May 13, 2017

Pope Francis previews meeting with Trump

Joao Relvas/Pool Photo via AP

Although he once said anyone who wants to keep migrants out of their country "is not Christian," Pope Francis said today he won't try to get Trump to soften his tone when they meet on May 24, per AP.

Pope Francis told reporters he'd listen respectfully to Trump, but that he'd also share his candid opinions with him during their meeting. He wants to find "doors that are at least a little bit open" so that he can find common ground with Trump.

"I never make a judgment about a person without hearing him out," the pope said.

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Marisa Fernandez
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court won't block Rhode Island's eased absentee voting rules

Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

The Supreme Court said Thursday that it will not block Rhode Island's move to ease its requirements for absentee voting during November's election.

Why it matters: The decision is a loss for Republicans, who had requested an emergency order as the state is expected to begin mailing out its ballots.

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Kia Kokalitcheva
1 hour ago - Economy & Business

Breaking down Uber and Lyft's threat to suspend services in California

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios

Uber and Lyft are ratcheting up the fight with California’s state government over the classification of drivers with a move that would deprive Californians of their ride-hailing services (and halt driver income).

Driving the news: On Wednesday, both companies said that if a court doesn’t overturn or further pause a new ruling forcing them to reclassify California drivers as employees, they’ll suspend their services in the state until November’s election, when voters could potentially exempt them by passing a ballot measure.

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Dave Lawler, Barak Ravid
3 hours ago - World

Trump announces normalization of ties between Israel and UAE

Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump and UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto; Samuel Corum; Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump announced a "historic" deal Thursday which will see Israel and the UAE open full diplomatic relations and Israel suspend its annexation plans in the West Bank.

Why it matters: This is a major breakthrough for Israel, which lacks diplomatic recognition in many Middle Eastern countries but has been steadily improving relations in the Gulf, largely due to mutual antipathy toward Iran.

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