Jan 28, 2019 - Economy & Business

Survey: Trump tax cuts had little impact on corporate investment, hiring

Photo: Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Trump administration's tax cuts, which kicked in at the start of 2018, did not seem to have a major effect on companies' plans for capital investment or hiring, according to a poll conducted by the National Association of Business Economics, reports Reuters.

Why it matters: The Trump administration predicted the tax cuts, which reduced the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35%, would stimulate business spending and job growth. Instead, 84% of corporate respondents said they had not changed their business plans due to the tax overhaul, compared to 81% in the organization's previous survey in October.

Go deeper: National deficit grew 20% last year, partially due to Trump tax cuts

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Bryan Walsh

8 mins ago - World

How new tech raises the risk of nuclear war

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

75 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, some experts believe the risk of the use of a nuclear weapon is as high now as it has been since the Cuban missile crisis.

The big picture: Nuclear war remains the single greatest present threat to humanity — and one that is poised to grow as emerging technologies, like much faster missiles, cyber warfare and artificial intelligence, upset an already precarious nuclear balance.

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Zachary Basu

11 mins ago - Politics & Policy

White House, Democrats remain "trillions of dollars apart" on stimulus talks

Meadows and Mnuchin. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Trump administration and Democrats have not agreed to any "top-line numbers" and remain "trillions of dollars apart" on coronavirus stimulus negotiations, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Wednesday.

The state of play: Meadows told reporters, "At this point we’re either going to get serious about negotiating and get an agreement in principle or — I’ve become extremely doubtful that we’ll be able to make a deal if it goes well beyond Friday.”

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Axios

1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

23 million Americans face eviction

Natasha Blunt of New Orleans, who is at risk of eviction. Photo: Dorthy Ray/AP

The coronavirus pandemic threatens America with a new wave of homelessness due to a cratering economy, expiring unemployment stimulus payments and vanishing renter protections.

What they're saying: "I've never seen this many people poised to lose their housing in such a short period of time," said Bill Faith of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio to AP.