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Congressional campaign stars Its August, which means lawmakers are fanning out across the country to campaign for themselves and their colleagues.Why it matters: A friendly senator or House member can help on the stump. But only a handful can juice fundraising, draw a real crowd or make a mark with an endorsement. And Democrats have more of them.Zoom in: Axios asked strategists in both parties which lawmakers have enough star power to move voters, draw crowds or open wallets for candidates far from home.There arent many, but a few names came up again and again.For Democrats: No one compares to former President Obama. But among lawmakers, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has never been hotter, as progressives and democratic socialists take down one establishment-backed candidate after another.In a twist, Sanders is seen by some Democrats as an asset not just in the primary — but also in the upcoming general election.Sanders appeared in one of battleground House candidate Rebecca Cookes closing primary ads in this weeks Wisconsin primary. Her other final ad pitched a Sanders idea — a moratorium on data centers."Public and private polls show that a lot of the working people Democrats have to win back respect Bernie Sanders because they want candid, populist leaders with the backbone to fight an economic status quo that has failed them," Democratic strategist and former Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates, who advises Cooke, told Axios."Hes also an opponent of out-of-touch ideas that turn swing voters away, like defunding the police," Bates continued. Sanders heir-apparent, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), also tops the list with her formidable grassroots power. Sanders and AOC combined have drawn huge crowds across the country, even when theyre not explicitly campaigning for themselves.Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is also popular nationwide, bolstered by his experience as an astronaut.👀 Both Kelly and AOC are potential 2028 presidential election contenders.And few endorsements are seen as carrying more weight with Black voters than that of Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.).(That said, Clyburns preferred candidate in the Michigan Senate primary just lost despite his campaigning for her. He also endorsed failed New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo in 2025.)Former presidential candidates like Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.). and Elizabeth Warren (D- Mass.) are still big names on the trail, but their presence is not as potent as it once was.For Republicans: The roster of lawmakers outside of leadership is shorter. And, of course, no member of Congress comes close to matching the power of President Trump and some in his Cabinet.Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has become an online and in-person phenomenon with his folksy one-liners and viral clips. "When I go into a state and headline a fundraiser for one of my colleagues, it seems to attract people," Kennedy told Politicos Jordain Carney. "I think Im like the new animal in the zoo."Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is polarizing but familiar, with the ability to draw crowds and Texas dollars.Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), as a founder of the House Freedom Caucus, can do a lot for a candidate. Between the lines: Power in Washington doesnt necessarily translate to power on the campaign trail. Although Hill leaders job is to work to keep their majorities, they still hold the most sway with major donors, not average voters. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are bringing in record funds — even as roughly a third of voters say they have never heard of Thune and 44 disapprove of Schumer, according to a recent CNN poll.Thune even told reporters last month that his endorsement "probably isnt helpful anyway" when asked about South Carolina Republican Sen. Darline Graham.Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) often gets media coverage of his cross-country efforts to campaign for House Republican candidates, as does his leadership team — Reps. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)30 of voters said they had never heard of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, even as he campaigned recently for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and battleground House candidate Bob Brooks.

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. A member of Trumps team who followed him from his presidential campaign to the White House, shes been a fiercely loyal face of the White House.Driving the news: Trump said in the surprise post that Leavitt will become one of his top outside advisers and "an influential voice within the Republican Party" heading into the midterm elections.Leavitt, 28, said in a post that being a mother and welcoming a new baby while serving as press secretary "has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least."She continued, "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary."When reached for comment, the White House pointed to statements made by Leavitt and Trump.The big picture: Leavitt made headlines for being the youngest White House press secretary to hold the role.She defended the White House through multiple controversies and the biggest stories of the presidents second term so far, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files and the Iran war.Even in her statement announcing her departure, she took aim at Democrats that she said seek "to destroy everything great about America."Leavitt also backed the Trump administrations tightening of press coverage, telling Axios last year that the administration wanted to expand access — opening the press corps to influencers and MAGA-friendly voices — and not limit it.Context: The president directly chooses the White House press secretary, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.Trump had four press secretaries during his first term.Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Why House Dems may go easy on one of GOPs most vulnerable members Rep. Mike Lawlers (R-N.Y.) fight to hold on to a key battleground seat is getting a behind-the-scenes assist — for now, at least — from an unlikely group: House Democrats.Why it matters: Kamala Harris carried Lawlers district in 2024, but some Democrats are privately wary of spending the small fortune it would take to oust one of the GOPs most bipartisan — and electorally savvy — members. "If youre going to have a Republican, its the kind of Republican we want in the Congress," a Democratic source told Axios of Lawler, also noting that the New York City area is the nations most expensive media market.A senior House Democrat told Axios: "I dont think Lawler is beatable."State of play: Republicans are outspending Democrats more than 40 to 1 on current and future ad reservations in New Yorks 17th District, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact.The House Republican leadership–aligned super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund has a whopping $6.7 million reserved in the district.That is on top of $2.8 million from the Lawler campaign and $2.1 million from outside GOP group Americans for Open Government.Democratic leadership–aligned nonprofit House Majority Forward is the only group with ad reservations in the district, at just $270,000 reserved.Yes, but: Democrats insist their lack of ad reservations is simply a result of the New York media market being so costly that there is no value in reserving TV time early there compared with states like Iowa."NY-17 is one of the best flip opportunities on the map, and Mike Lawler is down in polling — HMP is going to do whatever it takes to flip this seat," CJ Warnke, a spokesperson for the HMFs political arm, House Majority PAC, told Axios.Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Riya Vashi pointed to an alleged GOP shell PAC spending $1.5 million in a failed attempt to stop Cait Conley from becoming the Democratic nominee as evidence they are "clearly scared."Vashi noted that the DCCC put Conley, a U.S. Army veteran, on its coveted "Red to Blue" list and said the group will "continue our efforts to fire Mike Lawler and elect Cait every day leading up to November."Zoom out: Lawlers Hudson Valley district has long been viewed as one of Democrats best pickup opportunities — and one of the races most likely to decide control of the House.Democrats need a net gain of just three seats to reclaim the majority.Harris carried Lawlers district by half a percentage point in 2024, making it the most Democratic-leaning seat in which a House Republican is running for reelection.Between the lines: One estimate shared with Axios found that the money needed to compete seriously in NY-17 could instead fund television advertising across 11 toss-up House districts.The only other truly vulnerable GOP incumbent in the NYC media market besides Lawler is Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.), and Democrats wouldnt get much bang for their buck spending there.Said the Democratic source: "If you can pick up five people for the cost of one person, wouldnt you just go after the five people?"The intrigue: A former House Republican familiar with the dynamic between Lawler and Democratic leadership expressed skepticism that Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will ultimately lay off Lawler through Election Day. The tensions between Lawler and Jeffries spilled into the open last year when Lawler waited outside the Democratic leaders press conference and the two engaged in a shouting match over the ongoing government shutdown.The DCCC and House Majority PAC will "absolutely" spend in the district because "Schumer and Jeffries hate him," the former lawmaker predicted, adding that Lawler "will still win."A second senior House Democrat, asked if Jeffries hates Lawler, told Axios: "Correct."The bottom line: Lawler is one of the Republicans with the most Democratic fans, but hes still a Republican standing between them and the House majority.

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. A member of Trumps team who followed him from his presidential campaign to the White House, shes been a fiercely loyal face of the White House.Driving the news: Trump said in the surprise post that Leavitt will become one of his top outside advisers and "an influential voice within the Republican Party" heading into the midterm elections.Leavitt, 28, said in a post that being a mother and welcoming a new baby while serving as press secretary "has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least."She continued, "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary."When reached for comment, the White House pointed to statements made by Leavitt and Trump.The big picture: Leavitt made headlines for being the youngest White House press secretary to hold the role.She defended the White House through multiple controversies and the biggest stories of the presidents second term so far, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files and the Iran war.Even in her statement announcing her departure, she took aim at Democrats that she said seek "to destroy everything great about America."Leavitt also backed the Trump administrations tightening of press coverage, telling Axios last year that the administration wanted to expand access — opening the press corps to influencers and MAGA-friendly voices — and not limit it.Context: The president directly chooses the White House press secretary, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.Trump had four press secretaries during his first term.Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Why House Dems may go easy on one of GOPs most vulnerable members Rep. Mike Lawlers (R-N.Y.) fight to hold on to a key battleground seat is getting a behind-the-scenes assist — for now, at least — from an unlikely group: House Democrats.Why it matters: Kamala Harris carried Lawlers district in 2024, but some Democrats are privately wary of spending the small fortune it would take to oust one of the GOPs most bipartisan — and electorally savvy — members. "If youre going to have a Republican, its the kind of Republican we want in the Congress," a Democratic source told Axios of Lawler, also noting that the New York City area is the nations most expensive media market.A senior House Democrat told Axios: "I dont think Lawler is beatable."State of play: Republicans are outspending Democrats more than 40 to 1 on current and future ad reservations in New Yorks 17th District, according to ad tracking firm AdImpact.The House Republican leadership–aligned super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund has a whopping $6.7 million reserved in the district.That is on top of $2.8 million from the Lawler campaign and $2.1 million from outside GOP group Americans for Open Government.Democratic leadership–aligned nonprofit House Majority Forward is the only group with ad reservations in the district, at just $270,000 reserved.Yes, but: Democrats insist their lack of ad reservations is simply a result of the New York media market being so costly that there is no value in reserving TV time early there compared with states like Iowa."NY-17 is one of the best flip opportunities on the map, and Mike Lawler is down in polling — HMP is going to do whatever it takes to flip this seat," CJ Warnke, a spokesperson for the HMFs political arm, House Majority PAC, told Axios.Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Riya Vashi pointed to an alleged GOP shell PAC spending $1.5 million in a failed attempt to stop Cait Conley from becoming the Democratic nominee as evidence they are "clearly scared."Vashi noted that the DCCC put Conley, a U.S. Army veteran, on its coveted "Red to Blue" list and said the group will "continue our efforts to fire Mike Lawler and elect Cait every day leading up to November."Zoom out: Lawlers Hudson Valley district has long been viewed as one of Democrats best pickup opportunities — and one of the races most likely to decide control of the House.Democrats need a net gain of just three seats to reclaim the majority.Harris carried Lawlers district by half a percentage point in 2024, making it the most Democratic-leaning seat in which a House Republican is running for reelection.Between the lines: One estimate shared with Axios found that the money needed to compete seriously in NY-17 could instead fund television advertising across 11 toss-up House districts.The only other truly vulnerable GOP incumbent in the NYC media market besides Lawler is Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.), and Democrats wouldnt get much bang for their buck spending there.Said the Democratic source: "If you can pick up five people for the cost of one person, wouldnt you just go after the five people?"The intrigue: A former House Republican familiar with the dynamic between Lawler and Democratic leadership expressed skepticism that Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will ultimately lay off Lawler through Election Day. The tensions between Lawler and Jeffries spilled into the open last year when Lawler waited outside the Democratic leaders press conference and the two engaged in a shouting match over the ongoing government shutdown.The DCCC and House Majority PAC will "absolutely" spend in the district because "Schumer and Jeffries hate him," the former lawmaker predicted, adding that Lawler "will still win."A second senior House Democrat, asked if Jeffries hates Lawler, told Axios: "Correct."The bottom line: Lawler is one of the Republicans with the most Democratic fans, but hes still a Republican standing between them and the House majority.

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. A member of Trumps team who followed him from his presidential campaign to the White House, shes been a fiercely loyal face of the White House.Driving the news: Trump said in the surprise post that Leavitt will become one of his top outside advisers and "an influential voice within the Republican Party" heading into the midterm elections.Leavitt, 28, said in a post that being a mother and welcoming a new baby while serving as press secretary "has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least."She continued, "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary."When reached for comment, the White House pointed to statements made by Leavitt and Trump.The big picture: Leavitt made headlines for being the youngest White House press secretary to hold the role.She defended the White House through multiple controversies and the biggest stories of the presidents second term so far, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files and the Iran war.Even in her statement announcing her departure, she took aim at Democrats that she said seek "to destroy everything great about America."Leavitt also backed the Trump administrations tightening of press coverage, telling Axios last year that the administration wanted to expand access — opening the press corps to influencers and MAGA-friendly voices — and not limit it.Context: The president directly chooses the White House press secretary, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.Trump had four press secretaries during his first term.Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. A member of Trumps team who followed him from his presidential campaign to the White House, shes been a fiercely loyal face of the White House.Driving the news: Trump said in the surprise post that Leavitt will become one of his top outside advisers and "an influential voice within the Republican Party" heading into the midterm elections.Leavitt, 28, said in a post that being a mother and welcoming a new baby while serving as press secretary "has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least."She continued, "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary."When reached for comment, the White House pointed to statements made by Leavitt and Trump.The big picture: Leavitt made headlines for being the youngest White House press secretary to hold the role.She defended the White House through multiple controversies and the biggest stories of the presidents second term so far, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files and the Iran war.Even in her statement announcing her departure, she took aim at Democrats that she said seek "to destroy everything great about America."Leavitt also backed the Trump administrations tightening of press coverage, telling Axios last year that the administration wanted to expand access — opening the press corps to influencers and MAGA-friendly voices — and not limit it.Context: The president directly chooses the White House press secretary, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.Trump had four press secretaries during his first term.Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. A member of Trumps team who followed him from his presidential campaign to the White House, shes been a fiercely loyal face of the White House.Driving the news: Trump said in the surprise post that Leavitt will become one of his top outside advisers and "an influential voice within the Republican Party" heading into the midterm elections.Leavitt, 28, said in a post that being a mother and welcoming a new baby while serving as press secretary "has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least."She continued, "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary."When reached for comment, the White House pointed to statements made by Leavitt and Trump.The big picture: Leavitt made headlines for being the youngest White House press secretary to hold the role.She defended the White House through multiple controversies and the biggest stories of the presidents second term so far, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files and the Iran war.Even in her statement announcing her departure, she took aim at Democrats that she said seek "to destroy everything great about America."Leavitt also backed the Trump administrations tightening of press coverage, telling Axios last year that the administration wanted to expand access — opening the press corps to influencers and MAGA-friendly voices — and not limit it.Context: The president directly chooses the White House press secretary, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.Trump had four press secretaries during his first term.Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. A member of Trumps team who followed him from his presidential campaign to the White House, shes been a fiercely loyal face of the White House.Driving the news: Trump said in the surprise post that Leavitt will become one of his top outside advisers and "an influential voice within the Republican Party" heading into the midterm elections.Leavitt, 28, said in a post that being a mother and welcoming a new baby while serving as press secretary "has been the most rewarding yet challenging season of my life, to say the least."She continued, "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary."When reached for comment, the White House pointed to statements made by Leavitt and Trump.The big picture: Leavitt made headlines for being the youngest White House press secretary to hold the role.She defended the White House through multiple controversies and the biggest stories of the presidents second term so far, including the Signalgate scandal, the release of the Epstein files and the Iran war.Even in her statement announcing her departure, she took aim at Democrats that she said seek "to destroy everything great about America."Leavitt also backed the Trump administrations tightening of press coverage, telling Axios last year that the administration wanted to expand access — opening the press corps to influencers and MAGA-friendly voices — and not limit it.Context: The president directly chooses the White House press secretary, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.Trump had four press secretaries during his first term.Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. Editors note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Diesel desperation is mounting globally The state of the global diesel market is getting even more precarious as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran crisis squeeze supply from multiple angles.Why it matters: Diesel prices ripple through economies here and abroad, affecting shipping costs, construction and plenty in between.The average U.S. price is up 44 cents over the last month to $5.32 per gallon, compared to $3.71 a year ago, per AAA.However, during the Iran crisis, it hasnt hit the all-time high of $5.82 per gallon that AAA recorded in mid-June of 2022.Driving the news: A new S&P Global Energy analysis unpacks the ingredients behind the "big squeeze" in global refined product markets.S&P estimates that refineries worldwide processed 7.5 million barrels per day less crude last month than the same period in 2025.A separate International Energy Agency analysis out this morning also tracks an extremely steep drop in how much crude that refineries are processing.Data: AAA; Chart: Ben Geman/AxiosState of play: Renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz are further restricting supply after a period of optimism about normalizing flows.Middle East refineries are processing much less as capacity remains "physically impaired, logistically stranded, or operationally unable to restart with confidence," S&P states.Russias restrictions on diesel exports following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have removed another 10 of seaborne supplies from the market, and Chinas refinery activity remains "subdued."By the numbers: Diesel exports from Russia, the Middle East and Asia in July were 1.3 million barrels per day lower year-over-year, "equivalent to about 20 of global seaborne trade," IEAs monthly report this morning states."Diesel is the tightest market right now," Amrita Sen, founder of market intelligence firm Energy Aspects, tells Bloomberg TV. Zoom in: In the U.S., the Energy Departments stats and analysis arm yesterday revised its diesel price estimates upward.The Energy Information Administration sees retail prices averaging $4.85 per gallon in 2026, compared to $4.61 in last months outlook. It also slightly raised its 2027 forecast average to $4.07, up from $4.02. The big picture: In the U.S., fuel accounts for roughly 20-25 of trucking companies operating costs, according to the American Trucking Associations, a major trade group.What were watching: The U.S. has been exporting growing amounts of diesel to the thirsty global market, but S&P points out that U.S. refineries are running at 96 of capacity.With the heart of hurricane season and traditional fall maintenance looming, the markets remaining buffers are very thin, the research and consulting firm notes.And diesel and similar refinery products are used for heating in many countries. "I think we are underestimating just how tight diesel can be this winter," said Sen.The bottom line: "The situation is not going away anytime soon and could very well get more expensive," Mizuho Securities analyst Robert Yawger said in a note."Ukrainian drone production has been increasing exponentially, with Russian energy infrastructure a prime target," he writes."Unless there are big breakthroughs in the peace process around both conflicts, large amounts of diesel will remain shut in."

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Diesel desperation is mounting globally The state of the global diesel market is getting even more precarious as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran crisis squeeze supply from multiple angles.Why it matters: Diesel prices ripple through economies here and abroad, affecting shipping costs, construction and plenty in between.The average U.S. price is up 44 cents over the last month to $5.32 per gallon, compared to $3.71 a year ago, per AAA.However, during the Iran crisis, it hasnt hit the all-time high of $5.82 per gallon that AAA recorded in mid-June of 2022.Driving the news: A new S&P Global Energy analysis unpacks the ingredients behind the "big squeeze" in global refined product markets.S&P estimates that refineries worldwide processed 7.5 million barrels per day less crude last month than the same period in 2025.A separate International Energy Agency analysis out this morning also tracks an extremely steep drop in how much crude that refineries are processing.Data: AAA; Chart: Ben Geman/AxiosState of play: Renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz are further restricting supply after a period of optimism about normalizing flows.Middle East refineries are processing much less as capacity remains "physically impaired, logistically stranded, or operationally unable to restart with confidence," S&P states.Russias restrictions on diesel exports following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have removed another 10 of seaborne supplies from the market, and Chinas refinery activity remains "subdued."By the numbers: Diesel exports from Russia, the Middle East and Asia in July were 1.3 million barrels per day lower year-over-year, "equivalent to about 20 of global seaborne trade," IEAs monthly report this morning states."Diesel is the tightest market right now," Amrita Sen, founder of market intelligence firm Energy Aspects, tells Bloomberg TV. Zoom in: In the U.S., the Energy Departments stats and analysis arm yesterday revised its diesel price estimates upward.The Energy Information Administration sees retail prices averaging $4.85 per gallon in 2026, compared to $4.61 in last months outlook. It also slightly raised its 2027 forecast average to $4.07, up from $4.02. The big picture: In the U.S., fuel accounts for roughly 20-25 of trucking companies operating costs, according to the American Trucking Associations, a major trade group.What were watching: The U.S. has been exporting growing amounts of diesel to the thirsty global market, but S&P points out that U.S. refineries are running at 96 of capacity.With the heart of hurricane season and traditional fall maintenance looming, the markets remaining buffers are very thin, the research and consulting firm notes.And diesel and similar refinery products are used for heating in many countries. "I think we are underestimating just how tight diesel can be this winter," said Sen.The bottom line: "The situation is not going away anytime soon and could very well get more expensive," Mizuho Securities analyst Robert Yawger said in a note."Ukrainian drone production has been increasing exponentially, with Russian energy infrastructure a prime target," he writes."Unless there are big breakthroughs in the peace process around both conflicts, large amounts of diesel will remain shut in."

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Diesel desperation is mounting globally The state of the global diesel market is getting even more precarious as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran crisis squeeze supply from multiple angles.Why it matters: Diesel prices ripple through economies here and abroad, affecting shipping costs, construction and plenty in between.The average U.S. price is up 44 cents over the last month to $5.32 per gallon, compared to $3.71 a year ago, per AAA.However, during the Iran crisis, it hasnt hit the all-time high of $5.82 per gallon that AAA recorded in mid-June of 2022.Driving the news: A new S&P Global Energy analysis unpacks the ingredients behind the "big squeeze" in global refined product markets.S&P estimates that refineries worldwide processed 7.5 million barrels per day less crude last month than the same period in 2025.A separate International Energy Agency analysis out this morning also tracks an extremely steep drop in how much crude that refineries are processing.Data: AAA; Chart: Ben Geman/AxiosState of play: Renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz are further restricting supply after a period of optimism about normalizing flows.Middle East refineries are processing much less as capacity remains "physically impaired, logistically stranded, or operationally unable to restart with confidence," S&P states.Russias restrictions on diesel exports following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have removed another 10 of seaborne supplies from the market, and Chinas refinery activity remains "subdued."By the numbers: Diesel exports from Russia, the Middle East and Asia in July were 1.3 million barrels per day lower year-over-year, "equivalent to about 20 of global seaborne trade," IEAs monthly report this morning states."Diesel is the tightest market right now," Amrita Sen, founder of market intelligence firm Energy Aspects, tells Bloomberg TV. Zoom in: In the U.S., the Energy Departments stats and analysis arm yesterday revised its diesel price estimates upward.The Energy Information Administration sees retail prices averaging $4.85 per gallon in 2026, compared to $4.61 in last months outlook. It also slightly raised its 2027 forecast average to $4.07, up from $4.02. The big picture: In the U.S., fuel accounts for roughly 20-25 of trucking companies operating costs, according to the American Trucking Associations, a major trade group.What were watching: The U.S. has been exporting growing amounts of diesel to the thirsty global market, but S&P points out that U.S. refineries are running at 96 of capacity.With the heart of hurricane season and traditional fall maintenance looming, the markets remaining buffers are very thin, the research and consulting firm notes.And diesel and similar refinery products are used for heating in many countries. "I think we are underestimating just how tight diesel can be this winter," said Sen.The bottom line: "The situation is not going away anytime soon and could very well get more expensive," Mizuho Securities analyst Robert Yawger said in a note."Ukrainian drone production has been increasing exponentially, with Russian energy infrastructure a prime target," he writes."Unless there are big breakthroughs in the peace process around both conflicts, large amounts of diesel will remain shut in."

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Socialist fever breaks: Takeaways from Crowleys win Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated socialist Francesca Hong by about 3,000 votes, dealing a blow to the progressive lefts momentum Tuesday in Wisconsins Democratic primary for governor, after his own polling indicated he was behind by nearly 20 points.Why it matters: Crowleys win could breathe new life into a center-left that had been losing primary after primary in recent months, from last weeks Senate contest in Michigan to House races across the country.Yes, but: The day wasnt a total loss for progressives.In the days other big ideological showdown between Democrats, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive, defeated moderate Rep. Angie Craig in Minnesotas Senate primary by 20 points.Flanagan will face GOP nominee Michele Tafoya, a former NFL TV reporter, in November.Democrats also nominated progressive Matt Little to replace Craig in Congress.Results from other closely watched races Tuesday:In South Carolina, Trump-endorsed Sen. Darline Graham, who replaced her brother Lindsey Graham after his death last month, advanced to an Aug. 25 GOP runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman for a full six-year term.Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar easily won the Democratic primary for governor and will face state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who defeated Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell for the GOP nomination.Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), 78, a 14-term incumbent, lost to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, 47, who called for generational change. Larson is the seventh House Democrat and 10th House member ousted in a primary this year.Zoom in: Wisconsin Democrats now have to unite after the party establishments successful last-minute scramble to stop Francesca Hong, a socialist who captured the support of many young people and activists.Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers endorsed Crowley as a panic broke out among many in the party that Hong could doom their chances in the fall.Some Democratic voters Axios talked to were ticked off at the move. "I mean, is he trying to sabotage us?" former state party official Marga Krumins said of Evers warning that Hong likely couldnt defeat Tiffany. Crowley explicitly campaigned on the idea that Hong was a liability in the general election, telling Axios, "People dont like socialists" and "socialists didnt poll very good."Hongs past social media posts, including calls to "cancel Thanksgiving" and defund the police, dominated her campaigns final week.More takeaways from Wisconsin:Wisconsins November election will be historic. The GOPs nominee, Rep. Tom Tiffany, would be the first person who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential results to become governor of a top swing state if he won. And Crowley would be the first Black governor in Wisconsin history.Tiffany is trying to soften his rough edges, branding himself as a "girl dad" who grew up "milking cows on a Wisconsin dairy farm." Hes campaigning with former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. But now that Crowley has won, Republicans have an opponent they appear to have feared: A GOP group spent millions on ads propping up Hong, suggesting they viewed her as the weaker candidate.Tiffany could help unite Democrats. The way some progressive Democrats see it, they might have wanted Hong, but they cant risk Tiffany being governor in the 2028 presidential race given his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his false claims there had been "hundreds of thousands of illegal votes" in Wisconsin.Hong fell short as her controversial posts surfaced and progressive leaders gave her the cold shoulder. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to endorse her. And as we followed her on the campaign trail, voters clearly had electability on their minds: She was asked at stop after stop about her former comments and how she would defeat Tiffany in the fall.

Diesel desperation is mounting globally The state of the global diesel market is getting even more precarious as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran crisis squeeze supply from multiple angles.Why it matters: Diesel prices ripple through economies here and abroad, affecting shipping costs, construction and plenty in between.The average U.S. price is up 44 cents over the last month to $5.32 per gallon, compared to $3.71 a year ago, per AAA.However, during the Iran crisis, it hasnt hit the all-time high of $5.82 per gallon that AAA recorded in mid-June of 2022.Driving the news: A new S&P Global Energy analysis unpacks the ingredients behind the "big squeeze" in global refined product markets.S&P estimates that refineries worldwide processed 7.5 million barrels per day less crude last month than the same period in 2025.A separate International Energy Agency analysis out this morning also tracks an extremely steep drop in how much crude that refineries are processing.Data: AAA; Chart: Ben Geman/AxiosState of play: Renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz are further restricting supply after a period of optimism about normalizing flows.Middle East refineries are processing much less as capacity remains "physically impaired, logistically stranded, or operationally unable to restart with confidence," S&P states.Russias restrictions on diesel exports following Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have removed another 10 of seaborne supplies from the market, and Chinas refinery activity remains "subdued."By the numbers: Diesel exports from Russia, the Middle East and Asia in July were 1.3 million barrels per day lower year-over-year, "equivalent to about 20 of global seaborne trade," IEAs monthly report this morning states."Diesel is the tightest market right now," Amrita Sen, founder of market intelligence firm Energy Aspects, tells Bloomberg TV. Zoom in: In the U.S., the Energy Departments stats and analysis arm yesterday revised its diesel price estimates upward.The Energy Information Administration sees retail prices averaging $4.85 per gallon in 2026, compared to $4.61 in last months outlook. It also slightly raised its 2027 forecast average to $4.07, up from $4.02. The big picture: In the U.S., fuel accounts for roughly 20-25 of trucking companies operating costs, according to the American Trucking Associations, a major trade group.What were watching: The U.S. has been exporting growing amounts of diesel to the thirsty global market, but S&P points out that U.S. refineries are running at 96 of capacity.With the heart of hurricane season and traditional fall maintenance looming, the markets remaining buffers are very thin, the research and consulting firm notes.And diesel and similar refinery products are used for heating in many countries. "I think we are underestimating just how tight diesel can be this winter," said Sen.The bottom line: "The situation is not going away anytime soon and could very well get more expensive," Mizuho Securities analyst Robert Yawger said in a note."Ukrainian drone production has been increasing exponentially, with Russian energy infrastructure a prime target," he writes."Unless there are big breakthroughs in the peace process around both conflicts, large amounts of diesel will remain shut in."

ICE plans to put electric-shock gloves on officers hands Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to begin using electric shock gloves designed to cause pain and disrupt a persons ability to react.The big picture: The gloves could give ICE officers a new way to use force as their tactics face intense scrutiny after several deaths and violent encounters.Driving the news: ICE plans to spend between $10 and $20 million on the gloves and issue them to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents, per a Department of Homeland Security notice published Monday. The Associated Press was first to report the plan.The CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E, is produced by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, which did not respond to Axios request for comment.The devices user guide says it should not be used against verbal defiance or as a form of punishment. The manufacturer advises against using it on the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with serious disabilities.Friction point: Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, ACLUs deputy director on policing, raised concerns about how immigration agents could use the device."ICE spent the last year showing this country that they are willing to disregard the law and are too quick to use force, with devastating and at times fatal consequences for citizens and noncitizens alike," she said in a statement.She noted officers could use the gloves to deliver shocks covertly, "a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability."The fine print: The gloves are meant to stop detainees or subjects from "performing coordinated muscle movement" by causing pain through direct skin contact.G.L.O.V.E. users must undergo training for certification every two years, according to the manufacturers user manual.A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that officers are "highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training."Worth noting: ICE is also expanding its use of body cameras after the agencys fatal shootings and other use-of-force incidents.Zoom out: In the background, millions of people are living in immigration limbo — colliding with the reality of ramped-up enforcement at airports, application interviews and beyond, Axios Brittany Gibson reports.ICE has been infused with billions from Republican lawmakers as the administration maintains lofty goals to remove unauthorized immigrants from the U.S.Go deeper: Trump deportations cost taxpayers $2,358 each

Socialist fever breaks: Takeaways from Crowleys win Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly defeated socialist Francesca Hong by about 3,000 votes, dealing a blow to the progressive lefts momentum Tuesday in Wisconsins Democratic primary for governor, after his own polling indicated he was behind by nearly 20 points.Why it matters: Crowleys win could breathe new life into a center-left that had been losing primary after primary in recent months, from last weeks Senate contest in Michigan to House races across the country.Yes, but: The day wasnt a total loss for progressives.In the days other big ideological showdown between Democrats, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive, defeated moderate Rep. Angie Craig in Minnesotas Senate primary by 20 points.Flanagan will face GOP nominee Michele Tafoya, a former NFL TV reporter, in November.Democrats also nominated progressive Matt Little to replace Craig in Congress.Results from other closely watched races Tuesday:In South Carolina, Trump-endorsed Sen. Darline Graham, who replaced her brother Lindsey Graham after his death last month, advanced to an Aug. 25 GOP runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman for a full six-year term.Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar easily won the Democratic primary for governor and will face state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who defeated Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell for the GOP nomination.Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), 78, a 14-term incumbent, lost to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, 47, who called for generational change. Larson is the seventh House Democrat and 10th House member ousted in a primary this year.Zoom in: Wisconsin Democrats now have to unite after the party establishments successful last-minute scramble to stop Francesca Hong, a socialist who captured the support of many young people and activists.Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers endorsed Crowley as a panic broke out among many in the party that Hong could doom their chances in the fall.Some Democratic voters Axios talked to were ticked off at the move. "I mean, is he trying to sabotage us?" former state party official Marga Krumins said of Evers warning that Hong likely couldnt defeat Tiffany. Crowley explicitly campaigned on the idea that Hong was a liability in the general election, telling Axios, "People dont like socialists" and "socialists didnt poll very good."Hongs past social media posts, including calls to "cancel Thanksgiving" and defund the police, dominated her campaigns final week.More takeaways from Wisconsin:Wisconsins November election will be historic. The GOPs nominee, Rep. Tom Tiffany, would be the first person who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential results to become governor of a top swing state if he won. And Crowley would be the first Black governor in Wisconsin history.Tiffany is trying to soften his rough edges, branding himself as a "girl dad" who grew up "milking cows on a Wisconsin dairy farm." Hes campaigning with former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. But now that Crowley has won, Republicans have an opponent they appear to have feared: A GOP group spent millions on ads propping up Hong, suggesting they viewed her as the weaker candidate.Tiffany could help unite Democrats. The way some progressive Democrats see it, they might have wanted Hong, but they cant risk Tiffany being governor in the 2028 presidential race given his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his false claims there had been "hundreds of thousands of illegal votes" in Wisconsin.Hong fell short as her controversial posts surfaced and progressive leaders gave her the cold shoulder. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to endorse her. And as we followed her on the campaign trail, voters clearly had electability on their minds: She was asked at stop after stop about her former comments and how she would defeat Tiffany in the fall.