The Department of Justice and TikTok asked a U.S. appeals court on Friday to expedite its consideration of legal challenges to the new U.S. law requiring parent company ByteDance to sell the app or face a ban, multipleoutlets reported.
The big picture: It's the latest in apotentiallyprotracted legal fight over the popular social media app's fate in the U.S., after President Biden signed a law forcing TikTok's sale or ouster.
Two top Biden administration officials held indirect talks with Iranian officials in Oman this week on how to avoid escalating regional attacks, two sources with knowledge of the talks told Axios.
Why it matters: The talks — involving President Biden's top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, and Abram Paley the acting U.S. envoy for Iran — were the first round of discussions between the U.S. and Iran since January, when similar negotiations were held in Oman.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan told foreign ambassadors Wednesday the U.S. believes Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar withdrew from hostage talks last week in hopes of increasing pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza, two sources at the meeting told Axios.
Why it matters: Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a possible hostage deal that could lead to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza reached a deadlock last week after several days of talks in Cairo and Doha.
Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called on Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election after the New York Times'Jodi Kantor reported that an upside-down American flag flew outside of his house in 2021. The flag was a widely recognized symbol of the "Stop the Steal" movement.
Why it matters: The recusal demand comes as public trust in the nation's highest court has been declining and the court is slated to issue seismic rulings this term related to former President Trump's efforts to overturn his loss to President Biden in 2020.
A federal judge sentenced the man convicted of assaulting and attempting to kidnap Paul Pelosi, the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to 30years in prison on Friday, AP reports.
Why it matters: David DePape's brutal attack on Paul Pelosi just before the 2022 midterm elections shook lawmakers from both parties and underscored the surging threats of violence they and other public officials face.
House members in both parties are cringing at a turbulent Oversight Committee hearing that was bedeviled by members insulting each others' appearances, constant heckling and allegations of drinking.
Why it matters: Many lawmakers cast it as a new low in the chaos and lack of productivity that has defined the 118th Congress and has led to an historic exodus of House members.
Why it matters: The move reflects the discontentment felt by some on campus with Shafik's recent congressional testimony and her response to pro-Palestinian student protests.
A group of pro-Israel House Democrats who opposed restricting President Biden's ability to withhold arms to Israel is blasting the vote as a "shameless" attempt to "use Israel and the American Jewish community as political pawns," Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's a reflection of growing Democratic frustration around Republicans repeatedly holding votes on Israel and antisemitism that Democrats say are mainly meant to divide their party.
Hunter Biden asked a federal judge to delay a trial over federal tax charges in California, which is set to start next month, until September due to conflicts with a separate upcoming trial over gun charges in Delaware.
Why it matters: If the delay request is denied, the two high-profile cases against President Biden's son will likely go forward in June.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government dropped $55 million for 18 acres stretching along the Potomac River in McLean, where it plans to build a diplomatic compound, reports the Washington Business Journal (WBJ).
The big picture: The 2022 sale — which happened off-market in a single transaction, but is listed in Fairfax County public records — consisted of three adjacent undeveloped lots: 1019, 1049, and 1079 Crest Lane in McLean.
The White House has unleashed an unprecedented surge of major new regulations as it races a moving deadline to protect much of President Biden's agenda.
Why it matters: No president has killed more regulations using an obscure law known as the Congressional Review Act than Donald Trump, who likely would target much of Biden's body of work if he wins this fall.
Suburban schools are seeing dramatic surges in segregation as white enrollments fall and Latino enrollments jump, according to two reports and an Axios review of federal data.
Why it matters: As the U.S. marks the 70th anniversary Friday of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling that banned separating schoolchildren by race, America's public schools are becoming more separate and unequal.
The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee's hearing to mark up a contempt of Congress resolution against Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday was routinely mired in disorder.
Most Georgia swing voters say they are skeptical that former President Trump would face serious punishment over his criminal indictments, even if he's convicted, according to our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups.
Why it matters: These voters, who voted for President Biden in 2020 after voting for Trump in 2016, said they think the ex-president is getting special treatment over his four criminal indictments.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will give the White House cover to use stricter immigration executive actions by resurrecting a bipartisan border bill for a vote likely next week, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Schumer's move serves a dual purpose, also protecting his vulnerable Democratic incumbents on one of their worst issues ahead of 2024.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) plans to leverage the humanitarian pier in Gaza as a way to put Democrats on the record over President Biden's approach to the Israel-Hamas war.
Why it matters: Cruz is signaling that if Democrats don't vote for his military aid legislation, he will force a vote on the pier.
