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National

Five Black House Democrats are endorsing Democrat Angela Alsobrooks in her Maryland Senate bid, days after her primary opponent apologized for using a racial slur in a House hearing.

Why it matters: The five lawmakers bucked their House colleague Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), Alsobrooks' primary opponent, in endorsing the Prince George's County executive, Axios has learned.

Trone used a racial slur in a House hearing last week. He apologized on Friday, saying he meant to use the word "bugaboo."

Trone is considered the front-runner in the Democratic primary. Trone and Alsobrooks are seeking to face Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, a popular former Maryland governor, for the Senate seat in November.

Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) endorsed Alsobrooks.

The big picture: The Democratic primary in the state has been one of the most expensive in the country.

Over $29 million has already been spent in the race, according to AdImpact Politics. That makes it the third most expensive primary in the country, with Trone, a wealthy businessman, accounting for 97% of that spending.

Hogan leads Alsobrooks and Trone in hypothetical general election matchups, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. 

What they're saying: Lee said Alsobrooks is a voice "sorely missing in the Senate."

"Her vision and integrity make her the best choice to represent Maryland in the Senate," Clarke said.

"The enthusiasm and support behind our grassroots campaign is growing as we continue our fight for Marylanders across the state," Alsobrooks said of the endorsements.

Scoop: Black Dems endorse in Maryland Senate race after racial slur

Five Black House Democrats are endorsing Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks.

Angela Alsobrooks speaks during a campaign event for her run for the U.S. Senate at Monument City Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 23, 2023.

Angela Alsobrooks speaks during a campaign event for her run for the U.S. Senate at Monument City Brewing Company in Baltimore last October. Photo: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

2024 primary elections

Elections 2024

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

President Biden is still considering harsh executive actions at the border before November's election, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Legal, logistical and political risks are constantly being weighed. Any new surge in border numbers could add urgency for what one administration official described as the nuclear option.

"The bullet's in the chamber," said another source familiar with the planning.

Border numbers fell in January and only ticked up slightly in February, but crossings historically rise in the spring and summer, which could add pressure on the administration to take more drastic measures. That move, however, would upset some Democrats.

Zoom in: The orders being considered would ban people from entering the U.S. if they illegally crossed the border and make it harder for people to pass the first interview in the asylum-seeking process, as has been reported.

What they're saying: "No executive action, no matter how aggressive, can deliver the significant policy reforms and additional resources Congress can provide and that Republicans rejected," a White House spokesperson told Axios.

"We continue to call on Speaker [Mike] Johnson and House Republicans to pass the bipartisan deal to secure the border."

Catch up quick: The White House had considered announcing new executive actions in the run-up to or during the State of the Union address this month, as Axios reported, but ultimately opted against it.

But the move is not dead, and internal conversations continue about expanding the president's authority on the border, according to multiple sources.

The failure of a bipartisan border deal provided Democrats a rare chance to blame Republicans for the chaos at the border — a political opportunity Biden seized during his address to Congress, slamming Republicans and former President Trump.

Since urging congressional action "was a principal point of the State of the Union, to then turn around and immediately announce an executive order would seem to me in tension with that," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told Axios this month.

Between the lines: Using a section of U.S. code called 212f to crack down on people illegally crossing the border would be legally risky — courts intervened in a similar effort under the Trump administration.

It's one reason why the White House has urged Congress to pass a bipartisan border deal that would provide similar powers but with more solid legal footing.

An executive order would still require resources for the Department of Homeland Security to enforce. 

"The president has limited authority. He can't invent new resources. He can't change asylum law," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who was a key negotiator for the border deal, told Axios.

Biden seized during his address to Congress

Scoop: Biden's border nuclear option is still on the table

President Joe Biden gives a speech at Intel Ocotillo Campus on March 20, 2024 in Chandler, Arizona

Immigration

This Week With George Stephanopoulos-2024-03-24

Former Rep. Ken Buck on Sunday called Congress a "dysfunctional place" and has no regrets about leaving early. 

Why it matters: Buck is among the flurry of GOP politicians in Congress heading for the exit and shrinking the House Republicans' majority. 

"No rearview mirror," Buck said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday. "Happy to move on."

What he's saying: Buck agreed with "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl's statement that he "must have been pretty intensely frustrated" with things on Capitol Hill to vacate his office early.  

"Since this Congress started, there have been efforts to impeach the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the president, the attorney general, the FBI director and, in fact, they did impeach the secretary of Homeland Security," Buck said.

"We have a very tragic circumstance in Ukraine. We have a spiraling debt, all kinds of out-of-control problems, and we focus on messaging bills that get us nowhere," he said.

The Colorado Republican said the GOP majority "is evaporating."

But, Buck added, "very few votes ... are decided by one or two members" and the exit of some Republicans shouldn't have a massive impact.

"Other than the [Alejandro] Mayorkas impeachment, I can't think of a vote that went one way or the other because of one member. They typically have to be bipartisan at this point," he said. 

Zoom in: Buck, who left office on March 22, stunned GOP leadership by cutting his previously announced plans to retire short by several months. 

He dealt a final blow to House Republican leadership the day before leaving Congress by signing Democrats' foreign aid discharge petition, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. 

Zoom out: Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.) also recently announced he will resign in April, leaving House Republicans a one-vote margin.

Go deeper: House GOP panics as another Republican sprints for the exits

House GOP panics as another Republican sprints for the exits

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Buck: Congress is a "dysfunctional place" and he's "happy to move on"

"We have a spiraling debt, all kinds of out-of-control problems, and we focus on messaging bills that get us nowhere," he said.

Republican Party

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is facing bubbling anger from his right flank after a bill to keep the government funded passed the House on Friday with support from fewer than half of Republicans.

Why it matters: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has taken the first step towards a vote to oust Johnson as speaker, and some hardliners aren't ruling out supporting his removal.

"We'll have to have a conversation in the conference depending on what Marjorie intends to do," Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told Axios on Friday.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) said: "I'm not going speculate on hypotheticals."

By the numbers: The $1.2 trillion bill to fund some of the largest and most consequential federal agencies passed 286-134 on Friday.

While 185 Democrats voted for the bill, just 101 Republicans followed suit, with 112 Republicans – a majority of the conference – voting against it.

At issue was the fact that the bill represented a bipartisan compromise keeping spending roughly steady at 2023 levels and excluding harsh restrictions on abortion, diversity, transgender healthcare and more.

What they're saying: Roy, in a CNN "State of the Union" appearance on Sunday, criticized Johnson for both the substance of the bill and for waiving a rule that gives House members 72 hours to review major legislation.

"Mike was wrong," Roy said, warning that, if he puts a Ukraine aid bill on the floor, "there's going to be a problem within the ... ranks on Capitol Hill."

Greene, who has warned that a Ukraine aid bill would trigger her motion to vacate, said Sunday in a Fox News appearance: "This week Speaker Johnson, who has barely been a speaker for six months, led us to a complete catastrophe."

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told Axios that conservatives are "very" frustrated at Johnson because they are "finding out how bad the bill was."

The other side: Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted as speaker last year through a motion to vacate, said Sunday on CBS News "Face the Nation" that Johnson "is doing the very best job he can."

McCarthy urged Johson to "not be fearful of a motion to vacate," adding, "I do not think they could do it again ... I don't think the Democrats will go along with it."

Several Democratic lawmakers have said they would vote against a motion to vacate against Johnson.

Zoom in: Some hardliners who are frustrated with Johnson are arguing that supporting a motion to vacate is not the way to channel their anger.

"The decision by Speaker Johnson was unfortunate for America and one I disagree with, however now is not the time to remove him as Speaker," Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.).

Burchett, one of the Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy, warned on Friday that removing Johnson could put House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in the speakership.

What to watch: Tensions could come to a head next month, when lawmakers in both parties expect Johnson to put Ukraine aid on the floor after months of delay.

Go deeper: Republicans livid as chaos threatens to cannibalize House majority

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional comments from Rep. Burchett.

expect Johnson to put Ukraine aid on the floor

Republicans livid as chaos threatens to cannibalize House majority

Mike Johnson faces right-wing fury over spending bill

Several hardliners haven't ruled out voting to oust Johnson as speaker.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt, red striped tie and glasses, walks with aides and his security detail through the Capitol.

House Speaker Mike Johnson. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images.

House Republicans

The White House is vowing to repeal a provision banning U.S. embassies from flying LGBTQ+ pride flags. 

The big picture: The ban was layered in the $1.2 trillion spending package signed by President Biden on Saturday and marks a reversal from the State Department's authorization in 2021 of U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world to fly pride flags. 

What they're saying: A spokesperson for the White House told Axios in a statement that Biden "believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that was essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans."

The spokesperson added that the administration "fought against the inclusion of this policy and we will continue to work with members of Congress to find an opportunity to repeal it."

"We were successful in defeating 50+ other policy riders attacking the LGBTQI+ community that Congressional Republicans attempted to insert into the legislation. President Biden is committed to fighting for LGBTQI+ equality at home and abroad," they said. 

Between the lines: The over 1,000-page package states that "none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated or expended to fly or display a flag over a facility of the United States Department of State" apart from the ones listed, none of which mention the pride flag. 

White House says it will fight ban on flying pride flags above U.S. embassies

The ban was tucked into the over 1,000-page $1.2 trillion spending package.

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Scoop: Black Dems endorse in Maryland Senate race after racial slur

Scoop: Biden's border nuclear option is still on the table

Buck: Congress is a "dysfunctional place" and he's "happy to move on"

Mike Johnson faces right-wing fury over spending bill

White House says it will fight ban on flying pride flags above U.S. embassies

Antitrust suit could force Apple to reveal its secrets

Breyer signals support for Supreme Court age, term limits

Sen. Lisa Murkowski not ruling out splitting with GOP

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