Jan 7, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Biden reportedly thinks he has the best chance to beat Trump

Former Vice President Joe Biden. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden will make a decision on whether he plans to run for president in 2020 soon and has told allies that he thinks he is the Democratic Party's best chance to defeat President Trump, the New York Times reports.

Why it matters: Biden is the Democrat that Trump fears most in 2020, believing that he could steal away Rust Belt voters in states like Pennsylvania, Axios' Mike Allen reported last year. But a centrist Biden run — from a 76-year-old white man — could prompt a schism in a Democratic Party that's increasingly influenced by progressive ideals, especially with multiple female and minority candidates expected to jump into the 2020 race.

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Axios

Updated 56 mins ago - Health

World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

New Zealand confirmed Thursday there are now 13 local cases linked to the four who tested positive for COVID-19, ending 102 days with no community spread. Auckland locked down Wednesday for 72 hours and the rest of NZ is under lesser restrictions.

By the numbers: Over 749,400 people have died of the novel coronavirus globally and over 20.6 million have tested positive, per Johns Hopkins. More than 12.8 million have recovered from the virus.

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Axios

Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 20,624,316 — Total deaths: 749,421— Total recoveries: 12,831,800 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3 a.m. ET: 5,197,147 — Total deaths: 166,027 — Total recoveries: 1,714,960 — Total tests: 63,252,257 — Map.
Politics: Pelosi says Mnuchin told her White House is "not budging" on stimulus position.
Business: U.S. already feeling effects of ending unemployment benefits.
Public health: U.S. records deadliest coronavirus day of the summer — America's two-sided COVID-19 response
Education: New Jersey governor allows schools to reopen — Gallup: America's confidence in public school system jumps to highest level since 2004.

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Rebecca Falconer

4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Bob Woodward's new book details letters between Trump and Kim Jong-un

Bob Woodward during a 2019 event in Los Angele. Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Journalist Bob Woodward has obtained "25 personal letters exchanged" between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for his new book, "Rage," publisher Simon & Schuster revealed on Wednesday.

Details: In the letters, "Kim describes the bond between the two leaders as out of a 'fantasy film,' as the two leaders engage in an extraordinary diplomatic minuet," according to a description of the book posted on Amazon.