Lawler Will Seek Re-election to House, Forgoing Run for N.Y. Governor  —  Representative Mike Lawler's decision clears a path for his Republican House colleague, Elise Stefanik, to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul.  —  Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, plans to seek re-election …

Trump sets 15% tariff on Japanese imports as part of investment agreement  —  15% would be less than the tariff rate Trump previously threatened to impose on Japan, a key U.S. ally.  —  President Donald Trump said Tuesday on Truth Social that his administration had reached a deal with Japan …

U.S. deportees, freed from Salvadoran prison, describe ‘horror movie’  —  Three Venezuelans, released last week from the Terrorism Confinement Center, said they were repeatedly beaten and denied access to lawyers.  —  just now  —  Julio González Jr. had agreed to be deported to Venezuela.

I Watched It Happen in Hungary.  Now It's Happening Here.  —  As the most recent U.S. ambassador to Viktor Orban's Hungary, I'm often asked if the Trump administration's tactics and policies feel familiar.  The short answer is yes.  But the more important — and unsettling — question is this …

Exclusive: Newly discovered photos and video shed fresh light on Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein  —  Newly uncovered archived video footage and photos reveal fresh details about Donald Trump's past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.  —  Photos from 1993 confirm for the first time that Epstein …

E.P.A. Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change  —  According to two people familiar with the draft, it would eliminate the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse-gas emissions threaten human life by dangerously warming the planet.

Trump's Epstein Fiasco Takes Darker Turn as Dem Senator Drops New Bomb  —  A few days ago, as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal gripped Washington, Senator Ron Wyden offered a striking revelation in an interview with The New York Times.  The Oregon Democrat said that his investigators had discovered …

The Administration Wants Military Women to Know Their Place  —  Pete Hegseth seems to be on a mission to erase women from the top ranks of the U.S. armed forces.  —  President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth seem to be on a mission to erase women from the top ranks of the U.S. armed forces.

Republicans Are Panicking Over the Virginia Governor's Race … When the Republican Governor's Association convened this week for its annual summer fundraiser in Aspen, Colorado, there was an elephant in the room at the St. Regis: How little can it get away with contributing to its all-but-hopeless candidate for Virginia governor?

Jeffrey Epstein's Former Attorney Who Secured Plea Deal Dead at 80  —  Roy Black, the prominent defense attorney who helped secure Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea deal, has died, according to his law partner.  —  Black died on Monday at his home in Coral Gables at the age of 80 after an illness, his law partner Howard Srebnick said.

U.S. Olympic Officials Bar Transgender Women From Women's Competitions  —  The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee changed its eligibility rules on Monday to comply with President Trump's executive order, taking the decision away from national governing bodies for each sport.

Behind the Curtain: Losing by winning  —  President Trump, in terms of raw accomplishments, crushed his first six months in historic ways.  Massive tax cuts.  Record-low border crossings.  Surging tariff revenue.  Stunning air strikes in Iran.  Modest inflation.

Silicon Valley AI Startups Are Embracing China's Controversial ‘996’ Work Schedule  —  In an industry once known for cushy perks, some founders are now asking staff to commit to a 72-hour weekly schedule.  You're either in or you're out.  —  Would you like to work nearly double the standard 40-hour week?

Videos reveal harsh conditions inside Ice's New York City confinement center  —  Footage shows people sleeping on floor next to toilets in facility that agency says is not a detention site  —  Two videos have surfaced shedding light on what is happening behind closed doors at a New York federal building …

JD Vance Knows Who Belongs  —  More than most recent vice presidents, JD Vance seems to be locked out of the room where it happens.  —  Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, is by most accounts the president's point person on mass deportation and immigration enforcement.

Nuclear Weapons Agency Breached in Microsoft SharePoint Hack  —  The US agency responsible for maintaining and designing the nation's cache of nuclear weapons was among those breached by a hack of Microsoft Corp.'s SharePoint document management software, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Zelenskyy approves bill weakening anti-corruption bodies despite big protests  —  Move by Ukrainian president widely opposed and may prove a setback to hopes of country one day joining the EU  —  Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved a contentious bill weakening Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies …

Gaza doctors ‘becoming too weak to treat patients’ as hunger crisis deepens  —  Medical staff say they are struggling to function well enough to care for injured and malnourished civilians in overwhelmed hospitals  —  Doctors and medical staff in Gaza say their increasing hunger and the lack …

Calls to strip Zohran Mamdani's citizenship spark alarm about Trump weaponizing denaturalization  —  Past administrations, including Obama's, have sought to denaturalize U.S. citizens, such as terrorists and Nazis.  But advocates worry he could target political opponents.

Exclusive: “Release the damn” Epstein files, Tillis says  —  Sen. Thom Tillis R-N.C.) said Wednesday that the Trump administration should “release the damn” Jeffrey Epstein files as the best way to put the whole issue in the rearview. … - “It makes no sense to me,” Tillis told Axios' Stef Kight …

Moyn's Muddle on Ukraine  —  Moyn makes both historical and moral errors in his analysis, and at times he uncritically adopts Putin's perspective.  —  Yale historian Samuel Moyn recently published a review in Harper's of Jonathan Haslam's new book on the Russo-Ukraine War.

Exclusive: Emmer says Epstein is a “non-issue”  —  House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) called the push to force release of the Epstein files a “non-issue” at an Axios News Shapers event Wednesday. … - “It's kind of funny if it was so important, then why weren't Democrats clamoring …

When you're a star, the Supreme Court lets you do it  —  SCOTUS is enabling Trump's assault on American institutions … Renewed scrutiny of Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein reminds us of just how Trump's strategy with women — assaulting them without permission, on the assumption …

Trump Told Park Workers to Report Displays That ‘Disparage’ Americans.  Here's What They Flagged.  —  Descriptions and displays at scores of parks and historic sites have been flagged for review in connection with an executive order from President Trump.  —  At Cape Hatteras National Seashore …

Medicaid ‘gamers’ are the new ‘welfare queens’  —  🧬 💊 🚑 With corporate outlets like CBS caving to authoritarianism, supporting independent political media is more important than ever.  Public Notice is possible thanks to paid subscribers.

Trump Claims the Epstein Story Has Boosted His Approval Rating to 'Best Numbers I've Ever Had'  —  At a reception with members of Congress Tuesday, President Donald Trump claimed that the festering scandal regarding the Epstein files had made his poll numbers improve five points.

Judges vote to oust Trump pick Alina Habba as U.S. attorney in New Jersey  —  The state's U.S. district court judges made the announcement in a brief order that did not offer any explanation for their decision.  —  New Jersey's federal judges declined Tuesday to appoint Alina Habba …

Why a federal program paying employees not to work may violate spending laws  —  Agencies appear to be making unauthorized payments on a large scale.  Federal spending law prohibits agencies from using funds without congressional authorization.  But under the Fork in the Road deferred resignation program …

Hospitals Are Limiting Gender Treatment for Trans Minors, Even in Blue States  —  Two prominent medical centers in California recently announced they would stop treatments, citing pressure from the Trump administration.  —  In Texas, Tennessee and other Republican-led states …