cnbc--2020-01-28--Trump administration expands screening for coronavirus to 20 US airports

U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar warned Tuesday that the coronavirus raging across mainland China is a `` potentially very serious public health threat , '' saying that the Trump administration is expanding screening for the virus from five to 20 U.S. airports .
`` We are constantly preparing for the possibility that the situation could worsen , '' Azar said during a press briefing on the nation 's response to the coronavirus , which has killed 106 people in mainland China and infected nearly 4,700 worldwide , including in the United States .
`` Americans should not worry about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Part of the risk we face is we do n't know everything we need to know about this virus ... That does not prevent us from preparing and responding . ''
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier in the day advised Americans to avoid all non-essential travel to China , expanding its travel warning from the city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak , to the entire country .
`` To better protect the health of the American public during the emergence of this novel coronavirus and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CDC has reassessed its entry strategy , '' CDC Director Robert Redfield said at the press briefing .
CDC officials said the screenings will focus on identifying ill patients as well as educating travelers so they can help contain the disease .
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually infect animals but can sometimes evolve and spread to humans .
Symptoms in humans include fever , coughing and shortness of breath , which can progress to pneumonia .
U.S. health officials said Tuesday that they are still determining the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it can infect people prior to symptoms .
Azar said the so-called R naught , a mathematical equation that shows how many people will get an illness from each infected person , appears to be somewhere around 1.5 to 3 .
Azar said symptoms from the new virus , temporarily named 2019-nCoV , may take up to 14 days to appear .
Azar said he offered to send CDC officials to China to assist public health officials there .
`` We are urging China [ to act ] with more cooperation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said Monday that the number of `` patients under investigation '' in the U.S. has almost doubled since Thursday to a total of 110 across 26 states .
The disease is not spreading through human-to-human contact in the U.S. and the risk to the public right now is still considered low , Dr. Nancy Messonnier , the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , said Monday .
German officials confirmed Tuesday what is believed to be one of the first person-to-person transmissions of the infection outside of China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with its Shanghai Disney , are suspending operations in China during the normally festive weeklong Lunar New Year holiday to prevent the outbreak from spreading .
Starbucks and McDonald 's also closed stores in Hubei province , where Wuhan is located .
According to the World Health Organization , more data needs to be collected before the virus is declared a global health emergency .
WHO declined at two emergency meetings last week to say it was a worldwide emergency .

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U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar warned Tuesday that the coronavirus raging across mainland China is a "potentially very serious public health threat," saying that the Trump administration is expanding screening for the virus from five to 20 U.S. airports. "We are constantly preparing for the possibility that the situation could worsen," Azar said during a press briefing on the nation's response to the coronavirus, which has killed 106 people in mainland China and infected nearly 4,700 worldwide, including in the United States. "Americans should not worry about their own safety," Azar said. "Part of the risk we face is we don't know everything we need to know about this virus ... That does not prevent us from preparing and responding." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier in the day advised Americans to avoid all non-essential travel to China, expanding its travel warning from the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, to the entire country.
Passengers at LAX after arriving from Shanghai, China, after a positive case of the coronavirus was announced in the Orange County suburb of Los Angeles, January 26, 2020. Ringo Chiu | Reuters
"To better protect the health of the American public during the emergence of this novel coronavirus and based on the evolving information from China, CDC has reassessed its entry strategy," CDC Director Robert Redfield said at the press briefing. CDC officials said the screenings will focus on identifying ill patients as well as educating travelers so they can help contain the disease. [WATCH: the HHS press briefing here.] Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually infect animals but can sometimes evolve and spread to humans. Symptoms in humans include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, which can progress to pneumonia. U.S. health officials said Tuesday that they are still determining the real speed and spread of the disease and whether it can infect people prior to symptoms. Azar said the so-called R naught, a mathematical equation that shows how many people will get an illness from each infected person, appears to be somewhere around 1.5 to 3. Azar said symptoms from the new virus, temporarily named 2019-nCoV, may take up to 14 days to appear. Azar said he offered to send CDC officials to China to assist public health officials there. "We are urging China [to act] with more cooperation and transparency," he said.
CDC officials said Monday that the number of "patients under investigation" in the U.S. has almost doubled since Thursday to a total of 110 across 26 states. The disease is not spreading through human-to-human contact in the U.S. and the risk to the public right now is still considered low, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said Monday. German officials confirmed Tuesday what is believed to be one of the first person-to-person transmissions of the infection outside of China. Several companies, including Walt Disney with its Shanghai Disney, are suspending operations in China during the normally festive weeklong Lunar New Year holiday to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Starbucks and McDonald's also closed stores in Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. According to the World Health Organization, more data needs to be collected before the virus is declared a global health emergency. WHO declined at two emergency meetings last week to say it was a worldwide emergency.


cnbc--2020-01-28--White House tells airlines it may suspend all China-US flights amid coronavirus outbreak

The White House has told airline executives it 's considering suspending flights from China to the U.S. amid an escalating outbreak of a new coronavirus that has infected thousands of people across the world , people familiar with the matter said .
The Trump administration is looking at a variety of measures to contain the fast-spreading virus that has infected roughly 4,700 people across the globe , U.S. health officials told reporters on a conference call Tuesday .
White House officials called executives at major U.S. carriers on Tuesday , telling them that a temporary ban on China flights is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with those conversations .
United Airlines , which has the most service of the U.S. airlines to Hong Kong and mainland China with about a dozen daily flights , on Tuesday announced it would cancel dozens of flights next month to Hong Kong and mainland China as the outbreak worsens .
The Chicago-based airline said it has experienced a `` significant decline in demand for travel to China . ''
United and its rivals Delta and American are waiving cancellation and change fees for travelers booked to China .
The restrictions could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as airports across the United States , administration officials said .
They declined to be named because no final decision has been made .
A senior staff meeting was held at the White House on Monday during which the restrictions were discussed .
Coronavirus live updates : Outbreak has killed 106 people and infected nearly 4,700 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its China travel warning Tuesday , now cautioning all U.S. travelers to avoid the entire country .
Previously , the health agency had advised against nonessential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epicenter of the outbreak .
The Department of Health and Human Services said the CDC is expanding screening for the virus from five to 20 U.S. airports .
When asked about the potential for additional travel restrictions , HHS Secretary Alex Azar said `` it 's important to not take anything off the table . ''

White House officials have told U.S. airlines the Trump administration is considering suspending flights from China to the U.S. amid an escalating outbreak of a new coronavirus that has infected thousands of people across the world, people familiar with the matter said.
The Trump administration is looking at a variety of measures to contain the fast-spreading virus, U.S. health officials told reporters on a conference call Tuesday.
White House officials called executives at major U.S. carriers on Tuesday, telling them that a temporary ban on China flights is on the table, according to people familiar with those conversations.
As of Tuesday evening, the Trump administration had not taken that step and there was no guarantee that it would do so.
Two of the people said the White House told them it doesn't immediately plan to ban China air travel, but administration officials are constantly evaluating the situation.
United Airlines , which has the most service of the U.S. airlines to Hong Kong and mainland China with about a dozen daily flights, on Tuesday announced it would cancel dozens of flights next month to Hong Kong and mainland China as the outbreak worsens. The Chicago-based airline said it has experienced a "significant decline in demand for travel to China." United and its rivals Delta and American are waiving cancellation and change fees for travelers booked to China.
The restrictions could affect flights into and out of China, as well as airports across the United States, administration officials said. They declined to be named because no final decision has been made.
A senior staff meeting was held at the White House on Monday during which the restrictions were discussed.
Coronavirus live updates: Outbreak has killed 106 people and infected nearly 4,700
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its China travel warning Tuesday, now cautioning all U.S. travelers to avoid the entire country.
Previously, the health agency had advised against nonessential travel to the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The Department of Health and Human Services said the CDC is expanding screening for the virus from five to 20 U.S. airports. When asked about the potential for additional travel restrictions, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said "it's important to not take anything off the table."


cnbc--2020-01-28--Op-Ed: Trump's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan: 3 things you need to know

President Trump is rolling out his long-awaited peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians today , entitled `` Deal of the Century , '' which has been simultaneously praised and sarcastically derided .
Here are three things all Americans should know about the plan and the circumstances surrounding it : With Israel 's politicians failing to form a new government after the September elections , consensus was that the Trump administration would wait until after the 2020 U.S. elections to release the peace plan .
The idea was that it would be too risky to meddle in Israel 's upcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But then two things changed .
The biggest development was the decision by Israel 's top opposition party to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's call to annex or extend official Israeli sovereignty over areas in the West Bank with established Jewish populations .
Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz not only promised to pursue that policy , but he promised to do it more effectively than Netanyahu and his Likud Party .
Gantz and his party have long been trying to pick off some of the right-wing voters who traditionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen as a way to do it .
Gantz probably did n't intend for this campaign move to affect the peace plan , but it did .
It removed a key partisan barrier the Trump team did not want to cross .
If only one major party in Israel supported the annexation idea the Trump plan has long been reported to include , the White House risked being accused of interfering in Israel 's election process .
But with the main opposition party also in favor of the West Bank plan , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea .
As a result , Gantz was also invited to the White House this week where he not only strongly praised the Trump peace plan but also heaped praise on Trump himself .
Another change in recent weeks is the Trump re-election campaign 's new focus on getting decent voter turnout in the early Republican caucuses and primaries .
No , Trump is not facing any serious GOP challenger for the nomination .
But the campaign believes a good turnout , especially in the Iowa caucuses next week , is an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among his base .
That base includes Zionist evangelical Christian voters , who will likely show strong support for the peace plan that Israel sees as extremely favorable to the Jewish state .
In Iowa , evangelical voters make up the most important block of GOP support .
The Palestinians wo n't take the deal… but they should The two main Palestinian factions , Fatah and Hamas , have said for more than a year that they reject the Trump peace plan sight unseen .
That 's even though this plan includes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recognize that state .
The Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority and P.A .
President Mahmoud Abbas have called for `` days of rage '' to protest the plan , raising fears of more violence and terrorism .
This foolhardy rejectionism is par for the course , as the Palestinians have rejected every statehood and path-to-statehood offer from Britain , the United Nations , and the U.S. for more than 80 years .
Perhaps the best offer came from then-President Bill Clinton in 2000 , when he and then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the West Bank , and key areas of Jerusalem to Yasser Arafat and the Palestinians .
But Arafat rejected the offer , and he too called for violent uprisings instead .
It was a sad turn of events President Clinton bemoans to this day .
The fact is that no matter what parts of this deal the Palestinians find objectionable , history shows us that every time the Palestinians reject statehood things usually end up getting worse for them .
On top of that , the subsequent offers turn out to be not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sovereignty .
Of course , the Palestinians do n't have to forget whatever aspects of this deal they do n't like .
But they should follow the examples of India , Pakistan , and Israel itself as nations that all accepted far less than perfect statehood offers instead of risking losing their chance at independence forever .
No one should be fooled into accepting the long-held myth that achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians holds some kind of key to peace in the entire region .
The real conflict in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Sunni powers in Saudi Arabia .
In fact , Saudi Arabia 's cozying up to Israel in recent years is all about strengthening the kingdom 's hand against Tehran .
If we want to see peace in the Middle East , the Iranian-Saudi conflict is the one to resolve .
The bad news is the Sunni-Shia fight is an older and tougher rift to fix than even the Israeli-Palestinian impasse .
The good news is the plan is likely to get at least tacit support from Saudi Arabia and its aligned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms for Israel .
This is a sign that Israel and more of its neighbors are coexisting peacefully without using the Palestinian issue as an excuse to continue hostilities .
So while the plan is supposedly intended to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians , it 's more likely to succeed in bringing peace between Israel and Arabs living far beyond its borders .
That 's the win-win Israel is seeking while the Trump administration uses the plan to prove it truly is Israel 's best friend .
Jake Novak is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News and former CNBC TV producer .
You can follow him on Twitter @ jakejakeny .

U.S. President Donald Trump meets Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on January 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. Kobi Gideon | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
President Trump is rolling out his long-awaited peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians today, entitled "Deal of the Century," which has been simultaneously praised and sarcastically derided. But the deal is no joke. Here are three things all Americans should know about the plan and the circumstances surrounding it:
Why Now?
With Israel's politicians failing to form a new government after the September elections, consensus was that the Trump administration would wait until after the 2020 U.S. elections to release the peace plan. The idea was that it would be too risky to meddle in Israel's upcoming "do over" election this March. But then two things changed. The biggest development was the decision by Israel's top opposition party to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call to annex or extend official Israeli sovereignty over areas in the West Bank with established Jewish populations. Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz not only promised to pursue that policy, but he promised to do it more effectively than Netanyahu and his Likud Party. Gantz and his party have long been trying to pick off some of the right-wing voters who traditionally support Likud. Announcing that policy is seen as a way to do it. Gantz probably didn't intend for this campaign move to affect the peace plan, but it did. It removed a key partisan barrier the Trump team did not want to cross. If only one major party in Israel supported the annexation idea the Trump plan has long been reported to include, the White House risked being accused of interfering in Israel's election process. But with the main opposition party also in favor of the West Bank plan, this can now be pushed as a bipartisan idea. As a result, Gantz was also invited to the White House this week where he not only strongly praised the Trump peace plan but also heaped praise on Trump himself. Another change in recent weeks is the Trump re-election campaign's new focus on getting decent voter turnout in the early Republican caucuses and primaries. No, Trump is not facing any serious GOP challenger for the nomination. But the campaign believes a good turnout, especially in the Iowa caucuses next week, is an important way to show the president's strength among his base. That base includes Zionist evangelical Christian voters, who will likely show strong support for the peace plan that Israel sees as extremely favorable to the Jewish state. In Iowa, evangelical voters make up the most important block of GOP support.
The Palestinians won't take the deal… but they should
The two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, have said for more than a year that they reject the Trump peace plan sight unseen. That's even though this plan includes a path to Palestinian statehood and requires Israel to recognize that state. The Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority and P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas have called for "days of rage" to protest the plan, raising fears of more violence and terrorism. This foolhardy rejectionism is par for the course, as the Palestinians have rejected every statehood and path-to-statehood offer from Britain, the United Nations, and the U.S. for more than 80 years. Perhaps the best offer came from then-President Bill Clinton in 2000, when he and then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak agreed to turning over Gaza, 94 percent of the West Bank, and key areas of Jerusalem to Yasser Arafat and the Palestinians. But Arafat rejected the offer, and he too called for violent uprisings instead. It was a sad turn of events President Clinton bemoans to this day. The fact is that no matter what parts of this deal the Palestinians find objectionable, history shows us that every time the Palestinians reject statehood things usually end up getting worse for them. On top of that, the subsequent offers turn out to be not as favorable to Palestinians on borders and sovereignty. Of course, the Palestinians don't have to forget whatever aspects of this deal they don't like. But they should follow the examples of India, Pakistan, and Israel itself as nations that all accepted far less than perfect statehood offers instead of risking losing their chance at independence forever.
Don't call it a "Middle East" peace plan


cnbc--2020-01-28--Supreme Court allows Trump's 'public charge' immigration rule to take effect

Neil Gorsuch , associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court , left , and Brett Kavanaugh , associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court , attend the U.S. President Donald Trump 's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington , D.C. , U.S. , on Tuesday , Feb. 5 , 2019 .
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will allow the Trump administration 's `` public charge '' rule to take effect after the immigration policy had been blocked by lower courts .
The 5-4 vote was divided along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four Democratic appointees indicating that they would not have allowed the policy to be enforced .
The court 's five conservatives , including Chief Justice John Roberts , formed the majority siding with the administration .
The decision came as Roberts was presiding over President Donald Trump 's impeachment trial in the Senate .
The rule , which was proposed in August , will make it more difficult for immigrants to obtain permanent residency , or green cards , if they have used or are likely to use public benefits like food stamps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a more narrow universe of public benefits , such as cash assistance and long-term hospitalization , were considered in determining whether an immigrant was likely to become a `` public charge . ''
Civil rights groups criticized the rule , arguing that it would penalize poor immigrants and disproportionately affect non-white immigrants .

Neil Gorsuch, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, left, and Brett Kavanaugh, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, attend the U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019.
The Supreme Court said Monday that it will allow the Trump administration's "public charge" rule to take effect after the immigration policy had been blocked by lower courts.
The 5-4 vote was divided along partisan lines, with the court's four Democratic appointees indicating that they would not have allowed the policy to be enforced.
The court's five conservatives, including Chief Justice John Roberts, formed the majority siding with the administration. The decision came as Roberts was presiding over President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate.
The rule, which was proposed in August, will make it more difficult for immigrants to obtain permanent residency, or green cards, if they have used or are likely to use public benefits like food stamps and Medicaid.
Under previous federal rules, a more narrow universe of public benefits, such as cash assistance and long-term hospitalization, were considered in determining whether an immigrant was likely to become a "public charge."
Civil rights groups criticized the rule, arguing that it would penalize poor immigrants and disproportionately affect non-white immigrants.


cnbc--2020-01-28--Huawei allowed limited access to UK's 5G networks as Britain defies US pressure

Britain will allow Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei to play a limited role in its next generation 5G mobile networks .
The U.K. government said that Huawei will be restricted from being involved in `` sensitive functions '' in a network of features labeled as `` core . ''
There is also a limit in place on how much equipment networks can buy from one `` high risk vendor '' for a particular part of the infrastructure known as the Radio Access Network ( RAN ) .
This is essentially the part of the network that hooks up your devices with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can participate in the RAN , but no more than 35 % of a single vendor 's equipment in this part of the network can come from Huawei .
`` The cap at 35 % ensures the U.K. will not become nationally dependent on a high risk vendor while retaining competition in the market and allowing operators to continue to use two Radio Access Network ( RAN ) vendors , '' the U.K. 's National Cyber Security Centre said in its review of the country 's telecommunications supply chain on Tuesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and U.S. following a campaign by Washington to have the Chinese firm blocked from as many markets as possible .
The U.S. claims Huawei poses a national security risk because its equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage .
Politicians have also raised concerns about Huawei 's links to the Chinese Communist Party .
Huawei has repeatedly denied these claims and any link to China 's government .
Huawei , which has already been blocked in other key markets including Australia and Japan , gave a measured response to the decision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government 's confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track .
This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced , more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future .
It gives the U.K. access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market , '' Victor Zhang , vice president at Huawei , said in a statement .
Andy Purdy , the U.S. chief security officer at Huawei , said the U.K. 's decision was not necessarily a big win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has always taken a measured approach since it began operating in the country over 15 years ago .
`` Frankly , we do n't really see this as a win per se , this is a very small step and a process that began 15 years ago with the U.K. , they have taken a very measured , a very somber approach to risk mitigation so they can get the benefits of technology , '' Purdy told CNBC 's `` Squawk Box '' on Tuesday .
Purdy did say that the 35 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In the lead up to the decision , U.S. politicians pressured the U.K. to outright ban Huawei .
Over the weekend , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Britain had a `` momentous decision ahead on 5G '' replying to British Conservative lawmaker Tom Tugendhat , who said : `` The truth is that only nations able to protect their data will be sovereign . ''
And there is also a risk that the intelligence sharing relationship between the U.S. and Britain is under threat .
Earlier this month , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would stop the United States from sharing intelligence with countries that use Huawei equipment for their 5G networks .
That bill is not yet law .
5G technology is more than just faster download speeds on mobile devices .
It promises to be able to underpin other new technologies like driverless cars for example .
That 's why it 's viewed as being so crucial — because it could be the backbone for critical infrastructure in the future .
Some lawmakers in the Conservative government 's own party sent warnings to U.K. Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that you allow China leverage into your system , into your critical national infrastructure if you allow Huawei in , '' Conservative lawmaker Bob Seely , told BBC Radio 4 's `` Today '' show on Tuesday .
Several of the biggest U.K. carriers have already begun rolling out 5G and have chosen Huawei as their RAN provider .
Mobile carriers have been worried about the impact that blocking Huawei would have on the rollout of 5G in Britain .
But U.K. telecoms industry body Mobile UK said it `` welcomes '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the `` certainty '' it provides .
`` The mobile industry continues to believe that it is in the interests of customers and the U.K. 's desire to be a global leader in 5G it must have access to a diverse supply chain that is open to the latest and most innovative technologies , '' Hamish MacLeod , director at Mobile UK , said in a statement .
Three CEO Dave Dyson said : `` We note the government 's announcement and are reviewing the detail . ''
Vodafone , which uses Huawei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4G and 5G masts , said it `` notes '' the government 's decision .
`` We continue to believe that the use of a wide range of equipment vendors is the best way to safeguard the delivery of services to all mobile customers .
By working closely with the relevant authorities on any required substitution of equipment and it 's timing , we aim to keep any potential disruption to customers to a minimum , '' Vodafone said in a statement .
EE has yet to reply to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @

A Huawei logo is pictured at their store at Vina del Mar, Chile July 18, 2019. Rodrigo Garrido | Reuters
Britain will allow Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei to play a limited role in its next generation 5G mobile networks. The U.K. government said that Huawei will be restricted from being involved in "sensitive functions" in a network of features labeled as "core." There is also a limit in place on how much equipment networks can buy from one "high risk vendor" for a particular part of the infrastructure known as the Radio Access Network (RAN). This is essentially the part of the network that hooks up your devices with the actual 5G signal. So Huawei can participate in the RAN, but no more than 35% of a single vendor's equipment in this part of the network can come from Huawei. "The cap at 35% ensures the U.K. will not become nationally dependent on a high risk vendor while retaining competition in the market and allowing operators to continue to use two Radio Access Network (RAN) vendors," the U.K.'s National Cyber Security Centre said in its review of the country's telecommunications supply chain on Tuesday.
The move could strain relations between the U.K. and U.S. following a campaign by Washington to have the Chinese firm blocked from as many markets as possible. The U.S. claims Huawei poses a national security risk because its equipment could be used by Beijing for espionage. Politicians have also raised concerns about Huawei's links to the Chinese Communist Party. Huawei has repeatedly denied these claims and any link to China's government.
Huawei: Cap is a 'significant limitation'
Huawei, which has already been blocked in other key markets including Australia and Japan, gave a measured response to the decision. "Huawei is reassured by the U.K. government's confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track. This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future. It gives the U.K. access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market," Victor Zhang, vice president at Huawei, said in a statement. Andy Purdy, the U.S. chief security officer at Huawei, said the U.K.'s decision was not necessarily a big win for the company, as the U.K. has always taken a measured approach since it began operating in the country over 15 years ago. "Frankly, we don't really see this as a win per se, this is a very small step and a process that began 15 years ago with the U.K., they have taken a very measured, a very somber approach to risk mitigation so they can get the benefits of technology," Purdy told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. Purdy did say that the 35% cap is a "very significant limitation."
US pressure
In the lead up to the decision, U.S. politicians pressured the U.K. to outright ban Huawei. Over the weekend, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Britain had a "momentous decision ahead on 5G" replying to British Conservative lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, who said: "The truth is that only nations able to protect their data will be sovereign." And there is also a risk that the intelligence sharing relationship between the U.S. and Britain is under threat. Earlier this month, a U.S. lawmaker has introduced a bill that would stop the United States from sharing intelligence with countries that use Huawei equipment for their 5G networks. That bill is not yet law. 5G technology is more than just faster download speeds on mobile devices. It promises to be able to underpin other new technologies like driverless cars for example. That's why it's viewed as being so crucial — because it could be the backbone for critical infrastructure in the future. Some lawmakers in the Conservative government's own party sent warnings to U.K. Prime Minster Boris Johnson. "The danger is that you allow China leverage into your system, into your critical national infrastructure if you allow Huawei in," Conservative lawmaker Bob Seely, told BBC Radio 4's "Today" show on Tuesday.
watch now
Telcos assessing impact


cnbc--2020-01-29--White House tells airlines it may suspend all China-US flights amid coronavirus outbreak

White House officials have told U.S. airlines the Trump administration is considering suspending flights from China to the U.S. amid an escalating outbreak of a new coronavirus that has infected thousands of people across the world , people familiar with the matter said .
The Trump administration is looking at a variety of measures to contain the fast-spreading virus , U.S. health officials told reporters on a conference call Tuesday .
White House officials called executives at major U.S. carriers on Tuesday , telling them that a temporary ban on China flights is on the table , according to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday evening , the Trump administration had not taken that step and there was no guarantee that it would do so .
Two of the people said the White House told them it does n't immediately plan to ban China air travel , but administration officials are constantly evaluating the situation .
United Airlines , which has the most service of the U.S. airlines to Hong Kong and mainland China with about a dozen daily flights , on Tuesday announced it would cancel dozens of flights next month to Hong Kong and mainland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago-based airline said it has experienced a `` significant decline in demand for travel to China . ''
United and its rivals Delta and American are waiving cancellation and change fees for travelers booked to China .
The restrictions could affect flights into and out of China , as well as airports across the United States , administration officials said .
They declined to be named because no final decision has been made .
A senior staff meeting was held at the White House on Monday during which the restrictions were discussed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 106 people and infected nearly 4,700 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its China travel warning Tuesday , now cautioning all U.S. travelers to avoid the entire country .
Previously , the health agency had advised against nonessential travel to the city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak .
The Department of Health and Human Services said the CDC is expanding screening for the virus from five to 20 U.S. airports .
When asked about the potential for additional travel restrictions , HHS Secretary Alex Azar said `` it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the table . ''


cnbc--2020-01-29--Battle escalates over John Bolton's bombshell book about Trump

Then-US National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks during a media conference in Kiev .
John Bolton arrived to Kiev to meet with the top Ukrainian officials .
WASHINGTON — While the fight over President Donald Trump 's impeachment took a new turn Wednesday in the Senate , outside the chamber , the battle over whether former national security advisor John Bolton would testify — and what he might say if he did — heated up .
According to Bolton 's upcoming memoir , `` The Room Where It Happened , '' Trump told him in person last summer that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to launch investigations into Trump 's political rivals , most notably , former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
The relationship between the stalled aid and the investigations Trump told Ukraine 's president he wanted is at the heart of the impeachment case .
The chamber is expected to vote Friday on whether or not to allow witnesses such as Bolton to testify at the president 's trial .
On Wednesday morning , Trump , who has denied wrongdoing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also claimed without evidence that Bolton 's book was `` nasty & untrue . ''
The Senate on Wednesday began the process of questioning defense lawyers and the House managers prosecuting the case .
Shortly before the questioning began , the White House released a letter to several news outlets that was dated Jan. 23 , almost a week ago , written by a senior records staffer on the National Security Council and addressed to Bolton 's lawyer .
The letter said that an NSC review of Bolton 's book found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounts of classified information . ''
The letter went on to state that `` the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information . ''
Bolton 's attorney , Charles Cooper , did not immediately reply to an email from CNBC seeking Bolton 's response to the White House letter or the president 's comments about his book .
But Cooper said Sunday that the manuscript had been submitted to the White House 's National Security Council for review despite `` our firm belief that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be considered classified . ''
The question of whether the manuscript contains classified information could become a pivotal one if senators vote to call witnesses in the trial , and Bolton is subsequently subpoenaed to testify .
Also on Wednesday , House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel , D-N.Y. , revealed for the first time that he had a conversation with Bolton in late September of last year .
During that talk , Engel said , Bolton raised suspicions about Trump 's abrupt firing in May 2019 of the U.S. ambassador to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I spoke by telephone on September 23 , '' Engel said in a statement released Wednesday .
`` On that call , Ambassador Bolton suggested to me — unprompted — that the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kyiv . ''
Engel said he had not spoken publicly about this call before because it was `` a private conversation , '' but that he told his House colleagues on the committees that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Capitol Hill , Bolton — who has long enjoyed a sterling reputation within the conservative national security establishment — was the target of ire from top Republicans in the House and Senate .
Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , called Bolton a `` disgruntled '' former employee .
But fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina stopped short of attacking Bolton as Trump and Paul had done .
Instead , he cautioned that if `` John Bolton 's credibility is attacked , it makes it more likely some will feel the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Then-US National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks during a media conference in Kiev. John Bolton arrived to Kiev to meet with the top Ukrainian officials.
WASHINGTON — While the fight over President Donald Trump's impeachment took a new turn Wednesday in the Senate, outside the chamber, the battle over whether former national security advisor John Bolton would testify — and what he might say if he did — heated up.
According to Bolton's upcoming memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," Trump told him in person last summer that he planned to withhold nearly $400 million in U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to launch investigations into Trump's political rivals, most notably, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The relationship between the stalled aid and the investigations Trump told Ukraine's president he wanted is at the heart of the impeachment case. The chamber is expected to vote Friday on whether or not to allow witnesses such as Bolton to testify at the president's trial.
On Wednesday morning, Trump, who has denied wrongdoing, issued a series of tweets excoriating Bolton. He also claimed without evidence that Bolton's book was "nasty & untrue."
TRUMP TWEET
The Senate on Wednesday began the process of questioning defense lawyers and the House managers prosecuting the case. Shortly before the questioning began, the White House released a letter to several news outlets that was dated Jan. 23, almost a week ago, written by a senior records staffer on the National Security Council and addressed to Bolton's lawyer.
The letter said that an NSC review of Bolton's book found that it "appears to contain significant amounts of classified information." The letter went on to state that "the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information."
Bolton's attorney, Charles Cooper, did not immediately reply to an email from CNBC seeking Bolton's response to the White House letter or the president's comments about his book.
But Cooper said Sunday that the manuscript had been submitted to the White House's National Security Council for review despite "our firm belief that the manuscript contained no information that could reasonably be considered classified."
The question of whether the manuscript contains classified information could become a pivotal one if senators vote to call witnesses in the trial, and Bolton is subsequently subpoenaed to testify.
Also on Wednesday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., revealed for the first time that he had a conversation with Bolton in late September of last year. During that talk, Engel said, Bolton raised suspicions about Trump's abrupt firing in May 2019 of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.
"He and I spoke by telephone on September 23," Engel said in a statement released Wednesday. "On that call, Ambassador Bolton suggested to me — unprompted — that the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kyiv."
Engel said he had not spoken publicly about this call before because it was "a private conversation," but that he told his House colleagues on the committees that led the Trump impeachment probe.
Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Bolton — who has long enjoyed a sterling reputation within the conservative national security establishment — was the target of ire from top Republicans in the House and Senate.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called Bolton a "disgruntled" former employee. But fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina stopped short of attacking Bolton as Trump and Paul had done. Instead, he cautioned that if "John Bolton's credibility is attacked, it makes it more likely some will feel the need to call him as a witness."


cnbc--2020-01-29--Trump ally Steve Bannon is making a documentary 'takedown' of Chinese leader Xi as US seeks 'phase t

Trump ally Steve Bannon is making a documentary 'takedown' of Chinese leader Xi as US seeks 'phase two' trade deal

Former White House senior counselor to President Donald Trump Steve Bannon leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after he testified at the Roger Stone trial November 8 , 2019 in Washington , DC .
Former White House chief strategist and avowed China hawk Steve Bannon is producing a new documentary that will take aim at Chinese President Xi Jinping in the thick of U.S. negotiations with the Chinese government over a `` phase two '' trade deal .
Bannon , who ran President Donald Trump 's presidential campaign in 2016 , is using millions of dollars in contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the initial production costs of `` Emperor : Rise of Xi , '' according to his nonprofit group 's most recent 990 tax return .
`` This film will be a devastating takedown of the 'myth of Chairman Xi ' including the Wall Street and corporatist faction that props up the regime , '' Bannon told CNBC .
The 90-minute feature is being crafted to focus on modern Chinese history through the perspective of Xi and his late father , Xi Zhongxun , who was once the head of the propaganda department for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people familiar with the matter who declined to be named as these decisions were yet to be made public .
The movie is expected to be released around Labor Day , these people said , in the midst of Trump 's reelection fight .
The documentary has 50 cast members and the production team has more than 30 hours of footage .
The film will focus on Xi 's father 's association with Chinese dictator Mao Zedong .
It will also look at Xi and his family 's historic links to the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on World War II , the protests at Tiananmen Square and confrontations with the United States .
A separate five-hour documentary is set to be released in 2021 , these people added .
Prior to his tenure as Trump 's campaign chairman in 2016 , Bannon produced many conservative films , including `` Clinton Cash '' that probed allegedly shady dealings by the Clinton Foundation .
The revelation that Bannon is working on a film about Xi comes as the Chinese leader is under pressure for his response to the coronavirus , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
The documentary could address Xi 's response to the outbreak , according to one of the people familiar with the movie .
Bannon has been discussing the impact the virus will have on the economy on his podcast , `` War Room : Pandemic . ''
Trump praised Xi 's efforts to contain the virus in a CNBC interview at the World Economic Forum , saying he trusted the Chinese leader 's response .
Bannon has also nonetheless previously praised Xi 's rule over the nation , aligning himself with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Xi is very impressive .
He really understands what 's in the best interests of his people , '' Bannon told the South China Morning Post just after he departed the White House in 2017 .
`` He is very smart , very tough but fair .
He is direct and to the point – just like President Trump .
That is why they like each other so much . ''
The latest Bannon-backed film comes a few years after his departure from the White House and his earlier fallout with Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , Bannon was repeatedly quoted in a critical book by Michael Wolff , `` Fire and Fury . ''
That led to Trump lashing at his previous advisor , claiming Bannon `` lost his mind . ''
Still , since then , it appears Trump and Bannon are in allegiance on several key issues .
The former White House advisor has publicly defended Trump 's use of tariffs and has been a staunch advocate of the president throughout the impeachment trial .
`` Nice to see that one of my best pupils @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve joined me after I won the primaries , but I loved working with him ! ''
Trump tweeted in 2019 .

Former White House senior counselor to President Donald Trump Steve Bannon leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after he testified at the Roger Stone trial November 8, 2019 in Washington, DC.
Former White House chief strategist and avowed China hawk Steve Bannon is producing a new documentary that will take aim at Chinese President Xi Jinping in the thick of U.S. negotiations with the Chinese government over a "phase two" trade deal.
Bannon, who ran President Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, is using millions of dollars in contributions to, in part, help fund the initial production costs of "Emperor: Rise of Xi," according to his nonprofit group's most recent 990 tax return.
"This film will be a devastating takedown of the 'myth of Chairman Xi' including the Wall Street and corporatist faction that props up the regime," Bannon told CNBC.
The 90-minute feature is being crafted to focus on modern Chinese history through the perspective of Xi and his late father, Xi Zhongxun, who was once the head of the propaganda department for the Chinese Communist Party, according to people familiar with the matter who declined to be named as these decisions were yet to be made public.
The movie is expected to be released around Labor Day, these people said, in the midst of Trump's reelection fight. The documentary has 50 cast members and the production team has more than 30 hours of footage.
The film will focus on Xi's father's association with Chinese dictator Mao Zedong. It will also look at Xi and his family's historic links to the Chinese Community Party and the impact they had on World War II, the protests at Tiananmen Square and confrontations with the United States.
A separate five-hour documentary is set to be released in 2021, these people added.
Prior to his tenure as Trump's campaign chairman in 2016, Bannon produced many conservative films, including "Clinton Cash" that probed allegedly shady dealings by the Clinton Foundation.
The revelation that Bannon is working on a film about Xi comes as the Chinese leader is under pressure for his response to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 130 people in the country. The documentary could address Xi's response to the outbreak, according to one of the people familiar with the movie. Bannon has been discussing the impact the virus will have on the economy on his podcast, "War Room: Pandemic."
Trump praised Xi's efforts to contain the virus in a CNBC interview at the World Economic Forum, saying he trusted the Chinese leader's response.
Bannon has also nonetheless previously praised Xi's rule over the nation, aligning himself with Trump's view of the leader.
"Xi is very impressive. He really understands what's in the best interests of his people," Bannon told the South China Morning Post just after he departed the White House in 2017. "He is very smart, very tough but fair. He is direct and to the point – just like President Trump. That is why they like each other so much."
The latest Bannon-backed film comes a few years after his departure from the White House and his earlier fallout with Trump himself. A year after leaving the administration, Bannon was repeatedly quoted in a critical book by Michael Wolff, "Fire and Fury." That led to Trump lashing at his previous advisor, claiming Bannon "lost his mind."
Still, since then, it appears Trump and Bannon are in allegiance on several key issues. The former White House advisor has publicly defended Trump's use of tariffs and has been a staunch advocate of the president throughout the impeachment trial.
"Nice to see that one of my best pupils is still a giant Trump fan. Steve joined me after I won the primaries, but I loved working with him!" Trump tweeted in 2019.


cnbc--2020-01-29--Iowa vote Monday could be a wake-up call for stock market if leading candidate Bernie Sanders wins

Investors have been betting on high volatility around the run-up to the November election , and October futures for the Cboe 's Volatility index are sharply higher than other months .
`` This is why the volatility is around February , and not March .
Super Tuesday has many investors making that bet , '' he said .
`` They 're betting on March .
You want to make your bet around February because there 's a lack of realization that Bernie could win the nomination , and he 's going to get a fresh bout of momentum if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , there is an early `` Super Tuesday '' of primaries on March 3 in more than a dozen states , including Texas , North Carolina and California , a key state where Sanders now has a large lead .
Those states hold 42 % of the delegates , but Clifton said Iowa can be pivotal and provide important early momentum for candidates .
He said the next precaucus poll on Saturday by the Des Moines Register will be important .
`` Iowa has picked the last four Democratic nominees .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as not important , create momentum for winners and really start to hurt the losers , '' Clifton said .
Biden is leading in the third and fourth states to hold votes .
He leads by 5.7 percentage points on average in Nevada polls ahead of its Democratic presidential caucus Feb. 22 , and is ahead in the Feb. 29 vote in South Carolina , where RealClearPolitics.com puts him up by an average 17 percentage points .
`` Anybody who has won two of the first three , they 've all gone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Clifton , head of policy research at Strategas .
Sanders had once been seen as a long shot , but he is now leading former Vice President Joseph Biden in Iowa polls by an average 24.8 % to 20.6 % , according to RealClearPolitics.com .
Sanders is also leading Biden by an average 8 points in polls in his neighboring state of New Hampshire , which he won against Hilary Clinton in 2016 .
The New Hampshire primary is Feb. 11 .
If Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont wins Monday 's first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets could see a new wave of volatility , particularly if the left-leaning candidate then goes on to capture New Hampshire 's primary the following week .
Sanders ' recent run-up in the polls has rattled some investors , who favor President Donald Trump 's policies and have been hoping he will remain in office .
Wall Street has feared Democratic policies that could roll back some of the Republican tax breaks to companies and individuals .
Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are the most progressive and both favor `` Medicare for All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or the shale drilling that has taken the U.S. from a major importer of oil to an exporter and the biggest producer in the world .
Biden wants to preserve and expand upon Obamacare , with a private insurance option .
He has also supported fracking , which is important to voters in key states such as Pennsylvania and Texas .
In Monday 's stock market sell-off , the decline was mostly blamed on worries about the outbreak of coronavirus , but some analysts said investors were also spooked by the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stocks rallied Tuesday and Wednesday , but markets are now clearly keeping an eye on the election , against the backdrop of Trump 's impeachment trial in the Senate .
It is expected the Senate will acquit him , but the proceedings could drag out if witnesses are introduced .
Biden risks being tarnished by that , too , because of his son 's involvement with a Ukraine gas company while he was vice president .
The election is not top of mind in the bond market , as the Fed meets Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy have driven yields sharply lower , as investors bought Treasurys for safety .
The election uncertainty is expected to increase with the Iowa vote , and some bond pros see that as a reason for caution .
`` It 's a reason not to push rates higher .
It 's a reason you 're willing to be neutral , '' said Jon Hill , BMO senior rate strategist .
But the market 's main fear is that either Sanders or Warren wins the Democratic nomination because there then is a chance that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the election .
`` Their policies are clearly not pro-market .
Regardless of what the odds might be in the general election , they have a puncher 's chance , '' said QMA chief market strategist Ed Keon .
In the Iowa polls , Warren is fourth with 14.6 % , behind former South Bend , Ind .
Mayor Pete Buttigieg , at 17 % , according to RealClearPolitics.com .
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is averaging 9 % in Iowa 's polls .
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows up in time for Super Tuesday .
Some strategists see Bloomberg siphoning off Biden supporters , helping Sanders .
`` Bloomberg has set up for Bernie winning and Biden crashing .
If that scenario takes place , then it would be him and Bernie Sanders one on one in the back end of the states .
It 's never been done .
It would n't be easy .
He 's getting 7 % of the vote right now , '' Clifton said .
`` But he 's the only one increasing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andy Laperriere said even though Sanders looks to be in the lead in Iowa , the situation is fluid and it 's hard to tell what the outcome will be .
`` What looks like is happening is the progressive vote is coalescing around Sanders and feeling like he 's got at least as good a chance as anybody else , '' said Laperriere , who heads U.S. policy at Cornerstone .
Laperriere said an analysis on FiveThirtyEight Politics shows a win in Iowa could give a big boost to either candidate but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee .
The analysis shows Biden doubling his odds to 80 % , while the odds for Sanders would get a boost to 61 % on an Iowa win .
`` I think investor perceptions will do something similar to that .
The market will be shifting its odds pretty dramatically about who will be the Democratic nominee , '' Laperriere said .
`` Sanders is much more of a risk to the market , but on the other hand , the perception is the odds of him beating Trump are low .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market , but the odds of him beating Trump are higher . ''
Tom Block , Washington analyst at Fundstrat , said Iowa could determine which of party 's progressive candidates will be left standing .
`` It appears Sanders is gaining momentum , and Elizabeth Warren is losing momentum .
I think Iowa can be the defining moment for the race within the race , '' he said .
`` If Joe Biden gets wiped out in Iowa that would be a negative for him , but if he 's competitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think he can survive for another day . ''
Block said Bloomberg only comes in to the race seriously if Biden falters .
Markets see the billionaire Bloomberg as much more market friendly than Sanders or Warren .
`` The landscape has significantly changed .
You never before had a Super Tuesday like this that has California , Texas and North Carolina .
History is changing with this year 's primary schedule , '' Block said .
`` I think the biggest outcome of these early first primaries is going to be deciding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and what is Elizabeth Warren 's argument for staying in the race . ''
Investors may find Sanders ' tax proposals less appealing than those of Warren .
According to Cornerstone Macro 's analysis , Sanders would push the highest individual tax rate to 52 % while other Democrats would raise it to 39.6 % , from the current 37 % .
Under Sanders ' plan , the highest marginal tax rate would be 69.2 % , compared with Warren 's 53.5 % .
Earlier in the race , health-care stocks fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started to recover as she peaked in the polls .
Lately , managed-care stocks have been underperforming , seemingly in a response to Sanders gaining momentum , Clifton said .
The FANG tech names , banks and energy stocks are also viewed as vulnerable to Sanders .
If Sanders wins Iowa , there could be a knee-jerk reaction in stocks , but it may not be big initially .
If he continues to win , volatility is expected to increase .
`` Volatility here in general should start to pick up , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates at AmeriVet Securities .
`` If Sanders starts to emerge , coming out of Iowa , I think the market will be forced to price in a certain percentage of likelihood that he could win the general election .
I think it starts to handicap that this is real . ''

Investors have been betting on high volatility around the run-up to the November election, and October futures for the Cboe's Volatility index are sharply higher than other months.
"This is why the volatility is around February, and not March. Super Tuesday has many investors making that bet," he said. "They're betting on March. You want to make your bet around February because there's a lack of realization that Bernie could win the nomination, and he's going to get a fresh bout of momentum if he wins those first states."
This year, there is an early "Super Tuesday" of primaries on March 3 in more than a dozen states, including Texas, North Carolina and California, a key state where Sanders now has a large lead. Those states hold 42% of the delegates, but Clifton said Iowa can be pivotal and provide important early momentum for candidates. He said the next precaucus poll on Saturday by the Des Moines Register will be important.
"Iowa has picked the last four Democratic nominees. The early states, which are often disregarded as not important, create momentum for winners and really start to hurt the losers," Clifton said.
Biden is leading in the third and fourth states to hold votes. He leads by 5.7 percentage points on average in Nevada polls ahead of its Democratic presidential caucus Feb. 22, and is ahead in the Feb. 29 vote in South Carolina, where RealClearPolitics.com puts him up by an average 17 percentage points.
"Anybody who has won two of the first three, they've all gone on" to be the nominee, said Daniel Clifton, head of policy research at Strategas.
Sanders had once been seen as a long shot, but he is now leading former Vice President Joseph Biden in Iowa polls by an average 24.8% to 20.6%, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Sanders is also leading Biden by an average 8 points in polls in his neighboring state of New Hampshire, which he won against Hilary Clinton in 2016. The New Hampshire primary is Feb. 11.
If Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont wins Monday's first presidential contest of the 2020 campaign, markets could see a new wave of volatility, particularly if the left-leaning candidate then goes on to capture New Hampshire's primary the following week.
Sanders' recent run-up in the polls has rattled some investors, who favor President Donald Trump's policies and have been hoping he will remain in office. Wall Street has feared Democratic policies that could roll back some of the Republican tax breaks to companies and individuals.
Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are the most progressive and both favor "Medicare for All." Both also would ban fracking, or the shale drilling that has taken the U.S. from a major importer of oil to an exporter and the biggest producer in the world.
Biden wants to preserve and expand upon Obamacare, with a private insurance option. He has also supported fracking, which is important to voters in key states such as Pennsylvania and Texas.
In Monday's stock market sell-off, the decline was mostly blamed on worries about the outbreak of coronavirus, but some analysts said investors were also spooked by the latest polls showing Sanders rising in Iowa.
Stocks rallied Tuesday and Wednesday, but markets are now clearly keeping an eye on the election, against the backdrop of Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate. It is expected the Senate will acquit him, but the proceedings could drag out if witnesses are introduced. Biden risks being tarnished by that, too, because of his son's involvement with a Ukraine gas company while he was vice president.
The election is not top of mind in the bond market, as the Fed meets Wednesday. Fears the coronavirus could hit the economy have driven yields sharply lower, as investors bought Treasurys for safety. The election uncertainty is expected to increase with the Iowa vote, and some bond pros see that as a reason for caution.
"It's a reason not to push rates higher. It's a reason you're willing to be neutral," said Jon Hill, BMO senior rate strategist.
But the market's main fear is that either Sanders or Warren wins the Democratic nomination because there then is a chance that one of the most progressive candidates could win the election.
"Their policies are clearly not pro-market. Regardless of what the odds might be in the general election, they have a puncher's chance," said QMA chief market strategist Ed Keon.
In the Iowa polls, Warren is fourth with 14.6%, behind former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, at 17%, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is averaging 9% in Iowa's polls.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is not in the early state races, and only shows up in time for Super Tuesday. Some strategists see Bloomberg siphoning off Biden supporters, helping Sanders.
"Bloomberg has set up for Bernie winning and Biden crashing. If that scenario takes place, then it would be him and Bernie Sanders one on one in the back end of the states. It's never been done. It wouldn't be easy. He's getting 7% of the vote right now," Clifton said. "But he's the only one increasing in the polls."
Cornerstone Macro's Andy Laperriere said even though Sanders looks to be in the lead in Iowa, the situation is fluid and it's hard to tell what the outcome will be. "What looks like is happening is the progressive vote is coalescing around Sanders and feeling like he's got at least as good a chance as anybody else," said Laperriere, who heads U.S. policy at Cornerstone.
Laperriere said an analysis on FiveThirtyEight Politics shows a win in Iowa could give a big boost to either candidate but would push Biden closer to being the nominee. The analysis shows Biden doubling his odds to 80%, while the odds for Sanders would get a boost to 61% on an Iowa win.
"I think investor perceptions will do something similar to that. The market will be shifting its odds pretty dramatically about who will be the Democratic nominee," Laperriere said. "Sanders is much more of a risk to the market, but on the other hand, the perception is the odds of him beating Trump are low. Biden is less of a risk for the market, but the odds of him beating Trump are higher."
Tom Block, Washington analyst at Fundstrat, said Iowa could determine which of party's progressive candidates will be left standing.
"It appears Sanders is gaining momentum, and Elizabeth Warren is losing momentum. I think Iowa can be the defining moment for the race within the race," he said. "If Joe Biden gets wiped out in Iowa that would be a negative for him, but if he's competitive and they all bunch together, I think he can survive for another day."
Block said Bloomberg only comes in to the race seriously if Biden falters. Markets see the billionaire Bloomberg as much more market friendly than Sanders or Warren.
"The landscape has significantly changed. You never before had a Super Tuesday like this that has California, Texas and North Carolina. History is changing with this year's primary schedule," Block said. "I think the biggest outcome of these early first primaries is going to be deciding whether Bernie has captured the progressive vote, and what is Elizabeth Warren's argument for staying in the race."
Investors may find Sanders' tax proposals less appealing than those of Warren. According to Cornerstone Macro's analysis, Sanders would push the highest individual tax rate to 52% while other Democrats would raise it to 39.6%, from the current 37%. Under Sanders' plan, the highest marginal tax rate would be 69.2%, compared with Warren's 53.5%.
Earlier in the race, health-care stocks fell as Warren gained momentum, but they started to recover as she peaked in the polls. Lately, managed-care stocks have been underperforming, seemingly in a response to Sanders gaining momentum, Clifton said. The FANG tech names, banks and energy stocks are also viewed as vulnerable to Sanders.
If Sanders wins Iowa, there could be a knee-jerk reaction in stocks, but it may not be big initially. If he continues to win, volatility is expected to increase.
"Volatility here in general should start to pick up," said Gregory Faranello, head of U.S. rates at AmeriVet Securities. "If Sanders starts to emerge, coming out of Iowa, I think the market will be forced to price in a certain percentage of likelihood that he could win the general election. I think it starts to handicap that this is real."


cnbc--2020-01-29--Trump impeachment trial: Senators to question House managers and president's defense team

President Donald Trump 's impeachment trial in the Senate is set to resume Wednesday afternoon , with the upper chamber poised to question his legal team and the House managers .
The new phase comes after the early completion of oral arguments from Trump 's defense team on Tuesday .
The team , led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump 's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow , used approximately half of its allotted 24 hours to lay out the case for acquittal and urge senators not to call additional witnesses .
Here 's what to expect : • The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Senators will have 16 hours over two days to ask questions of the House managers and the defense team .
• Questions will be submitted in writing on small cards , and Chief Justice John Roberts , who is presiding over the trial , will read each question out loud , along with the name of the senator who asked it .
• Republicans and Democrats will have an equal opportunity to ask questions , and Roberts is expected to alternate between the two when posing the questions .
In arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time a bombshell report revolving around former national security advisor John Bolton , whom House Democrats are pushing to have subpoenaed as a witness .
According to Bolton 's upcoming memoir , `` The Room Where It Happened , '' Trump told him in person last summer that he planned to withhold nearly $ 400 million in U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to launch investigations into Trump 's political rivals , most notably , former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter .
The relationship between the abruptly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is at the heart of the impeachment case .
Trump 's lawyers have insisted the two issues were entirely separate , and the aid was not being withheld to exercise leverage over the Ukrainian president .
On Tuesday , they also argued that Bolton 's book amounted to an `` inadmissible '' allegation .
`` You can not impeach a president on an unsourced allegation , '' Sekulow said Tuesday , although , notably , he did not deny the facts contained in Bolton 's account .
Read more : Trump impeachment trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urges Senate to acquit the president Trump has denied that he ever told Bolton the release of aid was dependent upon the launch of investigations .
On Wednesday morning , the president went a step further , attacking Bolton in a series of tweets , calling his former advisor 's memoir `` nasty & untrue '' and claiming without evidence that it contains `` All Classified National Security '' material .
Following this past weekend 's revelations about the Bolton book , moderate Republicans like Sens .
Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in voting to allow witness testimony at Trump 's Senate trial .
The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate , so Democrats would need four Republicans to join with them and vote to call new witnesses .
Two additional potential GOP defectors are Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and retiring Tennessee Sen Lamar Alexander .
Neither has signaled how they plan to vote on witnesses .
Following Tuesday 's trial proceedings , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said a preliminary vote count among senators indicated that the GOP does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or additional documents .
Moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said in an interview Wednesday morning that he would consider Hunter Biden to be a relevant witness , effectively floating the idea of a swap — Bolton 's testimony , which would ostensibly harm the president 's case , for Biden 's , which some senators think could help it .
Even if witnesses are called , it remains unlikely that the Senate will vote to convict Trump and remove him from office .
The Senate is expected to vote Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional documents .

President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate is set to resume Wednesday afternoon, with the upper chamber poised to question his legal team and the House managers.
The new phase comes after the early completion of oral arguments from Trump's defense team on Tuesday. The team, led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, used approximately half of its allotted 24 hours to lay out the case for acquittal and urge senators not to call additional witnesses. Here's what to expect:
The Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. Senators will have 16 hours over two days to ask questions of the House managers and the defense team.
Questions will be submitted in writing on small cards, and Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, will read each question out loud, along with the name of the senator who asked it.
Republicans and Democrats will have an equal opportunity to ask questions, and Roberts is expected to alternate between the two when posing the questions.
In arguments Tuesday, Sekulow addressed for the first time a bombshell report revolving around former national security advisor John Bolton, whom House Democrats are pushing to have subpoenaed as a witness.
According to Bolton's upcoming memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," Trump told him in person last summer that he planned to withhold nearly $400 million in U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to launch investigations into Trump's political rivals, most notably, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The relationship between the abruptly halted aid and the investigations Trump wanted is at the heart of the impeachment case.
Trump's lawyers have insisted the two issues were entirely separate, and the aid was not being withheld to exercise leverage over the Ukrainian president. On Tuesday, they also argued that Bolton's book amounted to an "inadmissible" allegation.
"You cannot impeach a president on an unsourced allegation," Sekulow said Tuesday, although, notably, he did not deny the facts contained in Bolton's account.
Read more: Trump impeachment trial: Defense wraps up oral arguments, urges Senate to acquit the president
Trump has denied that he ever told Bolton the release of aid was dependent upon the launch of investigations. On Wednesday morning, the president went a step further, attacking Bolton in a series of tweets, calling his former advisor's memoir "nasty & untrue" and claiming without evidence that it contains "All Classified National Security" material.
TWEET
Following this past weekend's revelations about the Bolton book, moderate Republicans like Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine signaled an increased interest in voting to allow witness testimony at Trump's Senate trial.
The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate, so Democrats would need four Republicans to join with them and vote to call new witnesses. Two additional potential GOP defectors are Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and retiring Tennessee Sen Lamar Alexander. Neither has signaled how they plan to vote on witnesses.
Following Tuesday's trial proceedings, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said a preliminary vote count among senators indicated that the GOP does not have enough votes to block witnesses or additional documents.
Moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said in an interview Wednesday morning that he would consider Hunter Biden to be a relevant witness, effectively floating the idea of a swap — Bolton's testimony, which would ostensibly harm the president's case, for Biden's, which some senators think could help it.
Even if witnesses are called, it remains unlikely that the Senate will vote to convict Trump and remove him from office.
The Senate is expected to vote Friday on whether to call witnesses or subpoena additional documents.


cnbc--2020-01-29--Former Trump aide Michael Flynn says he 'never lied' and 'I am innocent' as he seeks to undo guilty

Former Trump aide Michael Flynn says he 'never lied' and 'I am innocent' as he seeks to undo guilty plea

Michael Flynn , former national security advisor for President Donald Trump , claims in a new legal filing that he is innocent as he seeks to undo his guilty plea for making false statements to the FBI about his talks with Russia 's ambassador to the United States in the weeks before Trump 's inauguration .
`` In truth , I never lied , '' Flynn said in the document , which was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. Later Wednesday , federal prosecutors said in their own filing that they do not object to Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no jail time , if Judge Emmet Sullivan rejects his pending request to withdraw his guilty plea .
The U.S. Attorney 's Office for the District of Columbia said it agrees that a sentence of between zero and six months in jail `` is appropriate and warranted in this case , agrees with the defendant that a sentence of probation is appropriate and does not oppose the imposition of a sentence of probation . ''
The filings came two weeks after Flynn formally petitioned Sullivan to withdraw his guilty plea .
Prosecutors are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filing claimed that `` I never would have pled guilty '' if his first set of lawyers had told him that FBI agents wrote that he had a `` sure demeanor '' and `` did not give any indication of deception '' in a report they prepared after questioning him about the nature of his conversations with then-Ambassador Sergey Kislyak .
Instead , Flynn said that `` I tried to 'accept responsibility ' by admitting to offenses I understood the government I love and trusted said I committed . ''
And he claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recall whether he discussed sanctions on Russia with Kislyak , as the FBI has alleged .
However , Flynn has previously affirmed at two court hearings that he had falsely told FBI agents in January 2017 that he did not ask Kislyak to refrain from escalating sanctions in response to the imposition of sanctions against Russia by the Obama administration .
`` I am innocent of this crime , and I request to withdraw my guilty plea , '' he wrote in the filing Wednesday .
It is not clear whether Flynn 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to convince Sullivan that he should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea .
Lawyers unconnected to the case say that Flynn , who is still tentatively scheduled to be sentenced next month , faces very long odds in getting Sullivan to undo the plea .

Michael Flynn, former national security advisor for President Donald Trump, claims in a new legal filing that he is innocent as he seeks to undo his guilty plea for making false statements to the FBI about his talks with Russia's ambassador to the United States in the weeks before Trump's inauguration.
"In truth, I never lied," Flynn said in the document, which was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Later Wednesday, federal prosecutors said in their own filing that they do not object to Flynn receiving a sentence of probation, with no jail time, if Judge Emmet Sullivan rejects his pending request to withdraw his guilty plea.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said it agrees that a sentence of between zero and six months in jail "is appropriate and warranted in this case, agrees with the defendant that a sentence of probation is appropriate and does not oppose the imposition of a sentence of probation."
The filings came two weeks after Flynn formally petitioned Sullivan to withdraw his guilty plea. Prosecutors are opposing that request.
Flynn in his filing claimed that "I never would have pled guilty" if his first set of lawyers had told him that FBI agents wrote that he had a "sure demeanor" and "did not give any indication of deception" in a report they prepared after questioning him about the nature of his conversations with then-Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
Instead, Flynn said that "I tried to 'accept responsibility' by admitting to offenses I understood the government I love and trusted said I committed."
And he claimed that at the moment he does not recall whether he discussed sanctions on Russia with Kislyak, as the FBI has alleged.
However, Flynn has previously affirmed at two court hearings that he had falsely told FBI agents in January 2017 that he did not ask Kislyak to refrain from escalating sanctions in response to the imposition of sanctions against Russia by the Obama administration.
"I am innocent of this crime, and I request to withdraw my guilty plea," he wrote in the filing Wednesday.
It is not clear whether Flynn's statements in the filing will be enough to convince Sullivan that he should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea.
Lawyers unconnected to the case say that Flynn, who is still tentatively scheduled to be sentenced next month, faces very long odds in getting Sullivan to undo the plea.


cnbc--2020-01-29--Pentagon will provide support for US citizens and diplomats evacuated from Wuhan

Personnel in biological hazard suits await passengers evacuated from Wuhan , the Chinese city at the heart of a growing outbreak of the deadly 2019 Novel Coronavirus shortly after the plane landed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside , California on January 29 , 2020 .
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Wednesday that it will provide housing and support for the nearly 200 U.S. citizens and diplomats evacuated from Wuhan , China — the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus — to the United States .
A U.S. Embassy spokesperson in Beijing told CNBC that the State Department ordered personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to depart for the United States on a chartered flight Wednesday morning local time .
The flight from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to Ontario , California , will stop first in Anchorage , Alaska , for refueling and medical screenings .
The government-chartered flight landed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside , California on Wednesday .
Shortly after the plane landed personnel in biological hazard suits helped passengers load into buses and emergency vehicles on the tarmac .
`` Health and Human Services ( HHS ) is responsible for all care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be directly in contact with the evacuees and evacuees will not have access to any base location other than their assigned housing , '' wrote Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah in a statement .
`` Should routine monitoring of the evacuees identify ill individuals , HHS has procedures in place to transport them to a local civilian hospital .
DoD will work closely with our interagency partners and continue to monitor the situation .
The Department 's primary responsibility at this time is the safety of our force , our families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
The virus — which was first diagnosed less than a month ago — has already killed at least 132 people in China and infected roughly 6,100 people around the world .
While the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases are in mainland China , the virus has also been identified in Japan , South Korea , Taiwan , Thailand , Vietnam , Singapore , Nepal , Hong Kong , Macao , Cambodia , Malaysia , Sri Lanka , France , Germany , Australia , Canada , the United Arab Emirates and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually been very effective at the identification of new viruses because we have people everywhere and we have our military laboratories everywhere , '' Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad , director of the emerging infectious diseases branch at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , told CNBC .
`` While typically the CDC is the lead on these things , the military has reference laboratories pretty much on every continent and specifically , we have labs in all of Southeast Asia , so we act as a force multiplier in providing additional surveillance to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Department of Defense official told CNBC that the Pentagon 's Defense Threat Reduction Agency , or DTRA , worked alongside Thai counterparts to detect the first coronavirus in that country on Jan. 13 .
Thailand , which has the most cases of coronavirus outside of mainland China , sees routine deployments of U.S. personnel under DTRA to bolster biosurveillance , biosecurity and biosafety capabilities .
`` These investments enhance regional stability and decrease risk to U.S. interests by building our partner 's capacity to detect and report disease outbreaks of especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and biosafety capabilities , '' the official said .

Personnel in biological hazard suits await passengers evacuated from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the heart of a growing outbreak of the deadly 2019 Novel Coronavirus shortly after the plane landed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California on January 29, 2020.
Follow CNBC's live blog for coronavirus updates
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Wednesday that it will provide housing and support for the nearly 200 U.S. citizens and diplomats evacuated from Wuhan, China — the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus — to the United States.
A U.S. Embassy spokesperson in Beijing told CNBC that the State Department ordered personnel from the U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan to depart for the United States on a chartered flight Wednesday morning local time. The flight from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to Ontario, California, will stop first in Anchorage, Alaska, for refueling and medical screenings.
The government-chartered flight landed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California on Wednesday. Shortly after the plane landed personnel in biological hazard suits helped passengers load into buses and emergency vehicles on the tarmac.
"Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for all care of the evacuees, and DoD personnel will not be directly in contact with the evacuees and evacuees will not have access to any base location other than their assigned housing," wrote Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah in a statement.
"Should routine monitoring of the evacuees identify ill individuals, HHS has procedures in place to transport them to a local civilian hospital. DoD will work closely with our interagency partners and continue to monitor the situation. The Department's primary responsibility at this time is the safety of our force, our families, and our base communities," she added.
The virus — which was first diagnosed less than a month ago — has already killed at least 132 people in China and infected roughly 6,100 people around the world.
While the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases are in mainland China, the virus has also been identified in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, Hong Kong, Macao, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
"The military has actually been very effective at the identification of new viruses because we have people everywhere and we have our military laboratories everywhere," Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the emerging infectious diseases branch at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, told CNBC.
"While typically the CDC is the lead on these things, the military has reference laboratories pretty much on every continent and specifically, we have labs in all of Southeast Asia, so we act as a force multiplier in providing additional surveillance to the CDC's efforts," he added.
A Department of Defense official told CNBC that the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, or DTRA, worked alongside Thai counterparts to detect the first coronavirus in that country on Jan. 13.
Thailand, which has the most cases of coronavirus outside of mainland China, sees routine deployments of U.S. personnel under DTRA to bolster biosurveillance, biosecurity and biosafety capabilities.
"These investments enhance regional stability and decrease risk to U.S. interests by building our partner's capacity to detect and report disease outbreaks of especially dangerous pathogens, and enhance related biosecurity and biosafety capabilities," the official said.


cnbc--2020-01-29--Mike Bloomberg presidential campaign releases dog ad a day after his snout-shake video goes viral

Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during a “ United for Mike , ” event held at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center and Tauber Academy Social Hall on January 26 , 2020 in Aventura , Florida .
Doggone it , Mike Bloomberg 's presidential campaign is fast at producing funny ads .
Less than 24 hours after a video showing Bloomberg bizarrely shaking a dog 's snout went viral on social media , his campaign released a digital ad featuring dogs endorsing the billionaire 's candidacy for the Democratic nomination .
`` Dog people get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City mayor tweeted Wednesday , with the hashtag # DogsFurMike .
The pooches in the video , purporting to speak in human voices , bark about Bloomberg 's various selling points .
One pup points out , `` Mike 's not afraid of the NRA , not one bit , '' referring to Bloomberg 's support for gun control .
Another canine quips , `` He does not tweet , '' in an apparent tweak of President Donald Trump and his compulsive Twitter habit .
And toward the end , one dog declaims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I lick Mike . ''
The ad ends with a still image of him petting a dog — its head , not its snout .
`` I 'm Mike Bloomberg 's dog .
I approve this message , '' Bloomberg 's purported pet dog , Cody , says ( with a human voiceover ) .
In the video that went viral Tuesday , Bloomberg while campaigning in Burlington , Vermont , is seen approaching a seated man to shake his hand .
Bloomberg on the video then looks at a dog in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's snout and shakes it up and down , in the same manner people shake each others ' hands .
The incident — dubbed `` snoutgate '' by online dog lovers — was quickly shared on social media .
Some dog owners said they also shake their own pooch 's snout in the same way .
But others questioned whether Bloomberg had ever met a dog before .
Bloomberg 's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the quick turnaround on the ad .

Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during a “United for Mike,” event held at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center and Tauber Academy Social Hall on January 26, 2020 in Aventura, Florida.
Doggone it, Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign is fast at producing funny ads.
Less than 24 hours after a video showing Bloomberg bizarrely shaking a dog's snout went viral on social media, his campaign released a digital ad featuring dogs endorsing the billionaire's candidacy for the Democratic nomination.
"Dog people get me," the former New York City mayor tweeted Wednesday, with the hashtag #DogsFurMike.
The pooches in the video, purporting to speak in human voices, bark about Bloomberg's various selling points.
One pup points out, "Mike's not afraid of the NRA, not one bit," referring to Bloomberg's support for gun control.
Another canine quips, "He does not tweet," in an apparent tweak of President Donald Trump and his compulsive Twitter habit.
And toward the end, one dog declaims simply, "I like Mike. I lick Mike."
Dog ad
The ad ends with a still image of him petting a dog — its head, not its snout.
"I'm Mike Bloomberg's dog. I approve this message," Bloomberg's purported pet dog, Cody, says (with a human voiceover).
In the video that went viral Tuesday, Bloomberg while campaigning in Burlington, Vermont, is seen approaching a seated man to shake his hand.
Bloomberg on the video then looks at a dog in front of the man, grabs the dog's snout and shakes it up and down, in the same manner people shake each others' hands.
Snoutgate
The incident — dubbed "snoutgate" by online dog lovers — was quickly shared on social media.
Some dog owners said they also shake their own pooch's snout in the same way.
But others questioned whether Bloomberg had ever met a dog before.
Bloomberg's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the quick turnaround on the ad.


cnbc--2020-01-29--Trump praises party-switching Rep. Van Drew, slams impeachment during campaign rally in blue state N

Trump praises party-switching Rep. Van Drew, slams impeachment during campaign rally in blue state New Jersey

President Donald Trump speaks at an evening “ Keep America Great Rally ” at the Wildwood Convention Center on January 28 , 2020 in Wildwood , New Jersey .
WILDWOOD , N.J. — President Donald Trump , during a raucous campaign rally in blue state New Jersey , praised Rep. Jeff Van Drew , the newest Republican in Congress , and denounced Democrats ' impeachment efforts .
Trump talked up the ex-Democratic lawmaker on Tuesday night for voting against both articles of impeachment in the House .
A day before the vote , Van Drew announced he was joining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undying support . ''
In response , Trump had vowed to endorse Van Drew , who before switching parties was reportedly facing a tough Democratic primary battle .
During his visit to the beach resort town of Wildwood in Van Drew 's Republican-leaning district , Trump depicted Van Drew as a symbol for Democratic dissatisfaction with party leadership .
`` What he did was incredible , '' Trump said , drawing massive applause from the Wildwoods Convention Center .
Trump , once a casino magnate about 45 minutes north of here in Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour in the jam-packed convention hall .
Thousands of people waited outside in the frigid weather for much longer — some for days , local outlets reported — to be let inside the arena , which held roughly 7,500 people .
`` Americans of all political beliefs are sick and tired '' of the Democrats , Trump said , citing as evidence some recent national polls showing his approval slightly higher since the impeachment proceedings began .
`` Voters are making a mass exodus from that party and we are welcoming them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before the rally , Trump campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told CNBC that Van Drew is `` a model for what we think is going on all around the country . ''
New Jersey is among the few solid-blue states in which Trump has held a 2020 campaign rally .
Hillary Clinton , Trump 's Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential contest , beat Trump in New Jersey by about 14 percentage points .
And after the so-called blue-wave midterm elections in 2018 , the state was represented entirely by Democrats save for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state 's 2nd District with the election of Van Drew .
He ran as a moderate Democrat and unseated the Republican incumbent in his party 's first victory there in years .
While Trump railed against the Democrats who want him removed from office , his impeachment trial raged on in the Senate .
House Democrats launched the impeachment inquiry following a whistleblower 's complaint about Trump 's July 25 call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy .
Trump in that call asked Zelenskiy to `` look into '' former Vice President Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as a debunked conspiracy theory about Ukraine , not Russia , interfering in the 2016 election .
Democrats accuse Trump of withholding congressionally appropriated military aid in order to pressure the foreign leader to smear Trump 's possible 2020 rival by announcing probes into the Bidens , and then stonewalling Congress ' investigation into the matter .
Trump has denied all wrongdoing .
Trump 's defense team completed their opening statements Tuesday afternoon , wrapping up a series of arguments to convince the Republican-led Senate to acquit the president of the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less overall time than the Democratic House impeachment managers , led by Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , to present their arguments .
Senators say they expect a vote in the chamber Friday on whether to bring additional witnesses and documents in the trial .
Correction : An earlier version misstated the date of the Trump-Zelenskiy phone call .
It was July 25 .

President Donald Trump speaks at an evening “Keep America Great Rally” at the Wildwood Convention Center on January 28, 2020 in Wildwood, New Jersey.
WILDWOOD, N.J. — President Donald Trump, during a raucous campaign rally in blue state New Jersey, praised Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the newest Republican in Congress, and denounced Democrats' impeachment efforts.
Trump talked up the ex-Democratic lawmaker on Tuesday night for voting against both articles of impeachment in the House. A day before the vote, Van Drew announced he was joining the GOP and that Trump had his "undying support." In response, Trump had vowed to endorse Van Drew, who before switching parties was reportedly facing a tough Democratic primary battle.
During his visit to the beach resort town of Wildwood in Van Drew's Republican-leaning district, Trump depicted Van Drew as a symbol for Democratic dissatisfaction with party leadership.
"What he did was incredible," Trump said, drawing massive applause from the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Trump, once a casino magnate about 45 minutes north of here in Atlantic City, spoke for just over an hour in the jam-packed convention hall. Thousands of people waited outside in the frigid weather for much longer — some for days, local outlets reported — to be let inside the arena, which held roughly 7,500 people.
"Americans of all political beliefs are sick and tired" of the Democrats, Trump said, citing as evidence some recent national polls showing his approval slightly higher since the impeachment proceedings began.
"Voters are making a mass exodus from that party and we are welcoming them to that party," the president claimed.
Before the rally, Trump campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told CNBC that Van Drew is "a model for what we think is going on all around the country."
New Jersey is among the few solid-blue states in which Trump has held a 2020 campaign rally.
Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential contest, beat Trump in New Jersey by about 14 percentage points. And after the so-called blue-wave midterm elections in 2018, the state was represented entirely by Democrats save for one district.
That wave washed over the state's 2nd District with the election of Van Drew. He ran as a moderate Democrat and unseated the Republican incumbent in his party's first victory there in years.
While Trump railed against the Democrats who want him removed from office, his impeachment trial raged on in the Senate.
House Democrats launched the impeachment inquiry following a whistleblower's complaint about Trump's July 25 call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump in that call asked Zelenskiy to "look into" former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, as well as a debunked conspiracy theory about Ukraine, not Russia, interfering in the 2016 election.
Democrats accuse Trump of withholding congressionally appropriated military aid in order to pressure the foreign leader to smear Trump's possible 2020 rival by announcing probes into the Bidens, and then stonewalling Congress' investigation into the matter. Trump has denied all wrongdoing.
Trump's defense team completed their opening statements Tuesday afternoon, wrapping up a series of arguments to convince the Republican-led Senate to acquit the president of the two impeachment charges against him.
They took less overall time than the Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., to present their arguments. Senators say they expect a vote in the chamber Friday on whether to bring additional witnesses and documents in the trial.
Correction: An earlier version misstated the date of the Trump-Zelenskiy phone call. It was July 25.