10 things you need to know today: February 5, 2020

1. Trump makes case for re-election in State of the Union address

President Trump used his State of the Union address on Tuesday to make the case for his re-election in November, boasting that he had orchestrated a "Great American Comeback" with his tax cuts, deregulation, and new trade deals. Trump, speaking on the eve of his expected acquittal on impeachment charges, said that during his three years in office he had "rejected the downsizing of America's destiny." He vowed to fight efforts by Democrats to expand their health-care plans, saying: "We will never let socialism destroy American health care." Trump also vowed to continue his campaign to restrict immigration and fight Democrat-run states and "sanctuary cities" defying his policies. "The United States of America should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not criminal aliens," Trump said.

The New York Times

2. Buttigieg, Sanders lead in partial Iowa caucus results

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg led the early count in Iowa's presidential caucus, securing 26.9 percent of the delegates, according to the first partial results released Tuesday by the state's Democratic Party. With 62 percent of precincts reporting, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was narrowly behind with 25.1 percent, although Sanders beat Buttigieg in the precincts' popular vote by more than 1,000 votes. The partial results came nearly a full day after Iowans went to caucus Monday night. Results usually come in before the night is over, but a third-party result-reporting app caused delays. Iowa has 41 delegates to divvy up among the candidates. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price said the remaining numbers would be released as soon as possible.

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The Washington Post

3. Senate debates impeachment charges ahead of expected acquittal vote

Senators on Tuesday debated the impeachment charges against President Trump, a day before the Senate is expected to vote to acquit him. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), both moderates, called Trump's push for Ukraine to investigate Democrats "inappropriate," but said they would vote to against removing Trump from office. That left Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) as Democrats' last shot at getting a Republican to join them in voting against acquittal. Democrats are expected to remain nearly unified in voting to remove Trump. Most Republicans have defended Trump's behavior and argued that even if the allegations have been proven true, they don't rise to a level justifying his removal. Senators will vote Wednesday on the verdict.

Axios The Washington Post

4. Trump job approval reaches record high on eve of impeachment vote

President Trump's job approval rating reached an all-time high in a Gallup poll released Tuesday. Forty-nine percent of Americans said they approve of the job Trump is doing as president, the highest number Gallup has measured since he took office. Fifty percent of Americans said they disapprove of the job Trump is doing. Trump's approval rating rose six points among Republicans to 94 percent, as well as five points among independents to 42 percent. This all-time high for Trump comes as he's expected to be acquitted in his impeachment trial. In the poll, a majority of Americans — 52 percent — said they support acquitting Trump, compared to 46 percent who said they support convicting him and removing him from office.

Gallup

5. Democrats call Trump divisive, untruthful in response to address

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivered the Democrats' response to President Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, touting her party's efforts to expand Americans' access to health care and help struggling families. "It's pretty simple," Whitmer said from East Lansing High School. "Democrats are trying to make your health care better. Republicans in Washington are trying to take it away." Whitmer also briefly mentioned Trump's impeachment trial, and accused him of dividing the country instead of focusing on the hard work of governing. "Bullying people on Twitter doesn't fix bridges — it burns them," she said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tore up a copy of Trump's speech as she stood behind him, later referring to the address to as a "manifesto of mistruths."

The Washington Post The Associated Press

6. Trump awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh

President Trump, in a surprise gesture in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, awarded Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. First lady Melania Trump, who was seated next to Limbaugh, presented the medal to the visibly surprised conservative radio host. The president thanked Limbaugh for what he described as "decades of tireless devotion to our country," and for his charity work. Trump wished Limbaugh a fast recovery as he begins treatment for advanced lung cancer. Limbaugh revealed the diagnosis on the air Monday.

CNN

7. China reports coronavirus cases continue to spread quickly

China's coronavirus outbreak continued to spread rapidly on Tuesday. The number of cases rose to more than 24,000, with at least 492 deaths. All but two of the deaths occurred in mainland China. The Pentagon said early Wednesday that it was chartering two more flights to evacuate 350 Americans from Wuhan, the central China city where the outbreak is centered. The military flew 195 Americans to an Air Force base in California last week. There have been 11 confirmed cases of the virus in the United States, including six in California, one in Washington state, one in Arizona, two in Illinois, and one in Massachusetts. Chinese authorities have admitted to "shortcomings and deficiencies" in their response, but President Xi Jinping on Monday declared "a people's war of prevention."

CBS News The New York Times

8. Japan quarantines cruise ship over coronavirus concerns

Japan has quarantined a cruise ship with 3,711 people on board after a man was diagnosed with coronavirus after leaving the vessel in Hong Kong, Japanese authorities said Wednesday. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said the people on the ship could be quarantined for up to 14 days under Japanese law pending tests on 273 people who showed symptoms of the virus, or had contact with the infected man. About 3,600 people on another cruise ship were undergoing screening in Hong Kong after three passengers voyage were diagnosed with the rapidly spreading virus. Thousands of Hong Kong hospital workers are striking and calling for the border with mainland China, where the outbreak is concentrated, to be closed. Hong Kong says it will quarantine arrivals from mainland China for 14 days.

The Associated Press The Washington Post

9. Macy's announces closure of 125 stores

Macy's plans to shutter 125 of its stores over the next three years, and cut about 2,000 corporate jobs. Thirty of the stores are set to close in 2020, adding to more than 100 store closings since 2015. The company said it would get out of weak shopping malls, rather than focus on opening smaller stores in strip centers. "Our goal is to reclaim and revitalize what a department store should be," Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette told The Wall Street Journal. "Department stores are still vital if they are done right. There is viability to having many categories and brands under one roof." About 400 Macy's stores will remain open. Competition is fierce in the retail world, with Macy's going up against online rivals like Amazon and discount stores like Marshalls.

The Wall Street Journal CNBC

10. Draft U.N. resolution condemns Israeli annexation backed by Trump

A draft United Nations Security Council resolution circulated by Tunisia and Indonesia on Tuesday condemned an Israeli plan to annex West Bank settlements. The proposed resolution, which the U.S. would be expected to veto, amounted to pushback against President Trump's Middle East peace proposal, which was widely seen as skewed in favor of Israel. Trump's plan would recognize Israeli authority over the settlements, and set tough conditions for Palestinians to establish a state. The draft of the Security Council resolution "stresses the illegality of the annexation of any part" of occupied Palestinian territories and "condemns recent statements calling for annexation by Israel" of Palestinian territories, Reuters reported. Negotiations on the text are expected later this week.

Reuters