Over a dozen religious rights groups urged the Senate on Monday to codify federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage, calling the freedom to marry who one loves "a matter of human dignity."
Why it matters: The letter, addressed to Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), comes after senators announced a bipartisan amendment to strengthen religious liberty protections in the Respect for Marriage Act.
A protester holding a rainbow flag and wearing a Superman T-shirt with messages supporting Ukraine and Iranian women ran onto the pitch Monday during a match between Portugal and Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup 2022.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell announced Monday that he is running to chair the Republican National Committee.
Driving the news: "I am 100% running for the RNC chairman against [current chair] Ronna McDaniel," Lindell told Steve Bannon, an ally to former President Trump and ex-White House strategist.
Georgia's razor-thin Senate election between Republican Herschel Walker and incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is headed to a runoff.
Why it matters: A 51-seat majority for Democrats would bolster their ability to move judicial nominations through the Senate confirmation process — and ease the procedural burden of a 50-50 Senate.
The white gunman who killed 10 Black people in a racist mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in May pleaded guilty tostate charges on Monday, including one count of domestic terrorism motivated by hate, according to the Erie County district attorney.
It would be "a very sad day" if Republicans pull a "political stunt" and impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Driving the news: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this week threatened a potential "impeachment inquiry" into Mayorkas over his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border if he doesn't resign.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to create Hardworking Americans Inc., a federal PAC that will allow the Republican to boost his national profile, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Kemp's unique success defeating a Trump-backed opponent in a primary and a Democrat in a key battleground has made him something of a case study for Republicans. It's also paved the way for speculation about his future national ambitions.
Half of all state legislatures are on track to have veto-proof majorities, handing the party in power a historic level of control over elections, redistricting, abortion rights, gun laws and other major policies.
Why it matters: Supermajorities often boast sweeping power to amend state constitutions and overrule governors. In Wisconsin, where Republicans fell barely short of a supermajority in the midterms, a governor's veto is the only check standing in the way of a statewide abortion ban.
Former President Trump blasted newly appointed special counsel Jack Smith on Truth Social on Sunday, calling the veteran federal prosecutor "compromised" and a "political hit man."
Why it matters: As special counsel, Smith will oversee the federal criminal investigations into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and handling of classified documents and will be tasked with prosecuting federal crimes that arise from the investigations.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) on Sunday slammed former President Trump for meeting last week with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, calling it "very troubling."
Driving the news: "No, I don't think it's a good idea for a leader that's setting an example for the country or the party to meet with a vowed racist or antisemite," Hutchinson said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union.
A shooting near an open-air mall on Saturday evening in Atlanta has left one person dead and five others injured, including one critically, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
The latest: The individual who was killed was 12 years old, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Sunday.
It is time for the Senate to "have a conversation" about possibly withholding funding from law enforcement in states that don't enforce state and federal gun laws, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.
There is "overwhelming support" in the Republican conference for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to become the next speaker of the House, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that the upcoming GOP-controlled House will continue to pass support for Ukraine but will do so with more "accountability," adding that Republicans are "not going to write a blank check" for Ukraine.
Why it matters: Threats by Republicans to cut aid to Ukraine if they won control of the House in the midtermsprompted concern among Ukrainian officials, with decreased aid having the power to significantly hurt Ukraine's efforts and alter the course of the war.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Sunday that the Jan. 6 panel is "close to putting down the pen and going to print" on the committee's final report.
The big picture: Schiff's remarks come after the Washington Post reported that Jan. 6 committee staffers have become angry over Vice Chair Liz Cheney's focus on former President Trump in the final report.
