Axios

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio claimed that it seems unlikely he will qualify for the first Democratic primary presidential debate, but he argued that doesn't signal a failing campaign, reports Politico.

"We have a third poll that we think is a qualifying poll from Reuters that puts me at the qualifying level. But remember, even if you get those three polls, there's still a comparative dynamic with the candidates that has to ensue, so I'm not setting the expectation that I'll be in it."

Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will fight any federal plans that include "dumping" hundreds of migrants in southern Florida from the U.S.-Mexico border — even if that means taking it to President Trump directly, reports the AP.

Why it matters: The federal government has reached capacity for processing the thousands of migrants crossing the border, forcing officials to find other options while they await court processing. DeSantis said shipping migrants to Florida could stress "resources, the schools, the health care, law enforcement, state agencies," per AP.

On his Air Force One flight to Louisiana earlier this week, President Trump tried to persuade Rep. Steve Scalise to run for governor of Louisiana, according to two sources familiar with the president's private conversation.

Why it matters: The president's personal appeal to the second highest ranking Republican in the House shows how determined Republicans are to knock off Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has released a platform to protect access to reproductive care, including abortion, just two days after Alabama passed a law effectively banning abortion.

Why it matters: Warren is just one of three presidential candidates who have detailed specific plans to address reproductive rights (Sens. Bernie Sanders and Kirsten Gillibrand are the others). And she's calling on Congress to pass this slate of federal law proposals — but that's unlikely to happen.

Roy Moore is considering another Senate run in Alabama, concerning Republican leaders who fear his candidacy could damage the GOP's chances to win back the seat from Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, the AP reports.

Why it matters: Jones is viewed as one of the most vulnerable Senate incumbents in 2020, and picking up his seat is vital for Republicans to ensure that they remain in control of the chamber. Moore, the former chief justice of Alabama's Supreme Court, lost to Jones in a 2017 special election after multiple women accused him of inappropriate touching and making sexual advances toward them when they were underage.

Go deeper: These Senate seats are up for election in 2020

President Trump's doesn't envision the barrier at the southern border between the U.S. and Mexico to be made of concrete, but instead imagines it will be comprised of steel bollard fencing, spikes and painted black, reports the Washington Post.

Why this matters: The Trump administration is taking billions of dollars from military funds to quickly construct the border wall, and the president is tying to take control of every small detail, frequently changing his mind and leaving engineers, aides and officials befuddled, per the Washington Post.

2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Thursday unveiled 27 new policy proposals grouped under 3 categories: "Freedom," "Security" and "Democracy."

Why it matters: Buttigieg's rapid ascent in the Democratic primary field has attracted significant media attention, with his popularity largely buoyed by his unique backstory as a gay, veteran millennial. However, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend has also garnered criticism for lacking specific policy stances — especially in comparison to candidates like Sen. Elizabeth Warren who many view as leading the policy debate.

Ukraine's prosecutor general told Bloomberg Thursday that he has no evidence of wrongdoing by former Vice President Joe Biden or his son Hunter Biden, following allegations by President Trump's lawyer of conflicts of interest related to Hunter's work with a Ukrainian energy company.

The backdrop: Giuliani and and other allies have been championing a narrative that Biden improperly tried to influence foreign politics by threatening to withhold $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees from Ukraine if the government didn't oust former prosecutor general Viktor Shokin — who was allegedly investigating a company with ties to his son. After boasting to the New York Times that he would travel to Ukraine to ask officials to investigate Biden, ethical blowback forced Giuliani to cancel his trip

President Trump reported making at least $434 million in gross income from his properties and business in the second full year of his presidency, according to his 2018 financial disclosure form released by the Office of Government Ethics.

Quick take: Gross income at Trump's D.C. golf club was up $500,000 to about $13.3 million, while his D.C. hotel made about $40.8 million. Trump National Doral Miami resort, the flagship property and biggest moneymaker for the Trump Organization, made $75 million — down from almost $116 million in 2016. Mar-a-lago brought in $22 million, down from $37 million two years ago. Trump also took out a loan from Professional Bank of between $5 million and $25 million to finance a mansion property next door to Mar-a-lago, which was reportedly purchased by his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr.

Dan and Axios' Sara Fischer dig into why the White House didn't join global call to curb terrorist and other extremist online content, instead launching a solo effort focused on political bias.

Go deeper: Sara's piece on the White House's decision not to sign the Christchurch pact

Mayor Bill de Blasio's 2020 presidential announcement fell flat with New Yorkers — including President Trump on Thursday.

President Trump attacked fellow New Yorker Bill de Blasio in a Thursday tweet shortly after the New York City mayor announced his 2020 presidential campaign.

"The Dems are getting another beauty to join their group. Bill de Blasio of NYC, considered the worst mayor in the U.S., will supposedly be making an announcement for president today. He is a JOKE, but if you like high taxes & crime, he’s your man. NYC HATES HIM!"

The big picture: As the 24th person to join the crowded Democratic field, de Blasio made his experience taking on Trump over the years a centerpiece of his campaign launch video.

Go deeper: Bill de Blasio on the issues, in under 500 words

Bill de Blasio kicked off of his 2020 presidential campaign on Thursday, making the New York City mayor the 24th person to join the crowded Democratic field.

Joe Biden will base his 2020 presidential campaign headquarters in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania, one of the nation's hottest battlegrounds, is key to Biden's plans to beat President Trump in 2020. Born in Scranton — 120 miles north — he's likely to highlight his personal connection to the state. The former vice president will hold his official campaign kickoff rally in Philadelphia this weekend, weeks after he took part in a big-money fundraiser there on the day his campaign launched.

Go deeper: Biden plots an early kill of his 2020 rivals

While world leaders joined with tech companies to sign a pact to combat terrorists and extremists online, the Trump White House broke from the agreement and offered its own tool Wednesday for countering what it sees as censorship by tech platforms.

Why it matters: The move is a signal that the White House is looking to step up its fight against Silicon Valley companies over accusations of bias rather than work with them and its allies to reduce online threats.

Joe Biden is trying to snuff out his Democratic competitors before the race really gets going. 

Why it matters: By all accounts, Biden's strategy is working — even though his campaign isn't even a month old. And others are noticing and feeling threatened.

Across all congressional races in the 2018 midterms, health care was overwhelmingly the top issue that Democrats referenced in their digital and TV advertising, according to data from Advertising Analytics, a firm that specializes in media ad spending and real time political ad detection.

Why it matters: In addition to knocking off an incumbent in the White House, Democrats are facing an uphill battle to win the Senate and a very real possibility of losing their House majority. While several themes are emerging for what could be key themes of the party's 2020 platform, candidates have yet to rally around a single down-ballot issue that could turn voters out in droves like health care did in 2020.

Democratic 2020 hopeful Andrew Yang pitched himself as the top presidential pick for the crypto community at the Consensus conference in New York Wednesday.

What he's saying: "[B]lockchain needs to be a big part of our future," Yang said during a keynote address, according to Fortune. "If I'm in the White House, oh boy are we going to have some fun in terms of the crypto currency community."

During a presidential campaign stop, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said she disagrees with former Vice President Joe Biden that the 1994 crime bill didn't contribute to mass incarceration, reports Reuters.

“That 1994 crime bill, it did contribute to mass incarceration in our country. It encouraged and was the first time that we had a federal three strikes law. It funded the building of more prisons in the states. And so I disagree, sadly."

President Trump issued pardons for ex-media mogul Conrad Black and former California politician Patrick Nolan on Wednesday evening.

Catch up quick: Black, a Canadian-born publisher was found guilty of 4 counts of fraud in 2007 for plotting to steal millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by Hollinger Inc., where he was CEO and chairman. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison, and served more than 3, later deported from the U.S. His media empire once included the Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Jerusalem Post and other papers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Last year, Black published a book titled "Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other."

The Trump administration is sending hundreds of Transportation Security Administration employees to the U.S.-Mexico border to help with the flow of migrants who are crossing, reports AP.

Why it matters: Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan told a group of border personnel over the weekend: “We’re going to put all DHS hands on deck ... You’re going to see more HSI, you’re going to see more TSA, you’re going to see Coast Guard team of secret service. We’re going to send all available professionals down here to help manage this problem,” Axios' Stef Kight reports.

Political and national leaders quickly criticized Alabama's newly passed abortion ban after it passed on Wednesday, including 2020 presidential candidates and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who said the legislation is "so extreme" that she can't foresee the courts upholding it.

What's new: RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said she "personally opposes" the new law on Friday, Politico reports. She emphasized that she would preserve exemptions to allow abortion in cases of incest and rape, which the new law does not.