Axios

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Wednesday signed into law a bill to expand a controversial state program used to relocate migrants from anywhere in the country to Democratic-led cities.

The big picture: The program, which now gains an additional $10 million in funding, faced intense backlash after Florida officials were accused of misleading migrants and promising false incentives.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) has filed to run for California’s U.S. Senate seat in 2024 and is expected to make a formal announcement before the end of the month.

Why it matters: Lee's entrance into the race, a day after Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced she would not seek re-election, further sets the stage for the most competitive Senate primary in California in decades.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said Wednesday that water in East Palestine's municipal system is safe to drink, nearly two weeks after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the area.

Driving the news: The train's derailment caused a fire and raised concerns about toxic fumes and water contamination from spilled materials.

Former Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday that he would "fight" the subpoena from the special counsel investigating former President Trump's actions during the Jan. 6 riot.

Driving the news: "I think it's unprecedented and it's unconstitutional," Pence said to reporters in Minneapolis.

Former President Trump said he told Nikki Haley to "follow her heart" when deciding to run for president but noted she previously said she would not run in 2024 if he was also running.

Driving the news: "Nikki Haley had a hard time making the decision to run for President," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account, adding that he told Haley "to follow her heart, not her ambition or belief" when considering a presidential run.

World Bank President David Malpass said Wednesday that he will resign as head of the influential lender before the end of his term.

Why it matters: Malpass' exit, expected by the end of June, comes months after calls grew from him to step down after he declined to acknowledge the scientific consensus that fossil fuels were warming the planet.

The U.S. government could be at risk of a payment default as early as July if the debt limit isn't raised, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The estimate, released alongside the agency's outlook for the federal deficit and the economy in the next 10 years, comes as Congress braces for a fight over raising the debt ceiling — a necessary step so the government can continue paying its bills.

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said a school district's months-long removal and review of a children's book about baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente was "a joke" and an attempt to draw attention.

Why it matters: New laws, like those in Florida, limiting discussions on race and gender have led to book bans and educators scrambling to change lesson plans amid confusion and fear.

The Justice Department will not bring charges against Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) over sex trafficking allegations, his attorneys said Wednesday.

Driving the news: "We have just spoken with the DOJ and have been informed that they have concluded their investigation into Congressman Gaetz and allegations related to sex trafficking and obstruction of justice and they have determined not to bring any charges against him," Gaetz’s lawyers Marc Mukasey and Isabelle Kirshner said in a statement.

The U.S. budget deficit is on track to surge over the coming decade, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday, with cumulative deficits of $18.8 trillion — nearly 20% higher than the agency projected last May.

Driving the news: The non-partisan agency said the higher estimate mostly stems from steeper borrowing costs that makes it more expensive for the government to repay its debt. The national debt, it said, is on track to rise to 118% of GDP in 2033, from 98% this year.

The white gunman charged with killing 10 Black people in the 2022 "racially motivated" mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, was sentenced to life in state prison on Wednesday.

Driving the news: Peyton Gendron, now 19, in November pleaded guilty to state charges, including one count of domestic terrorism motivated by hate, and will have no chance for parole.

Expanded SNAP benefits that were granted during the pandemic are phasing out this month, leaving low-income households across the country up against escalating financial strain.

The big picture: Deepening congressional division over federal funding for nutrition programs means those households can't count on relief in the coming farm bill.

Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced at a campaign event in South Carolina on Wednesday that she is running for president.

Why it matters: Haley is the second Republican to officially enter the 2024 presidential race and her announcement pits her against former President Trump, who was her boss, in the Republican primary.

The U.S. has already seen more than 70 mass shootings this year as of Wednesday morning. At this pace, the nation will see over 576 by the end of the year, an Axios analysis of the Gun Violence Archive found.

Why it matters: Five years after the Parkland massacre, a continued spate of mass shootings has reinforced a sense of helplessness and fear — especially in communities that were already at risk, or that have seen this violence up close.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Wednesday that the criminal charges against a reporter who was arrested while covering a press briefing on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, have been dismissed.

Driving the news: NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert was conducting live coverage of a press conference by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) when police officers asked reporters to be quiet as DeWine was speaking.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is expected to visit Israel next week with a delegation of Senate Democrats for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials, Israeli Foreign Ministry officials told Axios.

The big picture: Democrats in Congress are increasingly voicing their concerns over Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul plan and its implications for Israel’s democracy and the bilateral U.S.-Israel relationship.

Tesla has agreed to make part of its extensive charging network available to drivers of other brands, the White House said Wednesday.

Driving the news: The company will make at least 7,500 chargers nationwide available by the end of next year, per a White House summary.

The share of Americans wanting less immigration has spiked across the board since President Biden took office in 2021, according to a new Gallup survey.

Why it matters: Just 28% of Americans say they're satisfied with immigration levels in the U.S. — the lowest in a decade. Nearly 2/3 of the dissatisfied want less immigration.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) underwent surgery Tuesday after announcing last month that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Driving the news: The procedure was successful and the senator's doctor said he should not require further treatment, per a statement from Casey's spokesperson.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Tuesday that the state is expanding its Advanced Placement African American Studies classes.

Details: The AP class will go from being taught at one New Jersey high school to 26 during the 2023-2024 academic year. 

When White House officials gather Wednesday night in the Indian Treaty Room for Brian Deese's farewell party, they’ll be saying more than just goodbye to a colleague. They’ll be watching a power center head for the exits.

Why it matters: Deese's departure as director of the National Economic Council will leave an enormous hole for Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard to fill inside the West Wing, according to current and former administration officials.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Tuesday she will not seek re-election in 2024.

Why it matters: The announcement marks the beginning of the end of more than three decades in the Senate and spurs a free-for-all among ambitious would-be successors for a rare open Senate seat in safely Democratic California.

South Dakota has become the second state to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth after Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signed the controversial bill into law.

The big picture: South Dakota is one of several GOP-led states escalating attacks on trans rights through legislation that often targets youth. More than two dozen bills targeting trans health care were introduced at the start of 2023 state legislative sessions.