) and Angie Craig (D) and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.).

Zoom out: The bill officially recognizing the bird of prey was among some 50 bills Biden signed into law on Christmas Eve.

The big picture: The bald eagle has unofficially been the national bird since its appearance on the Great Seal, which symbolizes the sovereignty of the U.S. as a nation.

• The bird also features on the president's flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, military insignia and "billions of one-dollar bills," per a Department of Veterans Affairs post.
• However, it had never been legally designated as the country's national bird until now.

Fun fact: Founding father Benjamin Franklin objected to the bald eagle's appearance in a letter to his daughter describing it as "a bird of bad moral character," per the Franklin Institute.

Go deeper: U.S. bald eagle population has quadrupled since 2009

Denmark is increasing defense spending in Greenland, said a Danish official Tuesday who called the announcement's timing with President-elect Trump's suggestion that the U.S. should own the territory an "irony of fate."

The big picture: Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the outlet Jyllands-Posten on Tuesday of plans to spend a "double-digit billion amount" in krone, equivalent to at least $1.5 billion, on the self-ruled territory that's part of its kingdom to ensure a "stronger presence" in the Arctic.

• Trump said on Sunday the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for the U.S., which has a strategically important base on the northwest coast of the territory.
• His remarks that built on comments he made during his first term about buying Greenland prompted the territory's prime minister to say on Monday that it is "not for sale and will never be for sale."

State of play: Poulsen told Jyllands-Posten the Danish government's plan for Greenland included long-range drones, more inspection ships and sled patrols in the territory and an upgrade to Kangerlussuaq Airport so it can accommodate F-35 fighter jets.

• He said that Denmark had "not invested enough" for many years in the Arctic — where countries including China and Russia have been racing for resources in the region that's feeling the effects of climate change.
• Russia has already sought to claim territory up to Greenland's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Between the lines: The Danish Defense Academy's Army Maj. Steen Kjaergaard told the BBC Tuesday that Trump may have been pressing Denmark's government to act on this threat.

• "It is likely to be sparked by the renewed Trump focus on the need for air and maritime control around Greenland and the internal developments in Greenland where some are voicing a will to look towards the U.S. — a new international airport in Nuuk was just inaugurated," Kjaergaard said.
• "Trump is smart… he gets Denmark to prioritize its Arctic military capabilities by raising this voice, without having to take over a very un-American welfare system," he added, in reference to Greenland's reliance on money from Copenhagen.

Zoom in: Greenland's foreign, security and defense policy Arctic strategy for 2024-2033 outlines its goal for improved relations with the U.S. to increase the possibilities for more cooperation, with direct trade and transportation routes supporting this development — particularly with fellow Inuit in Alaska.

• It notes that a 1951 defense agreement means that the U.S. is, in effect, "the military defender in the event of a possible military conflict."
• The United States' Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) has a missile in the territory that's in North America but which has close ties to Europe, which has early warning radar that can detect Russian missiles.
• The base once sought to secretly store a nuclear reactor under an Arctic ice sheet called Camp Century, also known as the "city under the ice," during the Cold War era in a drive called Project Iceworm.
• Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Go deeper: Trump dreams of empire expansion

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more context.

Andrew Freedman contributed reporting.

The Starbucks baristas strike is spreading to more cities — and the union organizing the workers warned the walkout would affect hundreds of stores on Christmas Eve, the last day of the five-day walkout.

Why it matters: The escalating strikes that are taking place during one of the coffee giant's busiest periods resulted in the temporary closure of about 60 stores on Monday, per a statement from Starbucks that emphasizes the "overwhelming majority" of stores remain open.

• Starbucks Workers United, the union representing baristas, told media the work stoppages would affect more than 300 stores across the U.S. on Tuesday.

The big picture: The strike that began in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle last Friday had expanded to cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Los Angeles by Monday.

• Starbucks Workers United said Atlanta and Buffalo will on Tuesday be among the cities joining the biggest-ever strike against the company, per the Washington Post.

Driving the news: Contract negotiations between the two sides that have been ongoing since April broke down after the union said Starbucks' offers were not economically viable, per Axios' Emily Peck.

• The union said its workers are striking to "win fair raises, benefits and staffing, protest unfair labor practices, and resolve outstanding litigation with Starbucks."
• Starbucks has said Workers United's proposals calling for "an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, and by 77% over the life of a three-year contract" are "not sustainable."

What they're saying: Sara Kelly, executive vice president and chief partner officer, said in a statement Christmas Eve that while Workers United will seek to cause more stores to close, the work stoppages would have "a very limited impact to our overall operations."

• That's because 97-99% of stores would continue to operate, according to Kelly, who said Starbucks "offers a competitive average pay of over $18 per hour, and best-in-class benefits" that include health care, free college tuition and paid family leave.

Zoom out: 535 of the 10,000 U.S. Starbucks stores have unionized since 2021.

• Representatives for the union did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment in the evening.

Flashback: Starbucks workers strike at 200 union stores on Red Cup Day

A government review board was unable to reach a consensus in Nippon Steel's planned $15 billion purchase of U.S. Steel and has referred the matter to President Biden, the two companies said on Monday night.

The big picture: The Washington Post first reported on Monday's deadlock by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) over the potential impact on national security if U.S. Steel were sold to Japan's largest steelmaker.

State of play: White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma confirmed in a media statement that they had "received the CFIUS evaluation and the President will review it."

• Both Biden and President-elect Trump have signaled their opposition to the purchase of the Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel, which the United Steelworkers (USW) union is also against.
• Nippon Steel urged Biden late Monday to reflect during the 15-day period that he has to make a final decision "on the great lengths that we have gone to address any national security concerns that have been raised."

What they're saying: U. S. Steel said in a statement late Monday that the deal "enhances U.S. national and economic security through investment in manufacturing and innovation" by a company "based in one of the United States' closest allies."

• The emailed statement said the proposal "forges an alliance in steel to combat the competitive threat from China" and the sale should be approved on its merits and it should be a model for "friendshoring" investment.
• "Nippon Steel has made extraordinary commitments, including over $2.7 billion of investments in our USW facilities, that will be in a binding legal agreement enforceable by the U.S. government, to ensure these virtues are realized," the statement added.
• "It is our hope that President Biden will do the right thing and adhere to the law by approving a transaction that so clearly enhances U.S. national and economic security."

Nippon Steel wants Biden to reflect on the "significant commitments we have made to grow U. S. Steel, protect American jobs, and strengthen the entire American steel industry, which will enhance American national security," said a spokesperson for the world's fourth-largest steelmaker.

• "We are confident that our transaction should and will be approved if it is fairly evaluated on its merits," added the spokesperson over email.
• Representatives for the CFIUS and Biden did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Go deeper: Inside U.S. Steel's decision to be acquired by Japan's Nippon Steel

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Greenland's leader on Monday responded to President-elect Trump suggesting the U.S. should take ownership of the autonomous territory that's part of the kingdom of Denmark by making clear it's not for sale.

What they're saying: "Greenland is ours," Prime Minister Múte Egede said on Facebook. "We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our years-long struggle for freedom. However, we must continue to be open to cooperation and trade with the whole world, especially with our neighbours."

The big picture: Trump said in announcing PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as his choice for United States ambassador to Denmark on Sunday, "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."

• He did not elaborate further on his intentions for the world's largest island that's not a continent after he takes office on Jan. 20, and his representatives did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment on Sunday or Monday evening.

Flashback: Trump expressed interest in buying Greenland during his first term as president, but Danish officials made clear it was not for sale.

Go deeper: Trump demands return of Panama Canal if rates aren't cut

Editor's note: This article has been updated with further context.

A trial for the man accused of a second assassination attempt on President-elect Trump was delayed until next year by a federal judge in Florida on Monday.

The big picture: Ryan Wesley Routh's defense team sought a delay from the scheduled trial start of Feb. 10 to December 2025, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled this was "excessive" and moved the trial to September.

• Routh, 58, has pleaded not guilty to five counts in West Palm Beach, Florida, including the attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.
• He's accused of waiting for Trump at his Florida golf club for hours last September before a Secret Service agent spotted him pointing a rifle through a fence.

Driving the news: Routh's defense cited the need to review an "extraordinary volume of discovery" and "evaluate potential defenses," along with "logistical difficulties" associated with his detention in Miami, according to Cannon's order.

• Cannon noted that Routh's lawyers have indicated "that mental health evaluations are ongoing to assess a potential insanity defense and competency evaluation."

Zoom out: Cannon also presided over Trump's federal classified documents case, which she dismissed in July citing the "unlawful appointment and funding of special counsel Jack Smith."

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe will make history during a flight around the Sun on Christmas Eve.

Why it matters: "No human-made object has ever passed this close to a star, so Parker will truly be returning data from uncharted territory," said Nick Pinkine, Parker Solar Probe mission operations manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland, in a statement.

• The project aims to "answer longstanding questions about our universe," per a statement from Arik Posner, Parker Solar Probe program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The big picture: Parker became in 2018 the first spacecraft to enter the Sun's corona, the outermost part of the star's atmosphere that can be seen during a total solar eclipse.

• The probe aims to again "touch" the Sun when it flies up to about 430,000 mph at its closest approach "just 3.8 million miles" from the surface of the star at 6:53am on Tuesday ET, per NASA.
• Scientists have been using Parker to study the heating of the solar corona and explore what accelerates the solar wind in the hope they can better predict dangerous space weather that can disrupt communications on Earth and also light up the skies with auroras.

What we're watching: During its closest approach mission operations will be out of contact with the spacecraft, which NASA notes can travel in temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Parker is scheduled to transmit a beacon tone on Friday to confirm its health following the close flyby, according to the space agency.

Flashback: Parker Solar Probe breaks record for traveling closest to the sun

President-elect Trump indicated he wants Greenland under U.S. control as he named PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as his pick for United States ambassador to Denmark on Sunday.

The big picture: Trump said during his first administration that he was looking into the U.S. buying Greenland and canceled a state trip to Denmark after Danish officials said the autonomous territory that's part of its kingdom was not for sale.

• He made his latest comments on Greenland after demanding earlier in the weekend that Panamanian authorities lower fees for U.S. ships to transit the Panama Canal or return its control to the United States.

Driving the news: "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," Trump said in a post to Truth Social on Howery.

• "Ken will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States."
• Representatives for both Trump and Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to Axios request for comment in the evening.

Background: The U.S. has on several occasions since 1867 considered or attempted to buy Greenland — the world's largest island that's not a continent.

• Greenland is part of the continent of North America, but it has close geopolitical ties to Europe and has received EU funding as it's classed as an overseas territory associated with the bloc via Denmark.

Between the lines: The territory has access to the Arctic, where there's been a race between nations for resources in a region that research shows is already feeling the impacts of climate change.

• Russia has in recent years sought to claim territory up to Greenland's Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Greenland's natural resources include gold, silver, copper and uranium and there's believed to be significant potential for oil in the waters off the territory.

Go deeper: The great game comes to Greenland

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

President Biden urged Democrats to "stay engaged" and "never give up" as he and Vice President Harris thanked donors and party members at the Democratic National Committee's holiday reception in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.

The big picture: In a nod to President-elect Trump defeating Harris and Republicans winning control of the House and Senate in November's election, Biden said at the DNC event "we all get knocked down," you've just "got to get up" as he touted his administration's legislative accomplishments.

• "That's the road ahead, to never give up, to keep the faith," Biden said. "To know, that what we're doing matters."

What he's saying: Biden pointed to achievements including 2021's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, 2022's CHIPS and Science Act that was designed to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing and the Inflation Reduction Act that he signed into law that same year to lower the deficit and drive down inflation while addressing climate change.

• "We passed historic legislation. Laws that are literally building the strongest economy in the world," Biden said.
• "Many of the laws we passed were so consequential it wouldn't be implemented right away. It takes time to build those ... factories for chips. It takes time to get this construction going."

Zoom in: Biden said he's always believed it's important to ask yourself in public service "have we left the country in better shape than we found it?'"

• The answer "is a resounding 'yes,'" he said. "Because of all of you assembled here, we can be proud we're leaving America in a better place today than we came here four years ago," Biden said.

Go deeper... Biden's consequential presidency: His key policies, wins and setbacks

Officials in the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte estimate Tropical Cyclone Chido killed hundreds of people after the worst storm in 90 years struck the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The big picture: Mayotte hospital officials confirmed Tropical Cyclone Chido killed at least 11 people and wounded some 250 others on Saturday, but a top Mayotte official told local news outlet Mayotte La 1ere Sunday he expects the death toll to rise exponentially.

• "I think there will certainly be several hundreds, maybe we will reach a thousand, even several thousands," prefect Francois-Xavier Bieuville said.

Driving the news: Tropical Cyclone Chido was at least the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic when it made landfall in Mayotte, per the U.S. military's Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

• It was possibly stronger since it was so compact.
• Surface wind readings of higher intensity suggest it was stronger from the storm, which also brought powerful winds and heavy rains to Mozambique when it made landfall on Sunday.
• During the passage of the cyclone in Mayotte, 140 mph winds were recorded in the eye wall at Pamandzi on Mayotte's island of Petite-Terre, per a post to X by the weather agency Météo-France.

State of play: French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that he's closely monitoring the situation on Mayotte — which is the poorest territory in the European Union, with some 77% of people living below the national poverty line.

• "Our island is at this moment deeply affected by the most violent and destructive cyclone that we have seen since 1934," Bieuville said on Facebook Saturday. "Many of us have lost everything."
• European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Bluesky that "Europe stands alongside the people of Mayotte in this terrible ordeal" and the EU was "ready to provide support in the days to come."
• Phone and internet networks were still disrupted on Sunday, as French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau prepared to visit Mayotte on Monday.

Between the lines: Studies show that climate change is increasing maximum wind speeds of hurricanes and causing them to intensify more rapidly.

• They are also producing greater amounts of precipitation than they did just a few decades ago.

These storms are the same type of weather system, but with different terminology depending where they occur.

• Hurricanes and typhoons form in the Atlantic and western Pacific, respectively. Cyclones occur off the southeastern coast of Africa, among other locations.

In photos: Cyclone Chido causes widespread destruction in Mayotte

Go deeper: Why climate change hits poorest countries hardest

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

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that he's "working to pass a bill" to give local law enforcement "more tools for drone detection" following a spate of mysterious sightings in Northeastern U.S. states.

The big picture: Schumer in online statements urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to send "special drone-detection tech" to New York and New Jersey to tackle the unidentified flying objects problem that saw N.Y. Stewart International Airport shut down Friday.

• The Senate majority leader told reporters Sunday he's requesting Robin Radar Systems because they have "360-degree technology."
• He added: "If the technology exists for a drone to make it up into the sky, there certainly is technology that can track the craft with precision and determine what the heck is going on, and that's what the Robin does."

State of play: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in an online statement Sunday said "our federal partners" were "deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system" to N.Y., which she said would support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations into the matter, but she said further assistance was needed.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who reposted Schumer's X post Sunday, has also requested that President Biden direct more resources to investigate the origins of the mystery of the drones.

• Murphy said on X he had met with N.J. State Police officials and radar technicians Sunday night who are "surveying the area for unmanned aircraft systems."
• "The public deserves clear answers — we will keep pushing the federal government for more information and resources," he said, adding in a later post following a meeting with an FBI official on the matter: "We are ready to assist the federal government in getting to the bottom of this."

What they're saying: Mayorkas indicated on X that the Biden administration had sent some tech to N.J., saying that many of the "reported sightings have turned out to be piloted aircraft" as the "technology we have deployed to New Jersey has confirmed this."

• He told ABC News' "This Week" earlier Sunday there's no evidence of "foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the northeast."
• When asked for comment on Schumer's call, a Department of Human Services spokesperson said in an emailed statement early Monday: "DHS responds to Congressional inquiries directly via official channels, and the Department will continue to respond appropriately to Congressional oversight."
• Representatives for Schumer and Murphy did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment in the evening.

Go deeper: White House shoots down drone theories

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from the DHS and Gov. Phil Murphy, and with further context.

The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer, a spokesperson for parent company UnitedHealth Group confirmed to Axios on Thursday night.

The big picture: NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York earlier Thursday there's "no indication" that Luigi Mangione "was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare," but evidence police allege the suspect wrote "does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America."

• That's possibly why the company was targeted in the Dec. 4 New York City shooting, said Kenny who alleged the suspect "had prior knowledge" that the conference Thompson was due to attend when he was killed "was taking place on that date, at that location."
• Mangione's defense attorney Thomas Dickey, who is representing him on forgery and gun charges in Pennsylvania, said the 26-year-old would plead not guilty in the state and suggested he'd do the same with the New York counts, which include a murder charge.

What they're saying: "Today we are confirming that [Mangione] and his mother were not UnitedHealthcare members," a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group said in a statement first shared with the Star Tribune on Thursday.

• "We are working closely with law enforcement officials who continue their investigation of this horrific crime, and we continue to support those who depend on us for their health care."

Between the lines: AP notes that UnitedHealthcare isn't the fifth-largest company by market capitalization, though it is in the top 20 and is the biggest health insurer in the U.S.

Zoom in: Kenny gave more details to NBC New York on the spinal fusion surgery investigators believe Mangione underwent.

• "It seems that he had an accident that caused him to go to the emergency room back in July of 2023, and that it was a life-changing injury," Kenny said.
• "He posted X-rays of screws being inserted into his spine. So the injury that he suffered was, was a life-changing, life-altering injury, and that's what may have put him on this path."

What we're watching: Mangione, who remains in jail after being denied bail, is fighting extradition to N.Y.

• A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 30 at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Penn.
• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Thursday she expects an indictment to be issued in N.Y. "any day now and at the second that happens, I'm issuing a warrant for extradition."

More from Axios:

• America obsesses over Luigi Mangione's digital footprint
• Corporate America gets more reclusive following CEO's killing
• Book is a bestseller after "delay," "deny" bullet casings found on CEO killing site

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Amazon gave $1 million to President-elect Trump's inaugural fund, the company confirmed Thursday — one day after Facebook and Instagram parent Meta announced a similar donation.

Why it matters: Trump noted to CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday that he's returning to the White House with warmer relations with Big Tech leaders and said Amazon founder Jeff Bezos planned to visit him next week, following a similar Mar-a-Lago meeting with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

• Trump had an at times adversarial relationship with both Amazon and Facebook during his last term, but last week Bezos expressed optimism about the incoming administration. He described the president-elect as "calmer than he was" and "more settled."

Details: In addition to the $1 million cash donation, a source close to the company said Amazon would provide a $1 million in-kind donation by broadcasting Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 on Prime Video.

• Amazon also streamed President Biden's inauguration and offered to donate to the 2021 event but his campaign told the online retailer it wasn't accepting donations from Big Tech companies, according to the source.

The big picture: Bezos and Zuckerberg were among a series of Big Tech CEOs who quickly congratulated the president-elect on his election win last month, as business leaders seek access to and gain influence with the second Trump administration.

Go deeper: Tech titans scramble to be inside Trump's tent

President-elect Trump appeared to indicate his support for the dockworkers union in its contract dispute with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) that led to a major strike at East Coast and Gulf ports earlier this year.

Why it matters: Though port workers are back on the docks after a three-day work stoppage in October, they haven't yet finalized a new contract with the shipping companies — the prospect of an economy-crushing strike still looms. The deadline is just five days before Trump's inauguration.

Driving the news: "I've studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it," Trump said on Truth Social after meeting with International Longshoremen's Association president Harold Daggett and executive vice president Dennis Daggett.

• "The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen."
• Trump said foreign companies had "made a fortune in the U.S." and he'd rather they spend it on dock workers than expensive machinery that will constantly have to be replaced.
• "For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries," Trump added.

Context: The United States Maritime Alliance and International Longshoremen's Association agreed to a 62% pay rise over six years to end the strike, but negotiations have reached an impasse over semi-automated cranes.

What they're saying: "It's clear President-elect Trump, USMX, and the ILA all share the goal of protecting and adding good-paying American jobs at our ports," USMX said in a statement.

• "We need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains."

Between the lines: The president-elect's post is a sign that Trump 2.0 might be more labor friendly than Trump 1.0.

• Trump's pick for Labor Secretary, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), also has appeared to signal a more pro-union approach.

Go deeper: Striking port workers are trying to fend off the inevitable

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details from the negotiations.

President-elect Trump said Wednesday the next head of the agency in charge of Voice of America will appoint former television news anchor Kari Lake to serve as director of the federally funded broadcaster.

The big picture: Lake will work with the next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media "to ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media," Trump said of the MAGA loyalist on Truth Social.

• "Kari was a beloved News Anchor in Anchor in Arizona, which supported me by record margins, for over 20 years," he added in reference to the state that elected Trump in November but voted for President Biden in 2020.

State of play: Lake had a 30-year media career in Arizona before unsuccessfully running for looking to go into politics.

• The staunch Trump supporter unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in Arizona last month.
• She was also the defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2022 and unsuccessfully challenged the results.

VOA was established in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda with unbiased news and information.

• It's funded by the government through the U.S. Agency for Global Media and is governed by a longstanding charter that legally requires the VOA to report "accurate, objective, and comprehensive" news abroad, per Axios' media correspondent Sara Fischer.

By the numbers: VOA broadcasts in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly global audience of more than 354 million people.

What she's saying: Lake said on X she's "honored" that Trump asked her to lead VOA.

• "Under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling America's achievements worldwide," she added.

Flashback: Two top VOA officials resigned from their posts in 2020 after the Trump White House accused the independent international news agency of promoting Chinese propaganda in its coverage of the COVID pandemic.

What's next: Trump said he would announce his pick to run the U.S. Agency for Global Media soon.

Go deeper: Senate GOP leader hopefuls swarm Kari Lake for MAGA cred

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

Two real estate tycoons and their brother were arrested on federal sex trafficking charges, New York prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The big picture: Oren and Tal Alexander are accused of using their wealth and prominent positions in real estate in ultra-luxury markets in N.Y. and Florida for over a decade to "repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault and rape dozens of women," per an indictment unsealed Wednesday.

• The two brothers and Oren Alexander's twin, Alon Alexander, have previously denied sexual assault allegations after lawsuits were filed in civil court against them earlier this year.

Driving the news: The brothers were arrested in Miami, Florida, the city listed by officials as their hometown, though prosecutors say they also reside in New York. They were expected to be transferred to New York.

• They're each charged with one count of engaging in a sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Tal Alexander faces an additional charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.

Zoom in: The brothers are accused of identifying and luring women to events through methods including social media, dating apps, in-person encounters or via party promoters in a sex trafficking scheme that allegedly began in 2010.

• "At times, the Alexander brothers arranged for these sexual assaults well in advance, using the promise of luxury experiences, travel and accommodations to lure and entice women to locations where they were then forcibly raped or sexually assaulted, sometimes by multiple men, including one or more of the Alexander brothers," the indictment alleges.
• "As of today, law enforcement has interviewed dozens of women who reported being forcibly raped or sexually assaulted by at least one of the Alexander brothers," said Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, at a briefing in Manhattan on Wednesday.
• "This conduct, as alleged, was heinous."

What they're saying: While a lawyer for 38-year-old Tal Alexander declined to comment on the charges, a lawyer for 37-year-old Alon Alexander, said he would plead not guilty, per Reuters.

• Susan Necheles, who represents Oren Alexander, said in a media statement that her client is "innocent" and the "evidence will show that neither he nor his brothers ever committed a crime."

Zoom out: Oren and Tal Alexander co-founded the real estate brokerage, Official. Its website states that the firm operates in the New York, Miami, Aspen and the Hamptons markets. The brothers stepped down from their roles in June, per the New York Times.

• Alon Alexander worked at a private security firm, prosecutors said.

Meta donated $1 million to President-elect Trump's inaugural fund, Trump representatives and the social media giant confirmed.

Why it matters: Big Tech CEOs have been working to gain access and influence with Trump since he won the election last month, per Axios' Ivana Saric.

• The donation comes two weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg went to Mar-a-Lago to dine with Trump, with whom he previously had a fractious relationship.

State of play: "Neither Zuckerberg nor Meta donated to Trump's inaugural fund in 2017 or to President Biden's fund in 2021," per the Wall Street Journal, citing public records, which first reported on the donation Wednesday.

• Meta banned Trump from its Facebook and Instagram platforms following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but removed restrictions on his accounts during the 2024 election campaign in July.
• Zuckerberg previously criticized Trump's executive orders on immigration during the Republican's first term.
• Trump said in a book that came out in August that Zuckerberg would "spend the rest of his life in prison" if he tried to influence the outcome of the election.
• Zuckerberg said he reached out to Trump following the attempted assassination on him over the summer and described the Republican's response to that attack as "badass."
• A spokesperson for Meta confirmed the donation, but declined to comment further on the matter.

Zoom out: Zuckerberg joined Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and other tech leaders in rushing to congratulate Trump following his election win.

• Trump has previously had fraught relationships with all of their companies.
• Meanwhile, incoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) co-leader and Tesla owner Elon Musk and Zuckerberg openly feuded online last year when the pair talked up having a "cage match" that never eventuated.

Go deeper... Behind the Curtain: The Silicon swamp

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

A federal appeals court on Wednesday struck down the Nasdaq's diversity disclosure rules for companies listed on the stock exchange, which were designed to boost the representation of women and minority directors on boards.

The big picture: The conservative-majority New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Securities and Exchange Commission did not have the power to approve the rule that required companies to ensure women and minority directors were on their boards or provide an explanation of why this was not the case.

• It was implemented after George Floyd's killing pushed companies to address racial inequality and move toward diversity, equity and inclusion.
• An SEC spokesperson said in an emailed statement Wednesday evening that the agency was "reviewing the decision and will determine next steps as appropriate."

Thought bubble, via Axios' Emily Peck and Felix Salmon: These diversity rules have been hotly contested and this decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals was expected, as it has a reputation for politicized and idiosyncratic jurisprudence.

• A similar board diversity law in California was struck down in 2022 as unconstitutional. The rules touch on one of the most reviled parts of DEI: quotas.

State of play: Conservative groups the National Center for Public Policy Research and Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment challenged an earlier court ruling in favor of the move.

• Alliance for Fair Board Recruitment is founded by Edward Blum, who previously led a legal fight that resulted in the Supreme Court last year striking down affirmative action in higher education.

What they're saying: "We maintain that the rule simplified and standardized disclosure requirements to the benefit of both corporates and investors," a Nasdaq spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Wednesday evening.

• "That said, we respect the Court's decision and do not intend to seek further review."

Go deeper: Regulation is slowing deal environment, Nasdaq CEO says

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details from the case and further context.

A wildfire threatening Malibu homes has forced thousands to evacuate, and forecasters warn "very dry air and elevated fire weather conditions would persist" into Wednesday night, even after red flag warnings ended earlier in the day.

The big picture: Santa Ana winds and very low humidity have driven the dire conditions, as hundreds of firefighters tackle the fast-moving Franklin Fire, which was burning out of control across an estimated 4,000-plus acres in Malibu Wednesday.

Go deeper: How wildfire smoke impacts your health

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

A federal bankruptcy judge rejected The Onion's winning bid to buy Alex Jones' Infowars platform in a Tuesday night ruling.

The big picture: Judge Christopher Lopez, of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, cited problems with transparency during the sealed bidding of the sale at November's court-ordered auction, per Bloomberg and other outlets.

• Ben Collins, CEO of Global Tetrahedron, The Onion's parent company, said in a statement posted to social media they will "continue to seek a path towards purchasing Infowars in the coming weeks."

Context: Far-right conspiracy theorist Jones was forced to sell Infowars to help repay the $1.5 billion in damages he owes to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims for falsely claiming the massacre in Connecticut was a hoax.

• Christopher Murray, the court-appointed trustee who is liquidating Jones' estate in the bankruptcy proceedings, valued The Onion's total bid at over $7 million, including $1.75 million in cash that the satirical news site offered, according to multiple reports.
• The total takes into account Sandy Hook families' offer to forgo their portion of potential earnings from the defamation judgment to support The Onion's bid.

Driving the news: Jones and First United American Companies, a bidder affiliated with the Infowars co-founder, who offered $3.5 million in cash for the platform, argued against the sale to The Onion during a two-day hearing this week.

• Lopez said in his ruling from the bench in Houston that he didn't think "anyone acted in bad faith," the Washington Post reports.
• "I think everyone was trying to buy an asset and put their best foot forward and play by the rules," he added.
• However, Lopez didn't think the winning bid was "enough money" and so he said he would not approve the sale, according to NBC News.

What they're saying: Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families who sued Jones in Connecticut, said in a statement emailed early Wednesday they were "disappointed the Bankruptcy Court rejected a purchase of Infowars that the court-appointed trustee recommended as being in the best interest of the creditors."

• He added: "These families, who have already persevered through countless delays and roadblocks, remain resilient and determined as ever to hold Alex Jones and his corrupt businesses accountable for the harm he has caused.
• "This decision doesn't change the fact that, soon, Alex Jones will begin to pay his debt to these families and he will continue doing so for as long as it takes."

Collins said in his statement The Onion "will continue to seek a resolution that helps the Sandy Hook families receive a positive outcome for the horror they endured."

• He said pursuing the purchase of Infowars "is part of our larger mission to make a better, funnier internet, regardless of the outcome."

The other side: "It's like being held underwater and finally getting air," Jones said in response to the ruling during a live broadcast, per Bloomberg.

State of play: "Lopez said he does not want another complex auction, but deferred to Murray on how to proceed with fetching top dollar for Jones' assets," WaPo reports.

• The Onion planned to relaunch a new version of Infowars with Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that fights gun violence, as its sponsor, per Axios' Tim Baysinger.

Go deeper: Musk's X claims ownership of InfoWars accounts in sale to The Onion

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.