President Trump announced Michael Kratsios — his administration's deputy assistant for technology policy — to serve as U.S. chief technology officer.
Why it matters: The Trump administration was slow to fill this key and highly visible position at the White House, per Axios technology reporter David McCabe. The most recent occupant of the CTO role during the Obama administration was seasoned tech executive Megan Smith, who had served as a VP at Google. Kratsios has been involved in initiatives on artificial intelligence and other priorities in technology while on board after the appointment of a White House science advisor.
As recently as December 2018, Jared Kushner has used his personal email account and encrypted messaging apps, including WhatsApp, to conduct official White House business and communicate with foreign nationals, his lawyer Abe Lowell reportedly told House Democrats.
Details: House Oversight chairman Elijah Cummings demanded that the White House provide more details on Kushner's messaging habits by April 4, claiming that Lowell told him and former chair Trey Gowdy about Kushner's WhatsApp use in December. Lowell on Thursday disputed Cummings' characterization, and said that lawmakers should direct questions about Kushner's WhatsApp use to White House lawyers, according to a letter obtained by Politico.
Former FBI Director James Comey wrote in a New York Times op-ed published Thursday that while he believes Donald Trump is unfit for the presidency, he doesn't care whether special counsel Robert Mueller will conclude that Trump conspired with Russia in the 2016 election or obstructed justice.
"I’m not rooting for Mr. Mueller to demonstrate that he is a criminal. I’m also not rooting for Mr. Mueller to “clear” the president. I’m not rooting for anything at all, except that the special counsel be permitted to finish his work, charge whatever cases warrant charging and report on his work. ... I am rooting for a demonstration to the world — and maybe most of all to our president and his enablers — that the United States has a justice system that works because there are people who believe in it and rise above personal interest and tribalism."
Several 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have said that they don't plan on attending D.C.'s annual AIPAC conference, which kicks off this weekend.
The backdrop: AIPAC has been at the heart of a battle within the Democratic Party after Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar apologized for invoking anti-Semitic tropes when criticizing the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group last month. While a host of top congressional Democrats blasted her comments, three candidates for the 2020 Democratic nomination — Sens. Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren — stood behind her.
Stacey Abrams' spokesperson released a statement on Thursday in response to an Axios scoop that Joe Biden is considering naming her his running mate at the same time he announces his bid for president.
"Abrams continues to keep all options on the table for 2020 and beyond. She has met with over half a dozen presidential contenders to discuss their commitment to voting rights and to investing in Georgia."
Russian-born real estate developer Felix Sater will publicly testify before the House Intelligence Committee on March 27 after previously delaying his appearance due to scheduling issues.
Why it matters: Sater is expected to discuss his work with Michael Cohen on building a Trump Tower in Moscow — a project that helped land Cohen a 3-year prison sentence after he lied to Congress about how long negotiations extended into the 2016 presidential campaign.
President Trump has a good shot at re-election 2020, according to multiple economic models maintained by market strategists that "tend to ignore election polls and personal characteristics of candidates" and instead focus on the strength of the economy and advantages held by incumbent presidents, Politico reports.
Our thought bubble, per Axios' Dion Rabouin: Despite growing fear on Wall Street, economists predict the economy will keep humming along, so that should provide a boost to Trump's re-election chances. One caveat is that Trump's policies have worsened income inequality and raised prices, which a savvy opponent will be able to use to their advantage.
Among the last-minute donors to Beto O'Rourke in his midterm Senate campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz was venture capitalist Josh Kushner, who gave $2,600 on Oct. 25, 2018.
Why it matters: He's the younger brother of Jared Kushner, whose boss, President Trump, is being challenged for re-election by O'Rourke.
Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee, who is running a climate-focused White House campaign, is sharing more of his thinking about his platform and approach as the Democratic primary race heats up.
Why it matters: The Democratic party is debating the best method of tackling human-caused global warming and other climate problems, including whether to embrace the Green New Deal (GND) resolution fully or partially. Inslee also is signaling the ways in which he's closer to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's reformist view of capitalism than to the democratic socialism of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Close advisers to former Vice President Joe Biden are debating the idea of packaging his presidential campaign announcement with a pledge to choose Stacey Abrams as his vice president.
Why it matters: The popular Georgia Democrat, who at age 45 is 31 years younger than Biden, would bring diversity and excitement to the ticket — showing voters, in the words of a close source, that Biden "isn't just another old white guy."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was more recognizable to a focus group of Wisconsin swing voters than every Democratic presidential prospect except Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Elizabeth Warren.
Why it matters: AOC has only been in Congress for a few months, yet she's breaking through even in rural areas of the Midwest.It's not a great start for the 2020 Democrats who aren't recognizable at all in Wisconsin, a key battleground state, despite all the national attention they’re getting.
President Trump "should be ashamed of himself" for saying white nationalists are a small group of people, Former Colorado Gov. and 2020 Democratic hopeful John Hickenlooper told a CNN town hall Wednesday.
What he's saying: "The rise of Islamophobia and white nationalism are different sides of the same coin," Hickenlooper said, referring to Trump's remarks made after the fatal New Zealand attacks. "Anytime you are making comments and creating, fanning the flames of hatred, then you're doing a genuine harm to your community."
The McCain Institute issued a lengthy fact sheet on John McCain Wednesday in an apparent response to President Trump's attacks on the late senator — but the commander-in-chief shows no sign of stopping.
Details: As the think-tank, which operates in partnership with Arizona State University, published the piece on McCain's record, Trump increased his attacks on the senator and his policies during a visit to the tank factory in Lima, Ohio.
