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OFF TO THE RACES: Intervention and a “new level of panic”

From our NBC News team: “Donald Trump has summoned a tornado of negative stories that threaten to rip his campaign from its foundation if he doesn't stop, supporters inside and outside Trump's orbit are warning. Several top backers — including Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani — are trying to persuade Trump to move past his feud with the parents of the late Iraq War soldier Humayun Khan, stop bashing fellow Republicans like House Speaker Paul Ryan and Sen. John McCain, and refocus his attacks on Hillary Clinton. But hopes aren't high among Republican allies that Trump, 70, can make such a fundamental change at this point. And the Trump campaign publicly denies that any intervention is occurring at all.”

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The Washington Post’s headline: “GOP reaches ‘new level of panic’ over Trump’s candidacy”

Ali Vitali reports on Trump’s struggle to hit his message points yesterday.

POLITICO lays out how the electoral map is shrinking for Trump.

The latest FOX News poll: “Sixty-one percent of voters think Hillary Clinton is dishonest, yet she’s opened up a big lead over Donald Trump in the latest Fox News Poll. Here’s why: majorities think Clinton is nevertheless qualified to be president, and has the temperament and knowledge to serve effectively. It’s the opposite for Trump: over half feel he is not qualified, and lacks the temperament or knowledge to lead the country. And his 62 percent dishonesty rating tops hers.”

The New York Times: “Donald J. Trump all but erased his enormous fund-raising disadvantage against Hillary Clinton in the span of just two months, according to figures released by his campaign on Wednesday, converting the passion of his core followers into a flood of small donations on a scale rarely seen in national politics.”

The Washington Post has a good look at what the $400 million payment to Iran was all about.

Don’t miss the New York Times video project on Trump’s vocal – and often nasty and profane – supporters at his rallies.