Nov 28, 2018

4. Vote on Mueller protection bill blocked by Senate Republicans

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans blocked a vote on a bipartisan bill sponsored by Democratic Senators that would protect special counsel Robert Mueller from White House influence, per NBC News.

Why it matters: The bill gained traction after Jeff Sessions resigned from the Department of Justice as Attorney General and President Trump tapped Matthew Whitaker to temporarily take charge of overseeing the Mueller investigation. Whitaker has been critical of the investigation before and has raised questions about the future of the probe.

The details: Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) on Wednesday cited the Constitution to argue that the president has control over the Justice Department in his objection to a request for unanimous consent to hold a vote on the bill. Lee said that severing the special counsel from the White House would create a fourth branch of government.

Go deeper

Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen
15 mins ago - Politics & Policy

America on edge as unrest rises

Louisville on Wednesday. Photo: Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Rarely have national security officials, governors, tech CEOs and activists agreed as broadly and fervently as they do about the possibility of historic civil unrest in America.

Why it matters: The ingredients are clear for all to see — epic fights over racism, abortion, elections, the virus and policing, stirred by misinformation and calls to action on social media, at a time of stress over the pandemic.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Bryan Walsh, author of Future
45 mins ago - Health

The long-term pain of the mental health pandemic

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

A less visible but still massive trauma caused by the coronavirus is becoming clear: our mental health is suffering with potentially long-lasting consequences.

Why it matters: Mental health disorders that range from schizophrenia to depression and anxiety exert a severe cost on personal health and the economy. Addressing that challenge may require out-of-the-box solutions.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Axios
1 hour ago - Axios on HBO

Preview: "Axios on HBO" interviews Bob Woodward

On the next episode of "Axios on HBO," journalist Bob Woodward tells Axios National Political Correspondent Jonathan Swan why he spoke out about President Trump being the "wrong man for the job."

  • "I did not want to join the ranks of the Senate Republicans who know that Trump is the wrong man for the job, but won't say it publicly," Woodward said.

Catch the full interview on Monday, Sept. 28 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on all HBO platforms.