Axios

Vice President Kamala Harris is replacing her outgoing chief of staff Tina Flournoy with a senior advisor who's been working with the VP since last summer.

Driving the news: Flournoy has been with the team from the beginning and is the highest-ranking of the VP's office to leave amid a flurry of other significant departures in the last several months. A White House official told Axios Flournoy is departing for "personal reasons."

California's Department of Public Health announced Thursday that it has launched a Spanish- and English-language chatbot to help spread reliable information about COVID-19 and the safety of its vaccines.

Why it matters: The launch makes California the first state to try out a tool of this kind, the press release noted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) will be two of the recipients presented with this year's John F. Kennedy "Profile in Courage" awards.

Driving the news: Recipients of the award are being honored "for their courage to protect and defend democracy in the United States and abroad," the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation said in a statement Thursday.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Kentucky's recently enacted 15-week abortion ban on Thursday.

Why it matters: The law, which does not allow exceptions for rape or incest, included a slew of other provisions that caused Kentucky's only two abortion providers, Planned Parenthood and EMW Women’s Surgical Center, to stop performing abortions.

The campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is rebuking the political action committee connected to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over its plan to spend just a sliver of its 2022 midterm campaign budget on Spanish-language ads.

Why it matters: Establishment Democratic groups and PACs are facing harsh criticism from Latino supporters. They say white party leaders continue to ignore Latino voters, despite warnings and evidence from 2020 that the Republican Party is making inroads with Hispanics.

Barack and Michelle Obama are parting ways with Spotify, Bloomberg first reported and Axios Pro's Tim Baysinger confirmed.

Why it matters: The breakup comes as Higher Ground, the former first family’s production company, and Spotify have clashed over the past 3 years of their partnership, according to Bloomberg. 

Thirteen sexual assault survivors abused by USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar have filed claims against the FBI totaling $130 million.

State of play: Lawyers for the survivors said the FBI failed "to properly investigate sexual abuse allegations" against Nassar. His victims as a result suffered "continued physical trauma and abuse, subsequent mental anguish, and emotional trauma," per the lawyers.

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Constitution does not require Congress to extend a federal disability benefits program to residents of Puerto Rico.

The big picture: In an 8-1 decision, the court held that, because Congress treats Puerto Rico residents "differently" from those living in the states for tax law purposes, "it could do the same for benefits programs."

A nonprofit group that coordinated help for Afghan refugees to the U.S. is launching a new effort to recruit 100,000 American residents to sponsor Ukrainian refugees.

The big picture: Welcome.US is spearheading the effort as the Biden administration announced on Thursday the "Uniting for Ukraine" program which will allow Ukrainian citizens to apply for humanitarian parole.

President Biden on Thursday met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the White House said.

Driving the news: "We had a good discussion," Biden said in remarks on Thursday. The pair discussed U.S. actions against Russia "in the effort to stop Putin's brutality," Biden said.

Jeff Ricchetti, the brother of senior White House official Steve Ricchetti, has been lobbying for the drug industry's top trade group, records show.

Why it matters: Ricchetti has pledged not to lobby the West Wing, but his newly disclosed deal with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a top K Street spender, shows corporate America still sees significant value in his services.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told the "Today" show Thursday that customers can get a refund for purchased tickets if they don’t want to fly after a federal judge in Florida struck down the mask mandate earlier this week.

Why it matters: The Transportation Security Administration stopped enforcing the mandate after the ruling, which was appealed by Department of Justice on Wednesday.

President Biden on Thursday announced a "new humanitarian parole program" to welcome Ukrainian citizens fleeing Russia's unprovoked invasion into the U.S.

The big picture: The program — known as "Uniting for Ukraine" — is part of the Biden administration's commitment to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing the war.

President Biden sent his administration's first national drug control strategy to Congress, the White House announced Thursday.

Why it matters: Deaths from overdoses recently hit a new record of nearly 107,000 over the past 12 months, according to provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Activision Blizzard is adding two women senior executives to its board, sources familiar told Axios. The company is expected to announce soon that Lulu Cheng Meservey is joining immediately and that it will nominate Kerry Carr for election at its annual meeting in June.

Why it matters: Activision's board has been criticized for sticking by CEO Bobby Kotick over the past year amid allegations of a toxic culture, which has led to discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuits, federal investigations and worker attrition.

Nearly half of Hispanic voters in Texas surveyed in Emerson College's new nationwide initiative on Latinos said they have a very or somewhat positive view of the Democratic Party. Only 25% said the same about the Republican Party.

Why it matters: The initiative is the latest by a polling group to gather information about the attitudes and beliefs of Latinos after decades of neglect as the number of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. rises.

The General Services Administration (GSA), which helps federal agencies build, purchase and retrofit office space, has cut its building portfolio's annual operational greenhouse gas emissions by 51% compared to fiscal 2008 levels, the agency first told Axios.

Why it matters: The Biden administration has set a government-wide goal of cutting emissions by 50% by 2032, which means the GSA is about a decade ahead of that target.

Steal $201 shoes in New Jersey and you face a felony. Steal the same sneakers in Texas, it's a misdemeanor.

The big picture: Some states haven't changed their thresholds for felonies in years. Advocates are pushing them to create updated standards, arguing that outdated laws are unfairly making felons out of people who committed minor crimes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his defense minister in a televised meeting to cancel plans to storm Ukraine's final stronghold in Mariupol and instead block the Azovstal steel plant so "not a fly" can escape.

The big picture: Ukrainian officials earlier called for a "special round of negotiations" in Mariupol without conditions in order to help evacuate civilians from the besieged southeastern port city's steel plant.

The U.S. Capitol complex was briefly evacuated Wednesday after what police said was a "probable" aircraft intrusion. The plane was carrying members of the U.S. Army Golden Knights, who parachuted into Nationals Park for an event, AP reports.

The latest: The Federal Aviation Administration issued a statement late Wednesday announcing it's launching a review into the incident — after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress would review what went wrong, calling the FAA's "apparent failure to notify Capitol Police ... outrageous and inexcusable."

Mask use is "highly effective" at reducing COVID-19 transmission and the World Health Organization recommends people wear face coverings in public even if there are no mandates, a top regional WHO official said Wednesday.

Why it matters: Ciro Ugarte, director of health emergencies at the WHO's Pan American Health Organization, made the comments at a briefing in response to questions about the U.S. and other countries dropping face mask requirements in recent weeks.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday its "zero-tolerance policy" toward unruly airline passengers will be made permanent, according to a statement from the agency.

Driving the news: The FAA's announcement comes in the wake of a court ruling that struck down the federal traveler mask mandate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said after his military claimed to have successfully tested its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in Russia that the nuclear-capable projectile would make Moscow's enemies "think twice," per AP.

Why it matters: While the Pentagon said the launch wasn't a threat and the Kremlin had given the U.S. advance notice, it underscores the Biden administration's increasing concerns that Putin now sees "little downside to provocative actions" as Russia has become isolated following its invasion of Ukraine, the New York Times notes.

Both incumbent and non-incumbent Democratic candidates are outraising their Republican counterparts in battleground Senate races, according to new campaign finance reports for the first quarter of the year.

Why it matters: Democrats face a difficult midterm season in November. The new filings indicate their best hope: an electorate that’s energized — even if on both sides — by the high stakes of races that will decide control of Congress.