President Trump and his top allies will share the stage with Republican candidates in some of the nation's most competitive races at next week's GOP midterm convention in Dallas, according to a preliminary list of speakers obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: The lineup underscores a central purpose of the convention: firing up Trump voters and getting them to turn out in November, even though the president isn't on the ballot.
The pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC began its long-awaited midterm spending Saturday with a $10 million ad campaign supporting Texas Senate hopeful Ken Paxton.
Why it matters: The decision to start in Texas underscores the urgency among Republicans to shore up Paxton, who is locked in an unexpectedly tight race with Democrat James Talarico.
Republicans haven't lost a statewide race in Texas in more than three decades. But Talarico has vastly outraised Paxton, who some Republicans have criticized for running a lackadaisical campaign.
President Trump is hitting the campaign trail and doing the last thing many Republicans want: making the 59 days to the Nov. 3 midterms a referendum on him.
At the same time, they know it's inevitable.
Why it matters: Most Republicans are too scared to bluntly tell Trump how unpopular he is. And Trump wants an unprecedented convention next week, ads and events to focus on him.
Republicans' confidence in the economy has plummeted over the last six months at a pace unseen since Covid — reminiscent of the declines during the global financial crisis nearly two decades ago.
Why it matters: Usually, the president's party is upbeat about the economy, while the party out of power is far more downcast. What's striking now is that Republicans have grown increasingly sour this year, even with a Republican president in office.
The big picture: The administration's new mail-voting rules — which critics say could scramble the midterms for states and voters — have gone through a dizzying cycle of red and green lights, andnow, the the first state has begun mailing out its midterm ballots.
Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer created a "toxic, intimidating and humiliating" work environment, directed employees to complete personal tasks for her and had an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail, a watchdog report dated Thursday alleged.
The big picture: The Department of Labor inspector general's report, released months after Chavez-DeRemer resigned, paints a picture of alleged misconduct and department tumult in line with what whistleblowers previouslydescribed.
Tesla's decision to let passengers start booking rides in its driverless Cybercab has triggered a high-stakes test of how far automakers can stretch outdated federal safety rules while regulators race to rewrite them.
Why it matters: Tesla and the Trump administration share the same goal — clearing regulatory barriers to autonomous vehicles — but they may disagree over how quickly Tesla can get there.
The big picture: Gasoline prices are almost certain to remainnorth of $4 per gallon over Labor Day weekend — a heavy travel stretch and the time when midterm election season intensifies.
Another warning light is blinking for Senate Republicans: underperforming gubernatorial nominees in three crucial Midwest states.
Why it matters: Strong candidates for governor can act as sheepdogs in tight Senate races, keeping Republican voters — and GOP-curious independents — moving in the party's direction.
The Trump administration is working on a post-war strategy focused on a regional effort to contain Iran and expand normalization of relations between Israel and its neighbors, according to two U.S. officials and two other sources with knowledge of the issue.
Why it matters: While the plan is still in the early stages of drafting, it's intended to guide the U.S. approach in the Middle East after the Iran war ends and in the final two years of President Trump's term. Two big events loom over the planning: the Oct. 27 election in Israel and the U.S. midterm elections in November.
After winning an upset primary victory over a field of better-funded, establishment-backed rivals, Rep. Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.) is launching a super PAC to help other progressive underdogs do the same, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Mejia is adding to a growing constellation of new progressive super PACs trying to compete with cash-rich groups like AIPAC that back more moderate Democrats in primaries.
U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, the Labor Department said on Friday.
Why it matters: The better-than-expected report is fresh evidence of the labor market's resilience, easing fears that a hiring slowdown had taken hold.
The White House is at odds with some private sector analysts over how much oil is leaving the Strait of Hormuz — but it will take weeks until the picture of what's truly getting through becomes clear.
Why it matters: How much oil exits the waterway sways the price of gasoline and other consumer products.
The average price of diesel topped its 2022 record high on Friday, spiking to $5.85 per gallon, per AAA.
Why it matters: Farmers, truckers and freight companies have been absorbing higher diesel costs since the Iran war began. The ballooning price threatens to further raise shipping costs while compounding a growing political problem for President Trump.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is conducting an internal review of a civilian casualty incident at a wedding during the strikes in Iran on Tuesday, U.S. officials say.
Why it matters: While it still hasn't been confirmed that the incident was caused by the U.S. strike, it is one of the more significant civilian casualty incidents since the war began six months ago.
