A former police officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection was found guilty on all charges after a trial jury reached a verdict Monday, per NBC News.
Why it matters: Thomas Robertson, who was fired from his position in Rocky Mount, Virginia, after the riots, is the second Jan. 6 defendant to take his case to jury. Guy Reffitt was also found guilty on all counts last month.
The Interior Department announced Monday it's investing $46 million to address the impacts of climate change in Indigenous communities.
Why it matters: Researchers have found that the near-total loss of historical lands leaves Indigenous people in the U.S. more vulnerable to climate change. Its disproportionate impact, including reduced access to traditional foods, decreased water quality and exposure to health hazards, severely exacerbates socioeconomic inequities.
The bipartisan Continuity of Government Commission is recommending a constitutional amendment to allow the House to temporarily fill vacancies when members die.
Why it matters: A number of concerns — including violence against lawmakers, the pandemic and Jan. 6 insurrection — have put a fresh spotlight on doomsday protocols. In this case, the question is what happens when a catastrophic event leads to the death of an elected member of Congress.
Two physicians, along with the families of two transgender teenagers, on Monday filed suit against Alabama to overturn a law that bans gender-affirming care for trans youth.
The big picture: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed the bill into law Friday. It makes it a felony for medical professionals to provide gender-affirming care for youth under the age of 19. The law will go into effect on May 8 unless blocked by a court, per AP.
President Biden on Monday announced Steve Dettelbach as his nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as new plans to regulate so-called "ghost guns."
Why it matters: With gun violence ravaging communities across America, the Biden administration is looking for administrative solutions to address the proliferation of illegal firearms.
A judge ruled Sunday night that former Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) cannot appear on Iowa's June 7 Democratic primary ballot.
Driving the news: Finkenauer has been competing for the Democratic Party's nomination to run against Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for his U.S. Senate seat.
A federal judge in D.C. Monday handed out a 45-day sentence to Jan. 6 defendant Paul Westover, according to a court document.
Driving the news: The Justice Department had argued during the trial that Westover "witnessed and celebrated the violence of that day," and urged the judge to sentence him to 90 days to "reflect the seriousness of the offense and promote respect for the law."
The White House Correspondents Association will require those attending its annual dinner to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
State of play: The association was already requiring attendees to provide proof of a same-day negative COVID test. It is now also encouraging guests to get a second booster shot if they are eligible as soon as this week for "maximum protection."
Maryland lawmakers voted over the weekend to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill that would expand abortion access and direct health insurers to cover the cost of getting the procedure.
The six political hotspots for 2022 — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nevada — are also expected to decide the 2024 election, former longtime senior Bill Clinton advisor Doug Sosnik writes in his latest midterms memo, shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: All have competitive governors' races in November. Five of the six (minus Nevada) were the only states to vote for the winning presidential candidates in both 2016 and 2020. And President Biden's approval is underwater in all of them.
Two former top officials in the Trump White House have secured billions of dollars from the Saudi government, in the form of investments in their new private equity funds, the New York Times reports.
Driving the news: Jared Kushner's firm, Affinity Equity, scored a $2 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, while former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's Liberty Strategic Capital secured $1 billion.
Mexicans who voted in a recall election Sunday overwhelmingly cast their ballots in favor of Andrés Manuel López Obrador remaining in office — but turnout was low, according to preliminary results.
Why it matters: The unprecedented election was designed to bolster support for the leftist leader, known as "AMLO," who was on course to secure roughly 90% of the votes, per Reuters.
Two Buffalo police officers were cleared of wrongdoing over a viral video showing them pushing a 75-year-old protester over during a June 2020 racial injustice demonstration following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, per AP.
Why it matters: Martin Gugino spent about a month in the hospital with a fractured skull and brain injury following the incident. But an arbitrator found that officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski did not violate the Buffalo Police Department's use-of-force guidelines.
New Zealand will send 50 troops, eight logistics specialists and a C-130 Hercules aircraft to Europe as part of efforts to assist Ukraine with weapons and aid, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday.
The big picture: The country of 5 million will also donate NZ$13 million (US$9 million) in further support, "including a contribution via the United Kingdom to procure weapons and ammunition," per a statement from Ardern.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told ABC's "This Week" Sunday that U.S. intelligence indicated "there was a plan from the highest levels of the Russian government" for its forces to commit atrocities in Ukraine.
What he's saying: "The images that we've seen out of Bucha and other cities have been tragic, they've been horrifying, they've been downright shocking, but they have not been surprising," Sullivan told ABC's Jonathan Karl.
Driving the news: "When everyone is telling you, you need to go, you need to think. Before I do something, I analyze the situation. I've always done it calmly, without any chaos," Zelensky told CBS' Scott Pelley in the interview via an interpreter. "I might not be the strongest warrior. But I'm not willing to betray anyone."
