OFF TO THE RACES: A Softening
Speaking about deportations, Trump told Sean Hannity "there could certainly be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people."
From NBCNews.com: "Over five years, former president Bill Clinton earned $17.6 million from the world's largest for-profit education company, Laureate Education, Inc. In his role as "honorary chancellor," Clinton has traveled the world on Laureate's behalf, extolling the virtues of the school. And some two dozen former and current students at Laureate's flagship school in the U.S. -- an online, for-profit school called Walden University -- told NBC News they feel victimized by the kind of practices Clinton has promised to fight."
Did Donald Trump make donations for flood relief in Louisiana? The Washington Post says it's not clear.
From the New York Times: "Think Hillary Clinton Will Win in a Landslide? Don’t Bet on It." MORE: "The vote may be more favorable to Mr. Trump than the worst-case-scenario prognosticators suggest for a very simple reason: Landslides do not really happen in presidential elections anymore."
And the Wall Street Journal: "A Trump victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton likely would require a sweep of a set of battleground states where he is competitive but trailing in recent opinion polls—Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina—and both campaigns describe them as the heart of the race. Mrs. Clinton, by contrast, could win with just one of them, partly because Democrats start with a larger number of states that historically side with them."
NBC's Hallie Jackson reports that Trump will meet with black and Latino activists on Thursday morning.
And the Washington Post looks inside Trump's new strategy to woo minorities. "Trump is planning trips to urban areas — with stops at churches, charter schools and small businesses in black and Latino communities — and is developing an empowerment agenda based on the economy and education, aides said. Under consideration is an early September visit to Detroit, where retired neurosurgeon and former Republican primary rival Ben Carson would guide him on a tour of the impoverished neighborhoods where he grew up."
The Washington Post has a good look at the exclusive high-dollar finance events that are fueling Clinton's fundraising.
And yesterday's big story from the AP: "More than half the people outside the government who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money — either personally or through companies or groups — to the Clinton Foundation. It's an extraordinary proportion indicating her possible ethics challenges if elected president."
The USA Today editorial board is joining those calling for a shutdown of the Clinton Foundation.
DNC interim chair Donna Brazile in USA Today: "[L]et me answer Trump’s question about what we have to lose by forsaking the Democratic Party for “something new.” What we have to lose is a tried and tested relationship with a party that has welcomed African Americans, given us voice, and helped for decades to advance our interests — a party devoted to the well-being of all Americans."
Clinton is out with a new ad hitting Trump for making his clothing lines overseas.
And Clinton plans to hit Trump on his campaign's ties to the "alt-right."
NBC's Alex Jaffe writes that Trump is ratcheting up his attacks on the Clinton Foundation.
Did Donald Trump violate campaign finance rules by buying thousands of copies of his own book?
Bernie Sanders' new group has hit some significant trouble on the launchpad, NBC's Alex Seitz-Wald writes.