Feb 28, 2018

Trump: Concealed carry bill "will never pass"

Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images

President Trump said Wednesday that he doesn't think the House’s proposed concealed carry measure, which would allow concealed carry permits to be valid across state lines, will ever pass as part of a background checks bill. His remarks came during a meeting with bipartisan members of congress.

Why it matters: Concealed carry is arguably the biggest issue for gun owners right now. In December, the NRA and gun rights advocates celebrated the House's passage of the bill that combined the concealed carry provision with Fix NICs. Many conservatives, the Freedom Caucus in particular, do not want to separate the two measures — but Trump essentially has just shut that effort down.

Go deeper: The gun debate is a mess and Trump isn't helping

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Eileen Drage O'Reilly
23 mins ago - Health

Big Pharma launches $1B venture to incentivize new antibiotics

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios

A group of large drug companies launched a $1 billion AMR Action Fund Thursday in collaboration with policymakers, philanthropists and development banks to push the development of two to four new antibiotics by 2030.

Why it matters: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem — possibly killing up to 20 million people annually by 2050 — but a severe lack of R&D market incentives has hampered efforts to develop a robust antibiotic pipeline to address the issue.

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Jonathan Swan
Updated 23 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Inside Geoffrey Berman's closed-door testimony

Berman arrives on Capitol Hill Thursday. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Geoffrey Berman, the former top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, was expected to say in closed-door testimony today that Attorney General Bill Barr repeatedly urged him to take another job, warned him that getting fired would not be good for his resume or job prospects and steered him toward a high-level Justice Department post in DC.

Driving the news: Axios has obtained a copy of Berman's opening statement for his closed-door hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.

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Kim Hart
33 mins ago - Health

Schools confront broadband access crisis

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

School districts are taking it upon themselves to help families get connected to the internet as they face down a long future of virtual learning.

Why it matters: In the COVID-19 era of education, broadband is an essential service that families need to stay connected — and that school systems require to equitably educate children in their districts.

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