Democrats are digging in their heels on debt ceiling and budget talks amid reports that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is struggling to wrangle his unwieldy conference.
Why it matters: Time is running out for Congress and the White House to agree on a budget and increase the government's debt ceiling to avert a potentially catastrophic default this summer.
Some angry GOP lawmakers warn that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's position could be on rocky ground after a report he blamed members of his leadership team for Republicans' chaos over the budget.
Why it matters: Multiple House Republicans argued McCarthy’s criticism of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) undermines their messaging and opens the floodgates for public infighting earlier than necessary.
A documentary following CNN commentator Van Jones' journey to see prison reform passed under President Trump (and the backlash he faced) is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Why it matters: "The First Step" has been screening at film festivals and organized events surrounding prison reform but hasn't been available to the broader public until now.
The Supreme Court will likely need to decide soon whether abortion pills can remain legal in the United States.
Why it matters: Less than a year after the conservative court struck down Roe v. Wade, the next phase of the fight over abortion rights is already at its doorstep. The case would affect women all over the country, making abortions harder to access even in states where it’s legal.
Over a dozen Senate Democrats are backing a proposal to compel the Supreme Court to create or adopt an ethics code for justices by attaching language to next year's funding bill.
Why it matters: The Supreme Court is the only court in the federal judiciary that does not have a formal code of ethics for its nine members. Longstanding calls for the court to adopt one escalated this week after ProPublica reported on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' alleged ties to a GOP megadonor.
Nearly two dozen House and Senate Democrats on Friday asked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to launch an investigation into Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.
Why it matters: It's Democratic lawmakers' first unified response to a ProPublica report about Thomas receiving lavish gifts, including trips, from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow.
Former President Trump released a dramatic campaign video on Friday, featuring footage of his widely watched arrest this week over hush money payments and again cast himself as a victim of investigators.
Driving the news: In the 56-second ad, posted to Donald Trump Jr.'s Twitter page and emailed to supporters by the campaign, sleek footage of the former president traveling to court is played over cinematic music and Trump's voiceover.
A trio of Tennessee Democrats who were subject to expulsion votes over a gun reform protest has captured national attention as observers grapple with the potential impact amid roiling debates over the gun issue.
Driving the news: A Republican-led effort to expel the state lawmakers — dubbed the "Tennessee three" — succeeded in ousting two members of the group, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday acknowledged allegations that he had failed to properly disclose luxury trips he had received from an influential GOP donor, saying in a statement that he has "always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines."
Driving the news: An explosive ProPublica investigation alleged that over the span over more than two decades, Thomas accepted lavish vacations paid for by a major Republican donor virtually every year.
If Republicans step back and look beyond the legal and social-media spectacle of Donald J. Trump, they'll see screaming political sirens everywhere they gaze.
Why it matters: The GOP's political trouble has been unfolding slowly but unmistakably, starting even before Trump's loss to Joe Biden in 2020.
The Tennessee GOP-led state House's expulsion of two Democrats could have a rippling impact in state legislatures across the country, where political parties are entrenched on issues like gun control and abortion.
Why it matters: Experts warn that majority party lawmakers punishing minority party members with divergent political positions are becoming increasingly common, especially if those members buck up against legislative rules.
The U.S. State Department says it's "monitoring closely" a Chinese maritime operation in the Taiwan Strait this week that includes boarding and inspecting ships.
Why it matters: Officials in Taipei believe the unprecedented action in the Taiwan Strait is in reprisal for their president's D.C. meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The U.S. Department of Education on Thursday unveiled a proposal to change Title IX rules guiding the rights of transgender athletes on school sports teams.
Driving the news: The rule would barpublic schools and colleges that receive federal funding fromoutright banning transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity, while allowing some exclusions in specific high school and college sports.
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