Jan 12, 2017

Gen. Mattis will be the Secretary of Defense

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

The retired general came to Capitol Hill today to face questions from the Senate Armed Services committee.

The big story: Mattis cleared his main hurdle today, securing Senate support for a waiver allowing him to speed up the waiting process for retired military officers to become Secretary of Defense. The vote wasn't close, at 81 to 17.

What's next: A House vote on the waiver, and a Senate vote on confirmation. He'll pass both. (Hearing recaps below.)

  1. On threats to global order: Mattis named Russia, terrorist groups and China as the big three threats. He elaborated in an exchange with John McCain, below: Retired Gen. James Mattis: The world order is under the biggest attack since WWII https://t.co/j6jNyCkKvZ https://t.co/JXtwKNd7ul— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 12, 2017
  2. On the Iran deal: "When America gives its word, we have to live up to it.""It's not a deal I would have signed."
  3. On women in the military: "I have no plan to oppose women in any aspect of our military. In 2003 I had many marines who happened to be women serving."
  4. On allowing the LGBT community to openly serve: "Frankly Senator, I've never cared much about two consenting adults and who they go to bed with."
  5. On when he'll be willing to advocate other opinions to Trump: "On every circumstance."
  6. On whether Congressional AUMF is a must: "Yes, senator, it is."
  7. On using necessary force with North Korea: "I don't think we should take anything off the table."

Go deeper

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 1:00 a.m. ET: 5,591,067 — Total deaths: 350,458 — Total recoveries — 2,287,152 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 1:00 a.m. ET: 1,681,212 — Total deaths: 98,916 — Total recoveries: 384,902 — Total tested: 14,907,041 — Map.
  3. Federal response: DOJ investigates meatpacking industry over soaring beef prices — Mike Pence's press secretary returns to work.
  4. Congress: House Republicans to sue Nancy Pelosi in effort to block proxy voting.
  5. Business: How the new workplace could leave parents behind.
  6. Tech: Twitter fact-checks Trump's tweets about mail-in voting for first time — Google to open offices July 6 for 10% of workers.
  7. Public health: Coronavirus antibodies could give "short-term immunity," CDC says, but more data is needed— CDC releases guidance on when you can be around others after contracting the virus.
  8. What should I do? When you can be around others after contracting the coronavirus — Traveling, asthma, dishes, disinfectants and being contagious — Masks, lending books and self-isolating — Exercise, laundry, what counts as soap — Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — How to minimize your risk.
  9. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it, the right mask to wear.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

Updated 4 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Minneapolis unrest as hundreds protest death of George Floyd

Tear gas is fired as police clash with protesters demonstrating against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Minneapolis police used tear gas during clashes with protesters demanding justice Tuesday night for George Floyd, an African American who died in police custody, according to multiple news reports.

Driving the news: The FBI is investigating Floyd's death after video emerged of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for several minutes, ignoring protests that he couldn't breathe. Hundreds of protesters attended the demonstration at the intersection where Floyd died, per the Guardian.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)ArrowUpdated 13 mins ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios. This graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14.

More than 62,300 U.S. health care workers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and at least 291 have died from the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday. COVID-19 had infected about 9,300 health professionals when the CDC gave its last update on April 17.

By the numbers: More than 98,900 people have died from COVID-19 and over 1.6 million have tested positive in the U.S. Over 384,900 Americans have recovered and more than 14.9 million tests have been conducted.

Go deeper (2 min. read)ArrowUpdated 2 hours ago - Health