The Biden administration plans to test providing temporary I.D. cards to unauthorized immigrants awaiting a final decision on their cases, according to two government sources familiar with the planning.
Why it matters: Recent border crossers and other unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. often do not have I.D.s , making it more difficult to access housing, healthcare, transportation and other benefits.
President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the White House announced.
Driving the news: Biden's symptoms have improved after his first full day taking Pfizer's antiviral pill Paxlovid, his physician said in a letter on Friday.
Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. announced this week that he will oversee the new Oxford Dictionary of African American English as editor-in-chief.
Why it matters: Many of English's most popular words and catchphrases have roots in Black communities. Linguists and Black advocates have said for years these contributions must be codified and honored.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday signed a first-of-its-kind gun control bill that allows residents to sue gun makers and aims to crack down on "ghost guns."
Why it matters: The measure is built on the same premise as the Texas abortion law that empowers residents to sue anybody who is suspected of helping another person receive an abortion.
Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark could face punishment from the D.C. Bar over his efforts to assist former President Donald Trump in overturning the 2020 election.
Driving the news: The D.C. Bar's Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed a petition in late June to launch disciplinary proceedings against the environmental lawyer for engaging in dishonesty and interfering with the administration of justice, according to the filing released to the public on Friday.
President Biden's coronavirus symptoms "have improved" after completing his first full day of taking Pfizer's antiviral pill, Paxlovid, his physician said in a letter on Friday.
Driving the news: Biden was given Tylenol to treat his 99.4 fever overnight, to which he "responded favorably." His symptoms remain a runny nose and cough, and his "pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation remain entirely normal," the letter states.
Jay Carney, who was White House press secretary under President Obama, will move from Amazon to Airbnb as global head of policy and communications.
Why it matters: Carney — as Amazon's SVP of global corporate affairs, and one of the closest advisers to founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos — is among the nation's most powerful and prominent tech executives.
Former President Trump’s top allies are preparing to radically reshape the federal government if he is re-elected, purging potentially thousands of civil servants and filling career posts with loyalists to him and his "America First” ideology, people involved in the discussions tell Axios.
The impact could go well beyond typical conservative targets such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Internal Revenue Service. Trump allies are working on plans that would potentially strip layers at the Justice Department — including the FBI, and reaching into national security, intelligence, the State Department and the Pentagon, sources close to the former president say.
Some Republican senators say they are open to reviewing a House-passed bill protecting access to birth control, potentially teeing up another surprising bipartisan response to fallout from the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Between the lines: Democrats are eager to force Republicans on the record as not supporting birth control in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning the federal right to abortion — and only months before the midterm elections. But there's a chance that a messaging bill could wind up being something more.
A man "attempted to stab" Rep. Lee Zeldin, the New York Republican gubernatorial candidate, at a rally on Thursday, his campaign said. No one was injured in the attack in Perinton, Monroe County, authorities said.
The latest: The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said in a statement early Friday that a suspect was charged with second degree attempted assault after a man climbed on stage at the event with "a weapon in his hand, swung it towards Zeldin's neck, and told him, 'You're done.'"
Sri Lankan security forces raided a Colombo anti-government protest camp outside the president's office and evicted demonstrators early on Friday, multiple images from the scene show.
Why it matters: The crackdown came hours after former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as president. A fixture of Sri Lanka's establishment, he is deeply distrusted by protesters who brought down his predecessor after months of demonstrations over the country's economic crisis, per Axios' Dave Lawler.
The Jan. 6 committee, through testimony from top White House officials and Donald Trump's twitter feed, showed how the former president watched in real time as a violent mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol but resisted calls to act.
Why it matters: Without the major revelations of past hearings, Thursday's primetime presentation, the last of the summer, was about driving home how many top Trump officials, members of Congress and allies were appalled by Trump's inaction on Jan. 6, and the former president's unabashed decision to let the insurrection play out for hours.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee, said Thursday that there was "no ambiguity [and] no nuance" that former President Trump violated his oath of office.
Why it matters: Cheney's closing remarks come after a primetime hearing during which committee members tied Trump's actions to the violence that day — and his deliberate inaction to stop it.
Sports great Bo Jackson has revealed that he helped pay for the funerals of the victims of the elementary school mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, AP reported Thursday.
Driving the news: The former MLB and NFL star told AP he and a friend flew to Uvalde three days after the 19 children and two teachers were killed in May's Robb Elementary School massacre and offered to pay for "all funeral expenses," giving Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) a check for $170,000.
Why it matters: The newly unveiled footage is meant to highlight Trump's lack of remorse and accountability in the days after the Capitol riot, which was carried out by supporters emboldened by his claims of a "stolen" election.
The Jan. 6 select committee on Thursday unveiled new footage, photos and testimony that underscores how former Vice President Pence and congressional leaders worked to end the violence at the Capitol.
Why it matters: The footage is meant to demonstrate how Trump was inert and even counterproductive in quelling violence at the Capitol in stark contrast with the nation's other leaders — Democrat and Republican.
Driving the news: Matthews testified that after Trump's tweet, she urged then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany to speak to the former president and tell him to send another tweet in an effort to end the violence.
Why it matters: The testimony, played by the panel during a Thursday hearing alongside other public and private comments about calls McCarthy made that day, underscore the sharp contrast between the Republican leader's attitude about the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 and his subsequent re-embrace with the former president.
The Jan. 6 select committee on Thursday presented evidence that the Secret Service and National Security Council expressed concerns on Jan. 6 that then-Vice President Mike Pence would be stuck at the Capitol as the riot unfolded.
Why it matters: The evidence is meant to underscore the stakes on that day as rioters got within just five to 10 feet of the vice president, who they blamed for refusing to attempt to overturn the election in then-President Trump's favor.
Lake Mead's water levels have sunk to the lowest since 1937, when the reservoir was being filled for the first time, according to newly released satellite pictures from NASA.
Why it matters: The images show the dramatic change in the lake's water levels in the past 22 years, a trend that continues to accelerate amid the effects of climate change. Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the U.S., was at 27% of capacity as of Monday, per NASA. The dwindling water supply has led to multiple wildfires.
The Jan. 6 panel revealed Thursday in its prime-time public hearing that the White House phone logs and presidential daily diary were left blank during the "critical period" when the Capitol was under attack.
Driving the news: "As you can see, there is no official record of President Trump receiving or placing a call between 11:06am and 6:54pm," Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) said, showing the presidential log on screen during the hearing.
