Axios PM: Big Monday trial

Plus: Watch "undo" work | Friday, March 05, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Mar 05, 2021 Happy weekend: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 285 words, a 1.5-minute read. 🎬 Clip just released: Jonathan Swan interviews Sen. Lindsey Graham for "Axios on HBO," debuting Sunday at 6 p.m. ET/PT on all HBO platforms.     1 big thing: Minneapolis girds for trial in George Floyd killing Fences surround the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis. Photo: David Joles/Star Tribune via Getty Images   Downtown Minneapolis is locked down ahead of Monday's scheduled start of jury selection for the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd, Axios Twin Cities reporter Torey Van Oot reports. Why it matters: Barbed-wire fences, concrete barriers and plywood are fortifying city buildings and private towers downtown, as officials prepare for the possibility of large crowds and civil unrest. Extra security costs for city buildings, including five police stations, are running $600,000+ — and more than $1 million when you add the county costs for the actual courthouse. Thousands of National Guard troops and law enforcement officers will be on hand. Businesses are debating whether to board up or stay open. Protesters are vowing to show up downtown to demand justice and more police accountability. Organizers are planning to create "space for grief, love and community-building" at the site of George Floyd's killing. Billy Brigs, a neighborhood resident and evening caretaker at George Floyd Square, yesterday tends to the site where George Floyd was killed. Photo: Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters ♊ Sign up for Axios Twin Cities, in your inbox each morning.     2. Pictures of America: Back to school Photo: Haven Daily/AP   Pupils wear masks and shields — and work behind partitions — at newly reopened Sinaloa Middle School in Novato, Calif. (Marin County) Photo: Haven Daily/AP     A message from Amazon Why raising the federal minimum wage is so important     Amazon is calling on Congress to pass the Raise the Wage Act. The reason: The federal minimum wage has been stuck at just $7.25/hr since 2009. Higher wages will flow back into local communities. Wage increases are supported by both Democrat and Republican voters. The time to act is now.     3. Catch up quick White House press secretary Jen Psaki had an "AOC" tab in her notebook at the podium today. Photo: Tom Brenner/Reuters   The CDC is allowing shelters handling child migrants to expand to full capacity from around 50% — and conceded "facilities should plan for and expect to have COVID-19 cases," according to a draft memo obtained by Axios' Stef Kight. Go deeper. Progressives' effort to include a minimum-wage hike in the COVID package apparently died: Eight Democratic senators voted against Sen. Bernie Sanders' amendment to ignore a ruling by the Senate parliamentarian and add a $15 minimum wage. Go deeper. Another Texas-sized fiasco: The state utility regulator had a chance "to eliminate some of the $16 billion that the state's grid operator erroneously overcharged power companies during last month's deadly winter storm — but ... chose not to do so." —Texas Tribune     4. 1 smile to go: I shouldn't have! Via Twitter   Twitter confirmed to Axios that an "undo" feature — think Gmail "undo" send — is being tested, after this leaked shot popped up overnight.     A message from Amazon Amazon: "It's time to raise the federal minimum wage"     The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25/hour since 2009. For millions of workers, that's 12 years without a wage increase. Amazon saw the need to do more—and established a $15/hour starting wage in 2018 for all their U.S. employees. That's why they support the Raise the Wage Act.   Have a great weekend! 🎧 Axios Re:Cap next week explores COVID-19 decisions that changed America one year ago — kicking off Monday with Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg on sending employees home. Subscribe here.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: