Feb 26, 2019

House passes measure to block Trump’s emergency declaration

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The House passed a resolution 245-182 Tuesday to block President Trump’s emergency declaration over the border wall.

Why it matters: The Republican-controlled Senate will now be forced to take up the measure. If 4 Republican senators defect and vote to pass the resolution, it would set up the first veto of Trump’s presidency. So far, three Republican senators — Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis — have indicated they will vote to block the declaration, while several others have expressed concerns about Trump's use of emergency powers.

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Axios

House Democrats lose appeal to force McGahn testimony

Photo: Alex Wong / Staff

Democrats in the House lost an appeal to force former White House counsel Don McGahn to comply with a subpoena, Politico was the first to report.

Why it matters: McGahn was seen as a crucial witness in the House investigation into whether President Trump tried to obstruct the Mueller inquiry. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 on Friday that it did not have the authority to resolve the dispute between the executive and legislative branches.

Keep Reading15 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Marisa Fernandez

The Americans who can't hide from coronavirus

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

The stock markets are in bad shape, but for the millions of Americans who aren’t invested in stocks, coronavirus is presenting a far more imminent concern.

Why it matters: Quarantines usually work with at least 90% participation, but many Americans lack the flexibility to work remotely, take a sick day or absorb having schools close.

Go deeper37 mins ago - Health

Courtenay Brown

Wall Street notches worst week for stocks since 2008

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Photo: Scott Heins/Getty Images

Stocks closed down about 1% on Friday, ending the worst week for Wall Street since the financial crisis.

Why it matters: The stretch of declines came after a spike in coronavirus cases around the world earlier this week. The steep losses prompted questions about the fate of the record-long economic expansion, as well as a rare statement from the Federal Reserve.

Go deeper: The growing coronavirus recession threat

Keep ReadingUpdated 1 hour ago - Economy & Business