Sep 9, 2017

Hope Hicks lawyers up for Russia probe

Patrick Semansky / AP

Hope Hicks, Trump's recently appointed White House comms director, has hired a lawyer for Bob Mueller's Russia probe, per Politico.

Hicks is one of the six current and former WH staffers that Mueller wants to speak to, according to a WashPost report from yesterday.
She has hired Robert Trout as her personal attorney. He is a founder and "highly regarded attorney" at his firm Trout Cacheris & Janis, Politico reports.
Why it matters: Hicks has been close to Trump since before he announced his presidential campaign, and she has worked closely with him throughout the election and now in the WH. Her proximity to the president and exposure to his dealings suggests she would have ample information Mueller is seeking — thus increasing the need for a personal attorney.

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Rebecca Falconer

Updated 18 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court blocks Alabama curbside voting measure

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Wednesday evening blocked a lower court order that would have allowed voters to cast ballots curbside at Alabama polling places on Election Day.

Whit it matters: With less than two weeks until Election Day, the justices voted 5-3 to reinstate the curbside voting ban and overturn a lower court judge's ruling designed to protect people with disabilities.

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Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Politics: Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted COVID relief bill — McConnell urges White House not to strike stimulus deal before election.
Economy: Why the stimulus delay isn't a crisis (yet).
Health: New York reports most COVID cases since May — Studies show drop in coronavirus death rate — The next wave is gaining steam.
Education: Schools haven't become hotspots — San Francisco public schools likely won't reopen before the end of the year.
World: Spain becomes first nation in Western Europe to exceed 1 million cases.

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2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. officials: Iran and Russia aim to interfere in election

Iran and Russia have obtained voter registration information that can be used to undermine confidence in the U.S. election system, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe announced at a press conference Wednesday evening.

Why it matters: The revelation comes roughly two weeks before Election Day. Ratcliffe said Iran has sent threatening emails to Democratic voters this week in states across the U.S. and spread videos claiming that people can vote more than once.

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