Sep 8, 2017 - Politics & Policy

The debt ceiling deal is headed to Trump's desk

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

The House has approved the deal that President Trump made with top leaders from the House and Senate Tuesday, which provides $15.3 billion in aid for Hurricane Harvey recovery, increases the debt ceiling and extends government funding through December 8.

The process to getting here: The House initially passed a $7.9 billion Harvey aid package on Wednesday, which was then sent to the Senate, where lawmakers attached measures to extend the debt limit and government funding. The Senate then passed that legislation Thursday, and sent it back to the House for a final vote. Now the bill, which Trump is expected to sign off on, is headed to the president's desk.

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Orion Rummler

17 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Harvard and MIT sue Trump administration over rule barring foreign students from online classes

A Harvard Law School graduate on campus before attending an online graduation ceremony on May 28. Photo: Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Harvard and MIT on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to block federal guidance that would largely bar foreign college students from taking classes if their universities move classes entirely online in the fall.

The big picture: Colleges, which often rely heavily on tuition from international students, face a unique challenge to safely get students back to class during the coronavirus pandemic. Some elite institutions, like Harvard, have already made the decision to go virtual.

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Axios

Updated 54 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 9 a.m. ET: 11,856,991 — Total deaths: 544,871 — Total recoveries — 6,473,170 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 9 a.m. ET: 2,996,333 — Total deaths: 131,481 — Total recoveries: 936,476 — Total tested: 36,878,106 — Map.
Public health: Deaths are rising in hotspots — Déjà vu sets in as testing issues rise and PPE dwindles.
Travel: How the pandemic changed mobility habits, by state.
🎧Podcast: A misinformation "infodemic" is here.

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Sara Fischer

2 hours ago - Technology

Facebook auditors say it's failing on civil rights

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The findings from a new civil rights audit commissioned and released by Facebook show that the tech giant repeatedly failed to address issues of hatred, bigotry and manipulation on its platform.

Why it matters: The report comes as Facebook confronts a growing advertiser boycott and criticism for prioritizing freedom of speech over limiting misinformation and protecting users targeted by hate speech.