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Yesterday β€” 23 January 2025Main stream

Trump hits at Biden in Davos speech, says "a revolution of common sense" has begun

23 January 2025 at 09:09

President Trump celebrated the start of his administration Thursday while addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, lauding his agenda while taking digs at former President Biden.

Why it matters: Trump vowed this week to usher in a "golden age" in the U.S. and immediately issued a flurry of executive orders reshaping the country's immigration and environmental policies, civil rights protections and federal workforce.


Driving the news: "What the world has witnessed in the past 72 hours is nothing less than a revolution of common sense," Trump told the gathering business leaders and European officials in Davos.

  • Recapping his executive orders, Trump claimed his administration had accomplished more in less than four days since taking office than other administrations had done in four years.
  • Trump said his administration was tasked with fixing the "disasters" of the Biden administration, adding that his predecessor had "totally lost control of what was going on in our country."

Zoom in: Trump also outlined some of his goals for his term.

  • The president said he plans to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to "bring down the cost of oil" and that once oil prices begin falling he will "demand that interest rates drop immediately."
  • He will also ask all NATO members to raise their defense spending to 5% of their GDP. Just over half of NATO members currently meet the 2% spending target.
  • Trump also pledged to lower the corporate tax rate down to 15% β€” from the current 21% β€” for companies that "make your product in the U.S."
  • Trump also repeated his pledge to soon meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Go deeper: Tracking Trump's executive orders: What he's signed so far

What to know about the equal employment opportunity executive order Trump revoked

23 January 2025 at 07:23

President Trump on Tuesday revoked a decades-old executive order that strengthened protections against workplace discrimination.

Why it matters: Trump's desire to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government's employment practices could set the tone for private companies nationwide to do the same.


  • Trump's executive order targeting DEI practices undid a whole host of previous orders that sought to prohibit discrimination in the workplace. Among the landmark pieces of legislation were anti-discrimination rules enacted by President Lyndon Johnson in the Civil Rights era.

What is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act?

Signed by Johnson in 1965, Executive Order 11246, mandated government contractors to give equal opportunity to people of color and women in recruitment, hiring, training and other employment practices.

  • It prohibited employment discrimination and called on federal contractors to take affirmative action to ensure employees are treated equally, "without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin."
  • Johnson signed the act just a year after signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  • Congress later expanded on the executive order in the Equal Opportunity Employment Act of 1972, increasing the number of employees covered by the workplace protections and requiring state and local governments to follow the rules outlined.

What does Trump's executive order say?

Trump's expansive executive order states that "Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965 ... is hereby revoked."

  • The executive order claims that both the private and public sectors "have adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences," and that these DEI practices "can violate the civil-rights laws of this Nation."
  • It noted that federal contractors could continue complying with the act for the next 90 days.

Caveat: Trump's executive order targets the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which enforces Executive Order 11246.

  • It orders the OFCCP to "immediately cease" promoting diversity, holding federal contractors and subcontractors responsible for affirmative action practices, and "allowing or encouraging" those same entities "to engage in workforce balancing" on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion and nation of origin.

What's been the response?

Trump's executive order has already sparked outcry from civil rights leaders and advocacy groups.

  • "Diversity, equity, and inclusion are aligned with American values," National Urban League president Marc H. Morial told Axios. "They are about uniting us, not dividing us. Efforts to paint DEI as a preference program are nothing more than campaigns of smear and distortion."
  • Judy Conti, government affairs director of the National Employment Law Project, slammed Trump's executive order in a statement Wednesday.
  • "This is not a return to so-called 'meritocracy.' Rather, it's an attempted return to the days when people of color, women, and other marginalized people lacked the tools to ensure that they were evaluated on their merits," Conti said.

Go deeper:

Editor's note: The story and headline have been corrected to note that Johnson's executive order was revoked by Trump (not the Equal Opportunity Employment Act signed by Congress).

Before yesterdayMain stream

National Security Council staffers grilled about loyalty to Trump

22 January 2025 at 11:47

The Trump administration is screening the loyalty of approximately 160 career civil servants assigned to the National Security Council.

Why it matters: The screenings are part of a larger push by President Trump to reshape the federal workforce that includes staffing the administration with loyalists and making it easier to fire civil servants.


State of play: There are approximately 160 civil servants, known as detailees, on the NSC whose employment is being reviewed. These reviews are at "different stages" but nearly all "are being impacted today," a national security source briefed on the matter told Axios Wednesday.

  • The sidelined detailees have been told to temporarily work from home as the process continues, per AP, which first reported the story.
  • Meanwhile, new detailees, including some that had served during the first Trump administration, are being brought on, per AP.

Catch up quick: Even before President Trump took office, members of his administration began questioning NSC employees about their political affiliations and actions, to suss out their loyalty to Trump, AP reported earlier this month.

  • Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz had told Breitbart News earlier this month that career civil servants detailed to the NSC during the Biden administration would be returned to their home federal agencies and departments.

Between the lines: Compliance with policy goals has also been a high priority for the Trump administration.

  • His Justice Department has also ordered federal prosecutors to investigate and potentially bring charges against state and local officials if they refuse to enforce the administration's new immigration policies.

Zoom out: Trump has lost little time in reshaping the federal workforce since his inauguration Monday.

  • He swiftly signed executive orders mandating a hiring freeze for federal workers and mandating a full-time return to in-office work for government employees.
  • He also reinstated Schedule F, which could make it easier to fire civil servants deemed disloyal.

Go deeper: Tracking Trump's executive orders: What he's signed so far

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

Trump threatens tariffs if Russia doesn't end Ukraine war

22 January 2025 at 09:04

President Trump threatened on Wednesday to levy fresh tariffs on Russia if the Kremlin does not quickly agree to a deal to end its war in Ukraine.

Why it matters: Trump made ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine a key campaign pledge, but its not clear that his new threat will put significant pressure on Russia to change its negotiating posture.


Driving the news: Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday that if a deal to end the war is not reached "soon," he would have "no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries."

  • Trump said he wasn't "looking to hurt Russia" but that the actions were necessary to end the war.
  • "I'm going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR," he added.

Caveat: According to U.S. Census Bureau data, U.S. imports from Russia have fallen precipitously over the past decade.

The big picture: The U.S. has already imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Russian companies, imports, oligarchs and financial institutions during the Biden administration.

State of play: Trump vowed on the campaign trail to end the war within 24 hours of taking office. That didn't happen. Recent reports have suggested his administration now expects it to take several months to broker a deal.

Our thought bubble, from Axios' Ben Berkowitz: A threat to tariff Russian exports, and sanction its companies, has much less practical impact now than it would have in past years, given that Russian trade has dwindled dramatically since the war started.

Go deeper: Trump says he will meet with Putin to discuss end of Russia-Ukraine war

Trump admin orders federal health agencies to halt communications

22 January 2025 at 05:43

President Trump on Tuesday ordered key federal health agencies to pause all external communications, multiple outlets reported and Axios confirmed.

Why it matters: The health agencies' website updates, advisories, and scientific reports provide the public with critical information on a variety of medical issues, including food recalls, infectious diseases and new drug approvals.


Driving the news: The directive was delivered to officials inside the Department of Health and Human Services' agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), per the Washington Post, which first reported the story.

  • The directive did not outline a reason for the pause, how long it is meant to last, or what exactly was covered under it, CNN reported.
  • The HHS and NIH did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment on Wednesday. The FDA and CDC referred Axios to HHS.

Between the lines: The temporary pause is meant to allow the new administration's team to get settled but will not impact communications related to health emergencies, a source familiar with the matter told Axios.

  • While a pause in external communications at the start of a new administration isn't unprecedented, an unnamed source familiar with the directive told CNN that the scope of the order seemed unusual.

Flashback: The first Trump administration in 2017 sent a similar directive pausing external communications to several federal agencies overseeing environmental and scientific policy.

Go deeper: Trump names doctors to head CDC, FDA and for Surgeon General

Editor's note: This story was updated with a comment from an administration official.

The most notorious Jan. 6 defendants pardoned by Trump

21 January 2025 at 07:45

President Trump on Monday issued pardons for nearly all of the defendants charged with participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot β€” an unprecedented act of clemency.

Why it matters: In doing so, Trump absolved those who sought to undermine the democratic process. He also dashed a years-long effort by former President Biden's Justice Department to hold accountable those responsible for the deadly violence.


  • In addition the roughly 1,500 pardons, Trump also commuted 14 defendants' sentences.

The big picture: Trump himself was indicted after special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. However, the DOJ case was dismissed after Trump won the 2024 election.

  • In his final report, Smith drew a direct line between Trump and the rioters, saying the president had "inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence."

Here are the most notorious Jan. 6 defendants impacted by Trump's executive order.

Enrique Tarrio: ex-Proud Boys leader

One of the most well known rioters to receive a pardon is Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the former leader of the right-wing extremist Proud Boys group.

  • Tarrio was sentenced in 2023 to 22 years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in seditious conspiracy related to the Jan. 6 riot, the longest prison sentence handed down in the Jan. 6 cases.
  • Seditious conspiracy is committed when two or more people in the U.S. conspire to overthrow, destroy, seize the property of or levy war against the U.S. government, or to prevent the execution of any U.S. law.

Zoom in: While Tarrio wasn't at the Capitol riot himself, prosecutors argued that he maintained command over the Proud Boys during that time and took credit for what unfolded on behalf of the group.

  • Tarrio's mother posted on X Monday night that her son was being released. "Tarrio is free!" she wrote.

Stewart Rhodes: founder of Oath Keepers

Trump commuted the sentence of Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers.

  • Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023 for seditious conspiracy, after he helped lead a plot to halt the certification of the 2020 election results.
  • Rhodes was released from prison early Tuesday morning, Reuters reported.

Trump pardons Proud Boys leaders

Three other Proud Boys leaders β€” Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Ethan Nordean β€” were all military veterans and Proud Boy leaders who had their sentences commuted by Trump.

  • Biggs and Rehl were sentenced for seditious conspiracy and other charges in their Jan. 6 cases, with Biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison and Rehl to 15 years in prison.
  • Nordean was sentenced to 18 years in prison after also being found guilty of seditious conspiracy.
  • It was not immediately clear when the trio would be released.

Kelly Meggs: Oath Keepers leader

One of Rhodes' top deputies, Kelly Meggs, also had his sentence commuted by Trump.

  • Meggs, a former Florida leader of the Oath Keepers, had been sentenced to 12 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other felonies.
  • His wife, Connie Meggs, also received a pardon for her role in the riot, per Reuters.

Go deeper: Trump pardons most Jan. 6 defendants

Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that Rhodes was released from prison Tuesday (not Wednesday).

OpenAI product chief says world is "on the verge" of AI agents

21 January 2025 at 05:39

Humanity is "on the verge" of having AI agents that can complete tasks in the real world, OpenAI product chief Kevin Weil told Axios' Ina Fried in Davos Tuesday.

Why it matters: Weil's prediction comes days after Axios reported that a major AI company was close to announcing a breakthrough regarding the creation of Ph.D.-level AI super-agents capable of completing complex tasks.


What he's saying: "I think 2025 is the year that we go from ChatGPT being this super smart thing that can answer any question you ask to ChatGPT doing things in the real world for you," Weil told Axios.

  • The advanced reasoning skills of new AI models, and improved ability to be multimodal and engage with humans, will be key to this ability, Weil said.
  • He predicted that likely as soon as this year, AI agents will be able to do tasks like filling out forms or making restaurant reservations.

State of play: Asked about workers' anxiety about the impacts of AI, Weil encouraged people to experiment with AI tools.

  • Using them will give people "a much better sense for how these things really will impact sort of your sphere β€” your workplace, your friends, your family," he said.
  • It will also enable workers to "participate in the change" that AI will bring.

Go deeper:

Trump targets transgender protections in new executive order

20 January 2025 at 19:46

President Trump took the first step toward rolling back protections for transgender people on Monday, signing an executive order that the federal government would only recognize two sexes, male and female.

Why it matters: Trump made attacks on transgender individuals a central focus of his 2024 campaign, and by issuing the executive order on his first day in office, signaled the importance of the issue in his second term.


  • The executive order could have wide-reaching implications for gender-affirming care and recognition of trans people in a variety of spaces.
  • It could also signal a first step toward banning transgender athletes from taking part in women's sports. The move would amount to "removing protections from some of our most vulnerable students," Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, told Axios ahead of the decision.

Driving the news: Trump's executive order states that only two sexes will be recognized by the federal government, "male and female."

  • As such, only those two sexes will be recognized for official documents such as passports and visas.
  • "'Sex' is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of 'gender identity,'" the order states.
  • The executive order aims to prohibit taxpayer funds from being used for gender-affirming care and to prevent transgender women from being held in women's prisons or detention centers.

State of play: An incoming White House official previewed the executive order on a call with reporters Monday ahead of Trump's inauguration, saying it was part of Trump's aim of "restoring sanity" in the U.S.

  • The executive order is about "defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government," the official said.

Zoom out: Even before he took office, trans rights advocates vowed to fight Trump's rollback of trans rights.

  • Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the biggest LGBTQ political lobbying group in the U.S., said in a statement the HRC refused to back down or be intimidated.
  • "We are not going anywhere, and we will fight back against these harmful provisions with everything we've got," Robinson added.
  • Ash Orr, a spokesperson for Advocates for Trans Equality, told AP the group would persevere and "continue in our work and we're going to continue to protect trans rights throughout the country."

State of play: Trump has repeatedly railed about trans athletes competing in women's and girls' sports while on the campaign trail.

  • At a Fox News town hall in October, Trump said, "We're not going to let it happen ... we absolutely stop it. You can't have it," when asked about how he would handle "the transgender issue" in women's sports.

Zoom out: LGBTQ+ advocates long warned that the new Trump administration would attempt to undo the Biden administration's efforts to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students under Title IX.

  • Those efforts faced legal hurdles even before Trump re-entered office.
  • In December, the Education Department withdrew a proposal to expand Title IX protections for trans student-athletes in the face of multiple lawsuit threats.
  • In early January, a federal judge rejected rules to broaden the definition of sex discrimination under Title IX in order to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Go deeper: Trump closing out campaign cycle with anti-trans attacks

Trump pardons ex-Proud Boys leader Tarrio and commutes sentence of Oath Keepers founder Rhodes

20 January 2025 at 21:31

President Trump signed an executive order on Monday granting a "full, complete and unconditional pardon" to the vast majority of Jan. 6 defendants charged with participating in the Capitol riot four years ago.

Why it matters: Among the roughly 1,500 pardoned and 14 others whose sentences were commuted were leaders of the extremist groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were convicted of the seditious conspiracy for their roles in the attack.


Driving the news: Trump commuted the sentences of 14 defendants and issued pardons for all other "individuals convicted of offenses" connected to Jan. 6, according to the executive order.

  • "These are the hostages, approximately 1,500 for a pardon, full pardon," Trump said from the Oval Office, as he signed a slew of other executive orders on his first night as president.

Zoom in: A lawyer for Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of seditious conspiracy over the deadly Capitol riot, confirmed to media that the former leader of the right-wing extremist Proud Boys group was among those pardoned by Trump.

Context: Seditious conspiracy is defined as when two or more people conspire to overthrow, destroy, seize the property of or levy war against the U.S. government, or to prevent the execution of any American law.

By the numbers: At least 1,583 people had been charged to date in connection with the insurrection, per Department of Justice data ahead of the Capitol riot's fourth anniversary.

  • More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial.
  • The charges faced by the defendants have ranged from misdemeanors, like trespassing, to felony charges, like assaulting law enforcement officers or engaging in seditious conspiracy.

Zoom out: Pardoning insurrectionists convicted of crimes, including violent felonies, defies the GOP's image as the party of law and order. Future perpetrators of political violence could also expect to be met with clemency.

  • Since 2021, multiple criminal and congressional investigations have sought to sift through the events of the attack and Trump's role in it.
  • Trump was indicted in 2023 as part of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. After Trump won the 2024 election, the case was dismissed.

State of play: During the campaign and transition period, Trump repeatedly promised to quickly pursue pardons for Jan. 6 rioters upon assuming the presidency.

  • As recently as January, Trump vowed "major pardons" were coming for Jan. 6 defendants.
  • In 2022, before he announced another run for office, Trump publicly promised pardons and said the defendants were being treated unfairly.

Over the years, he gave limited details about how broad the potential pardons would be.

  • In an interview with NBC News' "Meet the Press" in December, Trump said there could be "some exceptions" for the pardons in cases where the defendant was "radical, crazy," but did not elaborate.
  • He also told Time magazine he would determine the pardons on a "case-by-case" basis, but that the "vast majority" of defendants "should not be in jail."

What we're watching: In pardoning Jan. 6 defendants convicted of crimes, Trump is testing the limits of public opinion.

  • A Washington Post-University of Maryland national poll released in December found that 66% of Americans opposed Trump's plan to issue pardons for the rioters.

Several federal judges had also opposed Trump's plan to issue pardons for the rioters.

  • U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee who has handled Jan. 6 cases, said in November that "blanket pardons for all January 6 defendants or anything close would be beyond frustrating and disappointing."
  • While sentencing a member of the Oath Keepers militia last month, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said that the prospect of the group's founder Stewart Rhodes receiving a pardon "is frightening and ought to be frightening to anyone who cares about democracy in this country."

Go deeper: Trump downplays Jan. 6: "You had a peaceful transfer of power"

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

Biden pardons Fauci, Cheney and Jan. 6 panel ahead of Trump inauguration

20 January 2025 at 08:26

President Biden issued historic preemptive pardons for former NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, members of the House Jan. 6 committee and others on Monday, granting them broad immunity before President-elect Trump's White House return, multiple outlets reported.

Why it matters: He issued the blanket pardons after President-elect Trump repeatedly threatened to investigate or jail his political enemies.


Driving the news: Biden said in a statement Monday that the pardons should not be construed as an "acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing."

  • Rather, Biden said he wished to protect the individuals from damage to their reputations or finances by "baseless and politically motivated investigations." His statement did not mention Trump by name.
  • "Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country," the statement read.

The big picture: The pardons benefit people who have been the target of Trump's ire as he mounted his bid for another term in the White House.

  • Fauci was, for decades, the nation's top infectious disease expert. He led the country through the COVID-19 pandemic, and was repeatedly attacked by Trump, who sought to downplay the pandemic.
  • Retired U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had issued stark warnings about Trump, calling him a fascist and a "wannabe dictator."
  • Among Trump's most famous opponents on the Jan. 6 select committee was former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). Her anti-Trump criticism ostracized her from much of the Republican party.
  • Trump has said Cheney and other members of the Jan. 6 committee should go to jail.

State of play: Biden issued the preemptive pardons for Fauci, Milley, the members and staff who served on the Jan. 6 select committee, and the law enforcement officers who testified before the committee just hours before his term ends.

  • Fauci told CNN Monday that while he had done nothing wrong, he was "grateful" to Biden for the preemptive pardon, saying he had become increasingly concerned about threats against his family.
  • Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn echoed Fauci's sentiment, saying in a statement that he was "eternally grateful" to Biden for the pardon, CNN reported.
  • "I wish this pardon weren't necessary, but unfortunately, the political climate we are in now has made the need for one somewhat of a reality," Dunn added.

Cheney and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who co-chaired the select committee, issued a joint statement Monday thanking Biden for their pardons.

  • "We have been pardoned today not for breaking the law but for upholding it," they said.

Zoom out: Biden had been reportedly mulling issuing a slate of preemptive pardons for weeks for individuals likely to be targeted by Trump.

Editor's note: This story was updated with reaction to Biden's pardons and additional context.

Trump inauguration will move indoors over frigid weather

17 January 2025 at 09:43

President-elect Trump's inaugural ceremony Monday will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda due to the weather forecast in Washington, D.C., he posted on Truth Social.

The big picture: Ronald Reagan's 1985 presidential swearing-in was the last to move indoors because of cold temperatures.


Driving the news: Trump wrote on Truth Social that the decision to adjust the ceremony's plans was a safety consideration.

  • "I don't want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way," Trump wrote, noting that the temperature lows could pose "dangerous conditions" for law enforcement personnel and spectators.
  • Instead, Trump said he had ordered much of the proceedings moved to the Capitol Rotunda and that Washington, D.C.'s Capital One Arena would be opened to spectators to watch the ceremony live.
  • Trump added that he would join the crowd at the arena after his swearing-in.
Data: National Weather Service; Chart: Axios Visuals

Zoom out: Air temperatures Monday are expected to hit the low- to mid-20s, with wind chills that could register between 12ΒΊF and 14ΒΊF.

  • Though inaugurations have been held in colder weather, Trump's will be the coldest in several decades.

Go deeper: Abnormally cold weather forecast for Trump's inauguration

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

TikTok CEO to attend Trump inauguration as app's ban looms

16 January 2025 at 07:00

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew intends to attend President-elect Trump's inauguration next week and is expected to sit on the dais alongside other prominent guests, a Trump transition source confirmed to Axios Thursday.

Why it matters: News of his invite comes as TikTok's fate hangs in the balance, with the U.S. ban of the popular platform set to take effect on Sunday, barring any eleventh-hour intervention.


Driving the news: The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee issued the invitation to Chew, the Trump transition source said.

Flashback: During his first term, Trump spearheaded the initial effort to ban TikTok, but appeared to flip-flop on the platform's future while campaigning for office last year.

Zoom out: It's not yet clear how Trump could intervene to save the popular Chinese-owned app from the ban, but he wants to try, according to Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Trump's pick for his national security adviser.

  • Trump is looking to craft a deal to "preserve" TikTok while protecting U.S. users' data, Waltz told Fox News Wednesday, though he did not offer specifics about the plan.
  • "I don't want to get ahead of our executive orders but we're going to create the space to β€” to put that deal in place," he added, calling Trump a "dealmaker."

Go deeper: What will happen to TikTok on Jan. 19

Top 5 takeaways from Jack Smith's final report on Trump's Jan. 6 case

14 January 2025 at 06:38

President-elect Trump engaged in an "unprecedented criminal effort" to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Special Counsel Jack Smith alleged in the final report of his investigation into Trump's election subversion case.

Why it matters: The report's release early Tuesday came despite Trump's legal efforts to block it, making the Justice Department's findings public less than a week before Trump's inauguration.


What they're saying: Trump lambasted the report in a Truth Social post Tuesday, claiming he was "totally innocent" and calling Smith a "lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the Election."

State of play: Trump was indicted and charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and other counts for his purported role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the events leading up to it.

  • However, the case was dismissed in November following Trump's 2024 victory, in light of longstanding DOJ policy that a sitting president can't be prosecuted.

Here are the top takeaways from the 174-page report:

Conviction at trial

Smith remained convinced he could have convicted Trump for his alleged efforts to subvert to the 2020 election if the case had gone to trial.

  • A Justice Department policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president doesn't change the "gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution," Smith wrote.
  • "But for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial," he added.

Responsibility for Jan. 6

Smith drew a direct line from Trump's actions to the events of the Capitol riot.

  • After then-Vice President Pence refused to overturn the electoral college vote count in the Senate, Trump "took aim" at Pence, targeting him in his Jan. 6 rally speech and in a social media post.
  • "Taken together, these actions resulted in rioters at the Capitol on January 6 singling out Mr. Pence for their ire and chanting, 'Where is Pence? Bring Him Out!' and, 'Hang Mike Pence!'" the report said.
  • Trump's words also "inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence" by telling them to "fight like hell" against the purported election fraud.

Trauma of law enforcement officers

The report delved into the trauma experienced by law enforcement officers responding to the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6.

  • 140 law enforcement officers were assaulted during the Capitol riot and at least 123 rioters have so far been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon that day or causing serious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer, according to the report.
  • "This violence took a lasting toll," the report stated, noting that in addition to physical injuries many officers have experienced psychological trauma and depression as a result of the insurrection.

Prosecutorial independence

In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland attached to the report, Smith pushed back against Trump's claims the investigation was corrupt.

  • "I want it to be clear that the ultimate decision to bring charges against Mr. Trump was mine," Smith wrote, adding that "nobody within the Department of Justice ever sought to interfere with, or improperly influence, my prosecutorial decision making."
  • Trump's claims that Smith's decisions while leading the case were in any way "influenced or directed by" the Biden administration or other political actors is "laughable," Smith noted.

Go deeper: Jack Smith claims in Jan. 6 report: Trump would have been convicted

Hegseth claims "smear campaign" as Dems question his fitness to lead Pentagon

14 January 2025 at 10:56

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick for Defense secretary, repeated his claim Tuesday that he is the target of a "smear campaign" when faced with pointed questions from lawmakers over his fitness to lead the military amid misconduct allegations.

The big picture: After Trump chose the former Fox News host for the Cabinet post, Hegseth was besieged with scandals that threatened to tank his nomination before he ever faced lawmakers.


The other side: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) asked: "How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? ... Don't tell me you haven't seen it, because I know you have."

  • The audience, packed with military veterans and other Hegseth supporters, cheered. Some Democratic senators averted their gazes.

Driving the news: Hegseth's highly anticipated confirmation hearing, which lasted over four hours, began with him promising to be a "change agent" for the Department of Defense.

  • Before Hegseth spoke to the committee, Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) decried the "anonymous sources" behind the allegations that have hounded Hegseth, contrasting them with public pronouncements of support from his colleagues.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Iraq War veteran who lost both of her legs in combat, questioned Hegseth's qualifications in a contentious back-and-forth in which he could not name the number of nations or members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

  • "I couldn't tell you the exact amount of nations," Hegseth said, adding, "but I know we have allies in South Korea and Japan and in AUKUS, with Australia, trying to work on submarines."
  • Duckworth replied: "None of those three countries that you mentioned are in ASEAN. I suggest you do a little homework before you prepare for these types of negotiations."

Asked by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) about his past characterization of NATO as "a relic" that should be "scrapped and remade," Hegseth claimed the country's allies have had "no better friend" than Trump.

  • He didn't answer about his own past comments about the alliance.
  • Rosen pressed Hegseth on whether Trump has a plan to rapidly end the years-long war in Ukraine as the president-elect has claimed he will do, to which Hegseth replied, "I will always give clear guidance ... best guidance to the president ... on matters like that."

During a heated exchange, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) refuted Hegseth's characterization that all the allegations against him were spurred by anonymous sources.

  • "They are not anonymous. We have seen more records with names attached to them," Kaine said.
  • Committee ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said he doesn't believe Hegseth is "qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job," citing the "extremely alarming" allegations and some of Hegseth's views, including on women serving in the military.
  • Reed implored the committee to make the FBI's background check available to all committee members, but Wicker rebuffed his request.

Questioned by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) about his previous derisive comments about women serving in combat roles, Hegseth maintained that he appreciated women's contributions to the military.

  • "It's not about the capabilities of men and women. It's about standards," he said.
  • Hegseth refused to rule out carrying out an order from Trump to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal β€” notions the president-elect has floated in recent weeks β€” when quizzed by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).

State of play: In his opening statement, Hegseth vowed to "restore the warrior ethos" at the Pentagon.

  • "It is true that I don't have a similar biography to Defense Secretaries of the last 30 years," Hegseth said, before positioning himself as a "change agent."
  • "But, as President Trump also told me, we've repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly 'the right credentials' β€” whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives β€” and where has it gotten us?" Hegseth said in his opening statement.
  • A protester interrupted Hegseth's opening statement to call him a misogynist. That protester was one of several removed from the hearing.

Flashback: Trump defended Hegseth as the criticism mounted last year β€” though after a prolonged silence and news of his backup nominee leaked.

Between the lines: Hegseth's FBI background check became a point of contention ahead of the hearing.

  • Just one Senate Democrat β€” Armed Services ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) β€” has been briefed on the findings.
  • The Trump transition team opposes sharing it, Axios' Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam report.
  • Democrats had pushed for the findings to be accessible by the full Senate before the hearing, given the allegations against Hegseth.

Go deeper: Trump picks historically young group of top officials

Editor's note: This story was updated with developments from the hearing.

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

14 January 2025 at 01:37

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

Why it matters: The Justice Department closed its investigations in the face of Trump's November election win, but Smith maintains in the report he would have secured a conviction in the case if it had gone to trial.


Driving the news: The Department of Justice published volume one of the report it's sending to Congress early Tuesday.

  • "The department's view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a president is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the government's proof or the merits of the prosecution, which the office stands fully behind," Smith wrote in the report first shared with NBC News.
  • "Indeed, but for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial."

The other side: Trump responded to the release of volume one of the DOJ report by calling Smith a "lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the election" in a post his Truth Social platform early Tuesday.

Zoom in: Smith in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland accompanying the report defended his prosecution of Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the special counsel.

  • "The claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable," Smith wrote.
  • "Mr. Trump's letter claims that dismissal of his criminal cases signifies Mr. Trump's 'complete exoneration.' That is false," Smith said, citing the Constitution as a reason for not proceeding.
  • However, Smith said this "does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution β€” all of which the Office stands fully behind."

The big picture: The report marks the end of a lengthy legal battle to hold Trump accountable for his purported role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the events leading up to it, which occurred while he was still serving his first term as president.

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

For the record: The Justice Department did not release volume two of the report on Trump's federal classified documents case in Florida because portions of the case against other defendants are ongoing.

  • Judge Aileen Cannon has ordered a hearing later this week on whether to release the second part of the report.

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

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

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

13 January 2025 at 12:31

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Go deeper:

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

15 January 2025 at 05:25

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

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


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

Here are the hearings Axios is watching closely:

Pam Bondi

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

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

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

Marco Rubio

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

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

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

Kristi Noem

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

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

What to watch: Noem's confirmation hearing will take place before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday.

Pete Hegseth

Senate Democrats grilled Pete Hegseth β€” Trump's pick for Defense Secretaryβ€” at his confirmation hearing Tuesday over sexual misconduct allegations, his alleged alcohol abuse, fitness for the position, and past controversial statements.

  • He has repeatedly denied all the accusations, and frequently dismissed them as "anonymous smears" at the hearing.
  • Hegseth repeatedly dodged questions from Democratic senators, including whether he would resign if he drank on the job after promising not to, and whether he believed domestic violence against a spouse would constitute a disqualifying offense for the post.
  • Hegseth faced particularly tough questioning over his views on women in the military. His attempts at the hearing to explain his past statements were met with skepticism from Democratic women senators.

Flashback: Just weeks ago, Hegseth's nomination seemed doomed.

Yes, but: There was no hint of Republican opposition to his nomination at Tuesday's hearing.

Data: Axios research. Chart: Axios Visuals

Upcoming confirmation hearings

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

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

Go deeper:

Editor's note: This story was updated with developments from Hegseth's hearing.

Special counsel Jack Smith resigns ahead of Trump inauguration

11 January 2025 at 13:27

Special counsel Jack Smith resigned just days before President-elect Trump is set to take over the presidency, multiple outlets reported Saturday.

Why it matters: Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in Nov. 2022, spearheaded two federal criminal cases against Trump, but the future of both cases was imperiled by Trump's election victory.


State of play: Since Trump's re-election, Smith was in discussions with Justice Department officials about how to wind down his two federal prosecutions of Trump.

  • The Justice Department has a longstanding policy that a sitting president can't be prosecuted.
  • Trump also vowed on the campaign trail to fire Smith "within two seconds" of returning to office.

Zoom out: The Justice Department has faced criticism from some Democrats that it moved too slowly in its investigations of Trump.

  • In the final weeks of the presidential campaign, Smith dug in on the Jan. 6 case, unsealing a new indictment in light of the Supreme Court's immunity ruling and unveiling new evidence.

Go deeper: Jack Smith moving to wind down prosecutions against Trump

Why fire hydrants ran dry as wildfires ravaged Los Angeles

11 January 2025 at 13:00

As devastating wildfires raged across Los Angeles County this week, firefighters battling the blazes encountered fire hydrants that had no water.

Why it matters: The dry fire hydrants sparked political outrage and illustrated just how unprepared municipal water systems are to combat the sorts of large-scale urban wildfires that have become more frequent with climate change.


  • Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday ordered an independent investigation into the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), the nation's largest municipal utility, over hydrants and water supply issues. DWP provides water for more than four million L.A. residents and serves Pacific Palisades, a wealthy area of Los Angeles where much of the destruction took place.
  • "While water supplies from local fire hydrants are not designed to extinguish wildfires over large areas, losing supplies from fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors," Newsom said. "We need answers to how that happened."
  • President-elect Trump has suggested Newsom was to blame for the dry hydrants β€” claiming without evidence that he blocked water supply to the south of the state with the state's fish conservation efforts. The governor and other experts have sharply rejected the claims.
  • "We are looking at a situation that is just completely not part of any domestic water system design," Marty Adams, a former DWP general manager and engineer, told The New York Times.

The big picture: Fire hydrants running out of water isn't unheard of during severe wildfires, said Faith Kearns, a water and wildfire expert with the Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University. Similar instances were reported during wildfires in Maui, Colorado and Oregon,

  • "It's something that we have definitely started to see as, essentially, these wildland fires move into urban areas and become urban conflagrations," Kearns said.
  • "Our urban water supply is meant to deal more with things like a single house being on fire," she added.

Why did the fire hydrants run dry?

Firefighters battling the Palisades Fire earlier this week encountered swaths of fire hydrants with no water after the three water tanks supplying the Pacific Palisades ran dry by 3 a.m. Wednesday, Janisse QuiΓ±ones, chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said at a press briefing later that day.

  • The area's water system had been pushed "to the extreme," she said. "Four times the normal demand was seen for 15 hours straight, which lowered our water pressure."
  • The problem persisted for hours while wildfires ravaged the area, the New York Times reported.

Political finger-pointing as a result

Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk skewered California Democrats, and in Trump's case Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), over the wildfires.

  • Musk wrote on X Wednesday: "These fires are easily avoidable, but nonsense regulations in California prevent action being taken, so year after year homes burn down and more people die."
  • Trump claimed on Truth Social Wednesday that Newsom, a longtime foe, had "refused to sign" a water restoration declaration "that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California" including areas impacted by wildfires.

Newsom in an X post Wednesday called Trump's claim "that a water restoration declaration" exists "pure fiction."

  • He said β€” though not mentioning Trump β€” during a briefing Friday with President Biden that there have been "hurricane force winds of mis and disinformation, lies."
  • "And it breaks my heart as people are suffering and struggling that we're up against those hurricane forces as well," the governor added.
  • Newsom also in a letter to Trump Friday invited him to visit and see the damage in L.A.

Would more water have helped?

Even if the water hydrants hadn't run dry, it wouldn't have changed the fact that urban water systems aren't designed to combat multiple, expansive and fast-moving wildfires all at once.

  • While every bit of water helps, using fire hydrants and water hoses isn't an effective method of battling "multiple onslaughts of fire under high wind conditions,' she said.
  • "Is it going to save a whole neighborhood under those kinds of ... high wind conditions? Probably not."

Fighting wildland fires in urban areas also limits the methods that can be used, like aerial drops, which could damage structures below, she noted.

  • High winds can also ground planes, which was the case when a civilian drone hit a Super Scooper aircraft used in the Palisades Fire on Thursday, per an X post from Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott.
  • That fire was only 11% contained as of Saturday morning.

What we're watching: Kearns said cities need, among other things, high-volume pipes and more backup power to pump waters to higher elevations.

  • "Now we face the question of whether and how there would be enough funding, for example, to actually develop urban water systems that were equipped to deal with these kinds of wildfires," she said.

More from Axios:

LA County fires rage on, with at least 10 people dead and 10,000 structures destroyed

10 January 2025 at 09:51

The wildfires that have killed 10 people and razed about 10,000 structures this week continued to rage across Los Angeles County on Friday.

The big picture: The fires are already among the most destructive recorded in the state.


  • Although firefighters have made some progress, the high winds that helped fuel the blazes will remain high through Friday and are expected to pick back up early next week.

The latest: A mandatory curfew has been issued for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas and all mandatory evacuation zones, Los Aangeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press conference Friday.

  • The curfew β€” from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. β€” is intended to boost public safety and discourage looting and burglaries.
  • About 153,000 residents remain under evacuation orders Friday, Luna said.
  • Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, apologized for an erroneous evacuation alert that was sent to some residents Thursday.
  • "There is an extreme amount of frustration, anger, fear, with regards to the erroneous messages ... I can't express enough how sorry I am for this experience," McGowan said.

State of play: The fires have burned through nearly 36,000 acres already, per CalFire.

  • The Palisades Fire has spread across over 20,438 acres in the area between Malibu and Santa Monica and was 8% contained as of Friday morning.
  • The Eaton Fire, north of Pasadena, has burned nearly 14,000 acres and was 3% contained Friday.
  • The Kenneth Fire, which erupted Thursday in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas, stood at 1,000 acres and 35% containment Friday.
  • The Hurst Fire, which has burned 771 acres in the San Fernando Valley, was 37% contained. The Lidia Fire, spread across 395 acres in a rural, mountainous area near Acton, was 75% contained.
  • The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills was 100% contained Thursday. Other fires in Pacoima, Hollywood and Studio City have been extinguished, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said at the press conference Friday.

The big picture: President Biden announced Thursday the federal government will cover 100% of California's disaster assistance costs for the wildfires.

  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that the state was activating additional National Guard troops to assist in firefighting efforts.
  • Sheriff Luna confirmed Friday that the California National Guard had been deployed to the Eaton Fire area Thursday and that more National Guard members were expected in the next "12-24 hours."

Zoom out: The blazes have been propelled by dry conditions and high winds, hitting after many parts of Southern California had no meaningful rainfall for more than eight months.

Go deeper: LA County fires among most destructive ever recorded in California

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