Jan 18, 2017

Obama vs. Trump on the press

In the past 24 hours, President Obama and President-elect Trump have vocalized two nearly opposite sentiments about the press.

On treatment by the press:

The press has been extremely dishonest when it comes to me. — Trump in Axios interview Tuesday

You keep us honest and make sure we're accountable to the people who sent us here. — Obama at press conference Wednesday

On working with the press:

I hope to be able to get along with the press. — Trump

I have enjoyed working with all of you. It doesn't mean I've enjoyed every story you have filed, but that's not the point of this relationship. —Obama

On using the press:

I'm treated so dishonestly by the press that this [social media] is a way of my getting a word out that's accurate. — Trump

[Democracy] doesn't work if we don't have well-informed citizenry and you are the conduit for how they receive information in the halls of power. America needs you and the democracy needs you. — Obama

On fairness by the press:

I've never realized how dishonest the press was. I have been amazed. — Trump

I can appreciate your fairness even if didn't always agree with your conclusions. — Obama

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U.S. coronavirus updates: Death toll passes 9,600

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Recorded deaths from the novel coronavirus surpassed 9,600 in the U.S. Sunday night, per Johns Hopkins data. The death toll in the U.S. has risen over 1,000 every day since April 1.

Why it matters: U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on Sunday this upcoming week will be "the hardest and saddest week of most Americans' lives" — calling it our "our Pearl Harbor, our 9/11 moment."

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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 10:30 p.m. ET: 1,273,990 — Total deaths: 69,444 — Total recoveries: 260,247 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 10:30 p.m. ET: 337,310 — Total deaths: 9,634 — Total recoveries: 17,461 — Map.
Federal government latest: Surgeon general says this week will be "our Pearl Harbor, our 9/11 moment." The USDA confirms that a Bronx zoo tiger tested positive for coronavirus.
2020 latest: "We have no contingency plan," Trump said on the 2020 Republican National Convention. Biden says DNC may have to hold virtual convention.
States updates: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state is "literally going day-to-day" with supplies.
World update: Queen Elizabeth II urges the British people to confront pandemic with "self-discipline" and "resolve" in rare televised address.
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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.

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Intelligence community watchdog suggests Trump fired him for doing his job

Michael Atkinson, Inspector General of the Intelligence Community,at the Capitol in October. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson suggested in a statement Sunday President Trump fired him for acting impartially in carrying out his duties following a whistleblower complaint.

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