Jun 8, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Trump calls for reinstating Russia to G-7

Photo: Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ahead of the G-7 summit in Canada Friday, President Trump told reporters that he thinks Russia, which was ousted from the group of countries with the leading advanced economies for annexing Crimea, to be reinstated — re-forming a Group of 8 (G-8).

Why it matters: As with the big-stakes talks with China and North Korea, this is Trump granting an enormous concession absent reciprocity, putting him further at odds with U.S. allies ahead of today's G-7 summit.

Be smart: Trump has been consistently criticized for seeming lenient toward Russia despite their threats to U.S. democracy, including the Kremlin's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

More from Trump's 20-minute chat with reporters:

  • Scott Pruitt's ethical behavior: "Scott Pruitt is doing a great job within the walls of the EPA," but "I'm not saying he's blameless"
  • Trump said he's considering pardoning thousands of people, including deceased boxer Muhammad Ali.
  • NFL players kneeling for the National Anthem: "I'm going to ask them to recommend to me people who are unfairly treated."

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Axios
Updated 8 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 10 p.m. ET: 32,471,119 — Total deaths: 987,593 — Total recoveries: 22,374,557 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 10 p.m. ET: 7,032,524 — Total deaths: 203,657 — Total recoveries: 2,727,335 — Total tests: 99,483,712 — Map.
  3. States: "We’re not closing anything going forward": Florida fully lifts COVID restaurant restrictions — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam tests positive for coronavirus.
  4. Health: Young people accounted for 20% of cases this summer.
  5. Business: Coronavirus has made airports happier places —The expiration of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance looms.
  6. Education: Where bringing students back to school is most risky.
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What he's saying: The ad — which began Friday night, and is a follow-up to "Fresh Start" — draws from a Biden speech earlier in the week in Manitowoc, Wisconsin:

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Trump prepares to announce Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court replacement

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Why it matters: Barrett would push the already conservative court further and harder to the right, for decades to come, on the most important issues in American politics — from abortion to the limits of presidential power. If confirmed, she would give conservatives a 6-3 majority on the high court.

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