Axios

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) during an Axios event Wednesday responded to former President Trump's praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine, saying "there is nothing smart" about invading another country.

Yes, but: Scott stopped short of criticizing Trump for referring to Putin as "very savvy" and for referring to Putin's move to claim two breakaway "republics" in eastern Ukraine as "genius."

The Biden administration included paid sick leave provisions as part of its new COVID-19 preparedness plan, which calls for a raft of measures meant to manage the U.S. through its new "post-pandemic" era.

Why it matters: The emergency sick leave provisions passed in 2020 at the outset of the pandemic expired that year and weren't renewed— despite protests from worker advocates and at least one study that showed the policy reduced the spread of the virus.

A man is suspected of assaulting seven Asian women in New York City in the span of roughly two hours on Sunday, the New York Police Department (NYPD) said Wednesday in a post asking the public to help track him down.

The big picture: The unprovoked attacks, which are being investigated by the department's Hate Crimes Task Force, follow a string of brutal murders of Asian Americans that have left the community shaken. Anti-Asian hate crimes in NYC jumped by 361% in 2021.

President Biden's State of the Union address was "a total disappointment" for Ukraine, a member of the country's parliament said in an interview with NBC's "TODAY," urging for the U.S. to establish a no-fly zone over the country.

The big picture: Biden reiterated in his the address that the U.S. will not send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia. This extends to a no-fly zone, which would require the U.S. military to potentially directly engage Russian air forces.

Explosions rang out on in Kyiv and Kharkiv as Russian forces intensified their bombing campaign on Ukrainian cities Wednesday on the seventh day of the invasion.

The latest: At least 21 people were killed and 112 others wounded in the Kharkiv bombardment after Russian airborne troops landed in the city about 8:30pm Tuesday ET, according to Ukrainian officials.

An embattled South Texas congressman holds a narrow lead over a progressive backed by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as vote-counting winds down early Wednesday in a closely watched Democratic primary race.

Driving the news: U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, has a 50% to 45.4% lead over Jessica Cisneros, an immigration attorney, with more than 99% of the votes counted in Texas' 28th congressional district.

• A third candidate has taken just shy of 5% of the vote — and if no candidate tops 50%, the top two vote-getters head to a runoff.
• The Associated Press overnight Tuesday declared that Cuellar and Cisneros were headed to a runoff.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is headed to a runoff against the scion of the Bush family on a night when other statewide Republican incumbents cruised to big victories.

Driving the news: With nearly all the ballots counted, Paxton, mired in corruption scandals, had just shy of 43% of the vote.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, delivering the GOP response to the State of the Union, said President Biden and Democrats "have sent us back in time to the late '70s and early '80s" with reminders of runaway inflation, violent crime and a time when "the Soviet army was trying to redraw the world map."

The big picture: Reynolds' speech, reflecting themes Republicans will campaign on as they seek to retake control of Congress in the midterms, was just one of several responses to Biden's address.

• Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) delivered one for the progressive Working Families Party. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) gave one for the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) spoke for the right-wing group Women for America First.
• Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), the co-chairs of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, also offered a "Problem Solvers Perspective" with the bipartisan group No Labels.

What they're saying: Reynolds said Republicans are leading a "pro-parent, pro-family revolution" as Republicans campaign on a parent's bill of rights and fight to win control of school boards.

• "They have a right to know, and to have a say in, what their kids are being taught."
• Tlaib centered her speech on Biden's Build Back Better spending plan even as she conceded it's "stalled" in the Senate.
• "Mr. President, the work is unfinished. But we are ready to jumpstart our efforts again," she said, while also lavishing praise on parts of his agenda that passed.

Gottheimer and Fitzpatrick took note of the rarity of a bipartisan State of the Union response. "That's not something you see very often," Fitzpatrick said.

• Gottheimer said lawmakers should try to compromise on policy and get "80% of something, rather than 100% of nothing."
• Allred said the Black Caucus is "committed to delivering the president’s agenda," specifically Build Back Better. "We call on the Senate to take up this bill and to put it on President Biden’s desk for him to sign it into law.”
• Greene called her response "the actual state of the union. The state of the union the media tries to hide from you. The state of Joe Biden's America," taking aim at "Democrat authoritarian pandemic shutdown policies."
• On Ukraine, Greene criticized Biden for sending troops to Eastern Europe to "defend another country's border," accusing "war-hawks, globalist elites and neo-cons" of "beating the drums of war."

President Biden set his sights at the State of the Union on Russian oligarchs, COVID fraudsters, social media platforms and even defund-the-police efforts — populist targets in a broader speech about national and global unity.

Why it matters: Biden's anti-Russia, pro-Ukraine passages inspired the only real partisan unity in the chamber.

President Biden said tonight that more COVID antiviral treatments will become available sooner than expected and that his administration is launching a program to immediately get those pills to people who test positive for the virus.

Why it matters: The pills dramatically reduce the chances that someone with COVID will become severely ill, making them a key tool for living with the virus. But that hinges on getting patients access to them in a timely manner after testing positive.

President Biden used his State of the Union speech to make clear that his vision of police reform includes more funding — not defunding — of police departments.

Why it matters: With crime rates threatening to hurt Democrats in the midterms, President Biden has been looking for ways to distance himself from progressives over how to combat crime without abandoning his campaign pledges.

President Biden confirmed during his State of the Union address Tuesday that the U.S. will bar Russian-owned and -operated flights from entering American airspace.

The latest: Boeing announced on Tuesday evening that it has suspended major operations in Moscow and temporarily closed its office in Kyiv.

Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, opted to sit on the Republicans' side of the House chamber during President Biden's first State of the Union address.

Why it matters: Manchin has been outspoken in recent days against what he has branded “hypocritical” policies on energy imports pursued by the Biden administration. N0netheless, he stood repeatedly with his fellow Democrats to applaud policies outlined by the president.

President Biden announced that his Justice Department will be naming a chief prosecutor for pandemic fraud during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Why it matters: Biden accused the Trump administration of not only growing the deficit through tax cuts "for the very wealthy and corporations," but also undermining watchdogs who ensured pandemic funds weren't wasted.

President Joe Biden, in a passionate call for supporting for Ukraine against a Russian invasion, mistakenly referred to Ukrainians as "Iranians."

What he said: "Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he'll never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people."

President Biden used the State of the Union not only to project optimism about the direction of the pandemic, but also to launch new efforts focused on mental health care and nursing home quality — two areas that have been shown to be deeply in need of reform over the last two years. 

Why it matters: The pandemic exposed and exacerbated deep societal problems, including within the health care system, and the work of addressing them is likely just beginning.

President Biden said Tuesday that getting inflation under control is his “top priority,” while warning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could lead to higher costs for American consumers.

Why it matters: The White House knows the country is frustrated with price hikes, but officials also want credit for strong GDP growth, job creation and low unemployment. Biden devoted a meaty section of his first State of the Union address to covering both topics.

President Biden began his first State of the Union address with an homage to the "iron will of the Ukrainian people," and a pledge to choke off Russia's economy to ensure Vladimir Putin pays the ultimate price for his unprovoked aggression.

Why it matters: Russia's economy is in free fall. The ruble has lost 30% of its value and trading on the Russian stock market remains suspended, as Putin scrambles to implement capital controls in response to Western sanctions that have been far more swift, united and painful than many could have predicted.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic candidate Beto O'Rourke will face off in the race for governor this November.

The big picture: Abbott on Tuesday night secured the Republican Party's nomination for re-election, while the Democrats made 2020 presidential candidate O'Rourke their nominee for governor as they hope to end decades of losses in the red state, per AP.

President Biden introduced Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova early in his State of the Union address to a standing ovation on both sides of the aisle.

What he's saying: "Let each of us here tonight in this chamber send an unmistakable signal to Ukraine and to the world," Biden said. "Please rise if you are able and show that, Yes, we the United States of America stand with the Ukrainian people."

Splashes of yellow and blue are dotting the House chamber ahead of Biden’s State of the Union address as individual members of both parties signal their support of Ukraine through their fashion decisions.

What we're watching: Biden is expected to announce a decision to ban Russian-owned and -operated flights from entering American airspace, following similar moves by the European Union, the U.K. and Canada.

Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., will be one of first lady Jill Biden's guests at the State of the Union address on Tuesday, the White House announced.

Driving the news: The first lady's guests were chosen "because they represent policies or themes to be addressed by the President in his speech," according to a statement.

Former national security adviser John Bolton said in an interview with Newsmax on Tuesday that it's inaccurate to say that former President Trump's behavior "deterred the Russians."

What they're saying: Newsmax's Rob Schmitt said Russia did not act aggressively until Trump was out of office and that the former president was "pretty tough against Russia in a lot of ways."