Axios

House Democrats found themselves in an increasingly familiar position on Wednesday — bailing out Speaker Mike Johnson despite their frustration with his tactics.

Why it matters: It's a dynamic that will likely take center stage next week when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduces a motion to oust Johnson, which Democrats have promised to defeat.

New York police confirmed that they arrested 282 pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University and the City College of New York Tuesday night and made further arrests at Fordham University Wednesday.

Why it matters: The large police operation represented the biggest escalation yet in the Ivy League school's response to the demonstrations, which have served as the epicenter of the nationwide campus movement supporting Palestinians.

Harvey Weinstein will be retried for sex crimes in New York City as soon as September, the Manhattan District Attorney's office said on Wednesday.

The big picture: The allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Weinstein helped reignite the global #MeToo movement.

Senate Democrats are making a very public push this week to get marijuana legislation through the chamber, blaming Republicans for blocking progress on the bills.

Why it matters: Federal cannabis reform is a popular issue for young voters, a bloc that Democrats are facing issues with as the 2024 election approaches.

A Republican-led House committee is planning to hold a hearing next week scrutinizing Washington, D.C., officials for not clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University.

Why it matters: It's part of a House-wide effort by House Republicans to crack down on the demonstrations erupting at college campuses across the country.

House Democrats met Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-Ga.) plan to force a vote on ousting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) with dismissal and derision.

Why it matters: Democrats hope that a resounding defeat for Greene will crush her nascent revolt and discourage right-wing hardliners from continuing to try to throw the House into chaos.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced she plans to move forward with her motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) next week, calling it "very satisfying" that Democrats will save his gavel on the floor.

Why it matters: Greene acknowledged the pushback she has received from members of her party, telling reporters her colleagues have called on her to "just wait and get through the election," but that she feels they "aren't facing the issues."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu privately warned Secretary of State Antony Blinken Wednesday that Israel will move forward with an invasion of Rafah if Hamas continues to condition a hostage deal on ending the war, two Israeli and U.S. officials said.

Why it matters: The Biden administration is deeply concerned about the possibility of an Israeli military invasion of Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip where more than one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

Texas lawmakers may hammer University of Texas faculty after they circulated a letter this week declaring no confidence in university president Jay Hartzell.

Why it matters: Tensions are high between the university's broadly liberal faculty and the largely conservative Legislature that controls the university's purse strings.

As Florida's six-week abortion ban begins Wednesday, providers and advocates both in and out of state are bracing for a massive shift in the national abortion landscape.

Why it matters: As options narrow for people seeking abortions, patients, providers and support organizations like abortion funds are facing "an exponential increase in burden," says Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist with the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights think tank.

An alliance of businesses, governments, educational institutions and philanthropies will unveil a national strategy at the White House today to add 20 million new workers in science and related fields from historically excluded and underrepresented groups to the U.S workforce by 2050.

Why it matters: Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs are projected to grow faster than other occupations and are typically higher-paying. Building and leveraging that talent is a top priority for the U.S., China and other countries racing to advance AI, quantum computing, biotech and other fields.

What would a second Trump term really look like? You no longer need to guess:

• Former President Trump has laid out, publicly and unambiguously, designs to stretch traditions, norms and accepted law in historic ways.

Why it matters: We've written for months that Trump allies privately are plotting loyalty tests and policy proposals to vastly expand presidential power and punish critics. Trump himself is now saying the quiet part out loud. You should listen.

President Biden has been personally involved in intense efforts in recent days to reach a hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which he sees as a crucial element of a much wider strategy at home and abroad, U.S. officials say.

Why it matters: The president's senior advisers say the deal on the table right now is the only conceivable path to a ceasefire in Gaza and to possibly ending a war that has drawn sharp criticism of Biden among some of his key supporters ahead of the presidential election.

While most Americans overall think hate crimes against Asian Americans are going down, Asian Americans disagree: 1 in 3 reported being the subject of hate this past year, a new survey finds.

Why it matters: Four years after the pandemic when the nation saw surges in anti-Asian hate, Asian Americans still feel they are targets despite anti-hate campaigns and assurance from elected officials.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will use a speech to the McCain Institute in Arizona on Friday to deliver a clear warning about the economic dangers presented by Jan. 6-style attacks on American institutions.

Why it matters: It's an unusual topic for a treasury secretary. But the Biden administration wants to tell voters — and Wall Street — that a second Trump administration would have economic risks.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is recommending that cannabis be reclassified as a Schedule III drug, which would codify that it has medicinal value and is less dangerous than its current Schedule I designation, Axios has confirmed.

Why it matters: The U.S. cannabis industry needed a win, just days after one of its best-known companies, MedMen, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Florida's six-week abortion ban goes into effect Wednesday, but its impact will sweep far beyond the Sunshine State.

Why it matters: Florida's new abortion law — one of the strictest limits in the nation — means its role as a post-Roe refuge for people seeking care in the U.S. South will dramatically change.

House and Senate Democrats' anxiety is spiking as pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses around the country kick into overdrive.

Why it matters: The protests are fueling a volatile political dynamic sparked by the Oct. 7 attack and the Israel-Hamas war just as the 2024 election comes into view.

Former President Trump will be in Wisconsin and Michigan today for two rallies before rushing back to New York — the latest in a series of tweaks his campaign is making as he runs for president while on trial on felony charges.

Why it matters: Squeezed by time, location and a judge's gag order, Trump's team essentially has begun playing a game of campaign Tetris — making rallies and other events fit into tight scheduling windows on Wednesdays and weekends, when court's not in session.