Oct 27, 2019

Former Rep. John Conyers dies at 90

Axios

Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Former Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) died in his home on Sunday at age 90, Detroit Police confirmed.

The big picture: Conyers entered Congress in 1965 during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson and served the Detroit area for more than five decades, becoming the longest-serving African American member of Congress in history and the longest-serving member of the House at the time of his retirement.

He co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and was the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee from 1995 to 2017, before resigning from Congress amid allegations of sexual harassment.

Go deeper: Read Detroit News' obituary of Conyers

Go deeper

Erica Pandey

The new Detroit

Photo illustration: gangliu10; Aïda Amer/Axios

For decades, the world has pointed to Detroit as a symbol of the entire Rust Belt and the decay of American manufacturing. But the city is attempting to change that narrative — and succeeding.

Why it matters: Detroit may be the starkest example, but its story is mirrored in dozens of U.S. cities — Columbus, Pittsburgh and Toledo among them — that have shared its challenges and are embarking on comebacks of their own.

Go deeperArrowNov 20, 2019
Erica Pandey

Detroit's uneven comeback

Photo illustration: Jacob Boomsma; Aïda Amer/Axios

Detroit is coming back, but the bulk of that transformation has been limited to 7 square miles — the downtown core — according to recent research from scholars at Michigan State University and Wayne State University. For context, the city is 139 square miles.

Why it matters: Like Detroit, many laggard cities are beginning to catch up with the thriving metros, but often the transformation is uneven — limited to wealthier residents living in the richest neighborhoods.

Go deeperArrowNov 20, 2019
Zachary Basu

Sen. Ron Johnson responds to Republican request for Ukraine information

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Monday sent a letter to House Intelligence Ranking Member Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and House Oversight Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) outlining his account of President Trump's dealings with Ukraine.

Why it matters: Johnson has previously said that he "winced" when EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland told him President Trump would likely unfreeze nearly $400 million in military aid if Ukraine announced an investigation into the 2016 election. In the letter, however, Johnson said that Trump vehemently denied there was any link between the investigations and the aid and that the president said he barely knew Sondland.

Go deeperArrowNov 18, 2019