Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday that he's deploying the Florida National Guard and State Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The big picture: The move comes amid a battle between Republican lawmakers and the federal government over securing the southern border with governors in states like Texas and Florida claiming there's an "invasion" of migrants.
Nikki Haley's stretch of avoiding direct attacks against former President Trump ended in spectacular fashion in January, with another month of attacks all but guaranteed ahead of South Carolina's Feb. 24 primary.
Why it matters: Haley is the lone survivor of the GOP primary taking on Trump. Facing a massive gap in the polls, the former UN ambassador can no longer afford to tiptoe around Trump's vulnerabilities.
Why it matters: The timing may have been coincidental, but the Biden administration is eager to present deliverables to Arab and Muslim American voters who have threatened to sit out or actively work to defeat the president over his support for Israel.
Disney filed an appeal Thursday contesting a judge's dismissal of its lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which alleged his administration executed a "targeted campaign" against the company.
Why it matters: Judge Allen Winsor's rulingposed a major setback in Disney's yearslong feud with the Florida Republican.
Why it matters: The proposed bipartisan deal would be one of the most restrictive border bills in a century, paired with tens of billions of dollars of foreign military aid.
Why it matters: Austin has faced calls to testify by members of Congress over the lack of transparency into his two-week hospitalization, which President Biden called a lapse in judgment.
Former President Trump's political fundraising apparatus spent more than $50 million on legal costs last year as he faced a barrage of lawsuits and criminal charges in multiple jurisdictions.
Why it matters: The stunning new campaign finance reports reveal the financial damage the GOP presidential frontrunner has sustained while facing a colliding campaign and courtroom calendar.
Why it matters: Despite an increase in confident, aggressive messaging from the White House about positive economic indicators, such as rebounding consumer sentiment and a slowdown in inflation, Biden's approval rating has remained stagnant.
A group of Jewish leaders has sent a letter to Harvard defending criticism of Israel from scholars and supporting the embattled co-chair of the school's task force on antisemitism, Axios has learned.
Why it matters:Derek Penslar, the task force's co-chair and a professor of Jewish history, has come under fire for once signing a letter attacking the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians.
Schools and universities are marking the start of Black History Month today, as many educators across the nation wrestle with increasing limits on what they can teach about racism and history.
Why it matters: New laws in at least 14 states and various restrictions elsewhere — or the threat of them — are leading many teachers to simply mention important figures in Black history without getting into the racism they faced.
Rep. Dean Phillips gave his campaign a $4 million loan during the fourth quarter of 2023, while he pulled in about $1 million from otherdonors, his public filing with the Federal Election Commission shows.
Why it matters: Phillips earlier this month called his long-shot presidential campaign the most "important philanthropic pursuit of [his] life" and said he will do "what it takes" to sustain his campaign.
The House easily passed a $78 billion bipartisan tax package on Wednesday after days of tensions within the GOP, but it's already showing signs of trouble in the Senate.
Why it matters: The deal left House GOP leadership scrambling to appease various factions' grievances about the measure, and ultimately passed with the help of Democrats.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign spent more than it raised during the fourth quarter of 2023, after he ditched the Democratic primary and became an Independent candidate on Oct. 9.
Why it matters: Kennedy is burning through money fast and his cash reserves are shrinking as he seeks to sustain his campaign through November.
After four months of intensive negotiations, the Senate is on the verge of abandoning a bipartisan border security deal that Republicans once demanded as a precondition to new military aid for Ukraine.
Why it matters: The bill text hasn't even been released, as furious negotiators are keen to point out. But the toxic realities of election-year politics — including an intervention from former President Trump — have pushed the deal to the precipice of collapse.
