⭐️ Axios PM: Dems' new stars

Plus: Life after affirmative action | Thursday, August 22, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By PhRMA   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Aug 22, 2024 Good Thursday afternoon. Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 394 words, a 1.5-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: Democrats look past Washington   Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios   Many of the biggest stars of the Democratic convention — and the party's future — sit well outside the halls of the Capitol, Axios' Sam Baker writes. ⚡️ Why it matters: The Democratic National Committee took a lot of heat in the Obama years for neglecting state-level organization, as the party suffered steep losses in statehouses and gubernatorial races. Now, most of Democrats' top national prospects hail from outside Washington — including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Govs. Andy Beshear (Ky.), Roy Cooper (N.C.,) Wes Moore (Md.), Gavin Newsom (Calif.), Josh Shapiro (Pa.) and Gretchen Whitmer (Mich.). As Democrats have watched a full week of speeches with an eye toward future leaders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is nearly the only member of Congress to generate much buzz. 🏛️ That's in significant contrast to the GOP, whose biggest names and most ambitious politicians are much more concentrated in the House and Senate. Screenshot: CNN 📺 What's next: Tonight's lineup — all leading up to Vice President Harris' acceptance speech — will be a platform for the Democrats running in several of this year's most closely contested Senate races. Mothers of some of the most high-profile Black victims of police violence are also expected to attend Harris' speech tonight. Tonight's lineup.     2. 🎓 Black enrollment drops at MIT   Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios   Roughly 16% of incoming freshmen at MIT are Black, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islander, down from a recent average of 25%, The New York Times reports. Campus officials say it's a direct result of the Supreme Court striking down the use of affirmative action in college admissions. 📚 Other schools have seen similar patterns. When Michigan outlawed affirmative action in 2006, Black students' share of total undergraduate enrollment fell by about half. And California experienced a comparable decline in the 1990s.     A message from PhRMA Price setting may mean fewer medicines in your Medicare plan     As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): 89% of insurers have stated they expect to exclude more medicines from their Medicare prescription drug plans. 85% state they will likely use step therapy more often in the future. Learn more about how the IRA will impact patients.     3. Catch me up   On the closing day of the Democratic convention, former President Trump visits Sierra Vista, Ariz., on the Mexican border. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP 🤐 Former President Trump said he'll decline to receive intelligence briefings during his campaign so that he can't be accused of leaking classified information. Go deeper. 🚅 Canada's rail shutdown, part of a protracted labor dispute, could disrupt supply chains in the U.S., BBC reports. 💉 The FDA approved new formulations of both Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines. Go deeper.     4. 📸 1 for the road   Photo: Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori flew over D.C. yesterday as part of a U.S. tour that concludes this weekend in Ocean City, Md. Photo: Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto via Getty Images     A message from PhRMA The unintended consequences of government price setting in Medicare     If you depend on Medicare, the government price setting policies in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) could mean: Fewer prescription drug plans to choose from. Fewer medicines covered. Higher out-of-pocket costs. More frustrating insurance denials. See how the IRA could impact patients.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Advertise with us. Axios, PO Box 101060, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: