Jan 10, 2017

Generals tell Trump to back off on torture

Shane Savitsky

176 retired military officers have sent President-elect Trump a joint letter indicating their concern about his statements on the campaign trail supportive of the use of torture on U.S. detainees. Per the NYT, some of the most significant signers:

  • General Stanley McChrystal, former Commander, ISAF Afghanistan
  • General John Allen, former Commander, ISAF Afghanistan
  • Admiral William McRaven, organizer of the Osama bin Laden raid

Why it matters: PEOTUS famously stated that "torture works" on the campaign trail, but even his pick to head Defense, Gen. James Mattis, hasn't been shy about his disgust for it. Now Trump faces another big round of retired officers saying he's wrong on the issue.

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Jacob Knutson

Peter Navarro defends hydroxychloroquine use in heated CNN interview

White House economic adviser Peter Navarro defended the use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus during a CNN interview Monday, highlighting "the possibility" that it has therapeutic efficacy.

Why it matters: Navarro did not deny reporting from Axios' Jonathan Swan that he got into a heated exchange in the White House Situation Room over the weekend with infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci about the drug's prospects against the illness.

Go deeperArrow6 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Caitlin Owens

Special report: Health care workers vs. coronavirus

Photo Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images, and Europa Press News/Europa Press via Getty Images

Health care workers are at an especially high risk of catching the coronavirus, because of their prolonged exposure to patients who have it. Making matters worse, the U.S. doesn't have enough of the protective equipment, like masks and gloves, that keeps them safe.

  • And yet these workers, with loved ones of their own, keep showing up at hospitals across the country, knowing that more Americans than they can possibly care for are depending on them.
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Dion Rabouin

Backed by the Fed, bond investors get bullish

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Fed's massive injections of liquidity have reopened much of the bond market, and after back-to-back weeks in which more than $100 billion flowed out of bond funds, investors have regained their bearings and now see opportunity.

What's happening: But after the hemorrhaging outflows relented last week, bulls may now be sticking their heads out a bit too far. Junk bond funds took in more than $7 billion for the week ended April 1, according to Refinitiv Lipper, setting a new weekly record.

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Economy & Business