A man looks across the Rio Grande in February, while waiting to show immigration documents to officers at the U.S.-Mexico crossing in Matamoros, Mexico. Photo: John Moore/Getty ImagesA poll and series of focus groups has honed a one-two punch for a doable immigration deal: Give Democratic lawmakers a real path to citizenship for Dreamers, and give Republicans tight border security that's more realistic than a wall. Why it matters: The formula — by Frank Luntz, who rose to fame as a Republican pollster but in recent years has taken a more bipartisan approach to policy — would make real...…A man looks across the Rio Grande in February, while waiting to show immigration documents to officers at the U.S.-Mexico crossing in Matamoros, Mexico. Photo: John Moore/Getty ImagesA poll and series of focus groups has honed a one-two punch for a doable immigration deal: Give Democratic lawmakers a real path to citizenship for Dreamers, and give Republicans tight border security that's more realistic than a wall. Why it matters: The formula — by Frank Luntz, who rose to fame as a Republican pollster but in recent years has taken a more bipartisan approach to policy — would make real...WW…

Photo: "Axios on HBO" Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), America's ultimate swing voter, told me on "Axios on HBO" that he'll insist Republicans have more of a voice on President Biden's next big package than they did on the COVID stimulus.The big picture: Manchin said he'll push for tax hikes to pay for Biden's upcoming infrastructure and climate proposal, and will use his Energy Committee chairmanship to force the GOP to confront climate reality.Why it matters: My conversation yielded the most extensive preview yet of how Manchin — a Democrat from a Trump state, in a 50-50 Senate, who relishes...…Photo: "Axios on HBO" Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), America's ultimate swing voter, told me on "Axios on HBO" that he'll insist Republicans have more of a voice on President Biden's next big package than they did on the COVID stimulus.The big picture: Manchin said he'll push for tax hikes to pay for Biden's upcoming infrastructure and climate proposal, and will use his Energy Committee chairmanship to force the GOP to confront climate reality.Why it matters: My conversation yielded the most extensive preview yet of how Manchin — a Democrat from a Trump state, in a 50-50 Senate, who relishes...WW…

Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty ImagesIn his first post-presidential appearance, Donald Trump plans to send the message next weekend that he is Republicans' "presumptive 2024 nominee" with a vise grip on the party's base, top Trump allies tell Axios.What to watch: A longtime adviser called Trump's speech a "show of force," and said the message will be: "I may not have Twitter or the Oval Office, but I'm still in charge." Payback is his chief obsession. Axios has learned that Trump advisers will meet with him at Mar-a-Lago this week to plan his next political moves, and to set up the...…Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty ImagesIn his first post-presidential appearance, Donald Trump plans to send the message next weekend that he is Republicans' "presumptive 2024 nominee" with a vise grip on the party's base, top Trump allies tell Axios.What to watch: A longtime adviser called Trump's speech a "show of force," and said the message will be: "I may not have Twitter or the Oval Office, but I'm still in charge." Payback is his chief obsession. Axios has learned that Trump advisers will meet with him at Mar-a-Lago this week to plan his next political moves, and to set up the...WW…

Vice President Harris told me in a backstage conversation for "Axios on HBO" that the Trump administration had "no stockpile" of vaccines upon leaving office.The big picture: "There was no national strategy or plan for vaccinations, we were leaving it to the states and local leaders to try and figure it out," Harris told me at the White House after leading a virtual COVID event with African-American mayors. Harris said she constantly pushes her team on the question: "Can we do more? Where is there capacity to do more?"Asked what her signature issue will be, Harris said with laughter:...…Vice President Harris told me in a backstage conversation for "Axios on HBO" that the Trump administration had "no stockpile" of vaccines upon leaving office.The big picture: "There was no national strategy or plan for vaccinations, we were leaving it to the states and local leaders to try and figure it out," Harris told me at the White House after leading a virtual COVID event with African-American mayors. Harris said she constantly pushes her team on the question: "Can we do more? Where is there capacity to do more?"Asked what her signature issue will be, Harris said with laughter:...WW…

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at a press conference in Tampa on Thursday. Photo: Perry Knotts/NFL via ReutersOn the eve of Super Bowl weekend, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell President Biden to tell him that each of the league's 32 teams "will make its stadium available for mass vaccinations of the general public."Driving the news: Goodell wrote in the letter, dated Thursday, that this can be done swiftly "because many of our clubs have offered their facilities previously as COVID testing centers as well as election sites over the past several months."Why it matters: This continues an...…NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at a press conference in Tampa on Thursday. Photo: Perry Knotts/NFL via ReutersOn the eve of Super Bowl weekend, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell President Biden to tell him that each of the league's 32 teams "will make its stadium available for mass vaccinations of the general public."Driving the news: Goodell wrote in the letter, dated Thursday, that this can be done swiftly "because many of our clubs have offered their facilities previously as COVID testing centers as well as election sites over the past several months."Why it matters: This continues an...WW…

Spotted last week on a work van in Evansville, Ind. Photo: Sam Owens/The Evansville Courier & Press via ReutersThe GOP is getting torn apart by a spreading revolt against party leaders for failing to stand up for former President Trump and punish his critics. Why it matters: Republican leaders suffered a nightmarish two months in Washington. Outside the nation’s capital, it's even worse.Much of the party's base — including conservative talk radio, TV and social media — are spoiling to fight for Trump in exile. When I asked Trump adviser Jason Miller about those plans, he issued a...…Spotted last week on a work van in Evansville, Ind. Photo: Sam Owens/The Evansville Courier & Press via ReutersThe GOP is getting torn apart by a spreading revolt against party leaders for failing to stand up for former President Trump and punish his critics. Why it matters: Republican leaders suffered a nightmarish two months in Washington. Outside the nation’s capital, it's even worse.Much of the party's base — including conservative talk radio, TV and social media — are spoiling to fight for Trump in exile. When I asked Trump adviser Jason Miller about those plans, he issued a...WW…

He lied about the election being fixed. He incited an attack that left five dead at the U.S Capitol. He got impeached. Twice. But polling indicates Republicans still have his back — and views — by .Why it matters: Anyone who thinks Trump is a politically dead man walking appears pointedly dead wrong. Just look at the numbers: In an taken Tuesday and yesterday:House and Senate Republicans tell me they strongly believe Trump will remain a force in the party's 2022 and 2024 races — even if he were to be convicted in the forthcoming Senate trial, and barred from holding federal office...…He lied about the election being fixed. He incited an attack that left five dead at the U.S Capitol. He got impeached. Twice. But polling indicates Republicans still have his back — and views — by .Why it matters: Anyone who thinks Trump is a politically dead man walking appears pointedly dead wrong. Just look at the numbers: In an taken Tuesday and yesterday:House and Senate Republicans tell me they strongly believe Trump will remain a force in the party's 2022 and 2024 races — even if he were to be convicted in the forthcoming Senate trial, and barred from holding federal office...WW…

President Trump faces reporters as he walks toward Marine One yesterday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesTop Republicans want to bury President Trump, for good. But they are divided whether to do it with one quick kill via impeachment, or let him slowly fade away. The big picture: Sources tell Axios Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would be more likely than not to vote to convict Trump — a green light for other Republican senators to follow. Republican sentiment turned swiftly against the Trump yesterday, starting with a New York Times that McConnell is "pleased" that Democrats are...…President Trump faces reporters as he walks toward Marine One yesterday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesTop Republicans want to bury President Trump, for good. But they are divided whether to do it with one quick kill via impeachment, or let him slowly fade away. The big picture: Sources tell Axios Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would be more likely than not to vote to convict Trump — a green light for other Republican senators to follow. Republican sentiment turned swiftly against the Trump yesterday, starting with a New York Times that McConnell is "pleased" that Democrats are...WW…

National Guard member stage on the U.S. Capitol grounds. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesIn an escalation of inauguration security following the Capitol riot, federal authorities plan to lock down a massive swath of downtown Washington on Wednesday, six days earlier than originally planned.Why it matters: The earlier shutdown is based on warnings about pre-inauguration demonstrations planned for this weekend in capitals throughout the country, as well as tighter security after the Capitol siege. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the change was in...…National Guard member stage on the U.S. Capitol grounds. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesIn an escalation of inauguration security following the Capitol riot, federal authorities plan to lock down a massive swath of downtown Washington on Wednesday, six days earlier than originally planned.Why it matters: The earlier shutdown is based on warnings about pre-inauguration demonstrations planned for this weekend in capitals throughout the country, as well as tighter security after the Capitol siege. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the change was in...WW…

Former President Trump — in a taped interview with Jonathan Karl of ABC News that was shared with Axios — defended, quite extensively, supporters who threatened to "hang" former Vice President Mike Pence.Why it matters: Well, it is unprecedented for a former president to openly say it was OK to threaten the life of his vice president.Zoom out: This is a slice of a 90-minute interview — conducted at Mar-a-Lago on March 18 — for Karl's book, "," out on Tuesday. Go deeper: We will let the Q&A tell the story.Jonathan Karl: "Were you worried about him during that siege? Were you worried...…Former President Trump — in a taped interview with Jonathan Karl of ABC News that was shared with Axios — defended, quite extensively, supporters who threatened to "hang" former Vice President Mike Pence.Why it matters: Well, it is unprecedented for a former president to openly say it was OK to threaten the life of his vice president.Zoom out: This is a slice of a 90-minute interview — conducted at Mar-a-Lago on March 18 — for Karl's book, "," out on Tuesday. Go deeper: We will let the Q&A tell the story.Jonathan Karl: "Were you worried about him during that siege? Were you worried...WW…