FiveThirtyEight’s top politics stories this week

A [FiveThirtyEight]( email [Popular In Politics] Thursday, August 24, 2023 [1. Trump’s Indictments Might Be Hurting Him — Just Not In The Primary Polls]( [GettyImages-1590575964_4x3]( During the 2016 election, Donald Trump earned the nickname “Teflon Don” for his uncanny ability to avoid any consequences for the various scandals he faced. This year, after prosecutors have filed four separate indictments against him for alleged state and federal crimes (the most recent one, from prosecutors in the state of Georgia, coming just last night) it is still conventional wisdom among political analysts that such scandals don’t hurt him — and are even actively helping him. [Read more]( [2. Who’s In, Who’s Out And Who Might Bail On The First Republican Debate?]( [2024 Presidential Candidates Attend Iowa State Fair]( The clock is ticking for Republican presidential hopefuls to lock in a spot on the debate stage. Candidates have until Monday evening — 48 hours before the first GOP primary debate on Aug. 23 — to meet the Republican National Committee’s polling and donor requirements. [Read more]( [3. What Happens If Trump Is Convicted Before Election Day?]( [Former President Trump Speaks At His Bedminster Golf Club After Being Arraigned On Federal Charges]( [Read more]( [4. How Trump’s Fourth Indictment Differs From The First Three]( [SlackChat_Elliot_4x3_v02_DP]( Welcome to FiveThirtyEight’s politics chat. The transcript below has been lightly edited. [Read more]( [5. Trump’s Republican Opponents Are Still Refusing To Attack Him — Even After Four Indictments]( [After former President Donald Trump was indicted for the fourth time on Monday, it’s been mostly anti-Trump candidates with little chance of winning the primary who have criticized him.]( On Monday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis issued the fourth indictment of former President Donald Trump this year, this time for activities related to Trump and associates’ attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia. Have any of Trump’s presidential primary opponents who might have an actual chance of winning the GOP nomination taken this opportunity to attack Trump? [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly Listen [Play]( [Politics Podcast: Lessons From A Trump-Less Debate]( [FiveThirtyEight] [View in browser]( [ABC News]( [Unsubscribe]( Our mailing address: FiveThirtyEight, 47 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023.