Axios

After all that noise, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene didn't even get a proper vote.

Why it matters: Greene chose a climatic confrontation Wednesday by calling a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson, and was almost instantly blocked by an overwhelming 359-43 procedural motion.

City, state and federal leaders are banking on early planning and additional spending to avoid the gut-wrenching heat death toll Arizona experienced last summer.

Why it matters: Nearly 650 people died of heat-related causes in Maricopa County last year — a 52% increase over 2022.

President Biden said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday that if Israel invades the Gaza city of Rafah, the U.S. will stop supplying it with artillery shells, bombs for fighter jets and other offensive weapons.

Why is it matters: This is the first time that Biden or any other official in his administration has said publicly that an Israeli military ground operation in Rafah will result in a halt to the supply of offensive weapons to Israel.

Long-shot independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday challenged former President Trump to a debate at a Libertarian convention later this month.

Why it matters: Recent polling suggests Kennedy, who has qualified for the presidential ballot in four states, including the swing state Michigan, is potentially hurting Trump's campaign more than President Biden's.

House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) gavel was saved on Wednesday with the help of Democrats after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) failed to grow her ouster campaign beyond a handful of votes.

Why it matters: Johnson avoided becoming the second speaker ousted this Congress. He became a midsession speaker in October after the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy.

It's not just colleges: Across the U.S., high school students have been protesting the war in Gaza — and Congress is paying attention.

Why it matters: Young people under the age of 18 have been organizing demonstrations, sit-ins and walkouts at their schools, where the academic year typically extends into June.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sent a letter to President Biden expressing alarm about the White House decision to put on hold a weapons shipment to Israel and asking for details about the decision by the end of the week.

Why it matters: The unprecedented move by the Biden administration, first reported by Axios on Sunday, was a way for the U.S. to signal its concern over Israel's plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, U.S. officials said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is seriously considering bringing the failed bipartisan border deal back to the floor for a vote later this month — turning the tables on the GOP's favorite 2024 issue, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Democrats are launching a border offensive. Senators are slamming Republicans again for killing the border deal months ago and President Biden is unveiling new proposed asylum changes this week.

House Republicans are moving to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for allegedly standing in the way of their impeachment inquiry into President Biden, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The GOP has pressed Garland in an attempt to obtain the audio recordings of Biden's interviews with former Special Counsel Robert Hur.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a 2012 deposition that a doctor suggested he may have had a dead parasite in his brain, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The big picture: Kennedy, who qualified for the presidential ballot in four states and has reportedly met the signature threshold in at least six more, said he was experiencing memory loss and mental fogginess at the time and scans revealed a dark spot on his brain.

MAGA Inc., the main super PAC backing former President Trump, has joined TikTok.

Why it matters: It's the first Trump-affiliated account on the Chinese-owned app, which the presumptive Republican presidential nominee once sought to ban over national security concerns.

A staffer for Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy engaged with numerous social media posts with racist and antisemitic messaging, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: A GOP candidate is paying a staffer who liked antisemitic memes at the same time that Republicans have been unified in slamming Democrats over antisemitism at recent pro-Palestinian protests.

Biden administration officials are readying to publish a new rule to more rapidly reject some migrants from asylum soon after crossing the border, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It is one of several actions being weighed by President Biden to clamp down on illegal border crossings ahead of the election, as Biden and Democrats try to go on offense on one of their most vulnerable issues.

Senior Israeli officials have expressed "deep frustration" with the Biden administration over its decision to pause a weapons shipment to Israel, warning the move could jeopardize hostage negotiations, two sources briefed on the issue told Axios.

Why it matters: The unprecedented move by the Biden administration, first reported by Axios on Sunday, was a way for the U.S. to signal its concern over Israel's plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, U.S. officials said.

A Georgia appeals court agreed Wednesday to review a lower court ruling in former President Trump's 2020 state-level election case allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue overseeing it.

Why it matters: It's a win for Trump's legal team, which appealed the ruling and has successfully used delay tactics in the four criminal cases against him while he campaigns for a second term.

Led by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and Missouri AG Andrew Bailey, six GOP states have filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's recent changes to Title IX, which expand protections for LGBTQ+ students.

Why it matters: School districts across the U.S. may have to decide if they'll comply with federal regulations while conflicting with their state's position on a key civil rights law dating back to 1972.

Protests against the Israel-Gaza war have erupted on local campuses, but universities and colleges haven't been uniform in their reaction.

Here are how protests have been handled at four Chicago-area institutions.

A top Israeli general and diplomat tried to address Democrats' growing frustrations over the war in Gaza in two separate Capitol Hill meetings on Tuesday, but made little headway, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Democrats have grown increasingly concerned in recent months about the civilian toll of the war — a dynamic worsened by Israel moving into Rafah this week.

President Biden will travel to Racine County, Wisconsin, on Wednesday to unveil a $3.3 billion investment by Microsoft to build a new artificial intelligence data center, according to Biden officials.

Why it matters: It's another high-profile announcement from the president on how he's helping to create jobs with private sector investment — but with a twist.

A super PAC supporting Republican David McCormick's Senate run in Pennsylvania is launching a $4 million TV ad buy today, its first in one of the most-watched contests of the 2024 campaign.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania's race between McCormick and Democratic incumbent Bob Casey Jr. could determine which party controls the Senate next year — and is a prime opportunity for Republicans to gain a seat.

Former President Trump is betting that high gas and grocery prices will fuel his return to the White House. But his second-term plans could make inflation worse.

Why it matters: President Biden's approval rating has suffered under the crushing weight of inflation, which voters consistently rank as their top issue for the 2024 election.

Former President Trump is scheduled to spend part of his day off from court today at a Mar-a-Lago dinner with supporters who spent thousands of dollars for Trump "Mugshot Edition" NFTs, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Trump frequently complains that his criminal trial in New York is keeping him from campaigning in swing states — but he also prioritizes using his name and likeness to make money.

President Biden's team is continuing its surge in swing-state staffing and ads this month, with dozens of new hires and an eight-figure ad buy, the campaign announced Wednesday.

Why it matters: With Donald Trump stuck in a courtroom and behind in fundraising, the Biden campaign is looking to take advantage before Trump's team can get up to speed.

The weapons shipment to Israel that the Biden administration decided to put on hold last week included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, a senior U.S. official told Axios.

Why it matters: The unprecedented move by the Biden administration, which was first reported by Axios last Sunday, was a way for the U.S. to signal to Israel its concern over a possible ground operation in Rafah, the senior U.S. official said.