Former President Trump's Saturday rally in Atlanta ripped open old wounds among Republicans in Georgia, a key battleground state.

Driving the news: Trump spent 90 minutes talking about a variety of topics, including telling his devoted supporters that Atlanta was like a "killing field" and that Georgia State University refused to allow more people into the Convocation Center.

What they're saying: Mayor Andre Dickens did not take that lying down.

• Dickens went on Instagram to criticize a "very desperate, dangerous, senile, rambling" Trump who spread lies about the city and about the university.
• "Kamala Harris packed out the house," he said, referring to the vice president's rally last week. "I don't know what your problem is, sir. This is a you problem, it's not an us problem."

It's not a Trump rally in Georgia if criticism of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is missing.

• Trump renewed his attacks on both, and Kemp and Raffensperger refuted the president's comments in posts on X.
• Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan issued a statement, saying the rally featured a "particularly unhinged, angry version of the same Donald Trump that Georgia rejected in 2020."

The big picture: The Republican infighting is making some Georgia conservatives nervous about the party's chances of winning the state in November.

• According to the AJC, Kemp ally Cole Muzio said it's "politically stupid" to attack a popular governor.
• "The stakes are too high for pettiness — and for the candidate to actively undermine his own chances," Muzio said.

The bottom line: It's never a dull day in Atlanta.

Read the full story

The owners of Atlanta's most busted-up and blighted homes could see new penalties.

The latest: The Atlanta City Council will vote today to create a so-called "blight tax" that would increase the fines negligent owners must pay for sitting on blighted eyesores.

Why it matters: Vacant and dilapidated homes are magnets for crime, are dangerous to children and reduce residents' quality of life.

Zoom in: Under the measure introduced by Council member Byron Amos and supported by Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta municipal court judges could increase "specific blighted properties' tax bills" up to 25 times the current city tax rate.

• Property owners who fix up their blighted properties could be eligible for a discounted tax rate.

Large property owners must sign on to a "redevelopment plan that addresses neighborhood objectives around connectivity, transportation and public amenities that benefit the entire community," the mayor's office said in a statement.

Caveat: Occupied properties would be exempt from the tax to prevent displacement.

Share this story

All Atlanta wants for Christmas is … Mariah Carey.

The big picture: The "Fantasy" singer just announced a new nationwide tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her "Christmas Time" album, including the holiday classic "All I Want for Christmas is You."

Driving the news: Carey performs at Atlanta's State Farm Arena on Nov. 23. The 20-city tour kicks off at Southern California's Yaamava' Theater on Nov. 6.

• Tickets go on sale Aug. 9 at 10am, but fans can purchase them early through Verizon Up on Aug. 6.

Fun fact: Carey hasn't performed in Georgia in years, but don't forget that she used to live in metro Atlanta. She sold her Sandy Springs mansion for $4.3 million last year, the AJC reported.

Share this story

Nearly 34% of metro Atlanta houses for sale saw price cuts recently, according to Redfin data.

Why it matters: Home sellers across the country are increasingly offering discounts to entice buyers hampered by high housing costs.

Flashback: Price cuts surged nationwide in 2022, partly because rising mortgage rates caused home shoppers to back out of the market.

What they're saying: "A housing market that for years has been defined by fast sales and few options is starting to look more like it did before the pandemic in terms of competition among buyers and their negotiating power," Zillow chief economist Skylar Olsen said.

What's next: Many real estate agents expect competition to heat up once summer vacation ends and kids are back in school.

Share this story

Become an Axios Atlanta member, and fuel our mission to make readers smarter and faster on the news unfolding here.

Why it's important: The generosity of our members supports our newsroom as we work on the daily newsletter.

What's in it for you: Insider notes from the local reporters and other perks.

Thank you for trusting us.

The owner of a Buckhead nightclub battling to keep the venue open after a fatal double shooting was arrested on an outstanding warrant. (Fox 5 Atlanta)

Wawa will open a second southeast Georgia store in Waycross. (What Now Atlanta)

The man accused of killing Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley could go to trial in November. (WSB)

Georgia GOP Chairman Josh McKoon wants to prevent former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan from running as a Republican in future elections. (AJC)

• Duncan clapped back with a post on X.

A Georgia woman told U.S. senators about the lack of medical care she received while giving birth in a state prison. (WABE)