Sep 7, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Senate approves Harvey aid, debt ceiling, government funding deal

Evan Vucci / AP

The Senate approved legislation that would deliver the first installment of Harvey aid, raise the debt ceiling and fund the government for the next 3 months, Politico reports. That includes about $22 billion in disaster relief funds for FEMA. The package will now head to the House, which could vote as early as Thursday night, per CNN.

The backstory: This plan is essentially the one floated by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in a meeting yesterday with Trump, and such a short term debt ceiling raise was opposed by top Republicans and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin. Trump sided with the Democrats, and now the plan is moving forward.

The tally: 80-17, with all 17 nos coming from Republicans.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: Chris Christie: Wear a mask "or you may regret it — as I did"
  2. Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted COVID relief bill
  3. Economy: Why the stimulus delay isn't a crisis (yet).
  4. Health: New York reports most COVID cases since May — Studies show drop in coronavirus death rate
  5. Education: San Francisco public schools likely won't reopen before the end of the year.
  6. World: Spain becomes first nation in Western Europe to exceed 1 million cases — France becomes the second
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Jacob Knutson
Updated 6 hours ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. officials: Iran and Russia aim to interfere in election

Iran and Russia have obtained voter registration information that can be used to undermine confidence in the U.S. election system, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe announced at a press conference Wednesday evening.

Why it matters: The revelation comes roughly two weeks before Election Day. Ratcliffe said Iran has sent threatening emails to Democratic voters this week in states across the U.S. and spread videos claiming that people can vote more than once.

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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 8 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court blocks Alabama curbside voting measure

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Wednesday evening blocked a lower court order that would have allowed voters to cast ballots curbside at Alabama polling places on Election Day.

Whit it matters: With less than two weeks until Election Day, the justices voted 5-3 to reinstate the curbside voting ban and overturn a lower court judge's ruling designed to protect people with disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic.

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