Aug 26, 2018

John McCain's finest moments as a senator

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Senator John Sidney McCain III, after a lifetime of service to America, died Saturday at age 81 in his beloved Arizona. For a man with many finest hours, here are a few.

McCain's thumbs-down on health care

In July 2017, the senator said he could not vote for his party's health care bill "in good conscience" after it didn't receive the proper hearings or input from Senate members. His cancer diagnosis had been announced just days before the early-morning vote.

McCain defends Barack Obama

In October 2008, while running against Barack Obama, McCain defended his opponent and called him a "decent family man" after one of McCain's supporters called him an "Arab."

McCain talks regret on Confederate flag
I feared that if I answered honestly, I could not win the South Carolina primary. So I chose to compromise my principles.

In April 2000, McCain apologized after not condemning the Confederate flag while campaigning in South Carolina. He vowed to always tell the truth, but said he broke his promise and principles in that moment.

McCain calls out Trump after meeting with Russia
Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Last month, McCain criticized President Trump for his summit with Vladimir Putin, saying "no prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant."

McCain accepts Liberty Medal from Biden
Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images

In October 2017, McCain was awarded the National Constitution Center's Liberty Medal for his lifetime of sacrifice for the nation. In his acceptance speech, he warned the audience about the rise of "half-baked, spurious nationalism."

Go deeper

World coronavirus updates

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

There are no COVID-19 patients in hospital in New Zealand, which reported just 21 active cases after days of zero new infections. A top NZ health official said Tuesday he's "confident we have broken the chain of domestic transmission."

By the numbers: Almost 5.5 million people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus as of Tuesday, and more than 2.2 million have recovered. The U.S. has reported the most cases in the world (over 1.6 million from 14.9 million tests).

Go deeper (2 min. read)ArrowUpdated 12 mins ago - Health

U.S. coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios. This graphic includes "probable deaths" that New York City began reporting on April 14.

Coronavirus antibody tests are still relatively unreliable, and it's unclear if people who get the virus are immune to getting it again, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautioned on Tuesday.

By the numbers: More than 98,900 people have died from COVID-19 and over 1.6 million have tested positive in the U.S. Over 384,900 Americans have recovered and more than 14.9 million tests have been conducted.

Go deeper (2 min. read)ArrowUpdated 52 mins ago - Health

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 9:30 p.m. ET: 5,588,299 — Total deaths: 350,417 — Total recoveries — 2,286,827 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 9:30 p.m. ET: 1,680,625 — Total deaths: 98,902 — Total recoveries: 384,902 — Total tested: 14,907,041 — Map.
  3. Federal response: DOJ investigates meatpacking industry over soaring beef prices — Mike Pence's press secretary returns to work.
  4. Congress: House Republicans to sue Nancy Pelosi in effort to block proxy voting.
  5. Business: How the new workplace could leave parents behind.
  6. Tech: Twitter fact-checks Trump's tweets about mail-in voting for first time — Google to open offices July 6 for 10% of workers.
  7. Public health: Coronavirus antibodies could give "short-term immunity," CDC says, but more data is needed— CDC releases guidance on when you can be around others after contracting the virus.
  8. What should I do? When you can be around others after contracting the coronavirus — Traveling, asthma, dishes, disinfectants and being contagious — Masks, lending books and self-isolating — Exercise, laundry, what counts as soap — Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — How to minimize your risk.
  9. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it, the right mask to wear.

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Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy