The European Commission announced an investigation into X on Thursday over allegations that the platform spread disinformation about the war between Hamas and Israel.
The big picture: Misinformation and disinformation about the conflict could amplify political divisions globally, as false and misleading reports have multiplied online in the wake of escalating fighting in the region.
Georgia swing voters praised President Biden's initial response to the Israel-Hamas war compared to how they believe former President Trump would have handled it, according to our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups.
Why it matters: Interviews with Georgia voters who pivoted from Trump in 2016 to Biden in 2020 suggest they are glad that Trump is not in office during what could become a larger international crisis.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is divided over the best way to respond to illegal immigration — a microcosm of the broader debate in the Democratic Party on what to do about the southern border.
Why it matters: Top Democrats know the scenes of migrants streaming at the border — coupled with cities being overwhelmed across the country — are presenting a massive political problem for President Biden and congressional Democrats.
A jury on Thursday rendered two guilty verdicts for a Colorado police officer in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man whose case drew national attention. The second officer charged was found not guilty.
Details: Aurora, Colo.officer Randy Roedemawas foundguilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault. His sentencing is set for Jan. 5., and he faces up to three years in prison on the more serious homicide charge, AP reports.
The judge overseeing former President Trump's classified documents case criticized the government on Thursday for what she said was "wasting the court's time" after prosecutors introduced new questions about the lawyer for one of the co-defendants.
Driving the news: Judge Aileen Cannon postponed the hearing over the question of potential conflicts of interest with the lawyer for longtime Trump aide Walt Nauta, according to multiplereports.
Federal prosecutors have charged embattled Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) with conspiring to act as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.
The big picture: The new charge comes after the former Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair was indicted last month alongside his wife, Nadine Menendez,in an alleged bribery scheme.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's (R-La.) difficult path to clinching the speaker’s gavel is throwing the House GOP conference into chaos.
Why it matters: GOP lawmakers, frustrated by an already weeklong speaker vacancy that has halted action on the House floor, are desperate to get back to work.
The Biden administration is assuring congressional Democrats that Iran will not be able to access a $6 billion account in Qatar.
Driving the news: Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats this morning that the U.S. and Qatar have an informal agreement not to move the money "anytime soon," according to Democratic aides.
The Biden administration will begin arranging chartered flights on Friday for U.S. citizens in Israel who wish to leave the country, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday.
Why it matters: The announcement comes amid limited availability of commercial flights leaving Israel and high demand from Americans, Kirby said at a press briefing.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Thursday and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the members of the "war Cabinet," which was formed as part of the new emergency government to respond to the Hamas attack.
Why it matters: U.S. and Israeli officials say Blinken's trip to Israel is focused on showing solidarity and support for Israel. But he's also in the region to discuss a possible safe passage for Americans and other foreign nationals who are in Gaza.
The controversy engulfing Harvard student groups that signed a pro-Palestinian letter grew Wednesday, asa truck displaying the names and faces of students allegedly affiliated with the groups circled the school's campus.
Catch up quick: Thirty-four student groups signed onto a letter by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) on Saturday that said it held "the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence."
President Biden will be interviewed on CBS' "60 Minutes" as part of an edition on Sunday that will spotlight the Israel-Gaza crisis, CBS' Wendy McMahon revealed at the Axios BFD conference.
Why it matters: Biden has been forceful in his support for Israel and condemnation of Hamas in public statements in the wake of the massive attacks inside Israel over the weekend. But with Americans believed to be held hostage, and Israel engaged in a ferocious response, this is becoming one of the most difficult crises of Biden's presidency so far.
Why it matters: Trump's mounting legal woes have created a packed courtroom calendar. The trial, currently scheduled to begin next May, would overlap with the final months of the GOP frontrunner's presidential campaign.
The fighting in Israel and Gaza is sparking concern about a surge in hate crimes against Jews and Muslims in the U.S., which have soared in recent years.
The big picture: Three decades of data from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism reviewed by Axios show that conflicts in the Middle East involving Israel frequently lead to big jumps in hate crimes here — particularly antisemitic attacks.
President Biden, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and other officials convened a closed-door roundtable meeting with more than two dozen Jewish community leaders to offer support and discuss what the administration is doing in the wake of Saturday's Hamas terrorist attack in Israel.
Why it matters: The conversation comes as the attacks and ongoing fighting in Gaza spark concerns about a possible surge in hate crimes against Jews and Muslims in the U.S. and the challenges of getting Americans in Israel home.
The United Auto Workers union expanded its strike action against Detroit Three automakers on Wednesday to include 8,700 members at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in a move the car giant denounced as "grossly irresponsible."
Why it matters: The union said in an online post that the surprise move marked a "new phase" in its action against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis as the strike nears its fourth week. Previous strike expansions "occurred at a deadline set in advance by the union," per the UAW.
The big picture: The naturalized citizen who immigrated from Turkey to the U.S. in 1978 would be a long shot, but he said on his show that Biden would not win the election.
Several CEOs are urging Harvard University to release the names of the people in the student organizations who signed a pro-Palestinian letter that criticized Israel.
Driving the news: Billionaire Bill Ackman, a hedge fund manager and Harvard alum, said in an online post Tuesday that he had been asked by "a number of CEOs" if Harvard would disclose the list of students in the groups that issued aletter that said it held "the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence."
