It’s Wednesday. We have officially (hopefully) entered Washington, D.C.’s brief period of perfect weather. It’s time to pull out those cute jackets that are only seasonally appropriate for roughly 5-7 business days. Here’s what’s going on today:
The Bidens are hosting the Japanese prime minister and his wife for a state dinner tonight. Singer Paul Simon is performing. Keep reading for photos of the menu and decor!
Arizona’s surprise ruling to ban nearly all abortions has sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital. The House has delayed sending the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas until next week.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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The Arizona Supreme Court sent shockwaves through the political world on Tuesday when it upheld an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions, with only one extremely narrow exception.
What’s that one narrow exception to the abortion ban?: To save the life of a pregnant person — that means rape and incest do not count as valid exceptions. The penalty for an abortion: Anyone who performs or helps a pregnant person obtain an abortion can receive 2-5 years in prison.
What happens now?: The ban will go into effect 14 days from the ruling. The court also sent the case back down to a lower court to sort out the law’s constitutionality. There is an effort to put abortion rights on the ballot in the Copper State — and more than 500,000 Arizonans have signed it, according to KJZZ. 💡For context: This makes Arizona the 16th state where abortion is effectively banned. |
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➤ NOT THE BEST TIMING FOR TRUMP: |
Former President Trump declined to back a national abortion ban Monday, saying it should be left to the states. That move left some Democrats nervous that Trump would woo centrists away from President Biden.
Then Arizona entered the chat. The state Supreme Court’s ruling breathed new life into the abortion rights movement. |
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➤ HOW THIS PLAYS POLITICALLY: |
It basically threw gasoline on the flames.
For Democrats: Democrats immediately condemned the ruling. Biden slammed the decision as “a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away women’s freedom.” Abortion rights have been a motivating factor at the polls, so Dems are hoping it could help Democratic turnout in November.
For Republicans: Republicans are split on the decision, but generally seem worried about the ruling’s political ramifications. GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake opposed the ruling, which is notable considering she previously praised the law and has supported strict abortion bans. This tells me that she’s worried it could fuel Democratic turnout and hurt her chances in November.
Tidbit from The Hill’s Al Weaver: “The news … seemed to catch Republicans in Washington flat-footed. Senate GOP members largely declined to comment on the ruling, saying they hadn’t heard or read enough about it or that it is a state issue.” Read more: ‘Surprise Arizona ruling sets abortion politics aflame’
Remember how this played out in Ohio?: Ohio voters overwhelmingly voted to enshrine abortion rights last November. |
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‘Arizona bombshell tests Trump’s abortion gamble’: Axios
- ‘What to know about Arizona’s 1864 abortion law’: The Hill
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“Catastrophic,” “a shock”: Arizona’s abortion ruling threatens to upend 2024 races’: The Washington Post
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Interesting throwback: The Atlantic republished an article from August 1965 titled, “One Woman’s Abortion: In 1965, eight years before Roe v. Wade, an anonymous woman described the steps she took to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.”
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🍽️ Tonight’s State Dinner |
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The White House is all dressed up: |
The theme: Springtime! Lots of pinks, butterflies, peonies, hydrangeas and sweet peas. I’m swooning over these flowers. 📸 Photos of the tablescapes The first course: House-cured salmon, avocado, red grapefruit, watermelon radish, cucumber and shisho leaf fritters 📸 Photo of the menu
The entree: Dry-aged rib-eye steak, blistered shishito pepper butter, fricassée of fava beans, morels, cipollini and sesame oil sabayon The dessert: Salted caramel pistachio cake, matcha ganache, cherry ice cream and raspberry drizzle
The entertainment: Singer Paul Simon is performing some of his iconic songs.
📹 Watch the Bidens formally welcome the Kishidas to the White House |
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➤ TIDBIT — THAT’S A GOOD GIFT!: |
The Bidens and the Kishidas went to BlackSalt, a seafood restaurant in the Palisades neighborhood of Washington last night.
Plus: Biden gifted a Billy Joel lithograph as part of the official gifts. More on the gifts exchanged, via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano |
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Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, was sentenced to five months in prison this morning for perjury stemming from former President Trump’s civil fraud case. (The Hill) |
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The House had planned to send the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas today, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has agreed to Senate conservatives’ request to hold off until next week. (The Hill) |
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🥐 Celebrate: Today is National Cinnamon Crescent Day!
🍭 I can pretend to be judgy and grossed out, but tbh, I’d try this: Burger King has added a frozen cotton candy drink to its menu for a limited time. This is a specific reference, but does anyone remember the cotton candy soda at Friendly’s? That paired with the chicken lollipops and a monster mash sundae was the move.😉
🐉 Don’t get your hopes up for a Jon Snow spinoff: Actor Kit Harrington told Screenrant that a “Game of Thrones” spinoff for character Jon Snow is no longer being developed. |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington, D.C. (all times Eastern) |
This morning: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified on the president’s 2025 budget request. 💻 Watch
12:30 p.m.: Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida give a joint press conference in the Rose Garden. 💻 Livestream
1:15 p.m.: Harris participates in a press call on gun violence. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Director Steven Dettelbach will join.
1:30 p.m.: First House votes of the day. Last votes are expected around 4 p.m. 📆 Today’s agenda
8 p.m.: Biden and first lady Jill Biden host the Japanese prime minister and his wife Yuko Kishida for a state dinner. 💻 Livestream
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I know you’ve all seen a lot of eclipse footage, but I’m willing to bet you haven’t seen this angle. 😉 |
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