Maine on Thursday joined North Carolina and Wisconsin this month in barring state employees from using TikTok on government-issued devices.
The big picture: The three are the latest states to do so, joining more than 20 others, including Texas, Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and South Dakota, after the FBI warned of possible threats to national security posed by the Chinese-owned social media platform.
The government has new rules to determine what's really organic and what's a sham.
Why it matters: The term "organic" has been stretched over the years as these foods become increasingly popular — and pricey. Products labeled organic that don't meet government standards are hitting store shelves.
Why it matters: The U.S. government runs on a deficit, so the Treasury Department will start "extraordinary measures" to avoid defaulting on government bonds.
The Supreme Court said Thursday that its investigation into the leaked draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson has so far failed to identify the responsible party but noted the probe will continue with the court's "full support."
Why it matters: The incident marked the first time in modern history that a ruling leaked before the court issued it publicly.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shocked many when she announced her impending resignation, citing burnout, but some of the burdens she has faced are familiar to women leaders around the world.
The big picture: The vitriol aimed at Ardern during her tenure reflects wider trends that directly impact many women in politics.
The big picture: The announcement comes after Baldwin allegedly fired a prop gun, killing "Rust" crew member Halyna Hutchins and injuring another person on the movie set in October 2021.
The percentage of American workers who are members of a union fell to a new low in 2022 despite the total number of unionized workers increasing.
Driving the news: 10.1% of workers were unionized in 2022, down from 10.3% in 2021 and a high of 20.1% in 1983, the first year the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported comparable figures.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and discussed ways to broaden the Abraham Accords and reach a breakthrough that could lead to the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Why it matters: Netanyahu has set normalization with Saudi Arabia as one of his two main foreign policy goals. But Israeli officials admit that it won't be possible if relations between Riyadh and Washington remain tense.
The House Oversight Committee is launching its investigation into the Biden administration's handling of the southern border, with Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) inviting Border Patrol sector chiefs to testify the week of Feb. 6.
Why it matters: House Republicans are eager to highlight the record number of border crossings at the southern border and probe the Department of Homeland Security's policies and operations.
House Republicans hope a strict, new voting schedule will help juice their slim majority — as only a handful of missed votes could change the game.
Why it matters: Sickness, surgeries, funerals and other events calling House members away from D.C. will have higher stakes than ever with historically tight margins and no more proxy voting.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is kicking off her 10-day trip to Africa with a promise that America is committed to the continent through good times and bad.
Why it matters: The Biden administration is trying to counter China’s entrenched influence and infrastructure in the region by offering African countries an alternative path on economic and political security.
Many mayors want to take forceful steps to combat climate change — like banning gas stoves or leaf blowers — but fear such moves would be political poison, a new poll shows.
They do favor less controversial steps, like replacing gas-guzzling city vehicles with electric alternatives and supporting solar power, according to the first findings from the 2022 Menino Survey of Mayors, a nationally representative survey of U.S. mayors.
Mayors and gun-safety advocates are increasingly showing their willingness to name and shame gunmakers.
The big picture: In 2021 alone, four manufacturers accounted for over half of the recovered guns used in crimes across 31 cities, according to a new Everytown for Gun Safety analysis shared first with Axios.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will step down as leader on Feb. 7 and the country will hold an election on Oct. 14, she abruptly announced on Thursday.
President Biden made additional disaster assistance available to California Wednesday to help the state recover from the spate of recent atmospheric river storms, which the Los Angeles Times reports have killed at least 22 people.
Driving the news: On the eve of his California visit, Biden authorized an increase in federal funding for emergency protective measures due to the flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began Dec. 27 and were continuing in some places, the White House noted in announcing the declaration amendment on Wednesday night.
An American businesswoman was sentenced to two years in prison Wednesday for illegally lobbying the former Trump administration to drop an investigation into a multibillion-dollar Malaysian embezzlement scheme and to return a dissident to China, per AP.
Driving the news: Nickie Mali Lum Davis pleaded guilty in 2020 to aiding and abetting the violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act following her failed lobbying campaign attempts that sought to persuade the Trump administration to drop the probe into Malaysian state fund 1MDB and fugitive businessman Jho Low in exchange for millions of dollars.
A pair of newly inaugurated Democratic governors are moving swiftly to secure bipartisan victories in their first week in office, including by adopting a popular jobs policy pioneered by a Republican.
Why it matters: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro are viewed as two of their party's top rising stars. Both were sworn in on Wednesday, with Moore making history as Maryland's first Black governor and only the third elected in U.S. history.
Republicanson the House Oversight Committee have sent more letters to the Biden administration since 2021 than any other panel, making it the epicenter of a political war that will define the next two years on Capitol Hill, according to an Axios analysis.
Why it matters: House Republicans have made a conscious choice to appoint several of their most pugilistic, conspiratorial-minded members to the Oversight Committee — a risky bet that the Biden White House is already seizing on.
Embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) — who has now been sworn into Congress and secured two committee assignments despite blowback — is facing yet another round of allegations about fabricating key details about his background, including his mother's whereabouts on 9/11.
The big picture: Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have pressured Santos to resign in the face of numerous investigations, including on his financial disclosures, outstanding legal issues, and his education and work history.
