Apr 19, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Trump praises New England Patriots at White House

Andrew Harnik / AP

President Trump welcomed the New England Patriots to the White House Wednesday afternoon and congratulated the team on its 5th Super Bowl win:

This Super Bowl effort was a complete team effort, with your backs against the wall... and the pundits saying you couldn't do it, the game was over. You pulled off the greatest Super Bowl win of all time... That game will last forever.

Coach Bill Belichick and owner Bob Kraft both praised Trump in return, but quarterback Tom Brady was a no show.

Go deeper

Dave Lawler
35 mins ago - World

Massive explosion rocks Beirut

Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

A major explosion has slammed central Beirut, Lebanon, and damaged buildings as far as several miles away.

Driving the news: The cause of the explosion is unknown, as are details of potential deaths and injuries. It comes as Lebanon grapples with a crippling financial crisis and the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 57 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 12 p.m. ET: 18,340,451 — Total deaths: 695,318 — Total recoveries — 10,946,462 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 12 p.m. ET: 4,727,879 — Total deaths: 155,814 — Total recoveries: 1,513,446 — Total tests: 57,543,852 — Map.
  3. States: New York City health commissioner resigns in protest of De Blasio's coronavirus response.
  4. Public health: 40% of Americans continue to put off medical care.
  5. Politics: Trump tells "Axios on HBO" that pandemic is "under control," despite surges in infections and uptick in deaths.
  6. Business: Low-income households are struggling to pay energy bills — Construction spending falls for 4th straight month.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Dan Primack
2 hours ago - Economy & Business

Trump's new TikTok threat

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump said twice Monday that the U.S. Treasury would need to get a portion of the sale price of TikTok, as a condition of regulatory approval.

Why it matters: This is akin to extortion — the sort of thing you'd expect to hear on a wiretap, not from the White House in front of reporters.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow