Jan 23, 2017

Trump to add another Breitbart hire

Breitbart's immigration reporter Julia Hahn is set to join the White House team, a source with direct knowledge tells Axios. Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon recruited her and she'll likely work under him as an adviser on policy issues like trade and immigration and on the speechwriting team. Politico first reported the news.

Within a team of aggressive nationalist populist reporters at Breitbart, Hahn stands out for her aggression. And she really, really, loathes Paul Ryan.

She's launched attack after attack after attack against the House Speaker — portraying him as a "globalist" who wants to sell out America via open borders and free trade. They include a story criticizing Ryan for building a "border fence" around his Janesville, Wis., home, while not being sufficiently supportive of Trump's immigration and border protection ideas. Shortly before the election Hahn dedicated almost 3,000 words to an attack on Ryan that accused him of being a secret Hillary Clinton supporter.

Why this matters: Given what she's written about Ryan, Hahn's appointment shows Trump is happy to continue the policy tensions between his inner circle and GOP leadership. Her installation also reflects the ascendant nationalism within Trump's inner circle. She's an acolyte of Jeff Sessions and in her work at Breitbart hammering at illegal aliens she was in near constant contact with the Sessions office. She's close to the former Sessions aide, and now top Trump adviser, Stephen Miller.

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Axios

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 2:30 p.m. ET: 1,506,936 — Total deaths: 90,057 — Total recoveries: 340,112 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 2:30 p.m. ET: 432,596 — Total deaths: 14,831 — Total recoveries: 24,235 — Map.
Federal government latest: President Trump is preparing to launch a second coronavirus task force focused on reviving the U.S. economy.
Public health latest: U.S. has expelled thousands of migrants under coronavirus public health order — Dr. Anthony Fauci said social distancing could reduce the U.S. death toll to 60,000.
Business latest: The Fed will lend up to $2.3 trillion for businesses, state and city governments — Another 6.6 million jobless claims were filed last week.
World update: Boris Johnson is moved out of ICU but remains in hospital with coronavirus
🎧 Podcast: Your hydroxychloroquine questions answered.
What should I do? Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

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