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National

Nebraska lawmakers on Friday approved a bill to ban abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy and restrict gender-affirming care for trans minors.

What's next: The bill, which is likely the first to combine restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming care, heads to the desk of Gov. Jim Pillen (R) for his signature. 

After the bill passed, Pillen issued a statement expressing support for the legislation, specifically addressing gender-affirming care: "[K]ids deserve the opportunity to grow and explore who they are and want to be, and they can do so without making irreversible decisions that should be made when they are fully grown."

Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, consider this type of care to be medically necessary and potentially lifesaving for trans youth.

Catch up quick: Nebraska's Republican-controlled legislature had previously attempted but failed to pass a six-week abortion ban.

Lawmakers then quietly amended the bill banning gender-affirming care to add limits on abortion in the final days of the state's legislative session.

Abortion is currently legal in Nebraska until 22 weeks of pregnancy.

Details: LB 574 bars physicians from providing an abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of a medical emergency, sexual assault, or incest.

The bill bans “gender-altering procedures” — which it defines as “any medical or surgerical service” and “prescribed drugs related to gender alteration” — for trans youth under the age of 19, Nebraska’s age of majority.

It also gives the state’s chief medical officer — who has been appointed by Nebraska’s Republican governor — the power to “adopt and promulgate” regulations to provide “nonsurgical gender-altering procedures” to minors, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

The 12-week abortion ban would take effect immediately upon being signed, and the restrictions on gender-affirming care would take effect in October.

Zoom out: Nebraska is the latest state to move to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for transgender people. So far, more than 100 bills to limit this type of care have been introduced, according to the ACLU. 

So far, sixteen states have successfully enacted these types of laws, but some are facing legal challenges.

Nebraska lawmakers' passage of a 12-week abortion ban comes days after North Carolina legislators overrode a veto from the governor to enact a similar ban in the state. 

Both of these bans are among the less restrictive ones to follow the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, with near-total abortion bans becoming active in several GOP-led states.

What we're watching: The ACLU of Nebraska said in a statement that it is currently exploring all "options to address the harm of this extreme legislation, and that work will have our team's full focus."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details about the legislation.

more than 100 bills to limit this type of care

North Carolina legislators overrode a veto

Nebraska set to restrict abortion, gender-affirming care for trans minors

The bill, likely the first to combine limits on abortion and gender-affirming care, heads to the governor's desk next.

The Nebraska state Capitol. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Abortion

Health

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

Cleveland

Axios Cleveland

Football legend Jim Brown has died at the age of 87.

Driving the news: Brown's wife confirmed that he died at his Los Angeles home on Thursday.

"To the world he was an activist, actor, and football star," Monique Brown wrote in a social media post. "To our family, he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken."

Why it matters: Brown is considered one of the greatest athletes in sports history and was a prominent civil rights activist.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

By the numbers: Brown was a four-sport athlete in college before spending nine seasons as a running back for the Cleveland Browns.

He led the team to an NFL Championship in 1964 and earned three most valuable player awards while setting all-time marks for career rushing yards and touchdowns.

Brown retired abruptly in 1966 at the age of 30 to focus on a movie career and activism.

In between the lines: Brown took part in the famous "Ali Summit" of 1967 alongside Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul Jabbar in support of Ali refusing to serve in the military during the Vietnam War.

Brown continued his activism over the decades, working with inner-city youth and former convicts and campaigning for President Obama.

Yes, but: Some of Brown's views proved controversial, including his support of Donald Trump and opposition to NFL player Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem.

Brown also faced multiple allegations of violence against women.

What they're saying: "On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Monique and their family," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

"Jim Brown was a gifted athlete — one of the most dominant players to ever step on any athletic field — but also a cultural figure who helped promote change."

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Jim Brown, football legend and activist, dead at 87

Brown is considered one of the greatest athletes in sports history.

Jim Brown set career marks in yards and touchdowns in just nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Photo: Focus on Sport/Getty Images

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Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

San Francisco

Axios San Francisco

In the 28 months since a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol, more than 1,030 people have been charged in connection to the insurrection and around 570 have pleaded guilty, the Department of Justice said in May.

The big picture: The federal investigation has led to a slew of high-profile arrests and convictions even as former President Trump and his allies accused the DOJ of unfair prosecutions.

Trump at a recent town hall on CNN reiterated his vow to pardon rioters if he's re-elected and said that “a couple of them probably got out of control."

He also denied that it took him three hours to tell Capitol rioters to go home on Jan. 6, which is contradicted by his public tweets that day.

Over 900 defendants have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds, including 103 who face charges for entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon.

346 have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or employees, including 108 who face charges for using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.

309 have been charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding, or attempting to do so.

55 have been charged with conspiracy, including conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding, conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement during a civil disorder, conspiracy to injure an officer or some combination of the three.

149 defendants have pleaded guilty to felonies, including 61 who pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers and four who pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy.

78 defendants have been found guilty at contested trials.

16 have been convicted following an "agreed-upon set of facts," per the DOJ.

Those who have been sentenced include the New Jersey man who used chemical spray to assault police officers, including the late Brian Sicknick. He will serve nearly seven years in prison.

Over 1,000 people now face charges in connection to Jan. 6 riots

The federal investigation has led to a slew of high-profile arrests and convictions.

Photo of a mob of Trump supporters crowded onto the steps of the Capitol with signs and banners

Trump flags fly as rioters take over the steps of the Capitol on the East Front on Jan. 6, 2021 as Congress works to certify the electoral college votes. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

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Hill Leaders

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The White House has acknowledged “real differences” with Republicans in the budget and debt ceiling talks and warned that negotiations will be “difficult,” according to a White House official.

Why it matters: While Team Biden wants to signal that a bipartisan compromise remains possible, they are preparing for a difficult road ahead. They also don’t appear to be racing to restart the talks, even as time is running out to find an agreement.

Driving the news: Earlier Friday, Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) walked out of negotiations, called the White House “unreasonable,” and declared that the talks were on a “pause.”

Team Biden is also trying to pressure House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to accept a deal that might be unacceptable to large swaths of his conference.

“There are real differences between the parties on budget issues and talks will be difficult,” a White House official said in a statement. 

"The President’s team is working hard towards a reasonable bipartisan solution that can pass the House and the Senate.”

The big picture: If a deal is not reached soon, the U.S. could run out of money on June 1.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has repeatedly warned of the deadline, telling the country’s biggest bankers yesterday that outside forecasters have validated it.

The other side: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) reacted to the apparent suspension of the talks by blaming Biden for not engaging with McCarthy for several months.

"It is past time for the White House to get serious. Time is of the essence,” he tweeted.

White House: "Real differences" between parties in budget talks

Team Biden also wants to signal that a bipartisan compromise is still possible

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the Oval Office on May 16. Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty 

Debt ceiling

President Biden on Friday told his fellow leaders at the G7 summit that the U.S. will support a joint plan to train Ukrainian pilots on advanced fighter jets, including U.S.-made F-16s, a senior U.S. official confirmed to Axios.

Driving the news: After the training commences, the U.S. and its allies "will decide when to actually provide jets, how many we will provide, and who will provide them," the U.S. official said.

Why it matters: Ukraine has been lobbying for fighter jets for months, but Biden has declined to provide American-made planes and had wavered on the idea of allowing European allies to do so. 

While Biden has now committed to helping Ukraine get advanced jets, it's not yet clear if the U.S. will supply F-16s directly.

The training scheme is being finalized at the G7 summit in Japan, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be a guest.

G7 leaders are also preparing to roll out a new batch of Russia sanctions at the summit.

Details: The training will take place in Europe and could begin within weeks, but will take "months" to complete, according to a statement provided to Axios. 

U.S. officials have previously said it could take 18 months to train pilots and deliver F-16s. Ukrainian officials believe the training could be completed sooner and have long argued that if the U.S. was concerned training would take too long, it should start it sooner.

Between the lines: The Biden administration had in recent months prioritized arming and training Ukrainian forces for the spring counter-offensive, the statement says.

That suggests U.S.-made fighter jets aren't part of the counter-offensive equation, but could be part of a longer-term commitment to Ukraine's defenses.

What they're saying: Zelensky in a tweet welcomed the U.S. decision. 

Biden backs plan to provide Ukraine with advanced fighter jets

After months of U.S. resistance, Ukraine is getting closer to acquiring advanced fighter jets.

Axios

Friday's top stories

Nebraska set to restrict abortion, gender-affirming care for trans minors

Jim Brown, football legend and activist, dead at 87

Over 1,000 people now face charges in connection to Jan. 6 riots

White House: "Real differences" between parties in budget talks

Biden backs plan to provide Ukraine with advanced fighter jets

Scoop: Yellen’s private warning to Wall Street

DeSantis' 2024 pitch: Make America Florida

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