Mike Collins

Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, left, speaks last month in Washington. At right, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff speaks in Washington in 2022. (Manuel Balce Ceneta and J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Today’s newsletter highlights

Speculation builds about Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday.

Wes Moore to campaign for Keisha Lance Bottoms and Jon Ossoff in Georgia.

Trump finally weighs in on Georgia’s only GOP-held open congressional seat.

Midterm weapon

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson, who is running for U.S. Senate, speaks during President Donald Trump's rally at Rome's Coosa Steel service center in February. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is seizing on one of the most combustible issues in national politics by targeting U.S. Rep. Mike Collins over the Jeffrey Epstein files, launching his first TV attack ad of the general election with a seven-figure statewide buy.

The ad features a retired police sergeant who blasts Collins for siding with House Republicans last year to block a Democratic maneuver aimed at forcing the release of the Epstein files.

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Things to know

Life University has been accused of racial discrimination and retaliation in several lawsuits by former employees. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC.)

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In his first interview since losing the GOP primary for governor, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones would not commit to voting for Rick Jackson, Greg Bluestein and Patricia Murphy report.

Three former employees have sued Life University alleging racial discrimination. It’s the fifth lawsuit filed against the school since 2023 from New York attorney Megan S. Goddard and Atlanta attorney L’Erin Wiggins. All of the lawsuits allege racial discrimination and retaliation, Jason Armesto reports.

DeKalb County school officials say leadership turnover contributed to a multimillion-dollar, multiyear sales tax error, Cassidy Alexander reports.

Speech speculation

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters on Air Force One after landing in Suffolk, Eastern England, last Wednesday. (Alex Brandon/AP)

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Surrogate watch

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks during the National Action Network Convention in New York in April. (Angelina Katsanis/AP)

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Listen up

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones speaks to the AJC for the "Politically Georgia" podcast on Monday. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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Today in Washington

Trump will meet at the White House with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, will be sworn in to serve the remainder of his term after his death on Saturday.

The House will take procedural votes that, if successful, will attach a controversial election bill to appropriations legislation funding the Department of State.

The Senate will vote on a Trump nomination and take a procedural vote on advancing the National Defense Authorization Act.

Late endorsement

Republican candidate for Congress John Cowan speaks at the Atlanta Press Club Loudermilk-Young Debate Series last month. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Shoutouts

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Before you go

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (at lectern) and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (right) at a news conference on Monday in Atlanta's Adamsville neighborhood. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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