Feb 8, 2017

Big in Business: Japan wants a "tweetable" number for Trump

Koji Sasahara, Evan Vucci / AP

Japan's plan to woo Trump: The Japanese government has been asking firms for their U.S. investment plans so that Prime Minister "can deliver a "tweetable" figure to Donald Trump when they meet this week," the FT reports. Japan's trade surplus with the U.S. is large relative to its GDP, and the troubled economy can ill afford to see its close relationship with the United States weakened. Collecting fodder for Trump's PR purposes is a small price to pay towards avoiding that scenario.

Return of the SUV wars: The Wall Street Journal reports on Ford's regrettable retreat from the SUV market, which has rebounded as gas prices have fallen. Ford's decision has benefitted GM, which now sells 4 times as many SUVs its rival. Ford is hoping to turn things around, however, announcing the first redesign of the Ford Expedition in nearly 15 years.

The force is not with Disney: Shares of the iconic American brand fell in after-hours trading, as investors weren't pleased with revenue that came in below expectations. Not even Rogue One — the company's billion-dollar, Star-Wars smash — could cheer traders. Of particular concern were declining subscription figures for ESPN.

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Axios
Updated 48 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 12,859,834 — Total deaths: 567,123 — Total recoveries — 7,062,085 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 3,297,501— Total deaths: 135,155 — Total recoveries: 1,006,326 — Total tested: 40,282,176 — Map.
  3. States: Florida smashes single-day record for new coronavirus cases with over 15,000 — NYC reports zero coronavirus deaths for first time since pandemic hit.
  4. Public health: Ex-FDA chief projects "apex" of South's coronavirus curve in 2-3 weeks — Coronavirus testing czar: Lockdowns in hotspots "should be on the table"
  5. Education: Betsy DeVos says schools that don't reopen shouldn't get federal funds — Pelosi accuses Trump of "messing with the health of our children."
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Jonathan Swan
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: How the White House is trying to trap leakers

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

President Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has told several White House staffers he's fed specific nuggets of information to suspected leakers to see if they pass them on to reporters — a trap that would confirm his suspicions. "Meadows told me he was doing that," said one former White House official. "I don't know if it ever worked."

Why it matters: This hunt for leakers has put some White House staffers on edge, with multiple officials telling Axios that Meadows has been unusually vocal about his tactics. So far, he's caught only one person, for a minor leak.

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Jacob Knutson
4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

11 GOP congressional nominees support QAnon conspiracy

Lauren Boebert posing in her restaurant in Rifle, Colorado, on April 24. Photo: Emily Kask/AFP

At least 11 Republican congressional nominees have publicly supported or defended the QAnon conspiracy theory movement or some of its tenets — and more aligned with the movement may still find a way onto ballots this year.

Why it matters: Their progress shows how a fringe online forum built on unsubstantiated claims and flagged as a threat by the FBI is seeking a foothold in the U.S. political mainstream.

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