Axios

Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) preferred bill to avert a government shutdown failed on the House floor Wednesday due to GOP defections.

Why it matters: The pressure is on for Johnson to cough up his next move, with questions mounting about whether he'll now embrace a bipartisan solution with fewer than two weeks to go before government funding runs out.

Iranian "malicious cyber actors" emailed associates of President Biden's re-election campaign with information "taken from stolen, non-public material from former President Trump's" campaign over the summer, U.S. investigators said Wednesday.

The big picture: The incidents that occurred before Biden suspended his campaign mark "the latest example of Iran's multipronged approach" to "stoke discord and undermine confidence" in the U.S. electoral process, per a joint statement from the FBI, CISA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

Backed into a corner over his baseless claims of Haitian pet-eating in Ohio, Sen. JD Vance is taking a page from Donald Trump's playbook: Never back down, never admit fault and never apologize.

Why it matters: New reporting from The Wall Street Journal reveals that on Sept. 9, the same day that Vance first amplified the right-wing rumors, the city manager of Springfield, Ohio, told his office that they were false.

A temporary student loan grace period protecting borrowers with missed or late payments will end later this month.

The big picture: Nearly 10 million borrowers were past due on their payments as of January, per a Government Accountability Office report released last month. That's about $290 billion in outstanding loans.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters won't endorse a presidential candidate this cycle, the union's General Executive Board decided Wednesday.

Why it matters: The decision is a blow to Democrats, who have historically enjoyed the Teamsters' support, but there had been suspense over a possible endorsement this year after Sean O'Brien in July became the first-ever union president to speak at the Republican National Convention.

Collectively, Americans owe more than $1 trillion in student loans — a staggering number looming over already strained wallets.

Why it matters: Wednesday's interest rate cut, and the expected longer-term rate-cutting cycle, will have far-reaching ripple effects for the economy and for consumers. That includes providing a slice of relief to some student loan borrowers.

Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday told an audience of Hispanic leaders that it's possible to both secure the border and provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Why it matters: Immigrant advocates hope Harris' newly-hawkish border policy, which they see as MAGA-leaning, is a temporary shift, Axios' Alex Thompson writes.

Elon Musk and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Wednesday both took to X to share a rumor that police later called false about an explosive device was discovered near the Long Island site where former President Trump is set to hold a rally Wednesday night.

Why it matters: The rumor surfaced just days after Trump was targeted in an apparent second assassination attempt and further underscored the security concerns that have permeated the 2024 presidential race.

With a new Louisiana law reclassifying two drugs that can be used to induce abortions as controlled substances set to take effect Oct. 1, doctors are practicing how quickly they can get their hands on the lifesaving medication while also abiding by new state guidance, reports say.

Why it matters: "Most patients would likely make it," New Orleans Department of Health director and emergency medical doctor Jennifer Avegno told the Washington Post of the delays caused by added restrictions to the drugs, which have uses beyond abortion. "But I've seen myself what can happen when someone is bleeding out from a miscarriage. And a few minutes could mean life and death in some cases."

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the owner and operator of the cargo ship Dali that caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March.

Why it matters: The catastrophic collapse killed six construction workers and snarled shipping and traffic in one of the United States' busiest ports.

House Republican leadership is planning to hold a vote this week on a bill to change how the Secret Service protects presidential candidates following the second assassination attempt against former President Trump.

Why it matters: Members of Congress' own experiences facing growing threats and startling security breaches could facilitate rare bipartisan agreement around the measure.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) will force Democrats to block two border and immigration bills Wednesday, as Republicans try to flip the script on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) "show votes."

Why it matters: The border and migrant crime is a focus of nearly every 2024 GOP campaign. It's a political weakness for Democrats, forcing President Biden, Vice President Harris and vulnerable Democrats to embrace tougher rhetoric and policy.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) told PBS' "News Hour" Tuesday that former President Trump and Sen. JD Vance's (R-Ohio) baseless claims about Haitian migrants "need to stop."

Why it matters: Schools and city buildings across Springfield, Ohio, were forced to close following widespread bomb threats after Trump and Vance amplified a false online conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants eating pets.

Ohio schools have endured a spike in shooting and bomb threats this year, even before threats resulting from the GOP's baseless conspiracy about Haitian immigrants eating family pets led to school closures in Springfield, Ohio.

The big picture: Two recent incidents have heightened panic and have fueled hoaxes across the state: the lies and threats in Springfield, and the fatal school shooting in Georgia. Threat tip lines, which had already seen increased usage this year, are busier than ever.

The Harris campaign is boosting its pitch to Asian American voters with a new battleground state ad that spotlights the vice president's personal story, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Advocates on both sides of the political spectrum say the demographic could play a key role come November, especially in swing states with tight margins.

The battle between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris to win Georgia could be close, according to a new Atlanta-Journal Constitution/University of Georgia poll.

Why it matters: The poll of likely Georgia voters, released Wednesday, shows Trump leading Harris 47% to 44% — within the margin of error of 3.1 percentage points — with less than two months before the election.

Dozens of immigration and progressive groups believe Vice President Harris' recent hawkish immigration policy pledges are "harmful" and part of a "MAGA anti-immigrant agenda" — but many are backing her anyway.

Why it matters: Democrats are temporarily uniting to stop a second Donald Trump presidency, but immigration could immediately splinter the party if Harris wins in November.

Democratic lawmakers, including Vice President Kamala Harris, are blaming abortion bans for the death of a Georgia woman who was denied immediate care due to the state's restrictive laws.

The big picture: Abortion is on the ballot in November, and voters have indicated it's a key election issue.

Election officials in at least 15 U.S. states have been targeted with suspicious packages, and several secretaries of state reported Tuesday being mailed letters containing white powder.

The big picture: The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are "investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to election officials in several states," per a joint statement from the agencies Tuesday evening. "Some of the letters contained an unknown substance."

There's no record book for transplant surgeons. If there were, William Goggins would be listed among the greats.

• Goggins, the surgical director of the Indiana University Health kidney transplant program, is one of the most prolific transplant surgeons in the country, recently completing his 3,000th transplant, Axios Indianapolis' Arika Herron writes.
• That's a milestone that's more often celebrated by an entire transplant center (or region of the world) than a single surgeon.

Former President Trump vowed Tuesday to "get SALT back" if re-elected in November.

Why it matters: Trump's pledge on Truth Social suggests he plans to roll back a key piece of legislation that he signed into law as part of a 2017 tax package that lowered corporate rates.

House members in both parties are perplexed about House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) decision to revive a short-term government funding bill that he pulled last week.

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), asked if he has any sense of why Johnson is reviving the bill, told Axios, "I have no idea."

Why it matters: Even some Republicans are questioning Johnson's strategic decision-making, with some warning that his decision to hold a vote on the measure could actually hurt him in the long run.

Trump's surprise post on SALT deductions Tuesday has forced Senate Republicans into a pickle: contradict their party's leader or their old positions.

Why it matters: For Republican leaders, it's a taste of what's to come if Trump wins back the White House.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is making moves to be the next leader of the Senate Democratic campaign arm following the November elections, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Unlike this year, Democrats have real pickup chances in 2026. Prime targets include Republican seats in North Carolina and Maine.

To better understand House Speaker Mike Johnson this week, just look at what awaits him at the end of this year.

Why it matters: The most likely conclusion to this government spending standoff is an encore that threatens Johnson's chances of being re-elected as House speaker.

The House Freedom Caucus selected Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) as their next chairman Tuesday, opting for fresh leadership ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Why it matters: Harris was up against former chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who was seen as more of a caretaker, for a role that has served as a springboard for past chairman, including former Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

• Biggs dropped out before the vote.