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Axios Most Recent Articles

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has taken the coronavirus vaccine

health

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla tells "Axios on HBO" that he recently received his first of two doses of the company's coronavirus vaccine. Why it matters: Bourla told CNBC in December that company polling found that one of the most effective ways to increase confidence in the vaccine was to have the CEO take it. However, Bourla waited until it was his turn in line to receive his shot, and told "Axios on HBO" that he now feels "liberated."The big picture: Bourla said he'd advise a family member to get any vaccine offered to them, even those that aren't as effective against symptomatic disease as the Pfizer shot."This is a pandemic. The vaccines that are approved by the FDA are all vaccines that are meeting the threshold," he said."If it was the case, can I get a vaccine now — any vaccine now — or a vaccine that I prefer two months later, I would go with whatever I can get now."The backstory: Pfizer and Moderna's coronavirus vaccines, which used mRNA, are upwards of 90% effective against any symptomatic disease.Johnson & Johnson's recently-authorized, one-shot vaccine appears to be significantly less effective against symptomatic disease, but equally as good at preventing hospitalization a...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse: SEC lawsuit is "bad for crypto" in the U.S.

economy and finances

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse tells "Axios on HBO" that if his company loses a lawsuit brought by U.S. regulators, it would put the country at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to cryptocurrencies. Between the lines: The SEC in December sued Ripple, and Garlinghouse personally, for allegedly selling over $1.3 billion in unregistered securities. Ripple's response is that its cryptocurrency, called XRP, didn't require registration because it's an asset rather than a security.
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Pfizer CEO: "It will be terrible" if COVID vaccine prices limit access

Tech

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told "Axios on HBO" that it "will be terrible for society" if the price of coronavirus vaccines ever prohibits some people from taking them.Why it matters: Widespread uptake of the vaccine — which might require annual booster shots — will reduce the risk of the virus continuing to spread and mutate, but it's unclear who will pay for future shots or how much they'll cost.The big picture: Pfizer is using a tiered pricing structure for its COVID vaccine, with higher-income companies paying more for each shot.The U.S. government is purchasing the vaccine directly from the company at $19.50 per dose. Americans then receive their shots for free. Bourla said this is a pandemic price, not necessarily a long-term one. "We will see if we go to the open market, maybe [then] we see vaccine prices much more closer to the current vaccines that exist for flu or for other diseases with these high-end technologies," he said.Yes, but: Bourla also said people will likely have to get regular coronavirus vaccine boosters, perhaps annually, for at least the next decade.That means long-term affordability will be critical."It will be terrible for society if price becomes an obstac...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Lindsey Graham is talking to John Kerry about climate — again

environment, weather and energy

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told "Axios on HBO" he intends to "lean into" climate change and that he has already discussed potential common ground with President Biden's special climate envoy John Kerry.Behind the scenes: In a follow-up interview with Axios, Graham said Kerry called him in November, around the time Kerry's new position was announced, to see if there were openings to work together. The State Department did not comment on the discussion Graham described.The intrigue: Graham has a history on climate with Kerry — but not a successful one.Over a decade ago, he negotiated for months on a sweeping climate bill with then-Democratic senators Kerry and Joe Lieberman. Back then, the bipartisan senators were dubbed "The Three Amigos," after the Steve Martin comedy in which silent film actors from Los Angeles accidentally protect a Mexican village from a gang of bandits.But Graham abruptly walked away from the two Democrats in April 2010, dealing a mortal blow to the legislation that collapsed entirely months later.Why it matters: If the senior South Carolina Republican makes climate a priority and lobbies his GOP colleagues, it could help chip away at big barriers to bipartis...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Lindsey Graham: Trump could make the GOP "stronger" or "destroy" it

politics

Sen. Lindsey Graham told "Axios on HBO" that Donald Trump has a "dark side" but he tries to "harness the magic" because he succeeded where Republican candidates like John McCain and Mitt Romney failed.Why it matters: The South Carolina Republican gyrates between support and criticism of the former president, even after Trump harshly criticized McCain — Graham's longtime friend — and helped spark the Capitol insurrection."What I'm tryin' to do is just harness the magic," Graham told Axios' Jonathan Swan. "To me, Donald Trump is sort of a cross between Jesse Helms, Ronald Reagan and P.T. Barnum.""He could make the Republican Party something that nobody else I know can make it. He can make it bigger. He can make it stronger. He can make it more diverse. And he also could destroy it," Graham said.The big picture: Graham won reelection in November in one of the most expensive political races in American history. That helps explain his embrace of Trump, wildly popular with the Republican base, but also confounds those who wonder why he sticks with him.In 2016, when they were competing for the GOP presidential nomination, Graham questioned Trump's mental fitness.After Trump beat Hillary R...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Senate plots its own earmark comeback

politics

With the Senate done battling over President Biden's coronavirus rescue package, it's preparing to tackle another priority: earmarks.Driving the news: Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the top members on the Senate Appropriations Committee, are expected to work out a deal restoring the congressional spending tool in the coming weeks, committee aides tell Axios.Earmarks give lawmakers the power to direct spending to pay for special projects in their districts. They've already been reintroduced in the House.The process faces tougher obstacles in the Senate, given its razor-thin majority, though lawmakers are hopeful Leahy can reach an agreement with Shelby.Two Democratic committee aides tell Axios that if Republicans refuse to come on board, they expect Leahy will drop earmarks altogether rather than try to push through a Democrat-only proposal.Behind the scenes: For years, Appropriations Committee members have privately complained about the absence of earmarks.“Congress has the power of the purse laid out by the Constitution, directing where U.S. taxpayer dollars will go," a committee aide said."The idea that some bureaucrat in D.C. has a better idea of where ...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Biden poised to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Suga at White House this spring

politics

President Biden is planning to host Japan’s prime minister at the White House as soon as this April, the first in-person foreign leader visit of his presidency, according to people familiar with the matter. Why it matters: An invitation to Yoshihide Suga would telegraph to allies and potential adversaries, including China, that the U.S.-Japan alliance will remain the linchpin of the post-World War II security framework in the Pacific.The invite also would signal a partial return to normalcy as to how the Biden administration conducts foreign policy during the pandemic, with the new president beginning face-to-face meetings with foreign leaders in the Oval Office.The White House declined to confirm the upcoming meeting, which has not been finalized and could slide to later in the spring, with the state of the pandemic a key factor.Driving the news: Biden plans to participate in the first leaders' gathering of the so-called Quad this month, joining a virtual conference with the leaders of Japan, India and Australia, Axios reported last week. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that meeting, saying, “It will be four leaders, four countries, working together constructiv...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Cuomo says resigning due to allegations is "actually anti-democratic"

labour

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was defiant on Sunday, stating again that he would not resign even as more former aides have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. The big picture: Cuomo has denied all sexual harassment allegations against him and said that he "never inappropriately touched anybody." He acknowledged in a statement that "some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation." Some of the calls for Cuomo to resign have come from within the Democratic party. Three women who formerly worked in Cuomo's office, two former male aides, and one of his former press aides have described being berated by the governor with explicit language, being asked about their dating lives, or being uncomfortably touched, and in one instance, kissed without consent, per the Washington Post.What he's saying: "There are some legislators who suggest that I resign because of accusations made against me.
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

N.Y. Times faces culture clashes as business booms

Lifestyle

New York Times columnist David Brooks' resignation from a paid gig at a think tank on Saturday is the latest in a flurry of scandals that America's biggest and most successful newspaper company has endured in the past year. Driving the news: Brooks resigned from the Aspen Institute following a BuzzFeed News investigation that uncovered conflicts of interest between his reporting and money he accepted from corporate donors for a project called "Weave" that he worked on at the nonprofit. A Times spokesperson tells Axios that the company is adding disclosures to any earlier columns in which Brooks refers to the work of Weave or its donors: "We received a full list of Weave’s donors this week."The spokesperson added that Brook's managers in 2018 "approved his request to take a paid position at the Aspen Institute to found the Weave Project": "The current Opinion editors were unaware of this arrangement and have concluded that holding a paid position at Weave presents a conflict of interest for David in writing about the work of the project, its donors or the broader issues it focuses on."Why it matters: A slew of public controversies at the Gray Lady has media insiders wondering whethe...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Top Chinese diplomat warns Biden against meddling in country's affairs

politics

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a speech on Sunday warned the U.S. against getting involved in China's "internal affairs," saying that "both sides need to abide by the principle of non-interference," CNBC reports.Why it matters: Biden has promised a hardline approach with China. Tensions between the U.S. and China had heightened for years under the Trump administration. What he's saying: Wang called for the U.S. to “remove all its unreasonable restrictions on bilateral cooperation as early as possible” and “not create new obstacles,” per CNBC, though he did not specify what the restrictions are.The foreign minister also urged the U.S. not to cross an “insurmountable red line” by undercutting China's claim to Taiwan, according to AP. The democratically ruled island which split off from the mainland in 1949. Wang said the Chinese government “has no room for compromise,” on Taiwan, adding that the Biden administration should “completely change the previous administration’s dangerous practices of crossing the line and playing with fire."“It is important that the United States recognizes this as soon as possible, otherwise, the world will remain far from tranquil.”Yes, but: Wang sai...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

America is learning to rebalance its news diet post-Trump

Politics

Nearly halfway through President Biden's first 100 days, data shows that Americans are learning to wean themselves off of news — and especially politics.Why it matters: The departure of former President Trump's once-ubiquitous presence in the news cycle has reoriented the country's attention. Driving the news: Nearly every big news site saw its traffic decline in February, compared to a tumultuous January that included the Capitol insurrection and Biden's inauguration.Publishers' traffic was down across the board, and many major sites saw traffic dip more than 20%, according to data from traffic analytics company SimilarWeb.Politics consumption dropped most dramatically, tumbling 28%. Between the lines: Interest in the presidency, specifically, has taken a steep plunge.There were three times as many stories written about about Trump in February of 2017 than about Biden last month, according to data from NewsWhip.Biden was discussed on cable news for an estimated 1,836 minutes last month, according to the Stanford Cable TV News Analyzer. In February of Trump's first year, he commanded an estimated 4,669 minutes on cable news.Other stories — including GameStop stock and developments ...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

2021 sees a record number of bills targeting trans youth

Sports

Republicans in at least 25 states have introduced over 60 bills targeting transgender children — a legislative boom since January that has beaten 2020's total number of anti-trans bills.Why it matters: LGBTQ advocates say the unprecedented push was catalyzed by backlash to Biden's election and the Supreme Court ruling that workers cannot be fired for being gay or transgender. Data: ACLU; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/AxiosBy the numbers: 2020 saw 41 bills focused on trans youth specifically, per the ACLU — a number already surpassed in the first two months of 2021. While the COVID pandemic suspended or closed many state legislatures last year, 2020 still outmatched anti-trans bills from 2019 and 2018 — which had 22 bills and 18 bills respectively.This culture war seems to be a winning issue for Republicans, at least in the places where they’re fighting it most aggressively, says Dan Cox, the director of the American Enterprise Institute's Survey Center on American Life."On the Democratic side, this is not an issue that really excites the base," he told Axios. "But on the right, I think these issues are really, really salient, so it tends to fire up folks disproportionately on the right...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Why migrants are fleeing their homes for the U.S.

economy and finances

Natural disasters in Central America, economic devastation, gang wars, political oppression, and a new administration are all driving the sharp rise in U.S.-Mexico border crossings — a budding crisis for President Biden.Why it matters: Migration flows are complex and quickly politicized. Biden's policies are likely sending signals that are encouraging the surge — but that's only a small reason it's happening.Circumstances in foreign nations are forcing migrants to leave (push factors) while the situation in the U.S. draws them (pull factors.)Many have been forced to flee harrowing troubles in their home countries, experts say. Others are hoping for better economic prospects.What's new: It's been just a few months since two devastating hurricanes left thousands homeless in Honduras. The country's largest newspaper,DiarioEl Heraldo, reportedthat many remain inTegucigalpa shelterswith no place to go. The storms, drought, and pandemic have sparked food shortages throughout Central America.Violence among gangs in Honduras also rages, even in rural areas, forcing residents to flee to el Norte.Shelters in Mexico also are reporting a surge in Central American migrants.“We have a tr...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Cities' pandemic struggle to balance homelessness and public safety

politics

Addressing homelessness has taken on new urgency in cities across the country over the past year, as officials grapple with a growing unhoused population and the need to preserve public safety during the coronavirus pandemic. Why it matters: It’s led to tension when cities move in to clear encampments — often for health and safety reasons — causing some to rethink the role of law enforcement when interacting with people experiencing homelessness.Driving the news: Law enforcement won't be among the first responders to homeless encampments in Denver moving forward, Mayor Michael Hancock told Axios last month.A "compassion or civilian corps" would clean up tent cities, instead of armed police officers, he said.The backdrop: Clashes between police and protesters armed with cellphone cameras have become the norm during homeless camp sweeps, with some confrontations turning violent and others interfering with the breakup of sites altogether.One solution: In Charlotte, nonprofit organizations were credited with facilitating the recent successful clearing of "Tent City" — an encampment of hundreds of people who made their home across a few city blocks in the past year.Last month, the count...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

Biden to sign voting rights executive order to mark "Bloody Sunday" anniversary

crime, law and justice

President Biden will sign an executive order today, on the 56th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday," meant to promote voting rights, according to an administration official. Why it matters: The executive order comes as Democrats face an uphill battle to pass a sweeping election bill meant, in part, to combat a growing number of proposals introduced by Republicans at the state level that would restrict voter access. While Biden’s executive authority does not extend to overturning states’ laws, the order allows the president to signal his support for expanding voter rights by way of the bully pulpit. Details: The executive order includes directives to all federal agencies to create a strategy to promote voter participation, like using their websites or social media accounts to encourage people to register to vote. It calls for a revamp of Vote.gov, the government’s voting information website, within 200 days. The order directs the Department of Defense to make it easier for active-duty military and voters living abroad to cast their ballots. It calls for a review of voting practices and how they affect people with disabilities. It also creates a steering committee on Native American vot...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

In photos: Pope Francis spreads message of peace on first trip to Iraq

lifestyle and leisure

Pope Francis was on Sunday visiting northern areas of Iraq once held by Islamic State militants.Why it matters: This is the first-ever papal trip to Iraq. The purpose of Francis' four-day visit is largely intended to reassure the country's Christian minority, who were violently persecuted by ISIS, which controlled the region from 2014-2017.The big picture: On the third day of his historic trip to Iraq, which is heavily featured in the Old Testament, the pope met at the the city of Erbil's airport Sunday with Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, and Masrour Barzani, the region's prime minister.He then flew by helicopter to the former ISIS stronghold of Mosul.On Saturday, he met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the head of the Shiite Islam religious establishment in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, where he denounced extremism in the country and pushed for peace.What they're saying: "We believers cannot be silent when terrorism abuses religion," the pope said. "Dark clouds of terrorism, war and violence have gathered over this country. All its ethnic and religious communities have suffered.""From this place, where faith was born, from the la...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

New York Gov. Cuomo faces fresh misconduct allegations from former aides

politics

The office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was on Saturday facing fresh accusations of misconduct against his staff, including further allegations of inappropriate behavior against two more women. His office denies the claims.Driving the news: The Washington Post reported Cuomo allegedly embraced an aide when he led the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and that two male aides who worked for him in the governor's office accused him of routinely berating them "with explicit language."The former aide in the WashPost report, Karen Hinton, alleges the incident took place in a hotel room and that she "pulled away from Cuomo, but he pulled her back toward his body, holding her before she backed away and left the room."Meanwhile, Ana Liss, a former policy and operations aide to Cuomo alleged to the Wall Street Journal that he asked "her if she had a boyfriend, called her sweetheart, touched her on her lower back at a reception and once kissed her hand when she rose from her desk." The big picture: Cuomo has faced mounting criticism over the sexual harassment allegations, with three other women leveling complaints against him, and for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic ...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021

In photos: Minnesota protesters rally for George Floyd ahead of Derek Chauvin's trial

crime, law and justice

Dozens of protesters were rallying outside the Minnesota governor's mansion in St Paul Saturday, urging justice for George Floyd ahead of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's trial over the 46-year-old's death.The big picture: Chauvin faces charges for second-degree murder and manslaughter over Floyd's death last May, which ignited massive nationwide and global protests against racism and for police reform. His trial is due to start this Monday, with jury selection procedures. Protesters gather outside the governors mansion on March 6. The rally was organized by the Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, a support group for people affected by police confrontations. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Community activists hold images of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man shot and killed by two white men in Georgia last year. Photo: Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march during a rally for George Floyd in St.Paul, Minnesota, on March 6. The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Chauvin should face a third-degree murder charge. Photo: Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images Black Lives Matter demonstrators march in St.Paul...
Axios     Mar 07, 2021