Around 56% of Hispanic renters said in March, before an U.S. eviction moratorium was extended, that they were otherwise likely to be forced to leave their homes in the next two months, per Census data.
Why it matters: Evictions contribute to a greater spread of COVID-19 as people experiencing homelessness end up in crowded infection-prone situations, according to studies, and coronavirus is already more easily spread among Latino families due to cramped living conditions and multigenerational homes.
The share of Republicans who say "everything possible" should be done to make voting easy has declined since 2018, according to a Pew survey published this week.
Why it matters: State legislatures have introduced at least 361 voter restriction bills this year, according to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice. Voting rights advocates say many of the bills, if passed, will disproportionately affect voters of color, as well as those with disabilities.
Former President Obama on Saturday praised Major League Baseball for moving its All-Star Game out of Atlanta due to Georgia's new law curbing voting access.
What he's saying: "Congratulations to @MLB for taking a stand on behalf of voting rights for all citizens," Obama tweeted. "There’s no better way for America’s pastime to honor the great Hank Aaron, who always led by example."
Federal Reserve watchers eager to know what President Biden has planned for the agency's top job will likely haveto wait until at least this summer since Jerome Powell's current term as chair does not expire until early 2022.But how Biden fills other open positions on the board will offer clues about the direction he will take.
State of play: While some say reappointing Powell is a logical choice, other reported possible picks include board member Lael Brainard or Raphael Bostic, who leads the Atlanta Fed bank.
The modern Fed is designed to operate free of political pressures, as codified in a 1951 agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department. That gives monetary policy to the Fed and fiscal policy to Treasury.
Reality check: The president nominates Fed chairs and governors, who don't have lifetime appointments like Supreme Court justices, so politics has always maintained some influence.
Hundreds in London and several cities across England and Wales rallied in "kill the bill" protests on Saturday against a proposed law that would broaden police authority for regulating demonstrations, according to Reuters.
Why it matters: Opponents of the bill say it could be used to curb dissent and individual freedoms and could excuse heavy-handed tactics used by police to break up peaceful protests.
Food banks continue to give away far more canned, packaged and fresh provisions than they did before the pandemic forced many to scramble for food for the first time, AP reports in a "Hunger in America" series.
Details: Feeding America estimates that food banks will distribute around 6 billion meals in 2021, about the same amount as 2020 and more than the 4.2 billion given out in 2019.
Why it matters: The surge in background checks may be a result of gun control bills recently passed by the House and gun restriction recommendations by President Biden in the wake of three mass shootings in March.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Politico in an interview this week that the Senate will work toward federal marijuana reform legislation — including legalization — with or without President Biden's support.
Why it matters: Biden has in the past opposed federal marijuana legalization citing a lack of evidence on whether it is a gateway drug. He has instead favored decriminalizing the drug, federally legalizing medical marijuana and allowing states to decide whether to legalize recreational use of the drug.
What he's saying: "Baseball is already losing tremendous numbers of fans, and now they leave Atlanta with their All-Star Game because they are afraid of the Radical Left Democrats who do not want voter I.D., which is desperately needed, to have anything to do with our elections," Trump said in a statement.
It's not just Georgia: Corporate America is under growing pressure to put its muscle behind voting rights.
Why it matters: Big businesses have taken on a bigger role in social political issues, but got involved in Georgia's voting-rights fight too late to block it. And the fallout is raising the stakes for similar legislation in other states.
The Department of the Interior announced Friday it will invest $1.6 billion to improve transportation and recreation infrastructure in national parks, wildlife refuges and recreation areas as part of the Great American Outdoors Act passed last year.
Why it matters: The department said the investment, which includes improvements for Bureau of Indian Education schools, will support an estimated 18,800 jobs and contribute $2 billion to the nation’s annual gross domestic product.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday that households already receiving the maximum monthly benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will now be able to receive emergency benefits approved by Congress last March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Why it matters: The action, a reversal of Trump administration policy, will allow about 25 million Americans to receive $95 per month in increased benefits.
