Aug 28, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Trump defends Arpaio pardon, pledges Harvey support

Alex Brandon / AP

President Trump took part in a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the White House this afternoon, pledging his support for regions affected by Hurricane Harvey and defending his decision to pardon Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio.

On funding Harvey recovery: "You're going to see very rapid action from Congress…We expect to have requests on our desk very soon, and we expect Congress will feel very much the way I feel in a bipartisan way, which will be nice."
Defending Arpaio: Trump stood by his decision as "the right thing to do" and defended the pardon's timing — a Friday evening as Harvey took aim at the Texas coast — by saying that he expected cable news ratings to be "far higher" given the storm.
Shutting down the government over the wall: "I hope that's not necessary. If it's necessary, we'll have to see."

Trump: "Protecting the lives of our people is my highest priority. Every asset at my command is at the disposal of local officials." pic.twitter.com/KdzxGgfdEU— Axios (@axios) August 28, 2017Trump asks the Finnish president why he called on the same reporter twice, but they were different women. pic.twitter.com/JAala68MJ6— Axios (@axios) August 28, 2017

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Axios

Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2 p.m. ET: 19,451,097 — Total deaths: 722,835 — Total recoveries — 11,788,665 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2. p.m. ET: 4,968,413 — Total deaths: 161,858 — Total recoveries: 1,623,870 — Total tests: 60,415,558 — Map.
Public health: Fauci says chances are "not great" that COVID-19 vaccine will be 98% effective.
Science: Indoor air is the next coronavirus frontline.
Schools: How back-to-school is playing out in the South as coronavirus rages on — Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Howard to hold fall classes online.

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Rashaan Ayesh

2 hours ago - World

What's next for Lebanon after the Beirut explosion

Photo: Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Beirut residents are still clearing rubble from streets that appear war-torn, days after a blast that shocked the country and horrified the world.

Why it matters: The explosion is likely to accelerate a painful cycle Lebanon was already living through — discontent, economic distress, and emigration.

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Mike Allen

3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Wolf Blitzer marks 15 years in "The Situation Room"

Wolf Blitzer on the White House beat in 1993, along with NBC's Brian Williams, CBS' Rita Braver and ABC's Brit Hume. Photo: Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images H

Aug. 8, 2005 — "The Situation Room's" debut on CNN wherein the host first said: "I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in The Situation Room, where news and information from around the world arrive in one place simultaneously!"

The state of play: When the pandemic took off in the U.S. in March, Blitzer started working 7 days a week for 60+ days, until he took a Sunday off. Then he continued 7 days a week until he took a few days off.