memeorandum: Trump team creating legal defense fund (Kristen Holmes/CNN)

10:50 PM ET, July 30, 2023

Top Items:

$60 Million Refund Request Shows Financial Pressure on Trump From Legal Fees — The situation signals a potential money crisis as the former president runs a campaign while under indictment in two jurisdictions and, soon, potentially a third. — The political action committee …

Discussion: The Hill, NewsNation, Raw Story, Insider, Mediaite, The Messenger and Rolling Stone

Washington Post:

Trump PAC has spent more than $40 million on legal costs this year for himself, others — Donald Trump's political group is financing legal work that has prompted questions from prosecutors about potential conflicts of interest — Former president Donald Trump's political group spent …

Discussion: Mother Jones, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, ABC News, CBS News, Associated Press, Raw Story, Financial Times, CNN, Washington Examiner, PoliticusUSA, emptywheel, RedState, Rolling Stone and Political Wire

Kristen Holmes / CNN:

Trump team creating legal defense fund — Former President Donald Trump's team is creating a legal defense fund to help offset some of the enormous bills incurred as his legal troubles mount, two sources familiar with the planning told CNN. — The fund is expected to cover the bills …

Discussion: Political Wire

New York Times:

Trump Team Creates Legal-Defense Fund to Cover His Allies' Bills — With investigations and legal fees piling up, a fund is planned to help witnesses and defendants. The former president's legal bills are not expected to be included, however. — Former President Donald J. Trump's team …

Discussion: Raw Story

CNN:

Mar-a-Lago employee overseeing surveillance cameras previously received target letter in Trump classified documents probe — Yuscil Taveras, a Mar-a-Lago employee who oversees the property's surveillance cameras, received a target letter from federal prosecutors after former President Donald Trump …

Discussion: The Daily Beast, Raw Story and Political Wire

Arlette Saenz / CNN:

First on CNN: Biden administration launches new income-driven student debt repayment plan — The Biden administration is launching a beta website for its new income-driven student loan repayment plan today, officials told CNN, allowing borrowers to begin submitting applications for the program …

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Guardian, UPI, al.com, Insider, Political Wire, The Hill, Fox 8 Cleveland WJW and Mashable

Tresia Bowles / WXIA-TV:

DA Fani Willis gives more insight into decision over Trump Georgia election investigation — Willis said she's keeping her promise to give the American people an answer by Sept. 1. — SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is speaking just ahead of potential charges …

Discussion: CNN, Raw Story and Insider

Joseph Contreras / The Guardian:

'I'm not wanted': Florida universities hit by brain drain as academics flee — Ron DeSantis's slew of laws attacking teaching of race and gender issues sees state's colleges struggle to fill faculty posts — ith the start of the 2023-24 academic year only six weeks away …

Discussion: The Messenger

Lori Rozsa / Washington Post:

Does DeSantis have a Florida problem? Trump dominates in the Sunshine State. — The Republican governor is running on a platform to ‘Make America Florida.’ But his support back home is showing signs of teetering. — The warning signs were there even before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped onto …

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo, Insider and Raw Story

NBC News:

Dozens served in Trump's Cabinet. Four say he should be re-elected. — Several of Trump's former Cabinet members are coy about whether they support his bid to return to the White House. Others outright oppose it. — WASHINGTON — Donald Trump may have put them in the most powerful …

Discussion: Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, New York Post, The Hill, Insider and The Messenger

Politico:

As he prepares for Hill testimony, Hunter Biden's ex-business partner also trying to fend off jail — The request from a U.S. attorney's office isn't expected to impact Devon Archer's Monday meeting with a House committee. — On the eve of high-profile testimony to a House committee …

Discussion: Fox News, New York Post, Townhall, Raw Story, Washington Examiner, National Review, One America News Network, RedState, ZeroHedge News, Heavy.com, TheBlaze, The Messenger, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller, Just The News, PJ Media, Twitchy and Power Line

New York Times:

Inside the Party Switch that Blew Up North Carolina Politics — Tricia Cotham, a Democrat who supported abortion rights, was encouraged to run for a state House seat by powerful Republicans. After she was elected, she joined them and delivered a G.O.P. supermajority.

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money and Insider

Harry Enten / CNN:

The chance of Trump winning another term is very real — Donald Trump is facing two indictments, with the potential for more. Political wisdom may have once suggested the former president's bid for a second White House term would be nothing but a pipe dream. But most of us know better by now.

Discussion: Washington Post, HotAir, The Messenger, Florida Politics and Bloomberg

Ella Nilsen / CNN:

Why Republicans can't get out of their climate bind, even as extreme heat overwhelms the US — Deadly heatwaves are baking the US. Scientists just reported that July will be the hottest month on record. And now, after years of skepticism and denial in the GOP ranks …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal

CNN:

Blast rips through political gathering in Pakistan, killing at least 44 — At least 44 people died after a suicide bomber attacked a political convention organized by an Islamist party in northwestern Pakistan, police said. — More than 100 were injured, 17 critically …