Dec 19, 2017

White House blames media for Trump's low approval ratings

Erica Pandey, author of @Work

Sanders takes a question at a briefing. Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that the media's "negative" coverage of President Trump is the reason for his low job approval ratings, which have remained at about 40% or lower throughout his term.

  • On how judicial nominee Matthew Peterson, who withdrew his nomination, made it through the vetting process: "Every administration has individuals that don't make it through the process."
  • On whether the president will personally benefit from the tax legislation: Trump "will likely take a big hit" on the personal side. "On the business side, he could benefit ... but the focus remains on the middle class."

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Barak Ravid, author of from Tel Aviv
1 hour ago - World

U.S.-Israeli delegation secretly visits Sudan

Photo: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A joint U.S.-Israeli delegation traveled secretly on Wednesday to Sudan for talks on a possible announcement on "ending the state of belligerence" between the countries that could be released in the next few days, sources briefed on the trip told me.

The big picture: President Trump announced earlier this week he is ready to remove Sudan from the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list once Sudan pays $335 million in compensation to American terror victims.

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Felix Salmon, author of Capital
2 hours ago - Economy & Business

A white-collar crime crackdown

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

America has waited a decade for an aggressive government crackdown on white-collar crime. Now, just before the election, and in the middle of a bull market, it has arrived.

Why it matters: When times are good, investors become more trusting and more greedy. That makes them more likely to put their money into fraudulent or criminal enterprises.

  • After a decade-long bull market, there is no shortage of those frauds to prosecute.
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Ashley Gold
2 hours ago - Technology

Lawyers crystal-ball the Google antitrust case

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

The Justice Department's antitrust suit against Google is a strong, straightforward monopoly case, competition lawyers and experts tell Axios. But that doesn't mean it'll be an easy journey for the government.

The big picture: Winning any antitrust case is a heavy lift. It's even more of a challenge to pull off victory in a future-looking case that seeks to make room for potential new competition to flourish.

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