Jun 8, 2017

DC is hyped for the Comey hearing

The media outlets and Washington, DC have been eagerly anticipating Comey's testimony in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee today.

CNN started their countdown 3 days before the hearing:

@chelseabcoombs / Twitter

Bars across the country, and especially DC favorites, announced they would be opening early for Comey watch parties:

It worked...

Even Trump is planning to watch at the White House dining table with advisors and legal council.... and will most likely be tweeting about it:

Axios' David Nather sent in this photo at 8:45 a.m. of media crowded and waiting for Comey:

CSPAN set up a stakeout feed of Comey's home until he got into his car and headed to Capitol Hill.

Some news orgs followed his caravan...

Why it matters: James Comey released a gripping, detailed account of his interactions with President Trump yesterday, which did not accuse Trump of anything illegal, but gave an insider view of how Trump has handled the Russia investigation. Everyone is excited for the drama of the former FBI Director discussing the President who fired him just one month ago, without the restrictions that come with being the head of the FBI.

Go deeper

Axios
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 19,655,445 — Total deaths: 727,353 — Total recoveries — 11,950,845 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 4,998,802 — Total deaths: 162,425 — Total recoveries: 1,643,118 — Total tests: 61,080,587 — Map.
  3. Politics: Trump signs 4 executive actions on coronavirus aid — Democrats, and some Republicans, criticize the move.
  4. Public health: Fauci says chances are "not great" that COVID-19 vaccine will be 98% effective — 1 in 3 Americans would decline COVID-19 vaccine.
  5. Science: Indoor air is the next coronavirus frontline.
  6. Schools: How back-to-school is playing out in the South as coronavirus rages on — Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Howard to hold fall classes online.
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Felix Salmon
1 hour ago - Economy & Business

Elevator anxiety will stifle reopenings

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Will you step back into an elevator any time soon?

Why it matters: Tens of billions of dollars — and the future of cities around the country — rest on the answer to that question. So long as workers remain unwilling to take elevators, hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of office real estate will continue to go largely unused.

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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 6 hours ago - World

Brazil coronavirus death toll tops 100,000 and case numbers surpass 3 million

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro posted a photo of himself to Facebook congratulating his soccer team, Palmeiras, for winning the state title Saturday, moments after the health ministry confirmed the national COVID-19 death toll had surpassed 100,000.

Why it matters: Brazil is only the second country to confirm more than 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus. On Sunday morning, it became the second country to surpass 3 million cases, per Johns Hopkins. Only the U.S. has reported more. Bolsonaro has yet to address the milestones. He has previously tested positive for COVID-19 three times, but he's downplayed the impact of the virus, which has crippled Brazil's economy.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with the latest coronavirus case numbers and more context.