Apr 11, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Sanders says all options on the table for Syria, despite Trump tweet

Sarah Sanders. Photo: Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Press Secretary Sarah Sanders wouldn't budge on Wednesday to reveal which way the White House is leaning in its response in Syria, repeating that "all options are on the table."

Why it matters: President Trump alluded to a different idea on Wednesday morning, when he tweeted that Russia needs to "get ready" for "missiles fired at Syria." This further clouds expectations for what the U.S. will do next. On Monday, Trump said that there would be a decision made within 48 hours, and that doesn't seem to have happened. Sanders said the president "has not laid out a timetable."

  • Also on Russia: Sanders reiterated that Russia and Syria hold responsibility for the chemical attack over the weekend.
  • On Paul Ryan's resignation: "We certainly hope that Republicans will continue to remain in the House, especially those that support the President's agenda."
  • Sanders explained Trump's earlier tweet that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation has resulted in "bad blood" between the U.S. and Russia, saying the constant focus on collusion has "hurt those relationships."
  • She didn't shut down reports that Trump is considering firing FBI Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, saying only that there are no personnel announcements.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 12 p.m. ET: 30,241,377 — Total deaths: 947,266— Total recoveries: 20,575,416 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 12 p.m. ET: 6,681,251 — Total deaths: 197,763 — Total recoveries: 2,540,334 — Total tests: 91,546,598 — Map.
  3. Politics: Trump vs. his own administration on virus response.
  4. Health: Massive USPS face mask operation called off — The risks of moving too fast on a vaccine.
  5. Business: Unemployment drop-off reverses course — 1 million mortgage-holders fall through safety net — How the pandemic has deepened Boeing's 737 MAX crunch.
  6. Education: At least 42% of school employees are vulnerable.
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Joann Muller, author of Navigate
2 hours ago - Economy & Business

Anxious days for airline workers as mass layoffs loom

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, during a Sept. 9 protest outside the Capitol. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The clock is ticking for tens of thousands of anxious airline employees, who face mass reductions when the government's current payroll support program expires on Sept. 30.

Where it stands: Airline CEOs met Thursday with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who said President Trump would support an additional $25 billion from Congress to extend the current aid package through next March.

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Orion Rummler
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

House Democrats ask DOJ watchdog to probe Durham's Trump-Russia investigation

Attorney General Bill Barr. Photo: Kamil Krzaczynsky/AFP via Getty Images

Four Democratic House committee chairs on Friday asked the Justice Department's inspector general to launch an "emergency investigation" into whether Attorney General Bill Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham, his appointee, are taking actions that could "improperly influence the upcoming presidential election."

Catch up quick: Last year, Barr tapped Durham to conduct a sweeping investigation into the origins of the FBI's 2016 Russia probe, after he and President Trump claimed that it was unjustified and a "hoax."

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