💨 Axios PM: Biden's surprise pardons

Plus: Teenage millionaires | Thursday, October 06, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Meta   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Oct 06, 2022 Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 497 words, a 2-minute read. 🎓 Bulletin: Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) is expected to resign his seat to become the next president of the University of Florida, which named him the sole finalist for the job today.     1 big thing: Biden's surprise pardons President Biden is shown with an IBM System One quantum computer during a tour in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., today. Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP   President Biden is pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports. Biden will call on governors to pardon simple state possession offenses. Why it matters: It could amount to "thousands" of pardons, which would remove a burden that may have prevented some people from receiving employment, housing or educational opportunities, Biden said. Zoom out: At least 20 states and D.C. have legalized marijuana for nonmedical use.     2. Federal agents narrow in on Hunter Hunter Biden attends a ceremony to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom in July. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images   FBI and IRS agents believe they've got the goods to charge Hunter Biden, and they're waiting on a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney to decide whether there's enough evidence to pursue an indictment, The Washington Post reports. Agents are focused on his taxes and whether he lied on paperwork when buying a gun, sources told the Post. Between the lines: Attorney General Merrick Garland "has vowed there will be no political or otherwise improper interference in the Hunter Biden case, and has not moved to push [U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss] to make a decision," the Post reports. Hunter Biden's lawyer said in a statement to the Post that "any agent you cite as a source in your article apparently has committed such a felony" for leaking grand jury information.     A message from Meta Future surgeons will get hands-on practice in the metaverse     Surgeons will engage in countless hours of additional low-risk practice in the metaverse. The impact: Patients undergoing complex care will know their doctors are as prepared as possible. The metaverse may be virtual, but the impact will be real. See how Meta is helping build the metaverse.     3. Catch up quick Photo: Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images Above: A Ukrainian resident watches a destroyed building through a fence after an airstrike by Russian drones hit Bila Tserkva, southwest of Kyiv. At least 37 people were killed — including at least 22 children — in a mass shooting at a child care center in northeast Thailand. Go deeper. Cherelle Griner said the call she had with her wife, detained WNBA star Brittney Griner, "was the most disturbing phone call I'd ever experienced." Go deeper. Google announced the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7 smartphones and the Pixel Watch. Go deeper.     💰4. Teenage millionaires Data: On3NIL; Note: Followers include Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter; Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios Two high school athletes could be worth millions of dollars — and they may want to thank their families for helping make it happen, Axios' Herb Scribner reports. The big picture: Bronny James and Arch Manning are projected to have a market value higher than any of the top collegiate athletes, according to new valuations cited by Axios' Jeff Tracy and Asher Price. James, a high school senior in Los Angeles and son of LeBron James, sits atop the list with a projected $7.3 million valuation. James has received multiple college offers but remains undeclared, per ESPN. Manning, who has committed to the University of Texas football team and is a member of the Manning family, is right behind with a $3.4 million market value. Manning is the nephew of brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, both retired Super Bowl champions, as well as the grandson of NFL quarterback Archie Manning.     A message from Meta Building more efficient cities will be possible with the metaverse     In the metaverse, urban planners will bring their designs to life and collaborate with engineers, architects and public officials in real time — paving the way for less congested cities. The metaverse may be virtual, but the impact will be real. Learn how Meta is helping build the metaverse.   Thank you to Sheryl Miller for copy editing today's newsletter. Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   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, 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: