Jun 16, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Nebraska Democrats call on Senate nominee to drop out over lewd text messages

Chris Janicek campaign sign in Omaha on Tuesday. Photo: Nati Harnik/AP

The Nebraska Democratic Party has asked its 2020 Senate nominee Chris Janicek to drop out of the race after he sent sexually explicit text messages suggesting a staff member needed to get "laid," per the Omaha World-Herald.

The state of play: A staffer included in the group text reported the messages to the Nebraska Democratic Party, which has since said it will no longer support Janicek's bid. The Democratic National Committee will also withdraw support. Janicek has apologized but says he will remain in the race.

"This is a moment in time where I made a terrible mistake in a text message," Janicek said.
Per the Omaha World-Herald, Janicek also apologized to the group he was texting: "I hope everyone understands, including you ... that this is a joke ... I'm going on no sleep and a bunch of exuberant excitement and I think I was out of line now that I read my text back I apologize."

The big picture: Janicek, a baker from Omaha, is gearing up to run against incumbent Sen. Ben Sasse (R). Sasse won his Senate race by more than 30 points in 2014 and is heavily favored in November.

Go deeper

Updated 32 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 12 p.m. ET: 11,884,799 — Total deaths: 545,398 — Total recoveries — 6,487,720 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 12 p.m. ET: 3,009,611 — Total deaths: 131,594 — Total recoveries: 936,476 — Total tested: 36,878,106 — Map.
Public health: Deaths are rising in hotspots — Déjà vu sets in as testing issues rise and PPE dwindles.
Travel: United warns employees it may furlough 45% of U.S. workforce — How the pandemic changed mobility habits, by state.
Education: New York City schools will not fully reopen in fall — Harvard and MIT sue Trump administration over rule barring foreign students from online classes.
🎧 Podcast: A misinformation "infodemic" is here.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)

1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Vindman to retire from military after "retaliation" from Trump impeachment

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who served as a key witness in President Trump's impeachment trial, announced Wednesday that he has moved to retire from the military after 21 years of service amid fears that he will "forever be limited" due to political backlash over his testimony.

The big picture: The president fired Vindman in February as the leading Ukraine expert on the National Security Council for being "insubordinate," but top military leaders including Secretary of Defense Mark Esper claim Vindman had not been politically targeted.

Go deeper (1 min. read)

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

New York City schools will not fully reopen in fall

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced at a press conference on Wednesday that schools will not fully reopen in fall, and will instead adopt a hybrid model that will limit in-person attendance to just one to three days a week.

Why it matters: New York City, once the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, is home to the nation's largest public school district — totaling 1,800 schools and 1.1 million students, according to the New York Times. The partial reopening plan could prevent hundreds of thousands of parents from fully returning to work.

Go deeper (1 min. read)