By Ryan Lizza, Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels

With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross

Prosecutors in the office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis are expected to begin presenting their case for indicting Donald Trump and others to a grand jury this morning. | John Bazemore, File/AP Photo

NEW JMART — Jonathan Martin goes long — 5,000 words! — on MITCH McCONNELL’s (perhaps) final mission: thwarting DONALD TRUMP and aiding Ukraine. He travels from D.C. to Helsinki to Fancy Farm to get inside the quiet behind-the-scenes legacy project of the Senate minority leader.

Two big themes emerge from the reporting:

“One was the degree of McConnell’s focus, to borrow what may be his favorite word and practice. In public and private, he’s waging a determined campaign to defend Ukraine, protect NATO and bequeath a Republican Party that’s as committed to what he calls ‘peace through strength’ as the one he found in Washington after he was elected to the Senate in 1984 thanks in part to RONALD REAGAN’s landslide reelection.

“Just since [KEVIN] McCARTHY’s debt ceiling deal at the end of May, which sent a chill through the ranks of Congress’s defense hawks, McConnell has used eight speeches on the Senate floor and five news conferences to address the importance of supporting the Ukrainians.

“However, in many of my conversations, and usually not for attribution, another theme came up: how much McConnell has aged. Unlike with Biden, whose every gaffe and slip on the steps is caught on camera, McConnell’s difficulties have been largely out of view, or at least they were until late last month. In private, though, McConnell’s colleagues have grown more alarmed, with one lawmaker even talking to the leader’s staff about whether he should consider hearing implants.

“‘He was sitting there as the conversation went on around him,’” said an attendee of a recent Senate Republican lunch, alluding to McConnell’s hearing loss.”

And do not miss the newsy kicker about what could happen in Kentucky if McConnell’s seat were to become vacant.

NUMBER FOUR — Prosecutors in the office of Fulton County District Attorney FANI WILLIS are expected to begin presenting their case for indicting Trump and others to a grand jury this morning. It could take a couple of days. Witnesses have reportedly been told they should be on hand at the Atlanta courthouse on Tuesday as well.

A separate “special” grand jury previously heard all the evidence in the case last year, prepared a detailed report that remains under seal, and, according to one of the grand jurors, recommended numerous indictments. Prosecutors are likely to present a more limited version of the evidence this week by bringing in a few key witnesses.

Per the AJC’s Tamar Hallerman, the grand jury in Fulton County only meets on Mondays and Tuesdays, so most Georgia court-watchers believe things will be wrapped up tomorrow. If not, grand jurors could have to reconvene next week. Read this excellent thread for more

“Willis has long been eyeing racketeering charges against Trump and many of his allies for their efforts to overturn Georgia’s election results between Nov. 2020 and Jan. 2021,” Hallerman and Greg Bluestein wrote over the weekend. “Past racketeering cases Willis has prosecuted have taken roughly two days to present to grand juries. …

“Incidents that could end up the subject of indictments include: phone calls Trump placed to [Secretary of State BRAD] RAFFENSPERGER and other Georgia officials; the sham elector ceremony; [RUDY] GIULIANI and others’ false testimony about election fraud in Georgia; the harassment of Fulton County poll workers RUBY FREEMAN and SHAYE MOSS; and the accessing of sensitive elections data from Coffee County in South Georgia.”

The NYT’s Danny Hakim and Richard Fausset have another good survey of the case this morning, “Two Months in Georgia: How Trump Tried to Overturn the Vote,” which notes one of the most important facts setting a Georgia prosecution apart from the federal charges he’s already facing: “While Mr. Trump could try to pardon himself from a federal conviction if he were re-elected, presidents cannot pardon state crimes.”

A message from Climate Power:

One Year Into Our Clean Energy BOOM - One year after the landmark Inflation Reduction Act became law, our economy is booming, costs are coming down and we are reducing harmful pollution. Over 170,600 new good-paying clean energy jobs at battery manufacturing plants, electric vehicle facilities, wind and solar developments – with more jobs announced every day.

All made possible by President Biden’s Clean Energy Plan that invests in America.

The Trump response … Over on Truth Social, Trump spent the weekend switching between attacking RON DeSANTIS (“drew almost no crowd at the Iowa State Fair”), blasting special counsel JACK SMITH (“lowlife” and “Deranged”) and federal judge TANYA CHUTKAN (“highly partisan”), and reposting praise for himself (“President Trump is called by the Lord to lead our Nation, for such a time as this!!”). But he did manage to squeeze in a couple of posts about Willis, including this one on Sunday:

“The only Election Interference that took place in Fulton County, Georgia, was done by those that Rigged and Stole the Election, not by me, who simply complained that the Election was Rigged and Stolen. We have Massive and Conclusive Proof, if the Grand Jury would like to see it. Unfortunately, the publicity seeking D.A. isn’t interested in Justice, or this evidence. Also, as in Manhattan, the corrupt DOJ is pushing hard trying to keep Biden in Office. The whole system is dishonest and broken!”

Meet the prosecutor … Meanwhile, the AP has a nice look at “How Fani Willis oversaw what might be the most sprawling legal case against Donald Trump”:

“Willis spent most of her career as an assistant district attorney in Fulton County and is known by both her colleagues and defense attorneys to be a tremendously talented litigator with a gift for connecting with juries. A few years after leaving that office, she returned as its leader in January 2021 after winning a bitter Democratic primary fight to oust her predecessor and former mentor.

“Now a divorced mother of two grown daughters, Willis was raised mostly in Washington by her father, a defense attorney who she has said was a Black Panther. She graduated from Howard University and from Emory University School of Law four years later, choosing to stay on in Atlanta to practice law.

“‘She’s really a tough-on-crime liberal, which is kind of a rare bird these days, but I think that’s her brand,’ said Georgia State University law professor ANTHONY MICHAEL KREIS.”

SHOWDOWN BREAKDOWN, PART I — “Zuckerberg Says It’s ‘Time to Move On’ From ‘Cage Fight’ With Musk,” by NYT’s Rob Copeland: “He included the hint of a taunt, ‘If ELON [MUSK] ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me.’ [MARK] ZUCKERBERG’s message seemingly ended the suspense around a stranger-than-fiction summer of tension between the technology titans.”

SHOWDOWN BREAKDOWN, PART II  — “Newsom vs. DeSantis debate stalling over Fox News audience,” by Christopher Cadelago: “‘This is about having a debate, not a TV spectacle,’ the person familiar with the negotiations told POLITICO. … The question of whether to involve an audience is a significant one that can tint how TV viewers digest the Fox broadcast.”

Good Monday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line and tell us how you will be marking the anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.

A message from Climate Power:

President Biden’s Clean Energy Plan already has meant over 170,600 new jobs in 44 states totaling $278 billion in new investments for local economies.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ — Our POLITICO colleagues in California are rolling out a new look and coverage commitment today, aiming to become the leading publication covering politics, policy and power in the Golden State at a time when state governments have become key drivers of political and policy conversations.

The launch of POLITICO’s new California home marks the official start of our biggest expansion yet in the state. It will be the go-to place for our sophisticated coverage of politics both statewide and Sacramento-specific as well as our in-depth policy reporting on topics ranging from health care and education to climate and housing.

The site will include stories about the power players and political characters of Los Angeles and southern California, which are key to our long-term ambitions in the state. Read more from editors Julia Marsh, Ryan Hutchins and Joseph Schatz … Check out our new California coverage page, which is already filled with interesting stories

A BIG WEEK FOR THE IRA — President JOE BIDEN signed the defining law of his first term one year ago this Wednesday and the president, VP and much of the Cabinet are fanning out across the country for events showcasing pieces of the legislation. And a few of them are even going to non-swing states. Here’s the rundown of who’s going where for IRA-palooza:

Biden: Milwaukee, Wis. (site of the GOP debate the following week) … VP KAMALA HARRIS: Seattle, Wash. … Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN: Las Vegas, Nev. … Acting Labor Secretary JULIE SU: Portsmouth and Hampton Roads, Va. … Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG: Alaska … SBA Administrator ISABEL GUZMAN: Florida, Kansas, Colorado and California (busy week!) … Senior adviser MITCH LANDRIEU: New York, N.Y. and Huntsville, Ala.

GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Former President Donald Trump throws autographed hats to the crowd during the final round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, N.J., on Sunday, Aug. 13. | Seth Wenig/AP Photo

2024 WATCH

TALKBACK WALK BACK — Democratic presidential challenger ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. landed in some hot water after an Iowa State Fair interview with NBC’s Ali Vitali yesterday morning, where he appeared to indicate he would support a federal ban on abortion after the first three months of pregnancy — a stance that would put him at odds with much of the Democratic Party. But later in the day, Kennedy’s campaign clarified that he “misunderstood” a question Vitali asked, adding that he believes it is “always” a woman’s right to choose and stating that he “does not support legislation banning abortion.”

What RFK said: “I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life.” Then, asked multiple times to clarify “whether that meant signing a federal ban at 15 or 21 weeks, he said yes.” See the transcript … Watch the interview

NOW WE GOT BAD BLOOD — The tensions between RON DeSANTIS and DONALD TRUMP are spilling over outside the confines of the campaign trail, leading to an altercation at a bar in Iowa the night before the two candidates appeared at the Iowa State Fair, our colleagues Adam Wren and Alex Isenstadt report. “According to three people who were at The Copper Cup, officials with the DeSantis-allied super PAC, Never Back Down, got into a shouting match with a Trump backer not affiliated with the campaign wearing Trump garb. The exact nature of what was said is disputed, though each side agreed that it centered on the Trump hats some of the patrons were sporting.”

HERE WE GO AGAIN — “David McCormick is gearing up for a Senate run in Pennsylvania. But he lives in Connecticut,” by AP’s Brian Slodysko

THE WHITE HOUSE

HAPPENING THIS WEEK — “Biden’s First Camp David Summit Looks to Align Allies Facing China Threat,” by WSJ’s Alastair Gale in Tokyo and Timothy Martin in Seoul: Japanese PM FUMIO KISHIDA and South Korean President YOON SUK YEOL will join Biden atop Catoctin Mountain Friday for trilateral security talks. “Countering China and North Korea is the main aim of the three-way meeting, which is marked by a pair of firsts. It is the first time Biden is greeting foreign leaders at the presidential retreat in rural Maryland, and the first time leaders of the three countries have held a stand-alone summit, instead of gathering at another event.”

CRUEL SUMMERS — “Larry Summers was Biden’s biggest inflation critic. Was he wrong?” by WaPo’s Jeff Stein: “Biden last year instinctively rejected the notion pushed by [LARRY] SUMMERS that taming inflation would require policies that would throw millions of people out of work, according to five people familiar with the president’s private remarks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reflect the conversations. The president’s allies are newly optimistic the brightening economic mood will further discredit the notion that a recession is necessary to tame inflation.

“Despite the disagreement, senior White House aides still talk to Summers frequently and routinely seek his input. Summers has been to the White House several times this year alone, even as he continues to publicly hammer Biden’s industrial policy, student loan forgiveness and other economic programs.”

CONGRESS

THE REAL-WORLD IMPACT — “In Tuberville’s state, one base feels the effect of his military holds,” by WaPo’s Alexandra Heal in Huntsville, Ala.: “The ripple effect up and down the chain of command from the delayed promotion of one senior leader at one installation offers a vivid illustration of what critics say is the deepening fallout from [Alabama GOP Sen. TOMMY] TUBERVILLE’s gambit to use his Senate ‘hold’ power to wage a culture-war campaign over abortion policy.”

By the numbers: “If Tuberville does not budge, the number of positions blocked from Senate confirmation is set to rise to 650 by the end of the year, according to the Defense Department — a majority of the military’s 852 flag and general officer positions.”

Related read: “See where Sen. Tommy Tuberville is blocking 301 military promotions,” by WaPo’s Dan Lamothe and Hannah Dormido

SLATHER, RINSE, REPEAT? — “U.S. Sunscreen Is Stuck in the ’90s. Is This a Job for Congress?” by NYT’s Sandra Garcia: “For years, American consumers have had to look abroad if they want the latest in sunscreen innovations. Some, including Rep. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, think it’s time to revisit F.D.A. approval procedures.”

JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH

WHAT JACK SMITH IS READING — “Trump’s ‘Co-Conspirators’ Are Already Starting to Turn on Each Other,” by Rolling Stone’s Adam Rawnsley and Asawin Suebsaeng

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL — “With Trump now in their ranks, some Jan. 6 defendants see hope,” by WaPo’s Ellie Silverman and Tom Jackman: “Inside the D.C. jail, defendants being held in Jan. 6-related cases say they are trading legal theories on how Trump’s case could affect their own — and joking about which empty cell could house the 45th president of the United States.”

A message from Climate Power:

Biden’s Clean Energy Plan - One year: Over 170,600 new clean energy jobs and 270 clean energy projects.

POLICY CORNER

IRA REALITY CHECK — “Yes, inflation is down. No, the Inflation Reduction Act doesn’t deserve the credit,” by AP’s Josh Boak and Paul Wiseman: “The law is now at the core of Biden’s pitch to voters going into the 2024 presidential campaign. But with inflation less of a pressing concern, the president is putting more emphasis on its provisions aimed at combating climate change, creating jobs and lowering people’s health care bills.”

AMERICA AND THE WORLD

FOR YOUR RADAR — “‘There’s a way to resolve it’: Caroline Kennedy flags Assange plea deal,” by Matthew Knott of the Sydney Morning Herald: “Asked whether she believed it was possible for the US and Australia to reach a diplomatic outcome on the [JULIAN] ASSANGE matter, [U.S. ambassador CAROLINE] KENNEDY said it was an ‘ongoing case’ being handled by the Department of Justice. ‘So it’s not really a diplomatic issue, but I think that there absolutely could be a resolution,’ she said in an interview at her residence in Canberra.”

BEYOND THE BELTWAY

THE LATEST IN MAUI — “‘We Need Some Help Here’: West Maui Residents Say Government Aid Is Scant,” by NYT’s Kellen Browning and Mitch Smith: “They have been searching desperately for gasoline, phone reception and hot food, especially after power outages rendered refrigerators and microwaves useless. In many cases, they have leaned on church groups, community organizations and volunteers to track down missing relatives, get rides to shelters or access supplies brought in on private boats and airplanes.”

Related read: “Officials Search for Remains of Maui Victims — and Answers for How the Wildfire Turned So Deadly,” by WSJ’s Jim Carlton, Ginger Adams Otis, Corinne Ramey and Alicia Caldwell

THIS IS CONCERNING — “Raid of Small Kansas Newspaper Raises Free Press Concerns,” by NYT’s Steven Lee Myers and Benjamin Mullin: “At The Record, a family-owned paper with a circulation of about 4,000, the police seized computers, servers and cellphones of reporters and editors. They also searched the home of the publication’s owner and semiretired editor as well as the home of a city councilwoman.

“The searches, conducted on Friday, appeared to be linked to an investigation into how a document containing information about a local restaurateur found its way to the local newspaper — and whether the restaurant owner’s privacy was violated in the process.”

More coverage: “A central Kansas police force sparked a firestorm by raiding a newspaper and the publisher’s home,” by AP’s John Hanna and Margery Beck … “After a police raid on a Kansas newspaper, questions mount,” by WaPo’s Sofia Andrade and Paul Farhi

CAUSE AND RIPPLE EFFECT — “After End of Pandemic Coverage Guarantee, Texas Is Epicenter of Medicaid Losses,” by NYT’s Noah Weiland in Houston

MEDIAWATCH

ANOTHER NETWORK SHAKEUP — “Head of CBS News, Neeraj Khemlani, Stepping Away From His Role,” by WSJ’s Joe Flint: “Khemlani is leaving his post after less than three years in the job. In a memo to staff he said that his new deal will provide an ‘opportunity that will allow me to write, report and develop stories that I’ve long wanted to pursue.’”

VALLEY TALK

WHAT THE ZUCK? — Despite their ongoing public feud, Musk could take a page out of Zuckerberg’s book in his approach to dealing with government inquiries. Lawmakers are gearing up to scrutinize Musk’s X, the site formerly known as Twitter, if it expands into finance. Our colleague Jasper Goodman takes a look at the lessons Musk could learn from Zuck, whose foray into crypto was derailed by Washington a few years ago.

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MEDIA MOVES — Ben Kochman is starting today at the NY Post as senior courts reporter, covering the Trump legal saga, Manhattan and Brooklyn federal courts and top criminal cases. He most recently was senior cybersecurity reporter at Law360 and is an N.Y. Daily News alum. … Neeraj Khemlani is stepping down as head of CBS News, Variety’s Brian Steinberg reports.