Oct 12, 2018

Beto O'Rourke breaks fundraising record, raises $38 million in 3 months

Sen. Ted Cruz's Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke has raised more than $38 million in the third quarter, all from individual contributions, he announced on Friday morning.

The big picture: O'Rourke prides himself on not taking money from political action committees (PACs), and he's now set the record for biggest fundraising quarter in single a senate race. But the news doesn't guarantee he'll come out on top in November. Don't forget Rep. Rick Lazio, who challenged Hillary Clinton in 2000, and raked in in $22 million in the same quarter. Ultimately, he lost the race. And the latest poll from the New York Times puts Cruz 8 points ahead of O'Rourke.

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Alison Snyder, Bryan Walsh

The next frontier for Big Science

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

In 1945, engineer and science administrator Vannevar Bush laid out a framework for support of science in the U.S. that drove prosperity and American dominance. That model isn't enough anymore, experts said at an event this week in Washington, D.C.

The big picture: With China threatening to overtake the U.S. in R&D spending even as research becomes more international, science must manage the tension between cooperation and competition.

Go deeperUpdated 4 mins ago - Science

Axios

U.S. and Taliban sign peace deal

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad (L) and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (R) sign a peace agreement during a ceremony in Qatar. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images

The United States signed a peace deal with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar on Saturday after over a year of off-and-on negotiations, The New York Times reports.

Why it matters: The signing of the deal officially begins the process to end the United States' longest war, which has spanned nearly two decades. The agreement sets a timetable to pull the remaining 13,000 American troops out of Afghanistan, per the Times, but is contingent on the Taliban's completion of commitments, including breaking ties with international terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda.

Keep Reading12 mins ago - World

Alexi McCammond

Biden bets it all on South Carolina

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Most Joe Biden admirers Axios interviewed in South Carolina, where he's vowed to win today's primary, said they're unfazed by his embarrassing losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Why it matters: Biden has bet it all on South Carolina to position himself as the best alternative to Bernie Sanders — his "good buddy," he tells voters before skewering Sanders' record and ideas.

Go deeper2 hours ago - Politics & Policy