Axios

President Biden's first joint address to Congress drew 26.9 million viewers across 16 broadcast and cable networks, Deadline reports citing Nielsen figures released Thursday afternoon.

Why it matters: That's a drop from 47.7 million audience members that tuned into former President Trump's first speech to a joint session in early 2017.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant who challenged his deportation.

The state of play: The majority opinion brought together an unusual coalition of conservative and liberal justices: Neil Gorsuch, who authored the opinion, and Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett.

• Gorsuch wrote that the Justice Department violated federal law by not providing Agusto Niz-Chavez with a single comprehensive "notice to appear," ABCNews reports.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned states in recent weeks to remove templates of vaccination cards from the web due to forgery concerns, NBC News reports.

Driving the news: Posts and comments in online anti-vaccination and conspiracy forums have included instructions on how to create fake vaccination cards using the online templates.

Former Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) was unanimously confirmed by Senate on Thursday to serve as head of NASA.

The big picture: As NASA administrator, Nelson will lead the agency as it works to send astronauts back to the Moon, which would pave the way for an eventual Mars mission.

Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash shares dropped Thursday after Labor Secretary Marty Walsh announced support for gig workers receiving benefits as full employees, CNBC reports.

Why it matters: Walsh's stance reflects growing pressure from the Biden administration to regulate the growing gig economy.

The State Department announced plans to give $310 million in humanitarian aid to cover the “immediate needs” of migrants across Central America, as part of a plan to combat the root causes of rising migration from the region.

Why it matters: Those funds will partly go through the very Central American governments that the U.S. has punished for having corrupt officials.

A group of white Midwestern farmers sued the federal government Thursday, alleging discrimination because they are not eligible for a COVID-19 loan forgiveness program aimed at helping disadvantaged farmers, AP reports.

Why it matters: Under the Biden administration, about $4 billion of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan will be allocated to disadvantaged farmers, about a quarter of whom are Black.

The 2020 census results are raising the spectre of possible miscounts of Hispanics.

Why it matters: Latino people in the U.S. have accounted for around half of the country’s demographic growth for the last decade. This was not reflected in the census numbers.

Colorado lawmakers unveiled a package of legislation on Thursday in response to last month's mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado, saying "we are transforming the country."

The big picture: The legislation aims to strengthen background checks and prohibit certain individuals from accessing firearms.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived at the home of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in Plains, Georgia on Thursday afternoon.

Why it matters: This marks the first time the "the oldest sitting-president and longest-lived former president in history" meet in person since Biden took office, AP notes.

Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is running for Congress again, seeking the House seat his home state of Montana is gaining after the 2020 census, records show.

Why it matters: Zinke held Montana's lone at-large congressional seat before joining the Trump administration. While he left Interior in 2018 under an ethical cloud, his high name ID and GOP bona fides will likely make him a formidable candidate.

Larry Schwartz, a close adviser to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) charged with overseeing the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, resigned Wednesday, the New York Times reports.

Why it matters: Although Schwartz said he originally expected to leave the role in mid-May, his early departure coincides with a state legislature rule change that would have required financial disclosures and a two-year lobbying ban, the Times notes.

Former President Trump told Fox Business on Thursday that he is "100%" thinking about another presidential bid in 2024, and that he would "certainly" consider making Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) his running mate.

Why it matters: Trump and DeSantis see eye-to-eye on many policy issues. But the Florida governor has also been floated as a 2024 contender on his own, having gained massive popularity among Republicans during the pandemic.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) expressed concern about President Biden's massive proposals to restructure health care, child care, education and infrastructure in the wake of the pandemic, he told CNN on Thursday.

Why it matters: Biden aims to spend $6 trillion for his plans and is asking Congress to pay at least $1.8 trillion. As a moderate Democrat in a split Senate, Manchin's vote is critical.

A book on a legendary Puerto Rican activist group that shook up Chicago and New York City in the 1960s has won the Frederick Turner Jackson Award from the Organization of American Historians.

The big picture: The Young Lords: A Radical History by Baruch College history professor Johanna Fernandez uncovers how the group organized Puerto Rican neighborhoods, held sit-ins and protests against housing conditions, created free food programs and health clinics, and pushed for political power.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) told Fox News that he is meeting with members of George Floyd's family on Thursday.

State of play: Scott, the lone Black Republican in the Senate, is working with Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and other Democrats to reach a bipartisan deal on police reform.

President Biden wants $80 billion over 10 years for the IRS to be able to close the gap between taxes owed and taxes paid — a gap that IRS commissioner Charles Rettig estimates could be as much as $1 trillion per year.

What they're saying: "We do get out-gunned," Rettig told the Senate Finance Committee earlier this month.

Whether it's vaccine passports or public health protocols, or even passive investment strategies, perfection is rarely achievable or even desirable. Allowing a bit of fuzziness and error is at the heart of broad-based success.

Why it matters: Silicon Valley has known for decades that the essence of disruption is to do something which is not as perfect as the incumbent, but that is a lot cheaper and easier — and more effective.

The ACLU is concerned that the Biden administration's nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes and other tobacco products would "foster an underground market" that would disproportionately harm people of color due to over-policing.

Why it matters: The group invoked the death of Eric Garner, who died when an officer held him in a chokehold after he allegedly sold cigarettes outside a convenience store, as well as George Floyd's death, who was killed by an officer kneeling on his neck after he tried to pay for a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it will move forward with a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes and other tobacco products, a blow to the tobacco industry that has lobbied for years to keep sales legal.

Why it matters: The decision, which could take years to implement, kicks off the official rule-making process and comment period by the agency. Tobacco companies are expected to challenge any final regulation in court.

Donald Trump last month was pitched on launching a multi-billion dollar media and technology company built around his personal brand, with the idea that it could go public via a SPAC.

Behind the scenes: The 24-page presentation made its way to Trump's desk at Mar-a-Lago, although it does not seem to have gained traction with the former president.

President Biden's speech to Congress Wednesday night highlighted two big themes of his energy and climate pitch and produced a head-scratching moment.

The big picture: That would be jobs and competing with China, which is what Biden focused on.

Most people who watched President Biden's maiden address to a joint session of Congress approved of the message and were left feeling optimistic, according to two polls taken immediately following the speech.

Why it matters: Those polled signaled they felt more optimistic about the country after watching the speech, during which Biden laid out a progressive vision for big government. Data in both polls suggest the speech had a more friendly, Democratic viewership.

President Biden feels intensely that now is a time for proving that government can still do big things, and make tangible improvements to ordinary people's lives.

Driving the news: Last night's address to a joint session of Congress, on his 99th day in office, was an argument for liberal, small "d" democratic government — investments, as he put it, that only government can make.

President Biden put his Cabinet in place faster than any other administration since President Reagan, the White House Office of Presidential Personnel says in a report provided first to Axios.

By the numbers: Biden has announced his intent to nominate 233 people for Senate-confirmed jobs — more nominees than any past administration at the 100-day mark, according to the White House.

President Biden's promise not to raise taxes on Americans who make less than $400,000 only applies to individuals — not married couples filing jointly, a White House official clarified to Axios on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The declaration means a hypothetical couple, with each spouse making $399,999, would not escape the tax increase even though they individually earn less than $400,000.

The White House announced the U.S. is sending more than $100 million worth of supplies to India — which set new records for COVID-19 cases and deaths in a single day on Thursday.

Driving the news: Coronavirus cases are surging in India amid a widespread oxygen shortage and slow vaccine rollout. The country's pandemic death toll surpassed 200,000 on Wednesday, amid reports that COVID fatalities and cases are going uncounted.

Officials in China launched the core element of a new permanent space station into orbit on a Long March-5B Y2 rocket from Wenchang in Hainan Province, Thursday, per the BBC.

Why it matters: The launch from Wenchang Space Launch Center marks a significant step in the space program drive of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, seen as a rival to the U.S. in space.

President Biden delivered a historic address before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday — the eve of his 100th day since taking office.

Driving the news: Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made history as the first women to lead the Senate and House during a president's congressional address. The event was also notable for having pandemic restrictions in place that included having virtual guests.

A North Texas man charged with assaulting police officers during January's Capitol riot is a Republican Party precinct chair and has been an election poll worker, CNN reported Wednesday.

Details: Mark Middleton, 52, was appointed as the GOP chair of Precinct 14 in Cooke County during a meeting last December, Cooke County Republican Party chair Chris McNamara told Axios in an email.

Sen. Tim Scott's (R-S.C.) response to President Biden's joint address to Congress on Wednesday argued that former President Trump deserves credit for the current administration's victories, including on COVID-19.

Why it matters: Biden's joint address was his most significant attempt yet to sell members of Congress on his policy priorities. Scott's response offered no concessions.

President Biden in a joint address to Congress on Wednesday urged the Senate to pass a policing bill named for George Floyd, the Black man whose murder in Minneapolis last year led to nationwide protests against police brutality.

What he's saying: "We have all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of Black Americans," Biden said. "Now is our opportunity to make real progress."

During his joint address to Congress on Wednesday, President Biden spoke of the need to tax the ultra-wealthy to fix economic inequality in the U.S.

Why it matters: Biden wants to use tax hikes on the rich to pay for his American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. This philosophy has been a sticking point for many Republicans.

In his first joint address to Congress on Wednesday, President Biden told America that "one day shy" of his 100th day in office, his administration is turning the nation's "peril into possibility" and "setback into strength."

Why it matters: Wednesday's speech was one of the president's most significant opportunities so far to sway members of Congress in favor of his administration's agenda.

President Biden on Wednesday in his joint session of Congress spoke to transgender youth, saying: "I want you to know that your president has your back."

Driving the news: At least eight bills targeting trans youth have been signed into law by Republican governors across the U.S. this year. A record 89 bills have been introduced so far in 2021 targeting trans youth as of April 20, per the ACLU.

During his joint address to Congress on Wednesday evening, President Biden called for the U.S. to increase its investment in technology to keep competitive on the global stage in the decades to come.

Why it matters: Biden stressed that China and other nations are poised to overtake the U.S. in ambition and framed his American Jobs Plan as a possible solution, by increasing "non-defense research and development."

President Biden opened his first joint address to Congress lauding the momentous nature of Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's presence behind him.

Why it matters: This is the first time the No. 1 and No. 2 people in the line of presidential succession are both women, Axios' Kadia Goba writes. “Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President,” Biden said as he addressed the joint session. “No president has ever said those words from this podium, no president has ever said those words. And it’s about time!”

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) on Wednesday signed into law a bill that bans female transgender athletes from participating in sports that align with their gender identity in public middle schools, high schools and colleges.

The big picture: The ACLU issued a statement saying it intends to take legal action over the move. The bill passed in the state Senate in an 18-15 vote earlier this month. It's the eighth Republican-backed bill signed this year targeting trans youth. A record 89 bills have been introduced so far in 2021 targeting trans youth as of April 20, per ACLU.

Go deeper: NCAA "unequivocally" supports trans students competing in sports