Nov 8, 2017

Top Dem claims Trump is "worst president in modern history"

Haley Britzky

Rep. Adam Schiff stands next to a photograph of President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Photo: Alex Brandon / AP

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) went after President Trump in a tweetstorm Wednesday morning, saying "he has repeatedly shown why he is the worst president in modern history." Schiff cited Trump's claim that "millions of illegal immigrants voted," the withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, and that Trump "[threatens] war via tweet."

Why it matters: Schiff is the ranking Democrat of the House Intelligence Committee, which has a role in the Russia investigation. Schiff also said on Tuesday that "the threat from within" Trump's White House is more serious than threats posed by Russia in its attempt to influence the 2016 election.

Schiff's Twitter thread:

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Ursula Perano

Federal court temporarily blocks coronavirus order against some abortions

Gov. Greg Abbott. Photo: Tom Fox-Pool/Getty Images

A federal judge ruled on Thursday that clinics in Texas can immediately offer medication abortions — a pregnancy termination method administered by pill — along with patients nearing the state's time limits on the procedure.

Driving the news: The decision comes after federal appeals court ruled 2-1 on Tuesday in favor of an executive order by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott that prohibits abortions during the coronavirus outbreak.

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Dave Lawler

The view from the other side of the coronavirus peak

We'll soon be crowding into cafes it's 1954 in Rapallo, Italy. Photo: LIFE Picture Collection via Getty

Europeans and Americans are desperate to move beyond the worst of the crisis and return to something approximating normality, but the World Health Organization is cautioning that moving too fast will undermine the sacrifices made so far.

Where things stand: Nearly every country on Earth is still seeing their caseload increase, and a recent uptick in Singapore shows that apparent victory over the virus can be fleeting. But several countries are providing reason for optimism.

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Dave Lawler

God and COVID-19

Alone at the Western Wall. Photo: Guy Prives/Getty Images

Few aspects of life bring as many people together as religion.

Why it matters: In most crises, that is a blessing. In a pandemic, it can be dangerous.

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