Rep. Jim Clyburn is cementing his Biden-era kingmaker status with Shontel Brown's win in Ohio, showing progressives he has a finger on the pulse of Democratic Party politics in a way they must acknowledge.
Driving the news: "I was going to stay right here in South Carolina minding my business until I got called stupid,” Clyburn told Axios in an interview Wednesday.
A bottle of whiskey worth $5,800 that was gifted to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by the Japanese government in 2019 cannot be located, according to a notice filed by the State Department.
Driving the news: The notice states that the department is looking into the situation and there is an "ongoing inquiry" into the bottle's whereabouts.
Law enforcement officials have identified 27-year-old Austin William Lanz from Georgia as the suspect in Tuesday's violent attack at a transit station outside the Pentagon, CNN reports.
Driving the news: The Pentagon Force Protection Agency earlier Wednesday identified the officer that was killed during the incident as George Gonzalez. He was stabbed and shot by Lanz, per CNN.
The Mexican government said it plans to sue a number of U.S.-based gun makers, alleging that the makers' loose controls allow for the weapons to be illegally trafficked into Mexico, the Washington Post reports.
Why it matters: Mexican officials believe the flow from the U.S. has helped contribute to the high rates of gun violence in parts of the country, per the Post.
The district attorneys for Manhattan and Westchester County on Wednesday requested evidence related to New York Attorney General Letitia James' investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), according to a letter obtained by NBC News.
Why it matters: The district attorneys are investigating if alleged conduct highlighted in an independent report published by James' office that occurred in their jurisdictions was criminal in nature.
Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), whose husband, Luke, died of COVID-19 in December, made an emotional, urgent plea on "CBS This Morning" for more Louisiana residents to get the coronavirus vaccine as the state faces a surge in new cases.
Driving the news: "He and I had prayed for weeks prior about the possibility of the vaccine and we were so excited that it was coming out and that it was going to be widely available," Letlow said in an interview that aired Wednesday. "And he missed it by two weeks."
Former President Trump's attorneys on Wednesday asked a federal judge to prevent the Treasury Department from releasing his tax returns to Congress, NBC News reports.
Driving the news: The Justice Department last week said the Treasury Department "must" release Trump's tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee, finding that the committee had "invoked sufficient reasons" for requesting the documents.
63% of registered voters in New York say that Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign after an independent investigation concluded he sexually harassed multiple women in violation of state and federal law, according to a Marist poll released Wednesday.
Why it matters: Cuomo has refused to resign in the immediate aftermath of the public findings, claiming on Tuesday that he has never touched anyone inappropriately.
An upset in Ohio on Tuesday night is giving moderate, Biden-aligned Democrats momentum vs. the party's vocal left ahead of next year's midterms.
Driving the news: In a special primaryfor U.S. House in the Cleveland area, Cuyahoga County Council member Shontel Brown pulled out a surprise victory for the Democratic establishment in Cleveland.
Former President Obama this week "significantly" scaled back his huge 60th birthday bash scheduled for this weekend amid heightened concerns about the COVID-19 Delta variant, the New York Times reports.
Catch up fast: Hundreds of guests had been invited to the party, including friends, family, former aides and celebrities, including Steven Spielberg, Axios' Sarah Mucha first reported.
President Biden spoke out Tuesday against Republican governors who've sought to block vaccine and mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases spike across the U.S.
Why it matters: Biden has tried to avoid making the pandemic a partisan issue, but the Washington Post notes the White House "has grown increasingly frustrated" with Republican leaders looking to obstruct health measures.
Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya left Japan on Wednesday, aboard a plane bound for Vienna after refusing national team orders to fly home amid concerns for her safety.
Driving the news: The 24-year-old Olympian had sought refuge at the Polish embassy in Tokyo, where she was granted a humanitarian visa. But she changed flights at the last minute and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight for Vienna, an airport official told reporters.
Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green was arrested along with a state lawmaker while protesting outside the Capitol and Supreme Court buildings in support of voting rights on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Green is the latest of several Democratic lawmakers arrested while protesting for voting rights in the U.S. Capitol in recent weeks.
Shontel Brown, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party chair and a county councilwoman, on Tuesday won the Democratic primary in the race for former Rep. Marcia Fudge's seat, after opponent Nina Turner conceded.
Why it matters: Brown could become the third consecutive Black woman to represent the 11th District.
Coal lobbyist Mike Carey won the Republican nomination for Ohio's 15th congressional district on Tuesday, AP reports.
Why it matters: Carey became the favorite in the race after former President Trump endorsed him in June. The seat was previously held by Steve Stivers, who left in May to become president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
