Half-way through the 118th Congress, nearly 13,000 private citizens contacted the Congressional Ethics Office mostly to complain about perceived unethical behavior by lawmakers, according to the office's data.
Why it matters: The 118th Congress ison track for a record number of calls from concerned citizens at a time of high-profile investigations and big, controversial personalities from Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) to expelled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.)
The House continues to hemorrhage membership as it struggles with infighting, dysfunction and a lack of productivity that has infuriated lawmakers in both parties.
Why it matters: A string of early Republican resignations has brought the chamber to the brink of flipping to Democrats. It may not stop there.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has declined to run for president with the centrist political group No Labels, a spokesperson confirmed to Axios on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Christie is the latest high-profile lawmaker to turn down running with the group, as it continues to press on with plans to put forward a "unity ticket" in November.
Former U.S. Senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman, who helped lead the centrist group No Labels in his later years, has died at age 82.
What they're saying: Lieberman died Wednesday afternoon "due to complications from a fall," his family said in a statement.
A California man was sentenced to 11 months in prison for leaving threatening voicemails to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
The big picture: David Allen Carrier, 44, of Concord, was accused of leaving a message on Jan. 21, 2021, on the office voicemail of then-Speaker Pelosi, threatening to assault her, per the DOJ.
The Walt Disney Co. and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' allies reached a settlement agreement Wednesday regarding control of the Orlando theme park's special tax district.
Why it matters: The agreement ends a yearslong legal dispute between DeSantis and Disney, which the company argued stemmed from its opposition to the Florida "Don't Say Gay" law signed in 2022.
Former President Trump attacked the New York judge overseeing his first criminal case in an angry stream of Truth Social posts Wednesday, less than a day after facing a partial gag order in the case.
Why it matters: The presumptive GOP presidential nominee has once again applied his combative rhetoric on the campaign trail toward one of several legal woes he's facing.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona sent a letter to state governors Tuesday asking them to encourage college students and their families to complete federal financial aid applications.
The big picture: The rollout of a new version of FAFSA has been plagued with technical issues and system glitches, causing delays and preventing some students from submitting their applications.
Why it matters: Kennedy has been polling better than any independent candidate in decades. With his name recognition, Democrats are worried he could tip the election in favor of Trump.
Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.), the powerful chair of the New Democrat Coalition, said Wednesday she will not seek reelection to Congress in November.
Why it matters: Kuster is the latest in a flood of lawmakers in both parties who are leaving Congress amid complaints of chaos and a lack of productivity.
Marilyn Lands flipped Alabama's State House District 10 on Tuesday in a sign of the political staying power of reproductive rights in a rare purple district.
Why it matters: The special election in the reliably red state gained national attention as a litmus test for voters' responses to a campaign centered on protecting reproductive freedoms and access to IVF.
A majority of Americans disapprove of Israel's military actions in Gaza, in a stark shift since last fall, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday.
Why it matters: The new findings come as Israel prepares for a controversial ground invasion of Rafah. Tensions have grown between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the humanitarian toll of Israel's war has mounted.
Truth Social — the Trump-owned social media platform that started trading yesterday — currently has far fewer users and less income than any social network that has gone public before.
Why it matters: While the app does sell some ads, its business is practically non-existent.
For the first time in more than two months, President Biden on Tuesday publicly uttered a word that he and other Democrats have largely abandoned: "Bidenomics."
Why it matters: Republicans are now using the term — mockingly — far more than Democrats heading into the meat of the presidential campaign, even as the economy has improved under Biden.
The Coast Guard ended its active search for six missing Baltimore construction workers now believed to be dead after the city's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning.
The big picture: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) declared a state of emergency after a cargo ship struck the bridge earlier that morning, a key piece of infrastructure in a vital port that spans the Patapsco River.
President Biden is facing blowback from pro-Israel lawmakers in both parties for allowing the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages.
NBC has dropped Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, NBCU News Group chair Cesar Conde confirmed in a memo to staff following backlash from some of the network's journalists.
Why it matters: The ex-RNC chair's hiring set off a rare on-air protest over the weekend from top network talent, renewing criticism over cable news' lucrative — and often controversial — alliance with former government officials and party flacks.
The big picture: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) declared a state of emergency following the incident. Video captured the moment the large cargo vessel slammed into a support column at 1:28 am ET, causing the entire span to fall into the water below.
