President Biden called gun violence in the U.S. an "epidemic" and "international embarrassment" in a press conference Thursday announcing new on gun access.Why it matters: A recent spate of mass shootings, including two high-profile incidents that killed a total of 18 people, has fueled calls for greater action.What he's saying: "No amendment to the Constitution is absolute," Biden said. It's "an epidemic, for god's sake, ... and a blemish on our nation."After formally to serve as head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Biden urged the Senate to pass bills to close...…President Biden called gun violence in the U.S. an "epidemic" and "international embarrassment" in a press conference Thursday announcing new on gun access.Why it matters: A recent spate of mass shootings, including two high-profile incidents that killed a total of 18 people, has fueled calls for greater action.What he's saying: "No amendment to the Constitution is absolute," Biden said. It's "an epidemic, for god's sake, ... and a blemish on our nation."After formally to serve as head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Biden urged the Senate to pass bills to close...WW…

Photo: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Supreme Court that found former President Trump by blocking followers on Twitter, ordering the case to be dismissed as moot now that he is no longer in office.Between the lines: Though the Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the case, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the "unprecedented" amount of control that Twitter and other digital platforms have over speech must be addressed in the future.What they're saying: "Twitter barred Mr. Trump not only from interacting with a few users, but...…Photo: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Supreme Court that found former President Trump by blocking followers on Twitter, ordering the case to be dismissed as moot now that he is no longer in office.Between the lines: Though the Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the case, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the "unprecedented" amount of control that Twitter and other digital platforms have over speech must be addressed in the future.What they're saying: "Twitter barred Mr. Trump not only from interacting with a few users, but...WW…

Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFacebook, Google and Patagonia are the latest major corporate players to express concern about Georgia's , which critics say will disproportionately impact Black communities.Why it matters: States often take cues from how hard businesses push back. But many of these corporations, several of which are based in Georgia, could have spoken up earlier when the law was being considered or before the governor signed. What they're sayingFacebook: "We support making voting as accessible and broad-based as possible and oppose efforts to make it harder for...…Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesFacebook, Google and Patagonia are the latest major corporate players to express concern about Georgia's , which critics say will disproportionately impact Black communities.Why it matters: States often take cues from how hard businesses push back. But many of these corporations, several of which are based in Georgia, could have spoken up earlier when the law was being considered or before the governor signed. What they're sayingFacebook: "We support making voting as accessible and broad-based as possible and oppose efforts to make it harder for...WW…

Photo: Win McNamee via Getty ImagesArkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed legislation on Friday that will allow doctors to turn away some patients due to .Why it matters: It's a move opponents say will enable service providers to discriminate against patients, including LGBTQ people and others, . Details: , which won't take effect until this summer, gives providers "the right to not participate in non-emergency treatments that violate their conscience." It also claims to prohibit discrimination, per AP.Worth noting: The Trump administration issued a similar rule in May 2019, allowing...…Photo: Win McNamee via Getty ImagesArkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed legislation on Friday that will allow doctors to turn away some patients due to .Why it matters: It's a move opponents say will enable service providers to discriminate against patients, including LGBTQ people and others, . Details: , which won't take effect until this summer, gives providers "the right to not participate in non-emergency treatments that violate their conscience." It also claims to prohibit discrimination, per AP.Worth noting: The Trump administration issued a similar rule in May 2019, allowing...WW…

Photo: Oliver Contreras/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPresident Biden condemned Georgia's voter restrictions Friday, calling the "Jim Crow in the 21st century." The big picture: Georgia is the first battleground state to pass such a law in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The law imposes new ID requirements, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and bans non-poll workers from giving food and water to voters in line, among other restrictions.What he's saying: "This law, like so many others being pursued by Republicans in statehouses across the country is a blatant attack on the...…Photo: Oliver Contreras/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPresident Biden condemned Georgia's voter restrictions Friday, calling the "Jim Crow in the 21st century." The big picture: Georgia is the first battleground state to pass such a law in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The law imposes new ID requirements, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and bans non-poll workers from giving food and water to voters in line, among other restrictions.What he's saying: "This law, like so many others being pursued by Republicans in statehouses across the country is a blatant attack on the...WW…

Photo: Megan Varner via Getty ImagesGeorgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a sweeping, GOP-sponsored overhaul to the state's election law on Thursday.Why it matters: It is the first battleground state to pass such a law in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The new law includes measures that:What they're saying: "Few are more important than the law I signed moments ago," which ensures Georgia’s elections are "secure, accessible and fair," Kemp said at a press conference on Thursday.Of note: During the signing ceremony, Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon (D) was handcuffed and "forcefully removed"...…Photo: Megan Varner via Getty ImagesGeorgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a sweeping, GOP-sponsored overhaul to the state's election law on Thursday.Why it matters: It is the first battleground state to pass such a law in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The new law includes measures that:What they're saying: "Few are more important than the law I signed moments ago," which ensures Georgia’s elections are "secure, accessible and fair," Kemp said at a press conference on Thursday.Of note: During the signing ceremony, Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon (D) was handcuffed and "forcefully removed"...WW…

Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty ImagesAmerica's wealthiest are finding ways to access the vaccine ahead of those who qualify for it. Why it matters: The pandemic has already widened existing health inequities and underserved communities in vaccinations compared to the white and rich.The incident: In January, Florida's Baptist Health Systems helped vaccinate 1,200 residents of the wealthy Ocean Reef community, but the doses came from its storage of vaccines for the general public, .But that's not the only case of wealthy folks skirting the line.The big picture: An analysis of local...…Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty ImagesAmerica's wealthiest are finding ways to access the vaccine ahead of those who qualify for it. Why it matters: The pandemic has already widened existing health inequities and underserved communities in vaccinations compared to the white and rich.The incident: In January, Florida's Baptist Health Systems helped vaccinate 1,200 residents of the wealthy Ocean Reef community, but the doses came from its storage of vaccines for the general public, .But that's not the only case of wealthy folks skirting the line.The big picture: An analysis of local...WW…

Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesThe House voted 227-203 Thursday to pass a bill that would require background checks for all gun purchasers. Within hours, the chamber will pass a second background check bill to close the "Charleston loophole," which allowed Dylann Roof to buy a firearm used to kill nine people at a Black church in 2015.Why it matters: Overhauling the nation's gun control laws is a priority for Democrats and the Biden administration, but the bill is unlikely to pass the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, where Republicans oppose attempts to curtail gun rights.Details: The...…Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesThe House voted 227-203 Thursday to pass a bill that would require background checks for all gun purchasers. Within hours, the chamber will pass a second background check bill to close the "Charleston loophole," which allowed Dylann Roof to buy a firearm used to kill nine people at a Black church in 2015.Why it matters: Overhauling the nation's gun control laws is a priority for Democrats and the Biden administration, but the bill is unlikely to pass the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, where Republicans oppose attempts to curtail gun rights.Details: The...WW…

Photo: Stephen Maturen via Getty ImagesThe House voted 220 to 212 on Wednesday evening to pass a named for George Floyd, the Black man whose death in Minneapolis last year led to nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice.Why it matters: The legislation overhauls qualified immunity for police officers, bans chokeholds at the federal level, prohibits no-knock warrants in federal drug cases and outlaws racial profiling.Worth noting: Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Tex.) was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill. He later said in a since-deleted tweet that he had...…Photo: Stephen Maturen via Getty ImagesThe House voted 220 to 212 on Wednesday evening to pass a named for George Floyd, the Black man whose death in Minneapolis last year led to nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice.Why it matters: The legislation overhauls qualified immunity for police officers, bans chokeholds at the federal level, prohibits no-knock warrants in federal drug cases and outlaws racial profiling.Worth noting: Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Tex.) was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill. He later said in a since-deleted tweet that he had...WW…

Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has withdrawn a Trump-era that would have allowed federally funded emergency shelters and other facilities to exclude transgender people and others based on gender identity. Why it matters: Transgender people already face additional barriers to housing. 1 in 5 trans people in the U.S. has been discriminated against when seeking shelter, according to the . What they're saying: "Today, we are taking a critical step in affirming HUD’s commitment that no person be denied access to housing or...…Photo: Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has withdrawn a Trump-era that would have allowed federally funded emergency shelters and other facilities to exclude transgender people and others based on gender identity. Why it matters: Transgender people already face additional barriers to housing. 1 in 5 trans people in the U.S. has been discriminated against when seeking shelter, according to the . What they're saying: "Today, we are taking a critical step in affirming HUD’s commitment that no person be denied access to housing or...WW…