1/ Trump confirmed that he is considering “various tax reductions,� including a payroll tax cut, to stimulate a weakening American economy. The White House previously disputed that a payroll tax was under consideration. Trump said he’d “been thinking about payroll taxes for a long time,� and that “it’s not being done because of recession.� Trump added that he’s thinking about reducing capital gains taxes, which would largely benefit wealthy investors. (Washington Post / New York Times)

2/ Kellyanne Conway insisted that “the fundamentals of our economy are very strong,� despite a majority of economists expecting a downturn to hit by 2021 at the latest. The White House, meanwhile, is discussing ways to stimulate an economy that Trump claimed was “very strong.� (Associated Press / New York Times)

3/ Trump appeared to withdraw his support for additional background checks and gun legislation after speaking with NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre. LaPierre reportedly told Trump that expanded background checks wouldn’t sit well with his supporters. In the wake of the recent back-to-back mass shootings in Ohio and Texas, Trump said “I think background checks are important. I don’t want to put guns into the hands of mentally unstable people or people with rage or hate.� Now, Trump says he is “very concerned� about the Second Amendment and claims “people don’t realize we have very strong background checks right now.� (New York Times / Washington Post)

4/ The U.S. won’t vaccinate migrant families and has no plans to do so ahead of this year’s flu season. At least three children held in detention centers at the Mexican border have died from the flu. The U.S. had previously gone almost a decade without any children dying while under U.S. immigration custody. (CNBC)

5/ New York, Connecticut and Vermont sued to block Trump’s public charge rule, which would limit pathways to citizenship for some legal immigrants. Under the new rule, immigrants enrolled in publicly funded programs, like food stamps and public health insurance, and seeking to change their legal immigration status can be deemed “public charge.� Once labeled a “public charge,� immigrants would be denied green cards, visas and other forms of legal immigration status. (NBC News)

6/ Trump is expected to name John Sullivan to be...