Sep 24, 2017

Paul, Collins state their cases on Graham-Cassidy

Sen. Lindsay Graham told ABC's This Week on Sunday that he thinks the Graham-Cassidy health care proposal will get the 50 votes needed to pass. And while Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins reiterated that they're currently in the "no" column, Paul didn't rule out a "yes" vote on a modified bill.

Worth noting: President Trump said he's hopeful Paul will "come around" and vote yes on Graham-Cassidy at a Friday evening rally in Huntsville, Alabama, but Paul told NBC's Chuck Todd the bill is "a bad idea." Then he added: "If they narrow their focus to the things we all agree on ... sure I'd be for that."

But, but, but: Paul is opposed to the block grant system proposed in the bill, a centerpiece of the proposal. So he'd only vote "yes" on a much different bill.

Where things stand: Collins and John McCain are no's — they want bipartisan hearings. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted "no" on the last proposal and hasn't made her position public this time around, but a source told CNN's Jake Tapper they think she could be persuaded to vote support it. That leaves a sliver of hope for the GOP ahead of the September 30 deadline.

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Jacob Knutson

Peter Navarro defends hydroxychloroquine use in heated CNN interview

White House economic adviser Peter Navarro defended the use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus during a CNN interview Monday, highlighting "the possibility" that it has therapeutic efficacy.

Why it matters: Navarro did not deny reporting from Axios' Jonathan Swan that he got into a heated exchange in the White House Situation Room over the weekend with infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci about the drug's prospects against the illness.

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Caitlin Owens

Special report: Health care workers vs. coronavirus

Photo Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images, and Europa Press News/Europa Press via Getty Images

Health care workers are at an especially high risk of catching the coronavirus, because of their prolonged exposure to patients who have it. Making matters worse, the U.S. doesn't have enough of the protective equipment, like masks and gloves, that keeps them safe.

And yet these workers, with loved ones of their own, keep showing up at hospitals across the country, knowing that more Americans than they can possibly care for are depending on them.

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Dion Rabouin

Backed by the Fed, bond investors get bullish

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Fed's massive injections of liquidity have reopened much of the bond market, and after back-to-back weeks in which more than $100 billion flowed out of bond funds, investors have regained their bearings and now see opportunity.

What's happening: But after the hemorrhaging outflows relented last week, bulls may now be sticking their heads out a bit too far. Junk bond funds took in more than $7 billion for the week ended April 1, according to Refinitiv Lipper, setting a new weekly record.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Economy & Business