Apr 17, 2019 - Economy & Business

Amy Klobuchar follows Bernie’s lead with Fox News town hall

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) will be the second 2020 Democratic candidate to participate in a town hall with Fox News' Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, AP reports.

Why it matters: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) had 2.5 million viewers tune in for his Fox News town hall earlier this week, becoming the most-watched event of its kind so far this cycle. That success has led at least four other 2020 Dems to consider taking part in an event with the conservative cable network, according to The Daily Beast.

The big picture: Democrats' flirtation with their own Fox News events comes one month after the DNC said it wouldn't allow the network to host one of its official presidential debates, citing a New Yorker article that outlined its close ties to the Trump administration, per the Washington Post.

What they're saying: Asked if the DNC was feeling pressure regarding its stance now that Democratic candidates are taking part in Fox News events, DNC communications director Xochitl Hinojosa told Axios' Alayna Treene:

"While the DNC does not believe that FOX is equipped to be a partner for a 2020 debate because of concerns of fairness at the highest levels within their organization, the DNC believes that we must reach all voters, including their audience. Therefore, candidates should do what they need to do in order to engage these voters directly."

Go deeper: Fox News still trying for Democratic debate in 2020 presidential election primaries

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Axios

Updated 56 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 12:45 p.m. ET: 30,838,610 — Total deaths: 958,090— Total recoveries: 21,088,552 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 12:45 p.m. ET: 6,777,026 — Total deaths: 199,352 — Total recoveries: 2,577,446 — Total tests: 94,211,463 — Map.
Politics: Testing czar on Trump's CDC contradictions: "Everybody is right" — Trump's health secretary asserts control over all new rules.
Education: What we overlooked in the switch to remote learning
Health: The dwindling chances of eliminating COVID-19.
World: Guatemalan president tests positive for COVID-19 — The countries painting their pandemic recoveries green.

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Orion Rummler

Updated 1 hour ago - Health

7 states set single-day coronavirus case records last week

Data: Compiled by Axios; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

Seven states set new highs last week for coronavirus infections recorded in a single day, according to the COVID Tracking Project and state health departments. Wisconsin and Nebraska surpassed records set the previous week.

Why it matters: Problem spots are sticking in the Midwest, although the U.S. is moving in the right direction overall after massive infection spikes this summer.

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Axios

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Murkowski says she opposes voting on Ginsburg replacement before election

Photo: Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a statement Sunday that she opposes holding a Senate confirmation vote on President Trump's nomination to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the election.

Why it matters: Murkowski joins Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) as one of two Republican senators who have thus far said that they do not support rushing through a confirmation vote before November. Two more defections would likely force Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to resort to holding a vote in the lame-duck session, which neither Murkowski nor Collins have addressed.