Mar 22, 2017

House Intel Chair "alarmed" by potential surveillance on Trump team

Evan Vucci / AP

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes told reporters on Wednesday he was "alarmed" by news from "sources" of possible surveillance collected on the Trump transition team.

What we know: Nunes told reporters he had learned of "legally collected foreign intelligence" that isn't related to Russia, and may have been picked up via "incidental collection." Nunes has briefed Speaker Paul Ryan, and is visiting the White House today.

What we don't know: Who gave the information to Nunes, what it showed, precisely who was targeted for the surveillance, or whether this contradicts testimony delivered Monday by FBI Director James Comey, who said there was "no information" supporting Trump's tweets claiming he was "wiretapped" by Obama.

When directly asked by Bloomberg columnist Eli Lake whether the Obama administration was spying on the Trump transition, Nunes replied:

It all depends on one's definition of spying.

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Marisa Fernandez

China reopens Wuhan after 10-week coronavirus lockdown

People wearing facemasks stand near Yangtze River in Wuhan. Photo: HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images

China has lifted its lockdown of Wuhan, the city in Hubei province where the coronavirus outbreak was first reported in December, according to the New York Times.

Why it matters: As cases surged in January, China took the draconian step of sealing off the city of 11 million and shutting down its economy — a response that was viewed at the time as only possible in an authoritarian system, but which has since been adopted by governments around the world.

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Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 1 p.m. ET: 1,381,014— Total deaths: 78,269 — Total recoveries: 292,973 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 1 p.m. ET: 378,289 — Total deaths: 11,830 — Total recoveries: 20,003 — Map.
Trump administration latest: Trump removes watchdog overseeing rollout of $2 trillion coronavirus bill
Federal government latest: Senate looks to increase coronavirus relief for small businesses this week — Testing capacity is still lagging far behind demand.
States update: New York death toll surged to its highest one-day total as state predicts a plateau in hospitalizations.
🎧 Podcast: The race to reopen America
What should I do? Pets, moving and personal health. Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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

Keep ReadingUpdated 13 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Jacob Knutson

Trump removes watchdog overseeing rollout of $2 trillion coronavirus bill

Glenn Fine, acting Pentagon watchdog

President Trump on Monday replaced the Pentagon's acting Inspector General Glenn Fine, who had been selected to chair the panel overseeing the rollout of the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed last month, Politico first reported.

Why it matters: A group of independent federal watchdogs selected Fine to lead the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, but Fine's removal from his Pentagon job prevents him from being able to serve in that position — since the law only allows sitting inspectors general to fill the role.

Go deeperUpdated 23 mins ago - Politics & Policy