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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Dan Primack

Toy startup "Superplastic" raises $10 million in Series A funding

Source: Superplastic Instagram account

Superplastic, a Burlington, Vt.-based designer toy startup founded by Paul Budnitz (Ello, KidRobot), has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Craft Ventures.

Why it matters: This coincides with Superplastic trying to turn two of its most popular characters into virtual Instagram stars, a burgeoning niche.

Go deeperJul 31, 2019

Jonathan Swan

Nikki Haley will be Trump-Pence "special guest" at 2020 fundraiser

Then-UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Vice President Pence at the UN Security Council in 2017. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Nikki Haley is marked as a "special guest" at a Trump-Pence fundraising retreat in the fall, according to an invitation obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: The former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor is now publicly attached to President Trump's re-election campaign.

Go deeperAug 28, 2019

Zachary Basu

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman submits resignation

Photo: Artyom Geodakyan\TASS via Getty Images

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman is resigning from his post effective Oct. 3, according to a letter first reported by the Salt Lake Tribune.

Why it matters: Huntsman is a two-term governor of Utah and former ambassador to China under President Obama who was diagnosed with cancer last year. His resignation is fueling speculation that he may again run for governor of Utah, per the Tribune. Huntsman faced calls to resign after the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki last summer, but said he would stay on out of commitment to his colleagues and country in this "fragile" era of U.S.-Russia relations.

Resignation letterAug 6, 2019