Miami mayor Francis Suarez became the first Republican contender to drop out of the race for the party’s presidential nomination, days after failing to qualify for the first debate. Meanwhile in Georgia, a judge announced he would on 20 September consider whether two of Donald Trump’s co-defendants in the election subversion case can be tried in federal, rather than state, court. The question is emerging as one of the key arguments in the case’s early stages, with Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows testifying yesterday at a hearing that will determine whether he is tried in federal court.

Here’s what else happened today:

• Prosecutor Fani Willis is proposing that all 19 people she indicted for trying to overturn Georgia’s elections in 2020 – including Trump – go to trial in October. Expect much more legal wrangling over this issue in the days to come.

• Tennessee lawmakers were called into special session to pass gun control measures after a mass shooting, but instead spent their time fighting amongst themselves.

• Steve Scalise, the second-highest ranking Republican in the House, announced he is receiving treatment after being diagnosed with blood cancer.

• Kevin McCarthy is leaning towards opening an impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden when Congress gets back to work next month, even though he lacks majority support for the effort among his own lawmakers.

• Ron DeSantis is back in Florida as the Sunshine state girds for the arrival of Hurricane Idalia on its Gulf coast.