President Biden in his annual Super Bowl interview Sunday told NBC the NFL "should be held to a reasonable standard" when it comes to its racial hiring practices.
Why it matters: The NFL has long been criticized for its lack of Black coaches. Despite Black players making up a majority of the league, there are currently three people of color with head coaching jobs, per NBC, and the majority of roles are held by white men.
An annual global democracy index dropped to its lowest score since tracking began in 2006, with just 45.7% of the world's population living in a democracy of some sort.
Why it matters: At his inaugural "Summit for Democracy" in December, President Biden cast the global advance of authoritarianism as "the defining challenge of our time." He pledged to spend up to $424 million over the next year on democratic renewal initiatives.
Russia may be on the cusp of invading Ukraine, but it's the Taliban's advance on Kabul shaping much of the U.S. response.
Why it matters: After being branded incompetent and seeing their popularity ratings plummet after the Afghanistan debacle, President Biden and his team have decided to overshare information, coordinate closely and publicly with allies and tell Americans to leave the embattled country — now.
A swastika drawn on a window shade in purple ink was found inside the U.S. embassy in Bulgaria last month, Axios has learned, raising concern within the State Department headquarters itself about antisemitism.
Driving the news: News of the discovery circulated in Washington on Friday after the embassy in Sofia sent back a diplomatic cable describing the incident.
The image was first identified on Jan. 28, a day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Another swastika was found inside the department itself last July, as first reported by Axios.
Neither President Biden nor former President Trump have the majority of their respective parties' full support when it comes to the 2024 presidential election, a CNN poll out Sunday finds.
Why it matters: While the poll's results indicate many voters would like to see their party find an alternative to Biden or Trump, they also suggest few have specific candidates in mind as prospective replacements.
Local political candidates, eager to boost their name recognition in competitive races, are buying regional ads to run during the Super Bowl.
Why it matters: The Super Bowl is by far the most-viewed television event in America, making it a local candidate’s best opportunity to reach voters live. But many viewers — who have flocked to subscription streaming — may still be shocked to see a political ad alongside glossy Hollywood-produced car and beer commercials.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday played up Republican support for Judge J. Michelle Childs to become President's Biden's Supreme Court pick, saying that "anyone else would be problematic."
Why it matters: Childs has emerged as a finalist to be the first Black woman on the court, according to multiple reports, and has won bipartisan favor from her state's leading lawmakers: Graham and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D).
Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), who suffered a stroke in late January, said in a Twitter video posted Sunday that he'll return “in just a few short weeks” to vote on President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee.
What he's saying: “I’m doing well. I’m strong. I’m back on the road to recovery, and I’m going to make a full recovery," Luján said in the video, in which he was flanked by his doctors. "I'm going to walk out of here, I'm going to beat this, and I'm going to be stronger once I come out."
President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday "agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence," the White House said in a readout of the call.
Why it matters: The 50-minute call comes a day after Biden spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin, warning the Russian president that the U.S. and allies will "respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs" if Russia invades Ukraine.
"Defund the Police" is “not the position of the Democratic Party," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told ABC's "This Week" Sunday in response to Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who said she will persist using the slogan despite her colleagues' disapproval.
Why it matters: The position has driven a wedge between progressive and moderate Democrats, with those who support it largely taking the blame for Democratic losses in 2020 House elections.
Russian President Vladimir Putin "should pay very close attention to" the unity among the U.S. and allies around severe sanctions that would come should Russia invade Ukraine, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Sunday.
Why it matters: The speaker's comments during an appearance on ABC's "This Week" come as fears of an imminent incursion, as soon as this week, continue to rise.
David McCormick, the former CEO of Bridgewater Associates who is running for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat, will air a "Let’s go Brandon" ad during the Super Bowl on Sunday, Fox News first reported.
The big picture: The 30-second spot aims to underscore the problems facing the Biden administration — including inflation, rising crime rates, immigration and the U.S.' pullout from Afghanistan — while the "Let's go Brandon" chant can be heard in the background.
Poland has opened its borders to Americans leaving Ukraine by land without advance approval, the State Department said on Saturday, as it encouraged U.S. citizens to "depart immediately."
State of play: The Biden administration announced on Friday it would deploy several thousand troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to Poland to bolster NATO defenses. They are also expected to aid in evacuating Americans.
One of the nation's largest Native American tribes is searching for family stories connected to formerly enslaved Black people once owned by tribal members.
The big picture:Cherokee Nation principal chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. told Axios it was wrong for Cherokees to once participate in slavery, and the tribe wants to fix history by acknowledging Black descendants.
