May 13, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Joe Biden wins Nebraska Democratic primary

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden won the Nebraska Democratic primary on Tuesday evening, AP reports.

The state of play: Officials urged Nebraskans to vote by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in nearly 400,000 absentee ballots, per AP. But the state still hosted an in-person primary on Tuesday, with poll workers reporting lower turnout than usual.

Biden has already racked up enough delegates to solidify his spot as the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee.

Go deeper

Stef W. Kight, Sam Baker

18 mins ago - Politics & Policy

The policies that could help fix policing

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

George Floyd's death has reignited the long and frustrating push to reform a law enforcement system whose systemic flaws have been visible for years.

Why it matters: Solving these problems will require deep political, structural and cultural changes, experts and advocates say — but they also point to a handful of specific policy changes that, while not a cure, would make a difference.

Go deeper (2 min. read)

Caitlin Owens

18 mins ago - Health

Coronavirus diagnostic test pricing is relatively tame

A medical professional administers a coronavirus test at a drive-thru testing site run by George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Anecdotes of labs charging thousands of dollars for coronavirus diagnostic tests are the exception rather than the rule, according to data provided to Axios by a national health insurer.

Yes, but: Some labs that don’t contract with the insurer charged rates that are multiple times higher than what Medicare pays for the diagnostic tests, and in some scenarios, patients may be at risk of receiving surprise bills.

Go deeper (2 min. read)

Orion Rummler

9 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Trump says he will campaign against Lisa Murkowski after her support for Mattis

Trump with Barr and Meadows outside St. John's Episcopal church in Washington, D.C. on June 1. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump tweeted on Thursday that he would endorse "any candidate" with a pulse who runs against Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

Driving the news: Murkowski said on Thursday that she supported former defense secretary James Mattis' condemnation of Trump over his response to protests in the wake of George Floyd's killing. She described Mattis' statement as "true, honest, necessary and overdue," Politico's Andrew Desiderio reports.

Go deeper (1 min. read)