All articles
Mon, 12 Oct 2026
396 articlesNewest first
AxiosArticle
President Trump claimed Sunday that Russia and Ukraine agreed to an " energy ceasefire " and will halt attacks on each other's energy facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tells Axios the announcement "was news for me. But if Russians agree to an energy ceasefire, Ukraine will agree." Why it matters: An "energy ceasefire" would be a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough ahead of the winter. It remains unclear if Russia indeed agreed to stop the strikes. Trump made a similar announcement last month, but neither party confirmed that there was a deal. Both Russia and Ukraine continued attacking energy infrastructure. What they're saying: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. In a short interview after Trump's announcement, Zelensky told Axios, "If President Trump negotiated it with Putin, please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready, and we will accept it." Catch up quick: The announcement follows days of escalating tensions between Trump and Zelensky over Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries. On Friday, Trump announced a deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports in an effort to lower soaring fuel prices, infuriating Ukraine. On Saturday, Trump called for Ukraine to replace Zelensky , accusing him of refusing opportunities to end the war. Zelensky responded Sunday on ABC's "This Week," saying Ukraine would hold elections if Russia agreed to a 60-day ceasefire. He also said Ukraine was prepared to stop attacking Russian r
Hollywood's hottest villain right now is the tech billionaire. Four films hitting theaters this fall put some of Silicon Valley's most powerful and controversial figures in the spotlight: Elon Musk , Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman and Elizabeth Holmes. Why it matters: Hollywood's portrayal of Silicon Valley and its leaders is getting darker as negative headlines about the tech industry seep into pop culture. Once portrayed as brilliant but flawed innovators, tech leaders are increasingly being cast as creepy villains whose ambitions may do more harm than good. Zoom in: This fall's tech billionaire films span genres, from documentaries to thrillers. 💻 "The Social Reckoning," Aaron Sorkin's follow-up to his 2010 hit, "The Social Network," opened Friday with Jeremy Strong portraying a more sinister Mark Zuckerberg during the 2021 Facebook whistleblower leak . Sorkin takes some cinematic liberties with chronology and other details. 🚀 "Musk," the four-hour documentary ( including a 10-minute intermission) about Elon Musk's rise, is playing in select theaters and opens nationwide on Friday. The roller-coaster rollout of the film, directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney, included critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival and legal threats from Musk's team. 🩸 "You Can See Everything," out Friday, is an experimental documentary from Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim that follows ex-Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in the weeks before she went to prison. The studio, A24, says an "intimate portrait of an enigmatic felon becomes a mind-bending three-year journey into the
Pope Leo said Sunday tests had discovered a nodule in his lung , which he will have removed surgically this week. The big picture: The first American pontiff, aged 71, is less than 18 months into a papacy that has been defined by public stances at odds with the White House , including clashes over immigration and deep skepticism about AI. What he's saying: "Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well localized. The doctors believe surgery is appropriate," the pope said during public remarks, per a translation from the Vatican. "Following their advice, I have therefore decided to undergo an operation to remove it. The operation is already scheduled for the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers." The pope did not explicitly say the nodule was malignant. Vatican officials later said the operation would be in the next few days and the recovery would take about a week. This is breaking news.
America's youth sports boom is quietly rewriting Sunday mornings, turning the family calendar into a competition between the pews and the playing fields. Why it matters: For generations, churches helped organize American family life around a shared weekly ritual. Youth sports are increasingly filling that role on Sundays — reshaping what families treat as sacred time. The U.S. has undergone one of its fastest religious shifts in modern history, marked by a rapid increase in the religiously unaffiliated and in church closures . Youth sports are one of the less visible forces driving that broader cultural change. As it's boomed into a multi-billion-dollar industry , more games are moving to Sundays, something less common a generation ago. "The idea of missing church for sports is just assumed," Linda Flanagan, author of " Take Back the Game : How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids' Sports — and Why It Matters," tells Axios. "It's just not even a consideration anymore." By the numbers: Among parents of children ages 5-17, Sunday religious participation fell from 26.8% in 2003-07 to 16.7% in 2021-24, an Axios analysis of American Time Use Survey data found. Meanwhile, youth sports participation climbed to 58% in 2024, up from 53.8% in 2022 and marking a third consecutive annual increase, according to the Aspen Institute's Project Play . Another measure found 65% tried a sport at least once — the highest share in Sports & Fitness Industry Association data dating to at least 2012, the Aspen Institute's Project Play found. State of play: The youth-sports industrial complex is rapidl
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) vowed Saturday to force a House vote to block Russian oil purchases, challenging President Trump's diesel deal with President Vladimir Putin. Why it matters: Trump has touted the deal as a way to lower fuel prices, but it could also provide revenue for Russia's war in Ukraine. Driving the news: Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said he would introduce the "Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Act" and force a vote through a discharge petition. "It will be forced to the Floor via discharge and it will pass overwhelmingly," Fitzpatrick wrote on X . Retiring Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) tells Axios he has "already agreed" to sign the petition. Catch up quick: Trump said Friday Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets, with more shipments to follow. Energy analysts are skeptical the additional diesel will meaningfully lower prices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the deal "not fair and not honest," telling Axios it amounted to a gift to Putin. Trump called Saturday for Ukraine to replace Zelensky with a leader willing to reach a deal with Russia. The White House has not yet responded to Axios' request for comment about Fitzpatrick's bill. The big picture: Fitzpatrick is the latest Republican lawmaker to break with Trump in a high-profile way, as the party fights to keep control of Congress amid mounting disapproval of the president. Zoom out: Fitzpatrick is turning to a tactic lawmakers have increasingly used to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.): a discharge pet
President Trump called Saturday for Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelensky with someone willing to make a deal with Russia to end the war. Why it matters: Trump's attack on Zelensky came after the Ukrainian president criticized his diesel deal with Russia and signals the most serious crisis between the two leaders since their February 2025 meeting exploded in front of cameras. Driving the news: Trump announced Friday he had reached a deal with Russia to lift sanctions to allow Russian diesel exports to the U.S. and the global energy market. Zelensky, who was surprised by the deal made behind Ukraine's back, attacked the move and told Axios it was "not fair and not honest" and was a "sign of weakness" by Trump and a "birthday gift" to Putin. A U.S. official told Axios later that Trump struck the diesel fuel deal after Zelensky ignored half a dozen U.S. requests to stop attacking Russian oil refineries. What he is saying: Trump said Zelensky could have reached a deal with Russia many times "but chooses not to." "I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal," Trump told reporters Saturday. "… And I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president." He said he asked Zelensky to stop attacking Russian oil refineries and claimed Zelensky's actions harmed American farmers. "He better damn well stop," Trump said.
Tennessee inmate Christa Pike was released from the hospital and is back in prison more than a week after she survived the state's attempt to execute her by lethal injection , her attorneys said Saturday. The big picture: The failed execution was unprecedented. Pike, 50, got two doses of the deadly drug pentobarbital on Sept. 30 and was still breathing. The state called an ambulance and Pike got life-saving care at a local hospital. Pike's attorneys said they believed she was "brain dead" and on life support. It shocked them and her doctors when she woke up and began talking earlier this week . What they're saying: Pike's attorneys said she had returned to Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, where she had been housed for decades. "She is grateful to the first responders and her medical team for their care in these extraordinary circumstances," the attorneys said in a statement. "She is continuing to receive medical care at the prison, and we will continue to track her recovery." Catch up quick: Gov. Bill Lee ordered an independent review to determine how Pike was able to survive the attempted lethal injection. Another execution set for December was called off while that investigation plays out. Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer.
Poll after poll spells trouble for GOP candidates — in purple states and deep-red ones alike — but while Democrats see a blue wave coming, some Republicans see a polling mirage. Why it matters: Pollsters worry they're flying partly blind. Even a modest polling error could mean the difference between Republicans retaining control of Congress and President Trump facing Democratic majorities in both chambers. The big picture: Polling Trump voters has long been notoriously difficult. The polls underestimated Trump's support in 2016, 2020 and 2024. Midterm polling has been more accurate, though some still underestimated Republican support in 2022, notes Scott Keeter, senior survey adviser at Pew Research Center. Catch up quick: With less than a month until the midterms, the polls paint a bleak picture for Republicans. The House: Democrats lead Republicans 49.8%-41.9% in the RealClearPolling generic congressional ballot average. Cook Political Report projects Democrats will gain nine to 19 seats, enough to win a narrow majority. The Senate: Cook now sees a potential Democratic net gain of two to six seats. Democrats need four to take control, and Cook just moved the Kansas Senate race into its toss-up column. Trump: The president's approval rating stands at 37.6% in Cook's polling tracker . A recent Economist/YouGov poll found 35% approving and 60% disapproving of his performance. State of play: Research suggests Republicans have become somewhat less likely than Democrats to participate in telephone surveys, and response rates overall have plummeted since the late 1990s, per Pew
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement that the Fort Hood shooter's execution will be livestreamed reflects a shift toward putting raw, real-world violence on display for unlimited audiences. Why it matters: The Trump administration has made a show of flexing American power, sometimes with grisly footage. Now, it's preparing to make the government's ultimate punishment available for all to see. The big picture: Americans are increasingly encountering shocking images on their phones, often without warning. Graphic footage of Charlie Kirk's assassination spread widely across social media, searing in the brains of social media users — often young ones. Since Oct. 7, 2023, footage from the Hamas attacks and Israel's military campaign in Gaza has circulated online. Some videos have spread from Telegram to social platforms like X , where clips are easy to find. Footage of the August 2025 killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte train went viral across X, stirring debate about crime and public safety. President Trump later said he had watched the video and wished he hadn't. A livestream of Nidal Hasan's execution would be the first known public broadcast of a lawful execution, according to death penalty experts interviewed by Reuters. Public executions are increasingly rare worldwide. In recent years, most have taken place in Iran and Taliban-run Afghanistan, according to Amnesty International. Friction point: Tech companies are now facing the question of whether they would allow the Pentagon to livestream the execution on their platforms. Hasan, who kille
President Trump lashed out late Friday night after he once again did not win the Nobel Peace Prize he has openly coveted . Why it matters: The award is Trump's white whale, an honor he talks about frequently and believes he deserves. This year's prize went instead to a former judge of a court Trump has sanctioned and called "rogue" and "evil." Navi Pillay, the winner, reacted to the award by saying world leaders have a "legal obligation to protect human rights and refrain from war," according to the AP . What he's saying: " I know nothing about this woman, and neither does anyone else! In fact, to the best of my knowledge, no one ever heard of her other than the fact that she, very obviously, hates Israel. I don't know what the woman has done," Trump said in a Truth Social post of nearly 600 words that went up just before midnight on Friday. "I settled 8 Wars, with letters being sent from every President and Prime Minister from the countries that I helped to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and I'm about to settle, or win, two more, Iran and, Russia/Ukraine," Trump wrote. "They're both happening at breakneck speed but, forget them, it's the 8 that I've already settled, any one of which, in particular, Pakistan and India, would be far more than necessary to win the Nobel Prize. In actuality, I should have won 8 Nobel Peace Prizes, not just 1." Between the lines: Pillay, this year's winner, is a former judge of the International Criminal Court and also the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Nobel officials said she received the honor "for her efforts to promote peace
President Trump decided to make a diesel fuel deal with Russia after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ignored half a dozen U.S. requests to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, a U.S. official with direct knowledge told Axios. Why it matters: Trump's deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin sparked a new crisis with Ukraine and threatens to derail a new push by the Trump administration for a deal to end the war. "Zelensky is misreading the room. By continuing to hit refineries, he is eroding the good will that he has built with Trump over the last six months," the U.S. official said. Zelensky, in an interview with Axios after the announcement, said he was blindsided by the deal, which he called "not fair and not honest" and an unwarranted gift to Putin. Driving the news: Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries in recent months were highly effective and caused an energy crisis in Russia. Russia imposed a ban on diesel exports in response, which added more pressure to global diesel markets under strain from the war in Iran. Zelensky told Trump and his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that he was prepared to stop attacking Russian oil refineries if the Russians halted attacks on Ukrainian power plants. The U.S. official said Trump wanted Ukraine to unilaterally stop attacking Russian refineries because the strikes were contributing to high gas prices in America. Trump didn't see the attacks on refineries as equivalent to Russian strikes on Ukraine's power grid, the U.S. official said. Inside the room: During eight hours of talks in Miami on Friday, Witkoff
Vice President JD Vance said Friday he won't watch a potential livestream of the convicted Fort Hood shooter's execution, which President Trump told reporters he had approved. Why it matters: Vance questioned whether the execution would actually be public but joined a small chorus of Republicans opposed to watching the execution, which is set to be conducted by a firing squad in December. What they're saying: "Whatever the controversy is about the method of the execution, I hope that people don't forget that this is a guy who brutally murdered a lot of innocent people," Vance told reporters on Friday. "Now that said, I mean, look, if it's all through livestream, I'm not going to be watching it." Yes, but: Trump's comments came during a separate press gaggle on Friday, where he was asked if he had authorized or approved the livestream of the execution. "Did I approve? Absolutely, I approve." Driving the news: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in an interview Thursday that Americans would be able to watch the execution of Nidal Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 shooting. "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it. ... People need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things," he said. AP later reported that the execution would be livestreamed. If it goes forward, Hasan's execution will be the first public one in 90 years, and the first military execution since 1961. Zoom in: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) condemned plans to make the execution public in a Thursday night X post . "Hasan should face the death penalty, but
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios in a phone interview on Friday that President Trump's decision to unilaterally lift sanctions on Russia and allow it to export diesel was "not fair and not honest." "You know, it looks like a happy birthday present for Putin. It looks absolutely terrible," Zelensky said in frustration, referring to the Russian president's birthday earlier this week. Why it matters: Trump's announcement, which came after a call with Putin, shocked Ukraine and many European governments and created a new crisis between the U.S. and its Western allies. During the 15-minute interview, Zelensky sounded exasperated and dismayed and even expressed a sense of betrayal by the news of the diesel deal. Trump was asked several times by reporters on Friday about Zelensky's criticism but declined to comment and said he was happy about the deal with Putin. Driving the news: Trump announced the deal with Putin as his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were meeting in Miami with the Ukrainian negotiating team along with senior diplomats from Germany, France, the U.K., the EU and NATO to discuss new U.S. ideas for ending the war. Zelensky said he spoke several days ago with Witkoff about the need to continue efforts to reach a diplomatic breakthrough before winter and the midterm elections. "Steve proposed to meet in Florida. And of course I accepted to go there and speak about the possibilities of negotiations. The Americans said they have some ideas and we agreed to come to discuss," Zelensky said. At no point during his talks with Witkoff and Kushner di
Katie Zacharia, a former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, will be the next White House press secretary, President Trump said Friday. The big picture: Zacharia will take over the podium from Karoline Leavitt, a Trump loyalist who announced her departure from the administration in August. What they're saying: "It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!" "I am confident that Katie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next White House Press Secretary, as she has the respect of, and will work fantastically with, the Media, the American People, and my Administration." Zoom in: Zacharia thanked Trump for the appointment in a Friday post on X. "Serving President Trump and the American people at this critical 250-year mark is the honor of a lifetime. President Trump has shown America that we can be great again, and he works to effectuate that greatness every single day," she wrote. "I look forward to working with the White House press corps, and with reporters across the country, to get that record out. Following the fabulous Karoline Leavitt is a high standard, and one worth meeting." Catch up quick: Zacharia is a conservative lawyer and commentator who works as a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates Truth Social. She also served for about six weeks as the Department of Homeland Sec
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is going to have his hands full next Congress, even without a threat to his leadership or a primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Why it matters: Schumer (D-N.Y.) will have to grapple with the presidential ambitions of up to eight of his senators who may care more about winning the White House than following their leader. Roughly one in six Democratic senators eyeing the campaign trail would add a degree of difficulty to a job that rarely lacks challenges, as former President Obama acknowledged this week. "Being the head of the Democratic Party is a pain in the butt, because you've got people from every walk of life," Obama said of Schumer at a fundraiser Wednesday. Flashback: This year's ICE funding fights gave Schumer a taste of how presidential ambitions can complicate governing. Potential 2028 contenders competed to take the toughest stance against ICE funding, even at the risk of a government shutdown. Zoom in: The tension between individual ambition and party unity could surface early in Schumer's tenure if he becomes majority leader. Democrats are promising to lower costs and govern responsibly, while insisting they'll challenge and investigate the Trump administration at every turn. Schumer and President Trump have a long, complicated relationship — and each other's cell numbers. Between the lines: Democrats could control majorities in both chambers, giving them immense power against Trump. But majority power is dependent on members being present and unified. Presidential contenders have incentives to spe
President Trump announced Friday that he's reached a deal with Russia to increase the supply of diesel to the U.S. and global markets — angering Ukraine, which called it a gift to Vladimir Putin in the midst of their war. Why it matters: The announcement, which includes a waiver on some U.S. energy sanctions against Russia, took place as Ukrainian and European diplomats arrived in Miami for talks on ending the war with Russia. What he's saying: "I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump added that Russia will deliver," within a short period of time, 3,000,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel." Combine with oil coming out of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump wrote, "Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be COMING DOWN, IN RECORD NUMBERS, AND FAST!" "Today, at President Trump's direction, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is immediately issuing a temporary general license to allow the supply of Russian diesel to the global market," the Treasury Department said in a statement. Friction point: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded angrily to Trump's announcement, writing on X that any sanctions relief for Russia outside of a "lasting de-escalation agreement ... is an obvious weakness." "Gifts to Putin will not bring peace or any benefit to the civil
European countries have been too slow and too reactive in response to escalating Russian attacks. They need a coordinated playbook.
CFR President Michael Froman analyzes Europe’s changing posture toward China and Russia, and how that mirrors what the U.S. approach used to be.
