cnbc--2020-01-27--Trump rages after reports that Bolton book claims president tied Ukraine aid to probes

President Donald Trump vented rage on Twitter just hours before his Senate impeachment trial was set to resume Monday , denying his ex-national security advisor John Bolton 's reported claim that military aid to Ukraine was frozen in order to secure investigation into Trump 's political opponents .
Trump 's pushback came amid growing pressure for the Republican-majority Senate to allow witnesses to testify in the trial .
The New York Times reported Sunday that Bolton , in his upcoming book `` The Room Where It Happened , '' wrote that Trump personally tied a nearly $ 400 million aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
CNBC has not seen a copy of Bolton 's manuscript .
But Trump flatly denied the account from Bolton , who left the White House in September amid a public dispute with the president over whether he resigned or was fired .
`` I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats , including the Bidens , '' Trump tweeted early Monday morning .
`` In fact , he never complained about this at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If John Bolton said this , it was only to sell a book , '' Trump claimed .
At the White House later Monday , Trump told reporters that he has not seen a copy of Bolton 's manuscript .
But he maintained that Bolton 's reported allegations are `` false ! ''
Democrats have held Bolton up as a key witness who must be heard in the trial .
And the handful of Republicans seen as being moderate enough to side with the Democrats on witnesses appeared to be taking Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitt Romney of Utah told reporters Monday morning that `` I think it 's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton . ''
Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , released a statement saying the reports on Bolton 's book `` strengthen the case for witnesses . ''
They `` have prompted a number of conversations with my colleagues , '' Collins said .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate .
Democrats need a simple , 51-vote majority to have their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Republicans have compiled their own list of witnesses , including Hunter Biden and the whistleblower whose complaint about Trump 's July 25 call with Ukraine 's leader sparked the impeachment proceedings .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said Monday morning that the new reports erase even a `` shred of logic left to not hear witnesses and review the documents . ''
It remains highly unlikely that two-thirds of the Senate will vote to remove Trump , as the Constitution requires .
Democratic House managers , led by House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid out their case last week for Trump 's conviction and removal from office on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , both related to his Ukraine dealings .
Trump 's legal team began their defense on Saturday and are set Monday to continue arguing that the president did nothing wrong .

President Donald Trump vented rage on Twitter just hours before his Senate impeachment trial was set to resume Monday, denying his ex-national security advisor John Bolton's reported claim that military aid to Ukraine was frozen in order to secure investigation into Trump's political opponents.
Trump's pushback came amid growing pressure for the Republican-majority Senate to allow witnesses to testify in the trial.
The New York Times reported Sunday that Bolton, in his upcoming book "The Room Where It Happened," wrote that Trump personally tied a nearly $400 million aid package to Kyiv to an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. CNBC has not seen a copy of Bolton's manuscript.
But Trump flatly denied the account from Bolton, who left the White House in September amid a public dispute with the president over whether he resigned or was fired.
"I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens," Trump tweeted early Monday morning. "In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination."
"If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book," Trump claimed.
Trump TWEET 1
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At the White House later Monday, Trump told reporters that he has not seen a copy of Bolton's manuscript. But he maintained that Bolton's reported allegations are "false!"
Democrats have held Bolton up as a key witness who must be heard in the trial. And the handful of Republicans seen as being moderate enough to side with the Democrats on witnesses appeared to be taking Bolton's reported claims seriously.
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah told reporters Monday morning that "I think it's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton."
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, released a statement saying the reports on Bolton's book "strengthen the case for witnesses."
They "have prompted a number of conversations with my colleagues," Collins said.
Collins TWEET
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats need a simple, 51-vote majority to have their requests for witnesses and documents approved. But Republicans have compiled their own list of witnesses, including Hunter Biden and the whistleblower whose complaint about Trump's July 25 call with Ukraine's leader sparked the impeachment proceedings.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday morning that the new reports erase even a "shred of logic left to not hear witnesses and review the documents."
It remains highly unlikely that two-thirds of the Senate will vote to remove Trump, as the Constitution requires.
Democratic House managers, led by House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., laid out their case last week for Trump's conviction and removal from office on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both related to his Ukraine dealings. Trump's legal team began their defense on Saturday and are set Monday to continue arguing that the president did nothing wrong.


cnbc--2020-01-27--Jerry Nadler announces wife's cancer diagnosis, says he will miss part of impeachment trial

Rep. Jerry Nadler , D-N.Y. , one of the House impeachment managers leading the trial against President Donald Trump , said on Sunday that his wife was diagnosed in December with pancreatic cancer and that he will be in New York on Monday to attend to her treatment .
`` I am sorry to miss some of the Senate Impeachment Trial , which is of critical importance to our democracy , '' Nadler said .
`` I plan to return to Washington late Monday and appreciate the support of my colleagues and staff as I take this time to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight against her cancer . ''
Nadler is one of seven lawmakers chosen by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , to present the case for impeaching Trump .
On Monday , the president 's defense team is expected to continue their case for Trump 's acquittal , which they began presenting on Saturday .
The Democratic-controlled House has charged the president with abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to pursue investigations into his political rivals , and with obstructing Congress .
Nadler , the chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed the committee 's markup of the articles of impeachment .

Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., one of the House impeachment managers leading the trial against President Donald Trump, said on Sunday that his wife was diagnosed in December with pancreatic cancer and that he will be in New York on Monday to attend to her treatment.
Nadler tweet
"I am sorry to miss some of the Senate Impeachment Trial, which is of critical importance to our democracy," Nadler said. "I plan to return to Washington late Monday and appreciate the support of my colleagues and staff as I take this time to be with my wife and begin the long fight against her cancer."
Nadler is one of seven lawmakers chosen by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to present the case for impeaching Trump. On Monday, the president's defense team is expected to continue their case for Trump's acquittal, which they began presenting on Saturday.
The Democratic-controlled House has charged the president with abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to pursue investigations into his political rivals, and with obstructing Congress.
Nadler, the chairman of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, said Sunday that his wife's diagnosis followed the committee's markup of the articles of impeachment.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump impeachment trial: Defense ignores Bolton bombshell about Ukraine aid for investigations

President Donald Trump 's lawyers laid out a multi-pronged defense in the Senate impeachment trial Monday , pushing back on House Democrats ' case for Trump 's conviction and removal from office .
The defense team sought to undermine the arguments presented last week by the House impeachment managers , while making the historical case for Trump 's acquittal and rationalizing his dealings with Ukraine .
They also presented expansive arguments defending Trump 's lawyer , Rudy Giuliani , and raising suspicions about the conduct of Hunter Biden , the son of 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump 's lawyers had not addressed former national security advisor John Bolton 's reported claim that Trump withheld nearly $ 400 million in military aid to Ukraine in order to secure investigation into his political opponents .
Trump denied Bolton 's claim , reportedly made in a manuscript of his upcoming memoir .
The defense team has 24 cumulative hours to present its opening statements .
The lawyers kicked off their arguments in an abbreviated session Saturday morning , accusing Democrats of pursuing Trump 's impeachment simply to remove him from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The House voted last month to impeach Trump on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , both related to his dealings with Ukraine .
It remains unlikely that two thirds of the Senate will vote to remove Trump , as the Constitution requires .
Here are the day 's biggest moments from the Senate trial : GOP senators say report on Bolton 's book boosts need for witnesses in trial ...
The New York Times reported Sunday that Bolton 's claims in an upcoming book that Trump said he wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until Kyiv agreed to announce investigations into his Democratic political opponents , including the Bidens .
Trump denied the reported allegations on Twitter early Monday morning .
CNBC has not seen a copy of Bolton 's manuscript .
Democrats have held Bolton up as a key witness who must be heard in the trial .
And the handful of Republicans seen as being moderate enough to side with the Democrats on witnesses appeared to be taking Bolton 's reported claims seriously .
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah told reporters Monday morning that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton . ''
Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , released a statement saying the reports on Bolton 's book `` strengthen the case for witnesses . ''
They `` have prompted a number of conversations with my colleagues , '' Collins said .
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska tweeted : `` I stated before that I was curious as to what John Bolton might have to say .
From the outset , I 've worked to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members would have the opportunity to weigh in after its initial phase to determine if we need more information . ''
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , said Monday morning that the new reports erase even a `` shred of logic left to not hear witnesses and review the documents . ''
The president 's lawyers hammered the evidence gathered during the House impeachment inquiry from numerous current and former administration officials .
They argued that nearly all of the testimony in those proceedings came from second- or third-hand sources who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his intentions toward Ukraine .
But they did n't mention Bolton 's newly reported allegations , which loomed over the impeachment proceedings Monday .
`` Not a single witness testified the president himself said that there was any connection between any investigation and security assistance , a presidential meeting , or anything else , '' Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said .
It 's true that none of the witnesses in House proceedings testified that Trump himself explicitly tied the Ukraine aid to the political probes .
But the White House had pressured some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment inquiry , and others — including Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney — have refused to comply .
Trump 's defense team offered a lengthy , rigorous defense of the president 's personal lawyer , whom they argue `` is the House managers ' colorful distraction . ''
`` House managers would have you believe that Mr. Giuliani was at the center of this controversy , '' Trump lawyer Jane Raskin told senators .
`` If Rudy Giuliani is everything they say he is , do n't you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his testimony ? ''
House Democrats subpoenaed documents from Giuliani in September during their investigation .
But a lawyer for Giuliani told the House in October that Giuliani would not comply with the impeachment inquiry , calling it `` unconstitutional , baseless , and illegitimate . ''
Raskin , referring to Giuliani as a `` minor player , '' said he was n't on a `` political errand '' while in talks with Ukraine on digging up potentially damaging information about Joe Biden .
Rather , she said , he was being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He was gathering evidence regarding Ukrainian election interference to defend his client against the false allegations being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller , '' Raskin said .
Giuliani reacted positively to Raskin 's defense of him , saying in a tweet following her arguments that he `` did not dig up dirt on Joe Biden . ''
Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Giuliani to determine whether he broke laws regulating foreign lobbying following the ouster of former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch .
Former Florida Attorney General Pam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argue one of the most controversial portions of Trump 's defense , and one that several Republican senators still do not consider credible : The claim that former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden 's activities in Ukraine were suspicious and worthy of further investigation .
For more than half an hour , Bondi laid out the discredited theory that in 2014 , Joe Biden had pressed for the removal of a corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor , not because the prosecutor was corrupt , but because that prosecutor had run a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas company who employed Hunter Biden as a board member .
But the timeline of this theory does n't line up -- the investigation into Burisma was closed before Hunter Biden joined the board .
Nonetheless , last summer Trump asked Ukrainian president Zelenskiy to launch a new probe of the Bidens , a request at the heart of the current impeachment case against Trump .
Bondi argued Monday that Democrats `` might say , without evidence , that everything we just have said has been debunked , that the evidence points entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Still , Bondi said , `` all we 're saying is that there was a basis to talk about [ the Bidens ] , to raise this issue '' with Zelenskiy .
`` And that is enough . ''
A spokesman for Joe Biden 's 2020 presidential campaign dismissed Bondi 's argument .
`` Here on Planet Earth , the conspiracy theory that Bondi repeated has been conclusively refuted , '' said rapid response director Andrew Bates .
Ken Starr , the former head of the Independent Counsel 's Office which investigated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1990 's , returned to the Senate floor Monday to argue a point that few people ever expected to hear coming from Starr : Presidential impeachment has been weaponized , Starr told senators , likening the process to a `` domestic war '' that `` divides the country like nothing else . ''
`` In this particular juncture in America 's history , the Senate is being called to sit as the high court of impeachment all too frequently , '' Starr said .
`` Indeed , we are living in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the age of impeachment .
... How did we get here ? ''
But Starr was an imperfect messenger for this particular line of reasoning .
In the late 1990 's , Starr led the multi-pronged investigation of Clinton that resulted in the president 's eventual impeachment in late 1998 .
Back then , Starr produced a lengthy report that included a list of 11 possible grounds for impeaching Clinton , and he argued that `` no one is above the law . ''
Twenty years later , Starr had changed his tune @

In this screenshot taken from a Senate Television webcast, Legal Counsel for President Donald Trump, Alan Dershowitz speaks during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on January 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. Senate Television | Getty Images
President Donald Trump's lawyers laid out a multi-pronged defense in the Senate impeachment trial Monday, pushing back on House Democrats' case for Trump's conviction and removal from office. The defense team sought to undermine the arguments presented last week by the House impeachment managers, while making the historical case for Trump's acquittal and rationalizing his dealings with Ukraine. They also presented expansive arguments defending Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and raising suspicions about the conduct of Hunter Biden, the son of 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. But as of 8 p.m. on Monday evening, Trump's lawyers had not addressed former national security advisor John Bolton's reported claim that Trump withheld nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine in order to secure investigation into his political opponents. Trump denied Bolton's claim, reportedly made in a manuscript of his upcoming memoir. The defense team has 24 cumulative hours to present its opening statements. The lawyers kicked off their arguments in an abbreviated session Saturday morning, accusing Democrats of pursuing Trump's impeachment simply to remove him from the ballot in the 2020 presidential election. The House voted last month to impeach Trump on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both related to his dealings with Ukraine. It remains unlikely that two thirds of the Senate will vote to remove Trump, as the Constitution requires. Here are the day's biggest moments from the Senate trial:
watch now
GOP senators say report on Bolton's book boosts need for witnesses in trial...
The New York Times reported Sunday that Bolton's claims in an upcoming book that Trump said he wanted a military aid package to Ukraine withheld until Kyiv agreed to announce investigations into his Democratic political opponents, including the Bidens. Trump denied the reported allegations on Twitter early Monday morning. CNBC has not seen a copy of Bolton's manuscript. Democrats have held Bolton up as a key witness who must be heard in the trial. And the handful of Republicans seen as being moderate enough to side with the Democrats on witnesses appeared to be taking Bolton's reported claims seriously.
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) speaks to the media while walking towards the Senate Chamber for the Senate Impeachment Trial in Washington. Michael Brochstein | Getty Images
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah told reporters Monday morning that "I think it's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton." Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, released a statement saying the reports on Bolton's book "strengthen the case for witnesses." They "have prompted a number of conversations with my colleagues," Collins said. Collins TWEET Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska tweeted: "I stated before that I was curious as to what John Bolton might have to say. From the outset, I've worked to ensure this trial would be fair and that members would have the opportunity to weigh in after its initial phase to determine if we need more information." Murkowski TWEET Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday morning that the new reports erase even a "shred of logic left to not hear witnesses and review the documents."
...But Trump's defense sidesteps Bolton's claims
The president's lawyers hammered the evidence gathered during the House impeachment inquiry from numerous current and former administration officials. They argued that nearly all of the testimony in those proceedings came from second- or third-hand sources who did not speak directly to Trump about his intentions toward Ukraine. But they didn't mention Bolton's newly reported allegations, which loomed over the impeachment proceedings Monday. "Not a single witness testified the president himself said that there was any connection between any investigation and security assistance, a presidential meeting, or anything else," Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said.
In this screengrab taken from a Senate Television webcast, Legal Counsel for President Donald Trump Jay Sekulow speaks during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on January 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. Senate Television | Getty Images
It's true that none of the witnesses in House proceedings testified that Trump himself explicitly tied the Ukraine aid to the political probes. But the White House had pressured some potential witnesses not to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry, and others — including Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney — have refused to comply.
Rudy Giuliani gets a robust defense
Trump's defense team offered a lengthy, rigorous defense of the president's personal lawyer, whom they argue "is the House managers' colorful distraction." "House managers would have you believe that Mr. Giuliani was at the center of this controversy," Trump lawyer Jane Raskin told senators. "If Rudy Giuliani is everything they say he is, don't you think they would have subpoenaed and pursued his testimony?" House Democrats subpoenaed documents from Giuliani in September during their investigation. But a lawyer for Giuliani told the House in October that Giuliani would not comply with the impeachment inquiry, calling it "unconstitutional, baseless, and illegitimate." Raskin, referring to Giuliani as a "minor player," said he wasn't on a "political errand" while in talks with Ukraine on digging up potentially damaging information about Joe Biden. Rather, she said, he was being a good defense lawyer for the president. "He was gathering evidence regarding Ukrainian election interference to defend his client against the false allegations being investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller," Raskin said. Giuliani reacted positively to Raskin's defense of him, saying in a tweet following her arguments that he "did not dig up dirt on Joe Biden." Giuliani tweet Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Giuliani to determine whether he broke laws regulating foreign lobbying following the ouster of former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.
Pam Bondi argues the Bidens merit further investigation
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi took the floor Monday afternoon to argue one of the most controversial portions of Trump's defense, and one that several Republican senators still do not consider credible: The claim that former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden's activities in Ukraine were suspicious and worthy of further investigation.
In this screengrab taken from a Senate Television webcast, Legal Counsel for President Donald Trump, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on January 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. Senate Television | Getty Images
For more than half an hour, Bondi laid out the discredited theory that in 2014, Joe Biden had pressed for the removal of a corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor, not because the prosecutor was corrupt, but because that prosecutor had run a corruption probe of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company who employed Hunter Biden as a board member. But the timeline of this theory doesn't line up -- the investigation into Burisma was closed before Hunter Biden joined the board. Nonetheless, last summer Trump asked Ukrainian president Zelenskiy to launch a new probe of the Bidens, a request at the heart of the current impeachment case against Trump. Bondi argued Monday that Democrats "might say, without evidence, that everything we just have said has been debunked, that the evidence points entirely and equivocally in the other direction." Still, Bondi said, "all we're saying is that there was a basis to talk about [the Bidens], to raise this issue" with Zelenskiy. "And that is enough." A spokesman for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign dismissed Bondi's argument. "Here on Planet Earth, the conspiracy theory that Bondi repeated has been conclusively refuted," said rapid response director Andrew Bates.
Ken Starr, who led Clinton probe, decries "age of impeachment"
Ken Starr, the former head of the Independent Counsel's Office which investigated then-President Bill Clinton's extramarital affair in the 1990's, returned to the Senate floor Monday to argue a point that few people ever expected to hear coming from Starr: Presidential impeachment has been weaponized, Starr told senators, likening the process to a "domestic war" that "divides the country like nothing else."
In this screengrab taken from a Senate Television webcast, Legal Counsel for President Donald Trump Ken Starr speaks during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on January 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. Senate Television | Getty Images
"In this particular juncture in America's history, the Senate is being called to sit as the high court of impeachment all too frequently," Starr said. "Indeed, we are living in what I think can aptly be described as the age of impeachment. ... How did we get here?" But Starr was an imperfect messenger for this particular line of reasoning. In the late 1990's, Starr led the multi-pronged investigation of Clinton that resulted in the president's eventual impeachment in late 1998. Back then, Starr produced a lengthy report that included a list of 11 possible grounds for impeaching Clinton, and he argued that "no one is above the law." Twenty years later, Starr had changed his tune.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Hunter Biden agrees to pay child support to Arkansas woman, avoids contempt hearing

World Food Program USA Board Chairman Hunter Biden speaks at the World Food Program USA 's Annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award Ceremony at Organization of American States on April 12 , 2016 in Washington , DC .
Hunter Biden , the son of leading Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden , has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount of monthly child support to an Arkansas woman who bore him a baby out of wedlock , avoiding a hearing Wednesday that put him at risk of being held in contempt of court .
The support is retroactive to November 2018 , three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexis Roberts , according to a judge 's order filed Monday in Independence County Court , Arkansas .
And Biden must pay Roberts , 28 , an undisclosed amount for her attorneys ' fees and costs , according to the order .
The amount of child support that Biden must pay could increase — or decrease — in the future , Judge Holly Meyer noted in her order .
Meyer wrote that she currently lacks sufficient information about Biden 's income to determine a permanent amount of support .
The order came two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appear in court for a hearing on whether he should be found in contempt for failing to disclose financial information to Roberts as ordered by a judge .
Meyer , in her order Monday , postponed that hearing until March 13 .
But if Biden produces the required financial information by March 1 , then the motion for contempt filed by Roberts will be dismissed .
Biden , who is a lawyer , originally denied having sex with Roberts .
But a DNA showed that the child was almost certainly his , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
Clint Lancaster , an attorney for Roberts , declined CNBC 's request for additional comment on the court filing .
Biden 's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment .

World Food Program USA Board Chairman Hunter Biden speaks at the World Food Program USA's Annual McGovern-Dole Leadership Award Ceremony at Organization of American States on April 12, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Hunter Biden, the son of leading Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden, has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount of monthly child support to an Arkansas woman who bore him a baby out of wedlock, avoiding a hearing Wednesday that put him at risk of being held in contempt of court.
The support is retroactive to November 2018, three months after the child was born to Lunden Alexis Roberts, according to a judge's order filed Monday in Independence County Court, Arkansas.
And Biden must pay Roberts, 28, an undisclosed amount for her attorneys' fees and costs, according to the order.
The amount of child support that Biden must pay could increase — or decrease — in the future, Judge Holly Meyer noted in her order.
Meyer wrote that she currently lacks sufficient information about Biden's income to determine a permanent amount of support.
The order came two days before the 49-year-old Biden was due to appear in court for a hearing on whether he should be found in contempt for failing to disclose financial information to Roberts as ordered by a judge.
Meyer, in her order Monday, postponed that hearing until March 13.
But if Biden produces the required financial information by March 1, then the motion for contempt filed by Roberts will be dismissed.
Biden, who is a lawyer, originally denied having sex with Roberts.
But a DNA showed that the child was almost certainly his, and he stopped contesting paternity in the case.
Clint Lancaster, an attorney for Roberts, declined CNBC's request for additional comment on the court filing.
Biden's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.


cnbc--2020-01-28--US Air Force plane crashes in central Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — A plane that crashed in Afghanistan 's central Ghazni province on Monday , reportedly killing everyone on board , has been confirmed as belonging to the U.S. Air Force .
The chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force , Gen. Dave Goldfein , confirmed to CNBC that the plane is a U.S. Air Force E-11 military airplane , built by Bombardier .
The plane crashed in territory currently under Taliban control .
He was unable to confirm whether the aircraft was targeted by hostile fire , nor could he confirm details about potential casualties .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew , '' Goldfein said .
`` Here 's another thing I 'll share with you , every time I 've been through this , which , unfortunately , has been a number of times , the first reports are always wrong , always wrong .
So we have to make sure that we have the facts right and as soon as we have those facts I promise you we will get them to you , '' he added .
Speaking to reporters during a Pentagon press briefing , Secretary of Defense Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of the situation '' and that he had `` nothing further to report at this time . ''
U.S .
Forces Afghanistan spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett said in a statement that the cause of the crash was under investigation and that there were `` no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire . ''
Leggett added that Taliban claims of additional downed aircraft were false .
The E-11A is an electronics surveillance aircraft used to bridge communications on the battlefield .
Given the mountainous and rugged terrain in Afghanistan , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground units , commanders as well as other assets in the region .
The aircraft is assigned to the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan .
U.S. Army Maj. Beth Riordan , a spokeswoman for U.S. Central Command , had said earlier that it remained unclear whose aircraft was involved in the crash .

WASHINGTON — A plane that crashed in Afghanistan's central Ghazni province on Monday, reportedly killing everyone on board, has been confirmed as belonging to the U.S. Air Force.
The chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, Gen. Dave Goldfein, confirmed to CNBC that the plane is a U.S. Air Force E-11 military airplane, built by Bombardier. The plane crashed in territory currently under Taliban control. He was unable to confirm whether the aircraft was targeted by hostile fire, nor could he confirm details about potential casualties.
"We don't know the status of the crew," Goldfein said.
"Here's another thing I'll share with you, every time I've been through this, which, unfortunately, has been a number of times, the first reports are always wrong, always wrong. So we have to make sure that we have the facts right and as soon as we have those facts I promise you we will get them to you," he added.
Speaking to reporters during a Pentagon press briefing, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Monday that he was "aware of the situation" and that he had "nothing further to report at this time."
U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett said in a statement that the cause of the crash was under investigation and that there were "no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire." Leggett added that Taliban claims of additional downed aircraft were false.
The E-11A is an electronics surveillance aircraft used to bridge communications on the battlefield. Given the mountainous and rugged terrain in Afghanistan, the E-11A is essential for transmitting communications between ground units, commanders as well as other assets in the region. The aircraft is assigned to the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Maj. Beth Riordan, a spokeswoman for U.S. Central Command, had said earlier that it remained unclear whose aircraft was involved in the crash.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump impeachment trial: Defense wraps up oral arguments, urges Senate to acquit the president

President Donald Trump answers questions from the news media in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington , September 11 , 2019 .
President Donald Trump 's lawyers on Tuesday completed their oral arguments in the Senate impeachment trial , bringing to a quick end a defense that attempted to discredit the evidence gathered by House Democrats in their initial probe .
The team used far fewer than its allotted 24 hours to make its case .
Deputy White House Counsel Pat Philbin began the day attempting to refute the House Democrats ' `` abuse of power '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge the president 's motives .
`` How do we tell under the House managers ' standard what an illicit motive is , when there 's an illicit motive ? ''
Philbin asked .
`` How are we supposed to get proof of what 's inside the president 's head ? ''
Philbin also argued that House Democrats ' reliance on the testimony of White House officials to frame their case was flawed .
Those officials testified during the House probe that a July 25 call between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to announce an investigation into his Democratic rivals while withholding congressionally approved military aid — was inappropriate .
Philbin said the president is ultimately not beholden to his subordinates ' suggestions or opinions .
Trump `` has the authority to set policies and make determinations regardless of what the staffers recommend , '' Philbin said .
The House voted last month to impeach Trump on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in relation to his dealings with Ukraine .
Trump 's lawyer Jay Sekulow on Tuesday warned the Senate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' would weaken constitutional standards .
He also said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's decision to withhold the articles for a month after Trump 's impeachment contradicted the sense of urgency around the issue Democrats hoped to establish .
Getting the impeachment done in the House before Christmas `` was so critical , '' he said , but `` they never really answered the question on why they thought there was such a national emergency . ''
The oral arguments come two days after a bombshell report that Trump told former National Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withhold military aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations into political rivals , including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
In Monday 's arguments , Trump 's lawyers ignored the news , based on an unpublished manuscript of Bolton 's forthcoming memoir .
But on Tuesday , Sekulow addressed the revelation on the Senate floor for the first time .
`` You can not impeach a president on an unsourced allegation , '' he said , calling the report `` inadmissible '' as evidence , though he did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point , Sekulow relied heavily on Trump 's reaction to the news and commentary from acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney , whom Sekulow said was not a witness to any talk about investigations between Trump and Zelenskiy .
Trump denied the reports on Monday tweeting that he `` NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats . ''
Following the Trump defense team 's arguments , Republican senators planned to huddle in the Capitol to discuss the next steps in the trial and assess where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question of calling witnesses .
In light of the Bolton revelations , moderate Republicans such as Sens .
Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine expressed more openness to calling for new testimony .
The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate .
Democrats need four Republicans to join with them in a vote to call new witnesses .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , after the proceedings on Tuesday said a preliminary vote count among senators indicated that the GOP does not have enough votes to block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , made the case for calling Bolton after the day 's proceedings , telling reporters that the House tried to subpoena Bolton in its initial investigation but the president 's lawyers in a separate court case argued that `` the House may not sue in court to compel a witness to testify . ''
`` They come into the Senate , which they refer to as a court , and they say the House should have sued in court to enforce subpoenas on witnesses like John Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they say the House may not sue in court to compel a witness to testify , '' Schiff continued .
`` That is the legal duplicity of the president 's team . ''
But even if Bolton testifies , it remains unlikely that the Senate will vote to convict and remove the president from office .
The Senate will have 16 hours beginning Wednesday to present written questions .
Afterward , the Senate will vote on whether to call witnesses or produce additional documents .

President Donald Trump's lawyers on Tuesday completed their oral arguments in the Senate impeachment trial, bringing to a quick end a defense that attempted to discredit the evidence gathered by House Democrats in their initial probe.
The team used far fewer than its allotted 24 hours to make its case.
Deputy White House Counsel Pat Philbin began the day attempting to refute the House Democrats' "abuse of power" charge by questioning whether the House could judge the president's motives.
"How do we tell under the House managers' standard what an illicit motive is, when there's an illicit motive?" Philbin asked. "How are we supposed to get proof of what's inside the president's head?"
Philbin also argued that House Democrats' reliance on the testimony of White House officials to frame their case was flawed. Those officials testified during the House probe that a July 25 call between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy — in which Trump pressed his counterpart to announce an investigation into his Democratic rivals while withholding congressionally approved military aid — was inappropriate.
Philbin said the president is ultimately not beholden to his subordinates' suggestions or opinions.
Trump "has the authority to set policies and make determinations regardless of what the staffers recommend," Philbin said.
The House voted last month to impeach Trump on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in relation to his dealings with Ukraine.
Trump's lawyer Jay Sekulow on Tuesday warned the Senate that "to lower the bar of impeachment" would weaken constitutional standards. He also said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to withhold the articles for a month after Trump's impeachment contradicted the sense of urgency around the issue Democrats hoped to establish.
Getting the impeachment done in the House before Christmas "was so critical," he said, but "they never really answered the question on why they thought there was such a national emergency."
The oral arguments come two days after a bombshell report that Trump told former National Security Advisor John Bolton that he wanted to withhold military aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations into political rivals, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
In Monday's arguments, Trump's lawyers ignored the news, based on an unpublished manuscript of Bolton's forthcoming memoir. But on Tuesday, Sekulow addressed the revelation on the Senate floor for the first time.
Trump impeachment trial: Defense ignores Bolton bombshell about Ukraine aid for investigations
"You cannot impeach a president on an unsourced allegation," he said, calling the report "inadmissible" as evidence, though he did not deny the allegation.
In making his point, Sekulow relied heavily on Trump's reaction to the news and commentary from acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, whom Sekulow said was not a witness to any talk about investigations between Trump and Zelenskiy.
Trump denied the reports on Monday tweeting that he "NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats."
Trump tweet
Following the Trump defense team's arguments, Republican senators planned to huddle in the Capitol to discuss the next steps in the trial and assess where members of the caucus stood on the question of calling witnesses.
In light of the Bolton revelations, moderate Republicans such as Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine expressed more openness to calling for new testimony. The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats need four Republicans to join with them in a vote to call new witnesses.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., after the proceedings on Tuesday said a preliminary vote count among senators indicated that the GOP does not have enough votes to block witnesses or additional documents.
Lead impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., made the case for calling Bolton after the day's proceedings, telling reporters that the House tried to subpoena Bolton in its initial investigation but the president's lawyers in a separate court case argued that "the House may not sue in court to compel a witness to testify."
"They come into the Senate, which they refer to as a court, and they say the House should have sued in court to enforce subpoenas on witnesses like John Bolton, and then they go to court and they say the House may not sue in court to compel a witness to testify," Schiff continued. "That is the legal duplicity of the president's team."
But even if Bolton testifies, it remains unlikely that the Senate will vote to convict and remove the president from office.
The Senate will have 16 hours beginning Wednesday to present written questions. Afterward, the Senate will vote on whether to call witnesses or produce additional documents.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Koch donors at annual summit, concerned that Trump could lose, discuss the need to defend GOP Senate

Koch donors at annual summit, concerned that Trump could lose, discuss the need to defend GOP Senate majority

Libertarian and conservative donors who attended the annual Koch network summit over the weekend discussed the need to defend the GOP majority in the Senate as a backstop in case a Democrat defeats President Donald Trump in November .
People at the meeting in Palm Springs , California , did n't just fret about progressive candidates Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren winning — they were also concerned about the moderate former Vice President Joe Biden , according to attendees who declined to be named since the conversations were deemed private .
These people said that all three candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the face of the free-market philosophy shared by much of the network , which is partially funded by billionaire Charles Koch .
`` Sanders and Warren provided the most fright , '' said one of the attendees .
Both Sanders and Warren have called for enhanced corporate regulation , large tax hikes on the rich and businesses , and a universal `` Medicare for All '' health insurance plan .
And while Biden has rejected Medicare for All , he has also called for raising taxes .
Biden maintains a lead in national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politics average , ahead of Sanders and Warren .
The network , according to people familiar with the matter , believes these policies are a form of government overreach .
Brian Hooks , the chairman and CEO of Stand Together , told attendees that he sees ideas borne out of socialism and nationalism as a threat to America , pointing to what was described as trade protectionism , class warfare , the demonization of immigrants , and nationalization of industries , according to a person familiar with the matter .
A Stand Together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with donors .
The network has already said it would not be getting involved with the 2020 presidential election .
Rather , it is focused on implementing policy goals , rather than getting involved in partisan politics .
In an introductory video that played at the summit , Charles Koch himself said the group is seeking to unite people .
`` Both parties have fallen into tribal warfare , '' he said .
`` We are offering a different approach : uniting people , regardless of political party , to advance policies that @ @ @ @

Libertarian and conservative donors who attended the annual Koch network summit over the weekend discussed the need to defend the GOP majority in the Senate as a backstop in case a Democrat defeats President Donald Trump in November.
People at the meeting in Palm Springs, California, didn't just fret about progressive candidates Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren winning — they were also concerned about the moderate former Vice President Joe Biden, according to attendees who declined to be named since the conversations were deemed private.
These people said that all three candidates have proposed policies that would fly in the face of the free-market philosophy shared by much of the network, which is partially funded by billionaire Charles Koch.
"Sanders and Warren provided the most fright," said one of the attendees.
Both Sanders and Warren have called for enhanced corporate regulation, large tax hikes on the rich and businesses, and a universal "Medicare for All" health insurance plan. And while Biden has rejected Medicare for All, he has also called for raising taxes. Biden maintains a lead in national polls, according to a Real Clear Politics average, ahead of Sanders and Warren.
The network, according to people familiar with the matter, believes these policies are a form of government overreach. Brian Hooks, the chairman and CEO of Stand Together, told attendees that he sees ideas borne out of socialism and nationalism as a threat to America, pointing to what was described as trade protectionism, class warfare, the demonization of immigrants, and nationalization of industries, according to a person familiar with the matter.
A Stand Together spokesman declined to comment on the conversations with donors.
The network has already said it would not be getting involved with the 2020 presidential election. Rather, it is focused on implementing policy goals, rather than getting involved in partisan politics.
In an introductory video that played at the summit, Charles Koch himself said the group is seeking to unite people.
"Both parties have fallen into tribal warfare," he said. "We are offering a different approach: uniting people, regardless of political party, to advance policies that empower people."


cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump impeachment defense wraps up after less than allotted 24 hours

White House counsel Pat Cipollone speaks during opening arguments in the U.S. Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in this frame grab from video shot in the U.S. Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington , U.S. , January 21 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump 's legal team finished presenting its defense of the president at his impeachment trial on Tuesday , the third day of Trump 's defense arguments .
`` The articles of impeachment fall far short of any constitutional standard , '' said White House Counsel Pat Cipollone , who led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're asking you to do is throw out a successful president on the even of an election , '' Cipollone said , a decision that would `` weaken our democratic institutions . ''
`` The election is months away , and I 'm asking you to let the American people choose their president , '' he added .
`` We urge the Senate to reject these articles of impeachment . ''
The final arguments concluded three days of defense statements that focused largely on making the case that Trump 's decision to withhold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he sought investigations into his political rivals was not , as Democrats claim , an abuse of power .
Rather , Trump 's lawyers argued , it was a policy decision based on the president 's genuine suspicions about corruption in Ukraine and his dislike of foreign aid in general .
These arguments were undercut over the weekend , however , by the news that an upcoming memoir by Trump 's former national security advisor , John R. Bolton , claims that Trump explicitly told Bolton in person last summer that foreign aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine agree to investigate Trump 's political rival , former Vice President Joe Biden and his son , Hunter Biden .
Trump has denied Bolton 's account , but its existence strengthened the argument being pressed by Senate Democrats , that the senators need to call additional witnesses to testify in the president 's trial , chief among them , John Bolton .
The question of witnesses is expected to be put to a vote in the full Senate on Friday .
In order for witnesses to be included , four Republican senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vote with Democrats .
The revelations contained in Bolton 's book increased the odds that four moderate Republicans would break with their party and vote to call witnesses , although the situation remained fluid on Tuesday afternoon .
Following the Trump defense team 's closing arguments , Republican senators planned to huddle in the Capitol to discuss the next steps in the trial , and assess where members of the caucus stood on the question of witnesses .
A question period will begin Wednesday with eight hours of questions alternating between Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday with another eight hours .
The defense team was given 24 cumulative hours to present its opening statements , but only used approximately half of them .
The lawyers kicked off their arguments in an abbreviated session Saturday morning , accusing Democrats of pursuing Trump 's impeachment simply to remove him from the ballot in the 2020 presidential election .
Democrats were quick to dismiss the defense as having failed to refute the key allegation at the center of the impeachment case : That Trump had sought foreign intervention in the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month to impeach Trump on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , both related to his dealings with Ukraine .
It remains unlikely that two thirds of the Senate will vote to remove Trump , as the Constitution requires .

White House counsel Pat Cipollone speaks during opening arguments in the U.S. Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in this frame grab from video shot in the U.S. Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020.
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's legal team finished presenting its defense of the president at his impeachment trial on Tuesday, the third day of Trump's defense arguments.
"The articles of impeachment fall far short of any constitutional standard," said White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, who led Trump's defense.
"What they're asking you to do is throw out a successful president on the even of an election," Cipollone said, a decision that would "weaken our democratic institutions."
"The election is months away, and I'm asking you to let the American people choose their president," he added. "We urge the Senate to reject these articles of impeachment."
The final arguments concluded three days of defense statements that focused largely on making the case that Trump's decision to withhold foreign aid to Ukraine last year while he sought investigations into his political rivals was not, as Democrats claim, an abuse of power.
Rather, Trump's lawyers argued, it was a policy decision based on the president's genuine suspicions about corruption in Ukraine and his dislike of foreign aid in general.
These arguments were undercut over the weekend, however, by the news that an upcoming memoir by Trump's former national security advisor, John R. Bolton, claims that Trump explicitly told Bolton in person last summer that foreign aid to Ukraine would not be released until Ukraine agree to investigate Trump's political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.
Trump has denied Bolton's account, but its existence strengthened the argument being pressed by Senate Democrats, that the senators need to call additional witnesses to testify in the president's trial, chief among them, John Bolton.
The question of witnesses is expected to be put to a vote in the full Senate on Friday. In order for witnesses to be included, four Republican senators would need to defect from their party and vote with Democrats.
The revelations contained in Bolton's book increased the odds that four moderate Republicans would break with their party and vote to call witnesses, although the situation remained fluid on Tuesday afternoon.
Following the Trump defense team's closing arguments, Republican senators planned to huddle in the Capitol to discuss the next steps in the trial, and assess where members of the caucus stood on the question of witnesses.
A question period will begin Wednesday with eight hours of questions alternating between Republicans and Democrats, and it will continue Thursday with another eight hours.
The defense team was given 24 cumulative hours to present its opening statements, but only used approximately half of them. The lawyers kicked off their arguments in an abbreviated session Saturday morning, accusing Democrats of pursuing Trump's impeachment simply to remove him from the ballot in the 2020 presidential election.
Democrats were quick to dismiss the defense as having failed to refute the key allegation at the center of the impeachment case: That Trump had sought foreign intervention in the 2020 presidential election.
The House voted last month to impeach Trump on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both related to his dealings with Ukraine. It remains unlikely that two thirds of the Senate will vote to remove Trump, as the Constitution requires.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Bloomberg campaign says it is 'gaining ground' on Trump's formidable digital operation

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg during a memorial service at the National 9/11 Memorial September 11 , 2016 in New York .
While Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden may be grabbing headlines before the Iowa caucuses next Monday , no 2020 candidate is spending more on the digital ad war than President Donald Trump and Democratic contender Mike Bloomberg .
The importance of the digital-ad wars in shaping the national voting map is coming into sharper focus as Bloomberg looks past the first four states holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire , South Carolina and Nevada – to instead aim for a strong showing on Super Tuesday and the general election against Trump .
Trump has spent $ 36 million so far on digital spending on Google and Facebook , according to ACRONYM , the ad-spending research firm , more than Biden , Sanders , Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg combined .
But Bloomberg is catching up quickly , and is on pace to surpass the president 's total .
The former New York mayor , a billionaire who is self-funding his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million on digital ads on Facebook and Google .
The spending gap between the between Trump and the Democrats online underscores one of the main reasons Bloomberg decided to run .
According to the Bloomberg campaign , one of Trump 's keys to victory in 2016 was his effectiveness in digital advertising and social media – a skill that his campaign have honed and expanded even further over the past four years .
`` Where 'Trump ' is really strong is in digital , '' said Kevin Sheekey , Bloomberg 's campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is probably running a decade ahead of anyone else on the Democratic side to meet voters wherever they are , and they have been very smart about it . ''
But again , according to Sheekey , Bloomberg is n't far behind Trump on this score .
`` Bloomberg is maybe eight years ahead .
So we 're gaining ground .
But he 's still ahead , '' he said .
At the center of the digital strategy for both the Trump and Bloomberg campaigns is data collection – finding voters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message and then delivering ad content designed to win their vote .

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg during a memorial service at the National 9/11 Memorial September 11, 2016 in New York.
While Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden may be grabbing headlines before the Iowa caucuses next Monday, no 2020 candidate is spending more on the digital ad war than President Donald Trump and Democratic contender Mike Bloomberg.
The importance of the digital-ad wars in shaping the national voting map is coming into sharper focus as Bloomberg looks past the first four states holding Democratic votes next month – Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada – to instead aim for a strong showing on Super Tuesday and the general election against Trump.
Trump has spent $36 million so far on digital spending on Google and Facebook, according to ACRONYM, the ad-spending research firm, more than Biden, Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg combined. But Bloomberg is catching up quickly, and is on pace to surpass the president's total. The former New York mayor, a billionaire who is self-funding his campaign, has already spent $34 million on digital ads on Facebook and Google.
The spending gap between the between Trump and the Democrats online underscores one of the main reasons Bloomberg decided to run. According to the Bloomberg campaign, one of Trump's keys to victory in 2016 was his effectiveness in digital advertising and social media – a skill that his campaign have honed and expanded even further over the past four years.
"Where 'Trump' is really strong is in digital," said Kevin Sheekey, Bloomberg's campaign manager. "He has built a campaign that is probably running a decade ahead of anyone else on the Democratic side to meet voters wherever they are, and they have been very smart about it."
But again, according to Sheekey, Bloomberg isn't far behind Trump on this score. "Bloomberg is maybe eight years ahead. So we're gaining ground. But he's still ahead," he said.
At the center of the digital strategy for both the Trump and Bloomberg campaigns is data collection – finding voters who may be receptive to a certain political message and then delivering ad content designed to win their vote.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump reacts to Pompeo's tirade against NPR reporter: 'You did a good job on her'

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday appeared to congratulate his Secretary of State , Mike Pompeo , for shouting and cursing at a reporter for National Public Radio who had asked Pompeo questions about Ukraine .
Trump made the remarks during a White House event to unveil a Middle East peace plan .
After thanking Pompeo for his work , Trump was surprised when Pompeo received a standing ovation from the room full of guests .
`` Oh , that 's impressive .
That was very impressive , Mike , '' Trump said of the applause .
`` That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a job on you yesterday , huh ?
Think you did a good job on her , actually .
That 's good .
Thank you , Mike .
Great .
Are you running for Senate ?
I guess the answer 's no , after that . ''
Pompeo had long been considering a run for Senate in his home state of Kansas , and Trump 's comments drew laughter from the audience .
Beyond the White House , however , Pompeo 's decision to call NPR 's Mary Louise Kelly into a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to yell at her has been condemned by journalists and news organizations .
`` This is an attack on news organizations from the top US diplomat , someone who is supposed to defend press freedoms .
It 's obvious he 's playing to an audience of one — Trump , '' New York Times diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong posted on Twitter .
The incident took place on Friday , after Kelly pressed Pompeo in an interview about why he had not defended Marie Yovanovitch , the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring .
Trump 's removal of Yovanovitch is now a central issue in his impeachment trial , part of a pattern , Democrats say , of Trump clearing the way for a pressure campaign to force the U.S. ally to investigate his political rivals .
After the Friday interview , Kelly said an aide to Pompeo called her to his private living room .
`` I was taken to the Secretary 's private living room , where he was waiting , and where he shouted at me for about the same amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Kelly told NPR later that day .
`` He asked , 'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine ? '
He used the F-word in that sentence and many others , '' Kelly said .
`` He asked if I could find Ukraine on a map .
I said yes .
He called out for his aides to bring him a map of the world with no writing , no countries marked . ''
`` I pointed to Ukraine , '' she said .
`` He put the map away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , ' and then he turned and said he had things to do , and I thanked him again for his time and left . ''
Pompeo later falsely accused Kelly of having agreed before the interview with Pompeo not to ask him questions about Ukraine .
`` It is shameful that this reporter chose to violate the basic rules of journalism and decency , '' Pompeo said in a statement .
`` This is another example of how unhinged the media has become in its quest to hurt President Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his disdain and distrust of the mainstream media a central part of his presidency , accusing the press repeatedly of being the `` enemy of the people . ''

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday appeared to congratulate his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, for shouting and cursing at a reporter for National Public Radio who had asked Pompeo questions about Ukraine.
Trump made the remarks during a White House event to unveil a Middle East peace plan. After thanking Pompeo for his work, Trump was surprised when Pompeo received a standing ovation from the room full of guests.
"Oh, that's impressive. That was very impressive, Mike," Trump said of the applause. "That reporter couldn't have done too good a job on you yesterday, huh? Think you did a good job on her, actually. That's good. Thank you, Mike. Great. Are you running for Senate? I guess the answer's no, after that."
Pompeo had long been considering a run for Senate in his home state of Kansas, and Trump's comments drew laughter from the audience.
Beyond the White House, however, Pompeo's decision to call NPR's Mary Louise Kelly into a private room at the State Department on Friday to yell at her has been condemned by journalists and news organizations.
"This is an attack on news organizations from the top US diplomat, someone who is supposed to defend press freedoms. It's obvious he's playing to an audience of one — Trump," New York Times diplomatic correspondent Edward Wong posted on Twitter.
The incident took place on Friday, after Kelly pressed Pompeo in an interview about why he had not defended Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, who was abruptly pulled from her post last spring. Trump's removal of Yovanovitch is now a central issue in his impeachment trial, part of a pattern, Democrats say, of Trump clearing the way for a pressure campaign to force the U.S. ally to investigate his political rivals.
After the Friday interview, Kelly said an aide to Pompeo called her to his private living room.
"I was taken to the Secretary's private living room, where he was waiting, and where he shouted at me for about the same amount of time as the interview itself had lasted," Kelly told NPR later that day.
"He asked, 'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?' He used the F-word in that sentence and many others," Kelly said. "He asked if I could find Ukraine on a map. I said yes. He called out for his aides to bring him a map of the world with no writing, no countries marked."
"I pointed to Ukraine," she said. "He put the map away. He said, 'People will hear about this,' and then he turned and said he had things to do, and I thanked him again for his time and left."
Pompeo later falsely accused Kelly of having agreed before the interview with Pompeo not to ask him questions about Ukraine. "It is shameful that this reporter chose to violate the basic rules of journalism and decency," Pompeo said in a statement. "This is another example of how unhinged the media has become in its quest to hurt President Trump and this Administration."
Trump has made his disdain and distrust of the mainstream media a central part of his presidency, accusing the press repeatedly of being the "enemy of the people."
— CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump administration 'disappointed' by UK's decision to grant Huawei access to 5G networks

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday expressed disappointment after the U.K. announced it would allow Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei limited access to some British 5G mobile networks .
`` The United States is disappointed by the U.K. 's decision , '' a senior Trump administration official wrote in an emailed statement to CNBC .
The official added that the Trump administration will work `` with the U.K. on a way forward that results in the exclusion of untrusted vendor components from 5G networks . ''
The U.K. said equipment made by Huawei would not be banned but that access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's government made the decision despite warnings from President Donald Trump , who has called Johnson a `` friend , '' key figures in the Republican Party and members of Johnson 's own Conservative Party .
The latest development comes as the Trump administration works to isolate Chinese tech firm Huawei from developing a larger foothold in U.S. partner countries .
The administration has specifically worked to keep members of the `` five eyes '' intelligence-sharing group , which includes the U.S. , U.K. , Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with Huawei .
In 2018 , the Pentagon halted sales of Huawei and ZTE mobile phones and modems on military bases around the world due to potential security risks .
`` We continue to urge all of our partners and allies to carefully assess the multifaceted impacts of allowing untrusted vendors access to important 5G network infrastructure , '' Pentagon spokesman U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn wrote in a statement to CNBC .
`` It 's been assessed that there is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs and that it threatens national security .
China maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft .
When asked about the issue by CNBC on his first day as secretary of Defense , Mark Esper said he was `` very concerned about Chinese technology getting into our systems or the systems of our allies . ''
`` Huawei is the poster child right now for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. trade war with China is as much about national security as it is about the economy .
`` When I was in Brussels three weeks ago we talked about this among defense ministers , on how do we preserve the integrity of our networks as an alliance , and so that will continue to be important for me as we go forward , '' he said in July , referring to a NATO visit he made while acting Defense secretary .
Read more : New Defense secretary : 'We need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year , in spite of national security warnings , then-U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly approved a plan to let Huawei build part of the U.K. 's 5G network .
Her decision was leaked , resulting in the dismissal of then-Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson .
Williamson has denied that he was the source of the leak .
A month prior to Williamson 's departure , then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said that if U.S. allies proceed with Huawei 's equipment , intelligence cooperation could be undermined .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alliance is the ability to share information and when we share information with allies and partners we have to have common standards of information assurance .
We have to be sure that our secrets are protected , whether it be intelligence or technology transfer , '' Dunford told a House Appropriations subcommittee in April 2019 .
Echoing Dunford 's sentiments , then-acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told lawmakers that `` China aims to steal its way to a China-controlled global technological infrastructure , including 5G . ''
`` Huawei exemplifies the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and state-driven approach to achieve global leadership in advanced technology . ''
What 's more , the Director of National Intelligence , alongside the heads of the FBI , CIA , NSA , Defense Intelligence Agency , and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency testified before lawmakers in 2018 on potential security risks posed by Huawei and ZTE .
`` We 're deeply concerned about the risks of allowing any company or entity that is beholden to foreign governments that do n't share our values to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee .
`` It provides the capacity to maliciously modify or steal information .
And it provides the capacity to conduct undetected espionage , '' Wray added .
Huawei and ZTE have previously denied allegations that their products are used to spy on Americans .
Since 2012 , the U.S. government has warned against using Huawei equipment and component parts , alongside one of Huawei 's Chinese competitors , ZTE .
The company has been effectively banned since that time , with an executive order from Trump making those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not include Huawei or ZTE equipment , '' a 2012 report by the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence said .
`` Similarly , government contractors , particularly those working on contracts for sensitive U.S. system , should exclude ZTE or Huawei equipment from their systems . ''
As for Huawei 's alleged ties to the Beijing government , the company has strongly denied the accusations .
The 2012 report and subsequent intelligence briefings on Huawei do not outline specific proof of Huawei 's ties to Beijing , but assert that the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment is too great .
Huawei officials have said they have repeatedly asked the Department of Defense to allow the company to submit to a risk mitigation process , but no agreement has ever been discussed .
Read more : Huawei USA security chief suggests the company could be open to 'mitigation measures ' to address US national security concerns `` The task of finding and eliminating every significant vulnerability from a complex product is monumental , '' the report reads .
`` If we consider flaws intentionally inserted by a determined and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible . ''
— Kate Fazzini and Yelena Dzhanova contributed to this report from CNBC 's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs , New Jersey .

watch now
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday expressed disappointment after the U.K. announced it would allow Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei limited access to some British 5G mobile networks. "The United States is disappointed by the U.K.'s decision," a senior Trump administration official wrote in an emailed statement to CNBC. The official added that the Trump administration will work "with the U.K. on a way forward that results in the exclusion of untrusted vendor components from 5G networks." The U.K. said equipment made by Huawei would not be banned but that access will be restricted from "sensitive functions." U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government made the decision despite warnings from President Donald Trump, who has called Johnson a "friend," key figures in the Republican Party and members of Johnson's own Conservative Party. The latest development comes as the Trump administration works to isolate Chinese tech firm Huawei from developing a larger foothold in U.S. partner countries. The administration has specifically worked to keep members of the "five eyes" intelligence-sharing group, which includes the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, from working with Huawei. In 2018, the Pentagon halted sales of Huawei and ZTE mobile phones and modems on military bases around the world due to potential security risks. "We continue to urge all of our partners and allies to carefully assess the multifaceted impacts of allowing untrusted vendors access to important 5G network infrastructure," Pentagon spokesman U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dave Eastburn wrote in a statement to CNBC. "It's been assessed that there is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network," Eastburn added.
Long-standing concerns
U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs and that it threatens national security. China maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft. When asked about the issue by CNBC on his first day as secretary of Defense, Mark Esper said he was "very concerned about Chinese technology getting into our systems or the systems of our allies." "Huawei is the poster child right now for that," Esper said, adding that the U.S. trade war with China is as much about national security as it is about the economy. "When I was in Brussels three weeks ago we talked about this among defense ministers, on how do we preserve the integrity of our networks as an alliance, and so that will continue to be important for me as we go forward," he said in July, referring to a NATO visit he made while acting Defense secretary. Read more: New Defense secretary: 'We need to be very concerned' about Chinese tech Last year, in spite of national security warnings, then-U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly approved a plan to let Huawei build part of the U.K.'s 5G network. Her decision was leaked, resulting in the dismissal of then-Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson. Williamson has denied that he was the source of the leak. A month prior to Williamson's departure, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said that if U.S. allies proceed with Huawei's equipment, intelligence cooperation could be undermined. "One of the things that underlines an alliance is the ability to share information and when we share information with allies and partners we have to have common standards of information assurance. We have to be sure that our secrets are protected, whether it be intelligence or technology transfer," Dunford told a House Appropriations subcommittee in April 2019.
Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan and Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, give testimony on the Department of Defense budget posture in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2020 and the Future Years Defense Program at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, March 14, 2019. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique Pineiro | Department of Defense photo
Echoing Dunford's sentiments, then-acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told lawmakers that "China aims to steal its way to a China-controlled global technological infrastructure, including 5G." "Huawei exemplifies the Chinese Communist Party's systemic, organized, and state-driven approach to achieve global leadership in advanced technology." What's more, the Director of National Intelligence, alongside the heads of the FBI, CIA, NSA, Defense Intelligence Agency, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency testified before lawmakers in 2018 on potential security risks posed by Huawei and ZTE. "We're deeply concerned about the risks of allowing any company or entity that is beholden to foreign governments that don't share our values to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks," FBI Director Christopher Wray told the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee. "It provides the capacity to maliciously modify or steal information. And it provides the capacity to conduct undetected espionage," Wray added.
Huawei's denials


cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump's Middle East peace plan calls for two states, with Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem

President Donald Trump 's long-awaited Middle East peace plan calls for a state of Palestine with a capital in east Jerusalem , he said during an event Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
The plan calls for the recognition of Israeli settlements in the West Bank in exchange for a four-year freeze on new settlement activity .
It will double the territory under the control of the Palestinians , Trump said .
The president also said that the U.S. will `` proudly '' open an embassy in the new Palestinian capital .
He claimed that the plan would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial investment in Palestine and that `` if executed well '' it could create 1 million new Palestinian jobs .
The proposal favors Israel and was immediately rejected by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas .
`` After the nonsense that we heard today , we say a thousand no 's to the Deal of The Century , '' Abbas said , according to the Associated Press .
Palestinians have cited Trump policies such as moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem as evidence of pro-Israel bias that prevents the administration from being a neutral party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances further , the foreign minister of Jordan , Israel 's neighbor to the east , on Tuesday rejected the proposed recognition of Israeli settlements .
Trump had suggested during the news conference that Jordan 's King Abdullah II would play a key role in aspects of the peace plan related to maintaining Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem , but that now appears unlikely .
Despite the deal 's long odds of success , Trump suggested that the peace plan marked a historic step forward .
`` This is an unprecedented and highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the news conference with Netanyahu .
`` Mr. Prime Minister , thank you for having the courage to take this big step forward . ''
Trump has been more friendly to Israel than previous U.S. presidents .
The administration reversed decades of American foreign policy in November when it declared that it did not consider Israel 's settlements in the West Bank to violate international law , contradicting the conclusions of international bodies such as the United Nations .
The Israeli side welcomed the deal .
Netanyahu , speaking alongside Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a `` realistic path to a durable peace . ''
`` This is a historic day .
And it recalls another historic day , '' Netanyahu said .
`` We remember May 14 , 1948 , because on that day , President Truman became the first world leader to recognize the state of Israel . ''
Netanyahu 's spokesperson said later in the day that the prime minister would move forward with a vote on annexing parts of the West Bank covered in the peace plan as soon as Sunday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen as an effort to shore up Netanyahu 's electoral prospects as he competes against rival Benny Gantz for reelection in a contest scheduled for early March .
Gantz also met with Trump at the White House this week .
The visit also came as Netanyahu faces legal troubles at home .
The prime minister was formally indicted earlier Tuesday on bribery and corruption charges brought by Israel 's attorney general , Avichai Mandelblit .
Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing .
Trump has promised to broker a peace deal in the Middle East since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and assigned his son-in-law , White House senior advisor Jared Kushner , to oversee it .
An economic portion of the peace plan was released in June .
Abbas dismissed that plan at the time as well .

President Donald Trump's long-awaited Middle East peace plan calls for a state of Palestine with a capital in east Jerusalem, he said during an event Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The plan calls for the recognition of Israeli settlements in the West Bank in exchange for a four-year freeze on new settlement activity. It will double the territory under the control of the Palestinians, Trump said.
The president also said that the U.S. will "proudly" open an embassy in the new Palestinian capital. He claimed that the plan would lead to $50 billion in new commercial investment in Palestine and that "if executed well" it could create 1 million new Palestinian jobs.
The proposal favors Israel and was immediately rejected by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"After the nonsense that we heard today, we say a thousand no's to the Deal of The Century," Abbas said, according to the Associated Press.
Palestinians have cited Trump policies such as moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem as evidence of pro-Israel bias that prevents the administration from being a neutral party in negotiations.
Dampening the plan's chances further, the foreign minister of Jordan, Israel's neighbor to the east, on Tuesday rejected the proposed recognition of Israeli settlements.
Trump had suggested during the news conference that Jordan's King Abdullah II would play a key role in aspects of the peace plan related to maintaining Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, but that now appears unlikely.
Despite the deal's long odds of success, Trump suggested that the peace plan marked a historic step forward.
"This is an unprecedented and highly significant development," Trump said Tuesday during the news conference with Netanyahu. "Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for having the courage to take this big step forward."
Trump video clip
Trump has been more friendly to Israel than previous U.S. presidents. The administration reversed decades of American foreign policy in November when it declared that it did not consider Israel's settlements in the West Bank to violate international law, contradicting the conclusions of international bodies such as the United Nations.
The Israeli side welcomed the deal. Netanyahu, speaking alongside Trump, called the peace plan "exceptional" and a "realistic path to a durable peace."
"This is a historic day. And it recalls another historic day," Netanyahu said. "We remember May 14, 1948, because on that day, President Truman became the first world leader to recognize the state of Israel."
Netanyahu's spokesperson said later in the day that the prime minister would move forward with a vote on annexing parts of the West Bank covered in the peace plan as soon as Sunday.
The high-profile meeting between Trump and Netanyahu was seen as an effort to shore up Netanyahu's electoral prospects as he competes against rival Benny Gantz for reelection in a contest scheduled for early March. Gantz also met with Trump at the White House this week.
The visit also came as Netanyahu faces legal troubles at home. The prime minister was formally indicted earlier Tuesday on bribery and corruption charges brought by Israel's attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing.
Trump has promised to broker a peace deal in the Middle East since the first days of his administration, and assigned his son-in-law, White House senior advisor Jared Kushner, to oversee it.
An economic portion of the peace plan was released in June. Abbas dismissed that plan at the time as well.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Elizabeth Warren releases plan to prevent and contain infectious diseases amid coronavirus outbreak

Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday outlined the steps she would take to prevent and contain infectious diseases , as authorities across the globe race to address the new coronavirus .
Warren 's plan , released less than a week before the Iowa caucuses , calls for increased public health funding for agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services .
The coronavirus , a flu-like respiratory infection which was first diagnosed last month in China and has been found in the United States , has killed more than 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese health authorities said Tuesday .
The State Department is advising U.S. travelers to reconsider travel to China .
On Monday , major U.S. stock indexes the Dow and the S & P 500 suffered their worst days since October .
Warren 's infectious diseases plan also draws on her previously released plans to address climate change and the opioid epidemic , issues which exacerbate the spread of diseases , as well as her health-care agenda .
The Massachusetts senator wrote that her health-care plan , `` Medicare for All , '' will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be contagious .
`` We can invest at home to ensure our public health agencies , hospitals , and health care providers are ready to jump into action when outbreaks strike , '' Warren wrote .
`` And we can help build strong public health systems abroad . ''
The plan comes just days before the first delegates are awarded in the Democratic primary contest .
Iowa hosts its caucus on Feb. 3 , a contest that is traditionally seen as shaping the contours of the race .
Read more : Coronavirus vs. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differences between the two outbreaks Warren has declined in Iowa and national polls in recent weeks as her progressive rival , Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , has gained momentum .
She is in third place in national polls and in fourth place in Iowa , behind Sanders , former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
The top four candidates have struggled to gain an edge in the race 's final weeks before voting begins .
For senators like Warren and Sanders , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate , which has kept the lawmakers in Washington and away from voters in the early states .
Warren took on a number of Trump administration policies in her new plan , saying his approach so far has been a `` mess . ''
She said that Trump has tried to `` nickel and dime '' federal programs geared toward public health and eliminated the position that coordinates global health security , which former President Barack Obama created in response to the Ebola epidemic .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , with a formal senior lead in my White House who focuses solely on global health security and oversees this work across the entire federal government , '' Warren wrote .
The plan also calls for the U.S. to contribute to a number of international efforts , including a global vaccine alliance .
Warren will also establish a `` global health security corps , '' she wrote , to handle outbreaks in regions that are experiencing conflict , following the recommendation of a commission established by Center for Strategic and International Studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diseases like coronavirus remind us why we need robust international institutions , strong investments in public health , and a government that is prepared to jump into action at a moment 's notice , '' Warren wrote in the plan .
`` When we prepare and effectively collaborate to address common threats that do n't stop at borders , the international community can stop these diseases in their tracks . ''

Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday outlined the steps she would take to prevent and contain infectious diseases, as authorities across the globe race to address the new coronavirus.
Warren's plan, released less than a week before the Iowa caucuses, calls for increased public health funding for agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The coronavirus, a flu-like respiratory infection which was first diagnosed last month in China and has been found in the United States, has killed more than 100 people and sickened more than 4,500, Chinese health authorities said Tuesday. The State Department is advising U.S. travelers to reconsider travel to China. On Monday, major U.S. stock indexes the Dow and the S&P 500 suffered their worst days since October.
Warren's infectious diseases plan also draws on her previously released plans to address climate change and the opioid epidemic, issues which exacerbate the spread of diseases, as well as her health-care agenda.
The Massachusetts senator wrote that her health-care plan, "Medicare for All," will remove financial barriers for patients who may be contagious.
"We can invest at home to ensure our public health agencies, hospitals, and health care providers are ready to jump into action when outbreaks strike," Warren wrote. "And we can help build strong public health systems abroad."
The plan comes just days before the first delegates are awarded in the Democratic primary contest. Iowa hosts its caucus on Feb. 3, a contest that is traditionally seen as shaping the contours of the race.
Read more: Coronavirus vs. SARS: Health experts on the key differences between the two outbreaks
Warren has declined in Iowa and national polls in recent weeks as her progressive rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has gained momentum. She is in third place in national polls and in fourth place in Iowa, behind Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
The top four candidates have struggled to gain an edge in the race's final weeks before voting begins. For senators like Warren and Sanders, the difficulty has been compounded by President Donald Trump's ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate, which has kept the lawmakers in Washington and away from voters in the early states.
Warren took on a number of Trump administration policies in her new plan, saying his approach so far has been a "mess." She said that Trump has tried to "nickel and dime" federal programs geared toward public health and eliminated the position that coordinates global health security, which former President Barack Obama created in response to the Ebola epidemic.
Warren tweet
"As President, I will bring it back, with a formal senior lead in my White House who focuses solely on global health security and oversees this work across the entire federal government," Warren wrote.
The plan also calls for the U.S. to contribute to a number of international efforts, including a global vaccine alliance. Warren will also establish a "global health security corps," she wrote, to handle outbreaks in regions that are experiencing conflict, following the recommendation of a commission established by Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.
"Diseases like coronavirus remind us why we need robust international institutions, strong investments in public health, and a government that is prepared to jump into action at a moment's notice," Warren wrote in the plan. "When we prepare and effectively collaborate to address common threats that don't stop at borders, the international community can stop these diseases in their tracks."


cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump says the Fed should cut rates so the US can pay down its $23 trillion debt

President Donald Trump made another pitch to the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates , this time saying that doing so could help the U.S. pay down its burgeoning national debt .
In a tweet Tuesday morning , the president said again that the central bank should cut its key lending rate so it 's more in line with that of its global peers .
However , he extended the argument this time to note that cheaper debt could mean a reduction in the national red ink .
Trump urged the Fed to `` get smart '' and `` make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We would then focus on paying off & refinancing debt ! ''
he wrote .
Trump has hectored the Fed on multiple occasions to lower its benchmark overnight borrowing rate , which is currently targeted in a range between 1.5 % -1.75 % .
He complained bitterly when the central bank hiked rates , and has not offered much support for the policymakers even as they reduced the funds rate three times last year .
Despite the cuts , Trump has said the Fed is still moving too slowly to loosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Trump administration to $ 23.2 trillion , an increase of 16.4 % .
The fiscal deficit was more than $ 1 trillion for calendar year 2019 .
The Federal Open Market Committee concludes its two-day meeting Wednesday and is not expected to move on rates .
Committee members have indicated they likely are on hold for now absent a significant change in economic conditions .

President Donald Trump made another pitch to the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, this time saying that doing so could help the U.S. pay down its burgeoning national debt.
In a tweet Tuesday morning, the president said again that the central bank should cut its key lending rate so it's more in line with that of its global peers.
However, he extended the argument this time to note that cheaper debt could mean a reduction in the national red ink.
Trump urged the Fed to "get smart" and "make our interest competitive" with other countries.
"We would then focus on paying off & refinancing debt!" he wrote.
tweet
Trump has hectored the Fed on multiple occasions to lower its benchmark overnight borrowing rate, which is currently targeted in a range between 1.5%-1.75%. He complained bitterly when the central bank hiked rates, and has not offered much support for the policymakers even as they reduced the funds rate three times last year.
Despite the cuts, Trump has said the Fed is still moving too slowly to loosen policy.
The national debt has swelled during the Trump administration to $23.2 trillion, an increase of 16.4%. The fiscal deficit was more than $1 trillion for calendar year 2019.
The Federal Open Market Committee concludes its two-day meeting Wednesday and is not expected to move on rates. Committee members have indicated they likely are on hold for now absent a significant change in economic conditions.