Axios

Vice President Kamala Harris isn't letting anyone forget about her strong debate performance against former President Trump in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Why it matters: During a rally Thursday in Charlotte, her first since the televised showdown, Harris attacked Trump for his more vulnerable moments on the national stage, especially around reproductive rights.

Vice President Kamala Harris impressed a small group of swing voters in Georgia who watched the debate on Tuesday, according to our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups.

Why it matters: The battleground state is expected to be highly competitive in November, with Harris' campaign eyeing the Sun Belt and Blue Wall as paths to victory against former President Trump.

Springfield City Hall in Ohio was evacuated Thursday in response to a bomb threat as the city is at the center of a conspiracy theory accusing Haitian migrants of eating pets that former President Trump and others shared.

The big picture: Trump shared the rumor on national television during Tuesday's presidential debate, but it had gained traction online via social media posts from right-wing influencers and GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).

A Georgia judge on Thursday dismissed three criminal counts in the 2020 election subversion case against former President Trump and his co-defendants.

The big picture: Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee allowed the remaining charges against Trump and his co-defendants to proceed despite the defendants' argument that elections are a purely federal matter and don't belong in state court.

Republican Tim Sheehy is now favored to win Montana's Senate race, according to a Thursday analysis from Cook Political Report.

Why it matters: The GOP will likely gain control of the Senate if incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester loses the seat.

Former President Trump on Thursday ruled out participating in another debate with Vice President Harris, writing on his Truth Social account that "there will be no third debate."

Why it matters: His announcement means the Tuesday debate in Philadelphia will be the only in-person showdown between the two candidates before voters cast ballots in the 2024 election.

Navient, once one of the largest student loan servicers partnered with the U.S. government, has reached a $120 million settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and has been banned from federal student loan servicing, the company confirmed.

Why it matters: The CFPB accused Navient of steering borrowers to costly repayment options and illegally depriving them of their ability to enroll in more affordable income-driven plans.

A North Dakota judge on Thursday struck down the state's abortion ban — one of the strictest in the U.S. — ruling that residents "have a fundamental right to choose abortion" before the fetus is viable.

The big picture: The judge's order will make abortion legal in the Republican-led state, where no clinics provide the procedure. The ruling is expected to be appealed.

There are now two election-related betting contests legally trading on events-based marketplace Kalshi, following an opinion by a federal judge in favor of the company.

Why it matters: Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been wagered on this year's U.S. election, but all of those bets were made in a legal grey area, one that seems to have just become a lot more clear.

New York City police commissioner Edward Caban resigned from his post Thursday, a week after federal investigators raided his home.

Why it matters: Federal officials are currently conducting four investigations that revolve around Mayor Eric Adams and high-ranking members of his administration.

As former President Trump this week doubled down on baseless anti-immigrant conspiracies, a campaign in New York City is showcasing immigrants' contributions to the U.S.

Why it matters: Critics have long said anti-immigrant rhetoric could lead to a rise in hate crimes.

New York's highest court on Thursday rejected former President Trump's appeal to lift his gag order after he was convicted in his hush money case.

Why it matters: The former president has exhausted his last option with this latest unsuccessful appeal to dismiss the partial gag order, which bars him from commenting on prosecutors and court staff until his sentencing in November.

Strategic communications firms were caught on their back foot when Donald Trump was elected in 2016 and they aren't looking for a repeat, particularly as geopolitics becomes more engrained in the work.

Why it matters: While the experience of political operatives and those with public affairs backgrounds is needed more than ever, concerns over culture fit are dividing employees.

State and election officials from across the country issued a warning Wednesday that ongoing concerns with the country's mail system could disenfranchise voters.

Why it matters: Mail-in voting has become more popular since the pandemic but officials have persistently warned that the U.S. Postal Service has struggled with delivery failures.

Here's what troubles former President Trump's advisers most: He knew that with precision and preparation, Vice President Harris would bait him on things like crowd size, and buck discussion about her power today and liberalism in the past.

• He knew exactly how to try to turn each moment against her.

Why it matters: But he blew it badly ... repeatedly ... predictably. He simply cannot help himself, Trump insiders begrudgingly admit.

White House News Photographers Association president said Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign team has engaged in an "unprecedented reduction in access" to the news media, according to an Aug. 28 letter from the association (WHNPA) to the Harris team obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: It adds to a growing frustration among the press corps about limiting access to leaders at the top of the Democratic Party.

• That includes Harris, who has yet to do a solo TV interview and has avoided unscripted moments since she entered the race on July 21.

Former President Trump again vowed during Tuesday's debate to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but he offered no details on a new health care plan that he has been promising since the 2016 election.

The big picture: A second term would give Trump the opportunity to implement a replacement for the ACA, but his longstanding promise of a new policy in the works has so far remained undelivered.

An unverified Facebook rumor about Haitian immigrants eating pets rocketed to the center of right-wing discourse this week — rapidly mutating into racist memes like a twisted game of telephone.

• Then, on Tuesday, it reached its appalling final form: an endorsement by Donald Trump on the presidential debate stage.

Why it matters: It should come as no surprise that Trump, the country's chief election denier and a champion of the anti-Obama "birther" movement, is susceptible to conspiracy theories.

Taylor Swift's Instagram post endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris is now one of her most-engaging main grid posts of 2024 as of Wednesday night, according to an Axios analysis.

Why it matters: The pop star's massive reach (283 million Instagram followers) directly drove about 338,000 visits in 15 hours to the federal voter registration Vote.gov website, after she linked to her endorsement in her "Story" feature.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will give Vice President Kamala Harris a helping hand in prosecuting the case against the Republican party's abortion policies.

Why it matters: Schumer will force Senate Republicans to vote on a measure that mirrors former President Trump's proposal to mandate insurance coverage of IVF treatments.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in a closed-door meeting rejected an effort from conservatives to delay the timeline for picking his replacement, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: It's the latest sign of the race to succeed the longest-serving congressional party leader finally heating up with Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) as top contenders.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is fighting for his job this week. Today's setback gives him a sense for how difficult — and lonely — it will be if he wins.

• Read the room: Johnson's rank-and-file aren't taking his Plan A seriously ... his top members are pointing fingers over who's to blame ... worst of all, the former president reserves the right to blindside him.

Why it matters: Those dynamics will only increase if Donald Trump wins back the presidency and Republicans maintain their House majority.