Axios

"Washington is broken": Democrats running for office turn sharply against their own party Democrats are adopting a drastically more negative tone toward their own party in the 2026 midterm elections , swapping promises of bipartisan collaboration with vows to "take on corruption in both parties." Why it matters: This surge in political friendly fire reflects the extraordinary level of anger candi…

Tillis rips Trump's Xi meeting as a "WTF moment" Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) criticized President Trump 's warm reception for Chinese President Xi Jinping, questioning why Xi received a warmer welcome than some U.S. allies. Why it matters: Tillis has repeatedly broken with Trump since deciding not to seek reelection, freeing him to emerge as an outspoken Republican critic of the president. Driving …

Trump asked Xi to stop supporting Iran President Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to halt any assistance to Iran when the two spoke during his state visit, U.S. Ambassador to Beijing David Perdue said Friday. Why it matters: China's economic, intelligence and military support for Iran has undermined Trump's effort to isolate the country amid the ongoing war. The U.S. is conducting a massi…

House Republicans on track to lose majority House Republicans are on track to lose their majority just a little over one month out from the midterm elections, according to a nonpartisan election forecaster. Why it matters: Cook Political Report shifted 15 House races toward Democrats on Friday, the latest sign that the political environment is deteriorating for Republicans. Democrats only need a …

ICE wasted millions in rush to expand detention, government watchdog finds ICE has received more than $75 billion to expand operations since President Trump returned to office — and wasted millions on scaled-back and mismanaged projects, a new GAO report found. Why it matters: In rushing to execute Trump's mass deportation agenda, the agency failed to properly develop a strategic plan, according …

Bill Gates warns AI is powerful enough to cause "a billion deaths" Bill Gates will warn on this weekend's "Meet the Press" that he can see a future where AI wipes out humanity . Why it matters: Gates , one of technology's leading optimists, has increasingly sounded the alarm on AI dangers. His new comments come as techology leaders and the government weight how to handle fears of an AI-created do…

3 big questions as GOP nears moment of truth With midterms 39 days away and the outlook for President Trump 's party looking increasingly bleak, top Republicans say they're focused on three big questions for the final stretch: Are their attack ads working? Republicans expect a wave of private polling in early October to reveal whether their massive financial advantage is cutting into Democrats' l…

Debate-shy: Candidates aren't sharing the stage like they used to Debates in political campaigns used to be a given. Today, candidates increasingly view them as optional — or a political liability to be avoided. Why it matters: In a midterm cycle dominated by unprecedented spending on contrast ads, the candidates themselves are remarkably reluctant to challenge each other face-to-face. It's a sig…

Meta's new motto: we care about privacy Meta is seeking to make privacy protections a centerpiece of new products including its viral assistant Muse , marking a major shift for a company built on extensive use of customer data. Why it matters: The radical turnaround is an acknowledgment that the winner of AI's new assistant race will have to reassure users that they can turn over their emails, fi…

Senate Democrats put Trump's D.C. makeover on notice Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) plans to force a Senate vote next week on two new resolutions aimed at preventing President Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center or building his proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. Why it matters: Senate Democrats are putting Republicans on notice that they're prepared to use every available…