Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) told Colorado College graduates in a commencement speech Sunday the U.S. "cannot remain a free nation if we abandon the truth," as she took aim at fellow Republicans and former President Trump.
What she's saying: "My fellow Republicans wanted me to lie. They wanted me to say the 2020 election was stolen, the attack of Jan. 6th wasn't a big deal, and Donald Trump wasn't dangerous," said the former vice chair of the Jan. 6 panel that investigated the Capitol riot, who hasn't ruled out running for president in the 2024.
Why it matters: Mastriano's passing on the Senate run will vault Pennsylvania's Senate race up the ranks of top GOP pickup opportunities. Mastriano's gubernatorial campaign, which he lost by 15 points, was a drag on every Pennsylvania Republican running last year.
The White House and House GOP are each performing careful balancing acts as they race to sell their debt ceiling deal to lawmakers as a decisive victory — without alienating the other side.
Why it matters: The bill will almost certainly require substantial support from members in both parties to pass and avert a potentially catastrophic default on U.S. debt by June 5.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden finally have their debt ceiling deal. Now comes the hard part: Rushing it through an uneasy Congress in just one week, before the government's projected default on June 5.
Why it matters: The stakes are especially high for McCarthy (R-Calif.), whose survival as speaker could be at stake if he can't contain the anger of right-wing Republicans who already are panning the compromise.
President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have reached a tentative deal to raise the debt ceiling to 2025, Axios has learned from sources in both parties.
Why it matters: The deal could put Congress on track to increase the debt ceiling — and avoid a catastrophic default by the U.S. government — before the June 5 deadline laid out by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday.
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.
