Almost from the moment Trump entered the House chamber Tuesday night to deliver his State of the Union address, Democrats began to disrupt. It only deteriorated from there. Why it matters: It's the new normal for presidential speeches to Congress, with Republicans heckling Democratic presidents and vice versa. - Tuesday's disruptions came despite House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) repeatedly telling his members behind closed doors not to repeat the widespread disruptions that Trump faced last year. - Ahead of the speech, Jeffries sternly dismissed Axios' reporting that protests were still likely to occur despite his instructions to the contrary. - A Jeffries spokesperson did not immediately respond on Tuesday night to a…
Trump outlined his proposed retirement plan changes, pledging that all American workers would receive the same plan offered to federal employees — with the government matching up to $1,000 a year.
A move to swiftly pass the bill failed by a single vote. It would have required aircraft to carry technology that officials said might have prevented a midair collision near Washington last year.
The Texas Democrat held a sign that read “BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT APES!” It’s a reference to a video Trump shared on social media this month that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
President Trump used his State of the Union address to prod Congress to codify his "most-favored nation" plan to bring U.S. drug prices in line with what other developed nations pay. Why it matters: Trump made clear he is comfortable making health care a prominent feature of Republicans' midterm election plans, despite misgivings among some in his party and the GOP's vulnerability on affordability. - The gambit could backfire if people don't actually see a change in their own costs, Axios' Caitlin Owens reported. Reality check: There have been no signs of the kind of activity you'd expect to see on Capitol Hill if Republicans were trying to turn the drug pricing deals or the rest of Trump's "Great Healthcare Plan" into legislation and…
President Trump during his State of the Union address announced plans to offer Americans without 401(k) savings access to a retirement account similar to those available to federal workers. Why it matters: The White House hasn't yet offered any details on the plan, and there are roughly 56 million Americans who don't have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. What he's saying: Trump called that a "gross disparity" during the State of the Union address. - Trump said he would offer "forgotten American workers, great people, the people that built our country, access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker." - "We will match your contribution with up to $1,000 each year as we ensure that all Americans…
Roughly half of House and Senate Democrats skipped President Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, an Axios headcount found. Why it matters: The massive boycott represents a shift in American political norms as the party's grassroots have pressed lawmakers to be more partisan and less conciliatory towards Republicans. - Several members of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) senior leadership team were among the lawmakers who boycotted the speech, most notably Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.). - "Rather than listen to Donald Trump lie to the American people, I will be hearing from the people of my district," Clark said in a statement ahead of the speech. By the numbers: Axios counted 20 Senate Democrats and…