President Biden's newly released budget proposal would increase defense spending to $885 billion and non-defense spending to more than $1 trillion.
Why it matters: The proposal is dead on arrival with the GOP in control of the House, but it serves as a messaging device that Biden will take into his expected 2024 re-election campaign.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed Thursday it is investigating a fatal crash in California last month involving a Tesla vehicle.
The big picture: The probe into the Tesla Model S car that's suspected of having its automated driving system in effect when it crashed into the Contra Costa County fire truck is part of a larger NHTSA investigation into the Autopilot system's role in car accidents.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and state Attorney General Letitia James are pressuring the nation's largest pharmacy chains to commit to making abortion pills available in the state.
Driving the news: In a letter sent Thursday to theCEOs of Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS Health, the state's top officials asked for a commitment to dispense mifepristone to patients with a doctor’s prescription, calling it an "essential medication."
A new GOP-led effort in Congress would overturn local police reforms in Washington, D.C., that were enacted after the police murder of George Floyd.
Why it matters: A House resolution introduced Thursday would roll back sweeping reforms meant to boost transparency and weaken the police union's hand in disciplinary disputes.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is being treated for a concussion after falling at a dinner event on Wednesday, his office said.
What they're saying: "He is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days of observation and treatment. The Leader is grateful to the medical professionals for their care and to his colleagues for their warm wishes," his communications director David Popp said in a statement to Axios.
Another Norfolk Southern train derailed in Alabama on Thursday morning, the company confirmed in a statement to Axios.
Driving the news: This isthe third such incident since early February. A derailment of a two-mile long freight train in East Palestine, Ohio that was carrying hazardous chemicals has put a spotlight on the company and left residents of East Palestine concerned about the safety of their air and water.
A new reportexamining how Latinos interact with the criminal justice system found police and jails rarely track their racial and ethnic data, complicating how researchers track potential disparities.
The big picture: An estimated 1.2 million people are incarcerated in the nation’s state and federal prisons today, and close to 550,000 are in jail, but there's little research into how Latinos fit into this picture, according to the report, published Wednesday by the University of California, Irvine, School of Social Ecology.
President Biden is using the release of his $6.8 trillion budget for fiscal year 2024 to challenge House Republicans to produce their own tax and spending blueprint without cutting Medicare or Social Security.
Why it matters: Biden's plan, which has little chance of being enacted by Congress, amounts to the clearest distillation of his political priorities as he prepares to mount a re-election campaign by running against congressional Republicans.
Tribal producers from across the country were among more than a dozen farm groups lobbying Capitol Hill lawmakers this week to empower farmers to address climate change in the 2023 farm bill.
The big picture: They join a network of tribal governments and organizations putting the onus on policymakers to prioritize climate action and Indigenous food sovereignty.
The spread of white supremacist propaganda hit record levels in 2022, according to a report published Wednesday by the Anti-Defamation League.
The big picture: The ADL's Center on Extremism identified 6,751 cases where white supremacist groups distributed "racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+" materials last year, including graffiti, banners, stickers and fliers.
Former President Trump, in a new book, plans to reveal 150 private letters sent to him — including one from Oprah Winfrey in 2000 in which she says: "Too bad we're not running for office. What a team!"
The big picture: Trump writes that he still considers Winfrey "amazing" — but admits it's not mutual: "Sadly, once I announced for President, she never spoke to me again."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been hospitalized after he fell at a Washington, D.C., hotel on Wednesday, his spokesperson said.
Details: "This evening, Leader McConnell tripped at a local hotel during a private dinner," the Republican leader's spokesperson said. "He has been admitted to the hospital where he is receiving treatment."
Driving the news: White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a briefing Wednesday that she agreed with the Capitol Police chief and a "wide range of bipartisan lawmakers" who have "condemned this false depiction of the unprecedented violent attack" on the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.
The Biden administration is set to propose a series of tax increases for wealthy Americans and large corporations,Bloomberg first reported and Axios has confirmed.
Driving the news: The new budget request to Congress, which is to be released on Thursday, includes a 25% minimum tax on the richest 0.01% of Americans.
The Senate voted on Wednesday to block changes to Washington, D.C.’s criminal code that would have reduced penalties for some violent crimes, marking the first time Congress approved overturning local D.C. legislation since 1991.
Why it matters: An increase in carjackings and gun violence in the nation’s capital catapulted the bill to national prominence, leading President Biden and many Democrats to side with Republicans as they try to position themselves as tough on crime ahead of 2024.
Some Republican lawmakers are bristling at the idea of spending another two years talking about Jan. 6 — viewing the renewed focus as part of a self-destructive streak undermining their agenda for the new majority.
What's happening: Each time Democrats or the press appear ready to move on, the insurrection is dragged back to center stage by the GOP's most influential voices.
President Biden will use the release of his FY2024 budget Thursday to pressure Republicans to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for all Americans, according to administration officials.
Why it matters: By putting Biden's insulin cap at the center of his budget rollout, the White House is previewing the populist tone that will course throughout his expected re-election campaign.
