A high-ranking New Mexico Democratic state lawmaker has resigned amid a federal investigation into possible fraud, racketeering, illegal kickbacks and money laundering.
Driving the news: Sheryl Williams Stapleton stepped down Friday as New Mexico's House majority leader, and from her seat, after state and federal authorities served subpoenas on an Albuquerque school district where Stapleton is employed.
A 2,700-page bipartisan infrastructure bill was headed to Senate desks Sunday with promises it will pass the chamber by the end of the week. A final version was promised after additional edits.
Why it matters: While that's progress for the president’s most prominent 2021 legislative goal, the House is shaping up as a potential obstacle before money starts flowing to build new roads, bridges and expand broadband access.
Former President Obama is hosting a 60th birthday bash for himself and hundreds of guests on Martha’s Vineyard this coming weekend amid heightened public health concerns — locally and nationally — about the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Why it matters: The recent breakthrough cases in nearby Provincetown, Massachusetts, after the July Fourth holiday showed the continued risk of spread even between vaccinated people — prompting new masking guidelines from the CDC.
Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are working to win Senate passage of a big criminal justice reform package this Congress.
Why it matters: Crime is spiking in big cities. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is still working on a police reform measure. The bipartisan dynamic duo atop the Senate Judiciary Committee is stepping up, passing three piecemeal bills out of their committee.
Ten years after she returned to Congress, former Rep. Gabby Giffords tells Axios it's "a huge disappointment" the House and Senate have been unable "to pass even the most basic, commonsense gun safety laws."
Why it matters: In the decade since the Arizona Democrat and 17 others were shot — with six killed, including an aide — outside a supermarket in Tucson, there have been more than 200 mass shootings in the United States.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) can be heard saying "it would be hard not to hit" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the speaker's gavel if Republicans retake the House in 2022 and he becomes speaker, according to new audio posted to Twitter by a Main Street Nashville reporter.
Driving the news: McCarthy made the comments during a fundraising event in Tennessee, as he was handed an oversized gavel by members of the Tennessee congressional delegation, reports CNN.
Millions of homeowners are delinquent on their mortgage, and after the foreclosure moratorium expired Saturday, many of them face the threat of eviction, the Washington Post reports.
Why it matters: About 1.8 million homeowners are still enrolled in forbearance, a provision that allowed monthly mortgage payments to be deferred, as the program ends next month.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Sunday that the United States and United Kingdom, respectively, now believe Iran was likely responsible for last week's drone strike on an oil tanker in the Arabian sea.
Why it matters: The United States and Britain now join Israel in accusing Tehran of being behind the July 29 attack off the coast of Oman. Iran has denied involvement.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said on Sunday that he would support the House select committee investigating the Jan 6. Capitol riot in issuing subpoenas to Republican members of Congress.
Driving the news: Kinzinger told ABC's "This Week" that he would be in favor of issuing subpoenas to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) said they believe that the massive infrastructure bill has enough support to pass in the Senate, with Manchin saying the chamber should "finish up" by Thursday.
Why it matters: A bipartisan group of senators, including Manchin and Collins, have been negotiating the deal for months and are cutting it close to their self-imposed deadline for passing the measure before August recess.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Sunday that the United States is unlikely to return to lockdowns but that the "outbreak" driven by the Delta variant is likely to get worse.
The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee is investigating an outdoor drinking party at the athletes village, after it broke rules designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, officials said Sunday, per AP.
Why it matters: Before the games, athletes who are competing were warned that drinking alcohol in groups was a breach of the rules intended to limit COVID-19 infections.
Myanmar's ruling military leader Min Aung Hlaing pledged during a televised address Sunday to hold multi-party elections and promised to work with "any special envoy named by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," per Reuters.
Why it matters: The military has faced sanctions and been condemned by the U.S., the United Nations and others for seizing power in a Feb. 1 coup during which it detained democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other government officials. Dozens of protesters have since been killed or detained across Myanmar.
Former President Trump's political action committees (PACs) raised more than $82 million in the first half of 2021, per Federal Election Commission filings published on Saturday.
Why it matters: It's a significant amount for a former president who's been banned from major social media platforms. It demonstrates his ability to raise huge sums of money should he choose to run for the presidency for a third time.
