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Obama worries progressives' rigidity may create "circular firing squad"

Former President Obama says "the way we structure democracy requires you to take into account people who don’t agree with you." Photo: Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images

Former President Obama said Saturday he's concerned about progressives who are unwilling to compromise because it risks weakening "the overall effort and movement."

What he's saying: "One of the things I do worry about sometimes among progressives in the United States ... is a certain kind of rigidity where we say, 'Uh, I'm sorry, this is how it's going to be,' and then we start sometimes creating what's called a circular firing squad, where you start shooting at your allies because one of them is straying from purity on the issues," said at an Obama Foundation town hall event in Berlin, Germany.

The big picture: Obama's comments come at a time where Democrats are shifting to the left on big ideas such as Medicare for All, spearheaded by 2020 hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Freshman Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have garnered national attention with progressive policies such as the Green New Deal.

Go deeper: 2020 presidential election: Track which candidates are running

Go deeper

Mike Allen, author of AM
1 min ago - Politics & Policy

Biden-Harris, Day 1: What mattered most

President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden arrive at the North Portico of the White House. Photo: Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images

The Axios experts help you sort significance from symbolism. Here are the six Day 1 actions by President Biden that matter most.

Driving the news: Today, on his first full day, Biden translates his promise of a stronger federal response to the pandemic into action — starting with 10 executive orders and other directives, Caitlin Owens writes.

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Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Read: Pete Buttigieg's opening statement ahead of confirmation hearing

Pete Buttigieg, President Biden's nominee to be secretary of transportation, in December. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/AFP via Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg, President Biden's nominee to lead the Transportation Department, will tell senators he plans to prioritize the health and safety of public transportation systems during the pandemic — and look to infrastructure projects to rebuild the economy — according to a copy of his prepared remarks obtained by Axios.

Driving the news: Buttigieg will testify at 10 a.m. ET before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. He is expected to face a relatively smooth confirmation process, though GOP lawmakers may press him on "green" elements of Biden's transportation proposals.

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Jonathan Swan, Zachary Basu
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy
Off the Rails

Episode 8: The siege

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Beginning on election night 2020 and continuing through his final days in office, Donald Trump unraveled and dragged America with him, to the point that his followers sacked the U.S. Capitol with two weeks left in his term. Axios takes you inside the collapse of a president with a special series.

Episode 8: The siege. An inside account of the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 that ultimately failed to block the certification of the Electoral College. And, finally, Trump's concession.

On Jan. 6, White House deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger entered the West Wing in the mid-afternoon, shortly after his colleagues' phones had lit up with an emergency curfew alert from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Go deeper (11 min. read)Arrow