Axios PM: ⏰ Curfews across America — Georgia recount — World War II veteran's life advice

1 big thing: America's reopening is at risk | Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Open in app View in browser   Presented By UnitedHealth Group   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Nov 11, 2020 Good afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 488 words, a 2-minute read. 🚨President Trump's newly installed acting Pentagon chief is bringing on a senior adviser in a sign the administration wants to accelerate the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East, Jonathan Swan scooped this afternoon.     1 big thing: America's reopening is at risk Ambulances line up at the entrance of the emergency room to drop off patients in Murray, Utah. Photo: AFP via Getty Images   It feels like early March again across America, where curfews are coming back and a slate of football games have been canceled or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. New York is joining at least 3 other states — Connecticut, Minnesota and New Jersey — in a 10 p.m. curfew for bars, restaurants and gyms. Those restrictions may grow to include crackdowns on indoor dining, Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened today. "If that doesn't work, if these numbers keep going crazy—you have some scientists who believe we'll go back to a closedown. I'm praying that doesn't happen," he said. The big picture: It's not just blue states feeling the pain, with traditional football powerhouses sitting at home this weekend due to outbreaks among teams and staff, reports CBS Sports. Among the teams not playing this weekend: Ohio State-Maryland (canceled) Alabama-LSU (TBD) Texas A&M-Tennessee (rescheduled for Dec. 12) George-Missouri (TBD) Memphis-Navy (TBD) Auburn-Mississippi St (rescheduled for Dec. 12) Wyoming-Air Force (canceled) The bottom line: For many families, the decision of whether or not to congregate this Thanksgiving could be among the most consequential of their lives.     2. Pics du jour Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters Above: President Trump and VP Mike Pence after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. Below: President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden at the Philadelphia Korean War Memorial. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images     A message from UnitedHealth Group United in thanks     To all service members, veterans and their families, including the thousands of veterans we are honored to call colleagues, we are United in Thanks. We are grateful for your service to our country, and we remain honored to have the privilege of serving the military and veterans' community.     3. Catch up quick Republicans need to rebrand their party and steer away from its traditional embrace of big business, Sen. Marco Rubio told Axios' Alayna Treene. Go deeper. 49-48: Republicans are two seats away from a majority after the AP called Alaska for Republican Dan Sullivan. Go deeper. Facebook and Google are extending their ban on political ads. Go deeper. Georgia will conduct a hand recount of the full presidential election vote, its secretary of state announced today. Go deeper. Dr. Anthony Fauci said working with the Trump administration has "been very stressful." Go deeper.     4. 1 dad thing: A World War II veteran's life advice Via The Washington Post Jeffrey H. Smith, an Army veteran and former CIA general counsel, writes in The Washington Post that when he was four months old, his father — an Army captain who was decorated for his service in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge — wrote a letter home to Kansas from Germany on March 11, 1945. Dad's letter is the best recitation of American values and guide for living a truly good life as anything I have ever read. Typed on buff-colored paper, it is only 2½ pages, double spaced, and contains several typos that he corrected in ink. But it is beautifully composed, with a depth of thought that must have evolved over the preceding months of hard fighting. It is simple but profound, like the Bach partitas for solo violin that he loved. From the letter: "I am glad for your sake that you were born an American, and, as you grow older, you will realize how many advantages and limitless opportunities lie before you." Read the letter. (And there's a twist — 3rd paragraph of the story!)     A message from UnitedHealth Group United in thanks     To all service members, veterans and their families, including the thousands of veterans we are honored to call colleagues, we are United in Thanks. We are grateful for your service to our country, and we remain honored to have the privilege of serving the military and veterans' community.     Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: