The president is expressing support for a bipartisan deal between Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) to try to stabilize health insurance markets under the Affordable Care Act, which would fund subsidies to insurers for two years. According to reports, the next Secretary of Health and Human Services could be Alex Azar -- a former Eli Lilly executive and George W. Bush administration official. Last night, the NBA season tipped off, and LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates locked arms and bowed their heads during the national anthem. No one from the visiting Boston Celtics appeared to take part as a retired Navy man belted out the song. There was no kneeling or other obvious protests. Meanwhile, pulling from the files of the ridiculous, a Republican candidate for Georgia governor said he will give away a bump stock "to one lucky winner" in a show of defiance as momentum grows for more restrictions in the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting. The week is halfway over but the news cycles are churning out new headlines every other heartbeat. Here’s what we’ve got today:
- Barack Obama hits the campaign trail.
- Eric Holder keynotes DNC fall gathering in Las Vegas.
- Widow finally gets a call from Trump. What he said will leave you shook.
- Meet the new Deputy Chief of Staff to CHC Chair Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham (D-NM).
- Alaskan Native woman poised to make history at the Interior Department.
- Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) is filling up her campaign coffers.
- Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) endorses Ben Jealous for governor of Maryland.
- Congresswoman Mia Love’s (R-UT) fundraising efforts hit a bump.
- Former GOP Congressman Francisco “Quico” Canseco is back and challengingCongressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX).
- FCC Chairman Ajit Pai finally weighs in on Trump’s First Amendment comments and tweets.
- Tom Joyner sticks around for two more years.
- WH Advisor Peter Navarro alleges manufacturing decline increases abortions.
- The Blacksonian launches campaign for the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap.
- Meet the new political reporter at the Washington Examiner.
- Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress says things would be different if the island were a state.
- USNS Comfort, the hospital ship sent to Puerto Rico, sits nearly empty.
- Nine states and DC sue DHS for immigration data.
- Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and bipartisan NY legislators ask FEMA to finish Hurricane Sandy rebuilding project.
- Gold Star Khan family slams Trump.
- Have you helped the hashtag #MeToo trend? The campaign was actually first started by a Black woman ten years ago. Read about it in Blogs.