Aug 14, 2018

Sarah Sanders "can't guarantee" Trump has never used the N-word

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that she "can't guarantee" that the president has never used the N-word, but said that she has never heard him say it.

Key quotes: Sanders accused Omarosa of trying "to tear this entire place down," and blamed the press for providing "a large platform to someone they know not to have a lot of credibility." She did not reveal whether or not she had signed an NDA, but pointed out that the practice is "common in a lot of places," especially for government jobs for employees with a security clearance. Sanders defended the president in explaining that calling Omarosa a "dog" did not have anything to do with race.

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Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen

What top CEOs fear telling America about the coronavirus shutdown

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Top CEOs, in private conversations and pleas to President Trump, are warning of economic catastrophe if America doesn't begin planning for a phased return to work as soon as May, corporate leaders tell Axios.

Why it matters: The CEOs say massive numbers of companies, big and small, could go under if business and government don't start urgent talks about ways groups of workers can return.

Go deeper30 mins ago - Economy & Business

Caitlin Owens

Health care workers vs. the coronavirus

Photo Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images, and Europa Press News/Europa Press via Getty Images

Health care workers are at an especially high risk of catching the coronavirus, because of their prolonged exposure to patients who have it. Making matters worse, the U.S. doesn't have enough of the protective equipment, like masks and gloves, that keeps them safe.

And yet these workers, with loved ones of their own, keep showing up at hospitals across the country, knowing that more Americans than they can possibly care for are depending on them.

Go deeper39 mins ago - Health

Amy Harder

Coronavirus crisis tests Trump’s love for cheap oil

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

President Trump is working to help an oil industry imploding as the coronavirus crisis chokes demand, but listen closely and you’ll hear his enduring love for cheap prices.

Why it matters: He’s like most Americans, who worry about energy only when it’s expensive or gone. As president, Trump has been slow and uneven in responding to the sector’s turmoil because of his inclination to cheer rock-bottom prices.

Go deeper1 hour ago - Energy & Environment