Axios

Disgraced former elected officials and political operatives came out of the woodwork on Tuesday to condemn the FBI search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

Why it matters: Figures like Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor of Illinois who later described himself as a "Trumpocrat," and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort are intimately familiar with federal law enforcement tactics — and more likely than most to see FBI action against a public figure as politically motivated.

Monday's FBI search of Mar-a-Lago may have targeted former President Trump, but Republicans from D.C. to Kansas to California are looking to cash in on the fallout.

Driving the news: The unprecedented law enforcement action provided extensive fodder for political fundraising appeals all day Tuesday, with Republican operatives predicting a windfall for their candidates and committees.

Former President Trump's top prospective rivals for the 2024 GOP nomination are fiercely defending him over the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago, alleging — without evidence — that he's the victim of political persecution by a rogue Biden Justice Department.

Why it matters: At a moment when Trump's grip over the GOP has shown signs of weakening due to primary losses, the Jan. 6 committee's explosive summer hearings, and the rise of a popular alternative in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the potential 2024 Republican field is suddenly coalescing around him.

A uniformed Secret Service officer was physically assaulted Tuesday afternoon outside the White House, an agency spokesperson said.

Driving the news: The officer was attacked "without provocation" near a guard booth, the spokesperson said. A man has been arrested and an investigation has been opened into the incident.

• The assault took place around 12:30pm in an area frequented by pedestrians and tourists.
• The officer's injuries were not life-threatening, the spokesperson said.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the chair of the House Freedom Caucus, said Tuesday that FBI agents seized his phone.

Why it matters: Perry was a key player in the Jan. 6 select committee's public hearings in June and July, which featured testimony alleging he requested a pardon from the White House in the aftermath of the Capitol attack.

A lawyer for former President Trump said Tuesday that the FBI removed about a dozen boxes held at Mar-a-Lago, the Washington Post reports.

Driving the news: The FBI on Monday executed a search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in a move that appeared to mark a dramatic escalation in the investigation into his handling of presidential documents.

Southern California's San Bernardino County will let voters decide on a measure that could allow it to secede from the rest of the state.

Driving the news: The county’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to add a measure to the November ballot that asks voters to decide whether officials should "pursue all options, up to and including seeking approval to form a new state, so that San Bernardino County can obtain its fair share of state and federal resources."

The Albuquerque Police Department said Tuesday they have detained and charged a 51-year-old man that in connection to the fatal shootings of two Muslim men in New Mexico's largest city.

Driving the news: Four Muslim men were shot and killed in recent months in New Mexico — the fourth killing happening last Friday. Police said Muhammad Syed was allegedly directly involved in at least two of the killings, while detectives are still determining if Syed is tied to the other slayings.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday called for people to remain peaceful and said the White House condems any future "political violence" after former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home was searched by the FBI.

Driving the news: Jean-Pierre was responding to a question about the possibility of violence amid online talk on pro-Trump forums, with some even calling for a "civil war," NBC reports.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization on Tuesday for the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine to allow intradermal injection for people 18 years and older who are at high risk for infection.

Why it matters: The alternative approach lets health care providers stretch out vaccine supplies, by administering one-fifth of the Jynneos shot into the skin rather than injecting a full dose into underlying fat.

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners agreed to a $1.455 million settlement with corrections officers who sued after they were prevented from guarding former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin due to their race.

Driving the news: The board agreed to resolve the discrimination claims and formally apologized to the eight current and former correctional officers of the Ramsey County Adult Detention Facility.

A grand jury in Mississippi has declined to indict the white woman whose harassment allegations against Emmett Till led to his abduction and murder.

Why it matters: The June discovery of a 1955 warrant charging Carolyn Bryant Donham for kidnapping in Till's case spurred calls for an arrest and answers.

The FBI on Monday executed a search warrant at former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in what one former federal prosecutor called the "most important search warrant in the history of the United States."

The big picture: The search appeared to mark a dramatic escalation in the investigation into Trump's handling of presidential documents.

First lady Jill Biden is helping National Geographic promote a new documentary series about the country's national parks.

The big picture: The series comes as National Geographic launches a new event called America’s National Parks Week and as the country's national parks have been flooded with visitors post-pandemic.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told a radio show on Tuesday that while he has some "concerns" about the FBI's search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, he believes looking through Trump's personal safe was "fair game."

Why it matters: Although the FBI and Justice Department haven't officially disclosed their reasoning for the search, it reportedly took place as part of an investigation into whether Trump brought classified records from the White House to Mar-a-Lago.

An Atlanta judge ordered Rudy Giuliani to testify in person before a panel investigating the 2020 election on Aug. 17, unless a doctor can explain why Trump's former lawyer is unable to do so.

Why it matters: Giuliani is among those closest to former President Trump that the Fulton County special purpose grand jury has subpoenaed. He was originally ordered to testify today.

Close to 40% of Americans would still support former President Trump in a 2024 presidential bid despite the recent Jan. 6 hearings, a new Monmouth University poll found.

The big picture: The poll found that American public opinion of Trump, the Jan. 6 riot and the 2024 election haven't shifted after the recent hearings, which have aimed to show that there is evidence Trump committed crimes during the Capitol riot.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the House Ways and Means Committee can obtain former President Trump's tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service.

Why it matters: Trump has been fighting the release of his tax returns to the committee for more than three years.

Failure to include a monthly $35 insulin cap in the climate and health care bill that passed the Senate last weekend could especially affect Latinos.

The big picture: CDC data shows Latinos are 70% more likely than their white non-Hispanic peers to be diagnosed with diabetes.

President Biden on Tuesday signed a $280 billion package that aims to boost the domestic chip-making industry and scientific research.

What they're saying: "Fundamental change is taking place today — politically, economically and technologically," Biden said before signing the Chips and Science Act. "Change that can either strengthen our sense of control and security, of dignity and pride in our lives and our nation, or change that weakens us."

Hours after the FBI searched former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, his supporters gathered outside in an impromptu rally: Trump flags flew, pickups roared and "We're Not Gonna Take It" blared.

Why it matters: Trump and the American right mobilized to use the raid as a symbol of government overreach and "political persecution," with a speed, fury and ferocity not seen since he left office.

Minnesota voters head to the polls Tuesday for the state's primary election. Here's a sampling of some of the most closely watched races on the ballot.

Republican attorney general race

The most competitive statewide primary is the Republican attorney general race between Jim Schulz, the party-endorsed candidate, and Doug Wardlow, who was the GOP's nominee in 2018.

As cities race to amp up their heat mitigation efforts, some are replacing bare-bones cooling centers with full-service "climate resilience hubs" — offering everything from comfy A/C and phone charging to social services and emergency training.

Why it matters: While "resilience hubs" are meant for everyone and all kinds of climate disasters, they're particularly aimed at low-inc0me residents and people of color, who tend to suffer disproportionately as temperatures rise.

Russia's state-backed media apparatus is financing four new TV programs produced by a U.S. conspiracy theorist and aimed in large part at undercutting America's image and interests in the developing world, records show.

Why it matters: The campaign shows how the Kremlin waging an information battle in key regions after its invasion of Ukraine prompted a massive global backlash.

"Hamilton" attorneys have sent the Door Christian Fellowship church in South Texas a "cease and desist" letter over its religious interpretation of the acclaimed Broadway show that concluded with a sermon.

Driving the news: RGV Productions and the McAllen church staged productions last Friday and Saturday, featuring the characters Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler Hamilton discussing how Jesus "saved" them, per videos posted by writer Hemant Mehta, who described the sermon as "demonizing homosexuality."

Former President Trump said in a statement Monday his Mar-a-Lago resort was raided by FBI agents.

Why it matters: The former president, who is in New York City, is tied up in several legal matters. Among them, the Justice Department's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The Biden administration moved on Monday to suspend the Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" policy.

Driving the news: U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk earlier on Monday lifted an injunction that required the Department of Homeland Security to resume the policy, formally called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Monday the House would investigate the Department of Justice if Republicans took the majority.

Why it matters: McCarthy's pledge was the crescendo to widespread Republican condemnations of the DOJ after the FBI raided former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.

A commercial real estate firm said Monday that it has turned over to the New York Attorney General's office some 36,000 documents on its appraisal of Trump Organization properties.

Driving the news: Cushman & Wakefield was held in contempt last month and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 a day after it failed to turn over documents subpoenaed by Attorney General Letitia James in an investigation into former President Trump's business.

Republican challenger Joe Kent overtook U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Battle Ground) in the latest round of ballot counting Monday, making it appear unlikely that Herrera Beutler — one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach ex-President Trump — would advance to November's general election.

Driving the news: On Monday, Kent, who received Trump's endorsement, pulled ahead of Herrera Beutler by 960 votes in Washington's 3rd Congressional District.

A viral ad in which former Vice President Dick Cheney attacks former President Trump as a "coward" will begin airing on Fox News on Tuesday, a week before his daughter Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) faces a Trump-backed primary challenge, Axios has learned.

Driving the news: The ad, which initially aired solely in Wyoming, got so much attention that Cheney's campaign has decided to take it directly to Trump's favorite programs. The ad will air twice daily this week during "Fox & Friends" and once daily on Sean Hannity's prime-time show.

Republicans have maintained control over more state legislative seats than Democrats for more than a decade straight, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures and Ballotpedia.

Why it matters: State legislatures have the power to shape voting rules, gun control laws, abortion access and other issues that often have a more direct impact on Americans than federal policies. The GOP's control over chambers in key swing states was also at the heart of former President Trump's failed scheme to overturn the 2020 election.

Tuesday's GOP primary in Wisconsin illustrates why Democrats are intensifying their focus on secretary of state contests — and arguments that they are the guardians against 2024 presidential election results being overturned.

Driving the news: All three Republicans seeking the nomination in the Badger State have endorsed changing state election laws based on their belief the 2020 process was somehow flawed. They've proposed eliminating a bipartisan elections commission (established by Republicans in 2016) and giving that power to the secretary of state.