Dec 5, 2017 - Energy & Environment

Many of Trump's science nominees lack science degrees

Photo: Susan Walsh / AP

President Trump has appointed fewer people with advanced science degrees to Senate-confirmable science and environment positions than his predecessor, according to an analysis by the AP. Just over 40% of Trump's nominees held advanced science degrees compared to more than 60% under Barack Obama.

A concern: Many of Trump's nominees that do have science degrees come from industry positions — for example in oil and gas companies — and are now embedded in the regulatory agencies that oversee those industries.
Another thing: Trump has left 23 Senate-confirmable positions — 35% of all science-related positions — vacant, including the post for the White House's top science advisor. At this point in his presidency, Barack Obama had filled 18 of those same vacancies.

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Dion Rabouin, author of Markets

1 hour ago - Economy & Business

Investors are betting the future is priced in euros

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

It's the euro's time now — at least that's how investors have been positioning recently.

What's happening: Speculators have raised their bets to the highest in nine years that the dollar will fall and increased bullish bets that the euro will rise to the highest level on record, Reuters reported citing data from the CFTC.

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Axios

Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 20,317,087 — Total deaths: 742,035— Total recoveries: 12,602,544 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 5,141,879 — Total deaths: 164,545 — Total recoveries: 1,714,960 — Total tests: 63,252,257 — Map.
States: Georgia reports 137 coronavirus deaths, setting new daily record — Florida reports another daily record for deaths.
Health care: Trump administration buys 100 million doses of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine.
Business: Moderna reveals it may not hold patent rights for vaccine.
Sports: Big Ten and Pac 12 scrap fall football — MLB salaries at 37%
World: Lebanon reported record new cases as UN warned blast may drive spike — Fauci "seriously" doubts Russia's coronavirus vaccine is safe

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Mike Allen, author of AM

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

3 keys to Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris

Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Three quick points about Joe Biden's historic selection of Sen. Kamala (pronounced COMMA-luh) Harris of California as his running mate — and clues they give us to how Biden would govern:

She was always at the top of his list. As I look back through my text threads with top Dems over the past five months, she was always assumed to be the most likely pick.