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Trump cancels foreign trip to focus on Syria

President Trump meeting with military leaders on Syria yesterday. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

“President Trump will not attend the 8th Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru or travel to Bogota, Colombia as originally scheduled. At the President’s request, the Vice President will travel in his stead. The President will remain in the United States to oversee the American response to Syria and to monitor developments around the world.”
— White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders

Why it matters: Trump yesterday said during a meeting with military leaders that he's preparing a response to reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria. "We have a lot of options, militarily. And we'll be letting you know pretty soon," he said.

Go deeper: Trump's options for striking Syria

Go deeper

Rebecca Falconer
Updated 23 mins ago - Health

California surpasses 50,000 COVID-19 deaths

A man prepares a funeral arrangement in in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 12. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

California's death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 50,000 on Wednesday, per Johns Hopkins data.

The big picture: It's the first state to record more than 50,000 deaths from the coronavirus.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Sara Fischer, author of Media Trends
2 hours ago - Technology

Facebook bans Myanmar military

A protester holds a placard with a three-finger salute in front of a military tank parked aside the street in front of the Central Bank building during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo by Aung Kyaw Htet/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Facebook said on Wednesday it would ban the rest of the Myanmar military from its platform.

The big picture: It comes some three weeks after the military overthrew the civilian government in a coup and detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, causing massive protests to erupt throughout the country. Military leaders have been using internet blackouts to try to maintain power in light of the coup.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Stef W. Kight, Will Chase
4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

It's harder to fill the Cabinet

Data: Chamberlain, 2020, "United States of America Cabinet Appointments Dataset" Chart: Will Chase/Axios

It's harder now for presidents to win Senate confirmation for their Cabinet picks, an Axios data analysis of votes for and against nominees found.

Why it matters: It's not just Neera Tanden. The trend is a product of growing polarization, rougher political discourse and slimming Senate majorities, experts say. It means some of the nation's most vital federal agencies go without a leader and the legislative authority that comes with one.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow