Axios

North Carolina's Republican-controlled Supreme Court on Friday changed course on three of its own recent major voting rights decisions — notably ruling in one of the cases that it has no authority to strike down political districts drawn by the legislature, even in cases of political gerrymandering.

Why it matters: Friday's decision will bolster the GOP-controlled General Assembly's ability to craft state and congressional districts that favor Republicans in the 2024 election, and, in the long term, grants the legislature sole authority in drawing future political maps.

The Federal Reserve is considering stricter regulations for banks after an internal review found that looser rules were one key culprit behind Silicon Valley Bank's collapse — the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history.

Why it matters: The review, released Friday, lays blame on the bank itself, as well as Fed supervisors charged with overseeing it and a regulation rollback, for the failure. The episode forced the government to take extraordinary action to backstop the banking system.

The Biden administration's cyber team arrived at the RSA Conference with — for the first time — a clear message about how each agency approaches the government's vast cyber mission.

Why it matters: That team hasn't felt so united in recent months, with reports of bickering between two top White House cyber officials, the recent departure of the first-ever national cyber director, and stories about disgruntlement inside the country's top cybersecurity agency.

Tennessee lawmakers probably won't return to Nashville to consider gun reforms until after July 4.

Driving the news: Gov. Bill Lee said last week he would call a special session on the issue after lawmakers failed to vote on his proposal to keep firearms away from "dangerous people" during their normal 2023 session.

Former President Trump indicated he would consider signing into law legislation banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy if he is elected president again in 2024.

Why it matters: The new comments came as a departure from his campaign's previous support for individual states deciding restrictions — as abortion again looms over the upcoming major election cycle.

Ten states in the U.S. now have assault-style weapons bans after Washington became the latest to enact restrictions this week.

The big picture: Government officials have faced increasing calls to crack down on assault weapons — semi-automatic, military-style firearms primarily designed for rapid fire and combat use, which have been linked to some of the deadliest mass shootings in the U.S in the past decade.

Polls show that most voters of most ages wonder the same thing: Can President Biden really win the White House again at nearly 82 — and run it competently into age 86?

Why it matters: It's a line of questioning the White House hates, and tries to brush off. But there are so many unknowns to rolling into your mid-80s with more power than anyone on Earth.

Two bills severely restricting abortion in South Carolina and Nebraska's Republican-dominated legislatures both failed to pass on Thursday.

Driving the news: A near-total abortion ban failed to pass in South Carolina's Senate by 22 votes to 21 — marking the third time such a measure hasn't passed in a GOP-led chamber since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, AP notes.

House Republicans are putting their money where their mouths are with a new ad attacking Democrats for voting against Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) debt ceiling bill, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The two parties are digging in on their negotiating positions and preparing for a protracted battle on how to avoid a debt default — as well as who is to blame if America fails to pay its bills.

Washington is now one of a dozen states that have enacted laws to try to stop other states' restrictive abortion policies from crossing state lines.

Driving the news: Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law Thursday that will prevent law enforcement officials and courts in Washington from aiding other states' abortion-related investigations.

Former Vice President Mike Pence testified on Thursday before a grand jury investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the alleged actions of people including former President Trump, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to Axios.

Why it matters: This is the first time in the modern political era that a vice president has given testimony in a criminal investigation on a president they served alongside.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) has formally filed paperwork with the FEC to challenge Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in 2024, raising the chances that Republicans can retake the Senate.

Why it matters: This could be the toughest potential race of Manchin's career, if Justice survives an expected primary challenger and further media scrutiny.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dined with Miriam Adelson — former President Trump's top financial backer in 2020 — and other major GOP donors in Jerusalem on Wednesday, according to two sources who attended the dinner.

Why it matters: DeSantis, considered Trump's top rival for the GOP nomination, is expected to announce his presidential exploratory committee in the coming weeks.

Multiple trans or nonbinary state lawmakers have been targeted or censured in recent weeks over issues they say are connected to their identity.

Why it matters: While disparate cases, Democrats in state legislatures have faced punishment from colleagues or outside backlash as Republicans introduce a wave of anti-trans bills across the country.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said Thursday his cancer is in remission after several months of treatment.

Driving the news: In an open letter, the Oversight Committee ranking member said he has completed chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and has "a 90% prognosis of no relapse."

Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman, was charged with two counts Friday in connection with the massive leak of highly classified Pentagon documents.

Why it matters: The leak has captured global attention, with its revelations about the U.S. government's relations with its adversaries and allies reverberating across the world.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) fired back at Disney on Thursday over its lawsuit alleging that his administration's actions amount to a "targeted campaign" of government retaliation.

Why it matters: DeSantis' feud with Disney has invited criticism from some of his fellow Republicans and potential opponents for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, including former President Trump.

The Koch-backed LIBRE Initiative named a George W. Bush administration alum its new CEO as the group eyes growing its reach with Latinos, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The move by the libertarian-leaning organization comes as both parties vie for Latino voters, especially as the 2024 election gears up. 

The white woman at the center of the 1955 kidnapping and brutal murder of Emmett Till, which later sparked the Civil Rights Movement, has died.

Why it matters: The death of Carolyn Bryant Donham, 88, ends any hope by civil rights advocates that anyone connected to the lynching of 14-year-old Till would be brought to justice.

The U.S. Capitol is shutting down its on-site COVID testing centers at the end of May, according to a notice sent to congressional offices and obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: It's the latest signal of a turning point in the government's approach to the coronavirus pandemic, which the vast majority of Americans say they no longer view as a serious crisis.

The Biden administration announced Thursday new efforts to prepare for a border surge, including setting up new regional processing centers in key countries in Latin America.

Why it matters: Government officials are bracing for migrants and asylum seekers attempting to cross the border once officials can no longer rapidly expel them using a pandemic policy called Title 42 — compounding already stretched resources.

The U.S. economy grew at a 1.1% annual rate in the first quarter, a notable slowdown from the previous three months, the Commerce Department said on Thursday.

Why it matters: The nation started the year with less economic momentum than anticipated. It's the latest sign that the Federal Reserve's campaign to cool economic activity is taking hold.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used his speech in Jerusalem on Thursday to emphasize his pro-Israel credentials ahead of his expected bid for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election.

Why it matters: This is DeSantis’ fourth visit to Israel. His office branded the four-leg trip as an "international trade mission," but it's also been an opportunity for DeSantis to spotlight his foreign policy and diplomatic credentials as a likely presidential hopeful.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will use a virtual-reality camera to record today’s joint meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, his office tells Axios.

Why it matters: This is the first time a 360° camera has ever been used in the Hall of the House, providing unprecedented access to a joint meeting of Congress, the speaker's office says.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt ceiling maneuver taught his members a valuable lesson about how to get what they want, GOP sources tell Axios.

Why it matters: Republican lawmakers have seen an example of rabble rousers rewarded, and loyalists burned.

Jack Teixeira, the Air National Guardsman charged in connection with the leaking of sensitive Pentagon documents, "may still have access to a trove of classified information," prosecutors said late Wednesday.

Driving the news: Prosecutors said in a court filing seeking Teixeira's continued detention that the IT specialist from North Dighton, Massachusetts, was a "serious flight risk" and an "ongoing risk both to the national security of the United States and to the community."

Former President Trump's emergency application to block former Vice President Mike Pence from testifying before a grand jury investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 election was denied by an appeals court Wednesday.

Why it matters: Pence is considered a key witness in the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith due to his role as Trump's vice president, offering insights into events leading up to the U.S. Capitol riot and pressure to stop him in his key role in Congress certifying President Biden's election win.

House Republicans on Wednesday narrowly voted to pass House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) legislation to raise the debt ceiling through 2024 and slash government spending.

Why it matters: The bill is going nowhere with Senate Democrats and the White House firmly opposed, but it serves as a demonstration that Republicans can get votes behind a debt limit proposal.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging Tennessee's new law that bans gender-affirming care for minors, which is due to take effect on July 1.

Driving the news: The DOJ argues in its court filing that the legislation violates the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

Tucker Carlson has issued his first statement since being fired by Fox News, saying in a brief video message on Wednesday night that "true things prevail."

The big picture: Fox abruptly fired its former primetime host days after the media giant reached a historic 11th-hour settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for over $787 million.

The publishers and top editors at the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and New York Times on Thursday will run a joint letter as a full-page, color advertisement in all three of their papers urging support from the Biden Administration in fighting for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from a Russian prison.

Why it matters: Gershkovich is being held under espionage charges. The papers' leaders argue that "his detention is a loss not just for our individual publications but for the people of Russia and society at large."