Oct 15, 2018

"Strong evidence": Elizabeth Warren releases DNA test

Photo: Win McNamee via Getty Images

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released a DNA test to the Boston Globe that suggests there is "strong evidence" she had a Native American ancestor 6–10 generations back in her family tree.

The big picture: The test, while "inherently imprecise," indicates Warren is between 1/32 and 1/1,024 Native American, supporting the senator's claims that her Cherokee ancestry was a recurring theme in the family stories she was told growing up in Oklahoma. The controversy over Warren's heritage had become a favorite target for mockery by President Trump, who nicknamed her "Pocahontas" and claimed she had used a false minority status to get hired at Harvard Law School.

An earlier Boston Globe analysis found that her ancestry was never a consideration during the hiring process at Harvard or throughout her rise in the legal profession.
The transparency of providing the DNA test, which drew comparison from Globe writer Annie Linskey to President Obama's release of his birth certificate during the birther controversy, will fuel further speculation that Warren is serious about a 2020 presidential bid.

Go deeper

Axios

Coronavirus updates: First case in sub-Saharan Africa confirmed

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's Health Ministry. Note: China numbers are for the mainland only and U.S. numbers include repatriated citizens.

Nigeria confirmed its first novel coronavirus case in an Italian who flew to Lagos from Milan — the first known case in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization has been working to prepare Africa's health care systems to be ready for the outbreak, which is now also confirmed in Algeria and Egypt.

The big picture: COVID-19 has killed more than 2,850 people and infected over 83,700 others in some 50 countries and territories. The novel coronavirus is now affecting every continent but Antarctica, and the WHO said Wednesday the number of new cases reported outside China has exceeded those inside the country for the first time.

Go deeperUpdated 2 hours ago - Health

Sara Fischer

Ad spending on 2020 primary tops $1 billion

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Spending on the 2020 presidential primary has officially surpassed the $1 billion mark, with more than half of that total coming from billionaire Michael Bloomberg, according to data from Advertising Analytics.

Why it matters: It's the most money that has been spent this early on in an election cycle in U.S. history.

Go deeper2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Dion Rabouin

The growing coronavirus recession threat

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

In just a matter of weeks, top economists and investment bank analysts have gone from expecting the coronavirus outbreak to have minimal impact on the U.S. economy to warning that an outright recession may be on the horizon.

What's happening: The spread of confirmed coronavirus cases in Europe, the Middle East and the U.S., and the speed at which they are being discovered has set the table for the outbreak to have a larger and much costlier impact.

Go deeper3 hours ago - Economy & Business