Axios

In an off-camera briefing Wednesday, Sean Spicer announced a new White House policy on the Russia investigation: "All questions going forward on [Russia] will be referred to outside counsel Marc Kasowitz." This new policy comes the same day James Comey agreed to testify publicly before the Senate Intel Committee as early as next week. Other highlights:

• Spicer hedged on the Paris climate deal decision: "I think the President's comments on this that he'll be making a decision in the next few days stand."
• On "covfefe": Asked whether Americans should be concerned about Trump's "incoherent tweet," Spicer said "the President and a small group of people know exactly what he meant" to an uproar in the briefing room.
• Up next: Trump is welcoming the Vietnamese Prime Minister to the White House this afternoon.

ExxonMobil Corp. shareholders voted 62.3% on Wednesday to start disclosing the financial risk associated with climate change policies, up from a 38% tally last year. The chairman and CEO said the board will now reconsider the matter, and the Union of Concerned Scientists' Kathy Mulvey, who attended the shareholder meeting as a proxy for investors, tells Axios the board is likely to take action in a matter of months.

Why it matters: This a defeat for the board, which said just before the vote it is sharing enough information about the risks climate change policies pose to its business already, that it has "adequately assessed the future impact of policy developments," and that it is investing in technologies that address the challenge. If the board chooses to defy a majority of its shareholders on this matter, the shareholders could invest elsewhere or choose to vote unfavorably on board members or their compensation, Mulvey says.

The mistake many people made in handicapping whether President Trump was going to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate deal was to think he would change his mind from his campaign promise.

"He's been remarkably consistent on these issues," said Tom Pyle, president of the conservative advocacy group American Energy Alliance, and a close confidant of the Trump administration. "It makes me very happy. I'm not a trade guy, I'm not a healthcare guy."

The people urging him to withdraw were louder, more influential and more relevant to Trump than the people urging him to stay in, even though there were more of the latter than the former.

President Trump has made his decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the decision. Details on how the withdrawal will be executed are being worked out by a small team including EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. They're deciding on whether to initiate a full, formal withdrawal — which could take 3 years — or exit the underlying United Nations climate change treaty, which would be faster but more extreme.

Why this matters: Pulling out of Paris is the biggest thing Trump could do to unravel Obama's climate legacy. It sends a combative signal to the rest of the world that America doesn't prioritize climate change and threatens to unravel the ambition of the entire deal.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres gave his first big speech on climate change Tuesday. His message about the Paris Agreement, which has 147 parties signed on to reduce global carbon emissions:

"My argument today is that it is absolutely essential that the world fulfill the Paris Agreement...Climate change is undeniable. Climate action is unstoppable...Climate change is a menace to jobs, business, and property...If any government doubts the global needs for these accords, it is reason for the others…to unite even stronger and stay the course."

The kicker: "Get on board or get left behind."

Context: This is a message for Trump, who has been telling confidants, including EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, he intends to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris deal.