137 stories credited to Axios
Latest story Sep 23, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for Axios
Political lean
137 stories · 95% range 49–50 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Originality
137 stories · updated Sep 24, 2026
Writing quality 86 of 100: the average rating of 137 stories, each rated on its own (separate from credibility). How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 25, 2026.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to Axios, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from Axios
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
18 older stories are dated before October 2024.
Show as a table
| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | 0 | 4 |
| November 2024 | 1 | 15 |
| December 2024 | 0 | 5 |
| January 2025 | 1 | 11 |
| February 2025 | 2 | 9 |
| March 2025 | 2 | 7 |
| April 2025 | 3 | 13 |
| May 2025 | 5 | 14 |
| June 2025 | 5 | 13 |
| July 2025 | 2 | 11 |
| August 2025 | 2 | 9 |
| September 2025 | 1 | 52 |
| October 2025 | 2 | 50 |
| November 2025 | 6 | 79 |
| December 2025 | 2 | 27 |
| January 2026 | 5 | 87 |
| February 2026 | 4 | 180 |
| March 2026 | 16 | 1,094 |
| April 2026 | 25 | 4,538 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 35 | 1,320 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Ethics/Corruption86
63% of 137 stories · 58% across all outlets
- Budget/Spending66
48% of 137 stories · 31% across all outlets
- Defense/Military37
27% of 137 stories · 25% across all outlets
- Voting Rights28
20% of 137 stories · 19% across all outlets
- Foreign Policy26
19% of 137 stories · 29% across all outlets
- Economy24
18% of 137 stories · 26% across all outlets
- Criminal Justice23
17% of 137 stories · 19% across all outlets
- Immigration19
14% of 137 stories · 13% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 117 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 253 story–official pairs, from 137 stories.
- Republican50% · 126 pairs
- Democrat43% · 109 pairs
- Party not recorded7% · 17 pairs
- Independent<1% · 1 pair
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 137 stories.
- 1Mike JohnsonR24 stories · 18%
- 2John ThuneR15 stories · 11%
- 3Charles SchumerD13 stories · 9%
- 4Donald TrumpR13 stories · 9%
- 5Hakeem JeffriesD11 stories · 8%
- 6Joe BidenD5 stories · 4%
- 7Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickD5 stories · 4%
- 8Al GreenD4 stories · 3%
- 9Jared GoldenD4 stories · 3%
- 10Josh HawleyR4 stories · 3%
+ 107 other officials (155 story–official pairs)
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not Axios’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 137 stories.
- Good Look
- 21 (15%)
- Mixed
- 91 (66%)
- Informational
- 8 (6%)
- Bad Look
- 17 (12%)
Related sources
Lean 95% range 48.9–49.4 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 49–50 · updated Sep 24, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 46–52 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 48–51 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 48–51 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 46–53 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 2 shared topics
Challenges to these scores
No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from axios.com
258
Exclusive: Thune plans another leader bid as Senate GOP fights to survive
Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to run for another term as GOP leader, even if Republicans lose the chamber's majority, he told Axios in an exclusive interview Wednesday in his Capitol office. Why it matters: Thune (R-S.D.) is giving his senators broad leeway and tons of cash to preserve GOP control of the Senate. "I do see the Senate as a firewall in a lot of ways," Thune told Axios. "We will spend probably the next two years — if the House flips — trying to do impeachment or investigations, etc.," he said. Otherwise, the chamber will focus on judicial and executive nominations. Zoom out: Thune has three ways to help in the "tough environment" for Republicans in 2026. 🪧 1. Run against Washington: Thune said he understands if GOP candidates need to rhetorically distance themselves from Congress or even fellow Republicans in D.C., including himself. And when it comes to distancing from President Trump: "In some places the president's coming in, some places he isn't." Candidates can draw their own conclusions, Thune said. Republican candidates are increasingly concluding that to win their races, they need to break with Trump on some issues. 🗳️ 2. Vote for your state: Thune's policy with senators is "don't surprise us and when you can, stay with the team," but "do what's in the best interest of you and your state." That could lead to a rebuke of Trump when Democrats force another vote on an Iran war powers resolution, expected before the Senate breaks for October. People's views have "evolved and changed" as the war has dragged on, he said. Many senators are "responding to what they're hearing back home." "That's a really hard vote," Thune acknowledged. "Any time you are committing your country to putting young men and women in harm's way — those are the hardest votes you'll make." He hopes Republicans will stick together to win the vote. What to watch: Thune wants to give Republicans more votes before the break to champion back home. He sees an
Dems grapple with how to pace the AI race
The left's push to rein in AI is taking shape on two fronts: slowing advanced development at home, and weakening China's progress abroad. Why it matters: The nation is locked in a moment of mass anxiety about runaway AI, but the range of views on how to regulate it are as varied as the what-ifs about social, economic and security impacts. There's agreement among the left something has to be done, but a series of Wednesday events demonstrated there are multiple priorities — but not a clear leading voice — on AI. Driving the news: Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and fellow progressive Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) introduced legislation Wednesday to ban superintelligence and pause advanced development until a new, Cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence sets guardrails. "I understand that I may be called an alarmist for introducing this bill," Sanders said in a Wednesday call with reporters, "but I'd rather be called an alarmist than a father and grandfather who is asleep at the wheel." Casar emphasized that "we cannot wait for an international agreement to pause dangerous development in the United States. China trains their models off of American models, so stopping dangerous AI development in America will slow down dangerous advancements in China." Zoom out: Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) took up another regulatory approach Wednesday, focused on restricting foreign AI capabilities. "President Trump must draw a hard line. Do not weaken America's export controls. Do not give China greater access to the advanced chips and chip-making equipment it needs to close the gap," Schumer said in a plea to move forward on related bipartisan legislation. Schumer argued that calls to pause AI research and the focus on winning the AI race "are not at all contradictory." Casar said the goal of his and Sanders' legislation is to "stop the race towards disaster." Sanders has been forceful
Dems grapple with how to pace the AI race
The left's push to rein in AI is taking shape on two fronts: slowing advanced development at home, and weakening China's progress abroad. Why it matters: The nation is locked in a moment of mass anxiety about runaway AI, but the range of views on how to regulate it are as varied as the what-ifs about social, economic and security impacts. There's agreement among the left something has to be done, but a series of Wednesday events demonstrated there are multiple priorities — but not a clear leading voice — on AI. Driving the news: Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and fellow progressive Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) introduced legislation Wednesday to ban superintelligence and pause advanced development until a new, Cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence sets guardrails. "I understand that I may be called an alarmist for introducing this bill," Sanders said in a Wednesday call with reporters, "but I'd rather be called an alarmist than a father and grandfather who is asleep at the wheel." Casar emphasized that "we cannot wait for an international agreement to pause dangerous development in the United States. China trains their models off of American models, so stopping dangerous AI development in America will slow down dangerous advancements in China." Zoom out: Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) took up another regulatory approach Wednesday, focused on restricting foreign AI capabilities. "President Trump must draw a hard line. Do not weaken America's export controls. Do not give China greater access to the advanced chips and chip-making equipment it needs to close the gap," Schumer said in a plea to move forward on related bipartisan legislation. Schumer argued that calls to pause AI research and the focus on winning the AI race "are not at all contradictory." Casar said the goal of his and Sanders' legislation is to "stop the race towards disaster." Sanders has been forceful
Democrats prod progressives to spend for El-Sayed
Why it matters: The Democratic establishment's main super PAC is pouring an additional $10 million into the race to back El-Sayed, even as the Democratic nominee has declined to say whether he would support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) as leader next year. * The latest investment b
"People are pissed off": House Dems sneer as one of their own backs a Republican
Rep. Jared Golden's decision to endorse one of House Republicans' most vulnerable incumbents is going down like a lead balloon among his fellow House Democrats. Why it matters: The anger won't have much impact on Golden (D-Maine), who is retiring, but it could blow back on his closest ally, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.). "People are pissed off," a House Democrat speaking on the condition of anonymity to share details of private discussions told Axios, adding, "He is doing Gluesenkamp Perez no favors ... this will hurt her." The Washington Democrat, who often breaks from party leadership and moves as a unit with Golden, "is going to have to figure out how she navigates around the suspicion this will create for her next Congress," this lawmaker said. "He is leaving," said a senior House Democrat. "Marie is a bigger problem." The other side: "I'm back home, grinding to bring back the gavels," Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement to Axios. "I really don't have energy to worry about the hurt feelings of anonymous colleagues." Driving the news: Golden wrote an op-ed in a local newspaper in Rep. Mike Lawler's New York district endorsing the Republican for reelection. Golden cited his work with Lawler on several pieces of legislation, most notably their bill to exempt lobstermen from certain federal environmental regulations. "Mike Lawler has been a true partner to me and a friend to fishing families he will never represent," Golden wrote. "I strongly back him, and I hope voters send him back to work." Between the lines: The endorsement comes after Golden and Gluesenkamp Perez, who previously co-chaired the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, repeatedly broke with party leadership on key procedural votes in recent weeks. Twice this month, the two Democrats provided Republican leadership with the votes needed to advance their legislation to the floor, including bills strongly opposed by Democratic leaders. The repeated defections have sparked enormous anger wi
Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley battle for NC's open Senate seat
Why it matters: Currently held by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, this seat could be crucial to determining whether Republicans maintain control of the Senate or the chamber flips to Democrats. State of play: The showdown is between former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper from Raleigh and Michael Whatley, t
Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley battle for NC's open Senate seat
Why it matters: Currently held by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, this seat could be crucial to determining whether Republicans maintain control of the Senate or the chamber flips to Democrats. State of play: The showdown is between former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper from Raleigh and Michael Whatley, t
Exclusive: How Sen. Schatz is talking about climate in an affordability crisis
Americans are "connecting the dots" between climate and affordability strain, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said Monday at an Axios House event on the sidelines of Climate Week and the UN General Assembly. Why it matters: But as pocketbook issues dominate a critical midterm race, Schatz says that doesn't mean the first thing he mentions to constituents is climate. Still, climate-tangent conversations — like utility prices and the data center boom — are looming over the polls. Driving the news: "I think we should talk about climate in the context of people not being able to afford their lives," Schatz told Axios' Ben Geman, pointing to insurance non-renewals, soaring gas prices and rising utility bills. "It's not that difficult anymore for us to be able to say, look, one of the reasons things are getting more expensive is we're not addressing the climate crisis," he said, criticizing the federal government's renewables roadblocks. "The climate imperatives used to have to be balanced against people's pocketbooks, and now they are perfectly lined up," he added. "We do not have to make trade-offs. They are deciding to make the planet worse and make your pocketbook situation worse." Catch up quick: Schatz has been a leading congressional voice on climate issues, representing a heavily petroleum-dependent U.S. state with high energy prices that's at particular risk from the impacts of climate change. The state has taken on an ambitious clean energy initiative that aims for 100% renewable energy by 2035 on the neighbor islands, including Maui and Hawaiʻi. Friction point: The sweeping GOP budget bill signed into law by President Trump last year phased out wind, solar, and electric vehicle subsidies that the prior administration championed as tools to bolster clean tech. It's one front in Trump's broader rollback of Biden-era climate policies, including moves to kill regulations and a slowdown in permitting of renewables projects. In particular, administration offici
Trahan's unlikely path to AI power
Why it matters: It's a role she built through committee work, connections and a bipartisan partnership, even though she's not a member of Congress' official AI task force. The intrigue: Trahan's path to the AI debate runs through old-school Congressional groundwork, not technical expertise. * Afte
The House left town, but Hegseth impeachment, Epstein and a funding fight are waiting
House Speaker Mike Johnson has sent lawmakers home until after the midterms, but when they return, they'll quickly face a showdown over impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a renewed Epstein files fight and a looming government funding deadline. Why it matters: None of these issues will be easy to resolve and could create a headache for the Trump administration in a lame-duck session after Election Day. Driving the news: Johnson's early seven-week recess sidestepped internal warfare but guaranteed a chaotic stretch of headline-generating fights when lawmakers return. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced a resolution Tuesday to impeach Hegseth, allowing him to force the House to act on it when lawmakers return. Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) also say they now have enough lawmakers committed to signing a petition to force another vote on files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And government funding expires Dec. 11, giving lawmakers only about a month after they return to resolve another funding fight before the holidays. Between the lines: The midterms will determine who controls the next Congress. While Republicans remain in charge regardless of election results until Jan. 3, a Democratic-controlled House would end unified Republican control of Washington and gain control of the House agenda. The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. What they're saying: A spokesperson for Johnson referred Axios to his Wednesday comments defending the schedule change so members could "go home to their districts and make their case to the American people." Johnson called the idea the House adjourned to avoid a Hegseth impeachment vote "ridiculous" and dismissed Massie's resolution as a "publicity stunt by someone who wants attention." Hegseth, Johnson said, has "done an extraordinary job." Yes, but: If Republicans keep the House and Senate, the GOP will be expected to follow through on President Trump's promis
Khanna, Massie say they can force another Epstein vote
Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced Thursday they've secured commitments for the 218 signatures needed to force another vote the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The big picture: Answers about the disgraced financier and his web of wealthy connections have continued to haunt the administration, with Attorney General Todd Blanche now facing the threat of contempt proceedings over the Epstein files. This is the bipartisan duo's second push in less than a year after they forced their first Epstein transparency bill through Congress, which the president signed after initially opposing the effort. Driving the news: "Thomas Massie and I have defied history for a second time," Khanna said in a video posted to social media late Thursday afternoon. His post read that the pair had secured commitments for 218 votes on their discharge petition, including from three Republicans: Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). Two Democrats were sick, he added, but will sign the day the House returns. Massie also posted that he and his partner across the aisle would have enough names once lawmakers are back from a lengthy recess. Friction point: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) dumped fuel on the fire blazing between him and Massie by again sending the House home early this week, Axios' Kate Santaliz reports. The more than six-week recess will also delay Massie's effort to force a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Johnson's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. What's inside: Massie and Khanna introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act II in July to strengthen enforcement of last year's law. It would allow state attorneys general, local prosecutors and victims to sue the U.S. attorney general over alleged unlawful withholdings, redactions or failure to produce records. The bill would also require the attorney general provide certain unred
Khanna, Massie say they can force another Epstein vote
Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced Thursday they've secured commitments for the 218 signatures needed to force another vote the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The big picture: Answers about the disgraced financier and his web of wealthy connections have continued to haunt the administration, with Attorney General Todd Blanche now facing the threat of contempt proceedings over the Epstein files. This is the bipartisan duo's second push in less than a year after they forced their first Epstein transparency bill through Congress, which the president signed after initially opposing the effort. Driving the news: "Thomas Massie and I have defied history for a second time," Khanna said in a video posted to social media late Thursday afternoon. His post read that the pair had secured commitments for 218 votes on their discharge petition, including from three Republicans: Reps. Ralph Norman (R-S.C), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). Two Democrats were sick, he added, but will sign the day the House returns. Massie also posted that he and his partner across the aisle would have enough names once lawmakers are back from a lengthy recess. Friction point: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) dumped fuel on the fire blazing between him and Massie by again sending the House home early this week, Axios' Kate Santaliz reports. The more than six-week recess will also delay Massie's effort to force a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Johnson's office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. What's inside: Massie and Khanna introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act II in July to strengthen enforcement of last year's law. It would allow state attorneys general, local prosecutors and victims to sue the U.S. attorney general over alleged unlawful withholdings, redactions or failure to produce records. The bill would also require the attorney general provide certain unred
Exclusive: Scalise puts GOP high-water mark at 225 House seats
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is staring at a scary political environment for Republicans and claiming to see something very different: a path to 225 seats. Why it matters: Republican leaders insist they can retain the majority, but only if they drive their voters to the polls by manufacturing the kind of voter enthusiasm Democrats are generating organically. "If we make it a contrast election, we win," Scalise told Axios in an interview Thursday. "We could get to 225. It would be a good night for us if we did, but it's possible," he said. "235 is not," he said. "You're literally doing coin tosses in a couple of seats." Between the lines: Asked if he saw any signs of a blue wave forming or the map expanding, Scalise said: "Not right now. No." Reality check: Republicans know that history — and many of the indicators heading into November — is working against them. "I know what history says, you know, but history's not on the ballot," Scalise said. Still, Democrats are turning out in primaries — and special elections — as if they're getting free gas cards for showing up. Democrats lead by nearly nine percentage points on the generic ballot. President Trump's approval rating is below 40%, according to the RealClearPolitics average. And Trump is underwater by a whopping 61 percentage points on inflation in a recent poll, an apparent record. Zoom in: Republicans are examining the map with a jeweler's loupe and insist the picture isn't as bleak in the pivotal battleground seats. "We're not looking at national polls; we go district by district," Scalise said. That means trench warfare in 35 seats, where Republicans say they have proven winners, plenty of money and new rules to spend it. "We've got 20 [seats] on our side that we're fighting to hold on to that are real competitive, and 15 [seats] that we have a real chance to flip," he said. "These are knock-down, drag-out fights." What we're hearing: The White House has long thought of the midt
Judge steps in as Kennedy Center demolition fears grow
Trump officials must give 30 days' written notice before making any changes to the Kennedy Center "including but not limited to any 'demolition'" of the main building, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Why it matters: The ruling reinforces an earlier injunction blocking the Kennedy Center from closing for its planned renovation, after President Trump and administration officials raised the possibility of demolishing the building. The ruling allows the center to continue to make "emergency repairs" rather than halt them entirely. Driving the news: District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled Thursday that the defendants must file a "detailed status report, supported by a sworn declaration from a knowledgeable representative of the Kennedy Center, on the 'temporary closure' and emergency repairs described" in the Kennedy Center board's most recent court filing, per a minute order published Thursday. Representatives for the White House and Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Catch up quick: Trump said on social media Tuesday that the center was going to be closed. Shortly after, an announcement played over the center's loudspeakers telling attendees that it was closed. Legal counsel for the institution initially said someone had improperly triggered a fire alarm, causing the loudspeaker announcement. But when the plaintiff's staff attempted to enter Wednesday during regular operating hours, security denied them entry and said the building was closed for interior construction and safety reasons. The staff member said she later saw workers using forklifts to bring in additional construction-style gates and watched a forklift carrying permanent fencing repeatedly strike the building's structural pillars. Context: Trump was recently pictured looking at a markup reading, "Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED." He told reporters on Wednesday that the Kennedy Center had been bleeding money before he "got involved." "For the Trump administration,
Fear and loathing in Trump's Miami backyard over immigration crackdown
Staring into the camera, Rep. Maria Salazar cut a new campaign ad that told President Trump what so many of her fellow Hispanic Republicans in Miami are saying: Immigration crackdown has gone too far. Why it matters: The anger at Trump over heavy-handed immigration enforcement is palpable in Miami-Dade County, and there's mounting political worry among Republicans across the state that it could cost the GOP in the midterm elections. Zoom in: A bellwether, Miami-Dade is Florida's most-populous county, which Trump flipped to the Republican column in 2020 and 2024 thanks to strong Latino support, especially among Cuban Americans. "Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far," Salazar says in her ad. "The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today." Trump carried her district by 15 points two years ago. Today, she's tied in polls with newscaster Eliot Rodriguez, a fellow Cuban American, who criticized her for voting to approve Trump's immigration crackdown in the first place. A Trump adviser told Axios: "I'm getting the Trumpiest Cubans sending me videos from Miami of guys getting busted at places like the gas station, for no apparent reason." By the numbers: In Miami-Dade, 62% of the county's 1.3 million registered voters are Hispanic. They account for 76% of the registered Republicans. 63% of Hispanic voters said they supported "deporting illegal immigrants" while 34% were opposed to them, according to a poll conducted last month by a GOP pollster and shared with Axios But those numbers switched when it came to how deportations were being carried out: Just 29% were in favor; 58% were opposed. "The support is just evaporating. The economy sucks and ICE is just out of control," said the pollster, who's from Miami. "People feel they didn't sign up for this." Yes, but: Trump ran on a platform of mass deportations. He promised to target undocumented criminals, but the president's critics warn
Hasan Piker on "The Axios Show": America worse than al-Qaeda "pound for pound"
LOS ANGELES — Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker tells Axios he believes America conducts more terrorism in the world than al-Qaeda, the terror network that carried out the 9/11 attacks. "Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes," Piker said in an exclusive interview for a new episode of "The Axios Show." Piker added: "We have caused tremendous terror all around the world." Why it matters: Piker is one of the most popular streamers on Twitch, and his history of incendiary statements has become central to Republicans' attacks in the critical Senate race in Michigan since Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed had Piker campaign for him in the primary. Driving the news: Piker's comments to Axios came in response to a question about his previous statement that "America is the top dog in terrorism." Piker pointed to the deaths of more than 100 people at an elementary school in Minab, Iran, earlier this year. The AP found evidence that at least one U.S. missile struck the school. "If you're killing 140 schoolgirls, that is an act of terror," he said. "This doesn't mean that all Americans are terrorists, but the reality of the matter is we have to create an environment of accountability to ensure things like that never happen again." The Trump administration has not yet released findings from a Pentagon investigation, and an exact death toll is not known. The big picture: Republican-affiliated groups already have spent nearly $3 million in ads attacking El-Sayed over his affiliation with Piker, according to the tracking firm AdImpact. Most of the ads feature a clip of Piker in 2019 saying that "America deserved 9/11." He apologized for the remark and has since argued that the terror attacks were part of "blowback" from U.S. involvement in the Middle East in previous decades. "This doesn't justify the action, mind you," he told Axios. "This is more so analysis to stop further violence from taking place, both violence in the region, but also violence in the home