Why it matters: The legislation, approved 267-157, is part of Democrats' response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last month and conservative Justice Clarence Thomas' signaling that rulings on marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights and contraception could also be reconsidered.
The first openly gay mayor of a small town in Oklahoma said he is resigning this week after an increase in threats to his safety.
Driving the news: The Village Mayor Adam Graham, who took on the role in May, said that in the last month he has been "followed home from meetings, threatened while walking my dog, harassed at Starbucks and have had my tires slashed."
Seventeen House Democrats were detained Tuesday at an abortion rights rally protesting the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Driving the news: U.S. Capitol Police said that it started arresting demonstrators after they failed to follow their three warnings to stop blocking a street in Washington, D.C. near the Supreme Court.
Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that he is dropping out of the congressional race in New York's 10th Congressional District.
Driving the news: "It's clear to me that when it comes to this congressional district, people are looking for another option and I respect that," de Blasio said in a video posted to his Twitter account.
The National Archives on Tuesday requested that the U.S. Secret Service investigate "the potential unauthorized deletion" of text messages from Jan. 5 and Jan. 6, 2021.
Driving the news: In the letter, the archives asked the Secret Service to "look into" the missing messages and send a report if "it is determined that any text messages have been improperly deleted."
House Republican leadership isn't telling their members how to vote on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and codify federal recognition for same-sex and interracial marriages but is instead advising them to vote their conscience, a senior GOP aide told Axios.
Why it matters: The bill, introduced by House Democrats, serves a dual purpose: It reassures liberals concerned about the 6-3 conservative Supreme Court and forces Republicans to go on the record on an issue that is widely popular with the general public.
The White House announced Tuesday an executive order aimed at bolstering the administration's efforts to "bring hostages and wrongfully detained United States Nationals home," including sanctioning individuals who are involved in hostage-taking.
Driving the news: "This [executive order] expands the tools available to deter and disrupt hostage-taking and wrongful detentions," the White House said in a statement.
Democrats boosting a hard-right Republican gubernatorial candidate in Maryland are targeting a particular brand of voter: she loves hunting and country music, has no interest in yoga or public libraries and lives in one of America's wealthiest ZIP codes.
Driving the news: Those are just a few of the targeting criteria for a Democratic Governors Association ad campaign touting Republican Dan Cox's conservative bona fides ahead of Tuesday's Maryland GOP primary, according to Meta ad targeting data.
Despite lawsuits and political name-calling about how cities, counties and states are spending their COVID-19 relief funds, much of the money is going to the mundane purposes it was meant for — like paying government workers and replacing tax revenue lost during the pandemic, U.S. Treasury Department data shows.
Why it matters: Many local lawmakers are busy deciding how to spend their share of the $350 billion in emergency funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the flame-throwing going on overhead can singe the process.
We don't yet know when the House Jan. 6 committee will issue its report. But when it does, it'll get the treatment seen in the past for the Watergate and 9/11 reports.
Driving the news: Twelve Books, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, will announce Tuesday that it plans to publish "The January 6 Report" in partnership with the New York Times.
Nearly eight in 10 Americans think we won't be rid of COVID-19 in our lifetimes, according to the latest installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
Why it matters: The poll is new evidence that most Americans have moved past the pandemic and are likelier to be focused on inflation and making ends meet than what variant is spreading or what COVID treatments are available.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday called for the modernization of world trading practices in order to be less dependent on countries like China for products, which she said has "benefited enormously" from the current system.
Driving the news: "We cannot allow countries like China to use their market position in key raw materials, technologies or products to disrupt our economy or exercise unwanted geopolitical leverage," Yellen said in a speech in Seoul.
Former deputy national security adviser Matthew Pottinger will testify in person during Thursday's prime-time Jan. 6 hearing, a source familiar with the committee's plans told Axios.
Why it matters: Pottinger is a significant witness for the committee to showcase. He's highly respected on both sides of the aisle and worked for former President Trump from the start of his administration until Pottinger resigned in the immediate aftermath of the Capitol riot.
Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday as part of her trip to the U.S. this week, during which she will address members of Congress at the Capitol.
University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson will no longer use the nickname "AR-15" and will rebrand a line of merchandise linked to him.
Driving the news: Richardson had used "AR-15," a combination of his initials and his jersey number, as his brand, but now says it’s important his name is not linked in any way to the semiautomatic rifle used in several recent mass shootings.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) was initially seen as one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats up for re-election this year. But as New Hampshire's Sept. 13 primary draws closer, there's still no clear Republican frontrunner to take her on in November.
Why it matters: The GOP establishment's failure to coalesce around one viable candidate after its initial favorite — New Hampshire's current Gov. Chris Sununu — decided not to enter the race has helped clear the way for Democratic incumbent.
Pennsylvania's Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, will attend a fundraiser in Philadelphia on Thursday — his first major in-person appearance since suffering a stroke two months ago.
Why it matters: If Fetterman can demonstrate he's well on the road to recovery, it would be welcome news to Democrats who fear his health problems could jeopardize their chances of winning a crucial Senate seat this fall.
Just two years after calls to defund the police erupted in the wake of George Floyd's murder, Democrats in states like Ohio, Georgia and Florida are spotlighting law enforcement to boost their credibility on fighting crime.
Why it matters: The new effort to ward off Republican attacks comes after the defund debate damaged Democrats' reputation on crime — leading to party infighting and internal reflection over how to best message on police reform.
