An October shooting by federal immigration officers in New York City has led to a head-turning show of unity from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Why it matters: This unlikely collaboration between leaders of Democrats' competing establishment and progressive wings shows how opposing Trump-era immigration enforcement has become an area of party consensus.
Democrats "are definitely unified across the spectrum re ICE," Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the chair of the Queens Democratic Party and a close ally of Jeffries, told Axios.
He added that "the Mayor has also reached out ... to me in regards to local issues and I believe Leader Jeffries is also indicating he wants to work with the NY Congressional delegation."
Driving the news: Mamdani led a letter dated Oct. 16 with over 100 other Democratic elected officials in New York City, including every Democratic member of the city's congressional delegation, to parking lot and garage owners.
"In solidarity with immigrant New Yorkers and in our shared commitment to the City we love, we ask that you do not rent, lend, or otherwise make your property available to ICE as a staging area for its enforcement operations," the letter reads.
The officials argued that the shooting of 28-year-old Oscar Belgal in New York's Marble Hill neighborhood in early October was "not an isolated case," pointing to past instances in Queens and Manhattan.
"Owners who refuse to take part in these federal civil immigration enforcement operations advance public safety by protecting their own staff and customers, as well as fellow New Yorkers beyond their lots and garages."
Between the lines: Jeffries and Mamdani have walked a careful line as two of the most prominent national figures within their respective Democratic Party factions.
Jeffries rankled the left, including some members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, by waiting until 11 days before last year's election to endorse Mamdani for mayor.
Yes, but: The two have also had other notable moments of accord, such as when Mamdani opposed City Councilmember Chi Ossé's ultimately aborted plan to try to primary Jeffries from the left.
Zoom out: The letter's signers also include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who accused then-candidate Mamdani last year of making "references to global jihad," for which she later apologized.
Goldman and Espaillat, who were ultimately unseated by their Mamdani-backed challengers, signed on as well.
So did retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who was burned by Mamdani endorsing Claire Valdez over her chosen successor, according to the New York Times.
What we're hearing: "It's significant to see Mayor Mamdani lead a letter like this that includes both U.S. Senators and the full NYC Democratic House delegation (including the two he opposed in this spring's primaries)," a prominent Mamdani ally said in a text message to Axios.
The person added: "It reflects both how universally hated ICE is by Democrats — and how much work the mayor has done to build bridges."
The Mamdani ally spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer candid analysis of the delicate relationship between the mayor and the party establishment.
The bottom line: Others argued that Democratic unity around opposing ICE was the overriding factor.
One Democratic elected official from New York told Axios: "The fact that everyone signed on has more to do with the power of the issue than the power of the Mayor."
A person in Jeffries' orbit similarly argued that immigration is simply "a unifying issue for Dems," but acknowledged that Mamdani "is consistently reaching out to the delegation to build ties and smooth things since the elections, which is smart."
Iran-backed militias in the region have been sending money back to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to relieve the economic pressure it's under after nine months of war, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Friday.
Why it matters: While the U.S. military has been preparing for a possible resumption of major combat operations against Iran, the Trump administration continues to put immense pressure on the regime with its naval blockade and severe sanctions.
U.S. officials say the economic chokehold is causing serious difficulties for Iran and its security forces, while making the regime frustrated and aggressive.
The White House hopes the pressure will induce Iran to make a deal that includes nuclear concessions. But so far, that hasn't happened.
Driving the news: Cooper said the naval blockade has cost Iran $25 billion in lost oil revenue.
Additionally, CENTCOM and the Treasury Department have managed in recent weeks to freeze $350 million that Iran had in cryptocurrency.
Behind the scenes: In a video message released Friday, Cooper revealed that Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and Shia militias in Iraq — which have been funded by the IRGC for years — now have to give the money back.
"The financial strain on Iran's military has become so significant that there are reports about Iran-aligned militia groups across the region withholding payments for their soldiers in order to funnel money back to the IRGC, which also isn't paying its troops," he said.
Cooper said the Iranian government is withholding salaries, pensions and benefits from public sector workers, including the internal security forces and the IRGC.
State of play: Cooper attributed the significant increase in Iranian attacks against ships in the Strait of Hormuz to "desperation" within the IRGC.
Despite those attacks, he said that the Strait of Hormuz is still open — with 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil moving through it over the last week.
Yes, but: In recent weeks, CENTCOM has almost completely stopped conducting strikes against Iranian anti-ship missiles and attack drone launchers in the area of the strait.
The pause in strikes, which was ordered by the White House to avoid escalating the war ahead of the midterm elections, made Iran more confident about launching attacks, a U.S. official said.
Consequently, CENTCOM is concerned that the increase in ship attacks will cause shipping companies to think twice about transiting the strait — resulting in less oil coming out and a spike in oil prices.
U.S. officials say Iran is also attacking more ships to try to raise oil prices and ratchet up pressure on Trump ahead of the midterms.
What to watch: The White House and Qatari mediators are still waiting to hear back from Iran about a U.S. counterproposal to end the war. "It's still in internal deliberations in Tehran," a U.S. official said.
Regional mediators told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in recent days that Iran shouldn't wait until after the midterms to give its response, a regional source with direct knowledge said.
The regional mediators told Iran there's no guarantee that Trump will be more conciliatory after the midterms — on the contrary, he might be more aggressive.
Have some sympathy for Capitol Hill's leaders next year, no matter who wins in November.
😩 Why it matters: The next Congress promises a thousand different ways to be miserable. And three of the big four leaders are expected to receive a two-year contract extension, with guaranteed long nights, bad days and short tempers.
The fate of the fourth — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — rests on the outcome of the election.
🤕 The best (and worst) news for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is that the job as party leader is likely his if he wants it, even if Republicans lose the majority.
Like his first two years as leader, Thune's next two will be marked by constant second-guessing, or worse, from a president who commands his party, crushes his opponents and questions Thune's courage.
Between the lines: Four of Thune's confidants — DHS Secretary (and former senator) Markwayne Mullin and Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) — have left or are leaving the building.
A fresh class of House conservatives will arrive in the Senate. They're likely to want to move fast and break things.
The intrigue: Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has not announced a third attempt to lead his party, but plenty of Republicans on the Hill suspect he will. Scott notably backtracked on his support for Thune in September.
But Thune doesn't have to worry about his number two. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) — who would be the top contender if Thune stepped down — has doubled down on his support.
⚠️ Thune's relationship with Speaker Johnson has been rocky throughout the year. If Republicans lose the House majority, Thune could find himself coordinating and strategizing with a new House leader.
Most of Johnson's colleagues don't expect him to stay if the House flips. However, in the campaign's final weeks, Johnson has been playing Hamlet, publicly entertaining his next moves.
With or without Johnson on stage, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) are widely viewed as top contenders.
😎 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer(D-N.Y.) appears secure in his job as Democratic leader. His longevity in the role — or the Senate — is not.
He's up for reelection in 2028 and could face a primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Many Democrats expect him to retire.
One possible result: YOLO Chuck, a 76-year-old majority leader with an angry base and ambitious colleagues, but nothing to lose.
🤬 One urgent task for Schumer is to get on the same page as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), whose progressive members have some strong feelings about Schumer and the Senate.
Jeffries and Schumer took dramatically different approaches to funding the government in March 2025. These differences would be harder to manage in the majority, especially if Jeffries struggles to maintain discipline within his ranks.
However, Jeffries — like Schumer and Thune — doesn't appear to have any formidable challengers for party leader.
Jeffries could face many of the same headaches Johnson did — a wing of his party that ran on anti-establishment principles and whose votes cannot be counted on.
What we're watching: Trump and Schumer have a complicated relationship. But the president has indicated he sees Jeffries as someone he could work with.
Eagles RB Saquon Barkley has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers with a hamstring injury, but it appears WR DeVonta Smith will return.
Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper was removed from the commissioner's exempt list Friday, meaning he is available to play Week 7. Cooper, who was arrested twice in a seven-day span in June on domestic violence charges, has been on the list since Aug. 30.
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