Axios: The American Crises Trump has Ignored (hat tip: Mike Allen/Axios AM)
President Trump, and vast parts of the federal government, have been consumed with caravans, walls and a border “crisis” since at least Oct. 16. While the definition of a crisis is highly debatable, the extent of other problems with wider reach and much higher death tolls is not.

Why it matters: The border is a big deal, and the problems are real, but often lost in the shutdown madness is whether the crisis is bigger than other wrongs and injustices impacting American lives.

For example, since Trump’s Oct 16 tweet warning of a “caravan”: 547 people have been shot in Chicago, 86 people killed in the wildfire in Paradise, California, 16,000 Americans have likely died of opioid overdoses, and rather than address the threat of climate change, Trump says he doesn’t believe it.

Read the full story here.

Hot on the Bloomberg:
Theresa May Stares Into Brexit Abyss as Parliament Takes Control (Bloomberg)

Ford’s Global Cost Purge Hits Europe With Thousands of Job Cuts (Bloomberg)
Aging car models and Brexit are plaguing Ford’s business in Europe, where it employs 54,000 people in Germany, Spain and the U.K., its biggest market in the region.

Day 20: U.S. Government Shutdown Impact:
-Food Supply At Risk: Food and Drug Administration Suspends Most Safety Inspections of Food (New York Times)
-Tips for 6,400 Coast Guard Employees on Furlough: Have Garage Sales, Become Mystery Shoppers, Babysit, Walk Dogs to Make Ends Meet (Washington Post)

Keep an eye on this: Steven Mnuchin to Brief Democrats Today on Trump Administration Plans to Ease Sanctions on Deripaska-Linked Companies (Bloomberg)

2020 Watch: Some Democrats Find a Foil for 2020 Primary: Billionaires – Even Liberal Ones (New York Times)
While casting billionaires like Mr. Bloomberg as plutocrats may resonate among some Democrats, longtime party advisers point out that the strategy is tricky and that, by embracing it, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are ignoring historical reality: Several of the party’s wealthiest leaders have been among its most progressive.

“If you look at the last century, the people who did the most, in many ways, to advance progressive politics in the country — F.D.R. and the Kennedys — all came from great wealth,” said longtime Democratic adviser Bob Shrum.

Rather than accepting contributions from special-interest PACs whose backers fuel disgust, Bloomberg can point out that he made all the money himself — via his company that pioneered providing computerized data to investors — and owes nothing to anyone.

“He’s never taken a dime of any special interest money,” said Bloomberg adviser Howard Wolfson. “That fact has allowed him to act independently, totally on the merits, without ever having to wonder what donors or other special interests expect or want from him. Mike is somebody who did not grow up with privilege. He made all of his money on his own.”

“In Bloomberg’s case, he’s been extremely generous in philanthropy over his life. It’s hard to make a case that he’s been selfish,” said Austin-based Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak, suggesting that Mr. Bloomberg could counter criticism of his wealth by emphasizing his record of promoting the public good.

Bonus Season: Many Longtime Bloomberg Employees to Receive Extra Bonus as Company Hits $10 Billion in Revenue (Talking Biz News)
Current Bloomberg employees who joined before Jan 1, 2013, are being rewarded with an extra bonus in March for the company hitting $10 billion in organic revenue in 2018, a new annual revenue record. Business Insider has more: Bloomberg Insiders are Ecstatic About Payout They’re About to Receive (subscription).  

Art News: As Bloomberg Mulls a Presidential Run, His Namesake Art Shed Will Open in April With an Ambitious—And Decidedly Woke—Lineup (Artnet)
Bloomberg employees will receive discounts for performances and free admission with three guests to general admissions installations and exhibitions. See what’s coming at The Shed in April here.

Best of late night.

On President Trump’s oval office address Tuesday about the need for a wall on the southern U.S. border:

“Trump spoke last night about the border, and in his speech Trump criticized Democrats, insulted immigrants and said we need a wall. By the end, anyone playing a Trump drinking game was like, ‘Call an ambulance.’”
— Jimmy Fallon

On the appearance of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during their Democratic response to President Trump’s speech:

“Why are you sharing one podium? You guys really are socialists. What are you doing? Also why do you look so grouchy? What is this? It looks like the hostess at IHOP just told them there’s no senior discount.”
— Trevor Noah

“It’s Day 19 of the government shutdown, which means it’s now officially lasted longer than my New Year’s resolution. I got winded and gave up halfway through the Planet Fitness application.”
— Stephen Colbert

“Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife are splitting up. But on the bright side, he has a lot of extra boxes to pack his things in.”
— Jimmy Fallon

For more best of late night, click here.