Trump War Takes Darker Turn as Leaked Plans Unnerve Experts: “Madness”  —  Everything we're learning now strongly suggests that Donald Trump's war is about to get worse.  First, officials leaked word to The Washington Post that the Pentagon and the White House are likely to demand $200 billion more from Congress.

Trump's Complaint About Israeli Strike on Gas Field Exposes Divergent Strategies  —  President Trump said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel he disapproved of the attack, which sent energy markets reeling.  But Israeli officials said the Americans were informed beforehand.

Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait  —  The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, four sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios. … In the meantime, global energy prices are surging.

U.S. Military Ramps Up to Clear Strait of Hormuz  —  Warplanes and attack helicopters are “hunting and killing” Iran's fast-attack watercraft in contested sea lanes, Gen. Dan Caine said.  —  U.S. warplanes and attack helicopters are ramping up assaults against Iranian drones and naval vessels …

Republicans balk at going it alone on Iran war funding … “It's such a contortion to make things fit in reconciliation that there's probably a preference for regular order,” Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said in an interview.  —  The fresh doubts come on top …

Father of service member killed in Iran war said he never told Pete Hegseth to ‘finish’ the job  —  Hegseth said “family after family” of service members killed urged the administration to “not stop until the job is done.”  President Donald Trump made a similar claim earlier this month.

The Trump Administration Is Turning the U.S. Census on Its Head  —  The changes could cloud the government's understanding of what the United States population looks like and the resources it needs.  — Copy  —  The 2030 U.S. census is poised to look very different than the one released in 2020.

A top FEMA official has history of violent rhetoric and said he once teleported to Waffle House  —  Federal agencies Fighting disinformation Election security Media  —  As millions of Americans braced for a series of brutal storms this winter, the senior official in charge …

US Mint can begin producing Trump commemorative gold coin after arts commission approves design  —  A federal arts commission on Thursday approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin bearing President Donald Trump's image to help celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 4.

Bluesky announces $100M Series B after CEO transition  —  Social network Bluesky is gearing up for big changes with today's news that the company raised $100 million in Series B funding.  The round, led by Bain Capital Crypto, was closed in April 2025 but had not been disclosed until now.

An immigration court few have heard of is quietly shaping policy behind the scenes  —  The Trump administration has reshaped a lesser-known corner of the Justice Department to set immigration policy and escalate mass detentions and deportations.  —  An administrative court known as the Board …

Judge Rules That R.F.K. Jr. Overstepped on Transgender Care  —  The ruling provides temporary relief for 21 states seeking to stop the Trump administration from ending federal funding to hospitals that provide gender-transition care.  —  A federal judge in Oregon ruled on Thursday …

Trump Announces Extended 4-Day Weekend in Palm Beach  —  Trump will enjoy the amenities of his Mar-a-Lago resort as prices continue to rise  —  The White House announced that Donald Trump will depart Friday afternoon for another extended trip to Palm Beach, marking a four-day stretch away from Washington.

Denmark was ready to blow up Greenland runways if US invaded  —  Danish soldiers sent to Arctic island in January were also given blood supplies in case of combat  —  The Danish military sent explosives and blood supplies to Greenland in January as part of contingency planning for a US attack …

House Republicans are heading for the exits  —  PN is supported by paid subscribers.  Become one ⬇️  —  📜 Subscribe to PN 📜  —  Earlier this month, four more Republicans announced their pending retirements from the House of Representatives: Darrell Issa …

How New Mexico Became an Obamacare Success Story  —  Affordable Care Act enrollment has dropped across the United States since the enhanced federal subsidies expired.  But New Mexico has record numbers of people signing up.  —  When Congress did not extend the Obamacare subsidies …

Trump Told Inner Circle Some Mass Deportation Policies Went Too Far  —  President directs a new approach as some advisers believe immigration is no longer as strong a political issue for Trump  —  WASHINGTON—President Trump is seeking to lower the profile of his mass deportation effort …

Scoop: Moderate Senate Dems endorse Stevens in divisive Michigan primary  —  ModSquad, a group of nearly a dozen moderate Senate Democrats, is endorsing Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic primary, Axios has learned. … - Honorary ModSquad, Sen. Chair Catherine Cortez Masto …

3/20/26☀️ AM: … Everyone in the House Republican Conference is publicly confident that the GOP will keep the majority despite the many problems they face, including the Iran war.  But privately, the candid assessment is much more grim — Republicans are likely to lose their razor-thin majority.

The pain from the Strait of Hormuz crisis will be felt far beyond the pump  —  The gas prices are unmissable.  —  Since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, Brent crude oil has surged past $100 a barrel for the first time in four years, briefly topping $119 on March 19.

James Comey subpoenaed in alleged “grand conspiracy” against Trump  —  Former FBI Director James Comey has been subpoenaed in the wide-ranging “grand conspiracy” case against the ex-officials who investigated and prosecuted President Trump, two sources with knowledge of the situation tell Axios.

Arrested Nashville journalist released from ICE custody on bond  —  Estefany Rodriguez, a Nashville Noticias journalist whose March 4 arrest drew nationwide attention, has been released from custody while the deportation case against her proceeds, according to an immigrants' rights group.

In Nearly 90 Truth Social Posts, Trump Narrates the War in Iran  —  Three weeks into the conflict, the president has used social media to conduct his own unique form of online diplomacy  —  WASHINGTON—At 10:05 p.m. on Wednesday, President Trump unleashed a fiery post on social media …

As Trump Demands Voter Data, This Fiercely Independent Red State Says No  —  States were on notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that if they didn't fall in line, the federal government would force them into compliance.  —  It wasn't President Donald Trump's administration applying pressure.

Pete Hegseth's Christian rhetoric draws renewed scrutiny after the US goes to war with Iran  —  Since becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth has found no shortage of ways to bring his strand of conservative evangelicalism into the Pentagon.  He hosts monthly Christian worship services for employees.

Chuck Norris Hospitalized After Medical Emergency  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Chuck Norris has been hospitalized in Hawaii ... TMZ has learned.  —  Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... some medical emergency occurred in the last 24 hours on the island of Kauai that landed Chuck in the hospital.

ICE Released Hundreds of Children from Immigration Detention  —  About 50 children were in federal detention in Dilley, Texas this week, down from about 500 in January.  It is unclear how many were deported, but some are back at their U.S. schools.  —  The number of children being held …

Scenes from the Death of the Pax Americana  —  I'm feeling almost speechless right now  —  No real post today.  I don't have it in me.  Just a few scenes from the accelerating collapse in America's reputation and influence.  —  Item: The Danish Broadcasting Corporation …

New poll: 58% of voters say the war in Iran is a bad use of taxpayer dollars  —  This is a free article for Strength In Numbers, my newsletter on politics, polls, and election data.  If you enjoy it and want to support this type of independent, data-driven political journalism …

Is Russian Oil Headed for Cuba, Testing the U.S. Blockade?  —  A Russian oil tanker is being closely tracked to see if it will challenge the Trump administration's blockade on Cuba.  —  A Russian tanker full of oil is moving through the Atlantic Ocean and drawing scrutiny to see if it is heading to Cuba …

AOC won't rule out endorsing against fellow House Dems  —  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told Axios she is keeping the door open to endorsing challengers to her House Democratic colleagues “if someone crosses some huge line.” … - But, asked in an interview at the Capitol on Wednesday …