Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has backed out of teaching a seminar at George Washington University's law school after calls to remove him from his position as adjunct professor.
Why it matters: The protests followed the Supreme Court's move to overturn Roe v. Wade, as well as Thomas' concurring opinion in the case, which called on the court to reconsider opinions protecting same-sex relationships, marriage equality and access to contraceptives. It's unclear if Thomas' decision not to teach the seminar is related.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced Wednesday he planned to support a deficit reduction package that addressed both climate change and prescription drug reform, a stark reversal for the one senator who has been blocking key planks of President Biden's agenda.
Why it matters: The declaration from Manchin marks yet another about-face in a year-long negotiation over the size and scope of a Democrat-only reconciliation package.
The man who allegedly killed seven people and wounded more than 30 others during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery, AP reports.
The big picture: The mass shooting sent shockwaves across Illinois and followed weeks of high-profile gun violence.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger urged demonstrators Wednesday to "stay home" rather than protest the upcoming Congressional Baseball Game, saying the department will not "tolerate violence or any unlawful behavior" during the event.
Why it matters: Congress plays a baseball game for various charities most years, but climate organizations and activists have said they plan to protest for federal legislation to address climate change at this year's game, which is set for Thursday night at Nationals Park.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on Wednesday blocked a unanimous consent request to pass legislation that would have created a federal right to birth control use.
Driving the news: Democrats moved to pass the bill through unanimous consent — meaning the bill would have been deemed passed had no one objected —in response to Justice Clarence Thomas' concurring opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, in which he said the Supreme Court should reconsider its precedents that protect access to contraceptives.
Driving the news: "We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release," Blinken said of the two Americans, who he said are "wrongfully detained."
The federal government's budget deficit will soar in coming decades, after a brief reprieve this year from climbing deficits, according to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The nonpartisan agency warns that the nation's fiscal position is set to become more challenging in the years ahead as deficits balloon and interest costs spike.
Why it matters: Trident Mortgage Company, a division of Berkshire HomeServices of America, agreed to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by “redlining” in what the Justice Department said was its second largest redlining settlement and its first against a non-bank lender.
The Senate voted 64-33 Wednesday to approve a $280 billion package meant to spur U.S. chip manufacturing, a major victory for the Biden administration and chip-makers.
Why it matters: The bill aims to reverse a long-term decline in domestic manufacturing of the computer chips that go into cars, computers, appliances and a range of other everyday items, after the pandemic exposed the fragility of the international supply chain.
Former Minneapolis police officers Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were sentenced Wednesday to three and 3 1/2 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in the killing of George Floyd in May 2020, AP reports.
President Biden has twice tested negative for coronavirus and will "discontinue his strict isolation measures," his physician wrote in a letter on Wednesday.
State of play: Biden will continue to wear a "well-fitting mask" for 10 full days when he's around others, Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, said.
The House sergeant-at-arms' office will cover the cost of security equipment at lawmakers' homes starting next month, per a memo sent to House members and staff this week.
Disney on Wednesday confirmed to Axios that it would allow political issue ads — in addition to candidate ads — on Hulu's streaming service, effective immediately, bringing Hulu's ad policies to parity with Disney's cable networks.
Why it matters: The change comes amid a controversy over Hulu's decision to reject political issue ads around guns and abortions from Democratic groups.
Ken Burns told me that during the seven years he worked on his forthcoming three-part documentary, "The U.S. and the Holocaust," he struggled with the "opacity" of the unfathomable fact that 6 million Jews were killed by Germany during World War II.
So the legendary documentarian said he opens with "a young, beautiful German woman leaning out a window and her parents or two other people come into the frame. And you're hearing that there were 9 million Jews in Europe in 1933. By 1945, two out of three are dead."
Federal investigators are questioning witnesses about former President Trump's conduct and examining his conversations with aides concerning the 2020 election as part of their criminal investigation, the Washington Post first reported Tuesday.
Why it matters: This would mark a major escalation in the Justice Department's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The reports came hours after Attorney General Merrick Garland declined to rule out prosecuting Trump.
Pope Francis' wearing of a traditional headdress during his historic apology in Canada this week for the abuse of generations of Indigenous children at Catholic-run Canadian residential schools is being criticized by some leaders in North America.
Why it matters: The headdress, often referred to as a war bonnet, is a sacred, highly regarded traditional item that has for hundreds of years been reserved for Indigenous communities' most respected leaders.
The family of slain Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh met with Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Tuesday to renew their demands for justice and call on the U.S. to conduct an investigation that "leads to real accountability," the family said.
The big picture: Abu Akleh was killed in May while covering an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank. She was wearing a bullet proof vest that was marked, "press."
There are currently more candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives than in any other election year since at least 1990, according to OpenSecrets data.
Why it matters: Out of more than 3,000 House candidates running in 2022, Republicans outnumber Democrats by 384 candidates, according to lobbyist Bruce Mehlman's closely watched quarterly slide deck. The trend likely reflects Republican enthusiasm and has preceded wave election years in the past.
A Republican super PAC created to prevent disgraced former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens from winning the Senate GOP primary has knocked the controversial candidate out of the lead, according to several new public polls in the race.
Why it matters: The effective Republican intervention in Missouri's wide-open primary proves that party leaders can successfully boost mainstream candidates, if they so choose.
Members of the House Jan. 6 committee are divided on whether to condemn the growing trend of Democrats meddling in GOP primaries to boost pro-Trump election deniers — a tactic designed to secure more favorable matchups in the general election.
Why it matters: The committee has spent the last year warning that former President Trump and his allies — including candidates running in this year's midterms — are endangering American democracy by casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
A group of House Democrats introduced a bill Tuesday that would enact term limits for Supreme Court justices, but it is unlikely to go anywhere.
Why it matters: Democrats have sought to curb the Supreme Court's authority since the majority-conservative bench overturned Roe v. Wade, with many arguing that the court overreached in its decision to strike down federal protections for abortion.
