Oct 2, 2019 - Technology

Trump set personal record for tweeting last month

Photo illustration: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty Images

President Trump set a personal record last month by tweeting or retweeting nearly 800 times, almost 100 posts beyond what he published in any previous month of his presidency, according to a USA Today analysis.

Why it matters: Trump sent his September slew of tweets amid a rapidly unfurling impeachment inquiry, which also came as he targeted 2020 Democrats in preparation for his reelection bid. He has faced backlash from political competitors and some allies as a result of his tweets.

By the numbers:

  • Trump published his own words on Twitter 500 times last month, twice his average monthly frequency in 2018.
  • Trump used the word "treason" 5 times and the word "Ukraine" more than 40 times out of 320 since the story broke about his July phone call with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky,
  • Trump raised the name of Biden or his son, Hunter, more than 20 times.
  • He also wrote "Schiff" 22 times in reference to House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), whose committee is investigating the phone call with Zelensky as part of an impeachment inquiry.

The big picture: No other administration has used Twitter like Trump has, and social media platforms are struggling to cope with the reality of becoming political battlegrounds as the 2020 elections ramp up.

Go deeper: Kamala Harris asks Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to suspend Trump's account

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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 1 hour ago - World

Trump admin: Jimmy Lai's arrest marks Beijing's "latest violation" on Hong Kong

Media tycoon Jimmy Lai at the Next Digital offices in Hong Kong in June. Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images

National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said in a statement Monday night the Trump administration is "deeply troubled" by the arrest of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai on suspicion of "collusion with foreign powers."

Why it matters: The arrest Monday of the most prominent person under the new national security law that gives Beijing more powers over the former British colony comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China.

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Jennifer A. Kingson
1 hour ago - Economy & Business

A big hiring pledge from New York CEOs

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios

Leaders of more than two dozen of the New York City area's largest employers — including JPMorgan Chase, Ernst & Young, IBM, McKinsey & Company and Accenture — aim to hire 100,000 low-income residents and people of color by 2030 and will help prep them for tech jobs.

Why it matters: As the city's economy has boomed, many New Yorkers have been left behind — particularly during the pandemic. The hiring initiative marks an unusual pact among firms, some of them competitors, to address systemic unemployment.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 9:30 p.m. ET: 20,004,254 — Total deaths: 733,929 — Total recoveries — 12,209,226 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 9:30 p.m. ET: 5,088,516 — Total deaths: 163,400 — Total recoveries: 1,670,755 — Total tests: 62,513,174 — Map.
  3. Politics: Trump claims he would have not called for Obama to resign over 160,000 virus deaths — House will not hold votes until Sept. 14 unless stimulus deal is reached.
  4. Business: Richer Americans are more comfortable eating out.
  5. Public health: 5 states set single-day coronavirus case records last week — A dual coronavirus and flu threat is set to deliver a winter from hell.
  6. Sports: The cost of kids losing gym class — College football is on the brink.
  7. World: Europe's CDC recommends new restrictions amid "true resurgence in cases."
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