US Domestic News Roundup: Biden to meet with congressional leaders as government shutdown looms; Inside the Democratic rebellion against Biden over the Gaza war and more

The move reflected the former president's sway over the party as he prepares for a likely rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in November. Biden faces protest vote over Gaza in Michigan; polls show Trump beating Haley President Joe Biden's support for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza will be put to a test on Tuesday in Michigan, home to a large Arab American constituency where Democratic voters have been urged to mark their primary ballots as "uncommitted." Biden, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump will both want strong showings in their separate nominating contests.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

Biden to meet with congressional leaders as government shutdown looms

President Joe Biden will meet with the top Democrats and Republicans in Congress on Tuesday in a bid to head off a partial government shutdown beginning in just four days and to urge lawmakers to pass an aid package for Ukraine and Israel. The White House meeting comes almost two months since Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed on a $1.59 trillion discretionary spending level for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1.

Inside the Democratic rebellion against Biden over the Gaza war

The depth of Democratic Party anger over President Joe Biden's handling of the Gaza war has caught his campaign off guard and could depress support in November's election, according to Reuters interviews with more than a dozen senior party and campaign officials and five dozen voters and activists. The White House had expected Democratic unrest over Gaza to fade as Biden picked up his campaigning against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, the officials said.

Republican Party leader Ronna McDaniel to step down after pressure from Trump

Republican Party leader Ronna McDaniel said on Monday she was stepping down, in a power shakeup that followed weeks of public pressure from the party's likely 2024 nominee, Donald Trump. The move reflected the former president's sway over the party as he prepares for a likely rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in November.

Biden faces protest vote over Gaza in Michigan; polls show Trump beating Haley

President Joe Biden's support for Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza will be put to a test on Tuesday in Michigan, home to a large Arab American constituency where Democratic voters have been urged to mark their primary ballots as "uncommitted." Biden, a Democrat, and Republican former President Donald Trump will both want strong showings in their separate nominating contests. Michigan is a battleground state expected to play a decisive role in the head-to-head Nov. 5 election.

US couple likely dead after Caribbean boat hijacking, police say

A U.S. couple who disappeared a week ago after their catamaran was hijacked by three escaped prisoners in the Eastern Caribbean are likely dead, local police told a press conference on Monday, though they said the investigation was ongoing. Grenadian police Commissioner Don McKenzie said the prisoners had escaped custody on Feb. 18 and the following day commandeered a catamaran named Simplicity - with U.S. citizens Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry on board.

Will Taylor Swift endorse him in 2024? Biden says that's 'classified'

U.S. President Joe Biden made light of conspiracy theories about him and pop superstar Taylor Swift during an appearance on a late night show and had a ready answer to the question of whether she'll endorse him in 2024: that's classified. During an appearance on NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" on Monday, Biden, a Democrat, joked with Meyers, a comedian, about conspiracy theories that the president and the singer-songwriter are in "cahoots." Meyers said recent polling showed 18% of Americans believed Biden and Swift were somehow working together.

Michigan Democrats challenge Biden, DNC on Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden faces two long-shot opponents in Michigan's Democratic primary race on Tuesday, but his biggest challenge comes from a group of previous supporters who are asking voters to mark "uncommitted" on their ballots. The protest vote is part of a nationwide movement hoping to push Biden and elected Democrats to back a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and halt military aid to Israel in Gaza. The battleground state of Michigan has the largest Arab American population, per capita, of any U.S. state. Here is why these voters are upset:

Florida lawmakers pause 'unborn child' bill in wake of Alabama ruling -report

Florida lawmakers have paused efforts to pass a bill that would have provided protections to an "unborn child" but possibly hurt the state's in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics, as happened this month in Alabama, the Washington Post reported on Monday. Florida state Senator Erin Grall told the Post that "Although I have worked diligently to respond to questions and concerns, I understand there is still work that needs to be done" on her bill. It's unclear if the bill will be revived in this legislative session, which ends in two weeks.

US Supreme Court torn over Florida, Texas laws regulating social media companies

U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday expressed reservations about Republican-backed laws in Florida and Texas meant to restrict the power of social media companies to curb content that the platforms deem objectionable, but signaled they may not be ready to block them in their entirety. During nearly four hours of arguments in the cases, the justices expressed concern that the laws could undermine the editorial discretion of the platforms in violation of free speech protections. But they also indicated they might permit the laws to regulate certain non-expressive internet services such as the provision of email, direct messaging or car-sharing.

Prosecutors seek Trump gag order in NY hush money criminal case

Prosecutors have asked a judge for a gag order to restrict Donald Trump from making public comments about witnesses or exposing the identities of jurors in the former president's New York trial involving hush money paid to a porn star, court filings made public on Monday showed. The requests by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office noted Trump's "longstanding history of attacking witnesses, investigators, prosecutors, judges and others involved in legal proceedings against him."