National

The University of Nebraska volleyball team took over a football stadium to play before a crowd of 92,003 on Wednesday evening, breaking the world record for attendance at a women's sporting event. 

The big picture: The match at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, broke a record set in 2022 by a Champion's League match between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The previous record for a women's sporting event in the U.S. was 90,185 at the 1999 Women's World Cup final. 

The match obliterated the record for attendance at a volleyball game, when 18,755 watched the University of Florida play at the University of Wisconsin. 

Between the lines: Volleyball is perennial and massive draw in Nebraska, where the Huskers have won five national championships.

The University of Nebraska, which holds the NCAA record for home sellouts in football with a streak that dates to 1962, also holds NCAA record for sellouts in volleyball at 306 straight home matches. 

Nebraska sets world record for women's sporting event attendance

An incredible 92,003 people came to the match.

Sports

McCarthy blames Pelosi for his impeachment flip-flop

Kevin McCarthy

Joe Biden

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) defended himself on Tuesday for changing course on whether an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="impeachment inquiry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-inquiry" data-vars-content-id="4d06f073-8cfd-4327-9888-7e4092735dfb" data-vars-headline="McCarthy blames Pelosi for his impeachment flip-flop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/12/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-inquiry" target="_self">impeachment inquiry</a> requires a full House vote, saying his predecessor Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) changed the precedent.Why it matters: McCarthy unilaterally launched a probe into President Biden on Tuesday, less than two weeks after Breitbart News quoted him saying it <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="would take a full House vote to kick off. " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/mccarthy-impeachment-probe-house-vote" data-vars-content-id="4d06f073-8cfd-4327-9888-7e4092735dfb" data-vars-headline="McCarthy blames Pelosi for his impeachment flip-flop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/01/mccarthy-impeachment-probe-house-vote" target="_self">would take a full House vote to kick off. </a>

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Breaking with fellow elected Republicans, two top officials in Georgia are defying calls to go after the prosecutor who indicted former President Trump.

Why it matters: Georgia was at the center of Trump's efforts to alter the 2020 election results, including his call where he asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find 11,780 votes." 

Trump was indicted earlier in August by Fulton County DA Fani Willis on 13 counts of interference in the 2020 election. 

Driving the news: Despite calls from some Republicans, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday he won't call a special session to investigate Willis.

"Up to this point, I have not seen any evidence that DA Willis' actions or lack thereof warrant action by the prosecuting attorney oversight commission," he told reporters.

"As long as I am governor, we're going to follow the law and the Constitution, regardless of who it helps or harms politically," Kemp said.

Kemp won his reelection campaign in 2022 by more than 300,000 votes, significantly outpacing Trump's 2020 performance in the state.

Kemp's statements followed a letter Wednesday from Georgia's Republican House Speaker Jon Burns, who said that calls to defund Willis' office "flaunts the idea of separation of powers, if not outright violates it."

"[W]e continue to have a few members of the General Assembly making misleading or false claims about the General Assembly's lawful powers regarding an ongoing criminal case before our Judiciary," he wrote.

Zoom in: Trump has repeatedly attacked Kemp since the 2020 elections, including last week when he wrote that Kemp "is fighting hard" against the Willis impeachment effort.

The in-state effort to target Willis is being led by GOP state Senator Colton Moore, who called for an emergency session on Willis in a letter to Kemp on Aug. 17.

The bottom line: Georgia Republicans are more likely than nationwide Republicans to tell pollsters they take the charges against Trump seriously, as The Washington Post noted. 

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger

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Top Georgia Republicans shut down GOP attack on Trump prosecutor

"As long as I am governor, we're going to follow the law and the Constitution."

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp speaks at an event hosted by conservative radio host Erick Erickson on Aug. 18 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Georgia

Donald Trump

Breaking with fellow elected Republicans, two top officials in Georgia are defying calls to go after the prosecutor who indicted <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="former President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="50a64150-0353-40d8-b389-0bf57efd41cb" data-vars-headline="Top Georgia Republicans shut down GOP attack on Trump prosecutor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">former President Trump</a>.Why it matters: Georgia was at the center of Trump&#x27;s efforts to alter the 2020 election results, including his call where he asked <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/trump-georgia-election-interference-call" data-vars-content-id="50a64150-0353-40d8-b389-0bf57efd41cb" data-vars-headline="Top Georgia Republicans shut down GOP attack on Trump prosecutor" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/15/trump-georgia-election-interference-call" target="_self">Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger</a> to &quot;find 11,780 votes.&quot;

After two on-camera health scares in two months, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to defuse doubts by taking the very on-brand stance that there's nothing to see here.

Why it matters: McConnell, 81, has repeatedly declined to give more information on his health beyond the doctor's note released Tuesday — and he reminded his colleagues of his unparalleled fundraising prowess.  

"I think Dr. Monahan covered the subject fully," the Kentucky Republican said during a press conference on Wednesday. 

Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitol's attending physician, has ruled out a stroke, seizure or movement disorder as possible causes of his freeze-ups — saying they're likely the result of dehydration and his recovery from a concussion this spring.

"You've had a chance to read it," McConnell said. "I don't have anything to add to it. And I think it should answer any reasonable question."

McConnell said he has no plans to retire early, either from his Senate seat or as leader of Senate Republicans.

A pair of McConnell-aligned groups reported a record August haul of a combined $49.36 million, Fox Business reported Wednesday.

McConnell, whose Senate seat is next up for election in 2026, called himself a "concussion survivor" during his Senate Republican lunch on Wednesday, Punchbowl News reported Wednesday.

What they're saying: "He was more transparent, which I'm glad he did," Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said of McConnell's lunchtime comments.

"This is not his style. But I don't think keeping things close to the vest serves his interests and it created a lot of speculation. So I think this is a positive development."

"I don't think there will be anything else said about it unless there's another incident," Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said Wednesday. "And that's what we're hoping."

"I feel really good, I'm behind Mitch and let's move forward," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

"I think any questions about his internal standing were answered today. His conference rallied around him in a big way," a senior GOP aide told Axios.

The other side: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told reporters after the lunch that McConnell didn't face any questions from his colleagues. 

And Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who publicly questioned Monahan's diagnosis on Tuesday, said after the lunch that "I don't have any reaction."

Between the lines: McConnell claimed that he's had no freeze-up incidents beyond the two documented on camera.

Now that he's back in D.C., he'll repeatedly be on camera during long work days.

McConnell's survival strategy as Senate GOP leader

The Senate minority leader is taking the very on-brand stance that there's nothing to see here.

Mitch McConnell

After <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="two on-camera health scares" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/30/mcconnell-freeze-press-conference-senate" data-vars-content-id="60568cd3-c938-4f7f-b857-d0f229db06e6" data-vars-headline="McConnell&#x27;s survival strategy as Senate GOP leader" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/30/mcconnell-freeze-press-conference-senate" target="_self">two on-camera health scares</a> in two months, Senate Minority Leader <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mitch McConnell" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/06/mcconnell-retire-freeze-senate-2026" data-vars-content-id="60568cd3-c938-4f7f-b857-d0f229db06e6" data-vars-headline="McConnell&#x27;s survival strategy as Senate GOP leader" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/06/mcconnell-retire-freeze-senate-2026" target="_self">Mitch McConnell</a> is trying to defuse doubts by taking the very on-brand stance that there&#x27;s nothing to see here.Why it matters: McConnell, 81, has repeatedly declined to give more information on his health beyond <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the doctor&#x27;s note released Tuesday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/05/mcconnell-freeze-capitol-physician-seizure-stroke" data-vars-content-id="60568cd3-c938-4f7f-b857-d0f229db06e6" data-vars-headline="McConnell&#x27;s survival strategy as Senate GOP leader" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/05/mcconnell-freeze-capitol-physician-seizure-stroke" target="_self">the doctor&#x27;s note released Tuesday</a> — and he reminded his colleagues of his unparalleled fundraising prowess.

Former President Trump's mug shot is now being shown in an unflattering light across New Hampshire, thanks to an ad campaign by a super PAC supporting his GOP rival former Gov. Chris Christie. 

Why it matters: This is the first presidential ad to splash Trump's mugshot on broadcast TV, NBC News reports, citing AdImpact.

Trump has used his Fulton County arrest over alleged state election interference and mug shot as a fundraising tool — but a campaign by Tell It Like It Is PAC asks voters if they want to move past the "drama" and "lies."

The ad buy is in the six figures, the group said in a press release.

Axios has reached out to the Trump and Christie campaigns for comment.

Zoom in: Christie blasted Trump on stage last week at the first GOP presidential debate, which the former president did not attend  — though his presence loomed large over the stage featuring eight total candidates.

"Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president of the United States."

Christie followed it up on Sunday by calling out his fellow candidates for saying they'd back Trump, still the frontrunner in the race, even if he's convicted. 

Trump has been indicted four times in four different jurisdictions — a new historical precedent. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges in three of the four cases, and his arraignment in the Georgia case was set for Sept. 6. 

"The truth is that, you know, [the GOP] can't have a convicted felon as our nominee for president and expect we're going to win," he told ABC News' Martha Raddatz.

Trump's mug shot used against him in GOP primary

Asking voters if they want to move past the "drama" and lies."

Former President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s mug shot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-mugshot-photo-fulton-county-georgia" data-vars-content-id="c78d308f-5beb-43a1-817d-12741c866faf" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s mug shot used against him in GOP primary" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/25/trump-mugshot-photo-fulton-county-georgia" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s mug shot</a> is now being shown in an unflattering light across New Hampshire, thanks to an ad campaign by a super PAC supporting his GOP rival former Gov. Chris Christie. Why it matters: This is the first presidential ad to splash Trump&#x27;s mugshot on broadcast TV, NBC News <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-mug-shot-features-new-tv-ad-christie-super-pac-rcna102350" data-vars-content-id="c78d308f-5beb-43a1-817d-12741c866faf" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s mug shot used against him in GOP primary" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-mug-shot-features-new-tv-ad-christie-super-pac-rcna102350" target="_blank">reports</a>, citing AdImpact.

Justin Green

Stories

McCarthy blames Pelosi for his impeachment flip-flop

McConnell's survival strategy as Senate GOP leader

Top Georgia Republicans shut down GOP attack on Trump prosecutor

Nebraska sets world record for women's sporting event attendance

Trump's mug shot used against him in GOP primary