John Phelan out as U.S. Navy secretary "Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss," one person told Axios.

🌊 "Phelan didn't understand he wasn't the boss."

"His job is to follow orders given, not follow the orders he thinks should be given."

@axios, with Colin Demarest

www.axios.com/2026/04/22/n...

Scoop: Trump set to reclassify marijuana soon The change would expand research access but not legalize marijuana.

Scoop: Trump set to reclassify marijuana soon

w/@josephine_walkr

www.axios.com/2026/04/22/t...

Scoop: Trump mulls Jones Act waiver extension to lessen Iran War oil shock Move is aimed at cutting costs of moving the product across the country during the Iran war.

Scoop: Trump mulls extending waiver as new data shows it has eased U.S. oil shipments to lessen Iran War price shocks

www.axios.com/2026/04/22/t...

Scoop: DeSantis "begging" Trump for prime role in administration He's expressed interest in attorney general, secretary of defense and the Supreme Court, sources say.

At lunch April 12, DeSantis talked to Trump about an appointment or future job

Trump told others DeSantis was “begging” to be Atty General; others say that’s unlikely but War Secretary or Supreme Court could be “dream jobs” after he’s termed out

Scoop👇

www.axios.com/2026/04/21/d...

How Waltz became a key messenger in Trump's war His high-profile role reflects how his stock has risen in the White House since the "signalgate" blunder.

From the United Nations to the Sunday news shows, Ambassador Mike Waltz has emerged as a key player in advancing the White House's Iran war policy and message.

www.axios.com/2026/04/21/m...

Distrust, dishonesty and Trump's elusive Iran deal "He doesn't want to fight anymore. But he will if he feels he has to."

Trump declared Monday morning that an Iran peace deal would be signed "today" in Islamabad & Vance was on his way.

But Vance was actually still in DC, waiting for a signal from Tehran before leaving — a sign of the ceasefire's deep uncertainty

www.axios.com/2026/04/20/t...

Scoop: Bessent and Wiles met Anthropic's Amodei in sign of thaw "Every department other than War wants to use Anthropic."

Scoop: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined White House chief of staff Susie Wiles in a meeting with Anthropic's Amodei to figure out how to plot a way forward as the AI company is locked in a battle w/the admini

@m_ccuri @DavidLawler10 & I

www.axios.com/2026/04/17/a...

Scoop: Inside the historic U.S.-Cuba negotiations in Havana It's the first time a U.S. government plane has touched down since Obama visited a decade ago

🚨🇺🇸🇨🇺Scoop: U.S. State Dept officials met last Friday in Havana with their Cuban counterparts —including Raulito “El Cangrejo” Castro, the grandson of Raul Castro

Here’s what we know about the historic meeting👇

www.axios.com/2026/04/17/c...

Scoop: U.S. considers $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal with Iran The U.S. and Iran are negotiating over a three-page plan with some very sensitive elements.

Scoop: U.S. considers $20 billion cash-for-uranium deal with Iran as peace talks progress

Whether Iran takes the offer is another matter. We might find out in Islamabad this weekend

@BarakRavid w/an assist from me

www.axios.com/2026/04/17/i...

Scoop: Trump discussed "Jesus" meme with Bill Pulte before posting it, sources say The mystery of who may have helped introduce the meme to Trump wasn't clear, until now.

Before Trump posted an image of him as a Christ-like healer, he discussed the meme with his controversial housing finance chief Bill Pulte

Two sources say Pulte shared the meme w/POTUS. Another says that’s false.

He refused to comment

www.axios.com/2026/04/15/t...

U.S. and Iran inch toward framework deal to end war, U.S. officials say If a framework is reached, the ceasefire would need to be extended to negotiate the details of a comprehensive deal.

Peace talks are inching along between the U.S. & Iran, but why is the Trump Admin so confident a deal will happen?

“Iran has no money. They're broke. We know it. And they know we know it," a US official told @barakravid.bsky.social & me

www.axios.com/2026/04/15/i...

Scoop: U.S. eases bank sanctions amid Venezuela's economic woes The action by the U.S. Treasury is intended to help Venezuela's oil sector and stabilize its new government.

Scoop: The Trump Admin eased sanctions on Venezuela's state-run financial system Tuesday to try to boost the country's economy amid protests by public workers demanding higher pay.

VZ’s acting prez, Delcy Rodriguez, called for the relief Monday

www.axios.com/2026/04/14/v...

President Trump sounded ready to dismiss top intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard until he got an earful last week from one of his oldest friends and advisers, Roger Stone

www.axios.com/2026/04/10/t...

It's migration season! Monarch butterflies travel over 4,000 km to winter in Mexico's stunning oyamel forests. Witness the beauty of nature's incredible journey.

Exclusive: How Iran's supreme leader reached a truce with Trump The involvement of the new supreme leader was necessarily clandestine and laborious.

How the ayatollah and Trump got to a ceasefire

via @barakravid.bsky.social & Dave Lawler (w/me tagging along) www.axios.com/2026/04/08/e...

Iran talks show glimmer of progress as Trump deadline looms The thinking in the White House has shifted from "can we get there?" to "can we get there by 8 o'clock tonight?"

Glimmers of hope for a deal with Iran —but it’s a long shot.

And there’s always a chance of a delay…

via @barakravid.bsky.social & me

www.axios.com/2026/04/07/i...

Trump's tipping point: Destroy Iran's infrastructure or give talks a chance "The president is the most bloodthirsty, like a mad dog," a U.S. official said.

"What do you think of Infrastructure Day?" Trump is asking advisers and confidants as he gets ready to escalate the bombing campaign in Iran to include power plants, bridges and some industrial facilities

Via @barakravid.bsky.social & me

www.axios.com/2026/04/07/t...

Harder to do than impeachment btw

Trump: U.S. will bomb Iran "back to stone ages" over next 2-3 weeks Trump said the U.S. will strike civilian infrastructure if a deal isn't reached.

Trump's threat to bomb Iran "back to the stone ages" showed how much he's willing to escalate amid efforts to strike a deal to end the war

But he sounded cool to the idea of seizing nuclear material in the meantime

@DavidLawler10 & i

www.axios.com/2026/04/02/t...

Trump's mixed messages on Iran perplex his own team "That's the kiss of death, when you think you can predict him."

Trump isn't just befuddling foreign leaders and financial markets with his mixed signals on Iran. Advisers are just as uncertain.

@barakravid.bsky.social & I
www.axios.com/2026/04/01/t...

Vance's greatest challenge: Making peace with Iran The vice president is expected to be the top U.S. negotiator in potential peace talks.

Vance’s Persian puzzle: making peace with Iran in a war he was skeptical about

@barakravid.bsky.social & I

www.axios.com/2026/03/27/v...

"They'll get mowed down": Trump rebuffed Netanyahu idea to call for Iran uprising "Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they'll just get mowed down."

They'll get mowed down:” Trump rebuffed Netanyahu idea to call for Iran uprising. @barakravid.bsky.social and I write for @axios.com

www.axios.com/2026/03/25/t...

Iran suspects Trump's peace talk push is another trick "Trump has a hand open for a deal and the other is a fist waiting to punch you in the f***ing face."

🇮🇷🇺🇸Iran suspects Trump's peace talk push is another trick. The U.S. made clear to the Iranians that Trump is serious and floated Vice President Vance's possible involvement in the talks as proof. @barakravid.bsky.social
and I write for @axios.com

www.axios.com/2026/03/25/i...

Rubio testimony sheds light on friend's shadowy Venezuela play Trial offers a behind-the-scenes look at Maduro regime's push to curry favor with the U.S.

International intrigue. An assassination plot. Millions of secret dollars. Code names. Secret meetings.

Venezuela's shadowy dealings in the first Trump admin were laid bare by Rubio when he testified Tuesday against his longtime friend, David Rivera.

www.axios.com/2026/03/25/r...

Rubio to testify in friend's trial over Venezuela oil deal The Miami trial sheds light on the unseemly world of shadowy foreign influence efforts in Latin America.

The Iran War is raging. Venezuela needs managing. A Cuba takeover is in the offing

Where’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio?

Testifying for the prosecution against his old close friend & adviser David Rivera, a former congressman

Welcome to Miami

www.axios.com/2026/03/24/r...

Trump's team game planning for potential Iran peace talks The White House is starting to look for a way out of Iran.

From “wordsmithing” Iran’s demand for reparations to U.S. insistence on missile limits, Trump’s Admin plans for potential peace talks

There are no direct talks at this time, just messages relayed through 3rd parties

Behind the scenes with @barakravid.bsky.social

www.axios.com/2026/03/21/t...

Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait Such a ground operation would put U.S. troops more directly in harm's way.

The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

No decision has been made

Meantime, a steady bombing & strafing campaign is softening up Iran’s coast

@BarakRavid & I
www.axios.com/2026/03/20/i...

FBI investigates ex-U.S. Counterterrorism Center head Joe Kent for alleged leaks "He left quite an online paper trail and he has been monitored for months," one source familiar told Axios.

Israel. Iran. Joe Kent. Tucker Carlson. The FBI. Charlie Kirk

www.axios.com/2026/03/19/j...

Comey subpoenaed in alleged "grand conspiracy" against Trump The former FBI director and other targets have called the investigation political persecution.

NEWS: James Comey has been subpoenaed in the wide-ranging "grand conspiracy" case against those who had investigated & prosecuted Trump from 2017-2024, @axios sources say

More than 130 subpoenas have been issued by the Southern District of FL

www.axios.com/2026/03/19/c...

Trump aides foresee Iran endgame divide: "Israel doesn't hate the chaos" "Israel doesn't hate the chaos. We do."

The U.S. & Israel have been closely aligned in their execution of the Iran war

But the countries’ interests could diverge on how and when the war ends & there’s a nagging U.S. concern that Israel “doesn’t hate the chaos” in the war

@barakravid.bsky.social & I

www.axios.com/2026/03/18/i...