Sep 8, 2018

Obama: Voters have a chance to "restore sanity" in midterms

Michael Sykes

In his second speech in two days and first on the campaign trail, former President Barack Obama told voters they have a chance to "restore sanity" to America by voting in midterm elections.

When we're not stepping up, other voices fill the void. The good news is in two months, we have a chance to restore sanity in our politics.
— Obama

Go deeper: Former First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a campaign designed to get Americans to the polls for November's midterm elections.

Go deeper

Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 12:30 p.m. ET: 1,506,936 — Total deaths: 90,057 — Total recoveries: 340,112 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 12:30 p.m. ET: 432,596 — Total deaths: 14,831 — Total recoveries: 24,235 — Map.
  3. Business: The Fed will lend up to $2.3 trillion — Another 6.6 million jobless claims were filed last week.
  4. Public health latest: Dr. Anthony Fauci said social distancing could reduce the U.S. death toll to 60,000.
  5. Travel update: TSA screened fewer than 100,000 people at airports in the U.S. on both Tuesday and Wednesday, compared to 2.2 million passengers on an average weekday a year ago.
  6. 🎧 Podcast: Your hydroxychloroquine questions answered.
  7. What should I do? Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

Keep ReadingArrowUpdated 55 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Alayna Treene

Trump plans second coronavirus task force focused on the economy

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump is preparing to launch a second coronavirus task force focused on reviving the U.S. economy, which has been battered by the coronavirus, two administration officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: There is growing energy within the West Wing to start easing people back to work by May 1. But some public health officials, including those on the coronavirus task force, have warned against doing so, raising concerns about reopening America too soon.

Go deeperArrow59 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Marisa Fernandez

New York's coronavirus death toll hits record high for third straight day

799 people died from coronavirus in New York over the past 24 hours, a record high for the third straight day that brings the state's total death toll to 7,067.

Why it matters: Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference that social distancing is helping to "flatten the curve" of coronavirus hospitalizations and that deaths are a lagging indicator. Still, he called the death figures "shocking and painful," noting that the virus has killed more than double the number of people who died in New York on 9/11.

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Health