Dec 9, 2017

4. Trump unlikely to bend on gun control

President Donald Trump tries on a Stetson hat during a "Made in America," product showcase. Photo: Alex Brandon / AP

President Trump, who says he's a defender of gun ownership rights, faced mounting pressure to address gun control issues after the recent mass shootings Las Vegas and Texas. And many were unsure how he'd resist it — especially after showing he is open to bipartisanship by striking a debt limit deal with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.

But Trump's allies, both inside and out of the White House, have said they can't imagine Trump bending to a Chuck-and-Nancy deal on gun control. Former Trump adviser Roger Stone told Axios' Jonathan Swan: "Base would go insane and he knows it." And Steve Bannon went so far as to say such a deal is "Impossible: will be the end of everything." Here's why:

He owes too much to the NRA and its supporters
He feels closer to the NRA than just about any outside group.
He believes his un-nuanced support for the Second Amendment was crucial to his election victory.
He's been instinctively allergic to Democrats who argue for gun control in the immediate aftermath of mass shootings.

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Trump and Zuckerberg share phone call amid social media furor

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

In the week that President Trump took on social media, Axios has learned that he had a call Friday with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg that was described by both sides as productive.

Why it matters: With the White House and Twitter at war, Facebook has managed to keep diplomatic relations with the world's most powerful social-media devotee.

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Sara Fischer

1 hour ago - Economy & Business

Twitter, Google lead chorus of brands backing George Floyd protests

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios

Twitter and Google are among the dozens of brands over the past 24 hours that have taken public stances in favor of Americans protesting racial equality. Some companies have changed their logos in solidarity with the movement, while others have pledged money in support of efforts to address social injustice.

Why it matters: The pressure that companies feel to speak out on issues has increased during the Trump era, as businesses have sought to fill a trust void left by the government. Now, some of the biggest companies are quickly taking a public stand on the protests, pressuring all other brands to do the same.

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Jacob Knutson

3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

NYPD commissioner: "I'm extremely proud" of officers' response to protests

New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea in February. Photo: Yana Paskova/Getty Images

New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a public statement Sunday that he is "extremely proud" of the New York City Police Department's response to protests over the death of George Floyd Saturday night, writing: "What we saw in New York City last night and the night before was not about peaceful protest of any kind."

Why it matters: New York City residents captured several instances of police officers using excessive force against demonstrators. In one video, two NYPD SUVs are seen ramming into protesters who were blocking a road and throwing traffic cones at the vehicles.

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