• The Justice Department and an abortion pill manufacturer have asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to freeze a Texas judge’s order that could make the drug unavailable nationwide after Friday. (CNN) Amid the legal dispute, the Democratic governors of California, Massachusetts and Washington announced plans to begin stockpiling abortion medications. (ABC News)
• President Joe Biden signed Republican-led legislation to immediately end the COVID-19 national emergency, but the move doesn’t affect the public health emergency that’s set to expire in May. (Politico) As the country moves into a new phase of dealing with the virus, the Biden administration is launching a $5 billion program to speed up the development of new coronavirus vaccines and treatments to deal with the current virus and future ones. (The Washington Post)
• Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who’s grown a following with frequent Fox News appearances, became the first high-profile Republican to file paperwork to seek the Republican nomination for the Senate seat held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). (The Washington Post) In Ohio, businessman Bernie Moreno has filed papers as he considers a bid for the GOP’s nod to take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a primary race that already features state Sen. Matt Dolan. (NBC News)
• Biden said in an interview that he is “planning on running” for re-election, but is not “prepared to announce it yet.” (Bloomberg)

Trump Posts Biggest Lead Yet Over DeSantis
Morning Consult

Biden to Retrace Roots in Celebratory Irish Tour Ahead of 2024
Jennifer Jacobs et al., Bloomberg

Joe Biden is many things. And some days, above all, he’s Irish.

Biden Faces Awkward Talks Abroad as US Reels From Intel Breach
Courtney McBride, Bloomberg

It may prove to be the most serious intelligence leak the US has had in a decade, and behind closed doors, it has set off uncomfortable conversations with the nation’s closest allies.

U.S. doubts Ukraine counteroffensive will yield big gains, leaked document says
Alex Horton et al., The Washington Post

It’s a marked departure from the Biden administration’s public pronouncements about the vitality of Ukraine’s army and is likely to embolden critics calling for negotiations to end the war.

Clues Left Online Might Aid Leak Investigation, Officials Say
Julian E. Barnes et al., The New York Times

A large number of people potentially had access to the Pentagon intelligence documents posted on social media.

U.S. Deems WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich ‘Wrongfully Detained’ by Russia
Vivian Salama and William Mauldin, The Wall Street Journal

The State Department on Monday designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested by Russian security services last month, as “wrongfully detained,” launching a broad U.S. government effort to exert pressure on Russia to free him.

Biden Administration Weighs Possible Rules for AI Tools Like ChatGPT
Ryan Tracy, The Wall Street Journal

The Biden administration has begun examining whether checks need to be placed on artificial-intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, amid growing concerns that the technology could be used to discriminate or spread harmful information. 

GOP eyes new work requirements for millions on Medicaid, food stamps
Tony Romm and Rachel Roubein, The Washington Post

The demand from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy comes as the White House rejects talks on policies that could cut benefits to low-income Americans.

Congress Members Announce Hearing, Demand Chief Justice Investigate Clarence Thomas’ Trips
Alex Mierjeski et al., ProPublica

The lawmakers said the chief justice was duty-bound to conduct a “swift, thorough, independent and transparent investigation” of Thomas’ undisclosed travel with billionaire Harlan Crow in order to “safeguard public faith in the judiciary.”

Gang of Eight is getting classified docs from Trump, Biden, Pence homes
Andrew Desiderio, Punchbowl News

The Biden administration has started giving the congressional “Gang of Eight” access to the classified documents that were recovered from the homes of former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, according to sources familiar with the matter.

DA Bragg’s office criticizes House GOP’s planned Manhattan crime hearing
Megan Lebowitz, NBC News

Republicans have pointed to New York City crime as evidence that former President Donald Trump is being wrongfully prosecuted. 

Jordan issues subpoena to FBI director for documents over withdrawn memo on Catholic churches
Annie Grayer and Alayna Treene, CNN

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan issued a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Monday for documents as House Republicans investigate the circumstances surrounding a since-withdrawn memo from the bureau’s Richmond field office that focused on extremism in the Catholic Church.

GOP Rep. Nancy Mace says FDA should ignore judge’s abortion pill ruling
Zoë Richards, NBC News

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said Monday that the Food and Drug Administration should ignore a federal judge’s ruling Friday that endangers a pill commonly used for abortion.

Advocates eye farm bill to avert drop in affordable rural housing
Caitlin Reilly, Roll Call

Housing advocates are turning to this year’s farm bill in an effort to steer rural communities away from an affordable housing cliff ahead.

Lawmakers Trade Bank Stocks While Working on U.S. Bank-Failure Fallout
Rebecca Ballhaus, The Wall Street Journal

Two lawmakers reported trades in bank stocks last month as they worked on government efforts to address fallout from two of the largest bank failures in American history.

Hasidic magazine: Santos said DNA tests prove his Jewish ancestry
Jacob Kornbluh, Forward

A New York Yiddish-language magazine reported the scandal-plagued congressman’s latest claim.

‘An evil act’: Louisville gunman was bank employee, livestreamed shooting that killed 5
N’dea Yancey-Bragg et al., USA Today

The gunman who opened fire at a downtown bank Monday morning, killing five people – including a close friend of the governor – was an employee who livestreamed the attack on Instagram, officials said.

Trump Appeals Ruling That Pence Has to Testify to Jan. 6 Grand Jury
Zoe Tillman, Bloomberg

Donald Trump is appealing a court decision that would require his former Vice President Mike Pence to appear before a federal grand jury probing efforts to undermine the 2020 presidential election, according to a person familiar with the matter. 

Donald Trump returning to New York for deposition in $250M civil lawsuit
Aaron Katersky, ABC News

Letitia James has accused Trump of overvaluing real estate assets.

Will Trump attend his rape trial? Judge wants to know
Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press

A federal judge wants to know if ex-President Donald Trump plans to attend a New York trial this month resulting from a columnist’s claims that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.

Senate Republicans confront 2024 primary challenges and Trump’s influence
Manu Raju and Alayna Treene, CNN

Kari Lake – the unapologetic supporter of former President Donald Trump and vanquished candidate for Arizona governor – privately made a trip to National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters in February where she discussed the prospects of shaking up the map and running for Senate.

Florida GOP Congressman Backs Trump for President, as More Prepare to Follow Suit
Eric Cortellessa, Time

As Republicans in Congress mull whether to back a candidate in next year’s presidential race, the choice facing Florida’s delegation is particularly fraught. The battleground state is home to both Donald Trump and his most formidable potential rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Trump pours money into digital ads ahead of 2024
Sara Fischer, Axios

Donald Trump has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into Facebook and Google ads in recent weeks, leveraging the chaos around his indictment to fundraise and collect data ahead of his 2024 run.

Trump Campaign Shifts Strategy To Capitalize On Indictment Rocket Fuel
Diana Glebova, The Daily Caller

Donald Trump’s campaign will capitalize on his indictment to alter the 2024 presidential campaign to be about “fear” of the “deep state,” Trump insiders told the Daily Caller.

Trump Ignores Deadline for Personal Financial Disclosure to F.E.C.
Shane Goldmacher, The New York Times

The disclosure will eventually provide the first look at the former president’s businesses since leaving the White House.

Nikki Haley campaign memo rips Trump “drama”
Alexi McCammond, Axios

Nikki Haley’s 2024 campaign is telling donors that former President Trump is “consumed by the grievances of the past and the promise of more drama in the future,” according to a memo obtained by Axios.

Two friends were denied care after Florida banned abortion. One almost died.
Caroline Kitchener, The Washington Post

New abortion restrictions have disrupted the standard of care for a pregnancy complication both women experienced late last year.

Council sends expelled lawmaker Justin Jones back to Tennessee House
Adam Tamburin, Axios

Four days after Tennessee House Republicans expelled Democratic lawmaker Justin Jones for participating in a gun control protest, Nashville’s Metro Council voted unanimously to send him back to his old seat.

The Texas pardons board is investigating after GOP governor’s request in case of sergeant convicted of killing protester at 2020 BLM rally
Ed Lavandera et al., CNN

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is launching an investigation upon the Republican governor’s request for an expedited probe and pardon recommendation for a US Army sergeant convicted Friday of killing a protester at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020.

Another Louisiana House Democrat has switched parties to Republican
Sam Karlin, The Advocate

Democrats in the Louisiana House have lost another member, the second party switch in less than a month amid a yearslong decline in Democratic electoral fortunes. 

Phil Murphy intervened to keep Rutgers strike from going to court
Dustin Racioppi and Daniel Han, Politico

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was personally involved in failed contract negotiations between Rutgers University and faculty unions that went on strike Monday for the first time in the school’s history.

Hochul Nominates Liberal Rowan Wilson for Chief Judge
Sam Mellins, NY Focus

As the governor negotiates the state budget with a legislature that rejected her last chief judge pick, she has selected a sitting liberal to lead the Court of Appeals.

Drug Company Leaders Condemn Ruling Invalidating F.D.A. Approval of Abortion Pill
Pam Belluck and Christina Jewett, The New York Times

More than 400 executives said that the decision ignored scientific and legal precedent. On Monday afternoon, the Justice Department asked a federal appeals court to stay the ruling.

Elbridge Colby Wants to Finish What Donald Trump Started
Jacob Heilbrunn, Politico

Meet the conservative intellectual seeking to remake the GOP’s foreign policy.

For GOP, abortion is becoming more dark cloud than silver lining
Charlie Cook, National Journal

The party may risk a similar backlash on guns, as the country faces a seemingly unending stream of mass shootings.

Biden’s polling numbers should not be this low
Henry Olsen, The Washington Post

President Biden remains the overwhelming favorite to be the Democrats’ nominee for 2024. He has no serious challengers and looks likely to announce his own bid soon.