Oct 16, 2019

Trump campaign singles out Biden and Warren during 4th debate

Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the debate stage in Westerville, Ohio. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

While 12 Democratic candidates were debating in Ohio on Tuesday night, the Trump campaign had plenty to say about the field, but singled out only 2 frontrunners — former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

The big picture: In emails to supporters, President Trump's 2020 team attacked Biden's family and their business ties and Warren's answers on whether her Medicare for All plan will raise taxes on the middle class.

What they're saying:

Warren: "I will not sign a bill into law that does not lower costs for middle-class families."
Biden backed his son, Hunter, saying that he and his son did nothing wrong in Ukraine during his vice presidency: "I carried out the policy of the United States in rooting out corruption in Ukraine. That's what we should be focusing on. What I wanted to make a point about, and my son's statement speaks for itself."

The bottom line: President Trump's allies are still afraid of a general election matchup against Biden more than a run against Warren, Axios' Alayna Treene and Alexi McCammond report.

Go deeper: Biden's 2020 family problem

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Axios

Updated 8 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 5 p.m. ET: 5,885,490— Total deaths: 363,031 — Total recoveries — 2,468,011 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 5 p.m. ET: 1,735,971 — Total deaths: 102,516 — Total recoveries: 399,991 — Total tested: 15,646,041 — Map.
Public health: Hydroxychloroquine prescription fills exploded in March —How the U.S. might distribute a vaccine.
2020: North Carolina asks RNC if convention will honor Trump's wish for no masks or social distancing.
Business: Fed chair Powell says coronavirus is "great increaser" of income inequality.
1 sports thing: NCAA outlines plan to get athletes back to campus.

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Axios

Updated 1 hour ago - Health

World coronavirus updates

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Axios Visuals

Over 500 schools in South Korea have either closed or postponed reopening, according to the Korea Times, which cites data from the Ministry of Education.

Why it matters: South Korea has been a model for how to handle the novel coronavirus, and the closures reportedly followed concerns from parents and teachers over child safety. The country's confirmed death toll has plateaued at 269 over the past few days, with few increases, per Johns Hopkins data.

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Dave Lawler, Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian

2 hours ago - World

Trump to end Hong Kong’s special trade status

President Trump. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Trump announced on Friday that the U.S. would be fundamentally changing longstanding policies toward Hong Kong as a result of Chinese encroachment on the city's autonomy.

Why it matters: Trump said he would be effectively ending the special trade status that has allowed Hong Kong to flourish as a gateway to the Chinese market. That leaves an uncertain future for businesses that operate in Hong Kong, not to mention the city's 7 million residents, and could be met with reprisals from Beijing.

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