Oct 17, 2017

Schumer: Trump helped drive GOP to health care negotiating table

Photo: Andrew Harnik / AP

President Trump's decision to pull the plug on payments to insurance companies helped drive Republicans to make a deal on health care, Senator Chuck Schumer told reporters today.

"When the president precipitously pulled out cost sharing, many of our Republican colleagues said 'Oh no, we don't want the consequences of this on our door step,' and it pushed them, I think, close to a deal with us ... We've been negotiating since August, and frankly after the President did what he did, the negotiations got better for us."

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Sara Fischer, Kim Hart

Coronavirus pushes traditional businesses into the digital age

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

A slew of old-line industries that once hesitated to embrace digital technologies are now being forced to do so for the sake of survival.

Why it matters: Once consumers get used to accessing services digitally — from older restaurants finally embracing online ordering, or newspapers finally going all-digital — these industries may find it hard to go back to traditional operations.

Go deeper13 mins ago - Economy & Business

Caitlin Owens

America's grimmest month

Trump gives his Sunday press briefing in the Rose Garden. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

President Trump asked Americans to continue social distancing until April 30, officials warned that tens or even hundreds of thousands of Americans could die — and that's the least depressing scenario.

Why it matters: April is going to be very hard. But public health officials are in agreement that hunkering down — in our own homes — and weathering one of the darkest months in American history is the only way to prevent millions of American deaths.

Go deeper59 mins ago - Health

Amy Harder

Exclusive: Civil rights leaders oppose swift move off natural gas

Photo Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Top American civil-rights activists are opposing an abrupt move away from natural gas, putting them at odds with environmentalists and progressive Democrats who want to ban fracking.

Driving the news: In recent interviews, Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and National Urban League President Marc Morial said energy costs are hitting people of color unfairly hard. These concerns, expressed before the coronavirus pandemic, are poised to expand as paychecks shrink across America.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Energy & Environment