Sep 20, 2017

National Review: Manafort's legal troubles might not lead to Trump

Manafort appears on stage ahead of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, June, 2016. Photo: Mary Altaffer / AP

We now know that Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was wiretapped under orders from the Obama administration and that the FBI has raided his home as part of the special counsel probe of Russian interference in the election. National Review's Andrew C. McCarthy points out these are two very different issues, none of which necessarily spells certain trouble for Trump.

The residence raid is part of the Mueller criminal investigation.
The FISA wiretapping was part of an effort to understand the behaviors of a foreign power by monitoring one of its suspected agents.

Bottom line, as McCarthy writes: "Paul Manafort appears to be in serious jeopardy, but any suspected criminality may involve matters having nothing to do with President Trump…It has never necessarily followed that legal trouble for Manafort is legal trouble for Trump — even if it does portend tremendous political trouble for the Trump administration."

Go deeper

Updated 6 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 9 p.m. ET: 20,755,406 — Total deaths: 752,225— Total recoveries: 12,917,934 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 9 p.m. ET: 5,246,760 — Total deaths: 167,052 — Total recoveries: 1,774,648 — Total tests: 64,831,306 — Map.
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.
2020: Biden calls for 3-month national mask mandate — Biden and Harris to receive coronavirus briefings 4 times a week.
States: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to drop lawsuit over Atlanta's mask mandate.
Business: Why the CARES Act makes 2020 the best year for companies to lose money.
Public health: Fauci's guidance on pre-vaccine coronavirus treatments — Cases are falling, but don't get too comfortable.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)

6 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Trump says he intends to give RNC speech on White House lawn

President Trump speaking to reporters on South Lawn in July. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

President Trump told the New York Post on Thursday that he plans to deliver his Republican National Convention speech from the White House lawn, despite bipartisan criticism of the optics and legality of the location.

Why it matters: Previous presidents avoided blurring staged campaign-style events — like party conventions — with official business of governing on the White House premises, per Politico.

Go deeper (1 min. read)

Eileen Drage O'Reilly

9 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.

Go deeper (3 min. read)