Longshot Republican presidential candidate Perry Johnson filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday for not being allowed to participate in the first Republican primary debate.
Driving the news: Johnson alleged a "collusive effort to cherry-pick" candidates for the first debate by the Republican National Committee and Fox News, which is hosting the debate.
A federal judge on Wednesday denied former Trump co-accused Mark Meadows' request to extend his deadline to surrender over charges against him as part of Georgia's 2020 election case.
Why it matters: The denial means former White House chief of staff Meadows will be required to turn himself in by noon Friday.
Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani surrendered to authorities at the Fulton County jail on Wednesday as part of the sprawling Georgia election interference case, according to the jail's online database.
Former President Trump is promising fireworks tonight — but not on Fox News.
Why it matters: Tonight's GOP debate candidates don't just have to survive each other's jabs — they also have to fight for viewers with the front-runner who skipped the stage.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis urged a federal judge Wednesday to deny former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows' request to delay his arrest in the Georgia 2020 election case, per a court filing.
The big picture: Meadows, a co-defendant alongside former President Trump, has sought to move his charges to federal court and push back his Friday deadline to turn himself in to Fulton County authorities.
Former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell turned herself in at the Fulton County jail on Wednesday after being charged in Georgia for alleged efforts to subvert the state's 2020 election results, according to the jail's online database.
Driving the news: Powell, whose charges include violating Georgia's racketeering law and conspiracy to commit election fraud, surrendered ahead of the Friday deadline set by the district attorney.
Who do former presidents and Gucci Mane call in a bind? Drew Findling, the #BillionDollarLawyer.
Driving the news: Former President Trump's lawyer in the Georgia case is a sharp-dressed powerhouse trial attorney who has built a business and brand defending (and sometimes mentoring) Atlanta rap royalty, including Offset, Cardi B and Waka Flocka Flame.
South Carolina's Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
Why it matters: The decision, made by the state's all-male justices, marks a reversal for the court after it struck down an abortion ban earlier this year.
The Biden administration may soon be able to get its message about good economic numbers (or try to justify not-so-good ones) much quicker than predecessors.
Why it matters: A decades-old rule has prevented White House officials from weighing in immediately on critical economic data, even as a flurry of analysis and reactions roll in.
The Biden administration has told Ukraine and other European allies that despite "dissonant voices" in the Republican Party, there is bipartisan support in Congress for continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says.
Why it matters: There are growing concerns in Kyiv and among U.S. allies in Europe that more and more Republicans on Capitol Hill will oppose aid to Ukraine as the 2024 election draws closer — potentially jeopardizing efforts to repel Russia's invasion there.
Nearly 400 proposals aimed at allowing parents and government officials to change school lessons have been introduced in state legislatures since 2021, according to a new report from a nonprofit that defends free expression.
Why it matters: Though less than 10% have passed, the climate around the bills has intimidated educators into self-censorship in schools, limiting discussions around racism and gender, PEN America said.
Why it matters: Trump is planning to skip the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday — and his looming surrender is likely to overshadow any of his GOP rivals who break through on stage.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)says lawmakers could formally launch an effort to impeach President Joe Biden next month when they return from summer recess.
The big picture: McCarthy floated an impeachment inquiry in July that was met with some trepidation from members of his conference, particularly those in swing districts.
No candidate has lost a party's nomination with a polling margin like former President Trump's — and it's been more than 20 years since a Republican has had this big of a lead, this consistently, in an open primary.
Why it matters: The eight Republicans on stage Wednesday night are historic underdogs and unlikely to claim the nomination unless the shape of the race changes, either through their efforts or outside forces.
Over 1,000 people remain missing two weeks after Hawai'i's historic wildfires, as state officials warn the death toll will climb while search and recovery efforts continue.
The big picture: The fire that razed most of the historic town of Lahaina on Maui on Aug. 8 is already one of the deadliest wildfires in modern U.S. history, but the full extent of its devastation may not be known for a long while. Officials warned the number of those missing could fluctuate in the coming days.
A Baltimore man who "pushed a police line" and grabbed a law enforcement officer's shield during the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in prison, the Department of Justice announced.
Driving the news: Narayana Rheiner, 42, "pulled the riot shield out of the officer's hands, causing the officer to fall down several stairs onto the ground," per a DOJ statement.
A key witness in former President Trump's classified documents case "retracted his prior false testimony" after hiring a new lawyer — and ditching the one paid for by a Trump PAC, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Of note: The Justice Department's court filing in Florida reveals that an investigation by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., which ultimately led to Trump and his co-defendants being charged in the Florida case, was completed on Aug. 17.
