May 18, 2017

Reuters: 18 undisclosed Trump campaign, Russia contacts

Justin Green

Alexei Druzhinin / Sputnik, Kremlin Pool via AP

Trump campaign officials engaged in more contacts with Russians and Kremlin-affiliated individuals than have previously been disclosed, according to a new Reuters report that cites "current and former U.S. officials familiar with the exchanges."

  • The timing: "The 18 calls and electronic messages took place between April and November 2016..."
  • Main focus: "Six of the previously undisclosed contacts described to Reuters were phone calls between Kislyak and Trump advisers, including [Michael] Flynn..."
  • Caveat: "The people who described the contacts to Reuters said they had seen no evidence of wrongdoing or collusion between the campaign and Russia in the communications reviewed so far..."

Why it matters: "The previously undisclosed interactions form part of the record now being reviewed by FBI and congressional investigators..."

Go deeper

Bob Herman

Hospitals are starting to get their coronavirus cash infusion

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios

The federal government is sending $64 billion to hospitals, post-acute facilities and other medical providers to help cope with the coronavirus fallout.

Yes, but: Even though more funding is coming, safety net and rural hospitals fear they are getting a raw deal from the way some of the money is being distributed.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Health
Alexi McCammond, Margaret Talev

Biden, Sanders work toward truce on big issues

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Joe Biden isn’t about to become Bernie Sanders, but he’s signaling that there’s potential for more common ground on issues such as health care, student debt, climate change and more in the weeks ahead.

What to watch: As Biden courts Sanders' endorsement, their teams will hold policy discussions in the next few weeks with the expectation that Biden will incorporate some elements of Sanders' agenda, a person familiar with those plans tells Axios.

Go deeperArrow2 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Jonathan Swan

Some Trump aides eye May 1 start to coronavirus reopening

President Trump was flanked at yesterday's briefing by HHS Secretary Alex Azar (far left), Vice President Pence and Dr. Deborah Birx. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Trump's aides, encouraged by virus data showing fewer deaths than once projected, are working behind the scenes to deliver on his vow to reopen America "sooner rather than later."

What to watch for: A senior White House official said there’s a lot of internal energy pushing for May 1, because that's the end of the White House's "30 Days to Slow the Spread."

Go deeperArrow3 hours ago - Politics & Policy