Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public rebuke on Wednesday of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who blasted Trump-appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh as the court weighs its first major abortion case.
What's happening: The Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday over a Louisiana law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, as it considers a case that could revive abortion restrictions.
One day after Super Tuesday, people close to President Trump said they aren't yet convinced Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee — but that if he is, they're preparing to start hitting him again with attacks over his son Hunter's paid work and his dealings with Ukraine.
Why it matters: Top Democrats told Axios in the fall that they worried the controversy over Ukraine would drag Biden down, and polling showed his favorability and national and state leads declining as impeachment and questions about his son wore on.
Voters shouldn’t have to stand in line for hours, but during last night’s Democratic primaries in Texas and California, that nightmare played out in earnest.
Why it matters: Long wait times put a special hardship on low-income voters who are less likely to have flexible work hours, around-the-clock transportation and child care.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the highest-ranking black member of Congress, told The Daily Beast Wednesday that Sen. Bernie Sanders did not make specific efforts to court his endorsement for the 2020 presidential race.
Why it matters: Clyburn's endorsement of Biden ahead of the South Carolina primary has been viewed as a major factor in reviving the former vice president's struggling campaign, propelling him to sweeping victories in South Carolina and across the South on Super Tuesday.
Many of America's cities are gaining population, but the number of school-aged children is dwindling as families opt for the suburbs.
Why it matters: A growing body of research shows the strong link between the environment where kids grow up and their ability to thrive as adults. Yet the gap between the haves and have-nots is becoming more pronounced in city centers, driving middle-class families out.
Communities are starting to prioritize pre-kindergarten programs to boost children's school performance — as well as to provide quality childcare for parents who need to work.
Why it matters: "This is more than just an educational issue. It's a public health issue, an economic and workforce development issue, and a child poverty issue," said Olivia Allen, project manager at the Children's Funding Project.
Flashback: In November, the outlet said it would "extend its policy of not investigating" Bloomberg, its owner, "to all Democrats running for president in 2020."
Polls have closed in every Super Tuesday state, with Joe Biden pulling off upsets in states like Massachusetts and Minnesota, and Bernie Sanders projected to win the delegate-rich state of California.
The big picture: There were 1,338 delegates at stake on Tuesday night — and a candidate needs 1,991 to reach an outright majority.
Parents are pressuring their communities for better preparedness, resources and action plans to keep their children safe in schools.
Why it matters: Deadly school shootings in the U.S. have been on the rise, garnering national attention on what schools could be doing better to help students emotionally and physically.
Mike Bloomberg spent around $600 million on his presidential campaign, but didn't win a single state. Dan digs into his historic loss with Axios' Mike Allen, including what it means for the future of big money in politics.
Michael Bloomberg, who spent hundreds of millions of dollars to self-fund his 2020 presidential run, announced Wednesday that he is suspending his campaign after a poor performance on Super Tuesday and will endorse Joe Biden.
What he's saying: "I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden," Bloomberg said in a statement.
As part of our What Matters 2020 series on the critical trends that will outlive this moment, Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen discuss the rise of China and how it's reordering the world.
President Trump called out former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a Wednesday tweet as he heads to a runoff election to reclaim his Alabama Senate seat after Super Tuesday's primary.
"This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt. Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office, and the Mueller Scam begins!"
Super Tuesday made Joe Biden the 77-year-old Comeback Kid, clipping Bernie Sanders' wings and transforming the Democratic primary into a two-man race.
Why it matters: Biden's campaign was broke and all but dead until he won South Carolina on Saturday. The revival that unfolded across 14 states last night was built not only on strong support from African Americans but also a consolidation of white, establishment Democrats around the former vice president.
Never in American history has a presidential candidate spent more to get less than Mike Bloomberg, making his buy-a-nomination bid a big bust.
Why it matters: Bloomberg spent $600 million to win as many states as every American who chose not to run: zero. (He has American Samoa to show for it.)
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions highlighted his history with and loyalty to President Trump in a speech Tuesday night after he was forced into a runoff in his bid to regain his former Alabama Senate seat.
The big picture: Sessions submitted his resignation at Trump's request in November 2018 after their relationship soured during the Mueller investigation. Sessions must overcome Republican rival Tommy Tuberville in the March 31 runoff if he's to challenge Sen. Doug Jones (D) in the election. "Anyone can say they are for the Trump agenda, but talk is cheap," he said in his speech. "I have fought on the great issues of our day, and I have won."
Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Virginia Democratic primary with 99 delegates at stake, according to multiple media projections.
Why it matters: Polling throughout February showed a close race between Sen. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, but Biden saw a late surge after moderates Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar dropped out and endorsed him on Monday.
As Joe Biden spoke in Los Angeles on Super Tuesday night, anti-dairy protestors yelling "let dairy die" rushed the stage before being pulled away by Biden staffers.
Between the lines: Unlike former presidents, former vice presidents don't get long-term Secret Service protection.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is projected to win the California Democratic primary, the crown jewel of Super Tuesday with 415 delegates at stake, according to AP.
The big picture: Sanders was heavily favored to win California, despite losing in the 2016 primary to Hillary Clinton by about 7 points. Super Tuesday was largely dominated up until the California results by Joe Biden, who won sweeping victories across the South.
Joe Biden is projected to win the Massachusetts Democratic primary with 91 delegates at stake, according to AP.
Why it matters: It's a big win for Biden and a huge blow to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is in danger of falling to third behind Sen. Bernie Sanders in her home state.
Conservative lawyer George Conway, who's married to White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, revealed in a tweet Tuesday night that he donated $2,800 to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's campaign.
Why it matters: While it may not be surprising that vocal Trump critic Conway has backed Biden, the amount of money he has donated and disclosed publicly is significant. It's also an example of how Biden appeals to "never-Trump" conservatives.
Joe Biden is projected to win the Arkansas Democratic primary with 31 delegates at stake, according to the AP.
The big picture: It's Biden's 6th victory of the night in a southern state, with only Texas remaining. Biden received a boost the day before voting opened on Tuesday after Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg relinquished their White House bids and endorsed the former vice president. Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who had dropped out of the race in November, also endorsed Biden Monday night.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is projected to win the Minnesota Democratic primary with 75 delegates at stake, according to The Associated Press.
The big picture: Minnesota had been Sen. Amy Klobuchar's to lose, as both her home state and an example of her midwestern appeal. But Klobuchar dropped out Monday and endorsed Joe Biden, leaving thousands of voters who had not already cast their ballots in mail-ins or early voting to switch their support.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is projected to win the Tennessee Democratic primary with 64 delegates at stake, according to multiple media projections.
The big picture: Biden has won sweeping victories across a number of South states, driven largely by his strong support among black voters. According to NPR, Biden allocated the largest portion of his Super Tuesday ad spending to Tennessee. Billionaire Tom Steyer was a potential threat but dropped out Saturday night after an underwhelming finish in South Carolina's primaries.
Joe Biden has won the Oklahoma Democratic primary with 37 delegates at stake, according to AP.
The big picture: The state was too close to call when polls closed at 8 pm ET, but it ultimately was called as another victory for Biden. Sen. Bernie Sanders had won the state by 18 points over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Michael Bloomberg spent over $5 million in the state. According to NPR, the state had faced sparse polling, making it relatively unpredictable headed into Super Tuesday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is projected to win the Colorado Democratic primary, according to AP.
The big picture: 67 delegates are at stake. Voters this year participated in the state's first presidential primary, after the state switched from a caucus system following the 2016 election. Colorado is a key swing state that stands to play an important role in the 2020 general election.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Alabama Democratic primary with 52 delegates at stake, according to multiple media projections.
The big picture: Biden was favored to win the state, receiving a boost from black voters who make up a key bloc of the state's Democratic electorate. The former VP also received a lift Monday night after receiving endorsements from his previous 2020 competition, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke.
Super Tuesday voters in Alabama and Massachusetts want a "practical, centrist" candidate to win the Democratic nomination, per preliminary results from AP VoteCast conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
Driving the news: Former Vice President Joe Biden is projected to win the Virginia and North Carolina Democratic primaries. Biden won the endorsement of two of the more prominent moderates in the 2020 race — Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
Mike Bloomberg is projected to win the American Samoa caucuses with 50% of the vote, according to multiple media reports.
Why it matters: It's Bloomberg's first victory of the 2020 primary, after he skipped the early-voting states to focus on Super Tuesday. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is also projected to win a delegate for the first time.
Joe Biden has won the North Carolina Democratic primary, where 110 delegates are up for grabs, according to multiple media projections.
Why it matters: North Carolina is the most delegate-rich primary of any state that has voted thus far. It's also a state where billionaire Michael Bloomberg had poured more than $15 million into campaign advertising.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is projected to win the Vermont Democratic primary, AP reports.
The big picture: Polling averages leading up to Super Tuesday showed Sanders dramatically in the lead in his home state of Vermont, which has 16 delegates up for grabs. Sanders picked up all 16 delegates in the state's 2016 presidential primary when running against Hillary Clinton.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
