Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill into law Tuesday banning almost all abortions in the state, except for when a pregnant person's life is in danger.
The big picture: The state joins more than a dozen others that have passed restrictive abortion measures in hopes of forcing the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
Former President Jimmy Carter rebuked Georgia lawmakers Tuesday for pushing legislation to restrict access to voting.
Why it matters: Carter's voiced opposition comes after the state Senate passed a bill Monday that would repeal no-excuse absentee voting and require more voter ID, creating new obstacles for voters after Republicans lost both the presidential and U.S. Senate elections.
President Biden will not sign his name on the stimulus checks set to be distributed this month as part of his $1.9 trillion COVID relief package — reversing a precedent set by former President Trump in the first two rounds of direct payments last year.
What they're saying: "This was not about him. This was about the American people getting relief," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing on Tuesday. Psaki added that Biden "didn't think that was a priority or a necessary step" and that his "focus was on getting them out as quickly as possible."
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will travel to Texas on Monday with roughly a dozen Republican members to assess the growing crisis at the southern border, his office confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: The visit comes as President Biden is under increased pressure to address the overwhelming flow of unaccompanied migrant children at the U.S.-Mexico border. Recent data shows an average of 321 kids being referred to migrant shelters each day, as Axios first reported.
San Francisco officials prioritized addressing women's inequality in the city's pandemic response "from day one," Mayor London Breed told Axios in a virutal event on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Women have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly a million American mothers have left the workforce as unemployment hits women harder than men. Meanwhile, stay-at-home orders have pushed the bulk of housework onto women, many of which are also juggling child care and heightened discrimination.
Why it matters: Biden and Democrats have touted the "American Rescue Plan" as one of the most impactful anti-poverty bills of this era. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) dubbed it "the most significant piece of legislation to benefit working people in the modern history of this country."
Crown Publishing Group has "paused active support" of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's book on leadership lessons from the pandemic and has "no plans to reprint or reissue in paperback," citing a federal investigation into Cuomo's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, the New York Times reports.
Why it matters: The embattled governor, who is simultaneously facing several allegations of sexual harassment, was heavily criticized for his decision to publish a book last October about his response to the coronavirus, as the pandemic was still raging.
The number of unenforceable, anti-tenant clauses in residential leases has risen sharply over the last 20 years — with Black tenants more likely to be targeted, according to the largest-ever study of housing leases.
Why it matters: The types of draconian clauses that have crept into leases make it easier for landlords to evict tenants — who often feel intimidated, don't know the law and can't afford a lawyer in housing court.
Chinese authorities have breached "each and every act prohibited" under the UN Genocide Convention over the treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China's Xinjiang province, an independent report published Tuesday alleges.
Why it matters: D.C. think-tank the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, which released the report, said in a statement the conclusions by dozens of experts in war crimes, human rights and international law are "clear and convincing": The ruling Chinese Communist Party bears responsibility.
Twitter on Monday filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), saying that his office launched an investigation into the social media giant because it banned former President Trump from its platform.
Driving the news: Twitter is seeking to halt an investigation launched by Paxton into moderation practices by Big Tech firms including Twitter for what he called "the seemingly coordinated de-platforming of the President," days after they banned him following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
Sen. Roy Blunt's retirement highlights the twin challenge facing Senate Republicans: finding good replacement candidates and avoiding a pathway for potential troublemakers to join their ranks.
Why it matters: While the midterm elections are supposed to be a boon to the party out of power, the recent run of retirements — which may not be over — is upending that assumption for the GOP in 2022.
The number of non-white senators and House members in the 535-seat Congress has been growing steadily in the past several decades — but representation largely lags behind the overall U.S. population.
Why it matters: Non-whites find it harder to break into the power system because of structural barriers such as the need to quit a job to campaign full time for office, as Axios reported in its latest Hard Truths Deep Dive.
The retirements of high-profile Senate Republicans mean a lot of experienced staffers will soon be seeking new jobs, and Washington lobbying and public affairs firms are eyeing a potential glut of top-notch talent.
Why it matters: Roy Blunt is the fifth Republican dealmaker in the Senate to announce his retirement next year. Staffers left behind who can navigate the upper chamber of Congress will be gold for the city’s influence industry.
