Reported sexual assault at U.S. military academies surged during the 2021-22 school year, according to a new report released by the Department of Defense on Friday.
The big picture: There were increases in all types of unwanted sexual contact at Army, Navy, and Air Force schools — for both men and women — the report found.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is teaming up with House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to investigate the Federal Trade Commission's investigation of Elon Musk's Twitter takeover, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Republicans in both congressional chambers now will throw their muscle into investigating FTC actions and defending Musk.
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Access Hollywood tape — in which former President Trump is heard boasting about groping women — can be introduced as evidence in the civil trial for writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit against him.
Driving the news: Carroll has accused Trump of raping her in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s, and sued him after he denied the claim and painted her as a liar. Trump had asked to exclude the tape from evidence at the trial, as well as testimony from two other women who alleged he sexually assaulted them.
The right-wing House Freedom Caucus on Friday released its list of prerequisites for cutting the federal budget in order for its members to support raising the debt ceiling.
Why it matters: With Republicans holding a 5-seat House majority and a new rule giving any member the power to trigger a motion to remove the House speaker, these hardliners have considerable leverage to influence the budget process.
He's not even officially running against President Biden (yet), but Democrats are already using Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in battleground state ads urging voters to stick with Biden in 2024.
Why it matters: Dems are betting DeSantis' culture-war politics are a turnoff to women and working-class voters in rural counties, and they're lumping him with former President Trump and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in messages about battling "extremists."
Homelessness is emerging as a potent political issue in local elections this year, particularly when coupled with related concerns about crime.
Why it matters: The political pressure is leading candidates and elected officials — even prominent Democrats such as New York Mayor Eric Adams and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — to embrace hard-line approaches, such as involuntary commitment and arrests to clear illegal encampments.
China's leader Xi Jinping has begun a history-making third term after he was sworn in as president on Friday.
Why it matters: The Chinese Parliament's unanimous vote Friday means Xi's authoritarianism and assertive foreign policies are likely to continue for at least another five years, per Axios China author Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian.
Republican Rep. George Santos offered Thursday to co-sponsor a bill that's aimed at stopping the embattled New York congressman from profiting after leaving Congress, Politico first reported.
Driving the news: Santos made the request to Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.), lead sponsor of the bill that would prevent Congress members convicted of certain crimes from profiting off book deals, speeches and other ways former lawmakers can cash in after leaving office.
Why it matters: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's invitation could indicate that the former president may face criminal charges over the allegations, per the New York Times, which first reported the news. Trump's representatives called the "threat" of indictment "insane."
Driving the news: Ellis admitted in state disciplinary proceedings that while serving as counsel to then-President Trump and his campaign, she made at least 10 public misrepresentations about the 2020 presidential election, including falsely stating the election was "stolen."
Senate Republicans are close to recruiting Tim Sheehy, a decorated military veteran and successful businessman with the resources to self-finance a campaign, to run against Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in 2024.
Why it matters: Sheehy, whom Republicans view as straight out of central casting, is being encouraged to run by National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.), according to sources familiar with his efforts. The highly competitive race will help decide control of the Senate.
President Biden got his FY2024 budget out of the way. Now he can turn to a more urgent task: Goading Republicans into offering their own proposals — and trying to define them before they do.
Why it matters: By calling for the rich to pay higher taxes to shore up Medicare, Biden is trying to force a fight on deficit spending and entitlement programs on his own populist terms.
