Axios

Country music singer Willie Nelson and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke are fund-raising for a group of Texas Democrats threatened with arrest by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) after fleeing the state to block GOP-led voting restrictions.

Why it matters: O'Rourke created a buzz when he ran as a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, and now he's using his platform to raise money for the Texas House Democrats.

A Los Angeles judge ruled Wednesday that Britney Spears can select her own attorney in her conservatorship battle.

What she's saying: The pop star broke down in tears during Wednesday's hearing, telling the judge that she was "extremely scared" of her father, James "Jamie" Spears, NBC News reports. "I’m here to get rid of my dad and charge him with conservatorship abuse," she added, saying, "this conservatorship has allowed my dad to ruin my life."

Andrew Brown Jr.'s family has filed a $30 million lawsuit against a North Carolina county sheriff and several deputies, arguing the officers involved in Brown's fatal shooting acted "willfully, maliciously, in bad faith, and in reckless disregard of Brown’s federally protected constitutional rights."

Why it matters: Brown was shot and killed April 21 by Pasquotank County Sheriff’s deputies as they were serving drug-related warrants. A state autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

A report released Wednesday by the Justice Department's inspector general criticizes the FBI's handling of its investigation into sex abuse allegations against former Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar.

Why it matters: Nassar was sentenced in 2018 to 40–175 years in prison after more than 160 women — including Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman and Simone Biles — accused Nassar of sexual assault and harassment under the premise of medical treatment.

Over 150 companies, including PepsiCo, Amazon and Target, urged Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, in a letter published Wednesday.

Why it matters: The companies, which collectively employ 4 million U.S. workers, expressed support for the sweeping bill that is named after civil rights leader and former Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who died last year. 

The House's select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot announced Wednesday it will hold its first hearing July 27 with law enforcement officers to examine the deadly rampage.

Why it matters: The select committee is moving forward even though House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has yet to choose Republican members to be appointed to the panel.

Stacey Abrams' voting rights group Fair Fight Action has launched its "Hot Call Summer" campaign to educate and mobilize minority and progressive voters on two federal voting rights bills.

The big picture: The group will back the For the People Act, which passed in the House in March but was blocked by Republicans in the Senate. The other measure is the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

The Netherlands will reinstate work-from-home guidelines just weeks after lifting them as COVID-19 infections surge, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday, per Reuters.

Why it matters: The move comes amid a soaring COVID-19 case rate and follows restrictions reimposed last week on bars, restaurants and clubs, a further reversal of the Dutch government's recent reopening of the country to some pre-pandemic activity.

Treatment for gun-related injuries in the U.S. costs more than $1 billion per year, according to new Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates published Wednesday.

Why it matters: The report is the first of its kind from the watchdog, per Politico, and will likely fuel Democrats' calls for expanding gun control legislation. Officials say the pandemic led to a surge in gun violence.

Senate Democrats revealed on Wednesday key details of their $3.5 trillion budget framework, a starting point for a Democrat-only bill for "human" infrastructure that would enhance federal safety net programs, expand Medicare and tackle climate change.

Why it matters: The release of the FY2022 budget deal formally kicks off the process for getting a pair of infrastructure bills across the finish line.

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin during an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" Wednesday dodged a question on whether former President Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was "stolen" is a lie.

Why it matters: It's another example of an influential voice on the right failing to bat down the claim. Dozens of Republican candidates seeking powerful statewide offices, including governor, attorney general and secretary of state, have promoted the false notion.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) unveiled draft legislation on Wednesday to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.

Why it matters: Though the legislation faces steep odds in the 50-50 Senate, it's a major milestone for marijuana activists and a sign of how far the debate has moved on criminal justice and the war on drugs.

The Biden administration will begin evacuating Afghans who assisted the U.S. military during the 20-year war in Afghanistan in the last week of July, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

Why it matters: Since announcing the full military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden has faced pressure from lawmakers and veterans to come up with a plan to protect Afghan translators and other military aides before the drawdown is completed late next month.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) raised $43.6 million during the first half of 2021, his campaign announced on Wednesday.

The big picture: McCarthy's announcement comes after the National Republican Congressional Committee said it had raised almost $80 million during the first half of the year, its best-ever first-half haul during an election off-year.

Senate Democrats' new deal on a budget outline sets the stage for their fraught effort to seek unprecedented clean energy spending and incentives.

Driving the news: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Budget Committee members on Wednesday night announced an agreement to try to steer $3.5 trillion into Medicare, climate, education and other priorities.

Former President George W. Bush sharply criticized President Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, telling German broadcaster DW News Wednesday that he believes Afghan women and girls will suffer "unspeakable harm."

Why it matters: Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 in order to topple the Taliban and deny al-Qaeda of a safe haven to launch terrorist attacks against the United States. Two decades later, Biden is ending America's longest war.

The Republicans' House campaign arm is putting up huge fundraising numbers as the party seeks to win back control of the lower chamber in the midterms.

Driving the news: The National Republican Congressional Committee raised nearly $80 million during the first six months of 2021, its best-ever first-half haul during an election off year, the committee tells Axios.

President Biden's latest ambassadorial picks reveal his strategy when it comes to the diplomacy of diplomacy: He's blending career servants with political supporters to avoid raising the ire of State Department professionals while filling posts around the world.

Why it matters: The U.S. diplomatic corps remains shaken from cuts to its ranks by Rex Tillerson, former President Trump's first secretary of State.

The Biden administration is gearing up for a showdown with cable and telecom companies over plans to bring back Obama-era net neutrality rules.

Why it matters: The Trump administration took a hands-off approach to the telecom industry, but the White House is now reversing course with new plans to regulate the behavior of America's internet service providers.

Cuban officials on Tuesday confirmed the death of a 36-year-old man during anti-government demonstrations that were triggered by food and medicine shortages.

Driving the news: The government said Diubis Laurencio Tejeda died in Havana on Monday amid clashes between police and protesters during which an undisclosed number of people were arrested, per AP.

The Trump Department of Justice attempted to obtain the communications records of three Washington Post reporters via legal action over 2017 reports on Russian election interference and Russia's ambassador, court documents unsealed Tuesday show.

Why it matters: The court order was lodged in secret the day before Bill Barr stepped down as attorney general last December.

Five members of the same Texas family were arrested Tuesday and accused of breaching the U.S. Capitol through a broken window during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Of note: The charges against Tom Munn, Kristi Munn, Dawn Munn, Josh Munn and Kayli Munn from Borger are believed to be the first laid against a family unit in more than 500 arrests in connection with the Capitol riot, per the New York Times.

Senate Democrats on the Budget committee announced late Tuesday night that they have reached a deal on a $3.5 trillion package to address "human" infrastructure, which they plan to pass via reconciliation.

Why it matters: The price tag for the proposal — which is expected to include bold provisions on climate change, Medicare and education — comes in far below the $6 trillion figure Budget committee Chair Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and other progressive Democrats have pushed for.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urged Cuban and Haitian people in a press conference at the U.S. Coast Guard headquarters on Tuesday not to travel to the United States amid recent turmoil in both countries.

Why it matters: Research shows political instability and violence can drive migration to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The United Nations announced Tuesday plans to form a panel of experts to examine the root causes and effects of systemic racism in policing around the world, including the legacies of slavery and colonialism, the New York Times reports.

Why it matters: The move follows a year of heightened attention on police brutality against Black people, and comes after a UN human rights report detailed the need for reparatory justice and accountability.

The Democrats' “only chance of keeping the House” next year is if they redraw congressional lines to their advantage in New York and Illinois, Cook Political Report's David Wasserman tells Axios.

Why it matters: The GOP is already poised to take advantage of its control of map-drawing in more states than Democrats. But Democrats have a chance to eliminate as many as seven Republican House seats in just New York and Illinois through redistricting in states they control.

The biggest critic of the Biden White House's ethics program isn't a Republican, congressional investigator or whistleblower — it's an ex-federal employee with a huge social media following.

Driving the news: Walter Shaub — who directed the Office of Government Ethics from 2013 to mid-2017, and was an outspoken critic of corruption under former President Trump — has gone from Biden administration job-seeker to foremost critic of what he sees as its lackluster approach to ethics and transparency.

More than half of the state supreme courts in the United States have a majority of justices affiliated with the Republican Party, according to a Ballotpedia study.

Why it matters: Gerrymandering challenges amid this year's redistricting process and disputes about changes to voting rights — issues with the potential to radically change future election outcomes — would, in some cases, be heard by these courts.