National

Europeans lamenting the Inflation Reduction Act

COVID, what? There was little talk of the pandemic. 

What was in at Davos — and what was out

Talk of ChatGPT was in. Emphasis on bitcoin was out.

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Deep Dive - Davos 2023

In:<ul><li>Europeans lamenting the Inflation Reduction Act</li><li>ChatGPT</li><li>Climate tech innovation</li><li>Sidewalk hot chocolate</li></ul>Out:<ul><li>COVID, what? There was little talk of the pandemic. </li><li>Bitcoin</li><li>Government climate policy</li><li>Changing shoes between schleps </li><li>Men’s neckties</li></ul>

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Investigators for the Department of Justice discovered six items containing classified document markings during a 13-hour search on Friday of President Biden's Delaware home, according to a statement from Bob Bauer, the president's personal attorney.

Driving the news: The search, which Bauer said took place at the invitation of the president's personal attorneys, uncovered documents that were from Biden's time as vice president and senator. 

DOJ asked that the search remain private until after it took place, “in accordance with its standard procedures, and we agreed to cooperate,” Bauer said.

Neither the president nor the first lady was at the Wilmington residence at the time, according to Richard Sauber, a member of the White House Counsel’s Office.

The big picture: Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Jan. 12 that he was appointing Robert Hur as special counsel to lead the investigation into the handling of the documents that have been uncovered.

The appointment of Hur, former U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, is designed to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. The move comes as former President Trump faces a separate special counsel inquiry over his hoarding of hundreds of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home.

Key details regarding the volume of documents, methods of discovery and reaction by Biden and Trump distinguish the two cases.

But the discovery has led to widespread fallout for the sitting president as Republicans have seized on the records to accuse Biden of hypocrisy.

“There is no there there,” Biden had said on Thursday evening, reiterating that his team followed protocol for turning over uncovered documents to the appropriate government agencies.

What they're saying: "Yesterday, DOJ completed a thorough search of all the materials in the President’s Wilmington home. It began at approximately 9:45 AM and concluded at around 10:30 PM and covered all working, living and storage spaces in the home," Bauer said in the statement. 

"DOJ had full access to the President’s home, including personally handwritten notes, files, papers, binders, memorabilia, to-do lists, schedules and reminders going back decades," the statement continued.

"DOJ took possession of materials it deemed within the scope of its inquiry, including six items consisting of documents with classification markings and surrounding materials, some of which were from the President’s service in the Senate and some of which were from his tenure as Vice President. DOJ also took for further review personally handwritten notes from the vice-presidential years."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.

Joe Biden

Politics & Policy

Good afternoon, and welcome to our Deep Dive from the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. 

Axios AM Deep Dive: New global shocks

The globe's political and business leaders are facing a tangled web of risks.

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Good afternoon, and welcome to our Deep Dive from the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

Ben Terris — the WashPost feature writer who exposed former Rep. Aaron Schock's "Downton Abbey"-inspired office décor — will be out June 6 with a book about "the people who see this moment as an opportunity to bet big — on their country or maybe just on themselves."

Driving the news: "The Big Break: The Weirdos, Wonks, and Wannabes Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind" is written in the vein of Mark Leibovich's "This Town." 

Terris follows gamblers both figurative and literal: The characters include a pollster with a gambling habit, and the reporting destinations include poker nights.

First look: New Ben Terris book on Washington's weirdos

The book is written in the vein of Mark Leibovich's "This Town."

Books

<figure><img alt="" height="1080" id="b0331f22-7eef-4ea3-a03c-255bd39643c3" src="https://images.axios.com/8wASi61b3J5bmwVywA4n_vuToH8=/2023/01/20/1674211379939.png" width="1920"/><figcaption>Cover: Twelve</figcaption></figure><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ben Terris" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/bterris" data-vars-content-id="8545cb56-24a6-4ae4-ad49-b141fb3a9dfe" data-vars-headline="First look: New Ben Terris book on Washington&#x27;s weirdos" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/bterris" target="_blank">Ben Terris</a> — the WashPost feature writer who <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="exposed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hes-got-a-downton-abbey-inspired-office-but-rep-aaron-schock-wont-talk-about-it/2015/02/02/1d3f1466-ab1f-11e4-abe8-e1ef60ca26de_story.html" data-vars-content-id="8545cb56-24a6-4ae4-ad49-b141fb3a9dfe" data-vars-headline="First look: New Ben Terris book on Washington&#x27;s weirdos" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/hes-got-a-downton-abbey-inspired-office-but-rep-aaron-schock-wont-talk-about-it/2015/02/02/1d3f1466-ab1f-11e4-abe8-e1ef60ca26de_story.html" target="_blank">exposed</a> former Rep. Aaron Schock&#x27;s &quot;Downton Abbey&quot;-inspired office décor — will be out June 6 with a book about &quot;the people who see this moment as an opportunity to bet big — on their country or maybe just on themselves.&quot;Driving the news: &quot;The Big Break: The Weirdos, Wonks, and Wannabes Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind&quot; is written in the vein of Mark Leibovich&#x27;s &quot;This Town.&quot;

The lesion removed from First Lady Jill Biden's left eyelid last week was a "very common, totally harmless, non-cancerous growth," White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor said in a condition update.

The big picture: Biopsy results showed this lesion that surgeons spotted while removing a cancerous one from above her right eye and another from her chest was "consistent with seborrheic keratosis," O'Connor said in a letter, dated Wednesday. 

"Dr. Biden is recovering nicely from her procedures," he said. "She experienced some anticipated mild bruising and swelling, but feels very well."

Jill Biden's lesion on left eyelid noncancerous, doctor says

"Dr. Biden is recovering nicely from her procedures," White House doctor says.

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday January 11.

First Lady Jill Biden on the South Lawn of the White House earlier this month. Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Jill Biden

The lesion removed from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="First Lady Jill Biden&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/11/jill-biden-surgery-cancerous-lesions" data-vars-content-id="9562cd4c-3a00-439f-b7e2-e61ccd9538aa" data-vars-headline="Jill Biden&#x27;s lesion on left eyelid noncancerous, doctor says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/11/jill-biden-surgery-cancerous-lesions" target="_self">First Lady Jill Biden&#x27;s</a> left eyelid last week was a &quot;very common, totally harmless, non-cancerous growth,&quot; White House physician Dr. Kevin O&#x27;Connor said in a condition update.The big picture: Biopsy results showed this lesion that surgeons spotted while removing a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cancerous one" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/05/jill-biden-surgery-lesion-eye" data-vars-content-id="9562cd4c-3a00-439f-b7e2-e61ccd9538aa" data-vars-headline="Jill Biden&#x27;s lesion on left eyelid noncancerous, doctor says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/05/jill-biden-surgery-lesion-eye" target="_self">cancerous one</a> from above her right eye and another from her chest was &quot;consistent with seborrheic keratosis,&quot; O&#x27;Connor said in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a letter" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/vvaldivia46/status/1615877453603381248" data-vars-content-id="9562cd4c-3a00-439f-b7e2-e61ccd9538aa" data-vars-headline="Jill Biden&#x27;s lesion on left eyelid noncancerous, doctor says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/vvaldivia46/status/1615877453603381248" target="_blank">a letter</a>, dated Wednesday. <ul><li>&quot;Dr. Biden is recovering nicely from her procedures,&quot; he said. &quot;She experienced some anticipated mild bruising and swelling, but feels very well.&quot;</li></ul>

The U.S. faces a range of health care flashpoints — unaffordable drugs, opioids, vaping — as we debate whether to adopt universal care. For now, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but Republicans want to issue it a final death blow.

Axios

Stories

More classified documents found in new search of Biden's home

What was in at Davos — and what was out

Axios AM Deep Dive: New global shocks

First look: New Ben Terris book on Washington's weirdos

Jill Biden's lesion on left eyelid noncancerous, doctor says