Daily Briefing: Two of the 'Tennessee Three' Democrats expelled

Republican lawmakers took action against three Tennessee Democrats for breaking House rules and leading a gun-control protest from the chamber floor. Also in the news: An unprecedented "abortion trafficking" bill has become law in Idaho and Tiger Woods moved through mistakes on the first day of the Masters.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Did you catch Lizzo's cameo in "The Mandalorian"?

Now, here we go with Friday's headlines.

Tennessee House Democrats kicked out following gun control protest

After hours of fiery debate, the Tennessee House voted to expel Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, on a 72-25 vote, and Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, 69-26, in a move that put the nation's eyes on Tennessee and its politics. The trio was accused of breaching decorum and floor rules for speaking at the House podium on March 30 without recognition.

The historic, party-line expulsion process has roiled political tensions as the state continues to grapple with the deadliest school shooting in its history.

• The House failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to kick Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, out of the chamber. The effort to expel Johnson failed on a 65-30 vote, as chants of "Gloria! Gloria!" rang out in the House chamber.

• Two of the youngest Black lawmakers in the General Assembly were removed, further reducing an already small minority caucus.

•  A partisan expulsion vote like Thursday's is unusual, and an expulsion push over a decorum breach is unprecedented. President Joe Biden issued a statement on Thursday calling the move "undemocratic."

Idaho governor signs first-of-its-kind ‘abortion trafficking’ bill

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill into law that makes it illegal for an adult to help a minor get an abortion without parental consent. The law is the first of its kind in the U.S. and creates a new crime of “abortion trafficking,” barring adults from obtaining abortion pills for a minor or “recruiting, harboring or transporting the pregnant minor” without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. To sidestep violating a constitutional right to travel between states, Idaho’s law makes illegal only the in-state segment of a trip to an out-of-state abortion provider. Read more

• A 12-year-old transgender girl won a Supreme Court fight against West Virginia's sports ban.

• Read the Department of Education's proposed Title IX rule for transgender sports participation.

More news to know now

• A new lawsuit aims to lift the student loan payment pause.

• Four children are dead after an attack on a day care center playground in Brazil.

• Courts are stepping up security after death threats to a judge and his family in the Donald Trump case.

• A US man missing in Mexico’s Baja California Sur was found dead in a clandestine burial pit.

• On today's 5 Things podcast, how the death of Tyre Nichols has rattled Memphis. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

• Donald Trump faces felony charges, Finland joins NATO and the Masters Tournament begins: Test your knowledge with our news quiz.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Clarence Thomas accepted luxury gifts from GOP megadonor

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted luxury gifts from a prominent Republican donor for more than 20 years without disclosing them, possibly violating a law that requires justices, judges and members of Congress to disclose most gifts, according to a new report. ProPublica reported Thursday on a series of lavish trips Thomas has taken over more than two decades, which have been funded by billionaire and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow. This investigation comes as the nation's high court fends off requests for a code of ethics, which would likely address similar instances. Read more

• Who is Harlan Crow? The real estate magnate and GOP megadonor's relationship to Clarence Thomas.

Israel stages rare strikes in Lebanon

Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region following violence this week at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. The cross-border fighting erupted during a time of heightened religious fervor — when Jews are celebrating the Passover holiday and Muslims are marking the Ramadan holy month. Read more

• Ukraine keeps fighting in Bakhmut with incremental gains at a very high cost in both casualties and equipment.

• NPR pushed back after Twitter labels it ''state-affiliated media.''

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• With low Mississippi River levels looking up, efforts switch to prevention.

• Is it OK not to save for retirement? Sometimes, the answer may be yes.

• A ''radical'' 1877 window in a Rhode Island church depicts Jesus as a person of color.

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Masters recap: Tiger Woods uneven, LIV's Koepka tied for lead

The 2023 Masters Tournament began with Kevin Na and 2003 champion Mike Weir teeing off first in Thursday's opening round at the famed Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Before play in the 87th Masters officially got underway, the traditional opening ceremony had honorary starters Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson hitting drives off the first tee. Last year's winner Scottie Scheffler and three-time champ Phil Mickelson are also among the stars in the field, which includes both PGA Tour and LIV golfers. Read more

• Tiger endures mistakes, pain in first round. Can he recapture Masters magic?

• The LIV Golf version of Phil Mickelson lost weight. He also lost his huge, adoring crowds at Masters.

• LSU's women's basketball team will visit the White House, despite a star player saying they wouldn't.

One more thing

• Archaeologists discovered a 2,000-year-old dwelling site of Hopewell Native Americans in Ohio.

• TikTok has been banned from use across all Florida state universities.

• ‘Sweatshops:’ Some California garment workers are paid as little as $1.58 per hour.

• Netflix's unhinged road rage drama ''Beef'' is the best show to represent 2023.

• Here's how MLB's new rules put pressure on baseball's quiet helpers.

Photo of the day: Christians observe Holy Week around the world

The week leading up to Easter is known as Holy Week, which begins after the end of the 40-day Lenten season. Good Friday takes place during this week annually two days before Easter. While Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter, Good Friday serves an important part in the story of Christ essential to Easter celebrations. Read more about the meaning of Good Friday and click here for more photos from global celebrations.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee, abortion, Clarence Thomas, Israel, Masters: Daily Briefing