Dec 20, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Democrats to host 12 presidential primary debates starting June 2019

Tom Perez. Photo: George Frey/Getty Images

Democratic Party Chairman Tom Perez said the party will host at least 12 primary debate nights for candidates leading up to the 2020 election starting in June 2019, with some of the debates being split over back-to-back nights, The Daily Beast reports.

Details: The Democratic candidate pool for the presidential election is expected to be historically large in 2020, and Perez promised these rules will give all candidates a fair shot for voters' attention. There will be six debates held in 2019 and six in 2020, with early voting states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina not hosting until 2020.

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Axios
4 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Trump to sign 4 executive orders on coronavirus aid

President Trump speaking during a press conference on Aug. 8. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump announced on Saturday he will sign four executive orders to provide relief from economic damage sustained during the coronavirus pandemic after talks between the White House and Democratic leadership collapsed Friday afternoon.

Why it matters: Because the Constitution gives Congress the power to appropriate federal spending, Trump has limited authority to act unilaterally — and risks a legal challenge if congressional Democrats believe he has overstepped.

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Axios
Updated 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 19,451,097 — Total deaths: 722,835 — Total recoveries — 11,788,665 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2. p.m. ET: 4,968,413 — Total deaths: 161,858 — Total recoveries: 1,623,870 — Total tests: 60,415,558 — Map.
  3. Public health: Fauci says chances are "not great" that COVID-19 vaccine will be 98% effective.
  4. Science: Indoor air is the next coronavirus frontline.
  5. 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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Rashaan Ayesh
3 hours ago - World

What's next for Lebanon after the Beirut explosion

Photo: Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Beirut residents are still clearing rubble from streets that appear war-torn, days after a blast that shocked the country and horrified the world.

Why it matters: The explosion is likely to accelerate a painful cycle Lebanon was already living through — discontent, economic distress, and emigration.

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