The Full Belmonte, 8/3/2023
DeSantis' firing dodge
Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
“Ron DeSantis' gubernatorial office recently hired three people who'd been laid off by the campaign, Axios' Sophia Cai and Alex Thompson report.
Why it matters: The Florida governor is leaning on his taxpayer-funded office to keep select aides in his orbit as the campaign goes through a cash shortfall that led it to dump one-third of its staff in July.
What's happening: DeSantis campaign manager Generra Peck told roughly three dozen campaign staffers during a meeting last month at the Tallahassee campaign HQ that they were being let go.
DeSantis' chief of staff from the governor's office, James Uthmeier, then appeared and urged them to apply for jobs in his office, two people familiar with the meeting said.
The governor's office followed up with an email the next day, again encouraging people to apply, a person familiar with the email told Axios.
The governor's office has since hired three people who were let go by the campaign: conservative influencer Will Chamberlain, who now works in the state general counsel's office along with two other former campaign workers — digital aide Jordan Chamberlain, who is Will's wife, and another communications aide.
Will Chamberlain was a prominent voice on the right during the Trump administration. It was Chamberlain who, in November 2020, popularized the #stopthesteal hashtag.
Uthmeier declined to comment. The governor's office and the campaign didn't respond to requests for comment.
The big picture: The personnel moves are part of a larger effort by DeSantis' campaign team to stop the bleeding after weeks of bad headlines, overspending, and key donors having second thoughts.
Between the lines: Under federal law, the former campaign staffers can't join the DeSantis-aligned Never Back Down super PAC for at least 120 days after leaving the campaign.
Bringing them into DeSantis' state office allows the governor to keep them close by — and on a payroll — without using campaign resources or violating federal law.” [Axios]
Experts skeptical of Trump defense
Ahead of former President Trump's court appearance today, barricades are installed last night outside the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
“Former President Trump's legal team says he's been indicted for actions that are protected by the First Amendment — and that the First Amendment will ultimately exonerate him, Axios' Sam Baker writes.
Reality check: Many legal experts say that's not true, and not really the point.
‘There's nothing that's more protected under the First Amendment than political speech,’ Trump attorney John Lauro said on CNN shortly after special counsel Jack Smith's indictment was unsealed.
‘Donald Trump had every right to advocate for his position … now his advocacy is being criminalized,’ Lauro said.
How it works: The indictment is focused on Trump's efforts to stop the election from being certified, and alleges those efforts amounted to a criminal conspiracy.
‘There's no First Amendment right to participate in a conspiracy,’ said Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor who previously worked in the Justice Department, and has written about the First Amendment implications of prosecuting Trump for his role in Jan. 6.
To put it simply, if you and I engaged in a criminal conspiracy, and we talked about it in public, no, we couldn't be prosecuted for what we said. But that wouldn't get us off the hook for the underlying crime.
No one disputes that Trump had a right to claim he had won the election, whether he believed that or knew it to be false.
The bottom line: The real legal question is whether his actionsamounted to a criminal conspiracy. He's not being indicted for what he said.” [Axios]
Pence is potential star witness
This week's Trump indictment. Photo: Jon Elswick/AP
“One of the many Shakespearean elements to the Trump prosecution is the role of former Vice President Mike Pence, who declined to testify before the House Jan. 6 committee, and unsuccessfully fought a grand-jury subpoena — but plays a huge role in this week's indictment of his former boss.
Why it matters: Pence's presidential campaign is struggling. But he's likely to be in the spotlight for a whole other reason if the special counsel's case against former President Trump goes to trial.
Between the lines: When a transcript of Pence's grand-jury testimony was released last month, the N.Y. Times reports, ‘it featured 18 consecutive pages that were blacked out, fueling intense speculation about what evidence he might have provided against his former boss.’
‘The answer came on Tuesday in the 45-page indictment from the special counsel, Jack Smith, with Mr. Pence involved in some of the most vivid scenes.’
The indictment says Trump ("the Defendant") called Pence on New Year's Day, 2021, ‘and berated him because he had learned that the Vice President had opposed a lawsuit seeking a judicial decision that ... the Vice President had the authority to reject or return votes to the states under the Constitution.’
‘[T]he Defendant told the Vice President, 'You're too honest.’” [Axios]
Shooter in Pittsburgh synagogue massacre to be sentenced to death
“The man who gunned down 11 worshippers at the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, will be sentenced to death. Robert Bowers, 50, was found guilty on 63 criminal counts in June, including 11 counts each of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death and hate crimes resulting in death. A judge will formally impose the sentence after a federal jury made the death sentence recommendation Wednesday. Bowers was found eligible for the death penalty July 13, when jurors decided that he intended to kill, substantial planning went into the attack, and he targeted the vulnerable.” Read more at USA Today
Body Seen Along Floating Barrier Texas installed in Rio Grande
“The Mexican government reported Wednesday that a body was spotted along the new floating barrier that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott installed in the Rio Grande across from Texas. Many had warned about the danger of the wrecking ball-sized buoys because they were designed to make it more difficult for migrants to climb over or swim under it. Read more
Why this matters:
The U.S. Justice Department is suing Abbott over the floating barrier. The Biden administration says the barrier raises humanitarian and environmental concerns.
Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department also said the barrier may violate treaties regarding the use of the river and violate the country’s sovereignty.
The buoys are the latest escalation of Texas’ border security operation that also includes razor-wire fencing, arresting migrants on trespassing charges and sending busloads of asylum-seekers to Democratic-led cities in other states.” [AP News]
International
Members of a Ukrainian mortar team.Finbarr O’Reilly for The New York Times
“Ukrainian troops, trained by the U.S., have abandoned some Western fighting tactics for those they know best.
After a coup in Niger, neighboring countries have threatened to go to war. Here’s an explanation of the crisis.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, are separating after 18 years of marriage.” [New York Times]
Land Cruiser returns
Toyota's new Land Cruiser, unveiled in Tokyo yesterday. Photo: Kyodo/Reuters
“Toyota unveiled the first hybrid version of its Land Cruiser, returning to the U.S. in the spring of '24.
Why it matters: Toyota is trying to put the high-margin off-roader back on the map after a three-year absence from the North American market, Reuters reports.
The new model will be sold as a hybrid in the U.S., with prices starting in the mid-$50,000 range.
The Land Cruiser will have a gas or diesel powertrain in Europe, Australia and the Middle East.” [Axios]
AI can read mammograms as well as radiologists.
“What to know: Human-assisted artificial intelligence detected 20% more cases of breast cancer than two experienced radiologists in a trial in Sweden, a new analysis shows.
Why it matters: Breast cancer is increasingly treatable when caught early. Integrating AI into screenings could help cut patient waiting times.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Tiger joins PGA board
Tiger Woods plays out from a bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of The Masters in Augusta, Ga., in April. Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters
“The PGA Tour, which recently agreed to merge with Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf, said it's adding Tiger Woods, 47, to its policy board, Axios' Dan Primack and Nathan Bomey report.
Why it matters: This gives golfers control of the board, outnumbering independent directors six to five, and thus control of the LIV deal's fate.
What to watch for: Whether the players attempt to initiate compensation for members who didn't leave the tour to join LIV for lucrative payouts.” [Axios]
The blue whale may not actually be Earth’s biggest animal ever.
P. colossus lived about 38 million to 40 million years ago. (Alberto Gennari/Reuters)
“Why? Fossils of an extinct whale were recently discovered in Peru. It’s called P. colossus, and it’s challenging the blue whale for the title of heaviest animal ever to exist.
How they compare: The blue whale, which still swims in our oceans, weighs up to 190 metric tons. P. colossus is estimated to have weighed between 85 and 340 tons.”
Read this story at Washington Post