The big picture: Minnesota is one of several states to see lawsuits arguing that the Republican primary front-runner's actions surrounding the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot should disqualify him from serving as — and therefore running for — president under the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause.
As universities grapple with how to respond to the Israel-Hamas war, the Department of Education is reiterating schools' responsibility to comply with a federal civil rights law that addresses discrimination.
The big picture: There has been an uptick in antisemitic and anti-Muslim threats on college campuses since the warbegan, and some academic institutions are struggling with how to respond to the conflict for fear of angering students, faculty, donors and alumni.
A moderate, pro-Israel Jewish Democrat is preparing a measure to condemn Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) for introducing legislation to expel Palestinians from the U.S.
Why it matters: The bill generated significant controversy after it was introduced last week, with Congress' three Muslim members condemning it as "fascism and pure bigotry."
Why it matters: Ivanka Trump became the fourth member of Trump's family to give testimony, after the former president himself testified earlier this week.
Communities across the U.S. saw history-making electoral wins on Tuesday.
Driving the news: While most 2023 elections were at the state and local level, former Biden White House aide Gabe Amo is set to become Rhode Island's first Black member of Congress after a special election, the AP reports.
Diwali or Deepavali, a holiday that is becoming more widely known in the U.S., starts Sunday.
Why it matters: The religious holiday, also known as the festival of lights, is celebrated by over 4 million people in the U.S. and more than 1 billion people worldwide.
The latest: In April, Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to make Diwali an official state holiday.
New York City followed suit in June, recognizing Diwali as a school holiday.
The big picture: Ohio became the 24th state to allow adult cannabis use for nonmedical purposes with nearly 57% voting for the ballot initiative Tuesday, according to the state's unofficial election results.
A group of moderate Republicans is threatening to vote against a spending bill funding a variety of federal agencies including the Treasury Department due to language restricting abortion.
Why it matters: It adds to significant struggles House Republicans already face in trying to pass appropriations bills with a narrow and ideologically disparate majority.
House Republicans on Wednesday subpoenaed Hunter and James Biden, son and brother of President Biden, as part of their impeachment inquiry into the president.
Why itmatters: It's the most assertive step yet in the House GOP's impeachment inquiry into the president.
President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are preparing to announce the resumption of military-to-military communications between the two countries when they meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit later this month, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Why it matters: The Biden administration wants to inject more stability into the U.S.-China relationship and lower the risk of a military misunderstanding.
Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) won the crowded race to succeed Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) as vice chair of the House Republican conference on Wednesday.
Why it matters: While the position has traditionally been seen as a low-profile leadership role, the position is being seen by some as a potential springboard after Johnson's rapid rise.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' biggest 2024 donor is considering throwing his support behind former President Trump, the Financial Times reports.
Why it matters: It's a blow to the Florida governor, who has struggled to grain traction against the former president — and already almost exhausted his maxed-out donors at the end of the third quarter.
Tuesday's off-year elections proved the recent staying power of abortion rights to bolster Democratic success, even in red states like Ohio and Kentucky.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced a new policy Wednesday requiring political advertisers to disclose when they have used AI or other digital methods to create their ads.
Why it matters: There has been growing concern among experts about how generative AI might impact elections by contributing to more misinformation.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeveswon re-election on Tuesday in Mississippi, staving off a challenge from Democratic candidate Brandon Presley, the Associated Press reports.
Why it matters: Reeves faced an unexpectedly serious challenge from Presley in the deep-red state that has not had a Democratic governor in almost two decades.
Why it matters: It's a surprisingly early departure — the bears were slated to leave before early December, and then mid-November — that leaves D.C. panda-less for the first time in more than two decades.
Dishonest, untrustworthy and disingenuous — that's how a majority of experts surveyed from leading universities view AI companies' CEOs and executives.
What's happening: 56% of computer science professors at top U.S. research universities surveyed by Axios, Generation Lab, and Syracuse University described the corporate leaders as "extremely disingenuous" or "somewhat disingenuous" in their calls for regulation of AI.
It would take spending cuts or tax increases equivalent to $2,400 per American per year to stabilize the national debt, according to a new book that shows the U.S. government's fiscal situation is more precarious than lawmakers of either party acknowledge.
Why it matters: The numbers amount to an alarm bell about America's fiscal vulnerability at a time when there is bipartisan resistance to steps that might change the course in a major way.
Voters handed Virginia Democrats total control of the statehouse Tuesday, dashing Gov. Glenn Youngkin's hopes of closing out his term with Republican majorities.
Why it matters: A 15-week abortion ban sought by Youngkin is effectively dead, along with an array of other conservative priorities he campaigned on.
California's prolonged megadrought that helped send grocery prices soaring is finally abating, but experts warn more needs to be done to address water overuse in the state before the next dry threat arrives.
The big picture: Nowhere in the state is classified as in drought and only 5% in Northern and Southeast California is "abnormally dry," per the U.S. Drought Monitor — though it does not consider all drought factors, such as groundwater depletion.
The House on Tuesday voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for her criticisms of Israel and her defense of a controversial pro-Palestinian chant.
Why it matters: Nearly two dozen House Democrats voted for the resolution. Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has infuriated lawmakers in both parties with her strident criticism of Israel.
Ohio voters have adopted an amendment enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution.
Why it matters: The amendment, labeled Issue 1 on Tuesday's ballot, guarantees a person's right to an abortion and other reproductive care up until fetal viability, which is usually about 23 to 24 weeks.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear won re-election on Tuesday in Kentucky's gubernatorial election, the Associated Press projects.
Why it matters: The re-election of Beshear, one of the few Democratic red state governors, is a potential sign of the staying power of the abortion rights issue heading into next year's 2024 elections.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) told reporters after a closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans Tuesday that his blockade of senior military promotions would remain in place, though he may relent for "people who really need to be promoted."
Why it matters: Both Republicans and Democrats have accused Tuberville of jeopardizing military readiness by leaving only acting officials in senior positions within most branches of the armed forces over his months-long blockade in protest of a Pentagon policy reimbursing service members' abortion-related expenses.
Weeks of partisan discord in Congress over the Israel-Hamas war may culminate in a vote on Wednesday to censure Palestinian American Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
Why it matters: Tlaib has sparked backlash from both parties as one of Congress' most outspoken critics of Israel, with her latest statement defending the pro-Palestinian slogan, "From the river to the sea," triggering a new round of Democratic infighting.
MIAMI —Wednesday's GOP presidential debate is expected to bring fireworks to what increasingly looks like the race for second between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Why it matters: Unless the Republican field dramatically consolidates, former President Trump — who is hosting a counter-programming rally down the road in Latino-dominated Hialeah — will skate to the nomination.
Why it matters: The House GOP has just 10 days to decide whether to risk a government shutdown, with one member telling Axios it can't be an option with "the world on fire."
