Axios

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) slammed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in a CNN interview Wednesday for spending almost half a million dollars on an ad that boosted Republican John Gibbs' profile in his challenge against incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.).

Driving the news: Meijer, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection, lost the GOP nomination in his district to Gibbs on Tuesday night.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he supports legislation that would provide $1.65 billion in new TV and movie tax credits for film and television creators, hoping to bring Hollywood studios back to California for production.

Why it matters: In announcing his support, Newsom put pressure on Hollywood to avoid doing business in states that “have waged a cruel assault on essential rights" after the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) is eyeing changes to Democrats' $740 billion reconciliation bill — specifically increasing climate funding and restructuring the tax provisions — as the Senate moves rapidly toward final passage before the August recess, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Sinema is the one senator potentially standing in the way of Democrats clinching President Biden's longtime goal of passing an ambitious package tackling climate change, health care and taxes — renamed the "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022."

President Biden on Wednesday issued an executive order to protect people's ability to travel out of state to access abortion.

The big picture: This is the second executive order the president has issued to preserve abortion access after the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

At least six of the ten House Republicans who voted for former President Trump's impeachment last year will not return next Congress — and that number is poised to rise.

Why it matters: The bleak political future for those who broke with the ex-president over Jan. 6 underscores how inhospitable the party has become to Trump critics.

The lawyer representing Sandy Hook parents in Alex Jones' damages trial said Wednesday that Jones' lawyer sent him years' worth of texts and emails from Jones' phone.

Why it matters: Jones, who has repeatedly lied that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax, has already been found liable in defamation cases brought by families of the victims.

Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper downplayed the revelation that the phones of some top Trump administration defense officials were wiped, telling CNN's "New Day" it was done as part of a “normal process” during the transition.

Driving the news: The Department of Defense and U.S. Army confirmed in court filings that some former senior Trump administration officials had their phones wiped at the end of former President Trump's term, deleting any text messages that could shed insight into the events leading up to and surrounding the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The man accused of opening fire on a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to 117 criminal charges connected to the attack that killed seven people and injured 48 others, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Driving the news: A grand jury indicted Robert Crimo III on the charges last month. They include 21 first-degree murder counts, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery.

Two secretaries of state who were threatened after recent elections called on Congress Wednesday to protect election workers who have been harassed while doing their jobs.

Why it matters: In testimonies before a Senate panel, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and her New Mexico counterpart Maggie Toulouse Oliver described election workers as targets for mistreatment because of rhetoric from political leaders.

Jared Kushner writes in his new book that in early 2020, then-U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman promised then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Trump administration would support Israel swiftly annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, but didn’t tell the White House about it.

Why it matters: The crisis that broke out over Netanyahu’s surprise annexation announcement was a watershed moment in the relationship between former President Trump and Netanyahu.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed Taiwan on Wednesday, concluding a highly watched visit that the senior Democrat said underscored the U.S.' "commitment to democracy," even as it angered China.

Why it matters: Pelosi's visit makes her the most senior American lawmaker to travel to Taiwan since 1997. She made the trip despite President Biden's warning last month that military officials advised against it.

The U.S. and Iran will resume indirect talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal in Vienna on Thursday, a U.S. official told Axios.

Why it matters: U.S. officials are concerned the nuclear deal is close to becoming irrelevant, as Iran has taken steps to advance its nuclear program and limit the work of UN inspectors.

Five former Treasury secretaries — including Hank Paulson, who served under President George W. Bush — signed a statement strongly backing the "Inflation Reduction Act" brokered by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

Why it matters: The bipartisan support will help the White House and Democrats push back against the Republican contention that millions of Americans who make under $400,000 a year would see their taxes rise.

Several possible 2024 Republican presidential candidates tell Axios they support former President Trump's plan to make it easier for the president to purge federal workers.

Why it matters: Trump need not win his party's nomination — nor even run again — for the next GOP president to try to reimpose the executive order known as "Schedule F." Democrats, increasingly concerned, are scrambling to block that possibility.

Rusty Bowers, the Arizona House speaker who rose to national prominence after testifying to the Jan. 6 committee about Donald Trump's attempts to pressure him into overturning his state's vote for Joe Biden, lost the Republican primary for an open state Senate seat, per AP.

Driving the news: Former state Sen. David Farnsworth trounced Bowers for the Republican nomination in Legislative District 10, a GOP stronghold that primarily covers that conservative eastern part of suburban Mesa.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told NBC News Tuesday night she'll vote against a new bipartisan bill on federal abortion protections introduced in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

Why it matters: The legislation introduced Monday would need all 50 Senate Democrats to help it meet the 60 votes needed to pass.

Blake Masters, a political newcomer backed by former President Trump, has won the Arizona Republican primary for U.S. Senate, AP reports.

Why it matters: Masters success illustrates Trump's enduring influence over the GOP electorate and the declining power of establishment Republicans in Arizona.

Mark Finchem, an unrelenting supporter of the false conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was rigged and has the endorsement of former President Trump, will be the Republican nominee for secretary of state, Arizona's top election official, AP reports.

Driving the news: Finchem, a state representative from Oro Valley, which is north of Tucson, defeated businessman Beau Lane, state Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita and state Rep. Shawnna Bolick.

• Lane had the backing of the Republican and business establishment, including an endorsement from Gov. Doug Ducey, and raised nearly as much money as Finchem, but still fell short.

John Gibbs, a Trump-endorsed political newcomer, defeated incumbent Peter Meijer for Michigan's redrawn 3rd Congressional District, AP reports.

Driving the news: Gibbs is the latest pro-Trump candidate to oust one of the former president's few remaining GOP critics.

• Meijer, a freshman congressman who replaced Justin Amash was one of 10 Republicans to vote to impeach Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. He acknowledged that it may have been "political suicide."

Chinese officials are warning airlines to avoid airspace near Taiwan as it responds to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taipei ahead of planned live military drills that Taiwanese officials say may amount to a blockade.

Driving the news: The alert describing six areas in the region as "danger zones" notifies airlines of flight restrictions due to the military exercises from Thursday at 12 noon until 12 noon Sunday Hong Kong time, per Bloomberg, as officials in Japan also expressed alarm at Beijing's plans.

Democrats in Washington state celebrated Tuesday night as a predicted red wave seemed unlikely to crest in many legislative swing districts.

Yes, but: A top Republican warned that plenty of ballots remain uncounted, which could alter the results in the days ahead.

For the first time in decades, a Republican may not compete in the general election to become Washington's secretary of state.

Why it matters: Republicans held the role for 56 years — until last year, when Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee appointed a member of his own party to take over the seat when it was vacated.

Controversial U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar has won the GOP primary for Arizona’s 9th congressional district, the Associated Press reports.

Driving the news: Gosar is one of former President Trump's biggest supporters and the embodiment of the MAGA movement in Arizona and made headlines this year appearing at a gathering of white nationalists hosted by the outspoken Holocaust denier, antisemitic, homophobic and racist activist Nick Fuentes.

Kansas voters on Tuesday rejected an amendment that would have gotten rid of abortion protections in the state's constitution, the Associated Press reports.

Why it matters: It's the first time since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade that U.S. voters have cast ballots on abortion.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens was declared the victor by the Associated Press in Michigan's closely watched 11th District primary outside Detroit against fellow incumbent Rep. Andy Levin, further illustrating progressive Democrats' vulnerability.

Why it matters: Stevens' victory follows a pattern this year of more moderate candidates beating progressives in Democratic congressional primaries almost two-thirds of the time.

Two top House Democrats declined to say on Tuesday whether President Biden should run for re-election in 2024, AP reports.

Why it matters: New York Reps. Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney are the latest Democrats to shy away from endorsing Biden if he seeks a second term.

Missouri attorney general Eric Schmitt won the state's GOP Senate primary on Tuesday, edging out a 21-candidate field to replace incumbent Sen. Roy Blunt (R), the Associated Press reports.

Why it matters: Schmitt, who emerged as a frontrunner during the final week before the primary, benefited from Republicans pouring millions to try to prevent disgraced former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens from winning the primary.

Tudor Dixon, a conservative commentator turned gubernatorial candidate, will face Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November after winning the Republican primary, the Associated Press reports.

Driving the news: Dixon received former President Donald Trump’s backing late last Friday despite her opponents pleading with the former president to stay out of Michigan's race.

• Dixon's victory was powered by a late surge in the polls over her four primary challengers.

The Michigan Republican Party announced Tuesday that it canceled a primary watch party in Lansing after a man entered the party's headquarters saying he was "planning on shooting up the building and burning it down."

Driving the news: The man also "verbally assaulted a longtime female staffer," said Michigan GOP spokesperson Gustavo Portela in a statement. He noted the attack followed a "week of death threats."

• Lansing police spokesperson Jordan Gulkis told AP the man had left the building by the time officiers arrived, but they would "pay special attention" to the area in and around the headquarters.