Jan 23, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Warren becomes fastest first-time presidential candidate to hit 3 million donations

Photo: Sarah Rice/Getty Images

Elizabeth Warren reached 3 million donations faster than any other first-time presidential candidate, per a person familiar with the campaign's fundraising.

Why it matters: She reached this milestone today — about one week before Sen. Bernie Sanders did the same in 2016. While donations come from all over the country, the last-minute surge before the Iowa caucuses suggests growing momentum for Warren before the first nominating contests of 2020.

The campaign reached 2 million donations at the end of October and raised $21.2 million in 2019's fourth quarter.

The bottom line: Warren hasn't raised the most of any 2020 Democrat, but a surge in donations is a good sign for her campaign, which has stumbled slightly in recent polling.

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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

State agencies charged with paying unemployment benefits to jobless residents have their backs against the wall as they rush to parse President Trump's executive actions on coronavirus aid.

Why it matters: States are being asked to pitch in $100 per unemployed resident, but it’s a heavy lift for cash-strapped states that are still unclear about the details and may not opt-in at all. It leaves the states and jobless residents in a state of limbo.

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Updated 39 mins ago - Health

New Zealand reports first local coronavirus cases for 102 days

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after a press conference at Parliament on July 22 in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Auckland is locking down and the rest of New Zealand faces lesser restrictions for 72 hours after a family of four tested positive for COVID-19, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Tuesday.

Why it matters: It's the first cases not in managed isolation for 102 days, Ardern said at a news briefing.

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51 mins ago - Science

The risk of branding NASA's wins

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

President Trump, like some of his predecessors, is branding NASA's recent wins as political, presidential accomplishments even though they are the result of efforts that span administrations.

Why it matters: Experts warn that partisan politicking with NASA can lead to whiplash that leaves the agency scrambling to chase new goals whenever a new administration arrives in Washington.