Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is planning to seek a vote on legislation he's introducing Monday to prevent foreign planes from being used as Air Force One, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Democrats have latched on to the offer from Qatar to give a $400 million jet to President Trump, arguing it reeks of corruption.
Schumer's bill could find sympathy from some Senate Republicans, who this month have raised concerns about the Qatari offer.
Trump argued this weekend that the jet is a gift to the U.S. and not him personally, lashing out at news organizations who have suggested the gift is for the president.
Between the lines: Schumer plans to force a vote on the legislation during this year's government funding fight. The vote would likely come in the form of an amendment to GOP spending bills.
Schumer called the Qatari plane a security risk, saying there are no modifications that would make the plane secure enough to serve as Air Force One.
"It is now on the Senate to prioritize our national security, protect Americans, and ensure that a foreign-owned plane never gets the call sign 'Air Force One,'" Schumer said in a statement.
The $400 million jet would be worth 100 times more than every other presidential gift from a foreign nation combined since 2001, according to an Axios analysis of State Department data.
President Trump spent several days brawling online with America's biggest pop stars, re-litigating their support for then-Vice President Harris in the 2024 election, bashing their talent and demanding they be investigated.
Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly used the power of the federal government to probe political enemies and target the Democrats' fundraising arm.
Driving the news: "How much did Kamala Harris pay Bruce Springsteen for his poor performance during her campaign for president?" Trump wrote on Truth Social early Monday.
"Isn't that a major and illegal campaign contribution? What about Beyoncé?" he added. "And how much went to Oprah and Bono??? I am going to call for a major investigation into this matter."
Reality check: Celebrities' teams shut down rumors during the election that they were paid millions for their appearances with Harris
Taylor Swift
Context: Trump's post spree began Friday, when he said the pop star is no longer "hot."
"Has anyone noticed that, since I said 'I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,' she's no longer 'HOT?'" the president wrote Friday on Truth Social.
The latest: "He is speaking about Taylor Swift's political views and how perhaps it has impacted the support of the American public for her work," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the comments Monday. "And I will leave it at that."
Swift just wrapped up her Eras Tour, which took in more than $2 billion, the highest grossing tour ever, according to estimates.
Bruce Springsteen
State of play: Springsteen, during his European tour, criticized the Trump administration, calling its policies and rhetoric dangerous.
"In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent," he said during a Manchester show. "This is happening now."
"In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world's poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now."
The other side: "I see that highly overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a foreign country to speak badly about the president of the United States," Trump wrote on Friday.
"Never liked him, never liked his music, or his radical left politics."
Springsteen has clashed with Republican presidents going back to Ronald Reagan, who tried to use the singer's Vietnam War anthem "Born in the U.S.A" as a celebration of American patriotism.
Beyoncé
Flashback: Beyoncé spoke at a Houston campaign rally for Harris in the final stretch of the election.
"I'm not here as a celebrity. I'm not here as a politician. I'm here as a mother," Beyoncé, whose 35 grammy wins are the most by any female artist, said during her endorsement.
Trump slammed Beyoncé repeatedly for her appearance.
Days after her appearance, he told an audience: "We don't need Beyoncé, we don't need anybody... all you got is me, and I don't have a guitar," per Billboard. The audience booed mention of her name.
Zoom out: Beyoncé also gave Harris permission to use her 2016 song "Freedom" as its campaign song.
Her record label and music publisher sent a cease-and-desist to the Trump campaign for using the song on a social media post.
The Justice Department charged Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) on Monday over a scuffle with law enforcement outside an ICE facility in New Jersey earlier this month.
Why it matters: McIver is the first federal officeholder targeted by the the Trump administration as they aggressively prosecute politicians who open themselves up to legal liability while opposing the president's mass deportations.
McIver has strongly denied assaulting law enforcement during the clash, saying she was the one who was assaulted. In a Monday statement, she called the charges against her "purely political" and said they are "meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight."
The Department of Homeland Security has pointed to body camera footage of what they say is McIver elbowing an ICE agent during the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
What's happening: Alina Habba, acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey announced on X she was dropping the case against Baraka, but charging McIver with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement as she accused the Democrat of violating the U.S. Constitution during the scuffle.
"No one is above the law — politicians or otherwise," Habba said in a statement. "It is the job of this office to uphold Justice, regardless of who you are. Now we will let the justice system work."
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed those comments in a post to X, saying: "If any person, regardless of political party, influence or status, assaults a law enforcement officer as we witnessed Congresswoman McIver do, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Baraka in a statement the City of Newark shared on its social media accounts welcomed the dismissal of the case against him, but expressed support for McIver:
Mayor Ras J. Baraka statement on dismissal of Delaney Hall Trespassing Charge.
Catch up quick: McIver, Baraka and Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) and Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) were at the Delany Hall detention center in Newark earlier this month to protest its use as a migrant holding facility.
The lawmakers argued that they were there to conduct legitimate oversight based on accusations that GEO Group, the private prison company operating the facility, lacked the proper permitting.
In addition to Baraka and McIver, the FBI also arrested a Wisconsin judge last month for allegedly helping an undocumented defendant avoid arrest by ICE agents. She was indicted and pleaded not guilty this week.
What they're saying: McIver said in her Monday statement the charges against her "mischaracterize and distort" her actions.
"This administration will never stop me from working for the people in our district and standing up for what is right," she added.
"I am thankful for the outpouring of support I have received and I look forward to the truth being laid out clearly in court," she added.
What to watch: House Republicans have floated additional repercussions for the three lawmakers, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) accusing them of "wildly inappropriate behavior."
"I think it's pretty clear that the law was violated," the speaker said at a press conference earlier this month, floating censure, removal from committees and expulsion as possible punishments.
He acknowledged the two-thirds threshold for an expulsion vote would be a difficult hurdle to clear given Democrats' unity around defending their colleagues.
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) has introduced a resolution to remove the trio from their committees.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
The Trump administration's first charter flight for dozens of "self-deporting" immigrants took off from Houston early Monday, part of a new program offering them a free trip back home and $1,000 — or else.
Why it matters: The self-deportation flights are one of the few incentives for unauthorized immigrants to present themselves to authorities under President Trump's immigration crackdown, which is long on sticks and short on carrots.
The self-deportation program was announced in March. Since then, the administration has paid for tickets for some people to return to their home countries on commercial airliners.
For those who are unauthorized and either don't turn themselves in or don't agree to self-deport, the alternative is being detained by immigration officials and held — possibly for months — in overcrowded facilities.
Zoom in: Monday's flight left Houston about 9:30 a.m. and took 65 people from Honduras and Colombia to their respective home countries, according to a Department of Homeland Security official.
To participate in the program, the immigrants logged into the CBP Home App and requested to be voluntarily flown home in return for the free trip and $1,000 after they land, the Homeland Security official said.
Zoom out: The program is a small part of fulfilling Trump's campaign-trail promise for mass deportations after a historic number of migrants were allowed into the U.S. under his predecessor, Joe Biden.
The State Department is using AI to monitor social media accounts of foreign students for alleged "pro-Hamas" sympathies, as Axios first reported.
And officials are weighing plans to ban some colleges from accepting foreign students if the officials decide the schools have been too soft on immigrant students viewed as supporters of Hamas and other terror groups, as Axios also first reported.
The number of deportations of people living in the U.S. is increasing under Trump, but his administration is still lagging behind the Biden administration's for total removal numbers compared to this time last year, according to an analysis of government data.
What they're saying: "In principle, [self-deporting] could be a very good option for people," said Michelle Brané, former executive director of the Biden administration's Family Reunification Task Force.
But there's a big caveat, she said. The Trump administration's "shock and awe" campaign of immigration enforcement has been effective at scaring people — to the point it may prevent people from using the government-run CBP Home app.
"If people are not being coerced, are fully informed and if it actually is a safe option that preserves people's rights," Brané said, "it could be a successful program."
But the administration hasn't detailed how and when self-deporters could be able to return to the U.S., and critics are skeptical.
"It's a scam because most people won't be allowed back into the U.S.," said Kerri Talbot, executive director of Immigration Hub, an advocacy group.
"They don't have the power to change those laws, and those are statutes that will block people from being able to come back."
Monday's self-deportation flight was far less controversial than the administration's first effort to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans alleged to be Tren de Aragua gang members. They were sent to a notorious lockup in El Salvador two months ago.
A judge ordered the jets to turn around mid-fight but the administration refused, saying the judge's jurisdiction didn't extend to international waters.
The Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked the administration from using the law to deport more Venezuelans to the El Salvador prison.
The administration also is resisting a court order to facilitate the release of Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia from that same prison, after his accidental deportation.
Other court fights involve the deportations of pro-Palestinian demonstrators Mahmoud Khalil, Moshen Madawi, and Rumeysa Ozturk. Only the former remains incarcerated.
The intrigue: Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have stressed that leaving the country voluntarily could eventually lead to a pathway to return to the U.S. legally.
Trump has said he wanted to create a system for "great" people to leave and legally return to the U.S.
That message also has been part of a multimillion-dollar ad campaign by Noem.
"If you are here illegally, use the CBP Home App to take control of your departure and receive financial support to return home," Noem said in a statement to Axios. "If you don't, you will be subjected to fines, arrest, deportation and will never allowed to return. ... Self-deport NOW and preserve your opportunity to potentially return the legal, right way."
Investors reacted swiftly Monday morning to the U.S. losing its last triple-A credit rating, briefing sending the yield on 30-year Treasuries above 5%.
Why it matters: Credit rating downgrades — like Moody's decision Friday to slash the U.S. government to Aa1 — mean the borrower is now viewed as a riskier bet.
U.S. Treasuries are still widely regarded as a dependable place to park cash, but long-term bond yields Monday nonetheless touched their highest level since November 2023, and last seen before that in 2007.
Zoom out: U.S. debt is now deemed by Moody's to be a risker proposition for investors than debt issued by a dozen countries.
Those better bets are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.
What they're saying: "Globally, the downgrade may dent confidence in U.S. Treasuries, traditionally perceived as a safe-haven asset due to the U.S. dollar's status as the global reserve currency," Wells Fargo Investment Institute analysts wrote today in a special report.
"While demand for Treasuries is likely to remain strong, in our view, reduced foreign appetite — already evident following President Donald Trump's tariff announcements — could exacerbate fiscal pressures," they wrote.
Yes, but: Most buyers of Treasury bonds aren't doing so based on credit rating firms' assessment, however, Axios' Neil Irwin notes.
Reality check: The U.S. had already lost its perfect rating from S&P in 2011 and from Fitch in 2023.
Some, like Morningstar chief U.S. market strategist Dave Sekera, characterized Friday's Moody's downgrade as largely symbolic, with the issues that led to the downgrade "long in coming, well known, and priced into" the U.S. Treasury market.
The impact: The morning's bond selloff tapered off by the afternoon, with yields on 30-year Treasures settling at 4.91%.
Stocks finished the day largely in the green, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow Jones indexes all closing Monday with small gains.
The big picture: For investors today the downgrade "reinforces that [U.S.] fiscal strain is no longer a distant concern," writes Tom Kozlik, head of public policy and municipal strategy at Hilltop Securities.
"It is unfolding in real time, with significant implications for investor sentiment and policy discussions."
The U.S. government is spending far more than it takes in as revenue, causing ever-rising debt — and there is no sign that will change anytime soon.
The big picture: Those facts are well-known to anybody who has taken a cursory look at the government's books. But Moody's decision to downgrade the U.S. credit rating Friday is the latest reminder that this precarious fiscal standing comes with real risks.
Moody's — the last of the three major raters to downgrade the U.S. from its once-pristine credit rating — is acknowledging that U.S. policymakers may have less room to maneuver in future recessions or crises, in light of the massive existing pile of debt.
It is one more sign that an era in which the U.S. government could borrow seemingly limitless amounts, without experiencing the cost of higher interest rates and inflation, may have come to an end.
Zoom out: Ratings from firms like Moody's help determine how much companies, municipalities, and even sovereign nations must pay to borrow money.
The downgrade implies that the U.S. government is a bigger credit risk than it seemed, which in theory could make some investors demand higher interest payments to buy government bonds.
That would ripple through into higher borrowing costs across the economy, including for home and auto loans.
In practice, most buyers of Treasury bonds aren't doing so based on credit rating firms' assessment, so the direct impact on markets was limited Monday.
State of play: The downgrade came as congressional Republicans move forward on their plan for major tax cuts, which independent fiscal watchdogs believe would increase the deficit by trillions over the coming decade.
Compared to past episodes when the government has taken on deficit-widening initiatives, the new budget bill arrives at a moment of higher debt and higher interest rates.
And it comes after global investors have already seemed jittery about the safety of U.S. assets amid the trade war, resulting in higher interest rates and more risk to the ability to continue financing debts.
White House officials emphasize that they inherited sky-high deficits from the Biden administration and say that their policy mix — including deregulation, tariffs, DOGE spending cuts, and pro-growth aspects of the budget bill — will help bring them down.
"I do want to assure everyone that the deficit is a very significant concern for this administration," top White House economist Stephen Miran told reporters Monday.
"We're determined to bring it down and to undo the damage to the fiscal health of the United States that was wrought by the Biden administration and its reckless policies."
What they're saying: "Yes, this Moody's action is largely symbolic, and it reflects information we already know," notes Callie Cox, chief market strategist at Ritholtz Wealth Management.
"But it's a headline that came at a wildly inopportune time for the fixed-income market," which is to say the multi-trillion dollar market for government bonds.
"Moody's picked a moment when the world is second-guessing U.S. debt, Congress is arguing over government budget proposals, and the policy uncertainty" around long-term Treasuries is the highest in years, she adds.
The bottom line: "The government deficit isn't a problem until investors think it is," says Cox. "And they're increasingly telling us that the deficit is a problem."
National Institutes of Health budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration and staff layoffs at the largest funder of cancer research threaten to stall innovation, doctors and researchers said.
The big picture: Cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. As former President Biden said Monday after announcing he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the disease "touches us all."
For many common cancers, rates continue to rise, especially for women. And recent studies have found diagnoses for several cancers have increased among people under the age of 50, including colorectal cancer.
Yes, but: Now,potentially life-saving research faces an uncertain future, researchers say.
The American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network said in a May 2024 fact sheet that "[i]ncreased and sustained investment" at the NIH and its National Cancer Institute has been key to reducing the nation's cancer mortality rate, which the NCI says continues to decline.
What they're saying: "These are the most difficult times that we have ever experienced," Steven Rosenberg from the National Cancer Institute told PBS when asked about layoffs and budget cuts.
What is the NIH, and how does it contribute to cancer research?
The NIH describes itself as the nation's medical research agency and as the largest public funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the world.
It falls under the Department of Health and Human Services and is made up of 27 institutes and centers, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Flashback: The NCI was established through the National Cancer Act of 1937, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Since President Nixon's declaration of a "war on cancer" in the early 1970s, research enjoyed increasing shares of federal biomedical research funding with strong bipartisan support.
The Trump administration has upended the once-bipartisan consensus on funding cancer research.
Zoom in: The NCI is the government's principal agency for cancer research and training with a team of around 3,500, according to its website.
The NCI received a total of $7.22 billion in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
What has happened to the NIH under the Trump administration?
The potential impacts of NIH cuts are in flux and far-reaching.
In February, the NIH said it would make dramatic cuts to the rate it pays for institutions' administration and overhead costs, saying it would cap the indirect cost rate on new and current grants at 15% of the total cost.
That announcement sent shockwaves through the academic research world, with some institutions receiving reimbursements of more than 50%.
Friction point: Nearly two dozen states sued in response to the administration's overhead cost cap, alleging the billions of dollars in cuts could lead to layoffs, disrupt medical trials and close labs.
A federal judge granted a temporary freeze then later made it permanent — teeing up the administration's appeal.
Beyond that, the NIH has cut funding for research and institutions that it says do not support the agency's mission, Axios' Carrie Shepherd reported, which includes some diversity, equity and inclusion studies.
Some of the terminations follow the president's anti-DEI executive orders, while other grants addressed topics like vaccination and LGBTQ+ health, KFF Health News reported in April.
A Senate committee reportreleased last week by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) documenting what he called "Trump's war on science" found the NIH has committed $2.7 billion less to researchers through March, compared to the same timeframe last year.
The Democratic staff's analysis also reported a 31% decline in cancer research grant funding in the first three months of 2025, compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.
"[T]he Trump administration's funding freeze did not just affect new research," the report read. "Renewals of existing grants also plummeted, disrupting studies that had already gone through peer review, some of which had already started to produce results."
Yes, but: TheDepartment of Health and Human Services, which is overseen by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., slammed the report as a "politically motivated distortion," and called Sanders' characterization of a "war on science" "unequivocally false."
What are doctors and researchers saying about the state of cancer research?
Jalal Baig, an oncologist and writer, said in a recent MSNBC op-ed that because "no two cancer centers" are alike in their "indirect" costs, "a uniform, fixed cap would disrupt or halt operations for many."
While that plan is blocked by a judge's injunction, he said job cuts have had "palpable effects," pointing to reports of treatment delays for patients using an experimental therapy fighting gastrointestinal cancers.
Kimryn Rathmell, the former director of the National Cancer Institute, told the Associated Press that "discoveries are going to be delayed, if they ever happen."
The bottom line: "Countless Americans depend on the continued progress of cancer research to save lives and improve cancer care," Baig wrote. "And without it, many potential insights and treatments needed to propel oncology forward will never be realized."
Why it matters: The Venezuelan immigrants are still challenging the Trump administration's decision to remove their Temporary Protected Status in a lower court, but the Supreme Court's order means those protections can be revoked while the case continues.
A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California had blocked the Trump administration from removing the deportation protections, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision on Monday.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson would have denied the request, per the court's order.
As many as 350,000 Venezuelans are covered by the Temporary Protected Status, according to court filings.
Catch up quick: Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas had extended the deportation protections for Venezuelans until 2026 in the waning days of the Biden administration.
In its request to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration said the district court judge's nationwide stay overstepped its authority.
"The court thus wrested control of the nation's immigration policy away from the Executive Branch," the administration said.
What they're saying: The National TPS Alliance, which is representing the Venezuelans in the federal district court case, said the immigrants covered by the protected status "cannot return safely to their country of origin."
President Trump had ordered that deportations of Venezuelans be deferred on his first day in office during his first term. Those protections were periodically extended until the second Trump administration revoked them in February.
DHS Secretary Krisi Noem even acknowledged in her revocation order that conditions in Venezuela had not improved since the temporary protections were first enacted, the TPS Alliance told the district court.
Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout with additional information.
The U.S. government's fiscal situation has been worrying in a sort of abstract, long-term way for years. Now it's getting real.
The big picture: There are emerging signs that global investors are losing patience with a U.S. government that shows no intention of narrowing deficits to more sustainable levels.
At this point, it isn't a debt crisis or even the kind of mini-crisis that cost U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss her job in 2022, when the British currency and bonds sold off after an ill-fated budget proposal.
But there are signs everywhere — in bond market moves, credit rating agency actions, currency markets — that U.S. policymakers have less room to maneuver than they may have thought.
"Successive US administrations and Congress have failed to agree on measures to reverse the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs," Moody's said.
Treasury bonds were selling off Monday, pushing the 30-year Treasury yield up 0.07 percentage point to 4.97% as of 11:50am ET. It hovered near the highest levels seen since 2007, other than a few days in the fall of 2023.
Between the lines: The Treasury market is perhaps the most scrutinized on Earth, and Moody's analysts don't have special insight that fixed-income strategists and hedge fund managers around the world lack.
But the fact that bonds sold off following the downgrade suggests global investors who fund U.S. debt are becoming more wary of the long-term fiscal outlook — as reflected in diminished demand for the longest-dated securities.
Notably, when S&P downgraded the U.S. government's credit rating in 2011, Treasury yields paradoxically fell, reflecting the dominant view then that they represented the ultimate safe haven in times of turmoil.
State of play: Congressional Republicans are making progress on legislation that front-loads tax cuts and backloads spending cuts. Fiscal watchdogs believe it would add trillions to the national debt relative to current law.
The Yale Budget Lab, for example, calculates it would add $3.4 trillion to cumulative deficits over the next decade if tax cuts expire in 2028 and 2029 as scheduled, or $5 trillion if they are extended.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget calculates that the legislation could cause the government's debt service costs to approach $2 trillion and more than 4% of GDP, which would be the most on record. (It was 3.1% last year and 1.5% as recently as 2021.)
Data: Federal Reserve; Chart: Axios Visuals
This represents a turnabout from the pattern of the last 25 years, when there was little evident resistance from bond buyers as the U.S. government looked to borrow.
Zoom out: At other key moments in the recent past when the U.S. considered deficit-enlarging fiscal action, markets gave a big flashing green light.
That includes the post-2001 global war on terror, the 2008 financial crisis, with President Trump's 2017 tax law, plus the pandemic response under both Trump and former President Biden.
Now, it is at best a yellow light.
Flashback: Consider the state of play when the 2017 Trump tax cuts were being debated.
The national debt then was 75.7%. Now it's approaching 100%. The government's debt service costs were 1.4% of GDP. Now it's 3.1% and rising.
The 10-year Treasury yield averaged 2.3%. Now it's 4.5%.
What they're saying: Russel Matthews with RBC BlueBay Asset Management wrote in a note that "there is limited desire or ability for any US politicians to present a roadmap for a serious reduction in the fiscal deficit.
"We don't see any contraction in the deficit over the foreseeable future, and the risk is that it increases from the current level around 6.5% of GDP," he added.
"If this dynamic is unchecked, it is inevitable that the US has some kind of Liz Truss moment; a spike in rates volatility and yields moving substantially higher, particularly at the long end of the curve. However, predicting when we reach this tipping point is extremely difficult," noted Matthews.
The Trump administration has instituted all sorts of requirements in its first months to monitor Americans, particularly immigrants.
The big picture: From an undocumented immigrant registry to proof-of-citizenship for voting, President Trump has attempted to create a landscape in which the government can demand to know — and force people to prove — their identity in radical new ways.
Between the lines: The data the administration is pushing for can be weaponized against people.
Immigration
As part of its immigration crackdown, the administration instituted a plan to require undocumented immigrants to register with the federal government, which a federal judge gave a stamp of approval.
The plan requires undocumented immigrants age 14 or older to provide their fingerprints or face a fine or even imprisonment.
The Department of Homeland Security launched an app that officials say will allow immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally to report when they "self-deport."
Targets of the administration's immigration crackdown also include U.S. tourists and permanent residents from around the world, who have been arrested, detained and deported at ports of entry.
The Internal Revenue Service reached an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to share the tax information of undocumented immigrants with immigration authorities.
Education
As part of the Trump administration's playbook to influence and reorient the priorities of universities, school protest leaders have been targets.
Free-speech advocates see it as a chilling escalation of Trump's immigration crackdown and as a First Amendment issue. The White House argues that his actions in helping to lead campus protests against Israel's treatment of Palestinians run afoul of the president's order banning antisemitism.
Meanwhile, as the government probes schools over alleged antisemitism, employees at Barnard College received a survey from a federal regulator asking if they were Jewish and whether they practiced Judaism.
That was characterized as part of a federal investigation into whether the university discriminated against Jewish employees.
"That the government is putting together lists of Jews, ostensibly as part of a campaign to fight antisemitism, is really chilling," Nara Milanich, a Barnard history professor who is Jewish, told AP. "As a historian, I have to say it feels a little uncomfortable."
Voting
Trump signed an executive order in March to make sweeping changes to federal elections, including a proof of citizenship requirement. A federal judge blocked that requirement last week.
The House, meanwhile, passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote. SAVE aims to restrict noncitizen voting in federal elections — which is exceptionally rare and illegal.
President Trump has invited newly inaugurated Pope Leo to the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.
Why it matters: If accepted, the visit would mark the first time a pope has visited the White House since Pope Francis visited then-President Obama in 2015.
Vice President JD Vance gave Leo a letter containing the president and first lady Melania Trump's "warm wishes" and an invitation to the White House as soon as he could visit, Leavitt said.
A visit from Leo, the first American-born pope, would mark the fourth visit to the White House by a pontiff. Pope John Paul II visited then-President Jimmy Carter in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI visited then-President George W. Bush in 2008.
Catch up quick: In a recording, Leo was heard responding "at some point" when Vance gave him the letter, per AP.
Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other world leaders, attended Leo's inauguration Mass on Sunday. Vance led the U.S. delegation.
Vance gave Leo a copy of two of St. Augustine's most seminal works and a Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it, per AP. Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture and a coffee table book featuring photos of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace.
Zoom out: Leo is uniquely positioned to help ease divisions between Catholics in the U.S., Axios' Russell Contreras previously reported.
He has been an outspoken defender of migrant rights, which could put him at odds with the Trump administration'sdeportation and anti-immigrant policies.
President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for around two hours on Monday, after which Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire" and an end to the war.
Why it matters: Trump previously argued his personal involvement would be crucial to achieving any deal, but walked back from any mediator role on Monday and said the talks would be only between the two countries. He added that Pope Leo XIV "would be very interested in hosting" talks in the Vatican.
A first round of ceasefire talks already took place on Friday in Istanbul, with no major breakthroughs. Putin initially proposed a leader-level summit, then declined to attend.
Trump's statement that the U.S. won't play a role in talks going forward reflects the Russian position that the U.S. should not mediate the dispute. The Russians refused to allow State Department official Michael Anton to attend Friday's talks.
Friction point: Ukraine, NATO allies and Trump himself have demanded that Russia agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Trump's statement suggests Putin convinced him of the need for negotiations over the terms of any ceasefire.
Between the lines: Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on any party that obstructs a deal, but has not imposed any penalties on Russia thus far for opposing a swift ceasefire.
On Friday, he said in an interview with Fox News that he will use his leverage on Putin if he thinks it's needed.
On Sunday, Trump held a conference call with the leaders of U.K., France, Germany and Italy who urged him to sanction Russia if Putin doesn't agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire during their call.
Trump spoke to a those four European leaders plus the leaders of Finland and the European Commission on a conference call Monday immediately after his call with Putin.
While Putin did not agree to a ceasefire, Trump described the tone of the call as "excellent."
What they're saying: The Kremlin said the call was "meaningful, frank and very useful" and that Russia was "ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum on a future peace treaty, which may also include a ceasefire and principles for resolving the conflict."
Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Trump and Putin didn't discuss timetable for a ceasefire but said Trump stressed he want it to happen "quickly."
Trump told Putin the U.S. Senate is preparing possible sanctions against Russia but stressed he prefers to reach an agreement and not use sanctions, Ushakov claimed.
Trump called Zelensky ahead of the call with Putin and spoke to him for a few minutes, according to a source familiar.
Zelensky wrote on X ahead of the call that Ukraine insists on the need for a "full and unconditional ceasefire" in order to establish the necessary foundation for diplomacy.
"Such a ceasefire must be long enough and include the possibility of extension. Our proposal is 30 days. We are also prepared for a meeting at the level of leaders to solve the key issues. Ukraine is not afraid of direct talks with Russia, and it is important that the Russian leadership not prolong the war," Zelensky wrote.
The intrigue: Hosting negotiations would be a very high profile first act of international diplomacy for the American-born Pope Leo XIV.
What to watch: Vice President Vance reiterated ahead of the call that the U.S. was "more than open to walking away" from the peace process if it didn't show results.
Vance admitted the talks between Russia and Ukraine are at "a bit of an impasse" and stressed that "one open question is whether Vladimir Putin is serious about negotiating peace."
Former President Joe Biden thanked his followers for their support in a Monday social media post after his office confirmed Sunday he has been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer.
The big picture: The news of Biden's cancer diagnosis was met with a bipartisan outpouring of support as his personal office said he and his family are "reviewing treatment options with his physicians."
According to his office, the cancer is "characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5)," citing a grading system used for prostate cancer, "with metastasis to the bone."
Driving the news: Sharing a selfie with former first lady Jill Biden and their cat, Willow, the former president wrote, "Cancer touches us all."
He continued, "Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."
Zoom out: Biden was diagnosed on Friday after doctors discovered a "prostate nodule."
In 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was found to be cancerous, but it did not require further treatment.
One bright spot in this bummer housing market: More listings are shaking loose.
Why it matters: Some homeowners sitting on low mortgage rates are finally selling.
By the numbers: Inventory in 20 of the 50 largest U.S. metros topped pre-pandemic norms in April, up from 18 in March, per Realtor.com.
Yes, but: The mortgage "lock-in effect," as experts call it, isn't going away anytime soon.
In all 50 states, over half of mortgages have rates below 4%, according to Cotality, an industry data provider.
In California, Utah and North Dakota, the share hits 71%. Nationally, it's 62%.
Between the lines: Most who took out new mortgages in recent years have rates above 6%.
The average rate on the 30-year mortgage hasn't dipped below 6% since 2022, according to Freddie Mac.
Zoom in: States with more mortgage originations over the past three years see more loans with rates at 6% or higher, says Molly Boesel, principal economist at Cotality, formerly known as CoreLogic.
What's next: Mortgage rates aren't expected to fall much this year and home prices continue to rise.
Many buyers — and homeowners looking to refinance — await any chance to lower their monthly payments.
Vice President JD Vance considered traveling to Israel on Tuesday but decided against it due to the expansion of Israel's military operation in Gaza, a senior U.S. official told Axios.
Why it matters: The U.S. official said Vance made the decision because he didn't want his trip to suggest the Trump administration endorsed the Israeli decision to launch a massive operation at a time when the U.S. is pushing for a ceasefire and hostage deal.
Between the lines: This isn't about publicly pressuring Israel. Vance officially cited "logistical" reasons for passing on the visit.
But his decision sheds light on how the U.S. feels about the current Israeli policy in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to sign any agreement that would end the war, and has show little flexibility in negotiations despite the urgent efforts of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to make a deal and stave off the Israeli operation.
Driving the news: On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces began mobilizing troops for operation "Gideon's Chariots," which calls for Israel to displace all 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to a "humanitarian zone" and flatten most of the enclave.
On Sunday, the IDF announced the ground operation was underway in multiple areas of the Gaza Strip.
Behind the scenes: On Saturday, the Trump administration informed the Israeli government that Vance was considering stopping in Israel after attending the pope's inauguration, Israeli officials say.
Additional discussions took place on Sunday between U.S. and Israeli officials to prepare for Vance's visit. Reports soon popped up in the Israeli press that Vance might arrive on Tuesday.
Several hours later, a White House official denied the reports in a statement to reporters traveling with the VP. "While the Secret Service has engaged in contingency planning for the addition of several potential countries, no additional visits were at any point decided upon, and logistical constraints have precluded an extension of his travel beyond Rome. He will return to Washington on Monday."
The VP's office declined to comment for this story beyond that statement.
The intrigue: A U.S. official with knowledge of what actually happened during those several hours told Axios logistics weren't the issue.
While Vance was deliberating, concerns were raised that a trip to Israel at this time would be perceived by Israel and countries in the region as validation for Israel's expanded operation.
At that point, Vance decided not to go.
State of play: The Trump administration is trying to cut a deal to halt the operation, release more hostages, and allow aid in to prevent starvation and a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.
Under pressure from the Trump administration and European allies, the Israeli Security Cabinet decided Sunday to immediately resume the transfer of aid to Gaza through existing channels until a new humanitarian mechanism is operational.
Witkoff gave Israel and Hamas an updated proposal last week for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal and is pressing the parties to accept it, Axios reported on Sunday.
After targeting dyes and other chemicals allowed for use in food, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is zeroing in on the active ingredient in Roundup in his bid to root out what he calls environmental toxins that contribute to chronic disease.
Why it matters: The herbicide glyphosateis expected to feature prominently in a report due out this week from President Trump's Make America Healthy Again Commission, which was charged with identifying top contributors to America's chronic health problems.
But some warn that clamping down on pesticides could cause major disruption of the food supply, with repercussions for agriculture interests and consumers.
In a speech last week, White House senior health adviser Calley Means previewed the report's findings, pointing to chemical pesticides as contributors to Americans' poor health.
"Obviously it's because of environmental toxins. We produce and ingest 25% of the world's pesticides," Means said at an event in D.C. launching the MAHA institute. "The leading herbicides and pesticides that we use in the United States — many of them are phased out or banned in every other country in the world."
The big picture: While some environmentalists and wellness influencers have long decried the to use of herbicides and pesticides, glyphosate is the most widely used weedkiller worldwide and the key ingredient in Bayer's Roundup.
Bayer has said its product has been widely tested and found safe and essential.
"We support the application of sound science to address the complex causes of chronic disease and food insecurity in America," a Bayer spokesperson told Axios. "We look forward to exploring how we can support the administration's initiatives."
Yes, but: Some researchers who've tested animals or made observational studies have found connections between chemicals such as glyphosate and chronic inflammation, cancer, neurodegenerative disease and autism.
"All we are doing as scientists here is just trying to show the use is going up substantially every year," said Ramon Velazquez, a researcher at Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center.
"Are there possible detrimental outcomes? ... Unfortunately, what we're finding with our research and support with others is that the answer is yes."
Friction point: But some White House officials have raised concerns about what removing glyphosate would do to the food supply. Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture dispute Kennedy's belief that weedkillers are harmful to health, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The chemical atrazine, which is banned in Europe, is also expected to be highlighted in the forthcoming commission report as a contributor to poor health, the WSJ reported. Glyphosate is allowed in Europe, though it's controversial because of alleged health and environmental effects.
Kennedy and his supporters regularly point to "environmental toxins" as the underpinnings of disease.
"It's a carcinogen, an endocrine disruptor, it causes kidney and liver damage. ... It can contribute to reproductive harm, which is a crisis in America today," Zen Honeycutt, founder and executive director of Moms Across America, who's aligned with Kennedy's agenda, told Axios.
Some environmental groups say it's impossible to split the difference and that getting results likely requires strict new regulations.
Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, which tracks use of glyphosate, pointed to Kennedy's recent effort to remove petroleum-based food dyes that she said amounted to little more than an "understanding" with industry, a point food companies later disputed.
"It is hard for me to imagine how you can successfully get something like ... glyphosate, that is as widely used as it is, restricted or off the market or narrowing the uses without taking some kind of regulatory action, in this case, a regulatory action that would fall outside of the jurisdiction of the HHS secretary," she said.
Yes, but: Facing ongoing legal challenges, Bayer has warned farmers and retailers it may actually take the product off the market, WSJ reported.
There are some alternatives that have been suggested to replace glyphosate, including more natural forms of farming, as well as a future where AI-enabled robotic weeders replace chemicals.
Reality check: Means has been working to harmonize Kennedy's goals with MAGA priorities.
"This report coming out on the 22nd is a scientific assessment. It's a statement of what's happening. It's a statement of these unimpeachable facts," Means said. "Then we get to policy. When it comes to things like regulatory action on pesticides, we don't want a European nanny state system."
Kip Tom, vice chair for rural policy at the America First Policy Institute, called it a "false choice" between protecting human health and supporting farmers.
"We remain hopeful that science, innovation, and open dialogue will guide us toward policies that both strengthen American agriculture and reduce the burden of diet-related chronic disease," he told Axios in an emailed statement.
What's next: While there's been a big focus on agricultural chemicals and food safety, there's less consensus around other factors that Kennedy and Means say are poisoning Americans, including seed oils and refined sugars in processed foods, childhood vaccines and a rise in the use of psychiatric medications in teens.
Leading medical organizations do not support many of those claims.
The Trump administration conceded this weekend what economists, CEOs and consumers already knew: Americans pay for tariffs.
Why it matters: Nearly a decade of Trump trade arguments held that foreign countries, not Americans, paid the ultimate cost of a trade war.
But the president and his economic team now acknowledge that tariffs are raising prices for everyone, from industrial ports to retail storefronts.
The big picture: Trump's sweeping global tariffs, effectively the highest in nearly a century, are expected to cost the average household more than $2,300 a year, according to the Yale Budget Lab.
Even companies that once promised to hold the line on those costs, like Walmart, now say they have no choice but to pass them along.
Inflation may be benign for now, but experts are increasingly convinced that higher prices are only a matter of time.
Catch up quick: After Walmart said this week it would raise prices, a furious Trump insisted on Truth Social that the company "eat the tariffs" — a concession, of sorts, that someone this side of the border had to pay something, somehow.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent then went on the Sunday TV shows and said that while Walmart would eat some of the tariffs, consumers would have to pay, too.
The intrigue: It was only May 11 that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick insisted people had to drop the "silly arguments" that consumers would pay the costs of trade levies.
Four days later, the country's largest retailer said that's exactly what they'd have to do.
For the record: "The Administration has consistently maintained that the United States, the world's best and biggest market economy, has the leverage to make our trading partners ultimately bear the cost of tariffs," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.
"The data backs us up: we've now had three months of below-expectation inflation reports after enacting tariffs, especially on China. Low inflation, robust jobs reports, and trillions in historic investment commitments prove that President Trump's agenda of tariffs, rapid deregulation, tax cuts, and domestic energy production is laying the groundwork to restore American Greatness."
Between the lines: Bessent said Sunday that while consumer prices may rise due to tariffs, people will see even bigger benefits from the falling price of gasoline.
He argued it was effectively a tax cut for consumers, and would help keep inflation in line.
Reality check: With the average American vehicle using a little under 500 gallons of gas a year, and gas prices per gallon being a little over 40 cents cheaper today than a year ago, the average driver is looking at an annual savings of around $200 per car.
That's a fraction of what Yale and other budget experts estimate tariffs will cost households.
What to watch: Multiple tariff clocks are ticking — a pause on sweeping reciprocal tariffs ends in early July, and a mutual lowering of duties with China ends in early August, unless deals can be struck between now and then.
But even if deals are struck later this year, it may be too late to avoid at least some short-term price pain.
"If Walmart is raising prices, it certainly means that other retailers are going to be raising prices as well," Gabelli Funds analyst Justin McAuliffe wrote last week.
The House Budget Committee approved President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" Sunday after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) convinced a cadre of Republican opponents to drop their opposition pending changes that have not yet been publicly disclosed and may still be in flux.
Why it matters: It's a big win for Johnson and Trump, two days after GOP opposition torpedoed their first attempt at committee passage. But they'll still need to pass it through House Rules and on the House floor, where Republicans have a razor-thin majority.
The vote was 17-16, with four Republicans voting "present" and all Democrats in opposition.
GOP Reps. Chip Roy (Texas), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Andrew Clyde (Ga.) and Josh Brecheen (Okla.) voted present after voting "no" on Friday.
Norman said he was "excited about the changes" in the works for the bill.
Catch up quick: The panel on Friday rejected the bill in a 16-21 vote, touching off a weekend of furious negotiations with GOP holdouts on the committee.
Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said during Sunday night's session that "most likely there would be some changes" to the measure before it comes to the floor.
But Arrington said he couldn't comment on specifics or any side deals that might have been struck.
Johnson told reporters at the Capitol earlier Sunday night that there had been "minor modifications" to the measure, according to multiple reports on X.
Zoom in: One of the stickiest sticking points has been the GOP's massive Medicaid overhaul, with conservatives and moderates pulling in opposite directions on proposed changes.
Even if they get the package through, Senate Republicans will be waiting with their own fixes, Axios Pro's Peter Sullivan and Victoria Knight report.
Trump urged Republicans on Friday to support the measure, posting to his Truth Social account: "We don't need 'GRANDSTANDERS' in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!"
Editor's note: The caption on this story was corrected to reflect House Speaker Mike Johnson is a Republican, not a Democrat.
The big picture: After Biden's representatives announced he was diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer on Friday, both Democrats and Republicans took to social media to pay tribute.
What they're saying:
Trump saidon Truth Social, "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."
Former President Obama said in Facebook tribute to his vice president that he and former first lady Michelle Obama were thinking of the entire Biden family.
"Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe," Obama said of Biden, who spearheaded the Cancer Moonshot initiative following the death of his son from brain cancer —an effort to cut cancer death rates and improve the experiences of people affected by cancer that he stepped up when he was president.
"I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace," Obama added. "We pray for a fast and full recovery."
Harris wrote on Bluesky that she and her husband, former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, were saddened to learn of Biden's diagnoses.
The 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidatesaid they're keeping him, former first lady Jill Biden and their family "in our hearts and prayers," adding: "Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X he's praying for the former president "and the entire Biden family."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that he, the "House Democratic Caucus and our nation are praying" for Biden and his family.
"Over the years, the Biden family has confronted unimaginable adversity with grace and steadfast perseverance," he added. "We stand with President Biden as he confronts this moment with the same courage and resilience he has shown throughout his life."
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) noted in a video posted to X that as someone who's worked as a urologist, taking care of patients with prostate cancer for three decades, he can say that with "many medical interventions" life expectancy can be extended by several years."
Murphy's hope is that Biden "will have good, good treatment awaiting him, and that his cancer responds well to the diagnosis."
House Speaker Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La) wrote on X, "This is certainly sad news, and the Johnson family will be joining the countless others who are praying for the former President in the wake of his diagnosis."
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Bluesky he's praying for his "friend" Biden and "will be keeping Joe, the entire Biden family, and the medical professionals treating him in our thoughts during this time," adding: "Continue to keep the faith, Joe."
Former Obama Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Facebook, "I'm thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they've done so much to try to spare other families from. Wishing you a speedy, full recovery."
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said on X that as a cancer survivor, she knows how difficult this news can be and wished him a full and speedy recovery.
"I send my love and support to President Biden and his family. He's a ferocious fighter, and I know he'll handle this battle with strength and dignity," she said.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X that she's "sorry to see this news," adding: "Cancer is truly awful. My Dad passed away in 2021 with cancer. Prays for Joe Biden and his family."
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said on X he's praying for Biden "to defeat the cancer he's recently been diagnosed with," adding: "He and Jill have always been fighters and I am confident they will meet this challenge with grit and grace."
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) expressed her sadness on X at Biden's cancer diagnosis and said she's "wishing him and his family well as he begins treatment."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrote on X, "Our hearts are with President Biden and his entire family right now. A man of dignity, strength, and compassion like his deserves to live a long and beautiful life. Sending strength, healing and prayers his way."
Former President Biden was diagnosed on Friday with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer, according to a statement from his personal office.
The big picture: He was evaluated earlier this month after doctors found a "small nodule" in his prostate during a routine physical exam.
Driving the news: "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms," according to the statement.
"On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone," the statement read.
Some types of cancer, like prostate and breast cancer, are particularly likely to spread to the bones, according to Mayo Clinic. Bone metastasis can cause pain and broken bones.
The cancer appears to be "hormone-sensitive," the statement read, "which allows for effective management."
Biden and his family "are reviewing treatment options with his physicians," the statement continued.
Context: Gleason scores are a grading system used for prostate cancer, according to Cleveland Clinic.
They range from six, which is considered low-grade cancer, to 10, which is high-grade.
Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men, according to the American Cancer Society, and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer.
Flashback: In 2023, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest, but it did not require further treatment.
