Dec 12, 2018 - Politics & Policy

National Enquirer publisher admits to suppressing story for Trump

Photo: Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

The Southern District of New York announced Wednesday that it has reached a non-prosecution agreement with American Media Inc., the National Enquirer's parent company.

The big picture: As part of the agreement, AMI admitted to making a $150,000 payment "in concert with" then-candidate Trump's presidential campaign to suppress a story about an alleged affair Trump had with former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The revelation that AMI is cooperating with investigators comes on the same day Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison on charges that include campaign finance violations. AMI's CEO David Pecker was granted immunity in the case in August.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Health

N.Y., N.J. and Conn. to require travelers from 35 states to quarantine

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Travelers from 35 states are now required to quarantine for 14 days when traveling to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, per New York state's health department.

What's new: New York City will set up bridge and tunnel checkpoints to enforce the quarantine order, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, per the Wall Street Journal.

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Zach Dorfman of the Aspen Institute
3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

When U.S. politicians exploit foreign disinformation

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

U.S. political actors will keep weaponizing the impact of widespread foreign disinformation campaigns on American elections, making these operations that much more effective and attractive to Russia, China, Iran or other countries backing them.

Why it matters: Hostile powers’ disinformation campaigns aim to destabilize the U.S., and each time a domestic politician embraces them, it demonstrates that they work.

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Ina Fried
3 hours ago - Technology

Samsung debuts Note 20, new foldable smartphone

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Photo: Samsung

Samsung unveiled its crop of new mobile devices Wednesday, including two versions of the Note 20 smartphone, an updated foldable device, two tablets and a watch.

Why it matters: The new devices aim to give Samsung an early start in the second half of the year, with products aimed at parents buying fresh gear for the back-to-(home)school season.

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