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

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.

• Hegseth, 44, has been accused of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement of a nonprofit since Trump nominated him. He has denied the accusations.
• Some national security officials have expressed concerns that the U.S. Army veteran doesn't have enough experience to run the Department of Defense.

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

• Before Hegeth 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 did not answer to 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 — notions the president-elect has floated in recent weeks — 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' — whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives — 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 — 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 — Armed Services ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) — 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.

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 — 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.

• He denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to all federal charges in the case.
• Despite being free of legal danger in the case, Trump waged a protracted legal battle to bar the release of the report, which his lawyers called a "politically motivated manifesto."

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

• The indictment came months after the House Jan. 6 select committee accused him of taking part "multi-part conspiracy to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election."
• A superseding indictment in the case was filed in Aug. 2024 in light of the Supreme Court's presidential immunity ruling.
• However, the case was dismissed after Trump's election win in November.
• Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

For the record: The Justice Department did not release volume two of the report on the 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.

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:

• Biden's consequential presidency: His key policies, wins and setbacks
• Israel awaits Hamas' response to final Gaza deal draft, officials say

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

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

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

Here are the hearings Axios is watching closely:

Pete Hegseth

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

• At one point, though, Trump was reportedly considering an alternative.
• But Hegseth retained Trump's support and rallied Republicans behind him.

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

Kristi Noem

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

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

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

Marco Rubio

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

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

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

Pam Bondi

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

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

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

Upcoming

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

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services. Kennedy is well known for his history of spreading vaccine misinformation.
• Hardline Trump loyalist Kash Patel — who helped push Trump's 2020 election lies — 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:

• Trump administration 2.0: Tracking his Cabinet, White House picks
• Trump picks linked to sexual misconduct allegations

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.

• Trump is the first convicted felon to win the presidency, but he avoided any consequences in his New York hush money case.
• With Trump's victory, Smith's cases — over the 2020 election and classified documents — were imperiled and weeks after the election, he requested the former to be dropped and his appeal in the latter to be dismissed.
• The two cases had already been undercut by the Supreme Court's immunity ruling.
• However, a federal appeals court said this week that Smith's final report on his investigations into Trump can be released despite the president-elect's strenuous objections.
• The New York Times first reported on Nov. 13, that Smith planned to resign once the report was complete.

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

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 — 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 Quiñones, 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 — though not mentioning Trump — 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:

• Wildfire tech investor on what comes next
• LA County fires among most destructive ever recorded in California

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 — from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. — 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.

• Research shows human-caused climate change is leading to longer wildfire seasons in the western U.S. and has made severe seasons more frequent.

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

President-elect Trump said late Thursday that a meeting is in the works with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.

Why it matters: Trump said on the campaign trail that he would swiftly end the nearly three-year-old war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office.

Driving the news: Putin "wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago Thursday.

• "We have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess," he added.

Between the lines: Trump gave no timeline for the potential meeting.

• Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday that the Kremlin had not yet received an official request for contact, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
• However, Putin is prepared to meet with Trump without any conditions, Peskov added.

The big picture: Despite Trump's ambitious campaign promises, unnamed European officials told the Financial Times that Trump's team has now pushed the timeline for ending the conflict to "several months."

• According to the officials, Trump has not yet decided how to end the war and that aid to Ukraine is likely to continue after Trump's inauguration, the Financial Times reported Friday.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Trump's ability to help end the war earlier this month.

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

President-elect Trump received a no-penalty sentence in his New York hush money case Friday after the Supreme Court refused to intervene.

Why it matters: Trump is the first former (and returning) president convicted of a felony. The expected sentence of unconditional discharge — also recommended by prosecutors — means the conviction remains on his legal record.

• The sentencing, which Trump fought to delay or block altogether, comes just 10 days before his inauguration and White House return.
• The nation's high court on Thursday dashed a last-ditch bid by Trump's legal team to stop the proceeding.
• Judge Juan Merchan had already indicated that Trump wouldn't face jail time, after winning the 2024 election.

Driving the news: Trump, appearing remotely from Florida, said during the hearing that "this has been a very terrible experience," CNN reported.

• He described the case as a "political witch hunt" and a "setback" for New York and the state court system.
• "The fact is I'm totally innocent. I did nothing wrong," Trump said.

Merchan remarked by noting that "this has been a truly extraordinary case."

• In his statement to the court, Merchan discussed the limits of the protections of the presidency. He said "they do not reduce the seriousness of the crime or justify its commission in any way. One power they do not provide is the power to erase a jury verdict."

What they're saying: Trump celebrated the unconditional discharge sentence in a Truth Social post shortly after the hearing Friday, saying it proved "this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED."

• While the sentencing hearing had been a "despicable charade," his legal team would now press forward with an appeal, he added.

Catch up quick: Merchan wrote in a filing earlier this month that "unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality" and allow Trump to pursue his appellate options.

• A court may impose a sentence of unconditional discharge when it believes "no proper purpose would be served by imposing any condition upon the defendant's release," under New York law.
• This would mean that Trump would face no jail time, probation or fines, but would nevertheless serve as a mark on his permanent record.
• Merchan noted that prosecutors no longer viewed jail time "as a practicable recommendation" given Trump's election victory.

Flashback: A New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records last May.

• He was charged in connection with a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels over an alleged sexual encounter. Trump has repeatedly denied the affair.
• Since then, Trump's team has repeatedly tried to have his case thrown out under the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling that presidents have immunity for "official acts."

The big picture: Just last year, Trump faced four criminal indictments.

• Since his election win, two federal cases against him have been dropped.
• His Georgia election interference case was cast into further limbo after the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis late last month. She is appealing the decision.

Go deeper: Trump seeks to stop Smith releasing final report

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

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Thursday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to deny President-elect Trump's latest bid to halt his sentencing in his New York hush money case.

Why it matters: The 11th-hour back-and-forth comes as Trump is scheduled to be sentenced for his historic felony conviction on Friday, mere days before his inauguration.

• The N.Y. judge overseeing the case has already indicated that Trump won't face jail time.
• After a New York appeals court rejected yet another last-ditch effort by Trump to get out of the sentencing, Trump asked the Supreme Court Wednesday to intervene on his behalf.

The big picture: The "defendant makes the unprecedented claim that the temporary presidential immunity he will possess in the future fully immunizes him now, weeks before he even takes the oath of office," Bragg wrote of Trump's stay request.

• Bragg dismissed the argument, noting that presidential immunity only applies to the time a president is serving their term in office.
• In regards to Trump's claims that the trial had included "erroneous admission of official-acts evidence at trial," Bragg argued that Trump could appeal these aspects once sentenced in due course, but that there is "no basis" for asking the Supreme Court to intervene before a final judgement had been handed down.

Context: Trump has seized on the Supreme Court's ruling last summer that president's enjoy immunity for "official acts" to lodge several requests to halt the case's legal proceedings or throw out his conviction altogether.

• A jury convicted Trump last May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels over an alleged sexual encounter.
• The ruling made him the first-ever former U.S. president to be a convicted felon.

Zoom out: Trump asks Supreme Court to block hush money sentencing

Attorney General Merrick Garland in a court filing on Wednesday said the Justice Department plans to release publicly special counsel Jack Smith's findings on Donald Trump's alleged efforts to subvert 2020 election results.

Why it matters: Trump's federal 2020 election case was dropped after his presidential victory, and he has relentlessly fought any effort to release information about the investigation's findings.

• Garland in the Wednesday court filing said that the department will not release the investigation into Trump's handling of classified documents, as to "avoid any risk of prejudice" to Trump's co-defendants in the case, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, whose cases are still pending.
• Garland said that "for the time being," the report over Trump and his co-defendants' handling of classified documents will be "made available for in camera review" by the chair and ranking members of House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

The big picture: Lawyers for the Justice Department argued in the court filing Wednesday that there was no legal basis for preventing the release of the portion of the report related to Trump's election subversion case.

• The Justice Department also urged the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon's temporary injunction on releasing any part of the report until three days after the circuit court's ruling on a similar emergency motion.
• The filing also noted that Smith had already transmitted a copy of the final report to Garland.

Zoom out: Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, has repeatedly faced scrutiny over her handling of Trump's classified documents case.

• Trump called Cannon a "brilliant judge" in a speech on Tuesday.
• In July, she dismissed the case on the basis that Smith's appointment was unconstitutional.
• Trump's federal Jan. 6 case was also dismissed in the wake of his election win.

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

President Biden insisted in a new interview out Wednesday that he could have beaten President-elect Trump in the 2024 election, even as he admitted he was unsure that he had the stamina for another term.

Why it matters: Since Democrats' defeat, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' teams have reportedly blamed each other for the outcome.

Reality check: Biden's assessment that he could have beaten Trump would have required overcoming low approval ratings, a disastrous debate performance that raised questions about his mental fitness, and voters' persistently bleak views of the economy.

• Many Democrats have expressed anger at Biden's decision to seek reelection initially despite polls showing voters across the political spectrum expressing concerns about his age.

What he's saying: "It's presumptuous to say that, but I think yes," Biden told USA Today when asked if he believed he could have won.

• Biden added that his belief was based on polling he had seen.
• However, Biden was more circumspect when asked if he had the vigor to serve another four years in office, admitting: "I don't know."
• "Who the hell knows? So far, so good. But who knows what I'm going to be when I'm 86 years old?" the president added in the interview, which was conducted Sunday.

Flashback: Biden has been defiant about his decision to drop out of the race.

• In September, he told "The View" that he still believed he could have won against Trump if he'd stayed in the race.

Zoom out: Biden covered a wide range of topics in his USA Today interview, including the fact that he is still considering whether to issue preemptive pardons for figures like former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and former health adviser Anthony Fauci, whom could be targeted by Trump.

• Biden said the decision would come down to who Trump appoints to key administration roles, but noted that he had urged Trump during their Oval Office meeting to not "go back and try to settle scores."
• Trump, he added, had complimented some of the Biden administration's economic achievements. "He thought I was leaving with a good record," Biden said.

Go deeper: Timeline: Key moments that led to Biden's historic withdrawal

Raging wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County into Thursday have razed neighborhoods across the area, leaving behind a trail of destruction and deaths.

The latest: At least 10 fire-related deaths have been reported as of 9pm local time, per a statement from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner.

• At least two of the deaths occurred in the Palisades Fire and at least three were confirmed in the Eaton Fire, officials said at a briefing earlier Thursday.

State of play: Extra federal and state resources have been deployed to the region, but powerful Santa Ana winds driving fires in extremely dry vegetation have made conditions challenging for firefighters.

• The Palisades Fire is California's third-most destructive fire on record, burning an estimated 5,316 structures. Cal Fire lists the Eaton Fire as the fourth-most destructive, in terms of structures destroyed, with 5,000-plus structures believed to have been razed.
• The wildfires have caused "significant damage" to L.A. County's sewer, power and transportation systems, L.A. County Public Works director Mark Pestrella said at the briefing, adding that debris from the fires could be hazardous or even toxic.
• Images shared online showed flames engulfing multiple homes and residents abandoning their cars in Pacific Palisades, including the Palisades Charter High School and the Getty Villa museum.

Zoom in: The destruction across the greater L.A. area is so vast that parts "look like a bomb was dropped" on them, L.A. Sheriff Robert Luna said at a Thursday briefing.

• President Biden said Thursday the federal government will cover 100% of California's disaster assistance costs for the wildfires. The funding will support debris and hazardous materials removal, first responders' pay and temporary shelters.
• Luna added that nearly 180,000 county residents were under evacuation orders.
• All Los Angeles Unified Schools and offices remained closed on Friday. Almost two dozen school districts have planned full or partial closures, per LAist.

Threat level: The National Weather Service's L.A. office expected the strong winds that have driven the fires that picked back up on Thursday afternoon to continue into Friday.

• Hazardous air quality from the wildfires impacted much of Southern California, exacerbated by low relative humidity.

Situation report: Firefighters made progress with the Palisades Fire, between Malibu and Santa Monica, reaching 6% containment as it burned over 19,978 acres as of 11:19pm local time.

• The Eaton Fire remained 0% contained over 13,690 acres. However, a brief drop in winds helped firefighters curb the spread of the Eaton Fire and "growth has been significantly stopped," L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

Meanwhile, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass confirmed on X Thursday that the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills was "fully contained" over 43 acres Thursday morning.

• L.A. County firefighters made progress with the Lidia Fire that's burned 348 acres in a rural, mountainous area near Acton. It was 60% contained as of Thursday evening.
• The Hurst Fire that's burned 771 acres in the San Fernando Valley, some 25 miles northwest of downtown L.A., was 37% contained.

Driving the news: The wildfires ignited after months of dry weather. Many areas have been hit by hurricane-force gusts of 74 mph or higher. Magic Mountain Truck Trail, east of Santa Clarita, recorded a gust at 90 mph.

• The NWS' L.A. office said on X peak winds increased again across the region on Thursday and reached 74 mph along the trail that day.
• Millions of people in Southern California were affected by rare, late-season red flag warnings due to "widespread damaging north to northeast winds and extreme fire weather conditions," per a forecast discussion from the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office.

By the numbers: More than 120,000 customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties were without power early Friday, according to PowerOutage.us.

Between the lines: Many parts of Southern California have not seen any meaningful rainfall for more than eight months.

• Much of the region is experiencing "moderate drought" conditions, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
• Research shows human-caused climate change is leading to longer wildfire seasons in the western U.S. and has made severe seasons more frequent.

In photos: Palisades Fire engulfs L.A. homes

Go deeper:

• How wildfire smoke impacts your health
• LA's wildfires sparked by rare collision of climate factors

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout. A prior version had a correction on the rise of the death toll.

Axios' April Rubin contributed reporting.

President-elect Trump is seeking to stop special counsel Jack Smith from releasing a final report on the Republican leader's two dismissed federal criminal cases, per a letter included in court filings on Monday night.

The big picture: Monday's letter from Trump's attorneys to Attorney General Merrick Garland was included in filings from his former co-defendants in his dismissed classified documents case, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira.

The latest: Smith responded in a court filing Tuesday that it will be up to Garland to decide whether any part of the report will be released to the public.

• While Garland has not yet reached a decision, if he does choose to release any part of the report pertaining to the classified documents case, he won't do so before Jan. 10, Smith wrote.
• Smith added that he wouldn't submit his report to Garland until later Tuesday and would file a response to the defendants' motion Tuesday evening.
• Smith's office declined to comment regarding the matter.

Driving the news: Both Trump's attorneys and lawyers for Nauta and De Oliveira wrote in the Monday letter that they reviewed a two-volume draft report in a conference room at Smith's office in Washington, D.C., from Friday to Monday.

• Attorneys for Nauta and De Oliveira said in the filings submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida that the timeframe "reflects that public release is imminent."
• They noted that prosecutors are appealing the dismissal of charges against Nauta and De Oliveira in a federal appeals court in Atlanta.
• There remained "the threat of future criminal proceedings" that they argued would "be irreversibly and irredeemably prejudiced" by the release of a report from Smith, the pair's attorneys wrote.

The intrigue: Trump's lawyers said in their letter to Garland, "Equally problematic and inappropriate are the draft's baseless attacks on other anticipated members of President Trump's incoming administration, which are an obvious effort to interfere with upcoming confirmation hearings."

What we're watching: Trump's lawyers can't make Garland block the report's release, but they argue in their letter to Garland "because Smith has proposed an unlawful course of action, you must countermand his plan and remove him promptly."

• They added: "If Smith is not removed, then the handling of his report should be deferred to President Trump's incoming attorney general, consistent with the expressed will of the People."
• It's not clear if U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has the authority to direct the attorney general on the matter.
• Representatives for Garland and Smith did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment in the evening.

Zoom out: Smith moved to wind down his two federal criminal cases against Trump in the wake of the president-elect's election win in November.

• A judge that month granted Smith's request to drop all charges against Trump in the case alleging that he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
• Smith also asked a federal court in Florida in November to pause his appeal related to Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case.

Go deeper: Trump pushes to halt New York hush money sentencing

Editor's note: This article has been updated with Smith's office declining to comment.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned from his position as the leader of the Liberal Party on Monday.

Why it matters: The world's leading democracies are facing growing instability. Look to Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament, or the unprecedented government collapse in France.

• His resignation came as polls indicated that the Liberal Party was set to be trounced by the opposition Conservative Party in the upcoming election, expected in or before October, Reuters reported.
• Trudeau's decision to leave the post amid his government's deepening unpopularity is a far cry from the popularity he enjoyed when he became prime minister, when polls showed he boasted approval ratings above 60%.
• Trudeau noted that the Canadian parliament will be prorogued — essentially, suspended — until March 24 while a new leader is chosen. He said it was "time for a reset."

Driving the news: "I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide, competitive process," Trudeau announced at a press conference in Ottawa Monday.

• "It has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option" in the next election, he added.
• "I've been inspired by the resilience, generosity and the determination of Canadians," Trudeau said.
• Trudeau also slammed Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre's vision for Canada as "not the right one" for the country.

State of play: Trudeau has been the leader of Canada's Liberal Party for 11 years and the country's prime minister for nine.

• Recent polling has put the Liberals at a mere 16% support among decided and leaning voters.
• Trudeau's resignation also comes as members of the Liberal party are set to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday, per Reuters.

Between the lines: Trudeau's government has been running on fumes ahead of the elections.

• The prime minister is unpopular among many in Canada, especially as the cost of living has risen across the country and public concern has grown over immigration.

Another blow to Trudeau's future came last month when multiple members of his Cabinet resigned.

• Chrystia Freeland, Canada's former finance minister and deputy prime minister, resigned from the Cabinet last month. Freeland said she reached her decision after Trudeau asked her to resign as finance minister and take another Cabinet position.
• Sean Fraser, housing minister, also said last month that he would resign, per the New York Times.

The big picture: Trudeau was facing pressure to call for an election before a scheduled one in October as Canadians reckon with high inflation and President-elect Trump's tariff threat.

• Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico due to his concerns about the number of migrants and drugs coming into the U.S., which triggered fears of inflation and a trade war.
• After Trump and Trudeau met in November, Canadian officials have said they're stepping up border security "in a visible and muscular way."
• In her resignation letter, Freeland warned Canada must take the threat of tariffs "extremely seriously." She urged leadership to avoid engaging in "costly political gimmicks," likely in reference to Trudeau's recent policy announcements of a limited-time sales tax break and 250 Canadian dollar rebate for workers, CNN reported.

The intrigue: Justin Trudeau's father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, also resigned as prime minister in 1984.

What's next: With Trudeau out as party leader, he will remain prime minister until a new leader is chosen. Once a new party leader is selected, that person will become the next prime minister, per the New York Times.

More from Axios:

• America's allies are in trouble
• Canada bolstering border security after Trump talks, Canadian official says
• Trump wildcard paralyzes global central banks

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

A majority of Republicans now feel confident the 2024 election results were tabulated accurately, according to an AP-NORC poll released Friday.

Why it matters: President-elect Trump for years had repeatedly and falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him, but those concerns disappeared after he scored his first popular vote win.

The big picture: A majority of Americans (57%) expressed a "great deal or quite a bit" of confidence in the accuracy of the election results at the national level.

• This figure was slightly higher among Republicans (64%) and Democrats (60%), but only 34% of independents shared that confidence.
• Republicans' confidence in the election's accuracy was high not just at the national level but also in the state (66%) and local races (71%).

State of play: The results are miles away from where the GOP stood at the start of President Biden's term, when, weeks after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, more than 6 in 10 Republicans believed Biden wasn't legitimately elected.

• Low confidence in the integrity of the electoral system followed the party ever since. A Dec. 2023 poll found that roughly a third of Republicans even doubted the outcome of their own party's primary contest.
• Ahead of the 2024 election, another AP-NORC poll found that only 24% of Republicans expressed a "great deal" of confidence in the impending national vote count compared to 71% of Democrats.

Methodology: This AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,251 adults between Dec. 5-9, 2024 using the AmeriSpeak Panel, the probability-based panel of NORC at the University of Chicago.

• The margin of sampling error for adults overall is ±3.7 percentage points.

Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: The most powerful Republican president of the modern era

The U.S. Army on Thursday confirmed that the suspect responsible for the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas on New Year's Day was a military veteran.

Why it matters: While officials have not confirmed a link between the Las Vegas explosion and the New Orleans pickup truck attack, both suspects served in the Army.

• President Biden said Wednesday that authorities are still working to determine if the two incidents were connected. Both suspects used vehicles from the peer-to-peer rental app Turo.

The big picture: Matthew Alan Livelsberger was a member of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and was "on approved leave at the time of his death," an Army spokesperson told Axios in a statement Thursday.

• The Livelsberger served in the active duty army from January 2006 to March 2011, when he served in the National Guard until July 2012. He then served in the Army Reserve until December 2012.
• He reentered active duty in December 2012, joining U.S. Army Special Operations.
• The spokesperson added that USASOC is cooperating with federal and state authorities in the investigation.

Zoom in: Clark County/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press briefing Thursday that the body inside the Tesla Cybertruck had been "burnt beyond recognition."

• Police displayed a copy of a passport recovered from the vehicle that purportedly belonged to 37-year-old Livelsberger, from Colorado Springs, as well as credit cards in his name.
• However, McMahill said that given the state of the remains recovered, he would not officially confirm Livelsberger was the body inside the vehicle until DNA testing or medical records confirmed it.

State of play: The FBI Denver office confirmed Thursday that it was conducting "law enforcement activity" at a residence in Colorado Springs, alongside the Colorado Springs Police Department.

• The FBI did not offer further details beyond the fact that the activity is connected to the Las Vegas explosion.

Go deeper: U.S. on edge after New Orleans attack, Las Vegas Cybertruck bomb

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Sheriff Kevin McMahill.

The vehicles used in both the New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks on New Year's Day were rented through the same car-sharing app, Turo.

Why it matters: The high-profile incidents raised questions about the app's vetting process and security measures.

What they're saying: Turo acknowledged in a statement Wednesday that both attacks relied on cars that the suspects rented on its app.

• "We do not believe that either renter had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat, and we are not currently aware of any information that indicates the two incidents are related," the company said, adding that it was cooperating with law enforcement in their investigations.

The big picture: 5% of 184 vehicle ramming incidents between 1970 and 2018 used a rented car, according to a 2019 analysis by the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University.

• However, attacks using a rented vehicle were the most deadly, accounting for 29% of fatalities in the incidents analyzed.
• "Attackers renting vehicles tend to have planned the attack and very often they rent larger vehicles," the analysis noted.

How does Turo work?

The peer-to-peer rental app is similar to Airbnb, allowing users to rent a car directly from an owner, rather than a rental company like Hertz.

• On the app, renters can choose the location they want to rent in and when they need the car, view models and prices before making a selection, and then coordinate pickup and drop-off with the car's owner.
• Hosts can meet owners in person to pick up the car or organize a remote handoff, in which renters unlock the car using a lockbox code or the app.
• There is a $15 minimum for each Turo trip, though it's up to owners to set their daily rates. Turo also calculates a trip fee between 2.5% to 100% of the trip price, based on factors like trip duration and the car's value.

Between the lines: So far, authorities have not shared information about the owners of the vehicles in New Orleans and Las Vegas or the details of the rental reservations made by the suspects.

Have Turo-rented cars been used in other crimes?

The high-profile incidents are not the first time Turo has seen its platform used to facilitate crimes.

• Car rentals from Turo and Getaround, another peer-to-peer car rental app, have been stolen or involved in crimes like drug trafficking, per NBC News.
• In 2021, a Houston woman was charged after renting seven cars through Turo, at least four of which were involved in aggravated robberies, local news outlets reported.

What security measures does Turo use?

Turo's website states that the company takes security precautions to prevent the misuse of its service.

• Car owners must "meet rigorous safety requirements" that include having no outstanding safety recalls on their vehicles, meeting mileage limits on their car, and being at least 21 years old.
• Turo states that all renters "are screened before booking a car to reduce risky behavior in our marketplace."

Zoom in: Renters are required to upload a valid driver's license, be at least 18 years old, and provide an email, home address, and payment card before they can rent a vehicle.

• When setting up an account, Turo also says it "may check your personal and/or business credit report, auto insurance score, and criminal background" before verifying the account.
• Turo did not respond to Axios' request for comment Thursday regarding its security precautions.

What do we know about the suspects?

Authorities are investigating the New Orleans attack as an act of terrorism and the Las Vegas explosion as a "possible act of terror."

• Officials have identified the suspect in the New Orleans attack as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran whom police shot and killed Wednesday.

The U.S. Army confirmed Thursday that the suspect in the Las Vegas Cybertruck bombing was Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a military veteran who was on leave from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at the time of the incident.

Go deeper: U.S. on edge after New Orleans attack, Las Vegas Cybertruck bomb

Editor's note: This story was updated with new developments.

President Biden awarded former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and 19 others the Presidential Citizens Medal on Thursday.

Why it matters: The honor, the second-highest civilian medal, is bestowed to Americans who have "performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens."

The big picture: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who served as chair of the Jan. 6 House committee that investigated the Capitol riot, joined the panel's vice chair Cheney in receiving the honor from Biden.

• A loud cheer erupted from those gathered at the White House ceremony as Cheney walked up to accept her award from Biden, as the announcer said the Republican was receiving it "putting the American people before her party."

Zoom in: Cheney has long been one of President-elect Trump's most outspoken critics, going so far as to campaign for Vice President Harris in the 2024 election.

• Trump told NBC's "Meet the Press" last month that Cheney, Thompson and other members of the committee had done "something that's inexcusable" in pursuing their investigation.
• He has threatened to investigate and jail Cheney and Thompson for their roles in the committee's work.

What they're saying: Biden "believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others," the White House said in a statement.

• "Throughout two decades in public service ... Liz Cheney has raised her voice — and reached across the aisle — to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for," the White House said, while also praising Thompson for his "unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to truth."

Zoom out: Other honorees this year will include attorney Mary Bonauto, who fought to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S., and Eleanor Smeal, a women's rights activist.

• Former lawmakers, health care advocates, academics and veterans are also being honored in Thursday's ceremony.

Go deeper: Cheney singled out for retribution in House GOP's Jan. 6 report

Editor's note: This story was updated with details from the ceremony and a statement from the White House.