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Calls for classified document reform mount after repeated discoveries

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President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Schiff, Swalwell and Omar condemn GOP bid to remove them from committees

House of Representatives

U.S. reacts to video of Tyre Nichols' fatal beating by Memphis police

Memphis

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Trump criticizes “disloyal” DeSantis’ COVID record

Donald Trump

Lonely layoffs in the work-from-anywhere world

Remote work

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Big-name Dems face McCarthy’s firebrands on oversight

House Democrats

Kids' mental health is parents'  top concern

Mental health

The U.S. faces a range of health care flashpoints — unaffordable drugs, opioids, vaping — as we debate whether to adopt universal care. For now, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but Republicans want to issue it a final death blow.

Health

New Zealand's largest city flooded by record rainfall, with more on the way

New Zealand

A look at the scientific breakthroughs changing the world, explorations in space and in worlds beyond our own and the threats posed to us by our own planet, both out of our control and of our own making.

Science

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Energy & Environment

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) criticized Republicans' bids to boot him and Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from their committee assignments while supporting far-right members in their own conference, telling CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday that "the hypocrisy just grabs you by the throat."

Driving the news: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) formally removed Schiff and Swalwell from their seats on the House Intelligence Committee last week, the latest in an ongoing tit-for-tat battle with Democrats over committee assignments.

McCarthy had vowed to remove the lawmakers over Swalwell's association with a Chinese spy and Schiff's promotion of the Steele dossier.

The move was a reprisal for the decision by Democrats and some Republicans in 2021 to remove Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) from their committees.

McCarthy previously vowed to remove Omar from her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee over comments she has made about Israel that colleagues in both parties labeled anti-Semitic. The move is opposed by a group of House Republicans.

State of play: Schiff, joined by Omar and Swalwell on the program, said that the Republican effort to remove them from their committees was "all pretext."

"If you look at the leader of the Republican party, Donald Trump, he is dining with white nationalists and anti-semites. The people that Kevin Mccarthy just put on committees, like Marjorie Taylor Greene and others, are speaking at white nationalist rallies," Schiff said.

According to Schiff, McCarthy's moves had nothing to do with the conduct of Democratic members but rather were emblematic of his reliance on extreme party members, given the GOP's slim majority.

"How can you, on the one hand, suggest that these are some kind of legitimate basis for unseating Democrats from committees, and put someone like George Santos on any committee? The hypocrisy just grabs you by the throat," Schiff said. 

Omar called out a number of Republicans for their past Islamophobic remarks during the program, noting that, "these people are okay with Islamophobia, they're okay with trafficking in their own ways, in anti-semitism." 

Swalwell said McCarthy was committing "political abuse" because he perceived the three of them as effective political opponents.

"The hypocrisy just grabs you by the throat."

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"When I hear he might run, I consider that very disloyal."

Donald Trump addresses the crowd during a 2024 election campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina, on January 28. Photo:  Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images

Finish Line

Axios Finish Line

The recent wave of layoffs in the tech industry and beyond is exposing a harsh reality of the remote and hybrid working world.

Virtual layoffs add a layer of loneliness and stress distinct from in-person job cuts.

Driving the news: Some 58,000 tech workers have already been laid off this month, per Crunchbase News. And around 140,000 were let go in 2022.

Thousands of those workers are getting laid off in their home offices or living rooms — immediately losing access to email, Slack and their community of colleagues, The New York Times' Emma Goldberg writes.

The experience is especially jarring for younger workers, many of whom joined their jobs remotely.

Madeline Whitney, a 2022 college graduate, was working from home when she was laid off from Yext, a mid-size tech company, this week. She joined a morning call that popped up on her calendar, and after a five-minute conversation, her job was gone. Within 15 minutes, her email was cut off.

"The hardest thing was that we didn't get to say goodbye," she says.

Her colleague Anna Karl, another new graduate, was laid off the same day. "When you're dealing with the hybrid environment, you don't have people there for you to talk about it or ask for recommendations for new jobs," she says. "There are so many people I loved working with that I'll probably never see again."

The big picture: Another anxiety for laid off remote workers is finding their next job.

41% of office workers are confident in their ability to find a new job in a month if they’re let go, compared with 24% of remote workers, per a recent CNBC/Momentive Workforce Survey.

And remote workers who are let go may not be able to keep that flexibility and continue working from home. Per LinkedIn data, demand for remote jobs is outpacing supply, with two applications for every remote position.

What to watch: As remote firings become a part of our new reality, managers will have to figure out how to handle these conversations.

“No fire announcements should be made by e-mail or messenger, and certainly not during group calls,” Pavel Podkorytov, founder of San Francisco-based HR platform TalentService, told Axios' Javier David.

The bottom line: Layoffs spotlight one of the toughest parts of remote work — how isolating it can be, David notes. Some conversations are just better in person.

Layoffs expose a harsh reality of the remote world.

Illustration of a stack of pink slips with a pointing finger cursor holding them up

Jobs

Democrats are gearing up for a fight, with senior members acknowledging that countering Republican firebrands was a factor in deciding who to appoint the House Oversight Committee. 

Why it matters: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the panel, told Axios he wanted to assemble a team equipped to “refute and debunk any nonsense that comes down the pipe,” adding, “I would gladly put them up against everyone who’s come from the other side.”

Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), a member of Democrats’ steering committee, told Axios: “We expect [Republicans on Oversight] to be pretty belligerent and we need some pugnacious members who are ready for that.”

The details: Democrats tapped some of the highest profiles in their freshman class in addition to Democratic stars already seated on the committee, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — anticipating heated hearings.

The list includes Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), who has grabbed headlines as the first Gen. Z member of Congress, and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), the lead counsel for Democrats during the first impeachment of former President Trump.

They join progressive personalities such as Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Raskin, a former impeachment manager and Jan. 6 committee member.

Ocasio-Cortez lauded the new members as “amazing stars” and said together they form a “rockstar team.” Bush said they are “dynamic freshmen … [who] aren't afraid to speak directly to an issue.”

What we're watching: This committee is set to be a hub of controversial investigations into the Biden administration— described by its chair as “probably the most exciting committee” in congressional history.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. I think I’m going to have a lot of fun on this committee,” said Ocasio-Cortez, who gave up a seat on the Financial Services Committee to stay on Oversight.

The other side: The Republican roster is a who’s who of Freedom Caucus members and McCarthy rebels, including...

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), who were stripped of committee assignments last year.

Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Scott Perry (R-Pa.) — all of whom initially voted against McCarthy during the speaker elections.

What they’re saying: The new members signaled a clear-eyed understanding about their role for the next two years. “It’s football, right,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.). “When the offense comes on the field, you put on the defense to match.”

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) told Axios, “Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar … I’m fired up to take them on directly.”

“There are going to be a lot of debates and it’s going to be very politically charged, very intense,” said Frost, “But I ran on being a fighter. So I’m ready for it.”

What’s next: The committee is already readying for its first hearings, with one on the “waste of taxpayer dollars” in COVID relief programs scheduled for Wednesday.

The committee is also investigating the Biden administration’s border policies and Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

I think I’m going to have a lot of fun on this committee,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Photo illustration of Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Kevin McCarthy, and Marjorie Taylor Greene with lines and squares behind them

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: David Dee Delgado, Drew Angerer, and Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Data: Reproduced from Pew Research Center ; Chart: Axios Visuals

Kids' mental health is now parents' biggest concern, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center.

The big picture: Gone are the days of parents sitting up worrying about their kids getting into fights, or trouble with drugs and alcohol. Social media and the pandemic have ushered in a new dimension to parents' already challenging jobs.

By the numbers: 40% of parents said they are extremely or very worried that their kids will struggle with anxiety or depression. 

35% felt the same about their kids being bullied.

Concerns over their kid getting shot were further down the list at 22%. 

What they're saying: Layla Sarquis, affiliate faculty at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, said kids were already struggling with the way social media has changed our interactions. 

Pandemic lockdowns, which cut many kids off from a lot of their normal socialization, exacerbated some of those pressures.

"I think it was a situation that was building momentum," she said.

Social media and the pandemic have made things harder.

A specialized law enforcement unit in the Memphis Police Department has been permanently disbanded after gaining renewed scrutiny in the fallout of Tyre Nichols' death.

The big picture: All five officers charged in the fatal beating of Nichols were part of the Scorpion unit, which is charged with combating violent crime. Civil rights leaders say the deadly assault escalates the need to reexamine these types of forces across the country.

Details: Scorpion — which stands for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods — was a 40-person team created in the fall of 2021 as Memphis reported record-high homicides, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis told the Washington Post this week.

Its officers operated in areas that are considered crime hot spots and primarily dealt with illegal gun possession, carjacking and homicides. They often drove unmarked police cars as they patrolled neighborhoods, typically in 10-man teams.

Since the unit was formed, it arrested over 2,000 violent felons, leading to a decrease in homicides and violent crimes in the city, per Davis, who maintained that the team has been effective. 

Davis and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland have both touted the unit's success, but the department said in a statement Saturday that after discussions with Scorpion members, Nichols' family and community leaders, "it is in the best interest of all" to permanently deactivate the unit. 

Davis and Strickland did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Driving the news: Five Scorpion members — all of whom have been fired from the department — face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression over Nichols' death.

Davis had ordered a review of the unit, which was suspended after the beating, but Nichols' family called for the department to disband it entirely.

An initial statement from the Memphis Police Department said that the officers pulled Nichols over for "reckless driving" on Jan. 7. Davis has since told CNN that her office was not able to substantiate the claim.

Graphic police bodycam and neighborhood security camera footage released Friday shows multiple officers kicking, punching and striking Nichols with a baton as he screams for help and pleads for them to stop. The assault lasted at least three minutes. 

State of play: Scorpion is not the only specialized policing unit that has faced backlash for its officers' conduct.

In 2017, eight detectives in Baltimore's Gun Trace Task Force were convicted of robbery, extortion and racketeering on duty.

A similar unit in Chicago, known as the Special Operations Section, was disbanded after several officers faced charges in 2004 for committing robberies and home invasions.

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represent Nichols' family, say they have also received other reports of Scorpion officers' use of excessive force on Black men.

What they're saying: "'Pro-active policing' or 'saturation unit policing,' whether the officers are in unmarked cars wearing tactical vests or 'jump-out boys' in plain clothes and undercover, is defined by several common and dangerous components," Crump and Romanucci said in an open letter published by ABC News' Memphis affiliate.

The letter cites "wolf pack" misconduct and traffic stops without probable cause, many of which disproportionately target Black people and other communities of color. 

Though some "saturation patrols" can be effective when there's a "clear and controlled mandate" — like DUI checks — too often, "rampant and unchecked patrols taking on other crimes without oversight and transparency are where things go off the rails and officers can act with impunity," Crump and Romanucci wrote.

"These often aggressive encounters flat out destruct trust between police and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve, but as we saw in the tragic and unnecessary death of Tyre Nichols, can also lead to physical injury or death when the culture of unchecked, pro-active policing overtakes common sense."

What to watch: Crump and Romanucci are urging the Department of Justice and the Major Cities Chiefs Association, an organization of police executives in the U.S. and Canada, to open probes into cities that use similar tactics.

They're also advocating for the analysis to include data on injuries and deaths related to these kinds of patrols, as well as a compilation of complaints from impacted locals.

The federal government has already launched an investigation to determine whether the five officers violated Nichols' civil rights during the assault.

Why Memphis' specialized police unit is under fire after Tyre Nichols' death

Civil rights leaders say the deadly assault escalates the need to reexamine these types of forces across the country.

Photo of people holding signs at a Memphis city council meeting, with one marked "Charge the cops" and the other "MPD Kills"

Activists hold signs to protest Tyre Nichols' death during a Memphis City Council meeting in Memphis, Tennessee on Jan. 24, 2023. Photo: Brandon Dill for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Officer-involved shootings

Black Lives Matter movement

The Memphis Police Department has permanently disbanded the special unit Scorpion in the wake of murder charges brought against five of its members in connection to Tyre Nichols' death.

The big picture: The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the city released police bodycam and security surveillance footage that showed multiple officers kicking, punching and striking Nichols with a baton as he screamed for help and pleaded for them to stop.

Scorpion, which stands for The Scorpion for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods, was first formed in 2021 in a bid to crack down on violent crime in Memphis but has faced controversy over its tactics and police officers' conduct.

Its members primarily deal with illegal gun possession, carjacking and homicides but often drove unmarked police cars as they patrol neighborhoods, typically in 10-man teams.

The police department faced increasing calls, led by Nichols' family, to dissolve the unit after his death — those calls have only escalated since graphic footage of the beating was released Friday night.

Details: Scorpion members met with Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis on Saturday to discuss the unit's future, according to a statement from Memphis Police.

"In the process of listening intently to the family of Tyre Nichols, community leaders, and the uninvolved officers who have done quality work in their assignments, it is in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate the SCORPION Unit," the statement reads.

"While the heinous actions of a few casts a cloud of dishonor on the title SCORPION," Memphis Police and officers assigned to the unit "agree unreservedly with this next step."

Worth noting: The unit was suspended after Nichols' beating, which spurred Davis to order an independent review of the force.

Several civil rights leaders, including attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Nichols' family, have said Nichols' death should prompt a nationwide reckoning with the use of special unit operations.

An open letter penned by Crump and fellow attorney Antonio Romanucci this week also pointed to the ways in which special units enable "wolf pack" misconduct and how these units cause "cause terror in minority communities."

What to watch: Crump and Romanucci have urged the Department of Justice and the Major Cities Chiefs Association, an organization of police executives in the U.S. and Canada, to open probes into cities that use similar tactics.

Memphis Police disband Scorpion unit after Tyre Nichols footage release

The five officers charged in connection to Nichols' fatal beating were all part of the Scorpion unit.

RowVaughn Wells speaks through a bullhorn during a vigil for her son Tyre Nichols at Tobey Skatepark in Memphis, Tennesssee on Jan. 26, 2023. Photo: Brandon Dill for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Police

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday said he's angrier and more committed than ever as he kicked off his 2024 presidential bid in New Hampshire,  per AP.

Driving the news: "We’re starting. We’re starting right here as a candidate for president," Trump said while delivering the keynote address for the state Republican Party's annual meeting in Salem, New Hampshire Saturday morning.

He announced that outgoing New Hampshire GOP Chairman Stephen Stepanek will oversee his campaign in the state, per The Hill.

Trump was headed to South Carolina next, where he was expected to introduce his leadership team in the state.

What he's saying: "I’m more angry now and I’m more committed now than I ever was," Trump said while making his debut on the 2024 campaign trail.

In his speech, Trump talked about his campaign agenda, including his plans to eliminate federal funding for schools that "push" critical race theory or "left-wing gender ideology."

Trump also discussed the military, saying, "We have a great military, but we have some fools on top." He also said he "rebuilt our entire military" during his time as president.

Zoom in: The former president criticized Democrats' effort to move the election calendar to make South Carolina the first state to vote instead of New Hampshire.

“From the very beginning, I’ve strongly defended New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary status,” Trump said in the state. "I’ve been your defender, and I’ve refused to let any Republican … even think about taking that cherished status away."

He accused President Biden of "cruelly and disgracefully trashing this beloved political tradition," suggesting his endorsement of the change was "a revenge on the voters" motivated by Biden's 5th place finish in 2020's New Hampshire Democratic primary.

The big picture: New Hampshire and South Carolina are pivotal in the early primaries and hold immense power in picking the GOP and Democratic presidential nominees.

Meanwhile, Trump, who is currently the only declared 2024 presidential candidate for either party, is trailing behind expected Republican opponent Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire by a 12-point margin, per a new poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire.

Go deeper: DeSantis calls for "new blood" at RNC

Trump "more angry," "more committed" as he kicks off 2024 campaign

"I’m more angry now and I’m more committed now than I ever was," Trump during his debut on the campaign trail.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the New Hampshire Republican State Committee's Annual Meeting on Jan. 28 in Salem. Photo: Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a controversial bill Saturday that would ban gender-affirming health care and hormone therapy for transgender children. 

The big picture: The move follows similar legislation enacted in other GOP-led states amid a larger wave of anti-trans bills, many of which target youth.

Details: SB16, introduced by state Sen. Michael Kennedy (R-Alpine), a family physician, would prohibit sex reassignment surgeries and puberty blockers for transgender minors.

The bill is more restrictive than the one Kennedy first introduced on the Senate floor last week. The initial bill included a moratorium on puberty blockers.

On Friday, Kennedy said there was a high likelihood the bill would face a legal challenge.

"I'm afraid that I'm going to be working on this for the rest of my political life," he said on the Senate floor before it passed.

Meanwhile, the state Legislature is also taking up other bills targeting the rights of transgender youth, such as a bill that would prohibit minors from changing the sex on their birth certificates. 

What they're saying: "While not a perfect bill, we are grateful for Sen. Kennedy’s more nuanced and thoughtful approach to this terribly divisive issue," Cox said in a statement after signing the bill.

"More and more experts, states and countries around the world are pausing these permanent and life-altering treatments for new patients until more and better research can help determine the long-term consequences."

"We will continue to push the Legislature for additional resources to organizations that work to help this important Utah community," he added.

Yes, but: Reputable medical associations, like the American Medical Association, have warned of the negative mental health impacts such restrictions would have on transgender youth, who are more likely to face an increased risk for suicide. 

A January 2022 survey by the Trevor Project found that over two-thirds of LGBTQ youth said recent debates over state laws that target trans people have hurt their mental health.

"We see you and we love your beautiful children," Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake City) said when explaining her no vote and fighting back tears. 

In a letter released Friday, ACLU of Utah executive director Brittney Nystrom said the bill is "riddled with numerous constitutional issues," and called on Cox to veto it.

Worth noting: The bill comes nearly a year after the state Legislature passed a law banning transgender girls from competing in school sports teams that match their gender identity.

That law is on pause as it is challenged in the Utah Supreme Court.

The big picture: The start of 2023's state legislative sessions has seen lawmakers introduce more than two dozen bills targeting transgender health care.

The Department of Justice has warned that blocking access to treatments could violate "federal constitutional and statutory provisions that protect transgender youth against discrimination."

The DOJ later sued Alabama over its ban, which criminalized certain types of gender-affirming care for trans youth.

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Utah becomes first state in 2023 to ban gender-affirming care for youth

The law would prohibit sex reassignment surgeries and puberty blockers for transgender minors.

Illustration of 5 syringes in the colors of the trans flag.

Transgender rights

The city of Memphis on Friday released footage ​showing police officers ​fatally beating Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man​ who died days after he was pulled over during a traffic stop​.

City of Memphis releases footage of police fatally beating Tyre Nichols

Memphis has braced for the footage after warnings it shows officers beating Nichols.

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Memphis Police disband Scorpion unit after Tyre Nichols footage release

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Utah becomes first state in 2023 to ban gender-affirming care for youth

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