Axios PM: Crisis on the Eastern Front

Plus: 60 years of Dylan | Monday, January 24, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Jan 24, 2022 Good Monday afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 473 words, a 2-minute read. ⚡️ Situational awareness: We're looking for a lightning-fast editor — reporting to Justin — to steer our breaking news coverage. Apply here.     1 big thing: Crisis on the Eastern Front Ukrainian civilians train in a Kyiv Territorial Defense unit. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images   We 're now on the verge of a full-fledged crisis in Eastern Europe: NATO is building up forces near Ukraine, while Russia amasses along its own borders and in neighboring Belarus. The U.S. placed 8,500 troops on "heightened preparedness to deploy" to NATO allies in Eastern Europe, Axios' Zachary Basu reports. NATO allies — including Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands — are deploying ships and fighter jets in Eastern Europe. The U.S. and U.K. ordered some embassy staff and families to evacuate Ukraine. The big picture: "This is really about reassuring the eastern flank of NATO," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said. Kirby reiterated President Biden's position that U.S. troops will not be sent to Ukraine to fight a war against Russia, but that the West is still determined to deter Moscow from launching an invasion through the threat of sanctions and military aid. Go deeper.     2. Supreme Court takes on affirmative action Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images The Supreme Court will hear a pair of challenges to affirmative action on college campuses, the justices announced. Why it matters: Ending race-based preferences could significantly alter the racial composition on U.S. college campuses. The challenges against Harvard and the University of North Carolina argue their admissions processes discriminate against Asian American applicants. Lower courts rejected the claims, pointing to decades of high court rulings affirming the use of race in college admissions. The schools have denied their processes discriminate. Between the lines: The last Supreme Court decision on race-based admissions was in 2016, before former President Trump added three conservatives to the court. Go deeper: Affirmative action on campus is endangered.     A message from Amazon "This is the first time in my life I've only had to have one job"     A reliable and bigger paycheck has helped Amazon employees like Mary Kate enjoy a better work-life balance. "Now I have this great job that pays me enough, and I can do the things that I really love," says Mary Kate. Amazon employees have seen the difference of earning at least a $15/hr starting wage.     3. Catch up quick At least seven Virginia school boards sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) for ending the commonwealth's mask mandate in public schools. Go deeper. The backroom fight between Apollo Global Management co-founders Leon Black and Josh Harris has tumbled out into the open, reports Axios Pro Rata author Dan Primack. Go deeper. Former Pope Benedict XVI admitted that he had attended a 1980 meeting over a sexual abuse case in Germany. Go deeper. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tested positive for COVID, delaying the start of her defamation trial against The New York Times. A letter by 27 House reps urges Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to bring to the floor legislation that would ban members of Congress from owning or trading stocks. Go deeper.     4. 1 smile to go: 60 years of Dylan Bob Dylan in a recording studio, c. 1962. Photo: Getty Images Sony Music Entertainment announced today that it acquired Bob Dylan's entire back catalog, dating to 1962. Dylan, 80, was first signed by Sony's Columbia Records in 1961, and he's since sold 125 million records. "I'm glad that all my recordings can stay where they belong," Dylan said in a statement.     A message from Amazon Amazon expands fully paid education benefits for employees     Amazon will fund full college tuition as well as high school diplomas, GEDs and English as a Second Language proficiency certifications for its front-line employees. More info: More than 750,000 employees are eligible including those who have been at the company for as little as three months.   Like this email style and format? Bring the strength of Smart Brevity® to your team — more effective communications, powered by Axios HQ.   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: