Oct 5, 2017

Real media strikes back

A pro-media demonstration in front of The New York Times in February. Photo: Kathy Willens / AP

President Trump lashed out at the news media this morning on Twitter, calling "so much of our news" in the United States "just made up-FAKE!" But here are 3 stories that prove real news still matters:

The New York Times in a bombshell report exposed decades of sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein, one of Hollywood's most powerful producers. Eight women spoke on the record , including actress Ashley Judd. Weinstein issued an apology to the Times, promising "to do right by all of [the women he's hurt]" before later promising to sue the paper.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published text messages between Rep. Tim Murphy and his mistress, in which he pushed her to have an abortion during a pregnancy scare despite his public pro-life stance. Murphy announced yesterday that he wouldn't be seeking reelection in 2018 before changing his mind today and abruptly resigning, effective later this month.
Politico tracked the taxpayer-funded private jet travel of HHS Secretary Tom Price, forcing his resignation. Yesterday, the two reporters behind the Price stories published details of the airport stakeouts and meticulous reporting that underpinned their stories.

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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 deeper36 mins 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 deeper1 hour 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 2 hours ago - Health