Some leading Democrats are joining their GOP counterparts in blasting the Pentagon's failure to disclose details of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's hospitalization.
Why it matters: Republicans are increasingly floating congressional inquiries and even resignation as details emerge in what is becoming a significant Washington scandal.
The White House has no plans to fire Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin over the controversy surrounding his recent hospitalization, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Monday.
Why it matters: Even as the secrecy around Austin's hospitalization has spurred blowback from members of Congress, Kirby's words offer a strong vote of confidence in Austin from President Biden.
Near-blizzard conditions are colliding with GOP primary candidates' final push ahead of the 2024 Iowa caucuses, forcing campaigns to cancel events and change plans.
Why it matters: Forecasted frigid weather for next week could also dampen voter turnout on caucus day on Monday, local analysts say.
The White House on Monday denounced former President Trump for referring to jailed Jan. 6 rioters as "hostages" over the weekend.
Why it matters: As the nation marked thethird anniversary of the deadly Capitol riot on Saturday, polling found Republicans have become more sympathetic to rioters in the years since the attack.
The special primary election to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will take place March 19, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Monday.
The big picture: McCarthy announced last month that he would resign from Congress at the end of 2023 after his historic speakership ouster.
A House Democrat introduced legislation Monday aimed at blocking participants in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol from obtaining access to classified national security information.
Why it matters: The move comes as Republicans have softened their condemnations of the rioters, with Trump and his allies going so far as to label Jan. 6 defendants as "hostages."
Driving the news: The three-page bill, introduced by Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.), would add two questions to SF-86 – a questionnaire that applicants for national security positions must fill out to obtain security clearances:
''Have you ever been a member of, associated with, or knowingly engaged in activities conducted by an organization or movement that spreads conspiracy theories and false information about the United States Government?''
''Did you participate in the activities occurring at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, or in any similar activity?''
Zoom in: The new questions would require applicants to answer "yes" or "no" to the questions.
If they answer yes, the form should give them space to describe "the nature of, and reasons for" their actions, the bill says.
What they're saying: "January 6, 2021, was one of the darkest days in our nation's history. The events of that day demand deep reflection and accountability," said Nickel.
"The Security Clearance Improvement Act is a common sense solution to ensure that conspiracy theorists or those who were at the Capitol on January 6th get nowhere near classified information or our country's national security secrets."
The bill was previously introduced by former Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D - Fla.), who was a member of the Jan. 6 select committee.
The Republican Party of Florida's executive committee, under mounting pressure, voted on Monday to oust embattled Chairman Christian Ziegler,accordingto reports.
Why it matters: The move comes over a month after news surfaced that Ziegler is the subject of an "active investigation" into a sexual battery allegation made by a woman who said she'd been in a sexual relationship with him and his wife, Bridget Ziegler.
Monday's vote was "overwhelmingly in favor" of removing Ziegler, with only a "handful" in opposition, Politico's Gary Fineout reported.
Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza briefly interrupted President Biden on Monday during a speech in Charleston, South Carolina.
Driving the news: About half a dozen protesters were quickly escorted out of the event as the crowd chanted "four more years," in what could be seen as a microcosm of the deep divide among Democrats over response to the Israel-Hamas war.
The world's number No. 1 risk this year is "The United States vs. itself," Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer writes in "Top Risks 2024" on Monday.
Driving the news: "With the outcome of the vote essentially a coin toss (at least for now), the only certainty is continued damage to America's social fabric, political institutions, and international standing," Bremmer said.
House Republicans are growing increasingly comfortable with the idea of impeaching Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.
Why it matters: Republicans have made border security their marquee issue going into 2024 as they prepare to try retake the Senate and the White House while defending their narrow House majority.
House Republicans on Monday recommended Hunter Biden be held in contempt of Congress for failure to comply with a subpoena, saying he "violated federal law."
The big picture: A pair of House committees leading the impeachment inquiry into President Biden over his family's finances had been set to vote this week on the matter.
Pope Francis on Monday called for a global ban on surrogacy and said the practice is "despicable."
Driving the news: In an address to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, Francis mentioned surrogacy motherhood among a list of issues threatening peace and dignity around the world, per a readout from the Vatican.
Former President Trump said Monday he'll attend a federal appeals court hearing in Washington, D.C., this week on his claim that he has presidential immunity from prosecution.
President Biden's alliessee an opening: Americans are now getting a real pay boost, even after inflation.
Why it matters: Though the president's broader Bidenomics messaging has fallen flat among some voters, his team sees opportunity in fresh data showing Americans' real earnings are beating inflation once more.
Why it matters: Landrieu will take his fingertip feel for the president's brand and accomplishments to a campaign that is struggling to convince voters that Biden's policies are improving their lives.
Why it matters: Their differing approaches to the first contest of the 2024 primary season — the intensity of their campaigning, their number of public events and the communities they've targeted — shed light on how each candidate views Iowa, and their strategies for moving forward.
Why it matters: The early influx of cash into McCormick's campaign and joint fundraising committee is the latest sign that Pennsylvania's Senate race will be among the nation's most competitive contests in November, with control of the U.S. Senate potentially hanging in the balance.
A growing number of states and local municipalities are launching task forces and programs to examine possible reparations for Black American descendants of enslavement and Jim Crow-era discrimination — a once-fringe idea that's increasingly going mainstream.
Why it matters: "This is no longer a niche conversation. This is something that we have to do,"New York State Rep.Michaelle C. Solages (D) tells Axios.
