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Kristi Noem’s assertion at a Senate hearing Tuesday that President Trump had given his blessing to a $220 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advertising campaign promoting Noem’s leadership was the final straw that cost the DHS secretary her job on Thursday, according to Republican senators and other sources familiar with the events. Trump considered…

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said there will “come a moment” when President Trump or the Iranian people decide to rise up against the country’s government, though he stressed they should not protest during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against the regime. “No one’s done more than President Trump to reopen the opportunity for…

Attorney General Pam Bondi may suffer the most collateral damage from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's firing, with congressional Democrats now saying it gives them space to focus their criticism and scrutiny squarely on her. Why it matters: Bondi has already faced intense flak from Congress over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with lawmakers in both parties accusing her of being insufficiently transparent. Five Republicans on the House Oversight Committee voted with Democrats on Wednesda

Four Democrats defied party leaders on Thursday to oppose a resolution curbing President Trump’s war powers in Iran.  Some defections had been expected headed into the vote, given the thorny nature of the conflict and its relationship to Israel, which has divided Democrats on and off of Capitol Hill for years. Before Trump struck Iran…

The Treasury Department will announce measures to combat rising energy prices amid the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran as soon as Thursday, Reuters reported.  As the conflict in the Middle East nears the one-week mark, oil prices have risen and consumers are seeing an impact at the pump. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response…

Four Democrats crossed the aisle Thursday and voted in favor of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill aimed at ending the partial government shutdown, despite opposition from their own leadership.   The four Democrats who joined Republicans in voting for the measure were Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.), Jared Golden (Maine)…

Two House Democrats are demanding answers from FBI Director Kash Patel about his reported decision last week to fire multiple employees, many of whom allegedly worked in counterintelligence roles. Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) asked Patel in a Wednesday letter to come before the House Homeland Security Committee and explain why he…

The Harvard Kennedy School is setting contingency plans for admitted service members in place following the Pentagon’s decision to suspend its academic partnerships with the university last month.  In a Wednesday letter to U.S. service members who applied to the school’s graduate programs, Dean Jeremy Weinstein said the school will offer an extended deferral period…

Azerbaijan's ambassador to the U.S. told Axios his country is taking "appropriate defensive and precautionary measures" following an Iranian drone strike on the Nakhchivan exclave. Asked if he was worried about another attack, ambassador Khazar Ibrahim said it's "not about worrying." Instead: "We are calculating, we are looking at facts, and we are making decisions." Why it matters: The salvo, which Iran denied responsibility for, again widens a war that is just days-old and has killed many, i

The Trump administration is reportedly weighing rules that would require foreign buyers to obtain licenses from the U.S. government to buy American AI chips. Why it matters: The AI chips sector has been flourishing as tech companies ramp up their spending on data centers and new AI models, underpinning the broader market. The big picture: The draft regulations would give "Washington broad control over whether other countries can build facilities for training and running artificial-intelligence

The House on Thursday rejected an effort to advance legislation that would restrict President Trump from using further military action in Iran. Why it matters: The failed vote amounts to an endorsement of Trump's military campaign in Iran from Congress, which has the constitutional authority to declare war. The 212-219 vote comes one day after the Senate rejected a similar measure, mainly along party lines. Two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Warren Davison (R-Ohio) — voted with

Republican senators celebrated President Trump's decision to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). Why it matters: Congressional Republicans — along with the White House — are eager to turn the page on a department that's dragging down the party's image on immigration, the very issue it rode to victory in 2024. Trump wasn't a "happy cowboy" about Noem and her $200 million media campaign, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said. Many Senate Republicans wer

President Trump on Thursday announced Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as his pick to take over as Homeland Security Secretary, replacing Kristi Noem, who has been given a new position. The big picture: Rather than outright firing top appointees, Trump has opted in his second term to shuffle them into new roles — a contrast with the record number of firings in his first administration. While announcing her departure from DHS on Thursday, Trump praised Noem's tenure, saying she "has had numerou

Democratic lawmakers said Stephen Miller and Pam Bondi should be next after President Donald Trump announced Kristi Noem would be stepping aside as DHS secretary.

Joani Reid said she had temporarily stood down from the party after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) filed articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Why it matters: The effort is an extreme long shot, but it shows where Democrats are turning their attention now that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is out. The House Oversight Committee voted on a bipartisan basis Wednesday to subpoena Bondi over the Epstein files. The subpoena was offered by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), but all Democrats voted for

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is leaving the department and he will nominate Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as her replacement, President Trump said Thursday. Why it matters: Noem's exit leaves Trump's mass deportation agenda without its most prominent face amid a public backlash. What he's saying: Trump said Noem will be "moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Do

Top House and Senate Democrats said Thursday that Kristi Noem's departure as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security will not be enough for them to support funding for the agency. Why it matters: DHS has been shut down for nearly three weeks, with the White House and congressional Democrats offering little indication that they are close to a deal. "A change in personnel is not sufficient, we need a change in policy," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said at a press confer

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is poised to be the next Homeland Security Secretary, replacing Kristi Noem, President Trump announced Thursday. Why it matters: Mullin is a staunchly MAGA firebrand and will likely be in lockstep with Trump's immigration agenda. What they're saying: "Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN," Trump

Kristi Noem is on her way out at the Department of Homeland Security after a tenure marred by personal controversies and an unpopular immigration crackdown. The big picture: Noem has long been a target for Democrats, but her leadership also angered some congressional Republicans. She becomes the first Cabinet secretary to be removed from their post in President Trump's second term. Driving the news: Trump announced Thursday that he plans to tap Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to replace Noem.

The PM said the best way forward was a "negotiated settlement with Iran where they give up their nuclear ambitions".

The manifesto includes income tax cuts, scraping the nation of sanctuary and building a relief road

The PM acknowledged people are worried about family abroad, the economy, and potential further escalation.

The conflict in the Middle East could continue "for some time”, the UK prime minister has warned.

One of those arrested is the husband of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid.

President Trump told Axios on Thursday that Israeli President Isaac Herzog must pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "today" — calling Herzog "a disgrace" for failing to act over the last year. "Every day I talk to Bibi about the war. I want him to focus on the war and not on the f*cking court case. I want the only pressure on Bibi to be the fighting against Iran," Trump said in a phone interview. Why it matters: Trump has been pushing for a Netanyahu pardon since last June, arguing that h

When war breaks out, micro issues have a way of quickly becoming macro issues. Specific blockages and bottlenecks tend to cause broad supply disruptions and price pressure. And so it is with the war in Iran. Why it matters: Global supply chains have already been facing years of stress, first from the COVID-19 pandemic and then from the rise of tariffs and other trade barriers. The Middle East conflagration adds a new layer of stress. The good news for American consumers is that the biggest ef

President Trump told Axios in an interview Thursday that he needs to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader — just as he was in Venezuela. Trump revealed this exclusively in an eight-minute phone call — his second conversation with us to explain his war planning. Why it matters: Trump acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is the most likely successor — while making clear he finds that outcome unacceptable. For several days, the Ir

The home secretary says the "incentives" will deliver a "significant saving to the taxpayer".

The war in Iran has rapidly expanded beyond the Middle East, pulling in U.S. allies and bystanders alike. The big picture: Since the U.S. strikes began on Saturday, Iran has retaliated against Israel and multiple Gulf states, plunging the region further into chaos. U.S. embassies across the region remain on high alert, with the State Department urging Americans to leave immediately. Here's what we know about the countries involved. Countries involved with Iran war United States: President Trum