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Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

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Report: Trump went after McCabe's wife in call about Comey

Erica Pandey, author of @Work

Trump at the White House Monday. Photo: Chris Kleponis, Pool / Getty Images

President Trump called then-Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe to unload soon after he fired James Comey, NBC's Carol Lee reports. In the call, Trump "demanded to know why Comey was allowed to fly on an FBI plane after he had been fired," to which McCabe replied that he was not the one to authorize Comey's use of the plane but that he would have approved it, had he been asked.

Then Trump "turned on McCabe, suggesting he ask his wife how it feels to be a loser — an apparent reference to a failed campaign for state office in Virginia that McCabe’s wife made in 2015."

Why it matters: McCabe is stepping down as deputy director of FBI, effective immediately, after months of tension with Trump.

Go deeper: A timeline of Trump's relationship with McCabe

Go deeper

Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
6 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Kevin McCarthy's rude awakening

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Kevin McCarthy is learning you can get torched when you try to make everyone happy, especially after an insurrection.

Why it matters: The House Republican leader had been hoping to use this year to build toward taking the majority in 2022, but his efforts to bridge intra-party divisiveness over the Capitol siege have him taking heat from every direction, eroding his stature both with the public and within his party.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Stef W. Kight
6 mins ago - Politics & Policy

The next big political war: redistricting

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Democrats are preparing a mix of tech and legal strategies to combat expected gerrymandering by Republicans, who are planning to go on legal offense themselves.

Why it matters: Democrats failed to regain a single state legislature on Election Day, while Republicans upped their control to 30 states' Houses and Senates. In the majority of states, legislatures draw new congressional district lines, which can boost a party's candidates for the next decade.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
36 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Vaccinations, relief timing dominate Sweet 16 call

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) speaks during a news conference in December with a group of bipartisan lawmakers. Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Vaccine distribution, pandemic data and a cross-party comity dominated today's virtual meeting between White House officials and a bipartisan group of 16 senators, Senator Angus King told Axios.

Why it matters: Given Democrats' razor-thin majority in both chambers of Congress, President Biden will have to rely heavily on this group of centrist lawmakers — dubbed the "Sweet 16" — to pass any substantial legislation.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow

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