Nov 1, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Trump nominates FDA's next commissioner

FDA headquarters in 2015. Photo: Al Drago/CQ Roll Call

President Trump on Friday nominated the chief medical officer of Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center, Stephen Hahn, to be the FDA's next commissioner.

Catch up quick: HHS Secretary Alex Azar's top deputy, Brett Giroir, will oversee the FDA on an acting basis until Hahn is confirmed. Hahn has never worked in government before, per STAT News. The FDA is finalizing plans to ban most flavored e-cigarette cartridges from the market, Azar said in September, in an attempt to discourage youth vaping amid reports of vaping-related deaths and illnesses.

Go deeper

Axios
2 hours ago - Health

Fauci says if people won't wear masks, maybe it should be mandated

Anthony Fauci. Photo: Graeme Jennings- Pool/Getty Images

NIAID director Anthony Fauci told CNN on Friday evening that if "people are not wearing masks, then maybe we should be mandating it."

Why it matters: Fauci made the comments the same day the U.S. hit its highest daily COVID-19 case count since the pandemic began.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Harris to Black voters: Casting a ballot is about honoring your ancestors

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaks at a "Get Out The Vote" rally at Morehouse College. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Kamala Harris appealed to Black voters in Georgia on Friday, urging them to "honor the ancestors" by casting ballots, and again calling President Trump a "racist."

Why it matters: The U.S. saw a significant decline in African-American voter turnout between 2012 and 2016, reaching its lowest point since 2000. Higher turnout among Black Americans this year could tip the balance in favor of Democrats in key battleground states, including Georgia.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: Fauci: Trump hasn't been to a COVID task force meeting in months.
  2. Sports: The youth sports exodus continues — Big Ten football is back.
  3. Health: U.S. hits highest daily COVID-19 case count since pandemic began —AstraZeneca to resume vaccine trial in U.S. — How to help save 130,000 lives.
  4. Retail: Santa won't greet kids at Macy's this year.
  5. World: Spain and France exceed 1 million cases.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow