The suspect responsible for the Tesla Cybertruck blast in Las Vegas on New Year's Day used AI to plan the explosion, authorities said Tuesday.
The big picture: Matthew Alan Livelsberger searched ChatGPT to get information on how to carry out his plot, including how many explosives he would need and what pistol would set them off, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said during a news conference.
Authorities did not share what responses the technology generated.
An OpenAI spokesperson, Liz Bourgeois, said in an email statement that the company is "committed to seeing AI tools used responsibly" and that its "models are designed to refuse harmful instructions."
Bourgeois added, "In this case, ChatGPT responded with information already publicly available on the internet and provided warnings against harmful or illegal activities."
Driving the news: Police said Tuesday a six-page document they're describing as a manifesto was found.
They also said evidence has emerged that Livelsberger's death was a suicide.
"This new information comes with more questions than answers. I will not provide an opinion on what the documents mean, nor will we release information or documents that have not been completely verified" Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.
The big picture: Yes, eggs sold at grocery stores remain safe for human consumption, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"The likelihood that eggs from infected poultry are found in the retail market is low and proper storage and preparation further reduce the risk," an FDA spokesperson said in an email Friday.
The person was exposed to sick and dead birds in a non-commercial backyard flock and to wild birds, state health officials said.
Yes, but: The risk of people becoming infected with bird flu through the consumption of contaminated shell eggs is low, the FDA and the the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service found in a 2010 risk assessment.
Kalmia Kniel, professor of animal and food sciences at the University of Delaware, told Axios that the poultry industry "has excellent biosecurity which is critical to reducing the risk of avian influenza and the spread of the virus to flocks."
There is a routine testing program for chickens in commercial production, she added, and the industry monitors the birds carefully for signs of infection or illness.
Be smart: It's recommended that consumers buy eggs sold from a refrigerator and that they open the carton and make sure that the eggs are clean and the shells are not cracked, Kniel said via email on Friday.
At home, refrigerate your eggs at a temperature of 40F or less, she added.
It is generally advised to cook eggs until the white and the yolk are firm.
"After cracking eggs and handling egg shells it is a good idea to wash your hands and also wipe any spills that may have occurred if cracking eggs and cooking with children," Kniel said.
The bottom line: Cooking poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature, in addition to preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods, are key for food safety.
To avoid contracting bird flu, people should also avoid touching sick or dead animals.
Four years after President-elect Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol, Congress on Monday peacefully certified his 2024 victory with Vice President Harris overseeing her own loss.
The big picture: Though the electoral college certification proceeded peacefully, local law enforcement stepped up security around the U.S. Capitol out of an abundance of caution.
Trump has repeatedly said pardoning the Jan. 6, 2021, rioters is something he will consider on his first day back in the Oval Office.
Driving the news: In a stark juxtaposition from the certification of the 2020 election, there were no disturbances or objections during Monday's joint session of Congress.
Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who was present at Monday's certification, won the election with 312 electoral votes to Harris and Gov. Tim Walz's 226 votes.
The whole count took roughly 30 minutes.
Trump had called the certification "A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY" in a Truth Social post before the process began.
Vice President Harris joined the small club of vice presidents throughout history who had to preside over the certification of their defeat — a duty she characterized as a "sacred obligation."
"The chair declares this joint session dissolved," Harris said at the end of the session. "Thank you."
She shook hands with members as she exited.
What they're saying: Former Vice President Mike Pence, who four years ago was the target of rioters' ire for refusing to interfere in the certification of President Biden's victory, applauded the peaceful count in a Monday X post.
"I welcome the return of order and civility to these historic proceedings," he wrote, congratulating his former running mate and commending Harris as "particularly admirable" for overseeing the certification of her loss.
Zoom out: In response to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results,Congress passed legislation to reform an 1887 law that determined how presidential elections are certified.
The Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 made it more difficult to contest electors and clarified the vice president's role in the counting as purely ceremonial among other changes.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned from his position as the leader of the Liberal Party on Monday.
Why it matters: The world's leading democracies are facing growing instability. Look to Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament, or the unprecedented government collapse in France.
His resignation came as polls indicated that the Liberal Party was set to be trounced by the opposition Conservative Party in the upcoming election, expected in or before October, Reuters reported.
Trudeau's decision to leave the post amid his government's deepening unpopularity is a far cry from the popularity he enjoyed when he became prime minister, when polls showed he boasted approval ratings above 60%.
Trudeau noted that the Canadian parliament will be prorogued — essentially, suspended — until March 24 while a new leader is chosen. He said it was "time for a reset."
Driving the news: "I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide, competitive process," Trudeau announced at a press conference in Ottawa Monday.
"It has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option" in the next election, he added.
"I've been inspired by the resilience, generosity and the determination of Canadians," Trudeau said.
Trudeau also slammed Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre's vision for Canada as "not the right one" for the country.
State of play: Trudeauhas been the leader of Canada's Liberal Party for 11 years and the country's prime minister for nine.
Recent polling has put the Liberals at a mere 16% support among decided and leaning voters.
Trudeau's resignation also comes as members of the Liberal party are set to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday, per Reuters.
Between the lines: Trudeau's government has been running on fumes ahead of the elections.
Another blow to Trudeau's future camelast monthwhen multiple members of his Cabinet resigned.
Chrystia Freeland, Canada'sformer finance minister and deputy prime minister, resigned from the Cabinet last month. Freeland said she reached her decision afterTrudeau asked her to resign as finance minister and take another Cabinet position.
Sean Fraser, housing minister, also saidlast monththat he would resign, per the New York Times.
The big picture: Trudeau was facing pressure to call for an election before a scheduled one in October as Canadians reckon with high inflation and President-elect Trump's tariff threat.
After Trump and Trudeau met in November, Canadian officials have said they're stepping up border security "in a visible and muscular way."
In her resignation letter, Freeland warned Canada must take the threat of tariffs "extremely seriously." She urged leadership to avoid engaging in "costly political gimmicks," likely in reference to Trudeau's recent policy announcements of a limited-time sales tax break and 250 Canadian dollar rebate for workers, CNN reported.
The intrigue: Justin Trudeau's father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, also resigned as prime minister in 1984.
What's next: With Trudeau out as party leader, he will remain prime minister until a new leader is chosen. Once a new party leader is selected, that person will become the next prime minister, per the New York Times.
The big picture: That's just 10 days before Inauguration Day, thoughJudge JuanMerchan indicated in his written decision that Trump won't face jail time.
Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts for falsifying company records, making him the first convicted felon to be elected president.
Zoom in: Prosecutors had asked Merchan to place the case on indefinite hold, but the judge said sentencingis "the most viable solution to ensure finality" and to allow Trump to pursue an appeal.
However, Merchan wrote he's not inclined to impose jail time — even though the conviction would allow it — because prosecutors "concede they no longer view [it] as a practicable recommendation" given Trump's reelection.
Trump has the option to attend the sentencing in person or virtually.
Zoom out: Merchan also said that the Supreme Court's ruling that presidents have immunity from prosecution for "officials acts" doesn't apply to the president-elect.
"Accordingly, a President-elect is not permitted to avail himself of the protections afforded to the individual occupying that Office," Merchan wrote.
What they're saying: Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, said in a statement that Friday's order "is a direct violation of the Supreme Court's Immunity decision and other longstanding jurisprudence."
He added that the case should be dismissed and there should be no sentencing.
"President Trump must be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the Witch Hunts," Cheung added.
Editor's note: This has been updated with comment from Trump's spokesman.
Why it matters: The withdrawn initiatives would have provided debt relief for more than 30 million borrowers. Theymarked President Biden's last chance to deliver on his campaign promise of student loan forgiveness before leaving office.
Driving the news: The Department of Education withdrew the two plans as of Dec. 20, it said in a noticeposted in the Federal Register.
One of the plans remained held up in a legal battle, while the other would not be finalized until after Biden's term ends.
"With the time remaining in this administration, the Department is focused on several priorities including court-ordered settlements and helping borrowers manage the final elements of the return to repayment," the notice states.
Between the lines:"The Biden administration dropping these proposed plans feels like a big loss, but the immediate relief these plans promised was still a long way off,"NerdWallet lending expert Kate Wood told Axios.
"The proposals being withdrawn shouldn't have an immediate effect on borrowers, though it's certainly a big disappointment for those who believe they would have qualified for forgiveness under these plans," she added.
The big picture: TheBiden administration doled out nearly $180 billion in student debt relief to 4.9 million people through various actions, despite the Supreme Court blocking his sweeping debt cancellation plan last year.
How can student loan borrowers prepare for the next administration?
Borrowers don't need to take immediate action over the transfer of power.
Yes, but: Some federal loan borrowers may want to explore changing repayment plans, Wood said.
Zoom in: The Department of Education in December reopened two income-driven repayment plans to give borrowers more options to keep their payments low.
Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) offer credit toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) for eligible borrowers enrolled in SAVE.
That means the plans can eventually lead to debt forgiveness after 20 or 25 years.
Be smart: "Borrowers who are stuck in the limbo of SAVE forbearance may want to check out these other IDR plans to see whether they could work," Wood said.
Because these plans have different qualifications and use different payment formulas, monthly payments could change.
"But for some borrowers, higher monthly payments may be a worthwhile price to pay for restarting their forgiveness clock," Wood said.
What student loan borrowers can do
Prepare for the end of SAVE: The program, which is currently blocked amid a legal battle, will likely be nixed by the next administration. Look into other income-driven repayment plans and budget for increased payments.
Budget for higher payments: Those already enrolled in other IDR plans may also see an increase in monthly payments, whether because of income recertification or for filing taxes jointly with a spouse.
Ensure you're on track for forbearance, if eligible: Those working toward PSLF can track their information at StudentAid.gov and ensure their payments are being counted accurately.
Take your loans out of default/start making payments: With the end of the one-year on-ramp period this fall, borrowers who are late on payments or do not make them can be reported to credit bureaus, which can negatively impact their credit scores.
The Biden administration on Monday withdrew its proposed plans to reverse a Trump-era policy that made it easier for employers to refuse to offer birth control coverage in company-sponsored health plans.
Why it matters: With Democrats' loss of the White House and Congress in the 2024 elections, Republicans are in a strong position to undermine President Biden's legacy — including his administration's work to bolster reproductive rights post-Roe.
Driving the news: The Department of Health and Human Services said in a Federal Register notice on Monday that it's withdrawing the proposed regulations "to focus their time and resources on matters other than finalizing these rules" in the administration's final weeks.
The plan would have made some 130,000 people eligible to receive coverage for contraceptives, Politico reports.
Context: During President-elect Trump's first term, his administration rolled back the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate — allowing organizations to opt out of coverage, citing moral objections. Before that, exemptions were limited to religious grounds.
The Biden administration's proposed rule would have scrapped the "moral" exemption and retained the "religious" one.
It alsowould have created an "independent pathway" for people who have insurers with religious exemptions to access birth control through a "willing contraceptive provider" at no cost, the HHS said when announcing the plan last year.
The big picture: Patients have been rushing to get reproductive care — including getting IUD replacements, backup contraception and abortion pills — before the incoming Trump administration takes office next month.
Access to reproductive health care more broadly could be in jeopardy, especially under a conservative Supreme Court, experts say.
Republicans, who will soon control Congress, have vowed to restrict abortion care. They're likely to try to restrict access to medication abortion and could attempt to pass a national abortion ban.
But Trump, after waffling on the issue, said he'd veto a national ban and prefers to leave the issue of abortion to the states. He also recently vowed for the first time to ensure the FDA does not block access to abortion pills.
Millions of women of reproductive age could be impacted if the cost of care increases or access to contraceptives is limited.
The big picture: Shoppers are projected to spend between $979.5 billion and $989 billion during the Christmas season, per an annual survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
By the numbers: Retail sales from November and December are predicted to beat 2023 by between 2.5% and 3.5%, NRF projects.
Shoppers are budgeting a record of $902 each on average for gifts and seasonal items, like decorations and food.
Online shopping is a main contributor of overall retail sales growth and is expected to increase between 8% and 9%. That's about $295.1 billion to $297.9 billion, per NRF.
While NRF defines the holiday season as Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, it notes the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas was 5 days shorter than last year.
What we're buying: The top gifts shoppers have purchased include clothing and accessories, followed by toys, gift cards, books, video games and personal care or beauty items.
Zoom out: With more shoppers out and about, retailers are hiring more workers to keep up with demand.
Between 400,000 and 500,000 seasonal workers are expected to be hired this year, according to NRF. That's down slightly from 509,000 seasonal hires last year.
What they're saying: "The winter holidays are an important tradition to American families, and their capacity to spend will continue to be supported by a strong job market and wage growth," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.
Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) compared U.S. political polarization and fatigue to family dynamics in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press."
The big picture: The commentsfrom the only two ordained ministers in the Senate come as the nation grapples with a divisive post-election ideological divide.
Case in point: Lawmakers grappled this week with gaining bipartisan support for a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.
The full interview with NBC's Kristen Welker will air on a special edition of "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning.
Zoom in: Warnock saidbipartisan work "is as basic as the American covenant," according to a transcript provided to Axios.
He added that while there are differences of opinion, "the issue is our humanity and trying to build and strengthen the American family."
Asked how lawmakers can reach across the aisle, Lankford said he believes most people don't identify first with their parties but rather as human beings and neighbors. The question, he said, is how to get "people who disagree [to] sit down and figure it out? That's where we are."
He added, "Unfortunately, Washington, D.C. is a mirror to the country that the country doesn't really like."
Rather than trying to figure out how to be bipartisan, "we're supposed to figure out how to solve problems," Lankford said. "I think that's the emotion of the country, is they want it to be fixed, but they can't figure out how it's going to actually happen.
Engagement with political news and news generally is also down considerably compared to the previous presidential primary election cycle.
The bottom line: Warnock said he thinks what "we're dealing with is the fundamental assault on that basic understanding that we are the American family" and that "all families have a complicated story."
He added, "We have differences, but we sit together and we work it out."
Data: NRF and Prosper Insights December Holiday Consumer Survey; Chart: Axios Visuals
If you're feeling behind on your Christmas shopping, you're not alone.
The big picture: A majority of holiday shoppers plan to finish buying gifts the week leading up to Christmas, an annual survey found.
"Whether shoppers have planned out their shopping list or are waiting until the last minute," many are still shopping in the days before Dec. 25 said Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategy at Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Yes, but: 58% of shoppers started checking off their gift lists in early November, according to the data from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in late November drive many shoppers to get their gifts in early at discounted prices.
Even with the early start, 62% of shoppers didn't expect to start wrapping their holiday purchases until December.
Zoom in: As of early December, Americans had purchased half the gifts on their shopping lists on average, while only 10% were finished.
The near-majority of shoppers (49%) finish their shopping online. They're also going to department stores, discount stores and clothing and accessory stores.
Between the lines: Most shoppers opt for a head start on shopping to spread out their spending.
Each shopper is expected to spend an average of $902 across gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items.
Avoiding crowds and the stress of last minute shopping are other top reasons people start holiday shopping early.
Super Saturday shopping
Super Saturday, the last Saturday before Christmas, falls on Dec. 21 this year and is one of the biggest shopping days of the season.
An estimated 157.2 million people plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas, according to the NRF survey.
That's up from 141.9 million Super Saturday shoppers last year and is the second-highest number after 2022's 158.5 million figure.
What they're saying: Katherine Cullen, NRF vice president of industry and consumer insights, noted Super Saturday is one of the last opportunities to buy the remaining items on peoples' shopping lists.
"With a shortened window between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, consumers will be hitting stores and shopping online to get those final gifts and to take advantage of special promotions and deals," she added.
The big picture: The X owner has used his social media platform to promote his own ideologies. Since gaining more influence in the incoming Trump administration, the billionaire CEO appears to be exercising that power over politics in the U.S. and abroad.
Musk has shown recent support for other European right-wing populist politicians, including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and British politician Nigel Farage, who is big Trump champion in the U.K.
Driving the news: "Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk posted on X.
His message was in response to a post from German right-wing influencer Naomi Seibt, criticizing conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz.
Context: Germany will hold a snap election in February, after a center-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed.
AfD became the first far-right party this year to win a regional election in Germany since World War II.
What to watch: The party last month said it would throw out three of its members who were arrested on suspicion of having joined an "extremist" paramilitary group.
Holiday travelers fretting over how a government shutdown would affect their flights can breathe easy — now that both chambers of Congress have approved a temporary stopgap avoiding the prospect.
The big picture: An estimated40 million people are expected to fly during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and TSA agents and air traffic controllers will continue to work.
A TSA spokesperson told Axios "While our personnel have prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel," a lengthy shutdown could have meant longer wait times at airports.
State of play: The clock was ticking toward a government shutdown at 12:01 am Saturday, but about 30 minutes later the Senate followed the GOP-controlled House in defying President-elect Trump and nixing a plan to fund the federal government that Trump favored.
A shutdown could have cost the U.S. travel economy $1 billion per week, impacting millions of travelers, businesses and federal workers nationwide, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
Zoom in: Non-essential federal employees also would have stopped working.
By the numbers: 59,000 of the TSA's 62,000 employees are considered essential and would have continued working without pay in the event of a shutdown, the agency told Axios.
Between the lines: 60% of Americans would have considered altering their travel plans if a shutdown occurred, with many choosing to cancel or avoid flights altogether, an Ipsos survey found.
What they're saying: Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement before Congress approved the spending that "a prolonged government shutdown threatens holiday travel disruptions that Americans won't tolerate."
He called lawmakers' passage of the spending resolution "the right decision" on Saturday and said the bill "provides both certainty for critical federal travel operations and disaster relief for hurricane-devastated communities across the southeast."
"Let's hope that how we got here isn't a precursor for all of the important decisions ahead," Freeman added.
The big picture: Food and cosmetic recalls, which the Food and Drug Administration categorizes together, nearly doubled from 2012 to 2024.
During the 2024 fiscal year that ended in September, such recalls reached the highest level since before the pandemic, FDA data show.
"This is going to continue to increase before it gets better," per Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University professor and food safety advocate who said his son died as a result of an E. coli outbreak.
State of play: The rise in such incidents can partially be attributed to an increase in consumer demand for ready-to-eat foods and prepackaged meals, Detwiler told Axios in a phone interview.
"With greater convenience comes more risk," he said. Those types of foods are often consumed without any additional cooking, which would potentially kill listeria, Detwiler said.
"We're also dealing with a scenario where we're having increased globalization of food production, which not only creates more opportunities for contamination at multiple points in the supply chain, but it creates more scenarios where there's blind spots."
Critical failures in sanitation inspections from the federal government are also an issue, he said, pointing to this year's Boar's Head outbreak.
By the numbers: There were 1,908 recalled food and cosmetics products in the fiscal year that ended in September, per FDA data. Another 263 have been issued so far in the 2025 fiscal year, as of Dec. 12.
That's the highest number of recalls for the category since 2019, when there were 2,046.
Health impacts: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 48 million people get sick from food-borne diseases each year in the U.S. 128,000 of them are hospitalized and 3,000 die.
More people die every year from food-borne diseases in the U.S. than in the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Zoom in: The 2024 recalls included a wide range of food products from vegetables to meat to apple juice, which sickened many people in the U.S.
Notably, Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc. recalled some 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products for possible listeria contamination this year. At least 57 people were hospitalized and 9 deaths were reported, per the CDC.
The big picture: More than 119 million Americans are projected to travel during the Christmas and New Year's holiday period, narrowly surpassing the previous record set pre-pandemic in 2019, per AAA.
The TSA expects to screen nearly 40 million people moving through airports over the holidays — a more than 6% increase from last year.
Zoom in: 119.3 million people are projected to travel 50 miles or more from home over the year-end holiday period from Saturday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 1, per AAA.
That's three million more travelers compared to last year.
The domestic travel projection narrowly surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers.
What they're saying: "This is the time of year when lifelong memories are made with loved ones, and travel plays a big role in that," Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. "This year, with Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, we're anticipating record-breaking travel numbers the weekend before and the weekend after the holiday."
Driving to holidays destinations
Nearly 90% of holiday travelers will be driving to their destinations, per AAA.
That's 107 million people expected to be on the roads — 2.5 million more than last year.
Worth noting: Gas prices are lower this holiday season than last year.
"Gas demand in December goes down as the weather gets colder, more people work remotely, and holiday shoppers purchase their gifts online versus in person," AAA said.
Best and worst times to drive
Travel times on the roads could be up to 30% longer during the holiday period, per INRIX, which provides transportation data and insights.
The worst traffic delays are expected the weekends before Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Sunday, December 22 is projected to be the nation's worst day to travel, per INRIX.
The holidays themselves are expected to have minimal congestion.
What they're saying: "Our advice is to avoid traveling during peak commuting hours during the week," Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said. "If schedules allow, leave bright and early or after the evening commute."
Holiday air travel record
The TSA expects to screen nearly 40 million people from Dec. 19 to Jan. 2.
The busiest travel days at airports are projected to be Dec. 20, 27 and 30.
Be smart: Travelers are taking to the skies in record numbers, so plan to arrive to the airport at least two hours prior to your flight's scheduled boarding time, the agency advises.
Record travel by bus, train and cruise
The number of people traveling by bus, train and cruise this holiday season is up nearly 10% compared to last year, according to AAA.
Some 4.47 million people will use these modes of travel, marking the highest number in 20 years.
Domestic cruise bookings are also up 37% compared to last holiday season.
Where is everyone going?
Tropical weather destinations are the top choices for people's end-of-year travel, based on AAA booking data from Dec. 21, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025.
Many of the most popular domestic destinations are in Florida — Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa.
Also on the list are Anaheim/Los Angeles in California, Las Vegas in Nevada, Honolulu in Hawaii, New York City, Charleston in South Carolina and New Orleans in Louisiana.
The attempted assassination of President-elect Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13 was "preventable and should not have happened," a bipartisan task force concluded in a report released Tuesday.
The big picture: In a 180-page report, the House panel blamed institutional breakdowns in the Secret Service as well as failures in security planning and execution, most notably missteps in securing the building complex where the shooter fired eight shots.
The shooting by a lone gunman killed one person and wounded the then-Republican presidential nominee and two others.
What they found: "The various failures in planning, execution, and leadership on and before July 13, 2024, and the preexisting conditions that undermined the effectiveness of the human and material assets deployed that day, coalesced to create an environment in which the former President — and everyone at the campaign event — were exposed to grave danger," the report states.
"The Secret Service did not provide clear guidance to its state and local partners about which entity was responsible for the area," the House panel wrote.
"An expressed lack of manpower and assets was not sufficiently addressed, resulting in coverage gaps on the ground," the report continued.
Yes, but: The response to thesecond assassination attempt against Trump about two months later in West Palm Beach, Florida, "demonstrated how properly executed protective measures can foil an attempted assassination," the panel found.
Zoom in: The report includes recommendations that the Secret Service strengthen its capabilities by evaluating its budget, staffing and personnel retention challenges.
The agency may benefit, the panel wrote, from reducing the number of people under its protection.
The task force also recommended that Congress consider moving some of the Secret Service's "investigative functions" to a different agency within or outside of the Department of Homeland Security.
What they're saying: Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi told Axios in a statement that the agency "appreciates the diligence" of the task force and that the findings match its internal investigation.
"Today's report reinforces our resolve to bring change to the Secret Service," he added. "We continue to take action to acquire new technologies, strengthen training, develop our personnel, and seek resources to fortify the Secret Service."
Zoom out: U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, the top-ranking Democrat on the task force, told Axios that the American people should feel confident about the security of elected officials regardless of partisan affiliation.
"Our next step will be, not just being sure that they take responsibility, but assuring accountability and that changes are made so it doesn't happen again," he said.
Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Context: The Secret Service faced intense scrutiny following the assassination attempt and agency director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the aftermath.
In the weeks after the initial assassination attempt, Congress members voted unanimously in favor of creating a task force to investigate the shooting.
The panel comprised of seven Republicans and six Democrats was tasked with investigating all actions by agencies and officials at local, state and federal levels related to the shooting.
Luigi Mangione, the suspect charged with murder in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was denied bail in Pennsylvania Tuesday, according to a Blair County Courthouse clerk.
He faces one count of murder, two of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree possession of a forged document and one of third-degree criminal possession of a firearm, per a New Yorkcourt docket.
Mangione's attorney Thomas Dickey told reporters Tuesday Mangione will plead not guilty to the Pennsylvania charges and suggested he would do the same with the N.Y. counts.
"I haven't seen any evidence that he's the shooter," Dickey said.
Driving the news: Mangione did not waive extradition to New York, which means he will be held in Pennsylvania until his next hearing, which has not yet been scheduled, Blair County Courthouse Clerk Robin Patton told Axios.
Dickey said in court that the defense is seeking a hearing, per AP.
Mangione has 14 days to file a writ of habeas corpus to challenge his detention. If he does so, a hearing will then be scheduled.
The Blair County District Attorney's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
What he's saying: While Mangione was being led into the courthouse, he could be heard shouting, in part, "it's completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people. It's lived experience!"according to video of the event.
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated with more information.
President-elect Trump is looking to fill his Cabinet and administration with familiar faces from one of his favorite right-leaning television networks.
Trump has had a love-hate relationship with Fox News, but still made nearly 20 appearances on the network from August-November.
Between the lines: As in his first term, Trump appears to be treating hiring for top government posts like a casting call. Sources told Axios he's weighed in on job candidates' TV appearances to gauge how effective they would be at conveying his MAGA message.
What they're saying: When asked why he nominated so many affiliated to Fox News, Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that he was elected with "a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail — and his Cabinet picks reflect his priority to put America First."
She added that Trump will "continue to appoint highly-qualified men and women who have the talent, experience, and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again."
Here's a look at his administration picks with Fox News affiliations.
President-elect Trump sits alongside Rep. Byron Donalds (bottom, L) and Vice President-elect JD Vance, with sons Eric Trump (R) and Donald Trump Jr., and TV personality Kimberly Guilfoyle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July. Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Kimberly Guilfoyle
Former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle was tapped by Trump to serve as U.S. ambassador to Greece.
She worked at Fox News from 2006 to 2018, co-hosting "The Five" from 2011 to 2018, until her abrupt departure.
Sean Duffy
Transportation Secretary nominee Sean Duffy used to be a Fox News contributor. The former Wisconsin congressman co-hosted "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business until Trump nominated him last month.
Duffy is a former reality star, having appeared on MTV's "The Real World: Boston" and other spinoffs.
He's married to fellow Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, whom he met on "Road Rules: All Stars," which followed alumni of "The Real World."
Pete Hegseth
Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth wasa co-host on FOX & Friends Weekend and has appeared on multiple FOX Nation series since joining as a contributor in 2014.
Monica Crowley is Trump's pick to serve as "Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol," a key public relations role in the State Department.
The conservative political commentator was a Fox News contributor on and off for nearly two decades.
Mike Huckabee
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Huckabee hosted a weekly show on Fox for about seven years and stepped down before an unsuccessful presidential bid. He later resumed his show on a Christian cable network.
Tulsi Gabbard
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawai'i), an Iraq War veteran, is Trump's pick to serve as director of National Intelligence.
Gabbard joined Fox News as a paid contributor in 2022 after leaving the Democratic Party.
She's had many backers in pro-Trump media, including Tucker Carlson, who frequently interviewed her when he was a Fox News host.
Tom Homan
Tom Homan, the former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Trump's first administration, will return in his second administration as "border czar."
He joined Fox as a contributor in August 2018 after retiring from ICE and was a contributor at the network until last month.
Sebastian Gorka
Former Trump administration aide Sebastian Gorka was nominated to serve as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism.
The conservative radio host and former Breitbart staffer with hard-right views on Islam was known for his fiery TV appearances defending Trump while in the White House.
He left the White House in 2017 and became the first former Trump administration official to join Fox News. He was a contributor until 2019 and later became a Newsmax host.
Keith Kellogg
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump's pick for special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
He joined Fox as a contributor after serving as national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence. He was a regular on the network, where he provided national security and military strategy analysis.
Marty Makary
Johns Hopkins professor Marty Makary was tapped to lead the Food and Drug Administration.
The surgeon joined Fox News as a contributor in 2019. Makary often criticized public health officials on COVID and mask mandates, per Media Matters.
Janette Nesheiwat
Janette Nesheiwat is Trump's selection for surgeon general. She's a medical director at CityMD, a group of urgent care centers in New York
Nesheiwat joined Fox News as contributor during the onset of the pandemic. She cautioned against vaccinations.
He was recently tapped to host a limited five-episode series called "Truths with Vivek Ramaswamy" on Fox Nation, the subscription streaming service from Fox News.
A tsunami warning was issued and later called off on Thursday after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California.
The big picture: The National Weather Service cancelled the alert just before noon local time, saying there was no destructive tsunami recorded and no such danger to areas that received warnings, including San Francisco.
Driving the news: The earthquake struck around 10:44 am PT off the coast of Humboldt County and was felt across the Bay Area, according to USGS.
According to information from the U.S. Geological Survey, strong shaking likely affected areas near Fortuna and Eureka, Calif., closest to the epicenter offshore.
The tsunami was originally expected to strike San Francisco beginning at around 12:10pm local time (3:10pm ET), and other areas along the California and Oregon coasts as early as 11:10am, according to a National Weather Service bulletin.
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell was briefed on the potential tsunami.
Catch up quick: Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning ranging from southwestern Oregon on the northern end to the Santa Cruz area in California on the southern end.
The Berkeley Police Department issued evacuation orders at the time, saying people in certain areas faced immediate danger and should leave.
The tsunami warning was in place for just over an hour before the NWS called it off.
Editor's note: This breaking news story has been updated throughout, including substantial updates after the National Weather Service called off the tsunami warning.
Why it matters: The move allowsthe president-elect's intended aides and staffers to gain security clearances prior to his taking office so they can access classified materials — key for a seamless transition.
It also means Trump's Cabinet picks will have to go through a background check process before the Senate votes on their confirmations.
Some Republicans Senators like Susan Collins of Maine had called for nominees to go through the background check process.
Yes, but: It wasn't immediately clear whether Trump's nominees can opt out of the background checks.
Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Driving the news: The transition team said in a statement that is has entered into aMemorandum Of Understanding with the DOJ as "the next step in the ongoing preparation of senior administration officials."
The move will allow Trump's team to submit names for background checks and security clearances.
"Ultimately, this will afford the transition process additional insights, and it facilitates our agency landing teams gaining access to the information they need to prepare for leadership of the federal agencies and departments," per the transition team.
What they're saying: "This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," Trump's chief of staff pick, Susie Wiles, said in a statement.
Context: Trump's team signed a separate agreement with the Biden White House last week — months after the process was supposed to start — to allow the incoming administration access to federal agency information it needs to prepare to take over the government.
The DOJ agreement was put off at the time as the parties continued to work on it.
Investigators have been on standby to process the clearances.
President-elect Trump said Wednesday he spoke to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum about stopping migration into the U.S.
The big picture: It comes a day after the recently-inaugurated Sheinbaum said she would impose tariffs in retaliation to those proposed by Trump.
The U.S. president-elect said this week he would impose a 25% tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada, as well as additional tariffs for China, in order to stop the flow of drugs and migrants, effective Jan. 20.
State of play: Trump said in a post on Truth Social Wednesday that he had "a wonderful conversation" with Sheinbaum, claiming she "agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border."
He said they also talked about "what can be done to stop the massive drug inflow into the United States, and also, U.S. consumption of these drugs."
Sheinbaum in her own statement earlier Wednesday said she and Trump discussed Mexico's strategy on migration and that she told him caravans are not arriving at the northern border as they're being taken care of in Mexico.
The Mexican president said they also discussed strengthening collaboration on security issues and a campaign to prevent the consumption of fentanyl.
Zoom out: Mexico has massively stepped up its immigration enforcement at its border with Guatemala, contributing largely to the drop in U.S.-Mexico border crossings.
Under Sheinbaum's presidency, the U.S. could see continued cooperation on migration, including massive efforts from the Mexican government to detain migrants at its border with Guatemala and elsewhere in the country — before people head to the U.S., Axios' Marina E. Franco reports.
But Trump's promises of mass deportations would entail expelling people into Mexican territory, which would draw pushback because it'd overwhelm the country's capacity to manage the flow.
