Oct 22, 2018

Merkel backs freezing arms sales to Saudi Arabia

German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: John Thys /AFP/Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that weapons sales to Saudi Arabia "can’t take place in the situation we’re currently in" after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, per the AP.

The big picture: Unlike the United States, which has sold nearly three times more weapons to Saudi Arabia any other country over the past two years, Germany is not a top arms exporter to the kingdom, but Merkel's position was echoed by some American lawmakers on the Sunday news shows, including Sen. Rand Paul.

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Axios
46 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Trump threatens to post "60 Minutes" interview early after reportedly walking out

Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One, Oct. 19. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump tweeted on Tuesday that he was considering posting his interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" prior to airtime in order to show "what a FAKE and BIASED interview" it was, following reports that he abruptly ended the interview after 45 minutes of taping.

Why it matters: Trump has escalated his war on the media in the final stretch of his re-election campaign, calling a Reuters reporter a "criminal" this week for not reporting on corruption allegations about Hunter Biden and disparaging CNN as "dumb b*stards" for the network's ongoing coronavirus coverage.

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Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

McConnell urges White House not to strike stimulus deal before election

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has urged White House negotiators not to cut a deal with Democrats on new coronavirus stimulus before the election.

Driving the news: McConnell informed Senate Republicans of the move at a closed-door lunch on Tuesday, two people familiar with his remarks tell Axios. McConnell's remarks were first reported by the Washington Post.

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Axios
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Most arrested in protests are not associated with antifa

Protesters demonstrate as a Salt Lake City police vehicle burns on May 30. Photo: Rick Bowmer/AP

Antifa may be a focus on the right, but it's hard to find in the court system.

Why it matters: Very few of the people charged in this summer's protests and riots appear to be affiliated with highly organized extremist groups, reports AP.

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