Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the chair of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, floated to colleagues the idea of laying the groundwork for an investigation into the Biden administration's approach to Russia-Ukraine peace talks, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Republican criticism of President Biden's approach to the conflict has splintered as the conflict has dragged on. While establishment GOP senators have urged Biden to speed up and diversify weapon sales to Ukraine, MAGA-aligned Republicans have demanded Kyiv enter negotiations to avert the risk of nuclear escalation.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) publicly confirmed Tuesday what many in Washington and Europe privately fear: a Republican-controlled House could shut off the spigot funding Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against Russia's invasion.
Why it matters: Unlike aggressive oversight hearings or political messaging bills, a Republican majority's approach to Ukraine would reverberate far beyond the Beltway. A reduction or halt in U.S. military aid would create a geopolitical earthquake with the potential to alter the trajectory of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war.
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday elected councilmember Paul Krekorianas its new president to replace Nury Martinez, the body's previous president who resigned from the council last week after leaked audio revealed her making racist remarks about another member's son.
Why it matters: It's a step toward stabilizing the legislative body, which has been hindered by public disruptions in the fallout of the audio scandal first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
A jury acquitted Igor Danchenko, an analyst hired to compile parts of the Steele dossier that alleged ties between Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, of charges of lying to the FBI on Tuesday.
Why it matters: It is a major blow to special counsel John Durham's multi-year investigation into the origins of the Russia probe and possible misconduct by U.S. law enforcement.
The New York state attorney general's office and governor on Tuesday released the findings of an investigative report on the role of online platforms in the mass shooting in Buffalo earlier this year.
Why it matters: The report is another indication that radicalization on fringe platforms and the pipeline of online, right-wing misinformation to the real world has played a major role in recent mass shootings.
Black, Hispanic and Indigenous adults are more likely to get hospitalized for the flu and less likely to be vaccinated against it compared to white adults, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday.
The big picture: The report, which comes amid an early start to flu season in the U.S., highlights the work needed to close gaps in access to care.
Newly released police body-camera footage obtained by the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald shows how Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial voter fraud arrests unfolded in August.
Why it matters: The police footage shows the level of concern and confusion over who is allowed to vote in Florida, and comes as several notable Republicans have made claims of widespread voter fraud ahead of the 2022 midterms.
President Biden on Tuesday said that he would make an abortion rights bill the first piece of legislation he will send to Congress next year if Democrats elect more senators and his party keeps control of the House.
Why it matters: With exactly three weeks until Election Day and the renewed pressure of high inflation, Biden is doubling down on making abortion the centerpiece of the midterm elections.
Workers at an Amazon warehouse near Albany, New York, overwhelmingly rejected a union bid on Tuesday, according to a count from the National Labor Relations Board.
Why it matters: The 406 to 206 vote against unionizing deals a major blow to the Amazon Labor Union. It would've been the second Amazon site in the U.S. to unionize.
The latest FBI crime dataonce more shows how some communities along the U.S.-Mexico border have lower violent crime rates than other U.S. cities similar in size.
The big picture: Many Republicans have focused on illegal immigration during this year's midterms, often portraying border communities as dangerous and lawless.
Kyiv was hit Monday by multiple explosions in which at least five people died and that Ukrainian officials said were caused by Iranian drones sent by Russian forces.
China's ruling party plans to annex Taiwan on a "much faster timeline" under Chinese President Xi Jinping than previously thought, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday.
Of note: Blinken's comments at an event at Stanford University in California come days after Xi said during a Chinese Communist Party congress speech that the "wheels of history are rolling on toward China's reunification" with Taiwan and "we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary."
J.D. Vance and Rep. Tim Ryan clashed over racism during the Ohio Senate candidates' final debate on Monday evening.
Driving the news: Vance accused Ryan of "slander" and said he's "disgusting" after the Democrat claimed his Republican rival defended far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and suggested he backed "white replacement theory," a conspiracy theory that has strains of antisemitism, racism and anti-immigrant sentiment.
British police said Monday they're investigating the assault of a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester on Chinese consulate grounds in Manchester, northwest England, during a demonstration against China's President Xi Jinping.
Driving the news: Greater Manchester Police said a "small group of men" came out of the building during Sunday's "peaceful protest" and "dragged" the man who's in his 30s onto the consulate grounds and assaulted him. Police intervened and removed him from the grounds due to "fears for the safety of the man," the statement added.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams sparred over their vastly different gun policies in their first debate rematch since 2018.
Why it matters: In a race in which polling averages show Kemp with a narrow lead, Abrams has sought to draw attention to Kemp's most conservative policies to win over moderate voters — including his loosening of gun regulation.
California's COVID-19 state of emergency will end on Feb. 28, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Monday.
The big picture: Newsom declared the emergency in March 2020 to redirect funds to more rapidly respond to the pandemic, but Republicans said his decision to keep the measure in place so long was an abuse of the governor's powers, per the Los Angeles Times.
