Dec 12, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Trump signs $692 billion defense bill

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis after signing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. Photo: Evan Vucci / AP

President Trump signed the almost-$700 billion National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday, saying it invests in "our military's greatest weapon of all, its warriors."

Why it matters: The bill is expectd to go towards a 2.4% pay increase for soldiers, the Hill reports, as well as additional active duty and reserve troops, increased Afghanistan operations, missile defense, and equipment.

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Axios
Updated 3 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: Chris Christie: Wear a mask "or you may regret it — as I did" — Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted relief bill.
  2. Economy: Why the stimulus delay isn't a crisis (yet).
  3. Health: The pandemic is getting worse again — New York reports most cases since May —Many U.S. coronavirus deaths were avoidable.
  4. Education: Boston and Chicago send students back home for online learning.
  5. World: Spain becomes first nation in Western Europe to exceed 1 million cases — France becomes the second.
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Axios
20 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Biden says he will appoint commission on Supreme Court reform

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Joe Biden told CBS' "60 Minutes" this week that if elected, he would put together a bipartisan commission to study the federal court system and make recommendations for reform.

Why it matters: Biden has come under pressure to clarify his position on court packing after some Democrats suggested expanding the court if Senate Republicans confirm President Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.

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Dion Rabouin, author of Markets
34 mins ago - Economy & Business

Wall Street still prefers bonds

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Sunset Boulevard/Getty Contributor

Investors' return on U.S. corporate bonds has been falling since its August peak, but buying has only accelerated, especially in investment grade bonds that are offering historically low yields.

The state of play: Since hitting its 2020 high on Aug. 4, the benchmark Bloomberg Barclays U.S. bond aggregate has delivered a -2.2% return. (For comparison, the S&P 500 has gained 3.9% during the same time period.)

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