Apr 18, 2019

Trump after Mueller appointment: "This is the end of my presidency. I'm fucked."

Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The redacted version of the Mueller report provides a glimpse into the Oval Office on May 17, 2017, the day that special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed to his position, as Trump reacted to the news of Mueller's new job from then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

"Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. I'm fucked."

The big picture: Mueller's report notes that Trump became angry at Sessions, lambasting him for recusing himself from the Justice Department's Russia investigation and calling Mueller's appointment "the worst thing that ever happened to [him]." Sessions' stature never recovered in Trump's eyes, despite hanging on in his position for more than a year despite repeated public attacks from the president.

Go deeper: The 10 episodes of potential Trump obstruction listed in the Mueller report

Go deeper

Stef W. Kight

8 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Amid racial unrest, a test at the polls

Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Eight states plus D.C. are holding primary elections today following a week of intense protests across the country over the brutal police killing of George Floyd.

Why it matters: It's the first major test for voting since the national outcry. Concerns over civil unrest and the police — as well as the coronavirus and expanded absentee voting — could reduce the number of voters showing up in person but heighten tensions for those who do.

Go deeper (1 min. read)

Margaret Talev

37 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Axios-Ipsos poll: America’s big racial divide on police, virus

Data: Ipsos/Axios survey; Note: ±3.2% margin of error; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

A new Axios-Ipsos poll finds that America has a massive racial gulf on each of our twin calamities — trust in police, and fear of the coronavirus.

77% of whites say they trust local police, compared with just 36% of African Americans — one of many measures of a throbbing racial divide in Week 11 of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index, taken the week George Floyd was killed by a white policeman in Minneapolis.

Go deeper (2 min. read)

Rebecca Falconer

Updated 47 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Updates: George Floyd protests nationwide

Police officers wearing riot gear push back demonstrators outside of the White House on Monday. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AFP via Getty Images

Protests over the death of George Floyd and other police-related killings of black people continued for a seventh day across the U.S., with President Trump threatening on Monday to deploy the military if the unrest continues.

The latest: Four police officers were struck by gunfire while standing near a line in St Louis on Monday after a peaceful demonstration, Police Chief John Hayden said early Tuesday. They were all taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He said a small group of people had thrown rocks and fireworks at police officers.

Go deeper (2 min. read)