Axios

Former President Trump's request to delay enforcement of $83.3 million in penalties in his civil defamation judgment to writer E. Jean Carroll was rejected by a New York judge on Thursday.

Why it matters: Judge Lewis Kaplan's ruling means the likely 2024 Republican presidential nominee has three days to pay the penalty or post a bond for the entire $83.3 million judgment pending an appeal.

Members of Congress are being flooded with calls from angry constituents after TikTok launched a new campaign warning its users that the Chinese-owned app was at risk of being shut down in the U.S.

Why it matters: A key House committee voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to advance bipartisan legislation that would force ByteDance — TikTok's Chinese parent company — to divest its ownership of the app within 165 days.

U.S. senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) are actively considering the language for a bill that would cover stablecoins, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Stablecoins, cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a consistent price, usually pegged to the dollar, are a $140 billion market, but often cited as risks to U.S. anti-money laundering an counter-terrorism rules.

President Biden's efforts to send humanitarian aid to Gaza aren't nearly enough for progressive members of Congress — so much so that one of them won't commit to voting for him in her state's primary, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Biden's struggle to win over his left flank in Washington comes as he also faces protests from pro-Palestinian voters in state primaries.

President Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday is his chance to deliver a winning message to the American people and convince them he's exhilarated for another term.

The big picture: The State of the Union is the president's most high-profile annual address, and is especially consequential this election year as it's his biggest opportunity to reset and shift public perceptions.

Democratic lawmakers tell Axios that President Biden's State of the Union performance on Thursday will be pivotal for his attempts to dispel voter concerns about his age.

Why it matters: Some Democrats dread a high-profile senior moment. Others expressed confidence that Biden can repeat last year's energetic performance.

House Democrats are launching an investigation into Elon Musk's SpaceX over concerns that Russian forces have obtained the company's internet satellite terminals, per a letter sent Wednesday.

Why it matters: Ukraine has relied on SpaceX's Starlink in its counteroffensives against Russia, the letter said, and the U.S. government has poured resources into supporting Ukraine.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), running for Senate in the state, would not commit Thursday to voting for federal IVF protections.

Why it matters: Republicans have largely argued IVF protections must happen at the state level after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that restricted access to fertility treatments.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has endorsed Donald Trump for president.

Why it matters: Youngkin, who has kept Trump at arm's length while embracing his supporters, is the latest in a wave of endorsements cementing MAGA's grip on Republicans.

Republicans in the House Problem Solvers Caucus are accusing their Democratic counterparts of failing to take hard bipartisan votes.

Why it matters: Multiple members said the full group hasn't met in months and talks have dwindled after a heated meeting ahead of the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last fall.

Former GOP Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who's running for Senate in the state, said at an Axios event on Thursday that he would not vote for former President Trump in 2024.

Why it matters: Hogan, one of the most outspoken (and only) Trump critics in the GOP, is on track to run for the first time with Trump at the top of the ticket.

The guests House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is bringing to the State of the Union include high-profile conservative athletes and individuals directly affected by crime and immigration.

Why it matters: State of the Union guests are a symbols of causes lawmakers want to champion – and Johnson's are sending a deeply conservative message.

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) suggested Thursday at an Axios event that he would be willing to decline to certify the 2028 election results if he was vice president.

Why it matters: Donalds is one of the names being floated as a possible vice presidential pick for former President Trump.

President Biden will use tonight's State of the Union address to admit that prices are still too high in some areas — but argue things were worse under former President Trump, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients tells Axios.

Why it matters: Biden, in what could well be the most important speech of his presidency, aims to project fighting optimism to an audience with plenty of doubts about the nation's vigor — and that of the 81-year-old president.

Latino activists and political leaders worry that increasingly harsh and racist rhetoric about immigrants — particularly by Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters — is fueling a surge in the already record-breaking number of hate crimes against Latinos.

Why it matters: The concerns are rising amid political campaigns targeting immigrants, a stalemate in Congress over plans to improve border security, and a projected backlog this year of 8 million asylum seekers and other immigrants seeking to stay in the U.S.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed into law a bill designed to protect in vitro fertilization patients and doctors from prosecution on Wednesday, following a state Supreme Court ruling that said frozen embryos are considered unborn children.

Why it matters: Nearly all IVF treatments in Alabama were halted in response to last month's ruling that left Republicans facing backlash and former President Trump calling on state lawmakers to preserve the availability of IVF in the state.

A pair of Jewish House Democrats said Wednesday they were incorrectly listed as co-sponsors of a pro-Palestinian resolution.

Why it matters: One of the lawmakers, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), said he plans to investigate the discrepancy and try to "prevent this from happening to anyone else."

Hundreds of National Guard troops and additional law enforcement will start patrolling New York subways and helping conduct bag checks this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.

The big picture: The move, which follows a string of violent crimes on the metro, is part of a five-point plan intended to target incidents on New York's subways as the number of arrests for major crimes in the transit system rose 45% this year.

A new super PAC, waiting in the wings for a potential No Label's third-party presidential bid, is asking small-dollar donors to contribute hard cash to fund the actual campaign to get a "unity" ticket elected.

Why it matters: For the No Labels movement to field a credible bipartisan ticket, organizers need three things they don't have: presidential and vice-presidential candidates and a working campaign to help them make their case to the American people.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has already qualified for the ballot in Utah, and he's poised to soon qualify in six more states, including three key battlegrounds.

Why it matters: President Biden and former President Trump are heading for a rematch, and Kennedy is expected to be on the general election ballot in states where the margins are likely to be tiny.

The Department of Defense is examining whether debris that fisherman found off the coast of Alaska last week is from a spy ballon, CNN first reported and Axios confirmed Wednesday.

The big picture: The find on Friday comes just over a year since an American fighter jet shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over the U.S.