Special counsel Jack Smith in a filing on Thursday requested a July 8 trial start date in the federal criminal case over former President Trump's handling of classified documents.
Why it matters: Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential frontrunner, has leveraged delay tactics across the four criminal indictments he is facing, while publicly casting himself as a victim, in an effort to push proceedings past the election.
Jack Douglas Teixeira, the Air National guardsman accused of leaking highly classified Pentagon documents to the online gaming service Discord, is expected to plead guilty in a Boston court on Monday.
The big picture: Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, is accused of leaking materials including revelations about the U.S. government's relations with its adversaries and allies, such as its efforts to gather intelligence on Ukraine's government, Russia and allies Israel and South Korea.
A half dozen swing-district House Republicans are signing onto a resolution supporting access to fertility treatments, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and former President Trump have scrambled to distance themselves from an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that has frozen IVF services in the state.
Former President Trump said Thursday that President Biden has "the blood of countless innocent victims" on his hands in a bleak address as both 2024 front-runners visited different border towns in Texas.
Why it matters: Polls suggest immigration is a major political vulnerability for Biden, and Trump is once again making his hardline approach a key tenet of his presidential bid.
President Biden during a rare trip to the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday went on offense on immigration, slamming Republicans for squashing the bipartisan border deal and pushing them to bring it to a vote.
Why it matters: The visit to Brownsville, Texas came as the president is considering borrowing a page on immigration from former President Trump, his likely 2024 opponent, including restricting the ability of migrants to claim asylum.
The Alabama legislature on Thursday passed legislation to protect patients and doctors involved with in vitro fertilization in the event that embryos are damaged or destroyed.
Why it matters: Nearly all IVF treatments in Alabama were halted out of caution after the state's Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children. The decision left Republicans facing huge blowback, with former President Trump even calling on Alabama lawmakers to act.
Canada will reinstate a visa requirement for Mexican citizens on Thursday, the same day President Biden and former President Trump, 2024 presidential frontrunners, traveled to Texas to discuss their immigration policies.
Why it matters: While the U.S. also handles a border crisis with Mexico, the move in Canada is intended to address an influx of asylum seekers into the country.
Democratic lawmakers are publicly and privately cautioning that the sizable pro-Palestinian protest vote in Michigan's primary this week is a warning sign for their party going into the November elections.
Why it matters: It's an issue that has harshly divided Democrats in the aftermath of Hamas' brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) will give the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union address next week, two sources familiar with the GOP's plan tell Axios.
Why it matters: Britt, who was elected in 2022, was cast into the spotlight after coming out out against the Alabama Supreme Court's recent ruling that frozen embryos should be considered children.
House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green has reversed course on retiring and will run for re-election, the Tennessee Republican confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: Green said he reconsidered his retirement after receiving pressure from GOP senators, including Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and former President Trump.
Former President Trump quietly has been urging Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to run for GOP Senate leader — and was doing so even before Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced he was stepping aside as leader, two sources familiar with the situation tell Axios.
Why it matters: Much of the speculation about McConnell's successor has focused on the "three Johns" — Thune, Cornyn and Barrasso — but Trump's involvement signals there could be a long race for the leadership post ahead.
A coalition of frustrated Democrats in Colorado is organizing a last-minute campaign to vote "noncommitted" instead of President Biden in Tuesday's presidential primary.
Why it matters: The effort hopes to build on momentum from Michigan, where more than 100,000 voted uncommitted in protest of the Biden administration's support for Israel in its war with Gaza.
The big picture: Age and fitness to serve are being called into question this election cycle, as 81-year-old President Biden and 77-year-old former President Trump, the GOP frontrunner, take center stage.
Hispanic Protestants are among the biggest supporters of Christian nationalism despite the belief system's anti-immigrant and anti-diversity stances, according to a new survey.
Why it matters: Aroundtwo-thirds of Americans surveyed said they reject or are skeptical about Christian nationalism, but its prominence in the GOP is helping shape its educational, health care and immigration policies.
The White House wrote a letter to Fox News executives asking to correct its coverage of corruption allegations against President Biden.
Why it matters: Republicans have faltered in their impeachment inquiry into Biden after an ex-FBI informant whose information was at the center of the probe was charged with felony false statement and obstruction crimes, as well as implicated Russian intervention.
A federal judge on Thursdaytemporarily put on hold a Texas law that would allow local authorities and judges to arrest anddeportimmigrants suspected of illegally crossing the U.S. border.
Why it matters: Civil rights groups and the Department of Justice, who together sued to stop the law from going into effect on March 5, say it is unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling.
Former President Trump appealed an Illinois ruling barring him from the state's ballot on the grounds of the 14th amendment insurrection clause.
The big picture: The ruling on Wednesday, which Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter immediately put on hold in anticipation of an appeal, came as the Supreme Court weighs a similar argument in Colorado to keep the GOP presidential frontrunner off the ballot over his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced a barrage of questions Thursday from the House Armed Services Committee about the lack of transparency over his January hospitalization.
Why it matters: The initial secrecy around Austin's hospitalization sparked bipartisan blowback and calls for his resignation for keeping the White House and Congress in the dark.
President Biden told reporters Thursday he "knows" the aid convoy incident in Gaza in which dozens of Palestinians were killed will complicate the negotiations over a hostage deal and a temporary ceasefire.
The big picture: Biden, who also walked back his previous remarks about a possible ceasefire in Gaza by Monday, spoke to reporters shortly after a phone call with the emir of Qatar.
President Biden and former President Trump both will visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday — but their trips will focus on dramatically different views of an issue that has rocketed to the top of voters' concerns.
Why it matters: Biden's visit to Brownsville, Texas, underscores a shift in his campaign to more forcefully address illegal immigration — one of his biggest vulnerabilities in seeking re-election.
Former President Trump has already won big at the Supreme Court — even if he ultimately loses.
The big picture: The justices agreed Wednesday to decide whether Trump enjoys "total immunity" from prosecution. The timing of that decision likely means a trial over Trump's role in Jan. 6 won't begin — much less end — before the election.
Global freedom receded for an 18th consecutive year in 2023, according to an annual report from watchdog group Freedom House.
Why it matters: The reportfound that political rights and civil liberties deteriorated in 52 countries, accounting for one-fifth of the global population.
A Virginia school board member facing charges over the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot said Wednesday he won't be "bullied" into leaving his position following his arrest, per the Winchester Star.
The big picture: Miles Brandon Adkins, 40, who's faced calls to resign from the Frederick County School Board over his alleged role in the insurrection, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with four misdemeanor offenses, according to an FBI affidavit.
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