🥊 Axios AM: Trump weaponizes search

Plus: New COVID forecast | Sunday, September 04, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Wells Fargo   Axios AM By Mike Allen · Sep 04, 2022 Happy holiday Sunday. Smart Brevity™ count: 1,096 words ... 4 mins. Edited by Donica Phifer.     1 big thing: Trump weaponizes search Photo: Jonathan Swan/Axios Former President Trump told thousands of supporters last night that the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago was an attack not just on him — but also on them, Axios' Jonathan Swan reports from the rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Why it matters: Trump — in real legal jeopardy for retaining scores of classified documents after leaving the White House — is using the investigation to instill a sense of shared persecution with his fans. "They're trying to silence me, and more importantly they're trying to silence you," Trump said in an arena that was packed to the rafters — his first rally since the Mar-a-Lago search. "But we will not be silenced, right?" The crowd was enraged at the Justice Department and FBI. Trump is plugging into — and revving up — that sentiment by connecting him and his audience as victims. Trump stoked the anger by saying the FBI rifled through former First Lady Melania Trump's wardrobe. 🚁 Being there: Trumpers say they feel under siege from "the regime," and that a Biden security apparatus is watching and hunting them. There was a bizarre moment when a helicopter flew over Trump fans waiting outside the arena in a line that snaked into the parking lot. The crowd started chanting: "F--k Joe Biden." People flipped birds at the chopper and filmed it with their iPhones. Many assumed they were being surveilled by the Biden "regime" — a word commonly used by Trump supporters to convey contempt and illegitimacy. Spotted at last night's rally. Photo: Andrew Kelly/Reuters Between the lines: The crowd's energy was with extreme leaders — including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), and state Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Trump-endorsed candidate for Pennsylvania governor. Greene, a MAGA favorite, was greeted as if she were Trump. People yelled out "first female president" and "the real first lady." Mastriano has told supporters this election is vital to ensure he and his hand-picked secretary of state can control the Keystone State's election machinery in 2024. Mastriano got a visceral crowd reaction — in stark contrast to polite clapping for Dr. Mehmet Oz, the GOP candidate for U.S. Senate. Oz is trying to put some distance between himself and Mastriano, to appeal to more moderate voters. The rally was a rare joint appearance.     2. Legislatures see record number of first-generation immigrants Data: New American Leaders. Map: Kavya Beheraj/Axios A record number of first-generation Americans have won election to state legislatures across the country, Axios' Sophia Cai reports. Why it matters: First-generation Americans comprise 10% of the voting population in the U.S. They are among the fastest-growing portions of the electorate, yet are vastly underrepresented at all levels of elected office. 296 naturalized citizens are serving in U.S. state legislatures this year, making up 4% of the 7,383 legislative seats, according to a new report from New American Leaders, a group that helps elect first- and second-generation immigrants to office. That's up from 258 legislative seats in 202o, when naturalized citizens made up 3.5% of state legislatures. The big picture: As demographics change rapidly, both parties are working to build multi-racial coalitions of voters and candidates. Georgia state Rep. Marvin Lim (D) — a 38-year-old who immigrated from the Philippines at age 7, and was elected in 2020 — said the Trump years were a "turbulent period in American politics everywhere. We had a lot of new Americans ... come out to vote." 90% of the naturalized citizens serving in state legislatures are Democrats. 42% are Latino, 35% percent are AAPI and 15% are Black. Reality check: Some immigrant lawmakers have decided not to pursue reelection. They cite barriers they faced while in office, including low pay and a lack of support for caregivers, the report says. Read the report ... Share this story.     3. 😷 Encouraging COVID forecast Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios   Coronavirus forecasts from multiple research teams, shared with federal officials, foresee stable or declining COVID hospitalizations in early fall, The Washington Post reports. "The scenarios show the possibility of a late-fall surge. A new variant remains the biggest wild card," The Post adds. "But several factors — including the approval this week of reformulated boosters and the buildup of immunity against the latest strain of the virus — could suppress some of the cold-season spread." Justin Lessler, a UNC epidemiologist, said: "[N]othing appears to be projecting anything like an omicron wave." 🕶️ What we're watching: Many big employers, including Apple, are using Labor Day as "the line in the corporate sand" to get serious about bringing people back to the office, The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription): "Many executives say ... a post-Labor Day return is their best hope at getting workers on a more regular office schedule before the fall and winter holidays."     A message from Wells Fargo $50 million invested in 13 Black-owned banks     Wells Fargo honors its commitment to make meaningful capital investments in Black-owned banks, fulfilling a $50 million pledge to minority depository institutions. Why it's important: This helps traditionally underserved communities gain access to banking services. Learn more.     4. Obama wins Emmy Image: Netflix   President Obama won an Emmy last night as "outstanding narrator" of a Netflix series, "Our National Parks," which debuted in April. Obama executive-produced and narrated the five-part series. The Creative Arts Emmy awards ceremony kicked off the 74th Emmys, coming Sept. 12 on NBC. Obama is now halfway to joining 17 entertainers who have an EGOT — an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony, AP notes. Obama has won two Grammy Awards, for audiobook readings of his memoirs, "The Audacity of Hope" and "A Promised Land." Also yesterday, Obama saluted Serena Williams after what's expected to be her last pro match: Via Twitter     5. 💡 Get the story behind Smart Brevity™ Cover: Workman   "How to Write Less But Say More," a TED talk by Axios CEO Jim VandeHei, just hit the milestone of 1 million+ online video views. VandeHei tells the crowd that as a political reporter, he made his living "mass-producing words." But then he discovered data showing most people "want more information quicker, and they're not going to spend that much time" with your beautiful words. That was the genesis of Axios: "People want smart content, essential content — but they want it delivered efficiently, as fast as humanly possible. ... And so we built a whole company around it." Our first book, "Smart Brevity," will be out Sept. 20, showing you step by step how to communicate more clearly — whether on a Zoom, in a talk, or online. Why it matters: You'll BE HEARD ... save time ... have more power. Preorder the book ... Watch the talk.     6. 🎸 1 fun thing: Beatles wall autographs Photo: Heritage Auctions When the Beatles made their groundbreaking appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in February 1964, all four signed a 4-foot-by-1-foot slab of the show's moveable, plastic backdrop. "'THE BEATLES' WERE HERE," says the relic, to be auctioned Sept. 24 by Heritage Auctions of Dallas. Opening bid: $600,000.     A message from Wells Fargo A $2 billion inclusive communities and climate bond     Wells Fargo engaged 24 diverse broker-dealers to issue its second sustainability bond supporting housing affordability, economic opportunity, renewable energy and clean transportation. Why it's important: This promotes the transition to an equitable, low-carbon future. Learn more   📬 Invite your friends to sign up to get their daily essentials — Axios AM, PM and Finish Line. Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. 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