Jan 12, 2017

Merger looms over AT&T's visit to Trump Tower

David McCabe

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson is at Trump Tower this morning with the company's top policy exec Bob Quinn, according to the pool.

Transition spokesman Sean Spicer confirmed the President-elect had met with Stephenson. Transition spokesman Sean Spicer said that the President-elect had met with Stephenson, and a company spokesman said they did not discuss AT&T's $85 billion proposed purchase of Time Warner. Bloomberg reported earlier in the day that would be a topic of discussion.

JUST IN: AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson arrives in lobby of Trump Tower. pic.twitter.com/mp8FoNAa9n— CNBC (@CNBC) January 12, 2017

The elephant in the room: Donald Trump is reportedly still opposed to the deal and is in the middle of a fight with the Time Warner-owned CNN.

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Margaret Harding McGill

Trump administration backs Oracle in Google fight

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo via The Washington Post.

The Trump administration is siding with Oracle in the database giant's dispute with Google before the Supreme Court — a move that comes as Oracle's founder hosts a high-dollar fundraiser for the president.

Why it matters: Billions of dollars — and, Google argues, the future of software innovation — are at stake as a long-running copyright dispute between the two giant companies heads to the Supreme Court next month.

Go deeperArrow6 mins ago - Technology
Kia Kokalitcheva

Established VCs turn to "super angels" to grow their network

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Thanks to companies like AngelList and Carta that make it easier than ever to set up small VC funds, a new generation of so-called “super angels” is cropping up — and established venture funds are backing them.

Why it matters: Just like the boom in scout programs a number of years ago, it’s all about the deal flow.

Go deeperArrow9 mins ago - Economy & Business
Jonathan Swan

Scoop: Top NSC official reassigned to Energy Department amid "Anonymous" fallout

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates will be reassigned as a senior adviser to Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, the National Security Council said Thursday — and a senior White House official said that the administration "rejects" the rumors that she is "Anonymous."

Why it matters: Coates has battled claims that she is the still-unknown Trump administration official that penned a New York Times op-ed and book critical of President Trump.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Politics & Policy