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UnitedHealth Group is raking in profits

UnitedHealth Group's headquarters in Minnesota. Photo: UnitedHealth

UnitedHealth Group posted another quarter above expectations, banking a $2.9 billion profit in the second quarter on more than $56 billion of revenue. The $2.9 billion in earnings was 28% higher than the same period last year.

Between the lines: The conglomerate continues to control more of the domestic and global health economy and is reaping huge amounts of cash in the process. But Wall Street actually sold off UnitedHealth's stock Tuesday because medical costs on the health insurance side were a shade higher than expected.

Go deeper

Alayna Treene, Kadia Goba
47 mins ago - Politics & Policy

The Mischief Makers

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers are emerging as troublemakers within their parties and political thorns for their leadership.

Why it matters: We're calling this group "The Mischief Makers" — members who threaten to upend party unity — the theme eclipsing Washington at the moment — and potentially jeopardize the Democrats' or Republicans' position heading into the 2022 midterms.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
54 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Obama speechwriter fears Biden unity drive is one-sided

Cody Keenan (right) is shown heading to Marine One in December 2009. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Obama's former speechwriter says he's "preemptively frustrated" with President Biden's effort to find unity with Republicans.

What they're saying: Cody Keenan told Axios that Biden's messaging team has "struck all the right chords," but at some point "they're gonna have to answer questions like, 'Why didn't you achieve unity?' when there's an entire political party that's already acting to stop it."

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Lachlan Markay
54 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Conservative group puts $700k behind Hawley

Sen. Josh Hawley explains his objection to certifying the 2020 election results hours after the U.S. Capitol siege. Photo: Congress.gov via Getty Images

A Republican group is raising and spending huge amounts of money defending Sen. Josh Hawley after he was ostracized for early January’s attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Why it matters: The Senate Conservatives Fund is plugging Hawley's ideological bona fides and backfilling lost corporate cash with needed political and financial support, helping inoculate him as he weighs reelection or a possible presidential campaign in 2024.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow