Axios

Housing quickly emerged as a critical issue two years ago during a national listening tour nonprofit leader DaMareo Cooper did with his team. Rent prices soared then, and limited assistance was available.

Why it matters: Much the same is true now, Cooper says, advocating for working-class rights at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.

This week's Democratic National Convention made clear that not only is 2024 the boys vs. girls election — it's also a clash between two visions of manhood.

Why it matters: The increasingly stark gender divide in American politics is reflected in how leading men in both parties position themselves in relation to women, and talk about themselves as fathers and male role models.

Dr. Anthony Fauci was hospitalized for six days with West Nile virus, multiple news outlets reported on Saturday. He is now recovering at home.

The big picture: Fauci, 83, is one of the country's foremost experts on infectious diseases. He is the former longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, served as President Biden's chief medical adviser, and played a prominent role in the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ratings for the RNC and DNC were up from the pandemic-era conventions in 2020, but they were down significantly from 2016, per Nielsen.

Why it matters: Even with all of this election cycle's unexpected twists and turns, nothing comes close to the ratings bonanzas that were set off during Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's first national contests.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined former President Trump at a rally in Arizona on Friday, hours after the independent candidate suspended his campaign and backed the GOP presidential nominee.

Why it matters: The impact of Kennedy's endorsement is likely to be small, but even a marginal boost for the former president in the margins of a few key battlegrounds could tilt a razor-thin election.

Former President Trump will establish an independent presidential commission on assassination attempts if reelected, he announced at an Arizona campaign rally standing alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Friday.

The big picture: Trump said he'll task the commission with releasing all of the remaining documents pertaining to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy.

Sixteen Republican attorneys general sued the Biden administration on Friday over a program that grants an easier path to citizenship to undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.

Why it matters: Led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the lawsuit alleges the program, which grants permanent residency, is unconstitutional and "rewards illegal immigration."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s much-spoiled exit from the presidential race won't pack the same pop as if he'd done it earlier this summer.

• Kennedy averaged 15.5% in general election polls on July 1, per Nate Silver's model. Now he's around 4%.

Why it matters: Kennedy's plunging relevancy and bizarre news cycles raises doubts on how many votes he can really move to former President Trump's column.

A major refining industry group has launched a $3 million swing state ad buy claiming that Kamala Harris would seek to end sales of gasoline-powered cars.

Why it matters: The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers' broadcast TV ads — shared exclusively with Axios — are the latest sign that EVs are part of the 2024 elections.

The Department of Justice on Friday filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a property management software company, for an alleged "unlawful scheme" to reduce competition in the apartment rental market and secure a monopoly for itself.

Why it matters: RealPage uses a trove of data to help some of the country's biggest landlords set apartment rental prices. According to the suit, it's helping them to artificially inflate prices for renters all across the county.

Silicon Valley was burning up the socials this week, after learning that Kamala Harris has tacitly endorsed a tax on unrealized capital gains. Lots of what was shared was inaccurate.

Reality check: This only would impact a small subset of America's wealthiest people, and most tech founders and investors would be spared.

Former President Trump fired off a string of irate commentary Thursday on social media and later on Fox News as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her nomination as his 2024 opponent.

Why it matters: Trump's disjointed responses reflected the difficulty he and the GOP have had in finding an effective line of attack against Harris.

There's a striking consistency in the way Kamala Harris and Tim Walz offered just glancing references to climate change in their DNC speeches.

Why it matters: The framing in the context of "freedom" could preview their strategy for the balance of the short campaign.

To find out how Kamala Harris might approach climate issues, check out the latest issue of Foreign Affairs, where Harris adviser Brian Deese offers an aggressive plan to get countries to buy much more U.S.-made technology.

Why it matters: The idea is to position the U.S. and its allies — rather than China — as the partners of choice for developing countries looking to invest in climate resilience.

False rumors and wild speculation about a performance by Beyoncé — or another secret special guest — consumed massive amounts of attention on the Democratic convention's final day.

Why it matters: Vice President Kamala Harris heavily uses her song "Freedom" on the campaign trail. Taylor Swift was also mentioned as a possible guest.

A steady stream of bureaucratic rule changes in Georgia is creating a framework that election deniers could use to delay the certification of the presidential election results come November, advocates say.

Why it matters: Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris know the road to the White House runs through Georgia, and the new rules could help cast doubt and fan flames of suspicion on the democratic process like it's 2020 all over again.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan will visit China next week to meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: The two officials are expected to lay the groundwork for a potential final meeting between President Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, later this year, to follow up on their California summit last November.

CHICAGO — Tens of thousands of Democrats are heading home, exhilarated by a convention that surpassed their wildest expectations and added rocket fuel to a campaign that arguably didn't need it.

Why it matters: Less than two months ago, the party appeared to be collapsing under the weight of its own candidate. It's not hyperbole to say Kamala Harris and the DNC pulled off a makeover of miraculous proportions.

CHICAGO — She's been vice president for 3½ years, but this week Kamala Harris re-introduced herself to the nation as an agent of hope and change — and cast former President Trump as yesterday's news.

Why it matters: Harris' promise of a "new way forward" — wrapped in "joy" and an optimistic America defined by freedom, equality and opportunity — is meant to contrast with Trump's dark view of what he calls a nation in decline.

Protests were held outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago into Thursday night after Palestinian Americans were not granted a speaking slot at the DNC, despite pleas from pro-Palestinian delegates.

Why it matters: The Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war has become a point of contention within the party, prompting some delegates to remain uncommitted to supporting Vice President Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Vice President Kamala Harris electrified the DNC with the biggest speech of her political career as the former prosecutor presented her case against Republican presidential rival Donald Trump.

The big picture: Other highlights on the final day of the DNC included the "Central Park Five," who were wrongfully convicted over the attack and rape of a woman in New York's Central Park in 1989 endorsing Harris onstage. Yusef Salaam, who was last month elected to the N.Y. City Council, recalled how former President Trump called for the death penalty in their case.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed paperwork Thursday to formally withdraw from the ballot in Arizona — one day before a scheduled announcement in Phoenix in which he's expected to end his campaign.

The big picture: RFK, his running mate Nicole Shanahan and the 11 electors for his independent presidential campaign filed withdrawal paperwork with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, a spokesperson confirmed to Axios.

Vice President Kamala Harris made her case against a second former President Trump term on Thursday, forcefully hitting Republicans over their stance on reproductive rights, as she formally accepted the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

Why it matters: On the biggest stage of her life, Harris invoked a message of unity, while addressing some of the policy areas head-on that have emerged as possible vulnerabilities, including foreign policy and immigration.

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said during a speech to the Democratic National Convention on Thursday that the Republican Party is "no longer conservative" under former President Trump.

Why it matters: Once a loyal Republican foot-soldier, Kinzinger has become the face of anti-Trump Republicans who are supporting Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

Vice President Kamala Harris will call tonight to move beyond the "bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles" of the past.

• Before she takes the stage, Democrats will have spent most of the night torching former President Trump.

Why it matters: The next few hours will give us a real-time window into the contrast the campaigns set up with their conventions.

A non-profit that supports Jan. 6 riot defendants is hosting a fundraiser next month at former President Trump's New Jersey golf club.

The big picture: Organizers dubbed the event as the "J6 Awards Gala," with a flyer that prominently features a photo of Trump and his former lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, saying they're invited guest speakers.

CHICAGO — Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian Democrats attending the Democratic National Convention agree on at least one thing: Kamala Harris is on their side.

Why it matters: Harris is seen as slightly more pro-Palestinian than President Biden, but whether that means her policies would be markedly different depends entirely on who you ask.