May 2, 2018

Order requiring annual report on civilian casualties "under review"

Photo: Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

An Obama-era executive order that requires the White House to report on how many civilians and enemy combatants have been killed by American counterterrorism strikes could be "modified" or "rescinded" by the Trump administration, the Washington Post's Greg Jaffe reports.

Why it matters: A spokesperson for the White House told the Post that there was not an increase of civilian casualties in 2017, despite there also being a "big surge in drone strikes." A White house spokesman told the Post, "[t]here is no change to the U.S. commitment to protecting civilian life." A different report required from the Pentagon, which is meant to list U.S. military operations that resulted in civilian casualties, is also being delayed.

The big picture: Per the Post, this signals the "broader shift in U.S. counterterrorism policy to withhold more information about U.S. drone strikes." The report has not yet been rescinded and is under review.

Go deeper

Sam Baker
19 mins ago - Health

Coronavirus cases are falling, but don't get too comfortable

Data: The COVID Tracking Project, state health departments; Map: Andrew Witherspoon, Danielle Alberti, Sara Wise/Axios

America's coronavirus outbreak is slowing down after a summer of explosive growth.

By the numbers: The U.S. is averaging roughly 52,000 new cases per day — still a lot of cases, but about 10.5% fewer than it was averaging last week.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Caitlin Owens
19 mins ago - Health

We're doing a lot less coronavirus testing

Data: The COVID Tracking Project; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

The U.S. is cutting back on coronavirus testing. Nationally, the number of tests performed each day is about 17% lower than it was at the end of July, and testing is also declining in hard-hit states.

Why it matters: This big reduction in testing has helped clear away delays that undermined the response to the pandemic. But doing fewer tests can also undermine the response to the pandemic.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 20,624,316 — Total deaths: 749,421— Total recoveries: 12,831,800 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 5,197,147 — Total deaths: 166,027 — Total recoveries: 1,714,960 — Total tests: 63,252,257 — Map.
  3. Politics: Pelosi says Mnuchin told her White House is "not budging" on stimulus position.
  4. Business: U.S. already feeling effects of ending unemployment benefits.
  5. Public health: U.S. records deadliest coronavirus day of the summer — America's two-sided COVID-19 response
  6. Education: New Jersey governor allows schools to reopen — Gallup: America's confidence in public school system jumps to highest level since 2004.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow