Axios

MILWAUKEE — Nearly 100 conservative influencers swamped the Republican National Convention here, creating content aimed at engaging conservatives who typically don't pay much attention to politics.

Why it matters: The GOP sees a slate of new, popular conservative influencers and a flood of viral pro-Trump content on social media as a promising way to reach hesitant or untrusting voters — and convince them to cast a ballot in November.

Democratic members of Congress tell Axios they believe President Biden's candidacy is nearing its endgame, with even some Biden loyalists beginning to yield.

Why it matters: Top Democrats, including some of Biden's own aides, believe the president is softening his opposition to stepping aside and could do so as soon as this weekend, Axios' Mike Allen and Jim Vandehei reported.

A federal appeals court on Thursday threw out a lawsuit challenging the 2023 Tennessee law designed to restrict drag performances.

Why it matters: The ruling overturns a lower court opinion that had blocked the law on First Amendment grounds.

In his vice-presidential pick, former President Trump emphasized the importance of one region this election year: the Midwest.

Why it matters: Over the last two decades, the Midwest has emerged as a key presidential battleground and "the most purple region overall," says Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Hunter Biden's legal team has requested the dismissal of cases against him in Delaware and California citing the "unconstitutional" appointment of special counsel David Weiss.

Why it matters: Judge Aileen Cannon, the heavily scrutinized judge handling former President Trump's federal classified documents case in Florida, dismissed Trump's indictment Monday using the same justification as Biden's attorneys: the unconstitutional appointment of the investigation's special counsel.

Former President Trump is expected to formally accept the GOP nomination during his keynote convention speech Thursday.

Why it matters: The RNC closing address is Trump's first speech since Saturday's rally and assassination attempt.

The Democratic National Committee is scrambling to finalize and execute a plan to compress its "virtual roll call" into the first few days of August, according to people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: Despite growing backlash from Democrats worried about officially nominating President Biden weeks before the convention, top DNC officials are moving forward to codify him as the party's nominee by Aug. 7.

A bipartisan pair of senators is pushing House leadership to consider a bill that would yank away taxpayer-funded pensions from lawmakers who are convicted of certain crimes connected to their official duties, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Sen. Bob Menendez's (D-N.J.) conviction this week on federal corruption charges has brought fresh attention to how members of Congress deal with criminal issues within their own ranks.

MILWAUKEE – Latino GOP voters can relate to Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance's personal "American dream" story and lean towards former President Trump over President Biden, two Republican lawmakers said in an interview at an Axios House event.

• Catch up quick: Axios House hosted an event during the week of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday about the power of Latino voters, through a media partnership with Noticias Telemundo.
• Next month, Axios House will host events at the Democratic National Convention with Democratic party leaders.

Florida Rep. Maria Salazar said Vance's modest upbringing allows Hispanics to identify with him.

• "Vance was able to escape poverty in a very difficult rural area in Ohio. Not only that, he had a very cruel and difficult childhood that you know sometimes can cripple a person. And he had the internal fortitude to come out of that."
• "We Hispanics, we can look up to him and say, 'Well if he did it, we can too,' because the opportunity is there. Because this country gives you that opportunity."

The Latino voter population is increasing and is projected to account for 14.7 percent of all eligible voters in November. Of that group, young Hispanic voters account for roughly 31 percent of the eligible demographic.

• "The younger population– they don't connect with Biden and one of the reasons has to do with age. So I believe that Hispanics, españols, especially young ones will be connecting with President Trump this cycle," said Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz.

In fact, De La Cruz said the attempted assassination over the weekend increased Latino support for Trump, calling what happened "political persecution."

• "Many families…fled Latin America because of political persecution. And to see it happen to President Trump in the United States of America, the greatest country on the planet, they say 'No jamás. We want the American dream, we want a safe country and we will not tolerate this.'"

A new Axios Vibes survey by The Harris Poll reveals that Latinos lean towards supporting Trump because of the opportunity he brings to rebrand the GOP around "upward mobility" for Latinos.

• Republican Latinos' strongly believe in being able to work hard to achieve the American dream, which is an idea Trump campaigns on.
• "There is an outdated portrait of the Republican party among Latinos to some extent; they do see a 15-point gap largely on being out of touch with ordinary workers or being perceived as sort of the party for big business. But you insert the candidates into this, it's a different discussion," said John Gerzema, The Harris Poll CEO.
• "I think at the end it's who can deliver the American dream," said Alfonso Aguilar, director of Hispanic engagement for the American Principles Project and Political Analyst for Voz Media. "Republicans and independents believe the majority that Trump is in a better position with his policies to lower inflation and provide a better life for their families."

Former President Trump has cemented his position as the GOP's leader after months of political turbulence and becoming a convicted felon.

Why it matters: While the GOP has long declared itself the party of "law and order," this year's Republican National Convention tells a different story with several convicted felons being welcomed at the event.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) wrote to President Biden in earlier this month not-so-subtly suggesting that he consider dropping his reelection bid for the good of his party.

Why it matters: It is the latest in a series of private entreaties high-profile Democrats have made to the 81-year-old president that have come to light in recent days.

In a briefing yesterday to House lawmakers, the Secret Service said they knew of suspicious person reports at least nine minutes ahead of former President Trump taking the stage at the Pennsylvania rally where he was shot on Saturday, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: The briefing came amid frustrations from lawmakers over the lack of information provided about the shooting as multiple House committees launch probes into the assassination attempt on Trump.

"Zynfluencers" are touting the benefits of smokeless and tobacco-free pouches that have become a fast-growing segment of the tobacco industry.

Why it matters: The social media chatter about Zyn — and subsequent government attention — is reminiscent of the teen vaping boom in the late 2010s.

1. At least 3,000 children and teens have been arrested in El Salvador over unproven accusations of being gang members, a new Human Rights Watch report says.

• The minors were swept up as part of a state of emergency, in place since March 2022, that allows authorities to detain people indefinitely and without a warrant if they're suspected of being in a gang.
• The HRW says about 1,000 of those children and teens have been convicted with shoddy evidence and in "unfair trials that deny due process."

2. Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum met with U.S. senators and representatives this week.

• The meetings were to hone in on "the importance of having a friendly relationship as partners and neighbors," Sheinbaum said on X (formerly Twitter).
• Sheinbaum is set to be inaugurated Oct. 1 as the first woman president of Mexico.

Today we celebrate Javier Garcia for being named senior vice president of sales and marketing for Comcast's central division!

• Javier, who is originally from Colombia, will lead sales and marketing for the division, which spans 12 states.
• He's focused his career on bridging connections between Latinos, tech, entertainment and culture.

Many congrats, Javier!

🎤 Have you recently accomplished something you're proud of? Let us know by replying to this email!

President Biden tested positive for COVID on Wednesday while campaigning in Nevada and is experiencing mild symptoms, according to the White House.

The big picture: Biden has been hitting the campaign trail hard with events in Las Vegas, including a speech at the NAACP convention on Tuesday and multiple radio interviews.

An overwhelming majority of Latino voters in a recent survey said they feel used as pawns by politicians who don't actually care about them.

Why it matters: Latino voters are a key and rapidly growing part of the electorate, yet both parties have faced criticism for poor engagement efforts and for side-stepping issues that Hispanics say matter to them, including inflation and personal economics.

A few days out from Venezuela's July 28 presidential elections, many Venezuelans fear the Maduro government will find more ways to undermine the election — and what might happen then.

Why it matters: As a yearslong economic crisis that has forced millions to emigrate persists, recent polling shows that about 74% of Venezuelans want the elections to result in a change in government.

Congressional Democrats were baffled Wednesday when President Biden's campaign X account posted "I'm sick" as a fundraising appeal just after the 81-year-old president tested positive for COVID.

Why it matters: The post – which exemplifies what many lawmakers feel has been the campaign's tone deafness since the debate – only adds to Biden's rapidly deepening isolation on Capitol Hill.

The assassination attempt on former President Trump has served as an inflection point for him and President Biden — each of whom are changing the way they communicate to try to show they are presidential and can unite the country.

Why it matters: It presents an opportunity for a much-needed PR reset for both campaigns as they rethink how to appeal to voters through new communications strategies and softer rhetoric.

"Hillbilly Elegy" — the 2016 memoir that turned Sen. J.D. Vance into a national celebrity — is back on Amazon's bestseller book list with sales skyrocketing since he became Trump's running mate.

Why it matters: The book is considered one of the most influential books of the last decade and explains the rage of working-class America against elites that propelled Trump into office.

Several top Democrats privately tell us the rising pressure of party congressional leaders and close friends will persuade President Biden to decide to drop out of the presidential race, as soon as this weekend, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a Behind the Curtain column.

• Why it matters: The 81-year-old president, now self-isolating with COVID, remains publicly dug in. But privately he's resigned to mounting pressure, bad polls, and untenable scrutiny making it impossible to continue his campaign, the Democrats tell us.

Several top Democrats privately tell us the rising pressure of party congressional leaders and close friends will persuade President Biden to decide to drop out of the presidential race, as soon as this weekend.

Why it matters: The 81-year-old president, now self-isolating with COVID, remains publicly dug in. But privately he's resigned to mounting pressure, bad polls, and untenable scrutiny making it impossible to continue his campaign, the Democrats tell us.

President Biden's insistence on staying in the 2024 race has seemingly defied his own pledge to serve as a transitional president to a younger generation of Democratic leaders.

Why it matters: Biden's disastrous debate performance and his team's handling of the fallout have churned anxiety among Democrats and angered White House and campaign staff as questions swirl about whether he should step aside.

Like a typical political canvassing campaign, it starts with a knock at the door. But it ends differently — with a meaningful conversation, rather than a flier in hand.

This is how Colorado's Democratic Party leaders describe their effort to win over voters in the highly competitive 8th Congressional District north of Denver, which pits Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo.

The Biden administration will forgive $1.2 billion in student debt for another 35,000 public service workers, the Department of Education announced on Thursday.

Why it matters: The Biden administration's latest round of debt relief brings the total loan forgiveness it has approved to $168.5 billion for 4.76 million borrowers.

Republicans in Congress are deluging D.C. with countless new proposals to nip away at Democrats' power, squash regulations, and roll back local laws.

Why it matters: I recently wrote about how a second Donald Trump presidency could usher in a new age of federal micromanaging over local Washington. A live preview is underway of the intervention Republicans are capable of if they win both chambers and the White House.

Ohio is known as the "Mother of Presidents," and apparently our native sons tend to go straight for the top gig.

🤯 Mind-blowing fact: Ohio has never sent a vice president to the White House, meaning Sen. J.D. Vance could make state history if he is elected as Donald Trump's VP this fall.

MILWAUKEE — Again and again this week at their convention, Republicans have railed against a mysterious enemy responsible for many of Donald Trump's problems: "They."

Why it matters: To Trump supporters speaking here, "they" are responsible for Trump's convictions in New York, his federal indictments, his multimillion-dollar fines in civil lawsuits, record illegal border crossings — and even the attempt to assassinate Trump last weekend.

With his back against the wall, President Biden has instinctively defaulted to a familiar but politically dubious argument for staying in the race: his decades of foreign policy experience.

Why it matters: Historians may one day praise Biden for strengthening NATO, supporting Ukraine and assembling the AUKUS alliance. But the current crisis of confidence is about Biden's future — not his past — and some Democrats fear he's missing that point.

Pummeled by a positive COVID test and a rapidly imploding re-election campaign, President Biden walked gingerly up the steps of Air Force One and retreated into self-isolation Wednesday night.

Why it matters: Biden will spend the next few days surveying the political wreckage from his home in Delaware, with his fate as the Democratic nominee more uncertain than at any point in the last three weeks.

MILWAUKEE — Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance introduced himself to much of America on Wednesday by recounting his rise from an Ohio working-class family troubled by addiction — and hinting at the role he'll play in Donald Trump's campaign.

• Here are some key takeaways from Vance's speech Wednesday night.

Angry GOP lawmakers confronted Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday evening.

The big picture: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) posted video to X of her confronting Cheatle as the federal agency has been under intense scrutiny after the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

A Florida man has been arrested over death threats made against President Biden, U.S. prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The big picture: Following the attempted assassination on former President Trump at a Pennsylvania rally Saturday, lawmakers' fears of political violence have deepened amid a period of growing threats against elected officials.

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (R) leaned into his personal background to try to appeal to Rust Belt voters during his Republican National Convention speech, saying that he "will be a vice president who never forgets where he came from."

Why it matters: It's a sign that Vance, a Rust Belt native, will be zeroed in on winning these voters in the crucial swing states ahead of November.

Kai Trump, former President Trump's 17-year-old granddaughter, delivered a portrayal of her grandfather during her first major political appearance Wednesday not typical at Trump campaign events.

Why it matters: The eldest granddaughter of Trump, her appearance underscores a surprising shift toward presenting him as more human — and her emergence as a representative of the Trump family's next generation.

Donald Trump Jr. said Wednesday that he's "never been prouder" of former President Trump than after his reaction to the assassination attempt at his campaign rally on Saturday.

Why it matters: Republicans have embraced as a symbol the image of Trump with blood on his face, pumping his fist after a bullet grazed him, in the days since the attack. Trump Jr. has been a key surrogate in carrying out the message of resilience.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has conveyed to President Biden and his campaign the political peril the Democratic Party faces if he remains atop the ticket, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: Pelosi is potentially the last Democrat with the stature and the savvy to convince President Biden to bow out of the race.

Thomas Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, warned Mexican cartels on Wednesday that former President Trump, if re-elected, would wipe them "off the face of the earth"

Why it matters: The former president has said he'd tap Homan, who had a role in the controversial Trump-era family separation policy, to serve again if he wins a second term.