Feb 10, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Kushner’s global appeal: Trump’s shadow Sec. of State

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Jared Kushner, son-in-law and senior adviser to Trump, is serving as a "shadow secretary of state," working behind the scenes with foreign leaders and diplomats to guide the president on foreign affairs communications, the Washington Post reports.

So is it working? Somewhat. Kushner had some success in mitigating Trump's comments on Mexico and though foreign officials have said they were skeptical at first of Kushner, they say he's turned out to be a "good listener and courteous intermediary."

Areas to Watch:

  1. Mexico: Kushner and Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray have formed a personal bond through mutual friends, so this could come back into play for Mexico-U.S. relations
  2. The Middle East: Trump has publicly assigned Kushner the tasks of pushing along a Middle East peace and ambassador selections for the region

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Axios
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 20,739,537 — Total deaths: 751,910— Total recoveries: 12,895,242 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 p.m. ET: 5,242,184 — Total deaths: 166,971 — Total recoveries: 1,755,225 — Total tests: 64,612,034 — Map.
  3. Politics: House Democrats to investigate scientist leading "Operation Warp Speed" vaccine project — McConnell announces Senate will not hold votes until Sept. 8 unless stimulus deal is reached.
  4. 2020: Biden calls for 3-month national mask mandate — Biden and Harris to receive coronavirus briefings 4 times a week.
  5. States: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to drop lawsuit over Atlanta's mask mandate.
  6. Business: Why the CARES Act makes 2020 the best year for companies to lose money.
  7. Public health: Fauci's guidance on pre-vaccine coronavirus treatments — Cases are falling, but don't get too comfortable.
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Eileen Drage O'Reilly
3 hours ago - Health

Fauci's guidance on pre-vaccine coronavirus treatments

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Antibody drugs and various medicine cocktails against the coronavirus are progressing and may provide some relief before vaccines.

The big picture: Everyone wants to know how and when they can return to "normal" life, as vaccines are not expected to be ready for most Americans for at least a year. Two therapies are known to be helpful, and more could be announced by late September, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci tells Axios.

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Barak Ravid
3 hours ago - World

Behind the scenes: How the Israel-UAE deal came together

Trump, Kushner and Netanyahu (L-R). Photo: Kobi Gideon/GPO via Getty

The breakthrough in talks between the U.S., Israel and UAE on a normalization deal came two months ago, White House officials tell me.

Behind the scenes: Talks had been ongoing for more than a year, but they gained new urgency ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's July 1 deadline to move ahead on West Bank annexations.

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