Dec 1, 2017 - Politics & Policy

Trump urged Republicans to end the Russia investigation

Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Over the summer, President Trump pressed Senate Republicans to end the Russia investigation, according to the New York Times.

Why it matters: While Republicans "downplayed Mr. Trump's appeals...as the actions of a political newcomer unfamiliar with what is appropriate," Trump spoke with several members of the party, including Sen. Richard Burr, the intelligence committee chairman. Part of special counsel Mueller's investigation is whether or not Trump tried to obstruct justice by firing former FBI Director James Comey.

Per the Times, Trump "voiced sharp anger that congressional Republicans were not helping lift the cloud of suspicion over Russia."
Burr said Trump "still has the mind-set of a businessman rather than a politician," stressing that he wasn't aware that the requests were inappropriate.
One Republican senator said Trump didn't request an end to the investigation, but suggested an investigation into Hillary Clinton's connection with intelligence-gathering firm Fusion GPS.

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Updated 13 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3:30 a.m. ET: 18,543,662 — Total deaths: 700,714 — Total recoveries — 11,143,031— Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3:30 a.m. ET: 4,771,236 — Total deaths: 156,807 — Total recoveries: 1,528,979 — Total tests: 57,543,852 — Map.
States: New York City health commissioner resigns in protest of De Blasio's coronavirus response — Local governments go to war over schools.
Public health: 59% of Americans support nationwide 2-week stay-at-home order in NPR poll.
Politics: Trump's national security adviser returns to work after coronavirus recovery — Republicans push to expand small business loan program.
Sports: Indy 500 to be held without fans — Rafael Nadal opts out of U.S. Open.

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Rebecca Falconer

Updated 16 mins ago - World

Azar to lead delegation to Taiwan in first high-level U.S. visit in decades

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar during a June briefing in Washington, DC. Photo: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced Tuesday night he will lead a delegation to Taiwan "in the coming days."

Why it matters: It's the highest-level visit by a U.S. cabinet official to Taiwan since 1979. Azar is also the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit the island state in six years. The visit has angered China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory. Chinese officials accused the U.S. early Wednesday of "endangering peace" with the visit, AFP reports.

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Updated 1 hour ago - World

At least 100 killed, 4,000 injured after massive explosion rocks Beirut

Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

A major explosion has slammed central Beirut, Lebanon, damaging buildings as far as several miles away and injuring scores of people.

Driving the news: At least 100 people have been killed and over 4,000 injured in the blast — and the death toll is likely to rise, the Lebanese Red Cross said, per AP. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the explosions occurred at a warehouse that had been storing 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate for the past six years.

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