Jul 24, 2018

Ryan claims Trump's just "trolling" with security clearance threats

Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters Tuesday that he doesn't think tariffs are "the right answer," that he wouldn't invite Vladimir Putin to a joint session with Congress — "that’s something we reserve for allies"— and that Trump was "just trolling" in his threats to remove former intelligence officials' security clearance on Tuesday.

Why it matters: These three statements seem to be in conflict with recent actions and tweets by President Trump. Earlier today, Trump tweeted that "Tariffs are the greatest!" and he announced earlier this month that he would host Putin at the White House.

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Mike Allen, Ursula Perano

Updated 12 mins ago - Politics & Policy

In photos: Protests over George Floyd's death grip Minneapolis

The Third Police Precinct burns in Minneapolis on Thursday night. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Demonstrators demanding justice burned a Minneapolis police station and took control of the streets around it last night, heaving wood onto the flames, kicking down poles with surveillance cameras and torching surrounding stores.

What's happening: The crowd was protesting the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man whose life was snuffed out Tuesday by a white Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on his neck for about eight minutes.

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Kendall Baker

59 mins ago - Sports

European soccer's push to return

A Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munchen in an empty stadium. Photo: Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images

European soccer made a splash Thursday, with two of its biggest leagues announcing official return-to-play dates in June.

Why it matters: Soccer is the world's most popular sport, so watching its return through the lens of various leagues, countries and cultures — all of which have been uniquely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic — is illuminating.

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Dion Rabouin

1 hour ago - Economy & Business

The corporate bankruptcy wave has just gotten started

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Even with trillions of dollars in loans, grants and government support — with markets having absorbed a record $1.22 trillion of corporate debt in just five months — a slew of companies are defaulting on their loans and filing for bankruptcy in what is expected to be a record wave of insolvencies and defaults.

Why it matters: While equity and debt markets have rallied thanks to massive interventions from the Federal Reserve and Congress and excitement about the removal of lockdown orders, the real economy is quietly buckling, with many companies threatened by issues that predate the coronavirus pandemic.

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