Axios PM: #MeToo muscle

Plus: Your next car | Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Aug 10, 2021 Good afternoon! Today's PM — edited by Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath — is 485 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: Cuomo's #MeToo collapse Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to board a helicopter at a Midtown heliport today after announcing his resignation. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP The disgrace of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who announced his resignation today, shows the endurance of #MeToo, Axios' Margaret Talev and Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath write. Why it matters: It was a movement he allied himself with early on, but that led to his downfall. In today's speech, Cuomo said: "No excuses." But he was full of excuses: I have been too familiar with people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and off-putting. I do hug and kiss people casually, women and men. I have done it all my life. It's who I've been since I can remember. In my mind, I've never crossed the line with anyone, but I didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn. There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn't fully appreciate, and I should have. Reality check: The New York attorney general's report on Cuomo was replete with examples of groping — including of a state trooper on his protective detail — that were obviously improper and possibly criminal. Between the lines: Cuomo offset apologies to the trooper, and his own daughters, with continued assertions of innocence, Axios politics editor Glen Johnson notes. The governor said his resignation "will be effective in 14 days" — a delay that raises the specter of score-settling on the way out. It was Cuomo trying to operate on his own terms, one last time. Go deeper: Full text of Cuomo's resignation     2. New York's 1st female governor Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul in Scarsdale in June. Photo: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images   With Cuomo out in 14 days, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) of Buffalo is set to become New York's first female governor. Hochul, 62, who has described herself as an "independent Democrat," began distancing herself from the governor as allegations emerged last spring, Axios' Oriana Gonzalez writes. The two rarely appeared together. Last week, she called Cuomo's behavior "repulsive and awful." Read her bio.     A message from Amazon Independent study: Spillover effects of Amazon's wage increase     New research shows that Amazon's wage increase to $15 an hour directly benefited wages for other non-Amazon workers in those communities. The report also found that their increase of wages to $15 did not result in widespread job loss. Learn more.     3. Republicans crossed aisle for infrastructure Sen. Rob Portman, the top Republican negotiator on the package, shepherded the bill yesterday from his office on Capitol Hill. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP President Biden scored a major win today when the Senate voted 69-30 for a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package, Axios' Alayna Treene writes. Why it matters: The bill, which now goes to the House, would deliver roads, bridges, broadband, water pipes and other "hard infrastructure." 19 GOP senators voted for the bill: Roy Blunt (Mo.) Richard Burr (N.C.) Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) Bill Cassidy (La.) Susan Collins (Maine) Kevin Cramer (N.D.) Mike Crapo (Idaho) Deb Fischer (Neb.) Lindsey Graham (S.C.) Chuck Grassley (Iowa) John Hoeven (N.D.) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Rob Portman (Ohio) Jim Risch (Idaho) Mitt Romney (Utah) Dan Sullivan (Alaska) Thom Tillis (N.C.) Roger Wicker (Miss.) Go deeper: What's in the bill.     4. 1 for the road: Your next car Data: IHS Markit; Chart: Will Chase/Axios   Over the next decade, new cars are projected to flip from being mostly gas-powered to mostly electrified, Axios' Joann Muller writes. IHS Markit expects electric vehicles to grow from 3% of sales this year to 32% by 2030. Gas-powered vehicles will shrink from 87% to 37%. Go deeper.     A message from Amazon See what making $15+/hr means to Amazon employees     Before working at Amazon, Leonardo was making $9 an hour at a car wash. Now he makes more than $15 an hour and is able to help his family. What this means: Amazon employees have seen the difference that making at least $15 an hour can have. Get more details.   Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. 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: