Axios

Editor's note: Moulton dropped out of contention for the Democratic presidential nomination on Aug. 23, 2019. Below is our original article on his candidacy.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a former Marine and Iraq War veteran, wants to stand out in the crowded 2020 race with his focus on national security, foreign policy and defense. However, he lacks name recognition nationally — a huge detriment in a massive Democratic field.

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) announced Friday that he is dropping out of the 2020 presidential race during an address at the DNC's summer meeting in San Francisco.

The big picture: Moulton launched an unlikely campaign focused on his centrist policies and military experience. His exit further winnows a crowded Democratic field — made smaller in the past week by the withdrawals of John Hickenlooper and Jay Inslee — and he told the New York Times that he sees "a three-way race" between Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders "about how far left the party should go."

David Koch, a billionaire libertarian who supported conservative causes and campaigns, died at the age of 79, according to an announcement from his family on Friday.

Why it matters: Koch and his brother Charles built a massively influential network of donors that backed politicians who supported economically conservative policies, though he stepped away from his work last year due to his deteriorating health. The Koch network has faced criticism from President Trump throughout his tenure — notably due to breaks on immigration and trade — and said it would not support his re-election efforts earlier this year.

Go deeper: The Koch network is open to backing Democrats in 2020

Little sunshine is expected when the leaders of most of the world's major economic powers gather this weekend in the French seaside town of Biarritz.

The big picture: With President Trump reprising his role as disrupter-in-chief and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson arriving aboard a runaway Brexit train, there's little the leaders of the G7 countries agree on. So little, in fact, that the host has already warned that there won't be a joint statement.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan's top aide and spokesperson is resigning amid frustration in the White House over the Department of Homeland Security's handling of major policy rollouts and White House distrust of McAleenan and his inner circle, sources familiar with his resignation tell Axios.

Why it matters: Andrew Meehan's departure comes amid broader internal tensions between the White House and DHS leadership. President Trump is wary of McAleenan, whom he associates with the Obama administration, and his top aides, several current and former administration officials tell us. These sources say Trump has no intention of formally nominating McAleenan for a permanent position.

Just 1 day after dropping out of the 2020 presidential race, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that he will be seeking a third term as Washington's governor.

What he's saying: "I want to continue to stand with you in opposing Donald Trump and rejecting his hurtful and divisive agenda, while strengthening and enhancing Washington state's role as a progressive beacon for the nation," Inslee wrote in a statement.

Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) is expected to mount a primary challenge to President Trump, after discovering newfound Twitter fame as an ardent defender-turned-critic of the administration.

The big picture: Walsh wouldn't be Trump's only primary challenger, as former Gov. Bill Weld (R-Mass.) has already launched a long-shot bid. But the Tea Party Republican would likely offer a different approach to the more traditional Weld, having created a brand for himself as a conservative activist unafraid to ruffle feathers. That has led Walsh to his fair share of controversy, including allegations of racist statements.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats to stop considering abolishing the filibuster Thursday, arguing "America needs the Senate to be the Senate" in a New York Times op-ed.

The state of play: The Kentucky senator, responding to calls to from his predecessor Harry Reid and a number of 2020 contenders to end the filibuster to move forward Democratic proposals on gun control and climate change, said it was "their half-baked proposals and not the centuries-old wisdom that need retooling."

Editor's note: Inslee dropped out of contention for the Democratic presidential nomination on Aug. 21, 2019. Below is our original article on his candidacy.

Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington, is a Democrat who has made climate change the key issue of his 2020 campaign. He released a $9 trillion climate plan in May largely centered on greening the economy with job incentives.

Key facts about Jay Inslee:

• Current position: Governor of Washington — 9 years served. Chair of Democratic Governors Association.
• Age: 68
• Born: Seattle, Washington
• Undergraduate: Stanford University, University of Washington
• Date candidacy announced: March 1, 2019
• Previous roles: House of Representatives (1993-1995, 1999-2012), Washington House of Representatives (1989-1993)

Jay Inslee's stance on key issues:

• Climate change: Inslee wants to wean the U.S. off its reliance on coal, oil and gas. In May, Inslee revealed his "100 Percent Clean Energy for American Plan," a $9 trillion collection of climate-change policies including the closure of coal-fired power plants within 10 years; requirement that all electricity be "carbon neutral" by 2030; all new cars and light trucks be "emissions-free by 2030"; and a "Zero-Carbon Building Standard," by 2030.
• Green New Deal: Inslee emphasizes the private sector over some GND advocates, although he praises the concept. Inslee told the Washington Post he "welcomes" the GND, but says it's not endorsable since it's not yet an actual policy.
• Capitalism: Inslee signals he's closer to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's reformist view of capitalism than the democratic socialism of Sen. Bernie Sanders.
• Gun control: In 1994, Inslee voted in favor of federal legislation banning the manufacture, sale and possession of combat-style assault weapons, a stance that likely cost him his House seat in 1995, CNBC reports. He said his state stands up for "common sense gun safety reforms."
• Senate filibuster: "I don't believe you can really be serious about saying you are going to defeat climate change unless you realize that we need to have the filibuster go the way of history,” Inslee said.
• Vaccinations: Declared a state of emergency in January after the anti-vaccination wave contributed to cases of measles, causing what he called a "public disaster."
• Immigration: Proposes "restoring foreign assistance aid to Northern Triangle countries" to "achiev[e] historic levels of refugee admissions to the United States" by "exceeding the target of 110,000 refugee resettlements" set by the Obama administration. Also wants to stop Trump's border wall and end the Muslim travel ban.
• Education: Would use education to help combat climate change, boostin efforts in STEM in hopes of reaching clean energy goals, according to The Hill.
• Environment: Signed a bill into law that makes Washington the first in state to legalize human composting.

Key criticisms of Jay Inslee:

• Anonymity: Inslee isn't a nationally recognized name in a very crowded Democratic field.
• Age: A poll found 43 of Iowa's 76 Democratic county party leaders say they want a young candidate to be their nominee.

1 fun thing about Jay Inslee:

• In 2009, Inslee played in a series of basketball games at the White House against President Obama and members of his administration.

Go deeper: Everything you need to know about the other 2020 candidates

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announced on Thursday that he will run for Senate in his home state — one week after becoming the first big name to drop out of the massive 2020 Democratic presidential field.

Why it matters: Many on the left, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have been pushing Hickenlooper to run against incumbent Republican Sen. Cory Gardner — even before the former governor launched his long-shot presidential run. Gardner is considered one of the most vulnerable Republican senators in the country as Democrats look to make inroads in the Senate in 2020, per AP.

Go deeper: John Hickenlooper drops out of 2020 race

If you've been watching the 2020 Democratic debates so far — which has a record number of women running in a primary — it's easy to forget that #MeToo ever happened.

Why it matters: It's the first presidential election since the rise of the movement, which the Democrats embraced. Yet the only presidential candidate who's making these issues a staple of her campaign is Kirsten Gillibrand, who's struggling to clear 1% in the polls — and the issues have barely registered in the debates so far.

Federal prosecutors charged multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein with sexual abuse and sex trafficking of underage girls in July. On Aug. 10, the 66-year-old was found dead in an apparent suicide at a federal detention center in New York City.

The latest: After alleged victims and their attorneys testified at a hearing on Aug. 27, a federal judge formally closed the criminal sex trafficking case against Epstein Aug. 29. Meanwhile, prosecutors in France opened a preliminary investigation into Epstein, "in connection with possible offenses such as rape, the sexual assault of minors and criminal conspiracy" in late August.

U.S. officials are in secret talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's top aides for him to step down and enable free elections in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Axios' Jonathan Swan reported Sunday that talks were taking place.

Details: Key Maduro regime figures are trying to negotiate for safety guarantees in order for elections to take place, according to WSJ. Senior Maduro representatives have offered opposition negotiators the possibility of a presidential election in the coming months, WSJ reports.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Wednesday that he is dropping out of the 2020 Democratic presidential race.

Why it matters: Inslee was a longshot for the Democratic nomination, but his focus on climate change has helped elevate the issue to a degree unseen in prior cycles. He was the driving force behind what’s now a wider — though still unsuccessful — campaign for the Democratic National Committee to hold a debate on the topic. Inslee hit the donor threshold to qualify for September's Democratic debates, but did not meet the minimum polling requirements.

Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) told Politico Wednesday that he's confident he can secure the resources to challenge President Trump for the Republican Party's nomination. His comments came hours after the New York Times and Washington Post reported that Walsh was expected to announce his candidacy.

Why it matters: The Tea Party conservative would join former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld in challenging Trump for the Republican Party nomination. Politico reported that sources close to Walsh told the news outlet he was privately confirming he would announce his presidential bid this weekend. The NYT also reports that Walsh is set to enter the race as early as this weekend.

Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's personal lawyer, is continuing to encourage Ukraine's government to investigate the son of Joe Biden, Trump's current top-polling 2020 rival, the New York Times reports.

The impact: U.S. government officials who handle foreign policy related to Ukraine blame Giuliani for complicating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's diplomatic visit to the White House, per the NYT. Trump and Zelensky have not yet met in person.