The Jan. 6 select committee has subpoenaed Salesforce, the customer relationship management giant and a major Republican National Committee vendor, for sensitive information about the RNC's fundraising, Axios has learned.
The RNC plans to sue to stop the disclosure, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the dispute. An advance copy of the complaint filed was reviewed by Axios.
Why it matters: It's the most significant legal confrontation so far between the GOP's official apparatus and the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek told attendees at the company's annual meeting of shareholders Wednesday that the company opposes Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill and "were opposed to the bill from the outset."
Why it matters: Disney has faced backlash for choosing to remain silent on the bill, which would prevent educators from talking to students about LGBTQ+ topics that are not considered "age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate."
The Biden administration does not currently support sending Polish warplanes to Ukraine, viewing the move as "high risk" and "not likely to change the effectiveness" of Ukraine's air force relative to Russia's capabilities, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Why it matters: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and bipartisan members of Congress have demanded that the U.S. facilitate the transfer of the Soviet-era MiG-29s to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's aerial assault.
The number of hate and anti-government extremist groups declined for the third year in a row in 2021, but their ideologies have gained traction and entered the mainstream, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
Why it matters: Buoyed by the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, white nationalists, neo-Nazis and far-right militias have found ways to leave the fringes and infiltrate the highest levels of government, the SPLC says.
A plane carrying former President Trump made an emergency landing in New Orleans late Saturday after suffering engine failure over the Gulf of Mexico, the Washington Post reports.
The big picture: The plane took off from New Orleans, where Trump spoke to Republican donors at a private event, and was en route to Palm Beach, Fla., per the Post. Approximately 75 miles after taking off, the plane turned around and returned to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday restored California's legal authority to set tailpipe emissions standards that are stricter than the federal rules.
Why it matters: The move restores California's status as a climate regulator after former President Trump stripped the state of that power when he was in office. The EPA has long signaled its intent to reverse the rollbacks.
Last-minute delays in passing a sweeping spending bill have upended the first day of the three-day House retreat where Democrats hoped to plan everything from messaging on inflation to immigration and election reform.
Why it matters: The delay marks a moment of miscalculation and discord for House Democrats just ahead of an event geared toward building unity, showcasing achievements and honing messaging for the pivotal midterms.
Former Trump White House senior adviser Stephen Miller on Wednesday filed a civil suit against the House Jan. 6 select committee in an attempt to block subpoenas of his phone records.
Driving the news: "The Subpoena is overly broad and seeks information that is unrelated to the purposes whereby Congress established the Select Committee," according to court filings out Wednesday.
The U.S. can meet its energy needs without Russia, White House economic adviser Heather Boushey told Axios at an event Wednesday, adding that a pivot toward clean energy could help keep Americans from paying high gas prices in the future.
Why it matters: Gas prices hit a record high on Tuesday at $4.173 per gallon. The U.S. on the same day banned imports of Russian oil in response to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
A grand jury indicted a Colorado election official on 1o counts as part of an investigation into tampering with the results of the 2020 election.
Driving the news: The criminal charges against Mesa County clerk Tina Peters announced Wednesday include seven felony counts for attempting to influence a public servant, criminal impersonation and identify theft.
Congressional leaders said they reached a bipartisan deal early Wednesday to provide $13.6 billion to help Ukraine and $15.6 billion for COVID-19 relief, as part of a $1.5 trillion measure to fund the government.
Why it matters: The size of the Ukraine package — more than double the original request from the White House — reflects a sense of urgency among members of both parties after President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with senators over Zoom to provide more humanitarian, military and economic assistance.
Congress appears likely to allocate more than $15 billion more toward pandemic preparedness, but that probably wouldn't be enough to adequately safeguard the U.S. against future waves of COVID-19 — or even a potential wave this fall.
Why it matters: Having vaccines and therapeutics ready for a threat that may not fully materialize is difficult and expensive, but the alternative is risking hundreds of thousands more deaths and another huge hit to the economy.
After a pandemic, multiple food shortages, the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and now an exodus of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian military, global aid groups say they can barely keep up with the world's cascading humanitarian crises.
Why it matters: Governments around the world rely on help from large non-governmental organizations to feed, house and care for people facing catastrophe and displacement. But they tell Axios they're being stretched past their breaking points.
Venezuela has freed U.S. citizens Gustavo Cardenas and Jorge Fernandez from detention, the White House announced just before midnight Tuesday.
Why it Matters: The announcement signals a possible thawing of tensions between Washington and the Latin American country, amid Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
The House delayed a vote on legislation to sanction Russia after the White House intervened to block a key provision of the bill — roiling lawmakers from both parties, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Congress has consistently struggled to come together in its efforts to place economic pressure on Russia to try to force an end to its invasion of Ukraine.
Children are falling severely behind in reading as the world enters its third year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to multiple studies.
The big picture: Though U.S. literacy rates were already dipping prior to COVID-19, studies show that roughly a third of kindergarten through second-grade students are missing reading benchmarks compared to about 21% in 2019.
Senate candidates in some of the most competitive states entered this election year with a running start from big fundraising totals in 2021, Federal Election Commission records show.
The big picture: First and third place went to Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Mark Kelly of Arizona — two of the most-targeted Democrats. In between is Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who's been worried about a progressive challenger.
President Biden's announcement of a U.S. ban on Russian energy imports came loaded with two phrases he wants Americans to remember: "Putin's price hike" and "Putin's war."
Why it matters: Already damaged by inflation and other repercussions of the COVID-19 economy, Biden is using this moment to redirect Americans' anger toward Russian President Vladimir Putin — and to try to insulate himself and the Democratic Party over crucial blame during this midterm year and beyond.
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