Date: 2025-05-14 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00028125
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AXIOS INFORMATION
Turmoil around everything in reach of Trump, Musk and Vance
... dangerous times ,,, and no end in sight!
AXIOS INFORMATION
Turmoil around everything in reach of Trump, Musk and Vance
... dangerous times ,,, and no end in sight!
Original article: https://www.axios.com/politics-policy
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
- Tracking Trump: Press pool takeover, Zelensky and the Musk effect
- Zelensky says he doesn't think he did anything wrong after public spat with Trump
- Fuming Democrats struggle with Trump speech strategy
- 'The free world needs a new leader': Allies defend Zelensky after Trump debacle
Elon Musk defended DOGE's actions, name dropped alleged Jeffery Epstein clients and weighed in on the 'Gulf of America' standoff between the Trump administration and the Associated Press in an appearance on the 'Joe Rogan Experience' podcast.
The big picture: The pair, in their three-hour interview, railed against legacy media, discussed what the world would have been like if Twitter wasn't X and explained why DOGE is seen as a threat — though Musk said it doesn't go far in exposing corruption because doing so could get him 'killed.'
Go deeper (2 min. read)
Barak Ravid 16 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Inside the Oval: How Trump sent Zelensky home with no deal and no meal
Zelensky Zelensky leaves the White House. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump and his top advisers huddled in the Oval Office after the on-camera shouting match with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday before Trump came to a decision: Zelensky had to go.
Behind the scenes: The delegation from Kyiv waited in another room for about an hour, still hoping to sign the minerals deal that prompted Zelensky's trip and to salvage the visit. Trump and Zelensky were still scheduled to have lunch and hold a joint press conference.
Go deeper (2 min. read)
April Rubin 16 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Ukraine ally Graham suggests Zelensky be replaced after Trump clash Collage of Graham and Zelensky headshots
Sen. Lindsey Graham (left) on Jan. 30. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) in February 2024. Photo: Mert Gokhankoc/ dia images via Getty Images
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will have to 'fundamentally change or go' after a contentious meeting with President Trump on Friday.
Why it matters: Graham has been outspoken in support of Ukraine and for ending Russia's war, but he said he doubts Zelensky can redeem Americans' perception of him after the meeting.
Go deeper (1 min. read)
Andrew Solender , Stef W. Kight , Hans Nichols 17 hours ago - Politics & Policy Trump's 'disaster' Zelensky meeting stuns GOP hawks President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images President Trump's explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shocked hawkish Republican lawmakers and led one prominent GOP backer of Ukraine to suggest that Zelensky should resign. Why it matters: The meeting angered Democrats, who were horrified by Trump and Vice President Vance's conduct. It offended some Republicans, with most of them reserving their ire for Zelensky. Go deeper (1 min. read) Barak Ravid , Dave Lawler Updated 17 hours ago - Politics & Policy Trump-Zelensky summit explodes: 'He can come back when he is ready for peace' Oval office yelling Zelensky, Trump and Vance argue in the Oval Office. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty The main event of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House was supposed to be the signing of a minerals deal, but it quickly devolved into a heated argument with President Trump and Vice President Vance. The latest: After an explosive Oval Office meeting in front of the press, Trump released a statement saying that he had determined Zelensky is 'not ready for Peace if America is involved.' Lunch and a joint press conference between the two leaders were canceled. Go deeper (3 min. read) Russell Contreras 18 hours ago - Business Immigrants in detention in Trump's early days hit new record A view of the CoreCivic Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, on February 07, 2025. The private institution has been plagued by allegations of medical negligence, abusive and retaliatory behavior against immigrants, sexual harassment, poor food and water quality and other dangerous conditions. A view of the CoreCivic Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, on Feb. 7, 2025. The private institution has been plagued by allegations of medical negligence, abusive and retaliatory behavior against immigrants. Photo: Carlos Moreno/Anadolu via Getty Images The number of immigrants held in detention under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has hit the highest level in more than five years, new data show. Why it matters: The detention surge comes as the Trump administration steps up immigration enforcement and seeks to expand the capacity to detain more immigrants amid a months-long backlog with immigration judges. Go deeper (2 min. read) Axios Updated 18 hours ago - Politics & Policy WATCH: Trump-Zelensky meeting boils over in Oval Office US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky met in the Oval Office Friday and openly clashed. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images President Trump and Vice President Vance's Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Friday quickly turned into a heated argument. Why it matters: The meeting devolved into a shouting match, with Vance accusing Zelensky of disrespect and of misleading visitors by taking them on 'propaganda tours,' and Zelensky retorting that Vance had never visited Ukraine. Go deeper (<1 min. read) April Rubin 18 hours ago - Business What to know about the #TeslaTakedown movement targeting Elon Musk and DOGE Protestors outside of a Tesla store People participate in a 'TeslaTakedown' protest against Elon Musk outside of a Tesla showroom in Seattle, Washington, on Feb. 15. Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images Elon Musk's Tesla has become a rallying point for protestors outraged with how the world's richest man has insinuated himself into President Trump's administration and led efforts to slash government agencies. Why it matters: The #TeslaTakedown protests at Tesla locations nationwide are one of the first signs of grassroots backlash to Musk's role in the Trump administration, targeting his flagship company. Go deeper (2 min. read) Caitlin Owens 19 hours ago - Politics & Policy GOP's plans to cut health spending get a reality check Illustration of a clock featuring a slice Ben Franklin from a hundred dollar bill Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios It's that time again: Washington is coming to its periodic realization that there is no real way to address the nation's spiraling debt without touching health programs. And Republicans are relearning that even Medicaid — the program deemed least politically risky to change — is a lightning rod. Why it matters: Policymakers really have two choices outside of major tax increases. They can leave health care and entitlement programs alone and see what happens as the debt continues to balloon, or they can launch a war on spending that will make recent health care battles seem like child's play. In the meantime, powerful and wealthy health care industry groups are really just vying to shoulder the least pain if and when the real cuts come. Driving the news: The House GOP narrowly passed its budget resolution this week, meaning its quest to reduce the federal deficit by somewhere between $1.5 and $2 trillion — while extending trillions of dollars in tax cuts passed during Trump's first term — lives another week. It still seems pretty likely that members will have to turn to Medicaid for some of that money if they remain serious about their cost-cutting goals. But it's hard to say for sure how much Medicaid spending will end up being reduced, if at all. Many Republicans have now expressed their qualms about cutting the program too deeply amid significant backlash, and a key committee chairman said this week that one leading policy idea — per capita caps — is moving toward the back burner. President Trump, for his part, said once again that Medicaid won't be touched, but that 'we are going to look for fraud.' (So be on the lookout for certain Medicaid reforms to be framed as addressing fraud!) This is all a familiar song and dance: Ambitious ideas about reducing health care spending quickly run into political reality, which includes heavy backlash from the health care industry. If anything, it's worse now for Republicans than it's ever been, as more and more of their voters include the low-income working class people who depend on Medicaid (and more hospitals benefit from expanded Medicaid coverage). The program covers 1 in 5 Americans, including low-income people, people with disabilities and millions of children. It also accounts for a fifth of all health care spending and more than half of long-term care spending, per KFF. At the same time, Americans want their health care spending reduced. A recent Pew survey on American's economic concerns found that 67% of respondents said the affordability of health care is a very big problem for the country — ranking above inflation and the federal budget deficit. That's a 10 percentage point rise from last year, when 57% said health care affordability was a big national problem. Any federal policy changes resulting in more uninsured Americans, fewer covered benefits or more out-of-pocket expenses would just make care less — not more — affordable for the people impacted. But policy changes that cause massive disruption or more limited access to top-of-the-line services also tend to be unpopular, historically tying the hands of policymakers. The big picture: If you remember two things about the U.S. health care system, let them be that it's the most expensive in the world by far, and yet it produces worse health outcomes in the U.S. than in other wealthy countries. Americans are — and have been — sick of paying ever-rising health care costs, and yet year after year they keep going up for both patients and taxpayers without actual health results to justify the prices. Meanwhile, many of the biggest health care companies have continued to see their stock prices soar. Between the lines: The solution to unaffordable health care costs for consumers has usually been some version of new government spending. There's only one way to reduce what both the government and patients pay for care: reducing prices. And that means policy that would directly target the health care industry. The bottom line: The screaming you hear now from patient advocacy and hospital groups is nothing compared with the uproar that would be caused if Congress ever went after Medicare or commercial insurance. But the source of that uproar may depend on what kind of spending cuts we're talking about. For example, when Democrats went after pharma and drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate with manufacturers, consumer groups cheered them on. The more public sentiment sours on any one particular group, the easier it is for policymakers to make changes that group doesn't like. And in a world where patients are enraged with insurers for care denials or hospitals for their billing practices, those groups may not be as protected as they used to be if lawmakers decide to turn their attention to prices. Jaden Amos 19 hours ago - Business Trump says he had dinner with Bezos week of Washington Post changes Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos side by side. President Donald Trump looks on during a roundtable with faith leaders at Christ Chapel on October 23, 2024. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images. Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post, takes the stage during the New York Times annual DealBook summit in New York City. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images. President Trump said in an interview with The Spectator that he had dinner Wednesday night with Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. Why it matters: The dinner between Trump and Bezos happened the night Bezos announced changes to the Washington Post opinion section. It's another sign of Trump and Bezos' growing closeness. Go deeper (1 min. read) Courtenay Brown 20 hours ago - Business Record goods trade gap signals companies 'front loading' ahead of Trump tariffs Picture of rigs at Port of Los Angeles The Long Beach Container Terminal at the Port of Long Beach in Calif. Photo: Lauren Justice/Bloomberg via Getty Images The U.S. trade deficit for goods widened sharply in January, a result of a record surge of products imported into the country, the Commerce Department said on Friday. Why it matters: For yet another month, manufacturers and businesses raced to bring goods into the country to get ahead of potential tariffs implemented by President Trump. Go deeper (1 min. read) Ivana Saric Updated 21 hours ago - Politics & Policy Trump will sign order making English official language of the U.S. for first time Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Feb. 26. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images President Trump is expected to sign an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States, two White House officials confirmed to Axios Friday. Why it matters: More than 350 languages are spoken in the 'melting pot' of the U.S., but this is the first time the U.S. federal government has declared the country to have a single official language. Go deeper (1 min. read) Andrew Freedman Updated 22 hours ago - Energy & Climate NOAA layoffs threaten weather, climate forecasts Official at National Hurricane Center Senior hurricane specialist John Cangialosi inspects a satellite image of Hurricane Beryl at NOAA's National Hurricane Center in July 2024. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images The cuts of about 800 probationary employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sliced deep into the agency tasked with a range of safety missions. Why it matters: The cuts spared 'only some' specialists at its National Weather Service, according to a congressional aide speaking on condition of anonymity. Go deeper (3 min. read) View more stories Smarter, faster on what matters. Explore Axios Newsletters About Axios Advertise with us Careers Contact us Newsletters Axios Live Axios Entertainment Axios HQ Privacy policy Terms of use Your Privacy Choices Axios Homepage Copyright Axios Media, 2024 Politics & Policy - Axios
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