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Highlights from Trump's African-American summit

Evan Vucci / AP

President Trump is currently holding a listening session with African-American leaders at the White House. Flanked by Ben Carson and Omarosa, a few quotables from POTUS during the time the press was allowed in the room:

  • Chicago: Trump said that if those involved in violence in the city don't stake steps to curb it, then "we'll solve the problem for them."
  • The inner cities: He charged Ben Carson with working to improve wages and reduce violence and promised he'd do so "big league."
  • Media reports about the MLK bust in the Oval: "I don't watch CNN. I don't watch fake news, but Fox has treated me good." Followed by: "So much of the media is the opposition party … It's a very sad situation."
  • On Frederick Douglass: While discussing the new National Museum of African-American History and Culture, Trump said Douglass is "somebody who has done a terrific job that is being recognized by more and more people."
  • Looking ahead: He told the room that he'd like to triple or quadruple his vote share among African-Americans in 2020.

Go deeper

Jonathan Swan
21 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: CIA director Gina Haspel almost resigned over plan to install Kash Patel as deputy

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

CIA Director Gina Haspel almost resigned in early December after President Trump cooked up a hasty plan to install loyalist Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), as her deputy, according to three senior administration officials with direct knowledge of the matter.

Why it matters: The revelations stunned national security officials and almost blew up the leadership of the world's most powerful spy agency. Only a series of coincidences — and last minute interventions from Vice President Mike Pence and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone — stopped it.

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Health: Coronavirus deaths reach 4,000 per day as hospitals remain in crisis mode — CDC warns highly transmissible coronavirus variant could become dominant in U.S. in March.
  2. Politics: Biden says, "We will manage the hell out of" vaccine distribution — Biden taps ex-FDA chief to lead Operation Warp Speed amid rollout of COVID plan — Widow of GOP congressman-elect who died of COVID-19 will run to fill his seat.
  3. Vaccine: Battling Black mistrust of the vaccines — "Pharmacy deserts" could become vaccine deserts — Instacart to give $25 to shoppers who get vaccine.
  4. Economy: Unemployment filings explode again — Fed chair: No interest rate hike coming any time soon —  Inflation rose more than expected in December.
  5. World: WHO team arrives in China to investigate pandemic origins.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

NRA declares bankruptcy, says it will reincorporate in Texas

Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association (NRA) speaks during CPAC in 2016. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The National Rifle Association said Friday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will seek to reincorporate in Texas, calling New York, where it is currently registered, a "toxic political environment."

The big picture: The move comes just months after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit to dissolve the NRA, alleging the group committed fraud by diverting roughly $64 million in charitable donations over three years to support reckless spending by its executives.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow