Jul 31, 2019

Senate confirms Kelly Craft as next UN ambassador

Kelly Craft on Capitol Hill in 2017. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Kelly Craft

Kelly Craft, currently the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, was confirmed to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday.

Why it matters: Craft's confirmation ends a key diplomatic vacancy that stretched on for over 7 months, following Nikki Haley's resignation. Craft, a GOP activist, "will be [the] first major political donor to occupy the top U.N. post for any administration," the AP reports.

Go deeper: McConnell recommends Kelly Craft to Trump for UN ambassador

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Jennifer A. Kingson
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Mayors plan multifront attack on census shutdown

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

A growing number of mayors are banding together to fight what they consider to be an inaccurate and abruptly curtailed 2020 census, using an arsenal of legal, legislative and congressional efforts.

Why it matters: The outcome may determine whether President Trump or Joe Biden controls the redistricting process, which governs everything from congressional representation and redistricting to funding for schools and Head Start.

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Shawna Chen
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Moderator Kristen Welker will not control mics during final presidential debate

President Trump and Joe Biden at the first presidential debate in September. Photo: Scott Olson via Getty Images

A producer from the Commission on Presidential Debates will manage the operation of the candidates' microphones during Thursday's final presidential debate — not the event's moderator, NBC's Kristen Welker — a source with knowledge of the event told Axios.

Our thought bubble, via Axios' Alexi McCammond: Given President Trump's accusations of partisanship against the other debates' moderators, it makes sense that Welker would want to steer clear of any such optics during her stint in the chair.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: Chris Christie: Wear a mask "or you may regret it — as I did" — Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted relief bill.
  2. Business: New state unemployment filings fall.
  3. Economy: Why the stimulus delay isn't a crisis (yet).
  4. Health: Many U.S. deaths were avoidable — The pandemic is getting worse again.
  5. Education: Boston and Chicago send students back home for online learning.
  6. World: Spain and France exceed 1 million cases.
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