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What we're watching: Bill Clinton confronted on #MeToo, Monica Lewinsky

Reflecting on his presidency in light of the #MeToo movement, former president Bill Clinton told NBC News' "Today" that he believes he did "the right thing" during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, adding that he wouldn't do anything differently if the facts were the same today.

The details: Clinton also admitted that he had never offered a private apology to Lewinsky, even after her admission that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the intense media scrutiny during the scandal: "I have not talked to her. I did not — I never talked to her, but I did say publicly on more than one occasion that I was sorry. That's very different. The apology was public."

Clinton defended his record employing women — both as Arkansas governor and attorney general:

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

And things got heated near the end of the interview as Clinton invoked both JFK and LBJ, asking if they should have resigned:

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer
9 mins ago - Politics & Policy

UN poll: Most see climate change as global emergency amid pandemic

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (C) fronts a Fridays For Future protest at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm in September. Photo: Jonathan Nacksrtrand/AFP via Getty Images

64% of people from around the world say climate change is a global emergency, a United Nations poll published Wednesday finds.

Why it matters: It's biggest global survey on climate change ever conducted, with some 1.2 million participants from 50 countries — including the U.S. where 65% of those surveyed view climate change as an emergency.

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Lachlan Markay
7 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Collins helps contractor before pro-Susan PAC gets donation

Sen. Susan Collins during her reelection campaign. Photo: Scott Eisen/Getty Images

A PAC backing Sen. Susan Collins in her high-stakes reelection campaign received $150,000 from an entity linked to the wife of a defense contractor whose firm Collins helped land a federal contract, new public records show.

Why it matters: The executive, Martin Kao of Honolulu, leaned heavily on his political connections to boost his business, federal prosecutors say in an ongoing criminal case against him. The donation linked to Kao was veiled until last week.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Lachlan Markay
7 hours ago - Politics & Policy

How cutting GOP corporate cash could backfire

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Companies pulling back on political donations, particularly to members of Congress who voted against certifying President Biden's election win, could inadvertently push Republicans to embrace their party's rightward fringe.

Why it matters: Scores of corporate PACs have paused, scaled back or entirely abandoned their political giving programs. While designed to distance those companies from events that coincided with this month's deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol, research suggests the moves could actually empower the far-right.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow