May 16, 2018

Women break through in Pennsylvania primaries

Alexi McCammond

The Women's March in Las Vegas. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

There are now seven women in Pennsylvania heading to the general election in November after last night's congressional primaries.

Why it matters: Six of them are Democrats, and Pennsylvania — with a new map that favors the party — could be a significant path to retaking the House.

Three EMILY's List-endorsed candidates advanced to the general, giving the Democratic women's group a new playbook to replicate across the country.

  • They used a combination of direct mail and TV advertising for their candidates, sometimes opting for just one to target voters. The group plans to invest tens of millions in 2018 races, so expect additional funds to go toward these PA women.
  • The other side: The National Republican Congressional Committee plans to spend nearly $8 million on TV ads in Philadelphia this fall, the NYT reports.
  • Two of the EMILY's List-endorsed candidates who didn't advance had unique circumstances. One was challenging a Democrat backed by state party leaders while the other was the first progressive and woman of color to run in her red district.

What they're saying: John Morganelli, who lost to Susan Wild in one of the Democratic primaries: "Susan Wild is part of the wave. The women are out there."

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Fadel Allassan

Judge rules against Trump policy limiting public comment on energy leasing

Photo: Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images

A federal judge on Thursday overturned a 2018 Trump administration directive that sought to speed up energy leases on public land by limiting the amount of time the public could comment.

Why it matters: U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush's decision voids almost a million acres of leases in the West, according to The Washington Post. It's a victory for environmentalists, who tried to block the change as part of an effort to protect the habitat of the at-risk greater sage grouse.

  • The ruling invalidated five oil and gas leases in Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, and affected 104,688 square miles of greater sage-grouse habitat, per The Associated Press.
  • Leases in greater sage-grouse habitat will return to allowing 30 days of public comment and administrative protest.

The big picture: From Axios' Amy Harder, this is the latest in a long and convoluted list of regulatory rollbacks the Trump administration is pursuing on environmental rules that courts are, more often than not, rebutting. With Congress gridlocked on these matters, expect the courts to be the default way Trump's agenda faces checks (unless, of course, a Democrat wins the White House this November).

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Marisa Fernandez

Your best defense against coronavirus

Photo: Adrian Greeman/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

Washing your hands is the best way to protect against the novel coronavirus, according to doctors and health officials, as the virus continues to spread around the globe.

Why it matters: Frequent hand washing can stop germs from spreading in a community, a known preventative for COVID-19 and influenza.

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Kendall Baker

Major League Soccer embarks on its 25th season

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

As Major League Soccer begins its 25th season, the league is financially stable and surging in popularity, and its 26 teams have gorgeous facilities and rapidly increasing valuations.

  • It also continues to expand, with David Beckham's Inter Miami and Nashville SC set to debut this season as the 25th and 26th teams. Plans are in place to reach 30 franchises by 2022 — triple the number from 2004.
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