Axios

The Secret Service was already on high alert before Saturday's attempted assassination because of an Iranian threat against former President Trump.

Why it matters: Bipartisan fury has dominated the days since Trump was shot, and that was before the revelation his protective detail was already beefed up to account for an outside threat.

• Human intelligence revealed the Iranian threat in recent weeks, CNN first reported. The Secret Service and Trump campaign were reportedly both warned of the threat.
• Trump has been the target of Iran's ire since he ordered the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

JOHNSON CREEK, Wisconsin — An hour west of Milwaukee, Donald Trump Jr., the NRA and a hunter advocacy group called Hunter Nation gathered at a sporting club to plot how to turn out hunters in November.

Why it matters: It's part of a larger GOP effort to mobilize less politically engaged but conservative Americans this presidential cycle.

MILWAUKEE — Delegates at the Republican National Convention expressed their support for leaving abortion legislation to the states and the decision to remove a national abortion ban from the party's platform for the first time in 40 years.

Why it matters: It's a significant shift for the party that worked for decades to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling on abortion rights. Some lawmakers expressed hesitation about the move, but delegates repeatedly told Axios they agreed with the change.

President Biden forcefully went after former President Trump's policy and rhetoric Tuesday at his first campaign appearance since the attempted assassination of his opponent.

Why it matters: Speaking at the 115th NAACP national convention in the key swing state of Nevada, Biden addressed Black voters as part of a wider campaign strategy to shore up support among the crucial voting bloc while drawing a sharp contrast between his policies and those of the official GOP nominee.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said during an Axios House event Tuesday that "you have got to send a message" with a spree of firings when a new administration starts, to signal there's a "new sheriff in town."

Why it matters: Jordan's embrace of installing loyalists echoed what's expected to be former President Trump's approach to governing if he wins a second term.

Elon Musk announced Tuesday that he will move the headquarters of his companies SpaceX and X to Texas over a new gender identity law in California.

Why it matters: The law in question bars school districts in California from requiring that schools notify parents if their child requests a pronoun change.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said during an Axios House event on Tuesday that he doubts a Trump Justice Department will launch an investigation into President Biden and his family.

Why it matters: As House Republicans' investigations into the Biden family have failed to build steam for an impeachment vote, some in the GOP have looked to a future Trump administration for retribution instead.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said during an Axios House event Tuesday that the American people "want some answers" after the assassination attempt of former President Trump, and that he is "open to whatever gets us the truth."

Why it matters: The shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, which left one rally attendee dead, has triggered a bipartisan push for investigations that examine how the incident unfolded.

Democratic members of Congress are reviving a fight over President Biden's candidacy following a brief respite in the wake of Saturday's assassination attempt against former President Trump, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Some lawmakers are uneasy about the Democratic National Committee's plans to forge ahead with a virtual roll call vote to nominate Biden weeks before the Democratic convention.

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) thinks former President Donald Trump is the right candidate to bring Latino voters into the Republican Party, she said Tuesday at an Axios event at the RNC.

The latest: More Latino Republicans say they're likely to vote this year than Latino Democrats, according to a new Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll.

The U.S. obtained intelligence concerning an Iranian plot to assassinate former President Trump in the weeks prior to this weekend's attempted assassination, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

Why it matters: The plot appears unrelated to the Pennsylvania rally shooting where Trump was grazed by a bullet on Saturday, but further underscores the apparent security lapse that took place at the rally.

A Georgia appeals court panel will hear arguments Dec. 5 in former President Trump's bid to force Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case alleging he illegally sought to overturn the state's 2020 presidential election results.

Why it matters: The hearing date likely pushes any ruling past the 2025 presidential inauguration, and the case would likely be halted if Trump were re-elected president.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is set to subpoena Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear at the panel's July 22 hearing, a committee spokesperson tells Axios.

Why it matters: The spokesperson characterized Comer's move as a bid to head off any attempt by Cheatle to backtrack on her appearance at the hearing, which will examine federal law enforcement's handling of Saturday's assassination attempt against former President Trump.

Influential Ohio Republicans and their allies are already jockeying for a shot at J.D. Vance's Senate seat, which would come open should he and former President Trump defeat President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Nov. 5.

Why it matters: Speculation over who Gov. Mike DeWine might select to fill a vacancy began mounting almost immediately following Trump's announcement Monday that he'd selected Vance as his running mate.

The FBI says it has unlocked the phone belonging to Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspect behind an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

State of play: The FBI shared the update in a statement Monday, adding that investigators are continuing to analyze Crooks' electronic devices.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is now a convicted felon, to resign on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Menendez will likely find no allies to defend him from calls to resign, especially after such an immediate response from Schumer, the top Senate Democrat.

Donald Trump Jr. told Axios' Mike Allen on Tuesday that he wants "veto power" over presidential transition hiring decisions if his father wins a second term in November.

Why it matters: Trump Jr. has said that he would not want an administration role, but instead wants to "block the bad actors."

Former President Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will hold their first rally since Vance joined the presidential ticket this Saturday in Michigan, the Trump campaign announced.

Why it matters: Aside from this week's Republican Convention, this will be the first Trump rally since the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last Saturday. It's also part of Vance's coming out party as Trump's running mate and potential political heir.

The family of Eric Garner and Dartmouth's Hopkins Center for the Arts (the Hop) will mark the 10th anniversary of his death on Wednesday with a seven-part opera and art festival.

The big picture: Garner's death after a banned chokehold by a New York police officer and his plea, "I can't breathe," became a rallying call for protest against police brutality and added fuel to the Black Lives Matter movement.

MILWAUKEE — Almost every major 2024 Republican Senate candidate vying to flip a Democratic seat will give a speech on the GOP convention stage Tuesday evening, with one notable exception: former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

Why it matters: While Republican unity has been the theme of the week, Hogan is among a small but stubborn group of Republicans skipping the voyage to Milwaukee to witness Trump's official nomination.

Donald Trump Jr. warned Republicans on Tuesday in an interview with Axios' Mike Allen that despite his father's lead in the polls, the 2024 election is "not in the bag."

What he's saying: "People are like, 'Oh, after Saturday it's over,'" Trump Jr. said, alluding to the assassination attempt against his father. "Nothing is over," he said, adding that the Trump campaign must "keep our foot on the gas every second of the day" until Election Day and beyond.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was found guilty on Tuesday of federal bribery charges accusing him of accepting "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in bribes in exchange for wielding his influence to benefit foreign governments and a trio of businessmen, per multiple outlets.

Why it matters: Menendez — who filed to run for re-election last month — now faces possible expulsion from the Senate as well as decades in prison.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Jeff Flake, a former Republican senator from Arizona, has informed the White House that he will leave his post in early September, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: In his three years in Ankara, Flake used his political skills — and deep connections with Republicans on Capitol Hill — to ensure that Turkish President Recep Erdoğan approved Sweden's accession into NATO.

1. Carlos Angulo, an Ecuadorian gang member, was convicted this week of orchestrating the fatal shooting of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio last year.

• Villavicencio, formerly a journalist investigating corruption and organized crime, was shot down during a campaign event in August.
• Angulo, who authorities say planned the shooting, was handed a 34-year sentence. Four others accused of participating were also tried and got lesser sentences.

2. Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori, who until December was serving a sentence for crimes against humanity, confirmed this weekend he intends to run for president in the 2026 elections.

The prep and end result of the chicharrón with gold leaf. Source: via Telemundo

A restaurant in Colombia is attracting customers by adding edible gold leaf coverings to a crunchy dish, in a nod to the country's history.

State of play: The adorned version of a chicharrón flameado, made of pork meat and rinds broiled for around 16 hours, is meant to be a hint to the millenary tradition of goldsmithing in Colombia, according to the Casa Salvaje restaurant.

• Gilding was also a major tradition in Mesoamerican Colombia, especially among the Sinú peoples.
• Many items made by them that survived the melting and exporting of gold by Spanish colonists are displayed today in the Gold Museum in Bogotá.

Donald Trump Jr. told Axios' Mike Allen on Tuesday that if former President Trump loses in November, it will be because of "cheating," while repeating his father's frequent false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Why it matters: Trump Jr.'s remarks echo former President Trump's frequent comments seeking to sow doubt on election proceedings ahead of November.

Almost half of Amazon warehouse workers suffered injuries around the company's past Prime Day sales, according to a new report from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

Why it matters: Prime Day has become an industry-wide shopping phenomenon. The annual sale is a major source of revenue for the company and is expected to drive record-breaking online spending this week.

A new project is seeking oral histories of Indigenous and Hispanic descendants of enslavement in the American Southwest — a largely untold and overlooked chapter in American history.

Why it matters: Historians in recent years have been uncovering new stories around enslavement — from the Underground Railroad to Mexico to the lives of people held enslaved by the Founding Fathers — and investigations into Indigenous enslavement are attracting international attention.

Donald Trump Jr. told Axios' Mike Allen on Tuesday that a "serious breach" must have occurred on Saturday during the assassination attempt of former President Trump.

Why it matters: Trump Jr. said during an Axios House event that "having had a Secret Service detail," he doesn't understand how the gunman got on the rooftop of the building near his father's Pennsylvania rally, "without a serious breach of something."

Ten of the country's communities with the largest share of Latino residents have a poverty rate that's 50% higher than the national average, an Axios review of the latest census estimates has found.

Why it matters: The latest data shows millions of Hispanics continue to struggle economically despite overall declines in U.S. Latino poverty rates.

Donald Trump Jr. said during an Axios House event on Tuesday that he's been blacklisted from Fox News, although the network said in a statement that "he is and always has been welcome on all FOX News Media platforms."

Why it matters: Trump Jr. also said that media mogul and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch's influence over the conservative media landscape "is not what it used to be."

Venture capital has its vice presidential candidate, with Donald Trump yesterday picking J.D. Vance to be his running mate.

The big picture: Vance wasn't a successful or failed VC. Namely because he didn't have enough time, spending just six years at three different firms.

Venture capital billionaires Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz each will make donations to former President Trump's election effort, and will lay out their reasoning in a podcast later Tuesday afternoon, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: This is part of a small but growing number of tech elites writing checks for Trump, despite Silicon Valley's liberal leanings.

Former President Trump appeared to share Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine skepticism during a phone call between the two candidates that was leaked on the social media platform X.

Why it matters: Trump, in the phone call, also said he would "love" for Kennedy to "do something" with his campaign. "It would be so good for you and so big for you," Trump told Kennedy.

Usha Vance will likely see her profile rise dramatically now that former President Trump has chosen her husband, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), as his 2024 running mate.

Why it matters: Usha Vance — a highly accomplished attorney and daughter of Indian immigrants — and her husband bring youth and diversity to the Trump ticket.

Eight years after wondering whether former President Trump could be "America's Hitler," Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) has become Trump's running mate.

Why it matters: From a "Never Trump guy" to one of Trump's fiercest defenders, Vance's conversion to MAGA acolyte stands out in the former president's inner circle.

The Department of Energy is formally proposing a new agency-wide effort to harness and advance artificial intelligence for the public's benefit.

Why it matters: The program, first mentioned in May, is aimed at helping the U.S. achieve top capabilities in AI for scientific, energy and natural security aims.

J.D. Vance, an Appalachian turned Alexandrian, is now former President Trump's running mate, and we wanted to dig into the Ohio senator's local Washington persona.

Why it matters: Vance's DMV life offers a peek into where a potential second Trump administration could live and hang.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — picked yesterday as President Trump's running-mate — could potentially extend Trumpism far into the future, leaving the White House as late as 2037 if he were to win twice on his own.

Why it matters: The freshman senator, age 39, instantly becomes the frontrunner for the 2028 Republican presidential race, and was by far the most aggressively Trumpy of the three finalists.

Latino Republicans say they're much more enthusiastic and likely to vote this year than Latino Democrats, according to a new Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll.

Why it matters: Latino voters overall still align more closely with Democrats on character and policy issues. But if Latino Republicans turn out with more intensity, it could be decisive.

MILWAUKEE -- Sen. J.D. Vance's (R-Ohio) selection as Donald Trump's running mate electrified the crowd inside the GOP convention hall, where delegates hailed his nomination as a tribute to the "America First" movement.

Why it matters: The 39-year-old will be a shrewd young voice for the MAGA base. But his placement atop the ticket also presents swing-voter risks that Trump might have mitigated by picking a more traditional Republican.

The Democratic National Committee is quietly steaming ahead with plans to technically nominate President Biden weeks before the party's convention next month, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It's the latest effort by Biden's team to stamp out the Democratic rebellion that's been pushing for the president to step aside since his bad performance in the June 27 debate.

Cheering delegates to the Republican National Convention gave Donald Trump a hero's welcome as he made his first public appearance Monday night since the assassination attempt on Saturday.

Driving the news: Sporting a large white bandage on his right ear, Trump entered the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee to a buzz that turned into a roar.

Teamsters president Sean O'Brien delivered a fiery address to close out the first night of the Republican National Convention, castigating big businesses and corporate lobby groups for "waging a war against American workers" — and calling for labor law reform.

Why it matters: O'Brien's speech stood out among the partisan lineup because he did not endorse former President Trump, yet the Teamsters leader got the most speaking time of the evening.

Sen. J.D. Vance (Ohio-R.) acknowledged in his first TV interview as VP nominee that he was "certainly skeptical" of former President Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Why it matters: Vance said that he "bought into the media's lies and distortions" about Trump as an explanation for his past criticisms and pivoted to attacking Biden.

President Biden said he's watched only parts of the June debate with former President Trump that resulted in calls for the president to suspend his re-election campaign.

Why it matters: Biden still faces a push from some Democrats to step aside, though some in the party have appeared to cool on the idea of replacing him in light of the attempted assassination of Trump.

President Biden slammed the Supreme Court's immunity ruling as a "terrible decision" Monday following Judge Aileen Cannon's decision to dismiss former President Trump's federal classified documents case.

Why it matters: Biden has become increasingly critical of the highest court and its conservative majority.

Former President Trump appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday night after being officially declared as the party's nominee.

Driving the news: Monday marked his first appearance since the assassination attempt on Saturday that left his ear bloodied and killed one rally attendee.

Amazon shoppers drove a 192,400% increase in sales of a t-shirt emblazoned with the now-iconic photo of former President Trump moments after an assassination attempt.

Why it matters: The image of Trump with a fist in the air was taken by the AP's Evan Vucci and has been widely published by media outlets in news coverage. That it's also being used in pro-Trump merchandise confirms many photographers' fears that the photo would become propaganda for Trump.

After the Trump rally shooting, three images stood out immediately. They've come to be known in newsrooms as the "Evan photo" by AP's Evan Vucci, the "Anna photo" by Getty's Anna Moneymaker, and "the bullet photo" by the New York Times' Doug Mills.

The big picture: Each photo covering Saturday's shooting that's being investigated as both an assassination attempt on former President Trump and domestic terrorism is an example of technical know how, on-the-ground experience, and a deliberate curation process.