Axios

Former first lady Melania Trump vehemently defended abortion rights in her upcoming memoir, according to an advanced copy obtained by The Guardian.

Why it matters: Former President Trump has continuously boasted that he was responsible for the Supreme Court overturning federal abortion protections, and while he's flip flopped on the issue, he's now campaigning with the position that abortion should be left to states — a view women largely oppose.

The vice presidential debate between Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was watched by 43.15 million Americans Tuesday night.

Why it matters: Tuesday night's face-off, a rare showing of civility in today's political climate, served as a throwback to an era when debates featured extended clashes over policy stances.

Special counsel Jack Smith outlined in a motion unsealed by a judge on Wednesday what he called former President Trump's "increasingly desperate" efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election results.

Why it matters: Trump and his legal team had opposed the motion, arguing it would interfere with the November election results. The filing unveils new details in connection to the Republican presidential nominee's Jan. 6 case.

During Tuesday's vice presidential debate, former President Trump announced on Truth Social that he would veto a national abortion ban — an issue on which he'd been waffling for months.

Why it matters: Trump's post came less than 35 days until the election, and as polling indicates that Vice President Harris has a clear edge among women voters and on abortion rights.

A lengthy motion from special counsel Jack Smith was unsealed Wednesday, making public what prosecutors say is new evidence that former President Trump and his allies tried to subvert the 2020 presidential election results.

The big picture: U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed the 165-page redacted motion, despite Trump's opposition.

During Tuesday's vice presidential debate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made reference to a part of his life he rarely speaks about publicly: his faith.

The big picture: The race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is the first presidential election in half a century in which neither candidate is openly telling voters much about their religion or faith.

• Until this week, candidate Walz was largely following that script.

The prediction market startup Kalshi is clear, for now, to offer markets on which party will control each house of Congress after the next election.

Why it matters: Smaller markets offering bets on elections have existed for a long time and, per a federal appeals court ruling Wednesday, regulators objecting to Kalshi's markets were not able to show compelling evidence that those markets caused real harm to the public interest.

A House Republican is proposing legislation that would give the federal government more power to intervene to stop a strike by dockworkers that threatens to disrupt supply chains across the country, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Lawmakers are concerned that the walk-off could have negative effects on consumers and the U.S. economy ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they are pursuing "several related investigations" that could expand New York City Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case to include more charges and co-defendants, per multiple reports.

Why it matters: Adams, the first sitting NYC mayor to face criminal charges, is facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted on all counts, which include bribery and fraud.

Americans are less and less likely to fit into a traditional definition of family — a dynamic that has come into question during the 2024 presidential race.

The big picture: Some in the GOP have used comments about not having biological children as a line of attack against Vice President Kamala Harris, a proud parent to two stepchildren.

A former venture capitalist was on the national debate stage last night, but you wouldn't have known it by watching.

The big picture: JD Vance didn't once mention his business background during the tranquil tussle with Tim Walz — a notable omission, given that Vance, spent more time as a VC than he did as a soldier, lawyer, or politician.

The deadly aftermath of Hurricane Helene created something rare and revealing: a prime-time spotlight on global warming in a White House debate.

Why it matters: A question just minutes into Tuesday night's JD Vance-Tim Walz faceoff brought the earliest climate science and policy exchange ever in a general election debate.

Japan has more influence on the U.S. than any other country, according to a new analysis of social media posts, news segments, economic and cultural impact and tourism.

Why it matters: Ukraine, Israel and China have dominated headlines in the last year, but Japan remains top of mind for many Americans due to its longstanding economic and cultural influence in America.

For 90 minutes, American politics was unrecognizable: Two candidates, diametrically opposed on the issues, engaging in a friendly, respectful, substantive debate about the future of a country they love.

• To cap it off: a handshake and some light chit-chat between spouses.

Why it matters: For all the nasty attacks exchanged on the campaign trail, the VP debate between Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz offered a rare lesson in civility — a reminder of what politics used to be, and what it hopefully still can be.

American Jews are contending with a record number of antisemitic hate crimes as they prepare to observe the High Holy Days and mark the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.

Why it matters: Rising hate crimes, expanding military conflict in the Middle East, and inflammatory rhetoric in the presidential election are creating more anxiety in Jewish communities as synagogues and religious schools beef up security and some households downplay celebrations.

Hurricane Helene has left officials in six Southeastern states grappling to respond to the widespread destruction it caused after hitting Florida as a Category 4 storm last week.

The big picture: Officials confirmed at least 57 deaths in North Carolina Tuesday and raised the death count in Georgia from 17 to 25 Monday, bringing the number of storm-related deaths across six states to more than 166, per AP.

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said the Republican Party has to do a better job in "earning the American people's trust back" on the issue of abortion "where they frankly, just don't trust us."

The big picture: The Republican vice presidential candidate sought to pivot to a more compassionate tone on the issue of abortion in the face of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's attacks, calling for public policy that would "give women more options," so they can afford to have and take care of children.

Former President Trump on Tuesday referred to brain injuries more than 100 U.S. troops sustained in an Iranian attack on a base in Iraq as "headaches."

The latest: The Harris campaign, in an emailed statement at midnight Wednesday, called Trump "unfit to be Commander-in-Chief" over the remarks, which echoed comments he made in the wake of the January 2020 attack on the base.

Israeli officials staring down all-out regional war tell Axios Israel will launch a "significant retaliation" to Tuesday's massive missile attack within days that could target oil production facilities inside Iran and other strategic sites.

Why it matters: Israel and Iran have never been closer to opening up a new and far more dangerous front in the war that has engulfed the Middle East.

The lone vice presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) was substantive and unusually civil, with the candidates exchanging policy proposals on immigration, abortion and gun violence but not personal attacks.

The big picture: VP debates rarely change the trajectory of an election — but this one did appear to temper the tone, however fleetingly.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz revealed for the first time Tuesday that his teen son witnessed a shooting at a community center while playing volleyball last year.

The big picture: The Democratic VP nominee told the story when asked about the gun violence epidemic during his debate with Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in Tuesday's vice presidential debate that he "misspoke" about being in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Why it matters: The admission is the latest in a series of examples of the Democratic vice presidential nominee facing questions about his own misstatements or embellishments about his life.

GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance said in Tuesday's debate that the Trump administration would focus its mass deportation efforts on undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes. It would push others to leave on their own through rules on wages.

Why it matters: Former President Trump has pledged the largest deportation effort in U.S. history as part of a sweeping crackdown on immigration if he is elected in November.

Days after Hurricane Helene tore across the southeastern U.S., VP hopeful Sen. JD Vance pivoted away from questions about Donald Trump's claims that climate change is a "hoax" and towards an exchange on manufacturing policy.

Why it matters: The questions and back-and-forth were the most prominent discussion on climate science and policy in any debate this cycle, or any in recent memory.

The Texas Senate race between Sen. Ted Cruz (R) and Rep. Colin Allred (D) is now "lean Republican," after being rated as "likely Republican" for most of the 2024 election cycle.

Why it matters: Democrats won't concede the Montana Senate race, now rated "lean Republican." But if Sen. Jon Tester (D) loses there, the Democrats will lose the Senate majority unless they get a miracle win in a state like Texas.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and NRSC Chair Steve Daines are grappling with an uncomfortable reality: Republican Senate challengers are lagging well behind former President Trump in public surveys.

Why it matters: The polling gap has baffled Republican candidates and strategists, who expected it to collapse as November neared.

The Harris campaign launched an ad calling Sen. JD Vance an "extremist" who "could be a heartbeat away" from the presidency if former President Trump were re-elected in November.

Why it matters: The ad that coincides with Tuesday's vice presidential debate marks the most direct attack Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign on her Republican presidential rival's age.