Oct 12, 2020 - Sports

Obama praises sports stars who "take a stand" for racial justice

LeBron James and President Barack Obama at the White House in 2013. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Obama praised NBA and WNBA teams and players Sunday who "take a stand for racial justice and encourage civic participation," as he congratulated the Los Angeles Lakers and Seattle Storm on their championship wins.

The big picture: The Lakers clinched the NBA title Sunday and the Storm defeated the Las Vegas Aces last Tuesday to win the WNBA Championships. Sports stars have used their platforms this season to support social justice, civic engagement and voting rights. Obama praised Lakers star LeBron James earlier this month for his More Than a Vote drive to increase the number of poll workers in Black electoral districts.

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Axios
5 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Obama at voting drive: "We can come out of this moment stronger than before"

A screenshot of former President Barack Obama from the Pull Up & Vote Party. Photo: Complex/YouTube

Former President Barack Obama said while urging people to vote for Joe Biden at the virtual Pull Up & Vote Party voting initiative Tuesday he found it "inspiring" that young Americans were organizing and "fighting for change."

The big picture: "We can come out of this moment stronger than before," Obama said. "In times as polarized as these, your vote doesn’t just matter, it matters more than ever before. .. "Let's go win this thing." The event, hosted by activist Tamika Mallory and featuring a host of celebrities, was designed to encourage engagement and voter turnout in November's election.

Go deeper: AOC and Ilhan Omar draw 400,000 to Twitch stream to get out the vote

Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: McConnell urges White House not to strike stimulus deal before election — Republican senators defend Fauci as Trump escalates attacks.
  2. Health: The next wave is gaining steam.
  3. Education: Schools haven't become hotspots — University of Michigan students ordered to shelter-in-place.
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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Biden has huge cash advantage over Trump as Election Day nears

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had $177.3 million in the bank at the end of September, per the latest Federal Election Commission filings.

Why it matters: President Trump's re-election campaign reported having $63.1 million in the bank at the end of last month, as campaigning enters the final stretch ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.

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