Lindell speaks to pro-Trump protesters during the "Million MAGA March" in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12, 2020. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesMyPillow Dominion Voting Systems for more than $1.6 billion on Monday, alleging that the voting machine company's defamation lawsuit against MyPillow and its pro-Trump CEO aims to suppress free speech and has caused "grave" reputational harm.Why it matters: Lindell is one of many Trump allies to face a multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit for spreading false claims about the election, including that Dominion's voting machines flipped...…Lindell speaks to pro-Trump protesters during the "Million MAGA March" in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 12, 2020. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesMyPillow Dominion Voting Systems for more than $1.6 billion on Monday, alleging that the voting machine company's defamation lawsuit against MyPillow and its pro-Trump CEO aims to suppress free speech and has caused "grave" reputational harm.Why it matters: Lindell is one of many Trump allies to face a multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit for spreading false claims about the election, including that Dominion's voting machines flipped...WW…

White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield told ABC's "This Week" that the Biden administration is strengthening diplomatic efforts in the Northern Triangle of Central America to address the "root causes of migration" and discourage migrants from coming to the U.S.Why it matters: There is now in U.S. custody, and the number is . show that children have been held in border patrol custody for over 10 days in facilities not meant to house kids for more than three days.What they're saying: Bedingfield argued that the surge in immigrants arriving at the border is "cyclical" and "not...…White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield told ABC's "This Week" that the Biden administration is strengthening diplomatic efforts in the Northern Triangle of Central America to address the "root causes of migration" and discourage migrants from coming to the U.S.Why it matters: There is now in U.S. custody, and the number is . show that children have been held in border patrol custody for over 10 days in facilities not meant to house kids for more than three days.What they're saying: Bedingfield argued that the surge in immigrants arriving at the border is "cyclical" and "not...WW…

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty ImagesStudents who were defrauded by for-profit colleges will have their federal school loans eliminated, the announced on Thursday.Why it matters: The change will eliminate approximately $1 billion in student loan debt for 72,000 borrowers who filed claims, .What they're saying: “A close review of these claims and the associated evidence showed these borrowers have been harmed, and we will grant them a fresh start from their debt,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who is pushing to simplify borrower relief.Driving...…Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty ImagesStudents who were defrauded by for-profit colleges will have their federal school loans eliminated, the announced on Thursday.Why it matters: The change will eliminate approximately $1 billion in student loan debt for 72,000 borrowers who filed claims, .What they're saying: “A close review of these claims and the associated evidence showed these borrowers have been harmed, and we will grant them a fresh start from their debt,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who is pushing to simplify borrower relief.Driving...WW…

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) on Feb. 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesHouse Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) in a urged his Democratic colleagues to find a way to work around the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation.Why it matters: The interview comes after the House passed a , which would include the largest expansion to voting rights since the 1965 Voting Rights Act, according to the Guardian.Driving the news: Clyburn called for the Senate to "develop a Manchin-Sinema rule on getting around the filibuster as it relates to race and...…House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) on Feb. 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesHouse Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) in a urged his Democratic colleagues to find a way to work around the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation.Why it matters: The interview comes after the House passed a , which would include the largest expansion to voting rights since the 1965 Voting Rights Act, according to the Guardian.Driving the news: Clyburn called for the Senate to "develop a Manchin-Sinema rule on getting around the filibuster as it relates to race and...WW…

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on CNN's "State of the Union" he believes the impeachment trial is constitutional, despite former President Trump no longer being in office.Driving the news: Some Republicans have objected to hearing the impeachment trial in the Senate, to convict a former president.What he's saying: "I think if you put aside the partisan columns that are written in various publications and look at those that are written by academics, you'll find that the preponderance of the legal opinion is that an impeachment trial after someone has left office is constitutional," Romney...…Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on CNN's "State of the Union" he believes the impeachment trial is constitutional, despite former President Trump no longer being in office.Driving the news: Some Republicans have objected to hearing the impeachment trial in the Senate, to convict a former president.What he's saying: "I think if you put aside the partisan columns that are written in various publications and look at those that are written by academics, you'll find that the preponderance of the legal opinion is that an impeachment trial after someone has left office is constitutional," Romney...WW…

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosPresident Trump is heading into his final days in office with the lowest approval ratings of his term, according to a set of new polls. Why it matters: The polls indicate Trump has seen diminished support, even from his own party, in the wake of the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol, with a majority of Americans favoring efforts in Congress to bar him from holding elected office again.Driving the news: Trump's final approval rating in a out Sunday is 34%, the lowest CNN's polling has recorded during his presidency.Zoom in: The Pew poll indicates President Trump...…Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosPresident Trump is heading into his final days in office with the lowest approval ratings of his term, according to a set of new polls. Why it matters: The polls indicate Trump has seen diminished support, even from his own party, in the wake of the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol, with a majority of Americans favoring efforts in Congress to bar him from holding elected office again.Driving the news: Trump's final approval rating in a out Sunday is 34%, the lowest CNN's polling has recorded during his presidency.Zoom in: The Pew poll indicates President Trump...WW…

Residents line up in their cars at a food distribution site in Clermont, Fla., Nov. 21. Photo: Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThousands of Americans waited in long lines at food banks in the week before Thanksgiving to pick up turkeys, canned goods, broccoli and other vegetables. Why it matters: As the holiday season approaches, families across the U.S. are in need of food assistance due to and economic hardship caused by COVID-19 — and many food pantries already served an this spring.Zoom in: The Middle Georgia Regional Food Bank, part of the Feeding America Network,...…Residents line up in their cars at a food distribution site in Clermont, Fla., Nov. 21. Photo: Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThousands of Americans waited in long lines at food banks in the week before Thanksgiving to pick up turkeys, canned goods, broccoli and other vegetables. Why it matters: As the holiday season approaches, families across the U.S. are in need of food assistance due to and economic hardship caused by COVID-19 — and many food pantries already served an this spring.Zoom in: The Middle Georgia Regional Food Bank, part of the Feeding America Network,...WW…

Tim Murtaugh, communications director for President Trump's re-election campaign, posted a fake front page purporting to be from a 2000 issue of the Washington Times that read "President Gore" on Twitter — calling it a "reminder that the media doesn't select the president." Driving the news: The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper, debunked Murtaugh: "Those photos have been doctored. The Washington Times never ran a 'President Gore' headline."Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that Murtaugh was not the one who posted the newspapers at the campaign...…Tim Murtaugh, communications director for President Trump's re-election campaign, posted a fake front page purporting to be from a 2000 issue of the Washington Times that read "President Gore" on Twitter — calling it a "reminder that the media doesn't select the president." Driving the news: The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper, debunked Murtaugh: "Those photos have been doctored. The Washington Times never ran a 'President Gore' headline."Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that Murtaugh was not the one who posted the newspapers at the campaign...WW…

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans that has produced a number of the election cycle's most viral political attack ads, raised $39.4 million from July through September, according to filed Wednesday.Why it matters: The group run by Republicans and ex-Republicans has been growing its fundraising exponentially, shattering the record it set in the second quarter of 2020. It has since won over many more Democratic donors with deep pockets, while still receiving a large percentage of its total fundraising from donations under $200.By the...…Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans that has produced a number of the election cycle's most viral political attack ads, raised $39.4 million from July through September, according to filed Wednesday.Why it matters: The group run by Republicans and ex-Republicans has been growing its fundraising exponentially, shattering the record it set in the second quarter of 2020. It has since won over many more Democratic donors with deep pockets, while still receiving a large percentage of its total fundraising from donations under $200.By the...WW…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued holiday-specific guidelines this week to limit COVID-19 risks posed by gatherings and celebrations prior to the fall and winter holidays. Why it matters: With the flu season just around the corner, medical experts are worried about the likelihood of battling COVID-19 and influenza at the same time. The coronavirus has now killed 200,000 Americans, and the U.S. is averaging roughly 830 per day. Cases and deaths could worsen again as the weather gets colder and people move indoors. The CDC published safe celebration alternatives. ...…The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued holiday-specific guidelines this week to limit COVID-19 risks posed by gatherings and celebrations prior to the fall and winter holidays. Why it matters: With the flu season just around the corner, medical experts are worried about the likelihood of battling COVID-19 and influenza at the same time. The coronavirus has now killed 200,000 Americans, and the U.S. is averaging roughly 830 per day. Cases and deaths could worsen again as the weather gets colder and people move indoors. The CDC published safe celebration alternatives. ...WW…