The GOP-dominated Texas House voted 121-23Saturday to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, a historic decision that immediately removes him from office as he awaits a Senate trial.
Why it matters: Paxton becomes the third state official in Texas history to be impeached, following Gov. James "Pa" Ferguson in 1917 and a district judge in 1975.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has given Congress a more precise date — June 5 — for when the U.S. government will hit the debt ceiling and run out of money to pay its bills.
Why it matters: Yellen's previous warnings estimated the U.S. would hit the so-called X-date as early as June 1, but her latest letter provides a firmer deadline as lawmakers and the White House work to avoid a damaging debt default.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) has inserted herself into the debt ceiling negotiations, working with both sides to try to bridge differences on permitting reform, according to people familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: Her late entrance is a sign that negotiators are willing to explore new avenues to resolve thorny issues before June 5, the new deadline from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for when the U.S. government will run out of money.
The U.S. side of the southwest border is surprisingly quiet two weeks after President Biden's strict limits on asylum took effect, but a backlog of tens thousands of migrants threatens a humanitarian crisis on the Mexico side.
Why it matters: Mexico's shelters are holding as much as six times their capacity, makeshift camps continue to pop up all over, intense summer heat is coming — and migrants hoping to enter the U.S. keep arriving from points south.
Indiana's medical board ruled this week that a doctor who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old girl from Ohio who was raped violated state and federal privacy laws by speaking to a reporter about the case.
Why it matters: The case sparked national attention last year in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, serving as a high-profile example of the ways state laws could stop abortion care even in extreme cases.
The latest: Hours later, the Republican-led House General Investigating Committee recommended 20 articles of impeachment — including for alleged bribery, obstruction of justice and abuse of public trust.
Texas lawmakers filed 20 articles of impeachment against state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) on Thursday night — including for alleged bribery, obstruction of justice and abuse of public trust.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) raked in $8.2 million in the 24 hours following his announcement that he's running for president in 2024, his campaign announced Thursday.
Why it matters: The vast amount establishes DeSantis as the main challenger to 2024 Republican presidential rival former President Trump.
