A pair of IRS whistleblowers testified to Congress that the Justice Department slow-walked its investigation into Hunter Biden and ignored recommendations to file felony tax charges, instead striking a plea deal that will allow the president's son to avoid prison time.
Why it matters: With former President Trump on the verge of being indicted for the third time, Republicans' strategy for defending the GOP front-runner depends largely on convincing the public that President Biden has politicized the DOJ.
The Florida State Board of Education on Wednesday approved new, controversial standards for how Black history would be taught in schools, the Washington Post reports.
Driving the news: It's the latest development in the ongoing education battle in Florida, and one that critics say "sets a scary standard."
New government data shows illegal border crossings plummeted to the lowest levels in over two years — another piece of good news for President Biden on one of his toughest issues.
Why it matters: Despite the trend, House Republicans are slamming Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for "dereliction of duty" at the border in a 111-page report released Wednesday — teeing-up a long-anticipated impeachment inquiry.
Former President Trump did it again Tuesday: He announced he was likely to be indicted before any announcement by prosecutors, allowing him to frame the news on his terms — and cast himself as a victim.
Why it matters: The unusual strategy — most criminal defendants aren't eager to publicize such things — allows Trump to minimize surprise among his supporters, go on the offensive against prosecutors, and continue to say he's being targeted by a partisan "witch hunt."
Wesleyan University announced Wednesday that it would end legacy admissions, a practice that favors relatives of alumni and has attracted criticism in recent years.
Why it matters: The Connecticut-based liberal arts school ended the fairly common practice weeks after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action.
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel said Wednesday that it would be "a mistake" for former President Trump to skip next month's primary debate.
Why it matters: The RNC has not previously commented publicly on the prospect of Trump, the frontrunner in the Republican primary, not attending the first Republican debate.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.)— who at 41 is the Senate's youngest woman — will be out Nov. 7 with a memoir, "God Calls Us to Do Hard Things."
Driving the news: Twelve Books, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, says the book looks at how Alabama's first elected female senator has "overcome setbacks, defied expectations and shocked the political establishment."
Tensions between Donald Trump and his former press secretary, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, have grown over her neutrality in the 2024 presidential race, people familiar with the relationship tell Axios.
Driving the news: Trump's frustration has risen recently because Sanders' team had told his campaign she wouldn't make an endorsement until after her first legislative session in Arkansas, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
Former President Trump said Tuesday that he received a letter from special counsel Jack Smith informing him that he is a target of the grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Why it matters: Trump's remarks on Truth Social indicate that an indictment could be forthcoming.
It would mark the second set of federal charges against Trump, following Smith's indictment of the former president last month over his handling of classified documents.
