5 things to know Thursday

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DOJ lawyers must provide edited version of Mar-a-Lago warrant affidavit to judge

U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart ordered Justice Department lawyers to provide an edited or redacted version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit by Thursday for his consideration in deciding whether any of the document’s contents could be released. Reinhart said that while the affidavit should not be released in full, there are portions of it that at least presumptively could be unsealed. A consortium of media companies are pushing for the document’s public release. Government lawyers have opposed the release of the document, even in its edited state, arguing that it would provide a “roadmap” to the continuing investigation, which is reviewing possible obstruction of justice and violations of the Espionage Act. Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers are seeking to halt the continued review of classified documents seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, until a special master or third party can be appointed to ensure that possibly privileged material is shielded from scrutiny, according to court documents filed Monday.

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Abortion ‘trigger’ bans to take effect in multiple states

New laws banning abortion are scheduled to take effect Thursday in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, two months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that established a constitutional right to the procedure. The Texas law bans the procedure after fertilization except in cases of life-threatening or severe health conditions. Tennessee’s similarly would ban all abortions, except in the case of severe or life-threatening health conditions for the patient. Oklahoma’s ban calls for up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for performing an abortion. In a ruling Wednesday evening, a federal judge in Idaho barred the state from enforcing a strict abortion ban in medical emergencies over concerns that it violates federal law on emergency care. Much of the state’s law will still go into effect Thursday, but the judge ruled the state cannot prosecute anyone who is performing an abortion in an emergency. North Dakota could also put in place more restrictive abortion laws this week, depending on upcoming rulings.

75 days to the midterms: Biden holds rally in safely Democratic Maryland

Just 75 days away from the midterm elections, President Joe Biden will aim to turn legislative accomplishments into political energy to boost Democrats’ fortunes and hold a rally in the Democratic Washington suburb of Rockville, Maryland, Thursday. From bipartisan action on gun control, infrastructure and domestic technology manufacturing to Democrats-only efforts to tackle climate change and health care costs, Biden is expected to highlight the achievements of the party’s razor-thin control of Washington. The event comes a day after the president moved to fulfill a long-delayed campaign pledge to forgive federal student loans for lower and middle-income borrowers – a move that Democrats believe will animate younger and Black and Latino voters. Biden was set to be joined in Maryland by a host of officials on the ballot. But first lady Jill Biden will need to steer clear as she tested positive for COVID-19 again Wednesday in a “rebound” case. She was showing no symptoms, the White House said.

Will Jackson Hole conference provide clues on Fed’s next rate hike?

Top economists from across the country including Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for an annual economic policy symposium hosted by the Kansas City Federal Reserve beginning Thursday. The meeting comes as inflation appears to have peaked and all the jobs lost during the pandemic have been fully recovered. But layoffs and fears that the U.S. is in a recession or nearing one continue to grow. As the Fed weighs whether it should ease on hiking interest rates, or continues to aggressively raise them, investors anxiously await the Jackson Hole conference which could provide clues on the Fed’s next rate hike decision.

California poised to phase out sale of new gas-powered cars

California is poised to set a 2035 deadline for all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state to be powered by electricity or hydrogen, an ambitious step that will reshape the U.S. car market. The California Air Resources Board will vote Thursday on the policy, which sets the most aggressive roadmap in the nation for moving to more climate-friendly vehicles and away from gas-powered cars. However, people can continue driving gas-fueled vehicles and purchasing used ones after 2035. The plan also allows for one-fifth of sales after 2035 to be plug-in hybrids that can run on batteries and gas. The switch from gas to electric cars will drastically reduce emissions and air pollutants. An immediate – and aggressive – goal California seeks is for electric vehicle sales to triple in the next four years to 35% of all new car purchases.