Jun 6, 2017

What Trump will be doing during the Comey testimony

Dave Lawler, author of World

Evan Vucci / AP

President Trump has scheduled a speech to religious conservatives for 12:30pm EST on Thursday, the AP reports. That means the speech is likely to fall during James Comey's highly-anticipated testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

  • Flashback: This is part of the Trump playbook. He once held a televised fundraiser for veterans during a primary election debate he had boycotted.
  • Watch your Twitter feed: Comey's testimony will begin at 10am, and Trump will almost certainly be watching. Per the Washington Post's Robert Costa, he'll also be on Twitter: "I'm told by two WH sources that Pres. Trump... may live tweet if he feels the need to respond."
  • Why it matters: Comey is expected to confirm that Trump asked him to ease up on his investigation of Michael Flynn. Responding to his testimony in real time, and without consultation from aides or lawyers, is a risky move.

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Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv
2 hours ago - World

U.S. policy shift will allow taxpayer funding for projects in West Bank settlements

Friedman (L) with Netanyahu. Photo: Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. and Israel will announce tomorrow that they are expanding three agreements on scientific cooperation to include Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israeli and U.S. officials tell me.

Why it matters: This is a substantial policy shift for the U.S., which did not previously allow its taxpayers' money to be spent in the Israeli settlements.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Politics: Obama: Trump is "jealous of COVID's media coverage" — Axios-Ipsos poll: Federal response has only gotten worse.
  2. Health: Hospitals face a crush — 13 states set single-day case records last week.
  3. Business: Winter threat spurs new surge of startup activity.
  4. Media: Pandemic causes TV providers to lose the most subscribers ever.
  5. States: Nearly two dozen Minnesota cases traced to three Trump campaign events.
  6. World: Putin mandates face masks.
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Oriana Gonzalez
3 hours ago - Politics & Policy

McConnell: Confirming Amy Coney Barrett will help GOP retain Senate

Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) expressed no regrets about Judge Amy Coney Barrett's controversial confirmation, telling Politico in an interview that he believes the decision to place her on the Supreme Court just a week before the election will help Republicans retain the Senate.

Why it matters: With a week to go until Election Day, many Republicans are concerned that President Trump's unpopularity could cost them the Senate. McConnell has long viewed the transformation of the federal judiciary through the confirmation of young conservative judges as his defining legacy.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow