mar-a-lago today with his most powerful ally in washington as president biden blasts the former president as a convicted criminal in a massive new ad buy. the maneuvers from both sides ahead of their first debate next week. a new phase in israel s operations in gaza, and netanyahu disbanding his war cabinet. what does it all mean for the war against hamas? scorching heat from detroit to boston as wildfires rage in california. the extreme weather that s turning this summer into a slow broil. good morning. thanks for being here. it s 10:00 eastern. i m ana cabrera reporting from new york. we begin this morning with the intensifying race for the white house today donald trump hosts house speaker mike johnson and the head of the campaign committee working to elect house republicans at mar-a-lago to talk strategy, while president biden is seeing green coming off a record fund-raiser, raking in $30 million at a hollywood event with big-time stars in attendance. nbc s vaughn h