Republicans are increasingly dividedover American support for Ukraine: The party's traditional hawkish voices face a loud array of anti-war voices from the MAGA wing of the party led by former President Trump.
Why it matters: The majority of the party's elected officials are still squarely behind helping Ukraine in its war against Russia — and if anything, have accused President Biden of slow-walking military aid to our ally.
The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered a temporary pause on the removal and shipment of contaminated waste from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment site, AP reports.
Why it matters: East Palestine residents have been reporting diagnoses of chemical bronchitis and other health conditions, which they attribute to the Feb. 3 crash.
Driving the news: "We also don't see that a final decision has been made yet, and we don't see evidence of actual shipments of lethal equipment," Burns told CBS News.
All candidates wishing to take part in the Republican party's first presidential debate will have to sign a pledge to support the eventual 2024 nominee, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday.
Driving the news: The RNC's debate committee voted earlier this week to set the first Republican presidential debate for August, in Milwaukee.
Multiple House committees are gaming out aggressive hearings 0n the Biden administration's response to the toxic train wreck in Ohio — including how the government supervises giant rail companies, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine left residents increasingly fearful about the air and water — and ignited a political storm over the treatment of the rural, Republican residents.
In the year since Russia invaded Ukraine, more than 200,000 people in the U.S. have volunteered to sponsor Ukrainians seeking refuge.
Zoom in: Seattle and Sacramento have been some of the most welcoming metro areas in proportion to their populations, according to Homeland Security data.
The big picture: The end of theemergency allotments aimed at combating food insecurity will impact more than 41 million Americans who received the increased benefit last year alone.
A judge ordered Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) to turn over more than 2,000 phone records after ruling that they are not shielded under the Constitution, according to newly unsealed court documents.
Driving the news: Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court in D.C. released a number of previously sealed opinions on Friday after finding that the “powerful public interest”outweighed the need for secrecy, the Washington Post writes.
The first two months of the year have left Asian Americans reeling as they attempt to reconcile their reality with a seemingly unending string of violence — and many are homing in on the lack of mental health care available to some of their most vulnerable.
The big picture: Amid recent high-profile attacks and the larger surge in anti-Asian hate, young Asian Americans — for whom the leading cause of death was suicide even prior to the pandemic — are calling on schools to invest in the sustained mental health resources they need to cope.
A group of news organizations asked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Friday for thousands of hours of Capitol surveillance footage from the Jan. 6 riot after he gave exclusive access to Fox News' Tucker Carlson.
The big picture: Top congressional Democrats blasted McCarthy for handing over the footage to Fox News in the first place, calling it an "egregious security breach" that exposes the Capitol complex.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is leading Democrats in condemning remarks from Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Tex.) that suggested removing the security clearance of Chinese American lawmaker Rep. Judy Chu (D-Cal.).
Driving the news: The Democratic leader said Gooden's comments are "dangerous, unconscionable and xenophobic."
Officials in Texas and Michigan are raising concerns about the water and soil transported from the East Palestine train derailment into their jurisdictions.
Why it matters: Their comments come as East Palestine residents report diagnoses of bronchitis and other conditions which they attribute to the crash. The freight train was carrying hazardous materials, including the carcinogenic gas vinyl chloride, when it derailed on Feb. 3 and forced the company to release and burn the contents of several cars.
Federal teams including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be on the ground in East Palestine, Ohio this weekend conducting door-to-door outreach to support residents impacted by the train derailment.
Driving the news: The move comes amid mounting concern over health risks and toxic effects from the crash, which forced operator Norfolk Southern to release and burn hazardous contents from some of the train cars.
Why it matters: Kira Rudik's comments come as lawmakers wrestle with the issue of continued assistance to Ukraine. Recent polling shows Americans' weakening support for sending weaponry and government funds to Ukraine, per AP.
The federal government is moving to require doctors to evaluate patients in person before writing prescriptions for some controlled medications, such as Adderall and OxyContin.
Driving the news: The Drug Enforcement Administration announced Friday that it is seeking to revert rule changes under the COVID-19 public health emergency that allowed doctors to prescribe powerful drugs via telehealth appointments.
Former vice president Pence said in an interview aired Friday by NBC News that he's confident there will be "better choices" than former president Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
Why it matters: Pence, who has made a break from Trump since the Jan. 6 insurrection, is still mulling a rare bid against a former running mate — a face-off that could get ugly if the Indiana conservative takes on the bombastic former president.
Pete Buttigieg is facing an investigation from House Republicans over the Biden administration's response to Norfolk Southern's toxic freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio – with lawmakers in his own party also questioning his department’s response.
Why it matters: The 41-year-old transportation secretary, whose tenure has already been marred by historic transport-related crises, has emerged as the face of the issue in recent weeks and become a go-to target for Republicanlawmakers.
