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MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, August 15

by Alexis Simendinger & Kristina Karisch

Trump, advisers charged with Georgia election scheme

Former President Trump on Monday was indicted on criminal charges for a fourth time since April, adding details and accused co-conspirators out of Georgia to a by-now familiar prosecutorial narrative that upends presidential history and challenges American politics.

Trump was charged in Fulton County, Ga., along with 18 alleged accomplices, with leading a criminal enterprise to try to stay in office following his loss in the 2020 elections. He faces 13 felony counts brought by District Attorney Fani Willis, including violations of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to file false documents (The Hill and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

The Georgia indictment alleges a web of conspiracy in multiple states designed to subvert the will of voters to try to keep Trump in office after he lost.

The Hill: Breaking down the Georgia charges.
The Washington Post: Read the full text of the 98-page Georgia indictment.
The Washington Post: The Georgia indictment cites Trump's online posts to allege evidence of acts in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy.

Among those indicted along with the former president are Rudy Giuliani, once New York's mayor, and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, a former North Carolina congressman (The Hill). 

Trump has pleaded not guilty to previous, separate indictments in New York, Florida and Washington, D.C., including in the Justice Department's four-count prosecution of the former president for an alleged conspiracy to subvert the 2020 election. Trump will be arraigned in Georgia and can avoid arrest by voluntarily turning himself in before Aug. 25, Willis said during a news conference.

The Hill: Meet the alleged co-conspirators.
The Hill: Former Georgia Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan described to CNN his testimony Monday to the Fulton County grand jury. Trump called Duncan, once an ally, a "nasty disaster."

Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, in a statement Monday night, called Willis "a rabid partisan" who brought "bogus indictments" to "try to maximally interfere with the 2024 presidential race and damage the dominant Trump campaign." The campaign assailed what it called federal "goon squads" attributed to President Biden and Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Trump has five more trials scheduled before May, including a hush money case in New York, the Justice Department's classified documents case in Florida, a New York civil fraud trial and two federal civil trials (Politico and The New York Times). A sixth trial will be scheduled in the government's election conspiracy case. Georgia will make seven, and Willis said she will seek a trial date within "the next six months." Trump also has been impeached twice and acquitted both times after Senate trials.

While Trump may have persuaded his supporters that his legal woes and upcoming trials are not disqualifying to his White House bid, his public outbursts and social media posts may be sowing more consequential doubts, according to interviews in Iowa and New Hampshire, the GOP's early caucus and primary states next winter.

Trump's base of supporters say they want to reelect him next year, while other Republicans who voted for him in 2016 or 2020 say they prefer an alternative candidate because of Trump fatigue and fears that Biden could defeat him again. 

"He's got so much baggage," Terri O'Brien, from Greene, Iowa, told The Hill's Caroline Vakil, referring to the former president, who campaigned at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday. 

"And you know, with all the legalities of his situation, I'm like, I don't think he can get elected if he were to run against … Biden."

The same worry emerged during The New York Times's interviews with more than 20 residents who were previous Trump voters and who reside in conservative Alton, N.H., where Trump defeated Biden in 2020 by 62 to 37 percent. 

"I'm looking at the long game here," said New Hampshire state Rep. Peter Varney, 69, who serves as fire chief in nearby New Durham and owns an Alton gun shop and an engineering firm. He voted for Trump twice but he's eyeing 38-year-old GOP presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

Trump has been warned that his public retorts carry consequences, but he has differed on that score with his lawyers, a federal magistrate and the federal judge managing the government's four-count prosecution alleging Trump conspired to subvert the 2020 election. He is campaigning to a loyal subset of GOP fans. He is the Republican Party's clear frontrunner for the nomination in a wide array of recent polls. But it's the general election that many GOP voters are beginning to ponder.

NewsNation: Takeaways from Ramaswamy's NewsNation town hall in Chicago: faith, Trump, education.
The Hill: Ramaswamy on Trump: "I expect to take him as an adviser." Video HERE.
The Hill: Ramaswamy calls Georgia indictments against Trump "politicized persecutions." Video HERE.
NBC News: Ramaswamy "comes up a lot" in focus groups, says Cook Political Report editor Amy Walter.
CBS News: Last week's postponed federal arraignment in Florida of Carlos De Oliveira, the property manager at Mar-a-Lago who has been charged in the case alleging Trump mishandled sensitive government documents, is scheduled today.
Politico Magazine: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in winter: Inside the GOP leader's attempt to thwart Trump.

Leading the Day

➤ POLITICS

In the first ruling of its kind nationwide, a Montana state court on Monday decided in favor of young plaintiffs who alleged the state violated their rights to a "clean and healthful environment" with the promotion of fossil fuel use. Experts say the win, one of the strongest decisions issued by any court dealing with climate change and a rare court victory for climate activists, could usher in a wave of cases aimed at advancing environmental action (The Hill, Bloomberg News and The Washington Post).

"This is a huge win for Montana, for youth, for democracy and for our climate," said Julia Olson, the executive director of Our Children's Trust, who added that the youth plaintiffs are elated by the decision. "More rulings like this will certainly come."

👉 In Hawaii this morning, the death toll has risen to at least 99. The search for the missing on Maui continues (NBC News).

Separately in at least 10 states, the White House this week holds events to mark one year since enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act, sending officials on the road to tout one of President Biden's signature legislative accomplishments, The Hill's Brett Samuels and Al Weaver report. Biden, who will be in Wisconsin today, is enthused about the law's many facets, but not thrilled about its title. "The Inflation Reduction Act — I wish I hadn't called it that, because it has less to do with reducing inflation than it does to do with dealing with providing for alternatives that generate economic growth," Biden told donors last week in Utah.

Politico: Democrats' climate law set off a wave of energy projects in GOP districts. A backlash followed.

Meanwhile, longshot presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s remarks on banning abortion have disturbed fellow Democrats, marking the latest outrage that has further alienated the presidential primary candidate from his party's liberal base.

As The Hill's Hanna Trudo reports, Kennedy, who is challenging Biden for the White House, said over the weekend that he supports a 15-week federal abortion ban, a comment his campaign team quickly moved to clean up by saying the candidate "misunderstood" the question. His initial position angered Democrats frustrated with policy controversies and misinformation stirred up by the challenger. 

Politics roundup: Biden on Monday announced his campaign's hiring of Alana Mounce as ballot access director and Varoon Modak as senior counsel for ballot access (Florida Politics). … California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R) have reached an impasse in their Fox News debate planned for November as their camps disagree over whether to invite an audience (Politico). … "No Labels," the national political movement that could offer an independent presidential ticket in 2024 as an alternative to major-party nominees said Monday it has now won ballot access in 10 states (ABC News). … Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) is targeting the Chinese Communist Party over purchasing farmland in Iowa (The Hill). … "Fully expected the downfall": Inside DeSantis's brawls with state Republicans (The Washington Post). … DeSantis on Monday said that Disney CEO Bob Iger should drop his company's lawsuit accusing the Republican governor of political retaliation (CNBC).

➤ ADMINISTRATION

Biden on Monday weighed into ongoing contract negotiations between the United Auto Workers, representing roughly 150,000 unionized auto workers, and the Big Three automakers — General Motors, Ford Motors and Stellantis — to urge a "fair" agreement a month before expiration of the existing contract that avoids "painful" plant closures (The Hill). 

Biden — touted as the "most pro-union president" — said Monday that the negotiations provide a "win-win opportunity" for all sides and hailed the union's role in creating the American middle class (CNBC). In a statement, he said, "I support a fair transition to a clean energy future. That means ensuring that Big Three auto jobs are good jobs that can support a family; that auto companies should honor the right to organize; take every possible step to avoid painful plant closings; and ensure that when transitions are needed, the transitions are fair and look to retool, reboot, and rehire in the same factories and communities at comparable wages, while giving existing workers the first shot to fill those jobs."

In response to the June Supreme Court decision that rolled back affirmative action, sharply restricting the use of race in student admissions programs, administration Monday urged colleges and universities to reconsider some policies such as legacy admissions. In a Monday letter from the Justice Department and Department of Education, the government provided guidance that would help higher educational institutions "as they continue to pursue campuses that are racially diverse and that include students with a range of viewpoints, talents, backgrounds, and experiences." The guidance noted that colleges can reconsider whether policies such as preferences for children of previous graduates or children of donors "run counter to efforts to promote equal opportunities for all students," but did not ask universities to drop them (Roll Call and The Wall Street Journal). 

Reuters: The Navy joins the Army and Marine Corps in having no Senate-confirmed leader in a historic first as Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-Ala.) blockade of military promotions over Pentagon abortion policy continues.

In Focus / Sharp Takes

➤ INTERNATIONAL

Niger's junta announced Sunday it would prosecute the country's ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason," upping the stakes in their brinkmanship against key neighbors in West Africa who have vowed to restore constitutional order in the country after a July coup. Since Bazoum was ousted by the presidential guard, Niger has been engulfed in political chaos. The putsch sparked international condemnation and renewed uncertainty in a volatile part of Africa; Niger, which lies at the heart of the Sahel, was one of the few remaining democracies in the region.

A military intervention — which is being considered by regional bloc ECOWAS — would put hundreds of Western soldiers, including U.S. and French troops who are based in Niger to assist in combating regional militant groups, at risk of being caught in the middle. But an intermediary said coup leaders were open to talks, the first sign of a thaw after nearly three weeks of rising tensions (CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times).

NBC News: Blindsided: Hours before the coup in Niger, U.S. diplomats said the country was stable.
The Washington Post: Heed lessons of Libya, Algerian foreign minister says after Niger coup.

Russian air strikes hit two western regions of Ukraine bordering NATO member Poland and other areas on Tuesday, killing three people and wounding more than a dozen, according to Ukrainian officials. Local media said the attacks were the largest air assault on the Lviv region since the start of Russia's invasion (Reuters). Meanwhile, a massive explosion at a gas station in Russia's southern republic of Dagestan killed 30 people and injured scores more, officials said Tuesday (The Associated Press).

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine on Monday, including air defense munitions, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and additional mine-clearing equipment. The package is worth $200 million, and comes from "previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority" — funds that remained after a Defense Department accounting error (CNN).

Reuters: The U.S. ambassador to Russia visited Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in jail.
The Associated Press: Chinese defense minister to visit Russia and Belarus in show of support despite West's objections.
The New York Times: A far-right libertarian won Argentina's presidential primary. Javier Milei, who wants to abolish the central bank and adopt the U.S. dollar as Argentina's currency, is now the front-runner in the fall general election.
Bloomberg News: Out of options and money, Argentina finally presses the panic button.
The Washington Post: Who is Milei, Argentina's right-wing presidential front-runner?
The Associated Press: A political leader in Ecuador is killed less than a week after a presidential candidate's assassination.

Opinion

In Memoriam: Brent J. Budowsky,

a political columnist for The Hill for more than a decade, died July 23 after a short illness. The Hill's obituary is HERE. 

Every Republican must answer this question in the first debate, by William S. Becker, opinion contributor, The Hill.
The conservative case for disqualifying Trump is strong, based on the 14th Amendment, by Hayes Brown, opinion writer/editor, MSNBC.

Where and When

The House will convene for a pro forma session at 11 a.m. Lawmakers return to Washington Sept. 11. 

The Senate is out until Sept. 5 and will hold a pro forma session at noon.

The president will receive the President's Daily Brief at 9 a.m. Biden will travel to Milwaukee, Wis., to tour Ingeteam Inc. and speak at 1 p.m. CDT about the economy and the impact of provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, now a year old and still being implemented. The president will return to the White House this evening.

Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff will travel to Seattle, Wash., where Harris will speak about the climate crisis, a clean energy economy and jobs. The vice president and Emhoff will speak at a campaign reception. The couple will fly to Los Angeles.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Secretary Blinken meets virtually with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin at 8:30 a.m. Blinken holds a press availability at 11:30 a.m. at the State Department.

Elsewhere

➤ ECONOMY

⛽ Gasoline prices are on the rise despite high oil production in the U.S., The Hill's Rachel Frazin reports, owing to global market factors raising the price of oil and refining issues in North America. 

The national average for regular gasoline hit $3.85 a gallon on Monday, according to AAA. That's the highest level since Oct. 19 and comes just weeks ahead of Labor Day weekend when millions of Americans will hit the roads. The summer spike in gas prices has eased, with the cost to drivers moving just gradually higher more recently. The national average is up by two cents over the past week (CNN).

The Wall Street Journal: More Americans are ending up homeless — at a record rate.
CBS News: CBS News poll analysis looks at how Americans rate the economy through a partisan lens.

➤ HEALTH & WELLBEING

Despite a new COVID-19 vaccine due for rollout next month, health experts and analysts say it is likely to be coolly received even as hospitalizations from "Eris," a variant of the Omicron form of the coronavirus, rise around the country.

The New York Times: Don't get your annual COVID-19 booster shot just yet — wait for the new formulations, due in late September or early October.

Some public health experts hope that Americans will welcome the new vaccine as they would a flu shot, but demand for COVID-19 immunizations has dropped sharply since 2021 when they first became available and more than 240 million people in the U.S., or 73 percent of the population, received at least one dose (Reuters).

"Public health officials, if they want to see a majority of adults get these annual vaccines, they're going to have to make the case to the American public that COVID isn't over and it still poses a risk to them," said Ashley Kirzinger, the Kaiser Family Foundation director of survey methodology.

CNN: Many Americans wrongly believe exposure to marijuana smoke is safer than tobacco, study finds.

The Closer

And finally … ✌️☮️ It was the summer of love — and it was the summer of rain, mud and traffic delays. On this day in 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, N.Y., promised three days of peace and music to bring together a divided nation. But what seemed to be a simple premise quickly went awry, as the festival — organized by four inexperienced promoters — moved to a muddy field where crowds 400,000 strong bonded over music, art and plenty of marijuana. 

Although it featured memorable performances by artists including Crosby, Stills and Nash (performing together in public for only the second time), Santana, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead, the festival left its promoters virtually bankrupt. Still, Woodstock would go down in the history books as a pioneer music festival, with an atmosphere that proved virtually unreplicable (The Associated Press and Britannica).

Find more Woodstock facts and a full lineup HERE. 