Axios

The suspected gunman in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump at his Florida golf club on Sunday has been identified as Ryan Wesley Routh.

The big picture: Routh was charged Monday with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

The 58-year-old man suspected of attempting to assassinate former President Trump was charged with two gun counts at his initial appearance in federal court Monday in Florida.

The big picture: Ryan Routh had an extensive criminal history before the Sunday incident at Trump's West Palm Beach golf club, which the FBI is investigating as "an attempted assassination" of the former president.

Scientific American magazine announced Monday that it was endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race, citing her plans to improve the nation's health care system, fight climate change and support reproductive rights.

Why it matters: This is only the second time in the magazine's 179-year history that it has made an endorsement in a presidential race, the publication's editors wrote in an op-ed.

The White House on Monday criticized Elon Musk's now-deleted post that questioned why former President Trump has recently faced two apparent assassination attempts while President Biden and Vice President Harris have not.

The big picture: After Sunday's apparent attempt on Trump's life, Musk wrote on his X platform in a since-removed post, "And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala 🤔."

The suspect in the second attempted assassination of former President Trump was charged with two federal gun crimes on Monday.

The big picture: Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly lying in wait for Trump for about 12 hours with an AK-style rifle at Trump's West Palm Beach golf club.

While Vice President Harris and former President Trump try to win over voters on the economy, some Georgia swing voters don't know much about either candidates' specific proposals, according to Engagious/Sago focus groups on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The economy is consistently the top issue to voters — and both candidates have proposed sweeping plans to try to win votes.

The Ohio town at the center of a Republican-driven conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants eating pets was forced to cancel its annual celebration of culture and diversity on Monday amid "threats and safety concerns."

Why it matters: This is just the latest example of the real-life consequences of the baseless anti-immigrant claims, which have disrupted life in Springfield as schools and government buildings have been hit with bomb threats.

President Biden on Monday said the Secret Service "needs more help" following the second apparent assassination attempt against former President Trump.

The big picture: The U.S. Secret Service is facing renewed scrutiny from lawmakers after the latest incident targeting Trump, this time at his Florida golf club.

TikTok on Monday will make its case in court against a bill that would require it to be divested by its Chinese parent company, Bytedance, or else risk a nationwide ban.

Why it matters: TikTok is one of America's largest social media platforms, and Bytedance is the world's most valuable startup.

Prediction markets look set to be a core part of horse race coverage for the foreseeable future — but that doesn't mean they're going to become a popular pastime in which Americans gamble on electoral outcomes.

Why it matters: Even if they're legal, election markets will always be controversial, and at risk of being banned. They're also very unlikely to receive widespread attention outside presidential election campaigns.

For the first time in decades, the cost of housing is a key issue in a presidential election.

Why it matters: A shortage of affordable homes to buy or rent in the U.S. keeps home prices high. Record-high mortgage rates are putting monthly payments out of reach for many.

Two assassination attempts in just over two months have turned two of Former President Trump's favorite places — the rally stage and now his West Palm Beach golf club — into the infamous sites of near-national nightmares.

Why it matters: Once again, this unhinged and without-precedent presidential election took a turn for the worst.

Former President Trump said in an email to his fundraising list Sunday after an apparent second assassination attempt against him that his "resolve is only stronger after another attempt on my life."

The big picture: The details are limited surrounding the shooting incident near the Republican presidential candidate's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The FBI was investigating Sunday "what appears to be an attempted assassination" of former President Trump, who is "safe" after there were "gunshots in his vicinity" at his Florida golf course, per his campaign.

The big picture: Trump in a post to Truth Social late Sunday praised the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement for doing an "incredible job" to keep him safe from the suspect, who was taken into custody.

The FBI is investigating threats sent to Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, following baseless conspiracy theories about Haitian immigrants eating pets.

The big picture: The unfounded claims that spread on social media have led to security threats and prompted multiple school evacuations in the city after they were amplified by former President Trump and his 2024 running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), despite local officials saying there are no credible reports of migrants eating pets.

Florida will be "conducting its own investigation regarding the attempted assassination" of former President Trump at the Republican presidential nominee's golf club in West Palm Beach, state Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Sunday.

What he's saying: "The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee," DeSantis said in his announcement on X.

President Biden praised law enforcement for helping keep former President Trump safe during a shooting incident that investigators said "appears to be an attempted assassination" of the Republican presidential nominee on Sunday.

What he's saying: "I commend the work of the Secret Service and their law enforcement partners for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former President and those around him safe," Biden said after being briefed on the shooting at Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said Sunday he's "glad" former President Trump is safe after an apparent second assassination attempt on him, at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The big picture: Vance said on X that he spoke to his running mate before news of the incident became public. Trump "was, amazingly, in good spirits," he wrote.