Senate easily passes Trump-backed criminal justice reform bill

(AXIOS) - A Trump-backed bipartisan criminal justice bill passed the Senate Tuesday night by a margin of 87-12 despite ongoing efforts by Sen. Tom Cotton and other hardline conservatives to sink it. Why it matters: For years advocates and lawmakers have worked to reform the federal prison system only to have their efforts fall apart at the last minute. But with the help of Jared Kushner in the White House and a bipartisan Senate coalition the First Step Act has made it past the Senate and will now likely become law impacting thousands of current federal inmates. Read More