• Speaker Meadows? Rep. Mark Meadows, R-11th, soon may escalate his battle with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Meadows tells The Daily Signal if House leaders don’t listen to conservatives, he will make an immediate “motion to vacate” the speaker’s position on the House floor. Within 48 hours, the entire House would vote to keep or oust Boehner. The two-term Republican also says he would consider standing for election as speaker if Boehner were removed. Below, Meadows speaks to veterans in his district.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnes2xCuFi8

• Trumpmentum hasn’t peaked. The most recent Public Policy Polling survey of North Carolina voters shows the billionaire reality show star expanding his lead among Republicans from 16 percent in July to 24 percent in August. Other insurgent candidates Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, and Sen. Ted Cruz also logged solid gains in the most recent poll, primarily at the expense of Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, and Rand Paul. Also of interest: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton maintains a comfortable lead among Democratic voters but does not do well in a head-to-head matchup against most Republicans.

• A Politico story reporting that Republican Party officials here and in Virginia may try to deny Donald Trump a spot on the North Carolina ballot was debunked by NCGOP Chairman Hasan Harnett Tuesday. In a press release, Harnett said he was unaware of any discussions that would require presidential candiates to take a “loyalty oath” to back the eventual nominee. Besides, Harnett noted, state election laws prevent a candidate who appears on a ballot under a party label and loses the nomination from appearing on the ballot some other way (the so-called sore loser law).

• Nothwithstanding revelations that a federal grand jury is looking into an undefined matter related to U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-9th District, the Charlotte-area congressman still refuses to release the letter issued by the House Ethics Committte OK’ing the sale of Pittenger’s real estate investment firm to his wife. Pittenger continues to maintain innocence of any wrongdoing.

• The conservative group Club for Growth is not easing its criticism of Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-2nd District. The organization, which opposes corporate welfare, has said Ellmers’ support of the Export-Import Bank makes her a top candidate for a 2016 GOP primary challenge.