The Federal Aviation Administration issued 30 temporary drone flight restrictions over parts of critical New York infrastructure from Thursday through mid-January.
Why it matters: Dozens of reported mystery drone sightings have been reported across the northeast, raising suspicions and fueling conspiracies.
The restrictions were prompted by requests from federal security partners, the FAA said.
"The action is purely precautionary," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "There are no threats to these sites."
Catch up quick: Similar bans were announced on Wednesday over parts of New Jersey.
The orders restrict aircraft, including drones, from operating without permission in a certain area for a limited time.
New York also received a "state-of-the-art drone detection system" from the Biden administration this week, Hochul said.
Zoom in: The New York restrictions cover areas over substations, which are key junctions in the electrical grid. Other newly restricted areas include electric control centers, compressor stations or other complexes.
They're active for areas including Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island and Yonkers.
State of play: No nefarious activity is involved in the drones drones reported over several northeastern states, federal officials have repeatedly said.
Authorities have said that they believe a large portion of the sightings are misidentifications of other aircraft.
Congress stopped the clock ticking toward a government shutdown early Saturday after the Senate followed the GOP-controlled House's lead in passing a stopgap measure that runs through March.
The latest: The resolution came after a Trump-backed plan to suspend the debt ceiling failed in the House Thursday and was nixed from the funding plan.
What he's saying: Despite President-elect Trump's Friday comment on Truth Social that "If there's going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now, under the Biden administration," Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), told reporters after the vote he was in "constant contact" with Trump.
"He knew exactly what we were doing," Johnson said.
State of play: An earlier version of the stopgap measure lost 38 Republican votes and gained two Democratic ones before legislators pushed a revised bill through both chambers.
The approved resolution will fund the government until March, provide about $100 billion for disaster aid and extend the farm bill for a year, but legislators nixed elements of the earlier plan that would have suspended the debt ceiling until January 2027.
Congressional leaders unveiled legislation Tuesday to keep the government funded until March, setting up a showdown — with Johnson in the central pressure cooker.
It included around $100 billion in disaster relief, an extension of the farm bill and restrictions on investments in China. The 1,547-page bill includes wants from both Democrats' and Republicans' wish lists.
But some measures raised eyebrows: Notably, a pay raise for members of Congress (their first since 2009), caught the attention of Musk and others bashing the bill.
The mid-March extension date tees up another funding fight toward the end of Trump's first 100 days in office.
What's next, and what does it mean?
Lawmakers were ableto push a deal through just after a midnight Saturday deadline, and Biden signed the resolution later Saturday.
The legislative save means stopping a shutdownjust as lawmakers were meant to go on holiday recess.
For thousands of non-essential federal employees, a shutdown would have meant they stopped working.
During the last government shutdown (the longest on record) from December 2018 to January 2019, 420,000 federal employees were required to work without pay while another 350,000 were furloughed from their jobs without pay, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, a federal employee union.
"Excepted" employees are those who keep working. Their responsibilities may include services like "emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property," according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Federal employees would have been eligible for retroactive pay once funding was appropriated, per the OPM, and those who were furloughed could also have received unemployment benefits.
What government programs are impacted?
None now that the shutdown was avoided, butif legislators had failed, a number of government programs could have been impacted.
Social Security: Social Security and Medicare checks are still sent out during a shutdown, but some operations could have been impacted.
A contingency plan shared in September said that benefit verifications and the issuance of replacement Medicare cards would have been among discontinued activities.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Food benefits via SNAP are mandatory. But a shutdown could have impacted the ability to renew benefit card licenses.
Depending on the length of a shutdown, the timing of benefit issuances could have also been impacted.
Veteran benefits: Veteran benefits would continue to be processed and delivered, but some resources, like cemetery grounds maintenance, could have been restricted.
Passport issuance: The issuance of passports, along with visa and consular services, is expected to continue but could have been slowed depending on the length of a closure.
Education and student loans: Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans would continue during a shutdown, per the Department of Education. But the longer a shutdown dragged on, the greater the chance of disruptions for borrowers.
Most grantmaking activities, the department said in a contingency plan last year, would have been paused.
Last time the government shuttered, students faced inter-agency issues when trying to access student aid, CNN reported, such as Internal Revenue Service closures that prevented them from accessing necessary tax documents ahead of the spring semester.
National parks and Smithsonian museums: Services at national parks and the Smithsonian museums in D.C. would close during a shutdown.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) sued a New York doctor for sending abortion medication under the Empire State's shield law to Texas, which has a near-total abortion ban, his office said Friday.
Why it matters: The lawsuit, one of the first known of its kind, tests the future of shield laws enacted by blue states in the post-Roe era to help patients who live in states with abortion bans.
Paxton filed the complaint on Thursday against Dr. Margaret Daley Carpenter, co-founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine (ACT). New York's shield law protects providers and others who help patients outside New York access abortion via telemedicine.
ACT said in a statement to Axios: "Ken Paxton is prioritizing his anti-abortion agenda over the health and well-being of women by attempting to shut down telemedicine abortion nationwide."
"Shield laws are essential in safeguarding and enabling abortion care regardless of a patient's zip code or ability to pay. They are fundamental to ensuring everyone can access reproductive health care as a human right."
Zoom out: Most abortions in the U.S. involve pills rather than in-person procedures, and the number of abortions provided annually has risen since the Dobbs decision.
Zoom in: Paxton saidCarpenter prescribed pills commonlyused to end a pregnancy, mifepristone and misoprostol, to a 20-year-old woman in Collin County, Texas, per the complaint filed Thursday.
She experienced complications and was taken to the hospital, the state said, by a man described as the "biological father of the unborn child." The man learned after the fact that the woman had been pregnant, per the complaint.
Paxton is requesting that Carpenter be fined $100,000 per "violation" and that the court block her from violating Texas law.
"Carpenter is not a licensed Texas physician, nor is she authorized to practice telemedicine in the State of Texas," the complaint said.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) said in a statement: "We will always protect our providers from unjust attempts to punish them for doing their job and we will never cower in the face of intimidation or threats."
"I will continue to defend reproductive freedom and justice for New Yorkers, including from out-of-state anti-choice attacks."
What they're saying: "The truce over interstate abortion fights is over," Mary Ziegler, a leading abortion historian and law professor at UC Davis, said on X.
"What will it mean for the GOP to say abortion should be left to the states now?" she added.
The big picture: Anti-abortion advocates have been preparing to challenge abortion pill access once President-elect Trump takes office next year.
Anti-abortion advocates have been waiting for the "right case," to test these laws," the New York Times reported in February.
Trump, in an interview released on Thursday, said he'd ensure the FDA doesn't block access to abortion pills. It was the first time he made such a commitment.
The Supreme Court in June threw out an abortion pill case, preserving access to the medication without actually ruling on the merits of the case.
By the numbers: More than 9,700 abortions were provided monthly via telehealth under shield law protections in the second quarter of 2024, Society of Family Planning's #WeCount report.
This marked a 5% increase since the first quarter of 2024.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on Friday requested that President Biden direct more resources to investigate the origins of mysterious drones spotted across several states since last month.
Why it matters: The letter comes as local and state officials have demanded the federal government provide more information and resources as they express safety concerns over the drones' unknown origins.
The drone sightings, beginning in November, have been reported in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and most recently Connecticut.
The White House said the drones have not been involved in any malicious activity, and the Pentagon said they weren't deployed by the U.S. military or an adversary.
What he's saying: "It has become apparent that more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity," Murphy wrote.
He said he's directed the New Jersey State Police and the state's Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to assist federal authorities "in any capacity."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said on Friday the state is coordinating with the FBI and Homeland Security.
Zoom out: Separately, Murphy called for better regulation of unmanned aircraft systems, like these drones, to help the state as it prepares to host the FIFA World Cup Final in 2026.
"I have supported your administration's efforts in asking Congress to extend counter-UAS flexibilities to state and local law enforcement entities and to support additional funding for these activities," he wrote.
Catch up quick: New Jersey and New York senators on Thursday requested a briefing from federal agencies by Dec. 23.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who sits on the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Committee, said Thursday the drones should be shot down "if necessary," especially if they're flying over airports or military bases.
Two New Jersey representatives had made similar calls.
Zoom in: Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Friday that he saw dozens of "large drones" in the sky above his Davidsonville, Maryland, home for about 45 minutes on Thursday night.
"I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security," he said on X. "But the public is growing increasingly concerned and frustrated with the complete lack of transparency and the dismissive attitude of the federal government."
About half of U.S. adults are "not at all confident" in President-elect Trump's ability to appoint qualified people to his administration, per an AP-NORC poll released on Friday.
Why it matters: The lack of confidence from respondents undercuts Trump's claim to have won a mandate from voters as he finalizes Cabinet picks and fine tunes policy proposals.
Only three in 10 Americans feel "extremely" or "very" confident that he'll choose qualified Cabinet members.
Respondents had a similar level of confidence in his ability to manage government spending and perform other key presidential tasks like overseeing the military and White House.
Zoom in: Democrats and independents have the least confidence in Trump's abilities.
About three-quarters said they are "not at all confident" that he'll effectively manage the White House, government or military, or that he'll choose qualified Cabinet members.
The other side: Republicans have more confidence in Trump but were not as monolith as Democrats, per AP-NORC.
About six in 10 Republicans are "extremely" or "very" confident in his Cabinet appointments and ability to manage the White House, military and government spending.
State of play: The survey was conducted as Trump filled out the majority of his Cabinet, including with some members who face a difficult road to confirmation.
His selections include MAGA loyalists, including a slew of current or former Fox News employees.
Flashback: U.S. adults also expressed doubt in how Biden would carry out similar responsibilities. In that case, confidence was split across tasks, whereas it's relatively even for Trump.
In a survey shortly after Biden took office, adults had a higher level of confidence in his Cabinet appointments and ability to manage the White House than his military and government spending management.
Methodology: The survey of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has called for the drones spotted flying over New Jersey and other parts of the northeast to be shot down "if necessary" as the mystery continues over who is responsible for the unmanned aerial vehicles.
Why it matters: The call for potential action comes as the White House said the drones have not been involved in any malicious activity, but lawmakers from the impacted states have grown frustrated by a lack of answers amid safety concerns.
"We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they're flying over airports or military bases," Blumenthal said according to the AP.
Two New Jersey Reps. Chris Smith (R) and Jeff Van Drew (R) were the first to call for the drones to be shot down.
Driving the news: Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) requested a briefing Thursday on actions that federal agencies and local law enforcement are undertaking to identify the source of the drones.
The senators requested the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration respond by Dec. 23.
What they're saying: "The potential safety and security risks posed by these drones in civilian areas is especially pertinent considering recent drone incursions at sensitive military sites in and outside of the continental United States over the past year," the letter from the four senators said.
Blumenthal, who sits on the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Committee, said that the Biden administration "ought to be acting more aggressively against these drones."
"The lack of information is absolutely unacceptable," Blumenthal said according to the AP.
Booker echoed the frustration, though he did not place blame on any specific agency. "We should know what's going on over our skies," he said, per the AP.
Zoom out: Federal investigators have not corroborated any of the sightings, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday during a news conference.
"On the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully," he said.
Kirby confirmed there is no evidence of foreign involvement from coastal vessels, backing the Pentagon's Wednesday statement after Van Drew suggested an Iranian "mothership" located off the East Coast was launching the drones.
Missing American traveler Travis Timmerman was found outside of Damascus, Syria, after being imprisonedfor months.
Why it matters: His capture in Syria earlier this year was not widely known, but his discovery and release from prison followed the stunning collapse of the Assad regime earlier this week.
The big picture: Timmerman, originally from Missouri, told NBC News that he had crossed the border from Lebanon to Syria on a religious pilgrimage earlier this year before being detained by Syrian officials.
"My Lord sent me to Damascus," he saidto NBC on Thursday.
Timmerman was last seen in Budapest, Hungary, and he estimated to CBS News that he entered Syria about seven months ago. Missing person reports in Hungary and Missouri were released earlier this year for Pete Timmerman and Travis Pete Timmerman, per NBC News.
The State Department did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
State of play: Timmerman was released earlier in the weekby rebel forces, who have freed thousands of detainees in prisons across the country since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Timmerman said he spent days wandering barefoot in streetsoutside Damascus after his release. He asked a local for water and appeared in a video thatspread on social media, per NBC.
Between the lines: That social media video resulted in Timmerman being misidentified by some as American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for 12 years.
President Biden said on Sunday he believes Tice is alive.
Zoom out: A coalition of armed rebel groups launched an offensive in late November and took over nearly all of Aleppo within a matter of days. They continued to liberate towns along the routeto the capital, Damascus, which they seized control of on Sunday.
More than 14 million Syrians have been displaced from their homes as a result of the Syrian civil war,which began in 2011.
Assad has fled to Moscow and been granted political asylum with his family.
Luigi Mangione, the person of interest in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was carrying a so-called "ghost gun" when he was arrested in Pennsylvania on Monday, law enforcement said.
The big picture: The privately made firearms have become increasingly popular among criminals. They are untraceable by law enforcement as they lack the serial numbers found on other guns.
What are ghost guns?
Ghost guns are bought and assembled by the owner, Axios' Bryan McBournie previously reported.
Individuals purchase the parts to assemble the gun, either piece by piece or in assembly kits. The parts aren't usually considered firearms, allowing purchases to bypass the background check that is required for serialized firearms.
Ghost guns are often marketed as untraceable and unregulated by the government.
Yes, but: President Biden proposed a rule change in April 2022 requiring that ghost guns be placed under the same regulations as commercial firearm sales, including the use of serial numbers and background checks for buyers.
The legal challenge to the rule was taken up by the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on the case in October. A ruling has not been issued.
What threat do ghost guns pose?
Threat level: Ghost guns are considered the "fastest-growing gun safety problem" in the U.S. by Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy organization.
"They are extremely dangerous and we must do more on the federal level to clap down on the availability of ghost guns," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a news conference on Monday afternoon.
By the numbers: The number of ghost guns traced and recovered by the federal government more than doubled in 2021 from the year before, per the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to the Department of Justice, over 25,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement in 2022, marking a 1300% increase from 2016.
Just 15 states have laws on ghost guns. Most require background checks on purchasers and serialization of parts and components.
Zoom in: Mangione's gun may have been made using a 3D printer, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said during Monday's press briefing.
"The capability of firing a 9 millimeter round, obviously that will come out during our ballistics testing," he said.
3D-printing technology has yielded increasingly reliable firearms, per The Trace, a news organization that reports on gun violence. Models can vary widely.
How are ghost guns legal?
The Gun Control Act of 1968 allows private citizens to build guns for personal use. There are few regulations requiring them to be registered or traceable so long as they're not sold by the owner.
Commercial firearms are required to be federally licensed.
Luigi Mangione, 26, was apprehended by police on Monday in connection with the homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
The big picture: Thompson's shooting on Wednesday sparked a massive manhunt but no arrests had been made in connection to the case prior to Monday.
Driving the news: Mangione is expected to face gun charges in New York and Pennsylvania, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny said during Monday's press briefing
He was detained at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The Altoona Police Department confirmed in a press release that Mangione was arrested on charges unrelated to Thompson's shooting.
Mangione's last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was born and raised in Maryland and has ties to San Francisco.
Mangione's education and background
Mangione attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in May 2020 with both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, a Penn spokesperson told Axios.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in computer science and a minor in mathematics.
He also received a Master of Science in Engineering in computer and information science.
Mangione graduated in 2016 as valedictorian of the Gilman School, a prep school in Maryland, multiple media outlets reported.
A LinkedIn account attributed to Mangione says he served as head counselor at a Stanford University pre-collegiate studies program in 2019. A Stanford spokesperson confirmed to Axios that "a person by the name of Luigi Mangione" had worked as head counselor for the program.
The LinkedIn account says that Mangione started work as a data engineer after graduating Penn.
A spokesperson for TrueCar, another company listed on Mangione's LinkedIn account, said he has not been an employee of the vehicle sales business since 2023.
How the manhunt unfolded
Context: Thompson was shot and killed outside of a midtown Manhattan Hilton at about 6:40am ET on Wednesday by a masked man.
Thompson had received threats, his wife said, possibly related to health care coverage.
Zoom in: A McDonald's employee who recognized Mangione called local police, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on Monday. Tisch said his behavior was suspicious during questioning.
Mangione was carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, a U.S. passport, a gun and a suppressor consistent with those used in the attack.
A fraudulent New Jersey ID was consistent with one used to check into a New York City hostel ahead of the shooting.
What they're saying: "Officers recovered a handwritten document that speaks to both his motivation and mindset," Tisch said. The document was three pages long.
"It does seem that he had some ill will toward corporate America," Kenny said.
What's next: NYPD officers and members of the Manhattan District Attorney's Officewill interview Mangione further.
Taylor Swift will be on stage Sunday for "The Last Time" in her nearly two-year long, record-shattering international tour.
Why it matters: With 149 shows across five continents, the Eras Tour became the highest grossing concert tour of all time and boosted local economies worldwide.
The tour concludes with three shows in Vancouver.
By the numbers: The Eras Tour became the first tour to gross $1 billion as of December 2023 — with a year to go, according to Pollstar, a concert trade publication.
Pollstar predicted it would bring in $2.2 billion by the time it was over.
Between tickets, travel, outfits and lodging, the average Swiftie spent $1,300 per show, per the Washington Post.
Swift sold an estimated6.01 million concert tickets by March, according to a calculation from Time Magazine, which designated her 2023's person of the year.
Swift will have played nearly 149shows during the tour in more than 50 cities worldwide.
Each show included a more than 40-song setlist plus at least two surprise songs.
Along the way, Swift announced her 11th studio album: "The Tortured Poets Department."
The tour also helped boost her to billionaire status.
Between the lines: Swift raked in millions beyond the concert sales, too.
Swift's concert movie set a box office record for concert films on its opening weekend in October, making more than $95 million. By January, it earned more than $261.6 million globally, Variety reported.
Merch sales alone brought in $200 million as of December 2023, per Pollstar.
The intrigue: The Eras Tour also gave us "Swiftonomics," analyzing the bump to local economies when she swung through town.
President-elect Trump will participate in his first network interview since the election with NBC News' Kristen Welker, airing on "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
Why it matters: Trump has filled out his Cabinet and made some major policy announcements since being elected, but he has dialed back his media presence.
Welker will interview Trump on Friday and highlights will be released ahead of the full interview on Sunday, NBCUniversal said.
Between the lines: Both Trump and Vice President Harris embraced non-traditional forms of media, including podcast appearances, during the final stretch of the election.
Trump rarely takes part in extended TV interviews with traditional media outlets these days.
Flashback: Welker last sat down with Trump for an exclusive interview in September 2023, his first broadcast network interview since leaving office.
That was his only network sit-down interview during the 2024 campaign, per NBC.
Many of Trumps' TV interviews during the 2024 cycle went to Fox News and other friendly outlets.
Bans on gender-affirming care for youth went from being a political nonstarter to a top priority for GOP legislators with the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments on Wednesday in a pivotal case on the issue.
The big picture: In the three years since the first state legislativeban on youth gender-affirming care was passed in 2021, such legislation has taken effect in 26 states, per the Human Rights Campaign.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on U.S. v. Skrmetti, which challenges Tennessee's 2023 law that prohibits health care providers from providing or offering puberty blockers, hormones or surgery to minors.
It could be the biggest case of the high court's term, and the court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban, Axios' Sam Baker reported. Conservative justices indicated via their questioning that they don't want to overrule the state law.
Major medical groupsincluding the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association concur that gender-affirming care is lifesaving medical care.
By the numbers: More than a third of transgender youth live in states that have enacted bans on access to gender-affirming care, according to UCLA Law's Williams Institute.
More than three-quarters of trans youth between 13 and 17 years old live in states where such a law was introduced or pending in the 2024 legislative session.
What they're saying: "While the day-to-day lives of transgender and nonbinary people have become increasingly politicized, our ability to access the medicine we need to lead healthy lives should not be up for debate," Jaymes Black, CEO at The Trevor Project, said in a statement Wednesday.
Here are some key events that led to this moment:
2020: Anti-trans movement emboldens
The Supreme Court in 2020 ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that employers can't fire employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and John Roberts sided with the court's more liberal justices in the decision.
The Biden administration, during President Biden's first month in office, used this as a basis for a wide-ranging LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination executive order.
Yes, but: Political attacks against trans youth increased in 2020with a "new energy of frenetic assaults on trans life focused on beginnings of sports, bathrooms and health care," Chase Strangio, co-director of the ACLU'S LGBT and HIV Project, said recently on the Vibe Check podcast.
The bans on health care, at that point, didn't seem politically viable, said Strangio, who delivered the ACLU's argument before the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
2021: First youth gender-affirming care ban
Arkansas was the first state to ban gender-affirming care for patients under 18.
The Republican-led state house overrode a veto from Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who said it was a "vast government overreach."(That same year, Hutchinson signed a bill banning transgender women and girls from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity.)
2022: "Increasingly draconian" bills
Across 13 states, 26 anti-trans bills were passed in 2022. Proposed legislation became "increasingly draconian," per the Trans Legislation tracker.
"Don't Say Gay" bills proposed in more than a dozen states prohibited classroom discussion about LGBTQ+ identities and issues.
Alabama and Arizona passed legislation limiting youth access to gender affirming care. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also issued a directive defining certain gender-affirming services as child abuse, per KFF.
2023: Anti-trans legislation booms
90 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were passed in 2023, half of which were anti-trans.
Challenges to the bans are also making their way through the courts: In June 2023, a federal judge overturned Arkansas' ban on gender-affirming care for youth — later appealed by the state's attorney general.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a bill banning transition-related medical care for trans youth in March 2023 — the legislation that would eventually make it to the Supreme Court as U.S. v. Skrmetti. It was the first bill proposed during that year's legislative session.
The following month, the ACLU of Tennessee along with other organizations sued Tennessee to block the ban on behalf of three families and a doctor. A district court sided with the plaintiffs, but an appeals court subsequently sided with the state.
"Radical gender ideology has captured an entire alphabet of American medical organizations," the defense said in a court filing.
Between the lines: "These decisions were catastrophic because not only did they let these laws go into effect but they, in essence, gave governments the green light to discriminate against trans people in a host of contexts," Strangio said.
2024: Trans issues soar within GOP presidential campaign
2024 marks the fifth consecutive record-breaking year for the total number of anti-trans bills considered in the U.S., per the Trans Legislation Tracker.
Zoom out: Republicans have continued to target trans rights following the presidential campaign, where President-elect Trump released anti-trans campaign ads andsuggestedthat he'd ban trans athletes from competing in sports according to their gender identity.
House GOP members launched immediate attacks on Sarah McBride, the first trans person elected to Congress by banning transgender people from accessing House bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was a political novice when he became the country's conservative leader in 2022 during a closely contested election. His approval rating has dipped in recent months.
The big picture: In a shocking move, Yoon declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, citing pro-North Korean forces. The South Korean parliament subsequently voted to immediately lift Yoon's martial law declaration; he must comply under the constitution.
Zoom in: Yoon, 63, promised a harder line on North Korea when he entered office as a political newcomer. He became the 20th president of the Republic of Korea in May 2022.
Before that, he worked as a prosecutor for 26 years in jurisdictions including Daegu, Seoul and Suwon.
He became prosecutor general of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in 2019, responsible for overseeing the office's overall work, prosecution affairs and public officials of the prosecution service.
He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in law from Seoul National University.
Between the lines: South Korean presidents serve a single five-year term and cannot run for re-election.
Via lawsuits, state regulators and criminal investigations, Yoon has restricted speech that he considers misinformation, an effort largely aimed at news organizations, per the New York Times.
Zoom out: South Korea's constitution declares that the president can proclaim martial law "when it is required to cope with a military necessity or to maintain the public safety and order by mobilization of the military forces in time of war, armed conflict or similar national emergency."
There are two types of martial law: precautionary and extraordinary, which allows for special measures with "warrants, freedom of speech, the press, assembly and association or the powers of the Executive and the Judiciary."
State of play: The leader of Yoon's own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, denounced his decision to declare martial law, per the AP. So did his opponents, including Lee Jae-myung, who he narrowly defeated in the 2022 election.
Yoon accused the opposition of anti-state rebellion in his announcement.
His approval rating has decreased in recent months, per the AP. Disapprovers of Yoon cited rising consumer prices and a lack of communication with the public, per Gallup Korea, the Korea Herald reported.
He has struggled to implement his agenda with the opposition-controlled parliament.
Flashback: Earlier this year, Yoon's wife was embroiled in controversies including allegedly accepting a luxury Dior handbag and stock manipulation, per the BBC, causing rifts within his party.
At the time, Yoon said she should have conducted herself better but that the claims had been "exaggerated."
Also this year, Yoon vetoed an investigation into the death of a marine in 2023. The death became an impeachment threat for the leader, per the NYT.
Catch up quick: U.S. lawmakers have praised Yoon's efforts to improve South Korea's relationship with Japan, which is a fellow U.S. ally and South Korea's previous colonial ruler.
Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have improved since Yoon's term, per the European Council on Foreign Relations.
In November, Yoon told Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Peru, that their countries should cooperate for peace in response to North Korean and Russian military cooperation, per Reuters.
Xi told Yoon that irrespective of changes in the region, the countries should tap into advantages like integrated economies and cultural similarities to deepen cooperation.
Months prior, South Korea became the first Asian country to sign a North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreement on mutual recognition for military airworthiness certification.
Yoon has allied himself with anti-feminist sentiment, per the New York Times, by accusing the ministry of gender equality of treating men like "potential sex criminals," during a 2022 political movement.
Most food banks are seeing more demand than last year going into the holiday season, according to the nonprofit Feeding America's survey of 157 food banks.
The big picture: Food insecurity has steadily risen since before the pandemic, with 65% of food banks recording an increase in the number of people served in October 2024 compared to October 2023.
By the numbers: An average of 20% more people have sought out services from the food banks surveyed.
From September to October of this year, about half the food banks in the survey saw an increase in the number of people served, with an average increase of about 15% more people.
Zoom out: Demand throughout 2024 fluctuated but is higher overall than pre-pandemic levels.
5.9 billion meals were distributed nationally from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024 — a higher figure than the last couple of fiscal years but a drop-off from 2021, when 6.6 billion meals were distributed.
Flashback: Last year, Americans said they were less likely to donate food during the holiday season because of increasing food and grocery costs, per Divert Inc., a food waste reduction company.
Food prices for holiday meals have continued to fall following a 2022 record high.
Nearly a third of adults under 30 believe that a political argument will be on the menu at their Thanksgiving tables this year, according to YouGov polling.
17% of all Americans said it is very or somewhat likely that they'll get into a political argument on Thanksgiving, including 6% who said it was very likely, according to polling YouGov conducted this month.
By the numbers: 31% of adults under 30 said they're likely to get into a political argument, higher shares than other age groups:
25% of 30-40 year olds.
11% of 45-64 year olds.
5% of Americans 65 and up.
Yes but: Nearly half of respondents — 49% — said there's no chance they hurl insults between bites of stuffing. Another 21% they were not very likely to start a fight.
Zoom in: Democrats (23%) said they were more likely than Republicans (18%) to get into a political disagreement.
Following an election where the gender gap was stark, men (21%) said they were more likely than women (14%) to get testy.
Behind the scenes: Half of Gen Z voters and a quarter of voters overall said they lied to people close to them about who they were voting for ahead of the presidential election.
While most younger Americans still vote blue, Trump commanded significant support from young men.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that she would impose tariffs in retaliation to those proposed by President-elect Trump in a newly outlined plan for the start of his administration.
Why it matters: Leaders from Mexico, China and Canada have all argued that the U.S. and their countries mutually benefit from cooperative trade agreements.
Catch up quick: Trump on Monday said he would impose new tariffs to stop the flow of drugs and migrants.
A tariff of 25% of all goods coming from Canada and Mexico would take effect on Jan. 20. Imports from China would face a 10% tariff above any additional tariffs.
State of play: The Chinese and Canadian governments also responded to Trump's plan saying that trade cooperation is mutually beneficial.
"No one will win in a trade war or a tariff war," Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Liu Pengyu said in a statement, per Reuters.
The U.S., Mexico and Canada have a free trade agreement as of July 1, 2020 that substituted the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and promises "reciprocal trade supporting high-paying jobs."
Zoom in: "Among Mexico's main exporters to the United States are General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company, which arrived in Mexico 80 years ago," Sheinbaum said in a Tuesday letter to Trump.
"Why impose a tariff that would jeopardize them? Such a measure would be unacceptable and would lead to inflation and job losses in both the United States and Mexico."
Zoom out: Sheinbaum also addressed Trump's plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants at the start of his term.
She said a surge in weapons in Mexico and the flow of drugs to the U.S. is a U.S. public health problem.
"If even a small percentage of what the United States allocates to war were instead dedicated to building peace and fostering development, it would address the underlying causes of human mobility," she said.
When President-elect Trump moves from Mar-a-Lago to Pennsylvania Ave., he'll bring a gaggle of fellow Floridians with him.
Why it matters: Florida has become the epicenter of Trump's political movement and the state that is shaping the modern Republican Party.
Driving the news: After Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew from consideration as attorney general on Thursday, Trump's next choice was another Sunshine State ally, former Florida AG Pam Bondi.
Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, also hails from Florida.
So do the incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and national security adviser, Rep. Michael Waltz.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) was the Trumpworld favorite for majority leader, though he didn't receive Trump's endorsement and his bid fell short.
The big picture: During his four years out of office, Trump turned Mar-a-Lago into the mecca of MAGA, with the movement's top figures making regular pilgrimages.
Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis turned Florida into a test kitchen for policies that have become national conservative priorities and led a rightward shift that has left the state well-stocked with ascending GOP talent.
Helped by an influx of conservative-leaning voters, Trump and DeSantis turned a pivotal swing state MAGA red. Registered Republicans now outnumber Democrats by a million.
South Florida has also become a hub for conservative and libertarian-leaning business leaders, particularly in the hedge fund and crypto worlds.
Friction point: DeSantis' run for president created a rift among Florida Republicans, forcing them to choose sides between the governor and Trump.
Wiles, who helped DeSantis win the governor's mansion in 2018 before they had a falling out, jumped on Team Trump.
So did other prominent Republicans in the state, like Waltz and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who was on some shortlists for vice president.
What we're watching: Whether Wiles, a veteran of top Florida lobbying firm Ballard Partners, will stock the West Wing with people from her network in the Sunshine State.
Zoom out: Trump's other home state, New York,also has an outsized presence in his administration-in-waiting, Politico notes.
Among them: Rep. Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador; former Rep. Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator; and ex-ICE head and former New York state police officer Tom Homan as "border czar."
Trump has also poached from TV, nominating two Fox News hosts, former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) and Pete Hegseth, and talk show veteran Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The judge overseeing President-elect Trump's New York criminal hush money trial on Friday indefinitely postponed his sentencing, multipleoutlets reported.
Why it matters: It's a major win for Trump, who appears poised to avoid serious punishment for the 34 felony counts he was convicted of in May.
Driving the news: Judge Juan Merchan on Friday also granted Trump's legal team's request to file a motion to dismiss the case entirely.
That motion is due by Dec. 2 and the prosecution's response is due by Dec. 9, Merchan said.
What they're saying: "All of the sham lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed and we are focused on Making America Great Again," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Catch up quick: Prosecutors earlier this week suggested that they would be open to postponing Trump's sentencing even if it waits until his second presidential term ends in 2029.
The filing demonstrated their effort to keep their case against Trump alive after Merchan initially postponed the sentencing.
The delay aligns with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's requested schedule, the Hill reported.
Trump's team requested a timeline that would have moved the dismissal deadline closer to his inauguration.
Context: Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts for falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels over an alleged sexual encounter.
His 2024 presidential victory and the Supreme Court's summer ruling on presidential immunity for "official acts" upended the future of the criminal cases against him.
He was indicted in three other cases, all of which have been delayed or derailed.
President-elect Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration Thursday.
Why it matters: Bondi is a longtime Trump ally whose confirmation chances appear stronger than Gaetz's. She would give the incoming administration a staunch ally atop the Department of Justice, which could be instrumental if Trump follows through on his threat to investigate his political enemies.
"For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans," Trump said in his Thursday announcement. "Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime, and Making America Safe Again."
Here's what to know about Bondi.
Bondi's law and lobbying career
State of play: Bondi is a Tampa native and fourth-generation Floridian.
She spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor. In 2011, she became the first woman to serve as Florida's attorney general.
She served on Trump's opioid and drug abuse commission and focused on shutting down "pill mills" as state AG.
Zoom in: More recently, she worked with Ballard Partners, a Republican lobbying firm. She leads its corporate regulatory compliance practice.
She was previously registered to lobby for large companies, including Amazon, General Motors and Uber, as well as the Qatari government, per the New York Times. She's currently registered as a lobbyist for law enforcement-related clients.
She also serves as the chair for the right-wing America First Policy Institute's litigation arm and co-chair of its law and justice center.
Trump ally and surrogate
Bondi has routinely come to Trump's aid when he's faced legal jeopardy.
Earlier this year, she showed up in support at his New York hush money trial. The proceeding eventually resulted in his conviction on 34 felony counts, though a judge has since paused his sentencing.
In 2013,her office opted not to pursue a fraud investigation into Trump University after a $25,000 donation from his foundation to her political election committee, according to the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Bondi denied a connection between the donation and her decision after a lawsuit was filed in March 2016, while Trump was running for president.
Flashback: Trump in 2018 said he'd "love" for Bondi to join his administration after his first attorney general was ousted, per ABC News. He ultimately selected Bill Barr.
Bondi was part of Trump's impeachment team for his Senate trial in 2020.
The intrigue: Bondi's stocks and warrants in Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. would be worth roughly $3.9 million if she continues to hold them, Barron's reported.
Her brother, Brad Bondi, was an attorney who worked on the deal that led to Trump Media's public listing, per Barron's.
Election fraud claims and other controversies
Bondi supported Trump's false claims of election fraud after the 2020 presidential election, per the New York Times.
She said there "could be" fake ballots in a Fox News interview at the time and appeared alongside former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani to decry voter fraud, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Zoom out: In 2014 court filings, she said that recognizing same-sex marriage would "impose significant public harm" to Floridians, per CNN.
As the state's attorney general, she challenged Obama administration policies, including the Affordable Care Act, per The Hill.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) could try returning to the congressional seat he resigned from, but he would potentially have to run for election again. And it's not clear he wants to.
Why it matters: Thescandal-prone Republican firebrand withdrew Thursday as President-elect Trump's intended attorney general nominee — leaving his political future uncertain.
Gaetz had already won re-election but resigned from his seat on Nov. 13, the same day Trump announced him as his AG pick, and shortly before the House Ethics Committee was set to hold a potentially pivotal meeting on its wide-ranging probe into him.
Gaetz's potential path back to Congress is a legal gray area, government experts told Axios.
Representatives for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), the Florida Department of State and Gaetzdid not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.
State of play: Leaders on Capitol Hill seem likely to let DeSantis and his secretary of state, Cord Byrd, decide whether Gaetz could serve as a representative in the upcoming 119th Congresswithout a special election, Politico reported Thursday.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said during a Nov. 13 news conference that he had already contacted DeSantis to "start the clock" on filling the vacant seat.
Even if Gaetz wanted to reconsider the House, his resignation letter is likely to still be considered a "triggering mechanism" for DeSantis to call a special election, Casey Burgat, director of the Legislative Affairs program at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, told Axios.
Gaetz's resignation should bar him from returning to serve in the 118th Congress in its final weeks, he said, but it "doesn't preclude him from running in that special election" for the 119th.
Zoom in: Gaetz didn't have to resign from Congress to serve in Trump's Cabinet, said David Lublin, the chair of the government department at American University. If he returns to Congress now, Gaetz will lose all of the seniority he had amounted from serving since 2017.
"To the extent he was moving up in committees and had a right to chair things, he doesn't get to do that," Lublin said.
In his resignation letter, Gaetz said he does not "intend to" be sworn into another House term. Gaetz's wife Ginger Gaetz also commemorated "the end of an era" in a Thursday post on X.
"Gaetz could try and say 'Hey, I just said I don't intend to return,' but the reality is if the speaker has declared a vacancy, he can't halfway resign," Lublin said.
Context: Gaetz's resignation came before the House Ethics Committee was set to hold a meeting on its investigation regarding sex trafficking, illicit drug use and bribe allegations against him.
Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) on Thursday said the House should still release its report on its investigation into Gaetz — as other Democrats have called for.
What we're watching: Trump could appoint Gaetz to a role in his upcoming administration that doesn't require confirmation, Lublin said.
"One has the sense that Matt Gaetz's ego is a little too big for the House of Representatives," he said.
