Former President Trump's tortured relationship with his own lawyers has been at the root of his most consequential scandals, including two special counsel inquiries, two impeachments and — now — two indictments.
Why it matters: Trump's history of treating lawyers like attack dogs and personal fixers — shaped by his mentorship under the infamous Roy Cohn in the 1970s — has put him in the most precarious legal jeopardy of his life.
Driving the news: Authorities are in the process of identifying the remains and the body was turned over to the county medical examiner and coroner, a Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson told Axios on Monday evening.
A group of House conservative rabble rousers has agreed with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to end a days-long blockade of floor action, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: McCarthy’s speakership has been on rocky ground with the far-right flank of his party since the passage of the debt ceiling bill.
Americans are now less supportive of transgender athletes playing on the team of their choice than they were two years ago, a national survey found.
Driving the news: 69% of Americans said transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that conform with their birth gender, per Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs poll conducted in May, compared to 62% in 2021.
NYPD Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell is leaving her position, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.
Why it matters: Sewell's resignation comes some 18 months after Adams named her as the first woman to lead the police department and third Black commissioner in the department's history.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a 14-year prison sentence for a California man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to assaulting a police officer with an "electroshock weapon" during the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and other felonies.
Why it matters: Prosecutors said Daniel Rodriguez's actions during the riot amounted to domestic terrorism, calling him "one of the most violent defendants" of Jan. 6 in a sentencing memorandum filed last week.
The student loan debt cliff is looming over the potential downfall of President Biden's historic forgiveness program — and borrowers must prepare for the resumption of monthly payments.
Why it matters: Experts warn of a messy return to debt repayment for the millions of Americans who collectively owe more than $1 trillion in student loans and are bracing for the end of a significant pandemic-era break.
Republican voters remain overwhelmingly loyal to former President Trump after he was charged with several federal crimes related to his possession of classified documents after his presidency, recent polls show.
Why it matters: Despite the charges, Trump is still the favorite for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, according to recent polling. Even some of his fellow candidates have lent support to Trump and questioned the motivation behind the indictment.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced a bill Monday aimed at blocking federally regulated private pension plans from investing in entities based or controlled by foreign adversaries.
Why it matters: Banks, who sits on the Select Committee on China and Armed Services Committee, argues the legislation is a necessary move to stop funding “firms that are building up the People’s Liberation Army, stealing U.S. intellectual property and participating in the Uyghur genocide.”
The U.S. last week privately notified the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that it has decided to rejoin the agency nearly six years after the Trump administration announced it was withdrawing U.S. membership, a State Department spokesperson told Axios.
Why it matters: Rejoining UNESCO is one of the Biden administration's foreign policy goals — mainly in an effort to counter what it sees as the growing influence of the Chinese government on the UN agency's agenda.
It's not just Donald Trump: Republicans across the country are bashing Hillary Clinton, making her a central figure in the 2024 race by renewing their intense criticism of her alleged handling of sensitive information.
Why it matters: It's much harder to run against yourself than a foil — and Trump's federal indictment sets him up for a fight against his own words.
A wave of angeris spreading through the GOP after the federal indictment of former President Trump, with online message boards filled with disturbing vitriol and law enforcement on alert ahead of his Tuesday court date in Miami.
Why it matters: Trump is in the "solidarity" phase of his crisis playbook.
