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Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

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Israel hacked Kaspersky Lab and discovered NSA breach

Dave Lawler, author of World

An employee at Kaspersky's Moscow headquarters. Photo: Pavel Golovkin / AP

Russia's theft of highly classified materials on U.S. cyber defense and capabilities came to light after Israeli spies hacked Kaspersky Lab, the Moscow-based anti-virus firm, and found NSA tools on the firm's computers, the NY Times reports.

  • The NY Times' Le Carré-esque lede: "It was a case of spies watching spies watching spies: Israeli intelligence officers looked on in real time as Russian government hackers searched computers around the world for the code names of American intelligence programs."
  • How it happened: An NSA contractor reportedly kept the confidential info on his home computer, and hackers used Kaspersky software as a back door into the system. DHS last month ordered all government agencies and departments to stop using products from Kaspersky. Kaspersky has denied helping Russia hack the NSA.

Go deeper

Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
15 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Kevin McCarthy's rude awakening

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Kevin McCarthy is learning you can get torched when you try to make everyone happy, especially after an insurrection.

Why it matters: The House Republican leader had been hoping to use this year to build toward taking the majority in 2022, but his efforts to bridge intra-party divisiveness over the Capitol siege have him taking heat from every direction, eroding his stature both with the public and within his party.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Stef W. Kight
16 mins ago - Politics & Policy

The next big political war: redistricting

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Democrats are preparing a mix of tech and legal strategies to combat expected gerrymandering by Republicans, who are planning to go on legal offense themselves.

Why it matters: Democrats failed to regain a single state legislature on Election Day, while Republicans upped their control to 30 states' Houses and Senates. In the majority of states, legislatures draw new congressional district lines, which can boost a party's candidates for the next decade.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
46 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Vaccinations, relief timing dominate Sweet 16 call

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) speaks during a news conference in December with a group of bipartisan lawmakers. Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Vaccine distribution, pandemic data and a cross-party comity dominated today's virtual meeting between White House officials and a bipartisan group of 16 senators, Senator Angus King told Axios.

Why it matters: Given Democrats' razor-thin majority in both chambers of Congress, President Biden will have to rely heavily on this group of centrist lawmakers — dubbed the "Sweet 16" — to pass any substantial legislation.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow

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