Ro Khanna

Former President Biden's cancer diagnosis prompted an outpouring of support from across the political spectrum on Sunday, including from President Trump and former Vice President Harris.The big picture: After Biden's representatives announced he was diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer on Friday, both Democrats and Republicans took to social media to pay tribute.What they're saying:Trump said on Truth Social, "Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."Harris wrote on Bluesky that she and her husband, former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, were saddened to learn of Biden's diagnoses. The 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate said they're keeping him, former first lady Jill Biden and their family "in our hearts and prayers," adding: "Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery."Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said on X that as a cancer survivor, she knows how difficult this news can be and wished him a full and speedy recovery. "I send my love and support to President Biden and his family. He's a ferocious fighter, and I know he'll handle this battle with strength and dignity," she said.Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X that she's "sorry to see this news," adding: "Cancer is truly awful. My Dad passed away in 2021 with cancer. Prays for Joe Biden and his family."Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said on X he's praying for Biden "to defeat the cancer he's recently been diagnosed with," adding: "He and Jill have always been fighters and I am confident they will meet this challenge with grit and grace."Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) expressed her sadness on X at Biden's cancer diagnosis and said she's "wishing him and his family well as he begins treatment."California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrote on X, "Our hearts are with President Biden and his entire family right now. A man of dignity, strength, and compassion like his deserves to live a long and beautiful life. Sending strength, healing and prayers his way."Flashback: Lesion removed from Biden's chest was cancerous, doctor saysEditor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Some Democrats on Sunday expressed a collective responsibility for the party's 2024 election loss amid concerns about former President Biden's mental fitness.The big picture: Audio obtained by Axios from Biden's October 2023 interviews with special counsel Robert Hur, coupled with new reports that suggested lapses in the former president's memory, have become fodder as Democrats chart their course forward.Hur asserted last year that a jury would likely perceive Biden as a "sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," a characterization the then-president's legal counsel described as using "highly prejudicial language."Today, many Democrats agree Biden should not have pursued a second term.Driving the news: "I think we all bear responsibility," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on NBC News' "Meet the Press" Sunday. He added, "In retrospect, you can't defend what the Democratic Party did because we are stuck with a madman, with a corrupt president in the Oval Office, and we should have given ourselves a better chance to win."Murphy reflected on his time working with the president throughout 2022 on bipartisan gun reform legislation and in 2023 on Middle East developments. At the time, he said, he saw "a president who was in control."But by 2024, Murphy said, the "American public had made up their mind ... that they wanted the Democratic Party to nominate somebody new, and it was absolutely a mistake for the party to not listen to those voters."Zoom out: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) struck a similar tone in a Sunday interview on ABC News' "This Week," saying, "The Democratic Party needs to be honest."Khanna continued, "In light of what has come out, it is painfully obvious President Biden should not have run." He said his party "played too much deference to party leaders, to the old guard, to the advisers" and needed to be "more independent."But the California Democrat also emphasized that Biden has led a "remarkable life" and still has "a lot to be proud of in his record," citing the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act and the nation's COVID-19 recovery.However, he added, "That doesn't mean, though, that he made the right decision to seek a second term."Yes, but: Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who was seen as a critical Biden ally during the 2020 campaign, said on CNN's "State of the Union" that he "never saw anything" that made him think "that Joe Biden was not able to do the job."He did say that Biden's panic-inducing performance in last year's debate against Trump made him concerned, but he also pointed to Biden's "taxing" schedule and preparation ahead of the showdown.Flashback: Biden dropped out of the 2024 race in July, handing the baton to then-Vice President Kamala Harris for a sprint to November. That decision, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said Sunday, was "very difficult.""It's hard to convince somebody to give up their car keys," Kaine said on "Fox News Sunday." "Joe Biden made the decision to give up the office of the presidency, the most powerful office in the world."But he contended his constituents are asking him about "economic chaos," President Trump's tariffs and protecting Medicaid — not to "rethink" what Biden did in 2024.The bottom line: As Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said on CBS News' "Face the Nation," "hindsight is 20/20."Go deeper: Scoop: Democrats' oldest lawmakers are mostly running again

'Donald Trump is all hat and no cattle'

Starting in September, freshmen at Palo Alto high schools will no longer have the option of more rigorous honors biology classes — a move to promote equity that is really an assault on meritocracy.

Here is a very early look at the Democratic Party politicians considered to be potential 2028 presidential contenders in the next race for the White House.

The company’s manufactured robots ‘are not just tools—they are potential surveillance devices backed by the Chinese Communist Party,’ Rep. John Moolenaar says.

Missed the second half of the show? The latest on...Democratic Sen. John Fetterman tells "Face the Nation" that although he knows his state will be "very competitive" in the 2024 election, "Joe Biden beat Trump in Pennsylvania and he's going to do that again", Rep. Ro Khanna, Democrat of California, tells "Face the Nation" that as some campus protesters have engaged in violence or antisemitism, "it is diminishing the thousands of young people who simply want the war to end", and Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan tells "Face the Nation" that the Arab world sees the U.S. as an "enabler" of Israel. "People view the U.S. as being a party to this war," she said.

A group of House Republicans is pushing their leaders to eliminate the Biden administration's clean energy tax credits in reconciliation.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday she is considering a bid to succeed Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.Why it matters: The 35-year-old progressive superstar is seen as a likely frontrunner should she vie for the role, even as several others on the panel say they are also running for it.Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Va.), the 70-year-old who will serve as "interim" ranking member until Connolly formally steps down, plans to run for the role permanently.So does Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), 44, who like Ocasio-Cortez has a large social media platform and is considered a progressive star.What they're saying: "It's something that I'm weighing," Ocasio-Cortez said of a bid for ranking member.Alluding to her loss to Connolly for the role last year, she told reporters that "as we know, we've seen this movie before and the party has its views known on seniority.""I respect that that's the position of the caucus, so that's something to be part of a larger conversation," she added.Between the lines: Some of House Democrats' more veteran members are throwing their support behind Lynch ahead of a potential contest between him and a younger member.Lynch is the third most senior member on the panel, after Connolly and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) — who is also not ruling out a bid.Many younger members, including Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), age 46; Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), 48; Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), 47; and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), 28, are eyeing the role, particularly if Ocasio-Cortez opts out.Zoom out: Ocasio-Cortez faces extra hurdles after stepping off of Oversight to take a role on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.That means she would have to receive a waiver from House Democrats' Steering and Policy Committee to be allowed to run for the role.Still, lawmakers have told Axios they think Ocasio-Cortez has an even stronger chance of winning than she did against Connolly last year.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) is eyeing a run to be the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The 87-year-old is the second most senior member of the panel, though her age would undoubtedly be a significant obstacle.The current ranking member, 75-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), said Monday he is stepping aside "soon" amid his battle with cancer.The decision has spawned an inter-generational proxy battle among House Democrats over the leadership of the investigative panel.Driving the news: Holmes Norton told Axios in a brief interview at the Capitol on Wednesday that she is fine with Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) serving as the "interim" ranking member but isn't ruling out a run to succeed Connolly."I may," she said when asked if she will throw her hat in the ring when Connolly formally steps down, though she added that she hasn't "given it much thought."Asked in a followup interview to clarify that she is considering running for the role, Holmes Norton confirmed that she is but declined to offer further insight into her thinking.The non-voting delegate from Washington, D.C. previously sought to lead Democrats on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2022 but withdrew in favor of Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.).State of play: Lynch, 70, has said he plans to run for ranking member with Connolly's endorsement, arguing that experience should be prized over factors like youth, outside popularity and social media savvy.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), 35, is considering another run for the role after losing out to Connolly last November.Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), 44, is expected to run. She and Ocasio-Cortez are both progressive stars with large social media platforms.Several other younger progressives are also considering runs, including Reps. Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), age 46; Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), 48; Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), 47; and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), 28, as well as Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), 76.Between the lines: Some lawmakers chalked Holmes Norton's interest up to a widely shared ambition among Democrats on the panel."So many people on that committee are thinking about seeking that," one House Democrat told Axios. "I've heard it from a lot of people."

A congressional bill would require all states to report 90% of ballots 72 hours after the election and certify all results within two weeks of Election Day.

Ambitious Democrats are increasingly jumping into a universe of podcasts and internet shows they once shunned: right-leaning ones geared toward men.Why it matters: President Trump won the majority of male voters last November — and made huge gains among those under 30, a group Joe Biden had won in 2020. Now Democrats are scrambling to counter Trump's version of masculine appeal.Trump made a point of going on popular shows that are part of the "manosphere" — including those hosted by Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Lex Fridman and Andrew Schulz.Driving the news: Since November, several potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates have appeared on those shows, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Rep. Ro Khanna of California.Buttigieg, sporting a new beard, joined the "FLAGRANT" podcast and its right-leaning comedian hosts for more than two hours. (Trump appeared on it last fall). Earlier this month, Shapiro joined "The Men At Work Podcast," which describes itself as asking "thoughtful, dumb guy questions." Shapiro also has been making the rounds to talk about football and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.In January, Khanna was on the PBD podcast, which is hosted by right-wing commentator Patrick Bet-David and has a mix of politics and sports. Trump went on the podcast last fall.Between the lines: As these podcasts boomed, prominent Democrats shied away because of the hosts' controversial, sometimes offensive, comments that could upset the base of the party.Buttigieg acknowledged that dynamic to the hosts of "FLAGRANT," telling them that, sometimes unfairly, there's a "contagion of cancel culture" associated with sitting down with some hosts."To me, it's worth some risk in order to reach everybody," he said.Buttigieg later wrote in a note on Substack that "one thing that is clear from the last election is that my side of the aisle must examine not only what we have to say, but how and where we say it."Zoom in: Schulz, one of the "FLAGRANT" co-hosts, has stirred controversy in the past with his jokes about race. Earlier this year, he said that "with Black people, if a white person isn't like a little racist around you, then you shouldn't trust them ... They got to be a little racist ... You got to let a little out."The liberal group Media Matters wrote last year that Bet-David's podcast was "a platform for far-right figures to promote conspiracy theories and bigotry."Since Trump's victory, however, Democrats — for now, at least — aren't getting as much backlash for appearing on such shows — a marked change from how many Democrats reacted during Trump's first term.During the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, Democrats bashed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for appearing on Rogan's show and touting Rogan saying he probably was going to vote for Sanders.Biden and Democratic groups such as MoveOn and the Human Rights Campaign criticized Sanders, given that Rogan had said a transgender woman fighter shouldn't be allowed to fight against women."Let's be clear: Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time," Biden tweeted. "There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights."Other Democrats also criticized Sanders because Rogan had said the n-word on his show. Rogan would apologize for that in 2022.Last year, some members of Kamala Harris' campaign were queasy about her appearing on Rogan's show. She ultimately didn't. Trump appeared on the show and Rogan later endorsed him, a move that some Democrats believe was important to Trump's victory.Sanders has defended his early venture to Rogan's show and has continued to go on similar podcasts.Last year, he appeared on "This Past Weekend with Theo Von" and the "Lex Fridman Podcast" — shows that Trump also went on during the 2024 campaign.

We don’t know what the political real estate market will look like in 2026, but Democrats now occupy a remote, unfamiliar province and are trying to map and navigate this alien territory.

A new national poll shows that confidence in Democratic Party leaders in Congress has hit an all-time low. This as the party's favorable ratings have sunk to historic lows in other surveys

The “Fighting Oligarchy” tour is drawing capacity crowds in Utah and Idaho.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., unleashed an early 2028 attack on Vice President JD Vance at Yale on Tuesday, attempting to frame him as a threat to the Constitution.

Silicon Valley’s congressman says a class of ‘economic royalists’ is lining up behind the vice president.

If Donald Trump gets tired of Musk, he can always send DOGE to a farm upstate.

DNC's Grand Island town hall will feature Rep. Ro Khanna of California’s 17th Congressional District as a special guest.

As the spate of violent attacks and vandalisms against Tesla owners and workers continues, some Democrats continue to invest in the company despite their party villainizing Elon Musk.

House Democrats are ramping up their aggressive strategy of conducting town halls in Republican-held districts, vying to exploit the GOP’s advised moratorium on the events to make inroads with frustrated voters, pick up battleground seats, and flip control of the House in next year’s midterms. A number of Democrats who ventured this month into GOP [...]

The country is better off when politicians have principles beyond obtaining and wielding power.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to condemn the violence against Tesla when confronted on Capitol Hill.

It’s when rhetoric and protest become violent, threatening or destructive that we enter a completely different realm.

Fox News Digital asked 13 Democrats who sponsored legislation to combat domestic terrorism if they agreed the government should target the people vandalizing Tesla. None of the lawmakers responded.

Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., conducts a news conference with members of the Congressional Black Caucus during House Democrats' retreat at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va., on March 13.

The Democrat-on-Democrat criticism of the Senate minority leader came from across the party’s ideological wings.

Will it make a difference?

House Republicans have crafted a bill that appeals to Republicans, and they expect Democrats to help them support it.

Several Democrats echoed a leave-it-to-localities stance Sunday when asked their take on transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports.The big picture: Sports participation has become a major flashpoint in the Trump administration's restrictions on the transgender community — one on which some Democrats, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), appear to be tilting right. In a conversation with right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk on Newsom's podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom," the California governor contended that trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports was "deeply unfair."But Senate Democrats voted unanimously Monday to block a GOP bill that would have banned trans athletes from women's sports in schools.Arguing that trans sports participation should be a state- or local-level decision is an emerging Democratic strategy to counter Republican attacks on their support for trans rights, Axios' Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols report.Driving the news: Several Democrats, presented with Newsom's comments, said Sunday that rules of sports participation should be determined by local communities and leagues rather than by the federal government. "We want to make sure that these decisions are made by the communities ... by the schools and others that are the ones closest," Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said on CNN's "State of the Union," adding, "We're talking about a handful ... of athletes around the country." Kim disputed the GOP's attempts to characterize transgender athletes participating in women's and girls' sports as an issue of safety, saying, "It's not about safety and security; it's about politics."Zoom out: Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said that her state has a process by which transgender girls can obtain waivers to participate on girls' sports teams.That's only happened twice, she said."So let the local communities, just like everything with school, handle that issue," she said on NBC News' "Meet the Press." She added that "this issue is being sort of brought up in order to make sparks and see sparks fly.""I want all young people to have the experience of playing in sports," Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on ABC's "This Week." "And I want those sports to be fair."He said he's confident that local schools and communities "can make those decisions without the federal government making them for them."Yes, but: Most Democrats stopped short of directly criticizing Newsom or raising an issue with his argument. However, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said he was "perplexed" by Newsom's stance, noting a decade-old California law that allows trans kids to participate in sex-segregated school activities, like sports, based on their gender identity."I believe that that law has worked in California, and I don't think there should be a federal ban, and we should have the state athletic associations ... set the standard so that you balance inclusion with fairness and safety," Khanna said.LGBTQ+ rights and other advocacy groups were quick to strike back against Newsom's comments, with Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson writing in a statement, "When LGBTQ+ lives are under attack, real leaders don't hedge — they fight."Newsom is not the first Democrat to spark concerns from the LGBTQ+ community over his stance on trans athletes' sports participation — during the 2024 campaign cycle, some Dems earned rebuke from advocates over their weak defense of the community on the topic.Catch up quick: Trump signed an executive order last month denying federal funds for schools that allow trans women or girls to compete in athletics based on their gender identity.The NCAA revised its participation policy shortly after to limit competition in women's sports to athletes assigned female at birth only.Trump's order on trans athletes was just one of several sweeping anti-trans actions the administration has taken since Jan. 20 — many of which were promises central to Trump's 2024 campaign. Those actions — such as orders defining "two sexes," threatening funding for youth gender-affirming care and moving to remove trans service members from the military — have sent shockwaves through an already vulnerable community.Go deeper: "See you in court," Maine governor tells Trump after transgender athlete threats

Republicans on Wednesday pressed the mayors of Denver, Boston, Chicago and New York about their "sanctuary policies," arguing that local rules precluding cooperation with federal immigration agents have effectively set the conditions that allow crimes against American citizens, while Democrats...

'The Democrats can come back'

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says she's working to restore confidence among city residents after she arrived late to the Palisades Fire response.

US national security will benefit from a competitive and innovative tech environment.

Vice President JD Vance said Friday that he would support the rehiring of a DOGE staff member who resigned after it was found that he had previously made racist remarks online.

Another controversial nominee, Russell Vought to head up the Office of Management and Budget, was confirmed last night on a party-line vote.

Billionaire Elon Musk, one of President Donald Trump's most powerful advisers, has orchestrated an unprecedented financial incentive for people to leave their government jobs, promising several months of pay in return for their resignation.

'we end up feeling like damn fools'

Also: Financial chaos | Critical electrification | Jan. 6 evidence | Cashing in | Gaza truce. Mercury News reader letters to the editor for Jan. 22, 2025.

Joe Biden could be the first to write a letter to someone who is both his successor and the predecessor who left a note for him

Friday's hearing will be her first chance to lay out a vision for the sprawling department that will be central to Donald Trump's plans for cracking down on illegal immigration