Aug 3, 2017

Kelly told Sessions his job is safe

Susan Walsh / AP

A day after Gen. John Kelly was named the new chief of staff, he called Attorney General Jeff Sessions to let him know his job was safe, according to the AP. President Trump had attacked Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia probe, venting in a New York Times interview, in a press conference and on Twitter.

Kelly reportedly delivered the call on Saturday. On Monday, incoming Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that Trump has "100 percent confidence" in all of his Cabinet.

Why it matters: The call shows that Kelly is intent on getting the White House in working order by eliminating sources of controversy and internal division.

This sounds familiar: After incurring Trump's wrath, other administration figures, notably Steve Bannon, were also able to escape the president's doghouse (though it's not certain that Sessions is fully in the clear).

Go deeper

World coronavirus updates

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

Countries where novel coronavirus cases are falling may be hit with a "second peak" if they relax restrictions too soon, World Health Organization emergencies chief Mike Ryan warned during a briefing Monday. "We're still very much in a phase where the disease is actually on the way up," he added.

By the numbers: Brazil on Monday recorded for the first time more deaths from the novel coronavirus in a single day than the United States, Reuters notes. Brazil reported 807 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, compared to 620 in the U.S. for the same period.

Go deeper (2 min. read)ArrowUpdated 18 mins ago - Health

Palantir CEO reflects on work with ICE

Palantir CEO Alex Karp told "Axios on HBO" that there have "absolutely" been moments he wished the company hadn't taken a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

  • "Did I suffer? ... I've had some of my favorite employees leave," Karp told "Axios on HBO."
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow35 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Michigan governor won't apologize for coronavirus lockdown

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended the strictness of her state's coronavirus lockdown in an interview with "Axios on HBO," saying it was necessary — despite the protests that have drawn national attention — because of how quickly the state's cases were rising.

The big picture: Whitmer, who has been a frequent target of President Trump, insisted that she had to act in the face of a lack of federal leadership — and that thousands more people in her state would have died without the lockdown.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow35 mins ago - Politics & Policy