Nine months ago,Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky secretly left his war-torn country for the first time to deliver an emotional joint address to Congress.
Why it matters: The two-minute standing ovation he received — from both Democrats and Republicans — looks like a distant dream compared to what he faced on his second wartime trip to Washington Thursday.
Republican David McCormick — a former hedge fund CEO and the runner-up in last year's Pennsylvania Senate primary — is launching a second campaign, making it clear he plans to run against President Biden as much as incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).
Driving the news: McCormick took aim at Biden in his official campaign announcement Thursday evening, while accusing Casey of being the president's "rubber stamp."
Why it matters: Zelensky'svisitcomes at a crucial moment for Ukraine, as it seeks to shore up support and secure additional funding for its counteroffensive against Russia.
Why it matters: Because of the extensions, thousands of refugees without proper documentation will not have to face the prospect of returning to Afghanistan and live under the Taliban's draconian government for another 18 months.
American author and antiracism scholarIbram X. Kendi tells Axios the recent layoffs at the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research that he founded "devastated" him.
He called this week's allegations of mistreatment from former staff "baseless."
Why it matters: The scrutiny has cast a shadow over what has become one of the nation's preeminent centers focused on antiracism, which launched following George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis police in 2020.
Congress is officially heading home for the weekend after conservative hardliners once again tanked plans to fund the government, forcing House GOP leaders to abandon their latest plan to avert a shutdown on Oct. 1.
Why it matters: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has struggled for weeks to find a solution that can garner enough Republican support to pass on the floor. After momentary optimism following Wednesday night's 2.5-hour conference meeting, the House GOP has again reverted to dysfunction.
Nearly half of U.S. adults say they believe President Biden "definitely" or "probably" did something illegal in relation to his son, Hunter, according to a recent poll.
Why it matters: The results suggest Republicans' relentless messaging around the president's alleged corruption has broken through with a portion of voters, even as Democrats and some Republicans highlight the lack of evidence for the claims.
A bipartisan group of more than two dozen nuclear and Middle East experts sent a letter to President Biden on Thursday urging him not to allow Saudi Arabia to have a uranium enrichment program on its soil, according to the letter first shared with Axios.
Why it matters: The Saudi demand for a civilian nuclear program that includes uranium enrichment is the most complicated and sensitive part of the mega-deal the White House is negotiating with the kingdom and Israel.
Why it matters: House Republicans are in a state of crisis, unable to even begin debate on an appropriations bill that typically garners broad support.
Former President Trump called on Republicans in Congress to "defund all aspects" of the "weaponized" Biden administration ahead of the Sept. 30 government shutdown deadline, declaring it their "last chance" to halt his "political prosecutions."
Why it matters: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is desperately trying to unite his conference around a new plan to fund the government for 30 days, following a series of rebellions by GOP hardliners. Trump's intervention could further complicate his efforts to pass the so-called "continuing resolution."
Democrats secured victory in two state-level special elections this week, extending an impressive winning streak that Biden campaign officials cited today as they appealed to supporters to stop panicking about polls.
Why it matters: Down-ballot, low-turnout state elections aren't necessarily a harbinger for national contests. But the trend is unmistakeable: In 30 special elections this year, Democrats have outperformed by an average of 11 points, according to a 538 analysis of each seat's base partisanship score.
A 96-year-old federal appeals court judge was suspended from hearing cases on Wednesday after she refused to comply with an order to undergo neurological tests over concerns that she's not mentally fit to serve on the bench.
The big picture: The Judicial Council's unanimous order to suspend D.C. Judge Pauline Newman for one year comes as the issue of age and capacity to serve has come to the fore in all three branches of government in recent weeks, with calls for imposing age limits and giving older politicians mental competency tests.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview broadcast Wednesday that the kingdom is getting closer to normalizing ties with Israel, but added: "For us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part."
Driving the news: "Every day we get closer," he said in his Fox News interview on a potential normalization between the two countries. "We hope that will reach a place, that it will ease the life of the Palestinians and get Israel as a player in the Middle East."
The Biden administration plans to offer nearly a half-million Venezuelan nationals temporary permission to live and work in the country legally, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday night.
Driving the news: DHS plans to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan migrants who arrived by July 31, 2023.
Opening arguments began Wednesday in the trial of Aurora officer Randy Roedema and former officer Jason Rosenblatt, who face criminal charges in the 2019 death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain.
Why it matters: The officers are the first of five first responders to stand trial for McClain's killing.
