Jill Biden in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Pool/AFPJill Biden's visit to Alabama is an early look at how the White House plans to deploy the first lady to connect her husband's message to struggling Americans, in red states especially.Driving the news: Axios traveled with Biden on Friday to Birmingham, accompanying her to the James Rushton Early Learning Center and a YWCA where Biden spoke about how the administration's $1.9 trillion stimulus law can help address child poverty. Both centers she visited run Head Start programs that benefit from the law.Why it matters:...…Jill Biden in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Pool/AFPJill Biden's visit to Alabama is an early look at how the White House plans to deploy the first lady to connect her husband's message to struggling Americans, in red states especially.Driving the news: Axios traveled with Biden on Friday to Birmingham, accompanying her to the James Rushton Early Learning Center and a YWCA where Biden spoke about how the administration's $1.9 trillion stimulus law can help address child poverty. Both centers she visited run Head Start programs that benefit from the law.Why it matters:...WW…

President Biden. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPresident Biden is expected to present a series of executive actions on guns Thursday, including directing his Justice Department to tighten regulations on purchases of so-called “ghost guns." Why it matters: The president has faced increased pressure from Democrats and gun violence prevention groups to act on the issue following a series of recent high-profile gun tragedies across the U.S. Details: Biden is using the bully pulpit to issue a number of actions at the executive level while urging Congress to do its part to enact more permanent...…President Biden. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPresident Biden is expected to present a series of executive actions on guns Thursday, including directing his Justice Department to tighten regulations on purchases of so-called “ghost guns." Why it matters: The president has faced increased pressure from Democrats and gun violence prevention groups to act on the issue following a series of recent high-profile gun tragedies across the U.S. Details: Biden is using the bully pulpit to issue a number of actions at the executive level while urging Congress to do its part to enact more permanent...WW…

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesThe White House will host security officials from Japan and South Korea in Washington, D.C., next week for “intensive consultations” on North Korea, senior Biden administration officials told reporters on Tuesday. Driving the news: Officials acknowledged reports that North Korea performed a series of missile tests over the weekend, first reported by the , but downplayed that news by calling it “normal military activity.” Details: Biden administration officials said that engaging North Korea did come up during the first...…North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: API/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesThe White House will host security officials from Japan and South Korea in Washington, D.C., next week for “intensive consultations” on North Korea, senior Biden administration officials told reporters on Tuesday. Driving the news: Officials acknowledged reports that North Korea performed a series of missile tests over the weekend, first reported by the , but downplayed that news by calling it “normal military activity.” Details: Biden administration officials said that engaging North Korea did come up during the first...WW…

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPresident Biden is directing $2.5 billion in funding to address the nation's worsening mental illness and addiction crisis, an official from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tells Axios. Why it matters: Confronting the mounting mental health and substance abuse crisis will be an imperative for the Biden administration, even as its primary focus is on combating the broader COVID-19 pandemic. Between the lines: The funds will be broken down into two components by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. By the numbers: A...…Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesPresident Biden is directing $2.5 billion in funding to address the nation's worsening mental illness and addiction crisis, an official from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tells Axios. Why it matters: Confronting the mounting mental health and substance abuse crisis will be an imperative for the Biden administration, even as its primary focus is on combating the broader COVID-19 pandemic. Between the lines: The funds will be broken down into two components by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. By the numbers: A...WW…

President Biden. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesPresident Biden will sign executive orders Monday establishing a Gender Policy Council and directing the Department of Education to review the federal law Title IX, according to administration officials. Why it matters: The Biden administration is signaling its priorities to advance gender equity and equality as women, particularly women of color, have been by the COVID-19 pandemic. Driving the news: The executive order to establish the Council designates a special assistant to the president and senior advisor on gender-based violence on the...…President Biden. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesPresident Biden will sign executive orders Monday establishing a Gender Policy Council and directing the Department of Education to review the federal law Title IX, according to administration officials. Why it matters: The Biden administration is signaling its priorities to advance gender equity and equality as women, particularly women of color, have been by the COVID-19 pandemic. Driving the news: The executive order to establish the Council designates a special assistant to the president and senior advisor on gender-based violence on the...WW…

Vanita Gupta Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesLocal and federal law enforcement officials are backing Vanita Gupta, President Biden’s nominee for associate attorney general, according to letters sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee and obtained by Axios. Why it matters: The Major County Sheriffs of America noted Gupta “emphasized that she does not support efforts to ‘defund the police'” and highlighted her desire to improve criminal justice through methods that include increased training for law enforcement officials. The letters of support were sent by the...…Vanita Gupta Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesLocal and federal law enforcement officials are backing Vanita Gupta, President Biden’s nominee for associate attorney general, according to letters sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee and obtained by Axios. Why it matters: The Major County Sheriffs of America noted Gupta “emphasized that she does not support efforts to ‘defund the police'” and highlighted her desire to improve criminal justice through methods that include increased training for law enforcement officials. The letters of support were sent by the...WW…

Putin giving a speech in Sevastapol, Crimea, in 2020. Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty ImagesPresident Biden reaffirmed U.S. support for the people of Ukraine and vowed to hold Russia accountable for its aggression in a statement on Friday, the 7th anniversary of Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea.Why it matters: The statement reflects the aggressive approach Biden is taking to Russia, which he classified on the campaign trail as an "opponent" and "" to U.S. security and alliances.What they're saying: "The United States continues to stand with Ukraine and its allies and partners today, as it has...…Putin giving a speech in Sevastapol, Crimea, in 2020. Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty ImagesPresident Biden reaffirmed U.S. support for the people of Ukraine and vowed to hold Russia accountable for its aggression in a statement on Friday, the 7th anniversary of Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea.Why it matters: The statement reflects the aggressive approach Biden is taking to Russia, which he classified on the campaign trail as an "opponent" and "" to U.S. security and alliances.What they're saying: "The United States continues to stand with Ukraine and its allies and partners today, as it has...WW…

Photo: Al Drago/Getty ImagesThe Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday that the provision to increase the minimum wage to $15/hour cannot be included in the broader $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. Why it matters: It's now very likely that any increase in the minimum wage will need bipartisan support, as the provision cannot be passed with the simple Senate majority that Democrats are aiming to use for President Biden's rescue bill.Between the lines: The process, called “reconciliation,” allows any bill in which each provision affects the federal government’s finances to be voted on by a...…Photo: Al Drago/Getty ImagesThe Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday that the provision to increase the minimum wage to $15/hour cannot be included in the broader $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. Why it matters: It's now very likely that any increase in the minimum wage will need bipartisan support, as the provision cannot be passed with the simple Senate majority that Democrats are aiming to use for President Biden's rescue bill.Between the lines: The process, called “reconciliation,” allows any bill in which each provision affects the federal government’s finances to be voted on by a...WW…

Photo: Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty ImagesSens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Tuesday unveiled the details of their to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2025. Why it matters: The Republican proposal comes as Congressional Democrats are pushing for a bill, backed by President Joe Biden and included in the broader $1.9 trillion stimulus package, that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. Details: In addition to gradually increasing the federal minimum wage and youth minimum wage each year after the "COVID-19 emergency," Romney and Cotton's...…Photo: Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty ImagesSens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Tuesday unveiled the details of their to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2025. Why it matters: The Republican proposal comes as Congressional Democrats are pushing for a bill, backed by President Joe Biden and included in the broader $1.9 trillion stimulus package, that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. Details: In addition to gradually increasing the federal minimum wage and youth minimum wage each year after the "COVID-19 emergency," Romney and Cotton's...WW…

(CNN)In the midst of a global pandemic with the presidential election just months away, the Justice Department asked on Thursday to invalidate , the landmark health care law that enabled millions of Americans to get insurance coverage and that remains in effect despite the pending legal challenge. In a late-night filing, said that once the law's individual coverage mandate and two key provisions are invalidated, "the remainder of the ACA should not be allowed to remain in effect."The justices will hear arguments in the case sometime next term, although it is unclear if they will occur...…(CNN)In the midst of a global pandemic with the presidential election just months away, the Justice Department asked on Thursday to invalidate , the landmark health care law that enabled millions of Americans to get insurance coverage and that remains in effect despite the pending legal challenge. In a late-night filing, said that once the law's individual coverage mandate and two key provisions are invalidated, "the remainder of the ACA should not be allowed to remain in effect."The justices will hear arguments in the case sometime next term, although it is unclear if they will occur...WW…