The Biden administration is launching migrant processing centers in Central and South America and deploying 1,500 additional troops to the border in anticipation of the Trump-era Title 42 pandemic policy ending on May 11.
Why it matters: The expiration of Title 42 marks a political and logistical inflection point for President Biden's immigration policy, a top target of Republican criticism — and now legislation in the House — as officials have struggled to stem a years-long surge in border crossings.
Once-unthinkable optionsfor averting a U.S. debt default have invaded the mainstream debate, a day after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen predicted a shorter countdown to catastrophe than previously thought.
Why it matters: President Biden is finally set to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) next Tuesday, but there is so far zero indication that either side is prepared to move from their entrenched — and seemingly irreconcilable — negotiating positions.
Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr (D), the state's only transgender lawmaker, cannot return to the state House floor, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Driving the news: District Court Judge Mike Menahan wrote in a five-page ruling that the court's power is limited and granting Zephyr's request to return "would require this court to interfere with legislative authority in a manner that exceeds this court’s authority."
The White House will host leaders of AI's top companies Thursday for a meeting with administration officials, Axios has confirmed.
Details: Vice President Kamala Harris and other senior administration officials will meet with the CEOs of Alphabet/Google, Anthropic, Microsoft and OpenAI, per an invitation obtained by Axios.
A Utah judge ruled in favor of a Planned Parenthood request on Tuesday to block the state's latest anti-abortion law from going into effect Wednesday.
Driving the news: Third District Court Judge Andrew Stone approved an injunction that prevents the state from enacting its abortion clinic ban while courts review a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood Association of Utah and ACLU of Utah.
President Biden is planning to nominate former Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), who led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2022, as his ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, according to people familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: Biden has been looking for a soft landing for the former lawmaker, who lost his seat in upstate New York after being pummeled by negative Republican ads, but helped minimized House Democrats' losses in the midterms.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers, including some progressive Democrats and MAGA Republicans, have come together to push for banning members of Congress from trading stocks.
Driving the news: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) introduced the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act Tuesday, a bill that would restrict trading and ownership of financial investments by members of Congress, as well as by their spouses and dependents.
House and Senate Democrats are taking procedural steps to force votes on a clean debt ceiling increase without the spending cuts Republicans have demanded.
Why it matters: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Congress on Monday that a default could come as soon as June 1 if action is not taken, spurring both parties to double down on their debt ceiling strategies.
Why it matters: The move, in anticipation of a surge in migration according to a source familiar with the matter, is a sign the administration is preparing for overwhelming numbers of migrants and asylum seekers attempting to cross into the U.S. once border officials can no longer expel them as quickly.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday became the latest lawmaker to publicly urge California Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign as the 89-year-old Democrat's absence from Congress continues.
Driving the news: Feinstein "should retire," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the new social media app Bluesky. "I think criticisms of that stance as ‘anti-feminist’ are a farce," she said.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) plans to run for reelection in 2024 rather than mounting a primary challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), her spokesperson confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: One of the highest-profile members of Congress, the 33-year-old member of the progressive “Squad” has perennially been looked to as a potential candidate for higher office.
Why it matters: While the legislation is expected to be dead on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate, it reflects the latest GOP challenge to Biden's sweeping student debt plan, a key promise to voters as he seeks re-election.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called Tuesday for ethics reforms at the Supreme Court, including a code of conduct with "clear and enforceable rules."
Driving the news: "This is untenable, ethics cannot simply be left to the discretion of the nation's highest court," Durbin, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said during a committee hearing.
A former Minneapolis police officer who held back bystanders as Derek Chauvin restrained George Floyd has been convicted of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
Driving the news: Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill issued his decision against Tou Thao in court documents filed Monday night. The more serious charge of aiding and abetting murder was dropped.
The Writers Guild of America is on strike for the first time in 15 years after negotiations for a labor deal with Hollywood studios broke down ahead of the current deal's expiration on Monday.
Why it matters: A work stoppage threatens to cripple Hollywood's already-messy transition to the streaming era.
The adult content website Pornhub blocked access in Utah on Monday due to new state laws requiring websites with adult content to verify users' ages before allowing them to access the platforms.
Driving the news: Pornhub.com now opens on devices in Utah with a message that states the company has "made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Utah."
The months-long silence between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is reaching an abrupt end thanks to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Why it matters: Yellen's urgent deadline on the debt ceiling gives the White House and Congress as little as a month to avert a catastrophic default, spurring Biden to call an emergency meeting with congressional heads.
New Jersey's longest-serving Muslim mayor said he's "shocked" the U.S. Secret Service denied him entry to the White House's celebration marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on Monday.
Why it matters: Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah said in a statement Monday night that his experience of being turned away to an event hosted by President Biden that he was invited to "reeks of Islamophobia by certain federal agencies."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill Mondayallowing the state to seek the death penalty in sexual battery cases involving children younger than 12.
Why it matters: The legislation is in direct violation of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kennedy v. Louisiana, which found it unconstitutional for states to use capital punishment for a crime other than murder.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) accused Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R)on Monday of "once again deciding to play politics with people's lives" by sending asylum seekers to major cities with Black mayors.
The big picture: The mayor's comments come a day after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also urged Abbott to stop sending migrant buses to her city because it has "no more shelters, spaces, or resources to accommodate."
