Axios

The House voted 247-174 on Thursday to pass a bipartisan bill that would allow an estimated 1 million undocumented farmworkers and their children to gain legal status through continued employment.

Why it matters: Farmworkers and crop hands were designated essential workers during the pandemic. The bill would allow them to apply for legal status after working in agriculture for at least 180 days over two years.

The House on Thursday voted 228-197 to pass the American Dream and Promise Act as part of Democrats' first effort at immigration reform under the Biden administration.

Why it matters: Nine Republicans joined Democrats to support the bill, which creates a pathway to citizenship for about 2.5 million immigrants living in the U.S. The pathway would be available to those who were brought into the country illegally as children and those who have come for humanitarian reasons.

The FBI plans to see the nationwide investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrectionist through "to its conclusion," the bureau's director Christopher Wray said in an NPR interview on Thursday.

What he's saying: "We intend to see this to its conclusion, no matter how many people it takes us to devote to it, no matter how long it takes us to do it," Wray said. "If we have the evidence to charge somebody and they committed a crime on that day, I expect them to be charged."

President Biden and Vice President Harris have responded swiftly to the massacre earlier this week, including restructuring tomorrow’s previously planned trip to Atlanta.

Why it matters, via Margaret Talev, Axios' managing editor for politics: the response reflects both Biden's instincts and his engagement with the community during last year's campaign.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — whose wife is of Asian heritage — addressed this week's mass shooting in Georgia by saying Thursday that "Asian Americans should not have to experience discrimination anywhere."

What he's saying: “Committing a crime against anyone because of his or her national origin or race is deeply wrong and antithetical to our founding principles," McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement to Axios.

A federal appeals court moved on Thursday to reinstate a guilty verdict against the former business partner of ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn, the AP reports.

Why it matters: The case against Bijan Rafiekan, who also served as a member of the Trump transition team, was one of 11 cases transferred by special counsel Robert Mueller to other jurisdictions as he compiled a report on Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential ties to Trump. He again faces the conviction of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the Turkish government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday responded to President Biden's comment calling him a "killer," by challenging the U.S. leader to a debate.

What he's saying: Putin told Russian state TV, per ABC News, "I want to propose to President Biden to continue our discussion, but on the condition that we do it basically live, as it’s called, without any delays and directly in an open, direct discussion."

John Kerry, the Biden administration's special envoy for climate, said not having his face mask on while aboard an American Airlines flight from Boston to Washington, D.C., Wednesday was "momentary."

Why it matters: The airline said in a tweet that it was "looking into" the matter in response to a photo that showed Kerry reading with his mask hanging from one ear. All airlines per federal guidance require passengers and crew to wear masks at all times on flights except when eating or drinking.

The FBI's Washington Field Office on Thursday released footage of assaults on federal officers during the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by a predominately pro-Trump mob.

Why it matters: Federal prosecutors say the massive undertaking to charge suspects in the attack — which the FBI has labeled an act of domestic terrorism — is "likely the most complex investigation ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice. "

President Biden and Vice President Harris will meet with Asian American leaders to discuss "ongoing attacks and threats against the community" in a visit to Atlanta Friday, the White House announced.

Why it matters: The trip comes two days after a gunman killed eight people, including six Asian women in Atlanta. The shooting heightened existing fears of anti-Asian hate in the Asian American community.

The disparate sentencing between crack and powder cocaine should be a target of criminal justice reform efforts, argued Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) during an Axios virtual event on Thursday.

Why it matters: These unequal sentences in cocaine convictions have been a "substantial part" in fueling over-criminalization of drug use that disproportionally affects Black and Latino Americans, Jeffries noted.

An elderly Asian woman on Wednesday was attacked in San Francisco, becoming the latest victim in a stream of attacks against Asian people in the Bay Area and across the country, KPIX 5 reports.

Details: Xiao Zhen Xie, 76, said she was waiting by a traffic light when a man suddenly punched her in the left eye. She then attacked the assailant with a stick in self-defense, sending him to the hospital for his injuries.

The Senate voted 50-49 on Thursday to confirm Xavier Becerra as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Why it matters: Becerra, the first Latino to lead the department, is now in charge of overseeing the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic while executing much of the Biden administration's health agenda.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) introduced a resolution on Thursday to remove Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) from the House Intelligence Committee over his ties to a suspected Chinese spy, Punchbowl News first reported.

The big picture: The resolution will likely not pass in the Democratic-controlled House. Democrats say they have no intention of removing Swalwell from the committee.

Proposals to forgive limited one-time sums of student loan debt that have been floated by the White House and members of Congress do little to address the heart of the $1.7 trillion problem, research from the JPMorgan Chase Institute finds.

Why it matters: Ballooning student loan debt "is a financial crisis for millions of Americans," JPMorgan Chase Institute co-president Fiona Greig said in a statement.

President Biden’s next big moves require two things Republicans hate — new taxes and new filibuster limits. Both will make the $1.9 trillion spending bill look easy and calm.

Why it matters: Biden wants to reform voting laws and dramatically increase infrastructure spending. It's doubtful Republicans will rush to truly help on either front.

Signaling a coming case by progressives, Sen. Elizabeth Warren told Axios the Senate's legislative filibuster, which requires 60 votes for most legislation, wasn't a creation of the founding fathers.

What she's saying: "The filibuster has deep roots in racism, and it should not be permitted to serve that function, or to create a veto for the minority. In a democracy, it's majority rules."

Some swing voters are concerned President Biden isn't doing enough to discourage a surge of migration to the southern border — and they're worried about the buildup of child migrants in detention facilities.

Why it matters: For voters on the bubble between parties, the mounting immigration crisis — as well as rising fears about inflation — are presenting new litmus tests for the president, at a time when Biden hoped to be able to focus on the upsides to expanding COVID-19 vaccinations and stimulus.

The UAE suspended plans for a summit in Abu Dhabi with Israel, the U.S. and Arab states in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's attempts to use Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) as a prop in his election campaign, U.S. sources briefed on the matter told me.

Why it matters: This is the first big crisis between the UAE and Israel since the announcement of the normalization relations last August.

Former President Obama on Wednesday called for lawmakers to take "meaningful action" to address gun violence in the U.S., following the fatal mass shootings inside Atlanta-area massage parlors a day earlier.

What he's saying: "Even as we've battled the pandemic, we've continued to neglect the longer-lasting epidemic of gun violence in America," Obama said in a series of Twitter posts.

There is "no evidence" to support a Pennsylvania U.S. Postal Service worker's claims highlighted by leading Republicans of mail-in ballot fraud, the inspector general has found.

Why it matters: Letter carrier Richard Hopkins' baseless claims that ineligible mail-in ballots were being illegally backdated formed part of unsuccessful efforts by former President Trump and his allies to delegitimize President Biden's election win in Pennsylvania.

Democrats are zeroing in on raising the corporate tax rate from its current 21% to 28% as one of the easiest ways to find new revenue for an infrastructure package.

The big picture: While many senators are signaling that President Biden’s next big-ticket bill must come with a way to pay for it, the White House and its Democratic allies are growing confident they can get there, in part, by increasing corporate taxes.

Some Democrats hope they can use the pending fight over their massive voting rights package to convince more skeptical Democrats to back filibuster reforms, Axios has learned from conversations with lawmakers and their aides.

Why it matters: Many Democrats were thrilled after President Biden said Tuesday night he supports the return of the "talking filibuster" — but they're still a long way from any sort of meaningful change to the rule.

Two powerful Senate chairmen are questioning plans to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 1, providing potential cover for President Biden to change his mind as he faces a rapidly approaching deadline.

Why it matters: The war is America's longest and most costly. Former President Trump negotiated a departure timetable with the Taliban, and his successor has indicated he's ready to honor that commitment.

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Pete Snyder boasted about a cash haul for his COVID-19 relief nonprofit last year that was more than five times what it had estimated raising in a sworn statement to the IRS, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The Virginia 30 Day Fund's mission is central to Snyder's political brand. It's a calling card for the Republican in a crowded primary in a bellwether off-year race. But early, apparently erroneous disclosures to the IRS allowed the group to shield from public view key information about its operators, operations and finances.

The number of Asian Americans elected to Congress has increased significantly through the years and is currently at a record high, but the total representation still only amounts to about 3% of the membership.

Why it matters: Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), chairperson of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, has made it her mission to increase Asian American and Pacific Islander representation across the spectrum of government.

21 states filed a lawsuit against President Biden on Wednesday over his executive order to rescind permits for the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Driving the news: The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Texas, aims to overturn Biden's decision, arguing that he overstepped his authority by ordering a cross-border permit for the Canada-U.S. pipeline to be revoked.

President Biden joined a chorus of public officials on Wednesday in speaking out against the Atlanta-area shootings that left eight victims dead — six of whom were Asian women.

What they're saying: "Jill and I are keeping everyone impacted by the shootings in Atlanta in our prayers," Biden tweeted. "We don’t yet know the motive, but what we do know is that the Asian-American community is feeling enormous pain tonight."

A Seattle church has been targeted with anti-Asian graffiti for the fourth time in 2021, KOMO News reports.

Why it matters: The hateful messages, which included "China, you will pay," "go home" and "f--k China," appeared on church grounds one day before a white gunman killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women, in shootings in Georgia.