Indicted again

Where the allegations against Trump have moved the needle, and where they haven't

View this email online Aug. 19, 2023 This week, we looked at Trump's fourth indictment and an NPR investigation into immigration detention facilities. Plus, Biden heads to Maui. The Big Picture: It matters Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The raft of indictments against former President Trump have not made a difference politically with the Republican base. In fact, one could argue that he strengthen his hand in the GOP primary. But the same can’t be said for everyone else, including independent voters, who lean toward either party, and are often a deciding factor in presidential elections. The NPR, PBS NewsHour and Marist poll found that independents had jumped 11 points to 52% believing that Trump had done something illegal from March, before the indictments, until now.  And majority of respondents — 53% — in an AP/NORC poll this week said they would “definitely” not vote for Trump in 2024. And yet Trump continues to barrel toward the Republican nomination. Republicans have their first primary debate this week in Milwaukee, but even if Trump does not attend, he will be at the center of the debate.  How much the other candidates go after Trump is another big question, especially considering his top rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is being advised to go after lower-polling candidates, like Vivek Ramaswamy, according to leaked memo from a super PAC supporting DeSantis.  One place where Trump is definitely expected next week is in Atlanta, where he is set to be booked, in the case against him there for trying to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.  — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent Read More Newsletter continues after sponsor message ICYMI: Top Stories Andrew Harnik/AP Donald Trump’s chatter tests the patience of his lawyers — and comes with big risks: The former president continues to make combative statements about prosecutors, witnesses and judges involved in his criminal cases. Legal watchers say that his remarks could expose him to more legal risk — but while judges have tools to manage Trump's rhetoric, his status as a defendant seeking political office again makes this a thorny issue to address. One concession Trump has made to his legal team? Canceling a Monday press conference where he was expected to rehash his lies about the 2020 election results. World leaders in your family room?: President Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Camp David on Friday. The former commanding officer of the presidential retreat told NPR’s Asma Khalid that being invited to the camp is more special than the White House — “It's like bringing someone into your family room.” The leaders are touting their "Camp David Principles" agreement, which bolsters security collaboration in an effort to counter China. Sen. Schumer says "Happy First Birthday" to Biden’s climate law: The Senate’s top Democrat told NPR’s Deirdre Walsh in an interview that his party’s focus on investments in America will be a clear contrast to Republicans’ focus on investigations when voters head to the ballot box next year. And he thinks the climate law — the Inflation Reduction Act — will start to garner more attention as its major manufacturing investments start to take hold in communities across the country.  But there are some bumps in the road for solar energy: Solar manufacturers in Southeast Asia — responsible for almost three-quarters of U.S. solar imports — now have to self-certify that they are not using Chinese components which are subject to Obama-era tariffs. The country-wide rules will take effect in June 2024, and are expected to make new solar projects more expensive. An NPR investigation exposed horrible conditions in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities: The findings are part of a trove of more than 1,600 pages of previously secret inspection reports obtained by NPR’s Tom Dreisbach which detail "negligent" medical care, "unsafe and filthy" conditions, racist abuse of detainees, inappropriate pepper-spraying of mentally ill detainees and other problems that, in some cases, contributed to detainee deaths. Black Stories, Black Truths: NPR's New Campaign Celebrates the Black Experience Turn on NPR today and you’ll hear a range of voices as varied, nuanced, and Black as the country we reflect. That’s because NPR sounds like whichever one of our hosts is at the mic, and all the passions, quirks, and lived experiences they bring with them. Introducing Black Stories, Black Truths: a video series, a collection of podcast episodes, and—most importantly—a celebration of Black voices in journalism. Our voices aren’t a monolith, and neither is public media. Welcome to NPR, noir. Click here to check out the feed, or search “NPR Black Stories, Black Truths” wherever you get podcasts. The Shot: A mother raced to save her son Deanne Fitzmaurice/NPR A little over a week ago, Luz Vargas had been making party plans for her adopted son — a vanilla cake, maybe some pork tacos, and lots and lots of friends to celebrate the popular boy's 15th birthday on Sunday. Now, she's planning a memorial service. Her son, Kenyero Fuentes, is one of more than a hundred victims claimed in the inferno that ravaged the historic town of Lahaina in Maui on Aug. 8. Read more about their story. Biden is scheduled to visit Maui on Monday. — Eric McDaniel, NPR Politics Podcast editor Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? 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