Why it matters: The Colorado ruling was the first to find that the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause applies to Trump in relation to his actions surrounding the Capitol riot, though his lawyers argued in the brief that "he did not 'engage in' anything that qualifies as 'insurrection.'"
Former President Trump and Nikki Haley both called former rival Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) this week in an effort to win his endorsement ahead of the New Hampshire primary, a person familiar with the calls told Axios.
Why it matters: An endorsement ahead of Tuesday's primary could help Haley, the former governor of Scott's home state, catch Trump in the make-or-break contest. A Trump endorsement would further the GOP's consolidation behind the runaway favorite.
The House Freedom Caucus may begin to routinely hijack Republican messaging bills as an act of retaliation against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), according to multiple members of the right-wing group.
Why it matters: It would mark a significant escalation in hardliners’ rebellion against Johnson after he pursued bipartisan deals to pass critical government funding bills.
The Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation case against Rudy Giuliani filed an objection Thursday to Giuliani's bid to use his bankruptcy claim to appeal the case.
Why it matters: The massive multimillion-dollar penalty added to a host of legal fees and financial troubles facing Giuliani as a result of cases related to lies about the 2020 election.
Former President Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, generated just $1.07 million in revenue during the third quarter of 2023, according to SEC filings.
The big picture: Truth Social has become Trump's main means of communicating with the masses, but it hasn't yet leveraged his political popularity into a a financially sustainable business.
Hunter Biden will appear before the Republican-led House Oversight and Judiciary Committees committees for a deposition on Feb. 28 as part of Republicans' impeachment inquiry into President Biden, the panels' chairs announced Thursday.
Why it matters: The announcement comes after top House Republicans last week threatened to vote on holding him in contempt of Congress despite an offer from his legal team to sit for the closed-door deposition GOP lawmakers have demanded.
Why it matters: Lawmakers hope the extension will give them time to craft annual spending bills at the levels agreed to by House Republicans and Senate Democrats.
A new Department of Justice report heavily criticized law enforcement's response to the May 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, explicitly calling it a "failure," Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Thursday.
Why it matters: The DOJ report said the state and local police who initially arrived at the school mishandled the situation, wasting precious time that could have been used to save lives.
Mike Pence's former chief of staff Nick Ayers is endorsing former President Trump, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's a sign that after this week's swift and decisive Iowa caucuses results, Trump is starting to pick up endorsements from Republicans who have previously stayed neutral.
Georgia's Spelman College announced Thursday that it has received a historic $100 million donation, the largest ever made to a historically Black college or university (HBCU).
Why it matters: The gift will go toward endowing scholarships for future students, improving student housing, developing an "academic focus on public policy and democracy," and other critical needs, the college said in a press release.
Florida's Board of Education announced a new rule Wednesday banning public colleges from using state and federal funds for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, activities and policies.
Why it matters: The new restriction will ensure that "taxpayer funds can no longer be used to promote DEI" at Florida's 28 state colleges, the board wrote in a press release.
No Labels, the nonpartisan group preparing to run a third-party presidential ticket, has asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether Democratic and Republican strategists are engaged in an "unlawful conspiracy to subvert Americans' voting rights," the group announced today.
Why it matters: No Labels isn't going away and is prepared to go on offense.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Thursday endorsed Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) in what is shaping up to be a hotly contested race for the Senate seat held by indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).
Why it matters: It’s the first Senate endorsement for Kim, who is well ahead in the polls but faces a structural deficit against New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, who has the backing of much of the state's Democratic establishment.
Republicans and some Democrats want more arrests, detentions and deportations to deal with the historic numbers of migrants illegally crossing the southern border. But agencies doing that work don't have enough cash as it is, sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: Stalled funding deals in Congress are threatening to make an already chaotic situation along the U.S.-Mexico border even worse, as lawmakers demand action but can't agree on a plan to pay for it.
As House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stares down growing threats of removal from his rebellious right flank, Democrats are debating whether they would save him or or vote to oust him like they did former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Why it matters: It would likely only take a handful of Democratic defections to rescue Johnson if one of the hardliners in his conference triggered a vote on ousting him.
Texas' attorney general is refusing to comply with Biden administration demands to stop blocking U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing a public park along the southern border.
Why it matters: The Department of Homeland Security in a "cease-and-desist" letter said Texas officials had until the end of Wednesday to enable federal access to a site where three migrants drowned last week or it would "refer the matter to the Department of Justice for appropriate action."
U.S. forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles "that were loaded to be fired" from Yemen, the United States Central Command said Wednesday.
The big picture: The announcement came hours after the Biden administration re-designated Houthis as a "global terrorist group" in response to their dozens of attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which the rebels said they began in October in protest against the Israel-Hamas war.
Why it matters: Harris' comments on ABC's "The View" come as most polls show a close race between President Biden and Trump, who was declared the Iowa caucuses winner by most networks some 30 minutes after caucusing began.
The Biden administration on Wednesday re-designated Yemen's Houthis as a "global terrorist group" in response to dozens of attacks by the rebels on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The latest: Hours later, U.S. military officials said American forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles "that were loaded to be fired" from Yemen.
A Florida Proud Boys member was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday for assaulting at least half a dozen law enforcement officers during the Capitol riot, the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. announced.
Of note: Kenneth "Bonawitz's attacks injured one officer, who was also a first responder to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack at the Pentagon, so severely that the officer has now been forced to retire from the United States Capitol Police," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Another Native American tribe is demanding answers for the deaths of tribal children more than 100 years ago at a federally run boarding school for Indigenous students.
Driving the news: The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Army, seeking the return of the remains of two children who died at the infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
House Republican leaders are coming to terms with a cold, uncomfortable reality this January: They'll need Democratic votes to pass any real legislation in 2024.
Why it matters: Call it governing under suspension. Legislation can pass the House, but only with Democratic support.
The Trump campaign's new threat against House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) confirms what many suspected: Anyone who endorsed a rival candidate before the Iowa caucuses is now a prime target for retribution.
Why it matters: The rush of Republicans who endorsedformer President Trump in the weeks before his blowout win in Iowa on Monday clearly saw the writing on the wall, as the campaign is now signaling its intent to destroy Good over his early backing of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
