Axios

It's August, which means lawmakers are fanning out across the country to campaign for themselves and their colleagues.

Why it matters: A friendly senator or House member can help on the stump. But only a handful can juice fundraising, draw a real crowd or make a mark with an endorsement. And Democrats have more of them.

Karoline Leavitt will be stepping down from her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month, President Trump announced Wednesday in a Truth Social post.

The big picture: Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, the president said. A member of Trump's team who followed him from his presidential campaign to the White House, she's been a fiercely loyal face of the White House.

The development costs of President Trump's White House ballroom keep rising — as does speculation about what the finished project, including its underground complex, will look like.

The big picture: Trump's ballroom project is more than a simple remodel of the East Wing. It's a complete overhaul featuring what appears to be a military-grade underground bunker, meant to protect and secure the president.