• President Joe Biden is poised to meet today at 4 p.m. with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and other congressional leaders for debt limit talks, but expectations for a breakthrough are low and Biden is scheduled to deliver a speech tomorrow in New York criticizing the GOP’s proposed spending cuts. (The Associated Press) Ahead of the meeting, the Bipartisan Policy Center said the United States could default on its debt between early June and early August if Congress doesn’t act, aligning with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s warning of a default as soon as June 1. (Politico)
• The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet today to mark up Republican leaders’ high-profile immigration and border security bill, setting up an expected vote Thursday. House Republican leaders have expressed confidence in the chances of passing the legislation but only have four votes to spare, and a number of rank-and-file lawmakers have continued to voice varying concerns. (Punchbowl News)
• Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee asked billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow to provide a full accounting of the gifts he gave to Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas or any other justice as part of the panel’s efforts to force the court to adopt stricter ethical standards. They also asked for information from companies associated with Crow’s travels about who joined Thomas on his free trips. (The Washington Post)
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Republicans are focused on flipping Senate seats in Montana, West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania in next year’s elections but are still assessing their chances in Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona. In an interview, McConnell said he is not confident Republicans will be able to win back the chamber, expressing concerns about how his party could “screw this up.” (CNN)

Happening today (all in ET):

• 1 p.m. White House press secretary holds briefing.

• 2 p.m. House in session.

• 3 p.m. Senate in session.
• 4 p.m House Rules Committee marks up the GOP’s immigration bill.

Tracking the 2024 Republican Primary: Trump Leads DeSantis by 41 Points Among GOP Primary Voters
Morning Consult

Declaring the debt ceiling unconstitutional is risky, Biden aides fear
Jeff Stein, The Washington Post

White House officials have discussed invoking the 14th Amendment to dodge the limit, but they see it as potentially fraught.

US set to announce $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine with counteroffensive looming
Oren Liebermann, CNN

The US is set to announce a $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine as early as Tuesday, according to a US official familiar with the package, with Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces looming.

Biden calls for ‘a fair deal’ for striking screenwriters
Kelly Garrity, Politico

President Joe Biden said Monday he hopes the striking Hollywood television and screenwriters get a deal “as soon as possible,” making his first comments on the strike that began last week.

Nearly 610,000 public sector workers got student loan forgiveness after Biden loosened the rules
Katie Lobosco, CNN

Nearly 610,000 student loan borrowers have received debt relief from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program since October 2021, when the Biden administration temporarily expanded eligibility.

Kamala Harris Is Finding Her Stride as Team Biden’s Voice to Black Voters
Akayla Gardner, Bloomberg

Kamala Harris began finding her footing last year with a rousing, impromptu eulogy for a Black matriarch that drew a mostly African-American audience to its feet — a task she must now replicate on a wide scale to secure President Joe Biden’s reelection.

William Burns, a C.I.A. Spymaster With Unusual Powers
Robert Draper, The New York Times

Mr. Burns, a key figure in bolstering the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine, has amassed influence beyond most previous spy chiefs.

NIH restarts bat virus grant suspended 3 years ago by Trump
Jocelyn Kaiser, Science

Revised award to EcoHealth Alliance will no longer involve studies of hybrid coronaviruses.

McCarthy’s report card: How he’s done on promises to his right flank
Olivia Beavers and Sarah Ferris, Politico

Some of the speaker’s most vocal detractors in January now give him an “A” on his job so far, but they warn that could change depending on how he handles the debt fight and other pledges.

Mitch McConnell Warns He Has No ‘Secret Plan’ to Solve US Debt Impasse
Steven T. Dennis, Bloomberg

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell warned he won’t come to President Joe Biden’s rescue on the debt limit by breaking a partisan deadlock as a catastrophic US default looms.

Even Senate sponsors are skeptical of bills to shield kids online
Sean Michael Newhouse, Roll Call

The Senate is teeming with proposals, many bipartisan, to combat what supporters say is Big Tech’s failure to combat child pornography and otherwise promote the safety and privacy of minors online.

Connection found: Rural broadband bill gets its day in the Senate
Nick Robertson, The Hill

A bipartisan effort to push the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand internet access to rural areas will finally get a Senate hearing this week, two years after the bill was first introduced.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Is Pregnant, Would Be 12th Sitting Member of Congress to Give Birth
Eric Cortellessa, Time

Nearly four million women give birth in the United States each year, but only a handful have ever done so while serving in Congress. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is about to be one of them. The Florida Republican is expecting her first child in late August, marking a historic rarity on Capitol Hill.

Nancy Mace, a ‘Caucus of One’ in the G.O.P., Says She’s Trying to Change Her Party
Annie Karni, The New York Times

The South Carolina representative, who has publicly criticized her party but backed it on most legislation, is trying to figure out how to be a mainstream Republican in the hard-right House G.O.P.

Texas gunman fantasized over race wars on social media before mass killing
Jack Douglas et al., The Washington Post

The shooter, Mauricio Garcia, enlisted briefly in the Army but was ‘terminated’ after three months.

El Paso sees sharp increase in migrants as officials brace for Title 42 end
Daniel Borunda et al., USA Today

As cities near the U.S.-Mexico border brace for the end of Title 42, the city of El Paso has seen an influx of migrants, with more than 3,300 reported Monday camped out near shelters.

With Closing Arguments Complete, the Jury is Next in Trump Rape Trial
Benjamin Weiser et al., The New York Times

After two weeks, a jury is about to consider whether the former president should be held liable for a sexual assault that the plaintiff says happened decades ago.

Simulation suggests 2020 census missed many noncitizens
Mike Schneider, The Associated Press

New results from a U.S. Census Bureau simulation indicate a significant number of noncitizens were missed in the 2020 census, a national head count during which the Trump administration tried to prevent people in the United States illegally from being tallied at all.

Kanye West treasurer resigns, alleges possible ‘unlawful’ campaign transaction
Jessica Piper, Politico

Patrick Krason, the treasurer for Kanye West’s still-active presidential campaign account, told a federal regulator he had resigned on Monday, alleging in a letter to the rapper-turned-candidate that campaign advisor Milo Yiannopoulos had possibly broken federal campaign finance law. Yiannopoulos denied the allegation.

Most vulnerable House list runs through New York, California
Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire, Roll Call

He’s a Republican who represents a district President Joe Biden won by 8 percentage points. He’s been accused of lying about everything from his resume to his religion, and even members of his own party have called on him to step down.

Democratic donors hope to recruit NBA legends Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade to run for Senate in Florida
Matt Dixon and Jonathan Allen, NBC News

NBA legends Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill have rocketed to the top of the recruitment lists for some Florida Democrats looking for a strong candidate to run against Sen. Rick Scott in 2024. 

The Question of Joe Biden’s Age: “It’s a Legitimate Concern”
Chris Smith, Vanity Fair

At 80, President Biden is at the peak of his career. As he makes another run at the White House, those around him see a man with unfinished business who’s still deeply concerned about American democracy. But can they prove to the American voters that he’s up to the task?

Cheney launches New Hampshire TV ad slashing Trump
Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News

Liz Cheney isn’t a presidential candidate — at least not yet. But the former Wyoming congresswoman launched her first TV ad of the 2024 election cycle in New Hampshire on Tuesday, warning voters of the “risk” of a second Donald Trump presidency.

Anti-abortion group aligns with Trump, weeks after criticism
Meg Kinnard, The Associated Press

The leader of a major anti-abortion group aligned herself Monday with former President Donald Trump on the issue, just weeks after raising questions about his commitment to restricting access to the procedure.

No, you’re not going crazy. Vivek Ramaswamy is everywhere.
Natalie Allison and Lisa Kashinsky, Politico

The longshot candidate’s eclectic fan base is making a mark on the 2024 campaign.

The Trendlines DeSantis Doesn’t Want to See
Seth Masket, Politico

A new survey of Republican grassroots leaders shows Trump making real gains.

Abortion clinics in 3 states sue to protect pill access
Matthew Perrone and Denise Lavoie, The Associated Press

Abortion providers in three states filed a lawsuit Monday aimed at preserving access to the abortion pill mifepristone, even as the drug is threatened by a separate Texas lawsuit winding its way through U.S. court system.

Under the Radar, Right-Wing Push to Tighten Voting Laws Persists
Nick Corasaniti and Alexandra Berzon, The New York Times

The clashes in state capitals have faded, but the Republican push for stricter state election laws is organized and planning for the long term.

In surprise move days after Allen mall shooting, Texas House panel OKs bill raising age to buy semi-automatic rifles
Alejandro Serrano and Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune

The legislation would raise the minimum age for purchasing certain firearms but likely wouldn’t have been a hindrance to the Allen gunman obtaining a weapon. The bill still faces an uphill climb in the Legislature.

State Rep. Bryan Slaton resigns ahead of expulsion vote over inappropriate relationship with aide
James Barragán, The Texas Tribune

The Royse City Republican had come under growing pressure to step down after an investigation determined he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 19-year-old woman on his staff.

North Dakota governor signs bill restricting transgender pronouns, bathroom use
Brooke Migdon, The Hill

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) on Monday signed a bill that allows public school teachers and state government employees to misgender transgender students and colleagues, and it bars transgender young people from using school restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.

Georgia GOP chairman says he was just following orders from Trump lawyers
Zachary Cohen and Sara Murray, CNN

Lawyers representing David Shafer, the embattled chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, are arguing their client should not be charged with any crimes for his actions following the 2020 election because he was following advice provided by attorneys working for former President Donald Trump, according to a letter sent to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week.

DeSantis signs bill that bans Chinese citizens from buying land in Florida
Olafimihan Oshin, The Hill

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed multiple bills on Monday that prohibit Chinese citizens from purchasing land in the state.

Disney expands lawsuit against DeSantis after governor signs bill to void land deals
Kevin Breuninger and Sarah Whitten, CNBC

Disney on Monday expanded its federal lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, accusing the Republican leader of doubling down on his “retribution campaign” against the company by signing legislation to void Disney’s development deals in Orlando.

Chemical distributors fly in ahead of rail safety bill markup
Caitlin Oprysko, Politico

The National Association of Chemical Distributors will kick off its annual fly-in on Wednesday, the same day that the Senate Commerce Committee is slated to mark up the bipartisan rail safety legislation introduced following the toxic freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February.

Biden embraces a nationally visible reminder of gun violence
Philip Bump, The Washington Post

President Biden announced on Sunday that flags at federal buildings would be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Thursday in honor of those killed in the mass shooting in Allen, Tex.

Why I Changed My Mind on the Debt Limit
Laurence H. Tribe, The New York Times

At this moment, at the White House as well as the Departments of Treasury and Justice, officials are debating a legal theory that previous presidents and any number of legal experts — including me — ruled out in 2011, when the Obama administration confronted a default.