😰 Axios PM: Making him sweat

🌌 Plus: D.C.'s galaxy building | Friday, April 19, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Wells Fargo   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Apr 19, 2024 👋 Hello, Friday happy hour! Today's newsletter, edited by Erica Pandey, is 683 words, a 2.5-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: Dems want speaker to sweat Photo Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty   House Democrats breaking long-standing modern norms to save Speaker Mike Johnson is becoming an increasingly regular occurrence. But they're not about to let him off easy. Why it matters: Democrats' support will be key for Johnson if a group of right-wing Republican hardliners moves forward with trying to oust him as speaker, Axios' Andrew Solender writes. State of play: Democrats came to Johnson's rescue late last night and again this morning by helping save his foreign aid package from demise in both the House Rules Committee and on the House floor. But in the House floor vote, Democrats initially held off on voting to advance the package until most Republicans had already voted. 👀 Between the lines: Democratic leadership gave a specific directive not to vote on the measure right away — even though they were almost certain to save it anyway, four House Democrats and a leadership aide told Axios. The sources told Axios the purpose of the delay was to demonstrate that Republicans couldn't pass it on their own and put the depths of their divisions on display. "They wanted to make the point that it was Democrats that made it happen," said former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. 🔮 What to watch: Democrats have long suggested they would save Johnson on the motion to vacate. Some are eager for that exact scenario to play out. The reason, per one House Democrat: "It just shows more Republican chaos." Keep reading.     2. ⚖️ Opening arguments coming in Trump trial Trump sits in Manhattan Criminal Court today. Photo: Curtis Means/Pool/Getty Images Jury selection in former President Trump's New York criminal hush money trial concluded this afternoon, with 18 New Yorkers — 12 jurors and six alternates — seated on the jury panel, Axios' Erin Doherty reports. Why it matters: Opening statements are now on track to begin in the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president. 🔎 On the scene: "Trump appears to have fallen asleep in court again. It happened several times just now. His eyes were closed for extended periods and his head dropped down twice," The N.Y. Times' Maggie Haberman reported from the courtroom. As the final jurors were being vetted, a man set himself on fire outside the courtroom after throwing anti-government pamphlets in the air. He is in critical condition, per NYPD. What's next: Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, has said that he expects it to last six to eight weeks. Share this story.     A message from Wells Fargo Doing empowers small businesses     Wells Fargo's Open for Business Fund has provided over 200 community development financial institutions and nonprofits with resources to help a projected 178,000 small business owners. These grants have helped small businesses create and preserve over 222,000 jobs. See how Doing gets it Done.     3. Catch me up Photo: Biden-Harris campaign 🗳️ President Biden is tapping former President Obama to help him raise money again, as they appear side by side in digital ads making appeals to small-dollar donors, Axios' Hans Nichols scoops. Biden needs his grassroots base energized — and engaged — to win in November, and polls suggest he has work to do with Black, Latino and young voters in particular. Go deeper. 🏥 Health insurance companies have swelled in both size and scope over the last decade, with the revenues of six for-profit parent companies making up nearly 30% of total U.S. health spending last year — compared with less than 10% in 2011, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports. 🛻 Tesla is recalling close to 4,000 of its Cybertrucks over a problem with the vehicle's accelerator pedal. It's the latest setback for the carmaker, which is cutting 10% of its workforce amid declining sales. Read on.     4. 🚀 1 fun thing: D.C.'s new galaxy building Proposals for the three-story building include spaces to host students and events. Rendering: National Air and Space Museum Proposed designs for the National Air and Space Museum's forthcoming Bezos Learning Center show a three-story, curved building with a restaurant and spaces to host school groups and events, Axios D.C.'s Mimi Montgomery writes. The spiraling designs of the building and courtyard are inspired by galaxies. The big picture: The new center is funded in part by a $200 million donation from Jeff Bezos. The Smithsonian said the sum represents the largest donation to the institution since its founding gift from James Smithson in 1846. What's next: Construction is slated to start in late 2025, with plans for the building to open in mid-2027. The proposed design for a spiraling Learning Courtyard, with the Bezos Learning Center behind it. Rendering: National Air and Space Museum Share this story ... Get Axios D.C. ... Check out 29 other Axios Local cities.     A message from Wells Fargo The Bank of Doing     Wells Fargo is helping to make housing more attainable, create more sustainable communities, fund education for brighter futures and empower small businesses. Here's how: Wells Fargo puts people and communities first. See how Doing gets it Done.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. 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