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National

Axios on HBO: Secretary Miguel Cardona on universal mask mandates

U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, in an "Axios on HBO" interview, said he's reluctant to withhold federal funding from states that won't enforce school mask mandates because he doesn't want to hurt students.

Why it matters: Cardona's comments suggest there are limits to how far the Biden administration will go in pressuring states to adopt universal masking — or vaccine mandates. 

California became the first state to say vaccines will be required for in-person learning after shots for K-12 age groups are approved.

Cardona also said he's looking to President Biden's "Build Back Better" agenda, and the Democrats' push for about $2 trillion in new social spending, as ways to improve the U.S. return on investment in education compared with other nations.

Driving the news: The administration has recommended universal masking in schools. But more than 30 governors have refused to implement such mandates — and some have gone so far as to ban them.

The administration has threatened legal action against seven states but the strategy has yielded no tangible results, so far.

What they're saying: "I don't know that holding funds from students is the best approach," Cardona told "Axios on HBO" when asked about enforcing mask mandates. "Ultimately, the students need more support, not less."

"But we're working with our districts. And, thankfully, the superintendents, who are educators, are working closely with health experts to keep their children safe."

Infection rates in children have surpassed those of adults nationwide, as more adults get vaccinated and children return to the crowds in classrooms.

Children, however, are statistically far less likely to become severely ill from COVID-19.

But of more than 6 million children who have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic, about 1 million of them had tested positive just since September.

What we're watching: Since the Trump administration, data shows a jump in parents taking their children out of traditional public schools.

There are a variety of factors, from varying uses of remote and in-person learning to mask and other mandates.

Enrollment in traditional public schools decreased by more than 1 million students in the 2020-21 school year, a 3% drop. Enrollment in public charter schools increased by 7% in the same period, and more parents chose options including private schools and home-schooling.

"In many cases, there was so much fear of sending students back to school, or parents maybe were dealing with different issues at home and it impacted their ability to send their children to their traditional school," he said.

"But I'm completely confident that, based on what we've seen from our educators over the last year and a half, we're going to continue to put the students first and we're going to reopen schools that welcome students and meet ... not only the students' needs but the families' needs and concerns."

What's next: Cardona said more investment in early education is key to getting better outcomes, citing proposals in the Democrats' agenda such as funding universal pre-K. They also include spending for college assistance and infrastructure.

The U.S. is fifth in education expenditure per student among the highly developed OECD countries but ranks 31st in mathematics performance among 15-year-olds.

Biden originally was seeking $3.5 trillion in social spending but now says the number likely must come down to around $2 trillion to secure enough support to pass.

Asked which education items he's recommended be scrapped first, the secretary refused to prioritize among them.

"You're asking me, 'Which one do I recommend being cut?'" Cardona said. "I don't recommend any of 'em being cut."

"For far too long, it's been predictable which students are going to be successful or not based on place and race," he said. "The education package is an honest approach to level the playing field and lift our country."

Education secretary reveals limits to Biden’s mask push on states

"Ultimately, the students need more support, not less."

Education

Joe Biden

Coronavirus

The U.S. health system faces critical questions about cost, access and equity. Technological advances and new discoveries about diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s are transforming patient care and reshaping public health.

Health

Axios on HBO

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

Axios AM

Axios on HBO: Senator Dr. Bill Cassidy on President Trump’s potential 2024 run

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) told “Axios on HBO” he’s not sure former President Donald Trump would win the Republican nomination if he ran in 2024 — a rare voice of criticism from within the party.

When I raised the conventional wisdom that Trump would be expected to win the nomination, Cassidy jumped in.“

I don't know that,” the senator said during our interview in Chalmette, La. 

The big picture: “Trump is the first president in the Republican side at least to lose the House, the Senate and the presidency in four years. Elections are about winning," Cassidy said.

On the possibility of Trump losing the nomination, Cassidy said: “Well, if you want to win the presidency — and hopefully that's what voters are thinking about — I think he might.”

Cassidy, one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump at the impeachment trial in January, said he wouldn’t vote for Trump in 2024.

The senator said he voted to convict Trump because he took “an oath to support and defend the Constitution. And when there was a pattern of behavior that culminated as it did on January the 6th — and we've had revelations since — that just led me to that decision.”

GOP senator smacks Trump

Congress

Donald Trump

Elections 2024

The House and Senate face an onslaught of deadlines key to fulfilling members' campaign promises and keeping the government afloat as they return from recess this week.

Why it matters: The next few weeks will be pivotal to enacting President Biden's agenda — and determining how the Democratic Party fares in the midterm elections.

The latest: The main focus for the remainder of this month will be to wrap up negotiations on Biden's social spending package, which is being trimmed from $3.5 trillion to closer to $2 trillion.

Leaders on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are losing patience and are eager to strike a detailed framework — at a minimum — allowing House Democrats to finally pass the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

As of now, moderate and progressive factions within the House Democratic caucus are still far apart on key provisions, including prescription drug reform, climate change and Medicare expansion.

They also haven't agreed on a top-line number.

Between the lines: This will be crucial for reaching a compromise, if members want to meet their Oct. 31 deadline. Without an agreement, a reconciliation vote will likely slip to late November or December.

Congress also will have its hands full with meetings and subpoenas by the House select committee on Jan. 6.

The Senate faces a backlog for confirming key ambassadors.

Both chambers must address national defense funding and a looming government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis.

Oct. 19: The Jan. 6  select committee will vote on whether to hold former Trump adviser Steve Bannon in contempt for defying its subpoena.

Oct. 20: Biden's nominees for ambassador to China (Nick Burns), Japan (Rahm Emanuel) and Singapore (Jonathan Kaplan) will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during their confirmation hearings.

Oct. 20: The Senate will vote on the Freedom to Vote Act, a voting rights bill backed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

Oct. 21: Attorney General Merrick Garland will testify before the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing about oversight of the Justice Department.

Oct. 31: A 30-day extension of funding for surface transportation programs expires. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also has set this date as the new deadline to vote on the Senate-passed, $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Progressives insist they can always issue another short-term extension if they need more time to negotiate the scope and cost of the social spending package — something they say needs to be finished before voting on the infrastructure bill.

Nov. 8-15: The House and Senate are on recess for one week.

Nov. 19-29: The House and Senate recess for Thanksgiving.

Dec. 3: The short-term government funding bill expires. Congress must pass another funding bill to avoid a government shutdown.

Dec. 13 through the end of the year: The House and Senate are on recess for winter holidays.

Mid-December: The government will default on its debt unless Congress raises the debt limit.

Before the end of the year: Congress must pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Congress begins yearend sprint

The next few weeks will be pivotal to enacting President Biden's agenda.

Illustration of the Congressional Dome disappearing in an hour glass

Two Black congressional staff associations published an open letter Friday calling for more diversity, better conditions and "a stronger college-to-Congress pipeline" for staffers at Capitol Hill.

Why it matters: While Congress swore in its most racially and ethnically diverse congressional class in history this year, congressional staffs remain "overwhelmingly white," the letter says.

“We believe that if the United States Congress wants to hold steadfast to its representative form of government, then congressional staffers hired to construct and inform legislation should be reflective of the United States’ population.”

The big picture: The U.S. population is roughly 13% Black, compared with only 3% of Senate staffers, per the letter.

Zoom in: Thirty-eight percent of the staff members for Senate Democrats identify as non-Caucasian — up from 35% in 2020, according to data from the caucus reported by Axios' Stef Kight in July. Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) have the least-white staff teams.

The letter, written by the Congressional Black Associates and the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus, outlined steps for change:

Strengthening college-to-Congress pipeline by fostering relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black Student Unions (BSUs) and other diverse organizations on college campuses.

Offering better career opportunities to Black staffers so they can "develop and display their talents" and be promoted to higher positions.

Providing better pay to all staffers to offset the high cost of living.

Ensuring lawmakers hire diverse staffs that reflect their constituencies. 

The racial breakdown of the House of Representatives

Black congressional staffers call for more diversity at Capitol Hill

Congressional staffs remain "overwhelmingly white," the letter says.

A Hollywood workers' union reached a tentative deal with studios, networks and streamers that will guarantee better working conditions, meal breaks and increased wages for low-paid workers, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced Saturday night. 

Why it matters: The deal, which still needs to be ratified by IATSE members, will avert a nationwide strike by film and television workers that was set to start Monday. It would have been the first strike in the union's 128-year history.

The deal will guarantee 54 hours of rest for workers on weekends, add Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a holiday, and adopt diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, IATSE wrote in the news release. 

AMPTP spokesman Jarryd Gonzales confirmed the agreement with CNN.

What they're saying: “This is a Hollywood ending,” IATSE president Matthew Loeb said in the statement. “Our members stood firm. We are tough and united.”

Be smart: IATSE represents 60,000 behind-the-scenes workers like makeup artists, editors and camera operators. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) represents major film and TV producers, like Netflix and Walt Disney Studios.

Hollywood union reaches deal with studios to avert strike

The agreement will guarantee better working conditions, meal breaks and increased wages for low-paid workers.

Hollywood

Media

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

Economy

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Former President Bill Clinton was discharged from the University of California, Irvine Medical Center on Sunday, nearly a week after he was admitted for a non-COVID-related infection, according to his spokesperson Angel Ureña.

What they're saying: "His fever and white blood cell count are normalized and he will return home to New York to finish his course of antibiotics," wrote Dr. Alpesh Amin, who has been overseeing the team of doctors treating Clinton. "On behalf of everyone at UC Irvine Medical Center, we were honored to have treated him and will continue to monitor his progress." 

Worth noting: Clinton had a urinary tract infection that spread to his bloodstream, per CNN. 

The California-based medical team had been administering IV antibiotics and fluids, and was in constant communication with Clinton's New York team, including his cardiologist, according to the former president's physicians. 

President Biden spoke by phone with Clinton on Friday to see how he was doing, and the catch-up included a discussion of recent politics.

Bill Clinton released from hospital following treatment for non-COVID infection

"His fever and white blood cell count are normalized and he will return home to New York to finish his course of antibiotics."

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Education secretary reveals limits to Biden’s mask push on states

GOP senator smacks Trump

Congress begins yearend sprint

Black congressional staffers call for more diversity at Capitol Hill

Hollywood union reaches deal with studios to avert strike

Bill Clinton released from hospital following treatment for non-COVID infection

TikTok drives new nostalgia economy

Melbourne, "world's most locked-down city," to lift stay-at-home orders

Venezuela suspends talks with opposition after Maduro ally extradited to U.S.

Kenosha shooting lawsuit accuses police of coordinating with militia