Apr 30, 2019

Oprah: "I'd like to see what's up with" Mayor Pete

Photo: J. Countess/Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey isn't planning on endorsing a 2020 candidate anytime soon, but is reading up on South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the Hollywood Reporter writes in a Q&A.

The big picture: Winfrey — who at one point considered a run for the White House and has been known to stump for Democratic candidates — said she's "quietly figuring out where I'm going to use my voice in support." She also has Kamala Harris' book and interviewed Beto O'Rourke in February. For now, Mayor Pete seems to have piqued Winfrey's interest: she's reading his book, Shortest Way, has discussed him with Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and believes his name — which she jokes and says "Buttabeep, Buttaboop" — could ultimately help him in the race.

Go deeper: Interest in Pete Buttigieg is exploding

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Jim VandeHei, Margaret Talev

The cost of going after Bloomberg

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Here's the growing dilemma for 2020 Democrats vying for a one-on-one showdown with frontrunner Bernie Sanders: Do they have the guts — and the money — to first stop Mike Bloomberg?

Why it matters: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren all must weigh the costs of punching Bloomberg where he looks most vulnerable: stop-and-frisk, charges of sexism, billionaire entitlement. The more zealous the attacks, the greater the risk he turns his campaign ATM against them.

Go deeper4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Courtenay Brown, Danielle Alberti

How Trump’s economy stacks up

Source: "Presidents and US Economy", Trump figures through 2019 courtesy of Alan Blinder; Note: Data shows real GDP and Q1 growth in each term is attributed to the previous president; Chart: Axios Visuals

Average economic growth under President Trump has outpaced the growth under Barack Obama, but not all of his recent predecessors.

Why it matters: GDP is the most comprehensive economic scorecard — and something presidents, especially Trump, use as an example of success. And it's especially relevant since Trump is running for re-election on his economic record.

Go deeper5 hours ago - Economy & Business

Axios

Coronavirus cases rise as 14 American evacuees infected

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's NHC; Note: China refers to mainland China and the Diamond Princess is the cruise ship offshore Yokohama, Japan. Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

14 Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the novel coronavirus before being flown in a "specialist containment" on a plane repatriating U.S. citizens back home, the U.S. government said early Monday.

The big picture: COVID-19 has now killed at least 1,770 people and infected almost 70,000 others. Most cases and all but five of the deaths have occurred in mainland China. Taiwan confirmed its first death on Sunday, per multiple reports, in a 61-year-old man with underlying health conditions. Health officials were investigating how he became ill.

Go deeperUpdated 5 hours ago - Health