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Giuliani says he misspoke in CNN interview about Ukraine and Biden

President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on "Fox News Sunday" that he misspoke during his interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo on Friday when he at first denied that he asked Ukrainian officials to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son.

"I clarified it immediately. He said to me, 'Did you ever talk about Joe Biden.' I said no. Then I said, "I did say that you should investigate Joe Biden and Hunter Biden. The no was obviously wrong. I clarified it immediately. I corrected it before he corrected it. The reality is⁠ — the distinction is this. What they're trying to say is I went there for a political mission to kind of get Joe Biden in trouble. Ridiculous. I went there as a lawyer defending his client."

Why it matters: Giuliani said that he asked Ukrainian officials to investigate "Ukrainian collusion" that he claims occurred during the 2016 presidential election, but the acknowledgment that his request involved Biden is now at the heart of an unraveling controversy that involves President Trump.

  • House Democrats are now investigating Giuliani's time in Ukraine and whether Trump pressured Ukraine's president to open an investigation into Biden and his son. Trump confirmed on Sunday that he discussed Biden with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a July phone call.

Go deeper: Trump confirms he discussed Biden with Ukrainian president

Go deeper

Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
19 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
20 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
49 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