Jul 31, 2017

Sanders briefs reporters following Scaramucci's ouster

Alex Brandon / AP

Sarah Sanders, who will soon replace Sean Spicer as Press Secretary, stated Monday that White House Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci, "does not have a role [at the White House] at this time." She later added that President Trump "certainly thought Anthony's comments [to The New Yorker] were inappropriate for a person in that position." Other highlights from Monday's press briefing:

Is new Chief of Staff John Kelly responsible for Scaramucci's ouster? "We all serve at the pleasure of the president," but in this instance it was a "mutual agreement."
Hierarchy of reporting to Kelly: "Gen. Kelly has the full authority to operate in the White House and all staff will report to him."
What will happen to Spicer now? "I am not aware of any changes on that front."
On Attorney General Sessions: "The president has 100 percent confidence in every member of his Cabinet."

Earlier, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and National Security Advisor McMaster announced new sanctions on Venezuela.

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Kyle Daly

2 hours ago - Technology

The slippery slope of protest surveillance

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

President Trump's call to treat antifa supporters like terrorists could be a green light for high-tech surveillance of dissidents.

Why it matters: It's unlikely the Trump administration can designate antifa as a terrorist group in any legally meaningful way, but the declaration gives law enforcement tacit approval to use a plethora of tech tools to monitor protesters and left-leaning activists.

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David Nather

2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

The biggest crisis since 1968

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Bettmann/Contributor

The year 1968 has been on a lot of people’s minds lately — another year of protests, violence and upheaval that seemed to be tearing the nation apart.

Yes, but: This crisis also has moments we’ve never seen before — and some historians and experts say the differences suggest that 2020 doesn't compare well at all.

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Dion Rabouin

2 hours ago - Economy & Business

SoftBank to launch $100M fund backing companies led by people of color

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

SoftBank COO Marcelo Claure said in a letter to employees early Wednesday that the firm will create a $100 million fund that "will only invest in companies led by founders and entrepreneurs of color."

Why it matters: The Opportunity Growth Fund is one of the first to put significant capital behind companies' statements of empathy and outrage in response to protests over systemic racism in the U.S. typified by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other African Americans by police.

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