OFF TO THE RACES: A “full-frontal assault”
From Katy Tur and Hallie Jackson: "Donald Trump will launch a "full-frontal assault" on Hillary Clinton in a speech Wednesday, campaign sources say, as he looks to move on from the ouster of top staffer Corey Lewandowski. The business mogul is expected to hammer home the theme that "in an election defined by change, Hillary Clinton not only represents the status quo, she represents the worst features of politics," an aide previewed, predicting Trump will try to strike a tone that's more optimistic than angry."
One of us(!) checked out a focus group of blue-collar voters in Pittsburgh on Monday night. "The group of 11 voters – including six who support Trump, four who back Hillary Clinton and one who is weighing both Trump and independent Gary Johnson – described their view of a political novice whose draconian positions on immigration and terrorism could fortify a country that they feel has become destabilized and vulnerable. His backers argued that his constant controversies merely display his personal confidence as a successful businessman and his refreshing disregard of judgment by elites."
"More voters with a stake in the stock market say Donald Trump would be better as president for their portfolios than Hillary Clinton, with about one in four saying they’ll alter their asset mix if the Republican is elected and a similar share saying they’d do so if the Democrat wins," writes Bloomberg. "A Bloomberg/Morning Consult national poll on investment, tax and economic issues shows voters with money in the market pick Trump over Clinton, 50 percent to 33 percent, as the person they think will be better for their portfolio. Those with more than $50,000 invested answer the question almost identically as smaller investors."
Both host cities for the conventions are bracing for major protests, the New York Times notes.
CLINTON: Did Russian hackers breach her computers?
Alex Seitz-Wald writes on Clinton's new effort to paint Trump as dangerous to the U.S. economy.
The Washington Post fact-checks her speech here.
The Washington Post also reports that Clinton is vetting at least three potential vice presidential candidates - Julian Castro, Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine -- but the full list of candidates being consider numbers "more than a dozen." MORE: "The circle is wider than those first three names, and others will be vetted, several Democrats familiar with the process said. All those interviewed spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a closely held and ongoing process that they cautioned remains in its early stages."
And the Boston Globe reports on Clinton's vetting process for Elizabeth Warren.
TRUMP: He appeared to question Hillary Clinton's religion Tuesday, Leigh Ann Caldwell reports. As Emma Margolin notes, that's nothing new.
The Wall Street Journal, on the influence Trump's siblings had over Lewandowski's firing: "The move by the Trump siblings was met with relief by many nervous Republicans, who were seeking a significant change in the campaign. At the same time, the fact that the initiative fell to the children, who readily admit their experience is in business not politics, is being seen by some Republicans as a further sign that Mr. Trump hasn’t brought in enough political professionals to handle the pressures and demands of a general-election effort that in many ways is still being run as a family enterprise."
From the Washington Post: "Donald Trump won a standing ovation from hundreds of Christian conservatives who came to New York City on Tuesday with a somewhat skeptical but willing attitude toward a man who has divided their group with comments on women, immigrants and Islam. In his comments, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said he would end the decades-old ban on tax-exempt groups’ — including churches — politicking, called religious liberty “the No. 1 question,” and promised to appoint antiabortion Supreme Court justices."
POLITICO looks into the Dump-Trump delegates' efforts to unseat him as the nominee.
Paul Ryan has no plans to try to raise money for Trump, POLITICO notes.
CONGRESS: Remember Obamacare?
"House Republicans are set Wednesday to unveil their latest plan to replace President Obama’s signature health care reform law — a plan that would discard the mandates and penalties that have made “Obamacare” a perennial target for GOP lawmakers but one that comes with uncertain costs and an unknown impact on the number of insured Americans," writes the Washington Post.
More, from the Wall Street Journal: "House Republicans on Wednesday were set to unveil a collection of ideas for remaking the U.S. health insurance system that would repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act and replace it with tax credits Americans could use to pay for private insurance. The plan leaves myriad details to be filled in, which Republicans say would occur next year, when the party hopes to install presumed nominee Donald Trump in the White House. But by rolling out a broad plan now, they aim to give voters a chance to weigh an alternative health-care system—and give the party an agenda on which to run—before the November elections."
And on the gun front: "A coalition of Republican and Democratic senators backed a compromise proposal to prevent terrorists from buying guns, but the plan immediately encountered some skepticism from both parties’ leaders and opposition from the National Rifle Association."
From POLITICO: "The House will not vote to block the inclusion of Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, dodging a politically charged vote for GOP lawmakers.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) had filed an amendment to a bill funding the Treasury Department to prohibit the department from redesigning any currency to showcase the abolitionist icon, but the Rules Committee denied floor consideration of the proposal Tuesday night.