Jun 18, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Katie Gorka tapped for Customs and Border Protection spokesperson post

U.S. Department of Homeland Security logo. Photo: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Katie Gorka was named a spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, NBC reports.

Why it matters: Gorka is the spouse of former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka. Both have been vocal in their controversial views on Islam and counterterrorism. The White House continues to harden its immigration staff ahead of the election, in an appeal to Trump's base.

Details: Katie Gorka previously served in the DHS Office of Policy, and was overlooked to lead the re-branded Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention at least in part because of her views, DHS officials tell NBC. In her new position, Gorka will manage communications for CBP as the agency faces a surge of undocumented immigrants crossing the southern border.

Go deeper: 2019 already has the highest number of migrant arrests in a decade

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Alexi McCammond
53 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Biden releases 2019 tax returns ahead of debate

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Joe Biden's campaign released his 2019 tax returns on Tuesday, showing that he and his wife, Jill, paid nearly $300,000 in federal taxes last year.

Why it matters: The release, timed just hours before the first presidential debate, comes days after a bombshell New York Times report said that President Trump paid only $750 in federal taxes in 2016 and 2017. Biden's team is hoping to make the tax contrast a sticking point during their showdown.

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Axios
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2:15 p.m. ET: 33,454,037 — Total deaths: 1,003,571 — Total recoveries: 23,204,219 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2:15 p.m. ET: 7,165,067 — Total deaths: 205,476 — Total recoveries: 2,794,608 — Total tests: 102,342,416 — Map.
  3. Health: Americans won't take Trump's word on the vaccine, Axios-Ipsos poll finds.
  4. States: NYC's coronavirus positivity rate spikes to highest since June.
  5. Sports: Tennessee Titans close facility amid NFL's first coronavirus outbreak.
  6. World: U.K. beats previous record for new coronavirus cases.
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Marisa Fernandez
2 hours ago - Health

NYC's coronavirus positivity rate spikes to highest since June

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images

New York City's coronavirus positivity rate has ticked up to 3.25%, its highest since June, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Why it matters: The jump — from 1.93% on Monday — came on the first day that public elementary classrooms reopened in the city after months of closures, but guidelines state that all public schools will have to shut if the citywide seven-day positivity rate stays above 3%.

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