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The push to impeach Hegseth will gain momentum if Democrats win the House
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s political future could be on the line if Democrats win the House majority in next week’s midterm elections.
Hegseth fires top Pentagon strategist accused of leaking classified Iran, Ukraine war information
Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia allegedly failed three polygraph exams tied to classified leaks about the Iran war and Ukraine before Pete Hegseth fired him.
Pete Hegseth’s Reported Political Backup Plan Emerges Amid Impeachment Push
Pete Hegseth may be considering a political move as pressure grows over his tenure in the Trump administration. The defense secretary is reportedly interested in a possible Tennessee Senate appointmen...
Pentagon grants DHS permission to test heat ray weapon for potential use at border
The Pentagon has given the Department of Homeland Security permission to test a military-grade heat ray and develop tactics to potentially use it in operations at the southern US border, according to a memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month and obtained by CNN.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to visit Eau Claire Tuesday with Small Business Administrator
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WQOW) — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will visit Eau Claire on Tuesday as part of the Arsenal of Freedom Tour.
Inside Hegseth’s political ambitions — and the risks threatening them
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rarely shied away from controversy, but his latest spectacle — announcing that the convicted Fort Hood mass shooter’s execution would be livestreamed — proved a bridge too far even for President Donald Trump.
The Politics of Public Execution
State violence has been largely embraced by the right. Pete Hegseth wants to broadcast it.
‘No death should be fodder for public entertainment’ - Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson issues statement on the initial intention of the live broadcast of the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan
UCC General Minister and President, Karen Georgia Thompson issues a statement following Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's announcement that Nidal Malik Hasan's execution would be broadcast live.
Trump says Fort Hood shooter execution won't be livestreamed after bipartisan backlash
The announcement earlier this month from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Hasan's execution would be public prompted significant blowback from both Republicans and Democrats, with many pointing out that the images could be used to fuel radicalization.
The surprising psychology of morbid curiosity
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan has incurred condemnation from human rights groups and politicians on all sides. But according to Coltan Scrivner, an author and psychologist at Arizona State University and expert on morbid curiosity, people are still likely to watch in large numbers. He explains why we are drawn to dark and disturbing content, and Madeleine Finlay tells Ian Sample how consuming this kind of material can harm observers’ mental health
‘SNL’ Mocks Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize Snub, Public Execution Plan
The NBC comedy show took aim at the president’s Nobel ambitions and Pete Hegseth’s proposal in its latest episode.
Week in Politics: Hegseth's livestream backlash; Greece ambassador Guilfoyle scandal
Bipartisan blowback on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plans to livestream a military execution, plus a scandal involving Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US Ambassador to Greece.
Hegseth wants to livestream a firing squad execution. What we know about the rare move
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement Thursday that the firing squad death of the Fort Hood mass shooter will be livestreamed was swiftly met with bipartisan criticism and questions over how the public execution will be carried out.
Hegseth wants Fort Hood shooter’s execution by firing squad to be public
“We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday about the firing squad execution of convicted Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan.
Pete Hegseth vows to make first firing squad execution in decades ‘public’
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed in an interview this week that the execution of the man who killed 13 people in a mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009 would be “public.”
This Week in Politics: Military Moves
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, formerly Secretary of Defense, delivered his second annual “State of the Force Address,” which outlined the administration’s strategic goals and initiatives for the United States military. Addressing hundreds of military officers and service members at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Hegseth began by...
I’m Convinced That Pete Hegseth Doesn’t Actually Care About Our Armed Service Members
If the Secretary of Talking About War would take a few hours off from preparing Instagram videos, he’d notice that the military medical system is failing his troops in the Middle East.
Sen. Tillis says his vote for Hegseth was 'biggest regret of my career' in new book
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis says in a new book that his deciding vote to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in January 2025 is the “biggest regret of my career” and that he also “should’ve stopped” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from becoming Health and Human Services secretary in the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Pete Hegseth creates a Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs reporting directly to him
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is launching an office of religious affairs at the Pentagon.
Hegseth Talks Tough as Republican Doubts About His Leadership Grow
Pete Hegseth has held onto his job by projecting a tough guy image, but his relationship with Republican lawmakers has never been worse.
Military academies won\'t give tenure to civilian faculty, Hegseth says
The Defense Department has decided to stop appointing civilians as tenured faculty at U.S. military academies. Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo Tuesday outlining the change, saying he wanted to
The Beclowning of Scott Bessent
One iron law of current politics is that nobody who associates themselves with Donald Trump emerges with a shred of credibility. For some, that’s not a big loss — it’s not as if anyone respected Pete Hegseth even before he decided that the key to military success in an age of drones and AI was more testosterone. For others, however, the costs are real. I’m old enough to remember when Marco Rubio was widely considered a reasonable, thoughtful politician. Right now, however, my candidate for the biggest loser is Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the Treasury. Bessent started out with significant reputation to lose: When Trump selected him, this was the headline in the Financial Times: Jason Furman, Barack Obama’s chief economist, described him as a “credible Treasury secretary who has a real understanding of the global economy”. But Bessent has now transformed himself into the Baghdad Bob of bonds. Three weeks ago, after intervening (for reasons that remain somewhat unclear) to support the Japanese yen, Bessent boasted about his ability to move markets and dared investors to bet against his, declaring “I am the house now.” He then tried to push long-term interest rates down, buying 30-year U.S. Treasuries in a move some have compared to paying down part of your mortgage by running up your credit card balance. Here’s how that’s going so far: To get some perspective on how high interest rates have gone, here’s a longer-term perspective: We haven’t seen interest rates this high since the fading days of the dotcom bubble. Why are interest rates hitting new records? The backdrop, as I argued in last Sunday’s primer, is the huge AI-driven investment boom; more on that next week. But the immediate cause of the latest interest rate spike was Trump’s rejection of an Iranian proposal to end the war. This rejection sent crude oil prices, which for a while had fallen considerably, shooting back up: It’s notable, by the way, that oil prices remain high even though a significant amount of oil is now being shuttled through the Strait of Hormuz by night, on smaller vessels. That’s an interesting story, which has a lot to do with the fact that oil from the Hormuz shuttle runs must be transferred to larger vessels before being shipped to markets in Europe and Asia; around 15 percent of the world’s large crude carriers are now parked off the coast of Oman, waiting to be tanked up. This is creating a shipping crunch: But that’s a topic for another day. For now, the point is that with oil still high and refined products, especially diesel, still close to record levels, inflation will remain elevated. And this in turn means that the Federal Reserve will keep short-term interest rates high, an expectation that is feeding into longer-term rates. Hence Bessent’s bond-market humiliation. The truth is that Bessent might not have been able to get interest rates down even in the best of circumstances. But he certainly won’t get anywhere as long as Trump keeps believing that he can somehow convert his Iran debacle into a triumphant victory. And Trump will keep believing that as long as he is surrounded by sycophants who tell him what he wants to hear. Sycophants like, for example, Scott Bessent, who is predicting the imminent collapse of the Iranian economy, possibly within two weeks. Bessent is right to say that the embargo on Iranian oil exports is placing the country under great economic strain. But his implicit prediction that this will quickly produce a deal that Trump can call victory looks no more plausible than his boasts about the bond market. The big question now is, why would anyone with a reputation to lose work for Donald Trump? As the beclowning of Bessent shows, joining the Trump team won’t just damage your reputation; it will utterly destroy it.
Hegseth directs military to defend US midterm elections from foreign interference
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed a memo directing the military to defend the US midterm elections from foreign interference, the Pentagon said Monday.
Political science professors weigh in on U.S. House recess
On Sept. 16, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson recessed the House of Representatives a day earlier than scheduled. He sent members of Congress home to their districts before the midterm elections. This decision came following Rep. Thomas Massie’s introduction of articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, primarily related to military action...
Thomas Massie launches push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, who has less than four months left in office, wants lawmakers to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Thomas Massie launches push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Crescent Springs, who has less than four months left in office, wants lawmakers to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Speaker Johnson recesses House early, blocking Massie's push to impeach Hegseth
Massie’s resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran and his bipartisan effort to force the release of more files in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation are all being left behind, blocked from votes.
Speaker Johnson sending House home early, staving off Hegseth impeachment vote over Iran war
Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday announced he is sending members home from Washington early for their seven-week campaigning recess ahead of the midterm elections, a move that will stave off a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Thomas Massie pushes surprise impeachment vote of Pete Hegseth
(CNN) — House Democrats were privately dreading a politically charged — but purely symbolic — vote on impeaching President Donald Trump triggered by one of their own members.
Republican launches impeachment effort against Pete Hegseth over Iran war
The Kentucky Republican, a noted political foe of President Trump, accused Hegseth of abusing the powers of the Pentagon amid the Iran war.
Republican launches impeachment effort against Pete Hegseth over Iran war
WASHINGTON – An anti-war Republican congressman introduced articles of impeachment on Sept. 15 against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth over the Iran war, potentially causing a political headache for GOP
Inside Hegseth’s push to showcase Iran rescue on ‘60 Minutes’
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and political appointees in his department pushed for the US airmen whose F-15 was shot down over Iran in April to participate in Sunday’s highly publicized “60 Minutes” report about their rescue operation, according to sources. CNN’s Brian Stelter reports.
Inside Hegseth’s push to showcase a dramatic Iran rescue on ‘60 Minutes’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and political appointees in his office pushed for the two crew members of an F-15 who were shot down over Iran in April to participate in Sunday’s highly-publicized “60 Minutes” report about the ensuing rescue operation, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Editorial: Stars and Stripes paper the latest casualty of ‘friendly’ fire
Dwight D. Eisenhower and Pete Hegseth, it appears, would not have gotten along well. They almost certainly would have disagreed on one particular military matter — the editorial independence of
Hegseth claims another scalp in Pentagon purge
Dan Driscoll resigned and warned the resident that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is doing serious damage to the military
Trump Taps Army Engineering Official as Acting Secretary
The move came days after the resignation of Daniel P. Driscoll, who had clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the purge of top generals in the Army.
Pete Hegseth’s problems are getting harder to ignore
When GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell voted against Pete Hegseth for defense secretary last year, he bypassed the big-ticket controversies over Hegseth’s personal life and instead focused on his lack of experience.
Republican Senator Calls On Trump to Replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Sen. Thom Tillis is urging the President to oust Hegseth because of what he described as “inept management.”
Driscoll offers no reason for his exit as Army secretary
Tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported
George Clooney Talks U.S. Politics, Fatherhood
George Clooney Slams Pete Hegseth Over Canadian Cadet Post; Voices Support For Mark Ruffalo & Muses On Paramount-Warner Bros Merger – Venice
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is stepping down after 18 months on the job, White House says
No reason was given for the departure of Driscoll, who is a friend of Vice President JD Vance, but tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported.
Pete Hegseth is talking about a possible run for president in 2028, sources say
The defense secretary has floated a White House run with close friends and associates, two people said. And Hegseth sparked speculation with an event in Iowa this month.
Hegseth to go to Iowa today to campaign for GOP candidates, sources say
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was scheduled to head to Iowa on Monday to give remarks, speak to veterans and campaign, sources told CBS News.
Democratic senator presses Pentagon over ‘broken toilets’ and ‘mental health’ aboard USS Lincoln
After families of sailors aboard the USS Lincoln described concerns to MS NOW about poor conditions and mental strain, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is demanding details from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Exclusive | Pete Hegseth Army Chief Pick in Jeopardy Over Republican Objections
Some lawmakers and experts say Gen. Christopher LaNeve lacks experience at the four-star level.
As Hegseth pursues a 'High-T' military, here's what to know about testosterone replacement
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he plans to test U.S. service members’ testosterone levels each year. But when it comes to testosterone levels, optimization isn’t so straightforward.
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon
Before he was picked to lead the Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle found ways to signal his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-diversity goals.
'You sir, are the failure': Hegseth pressed by Democratic senator on Iran war plan
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced bipartisan scrutiny in the Senate on Tuesday as lawmakers pressed him to explain the rising costs of the war in Iran.
New Jersey’s Noncitizen Voting Reveal Is a Nightmare For Democrats | WSJ Politics Newsletter for July 22
Plus, Pete Hegseth says the cost of the war in Iran is now $37.5 billion, and the administration freezes $1 billion in Medicaid funding to California and Minnesota.
Hegseth turns tables on Dems as sparks fly during hearing clash: 'I put this on you'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with Democratic senators over Iran war strategy and military funding amid a record $1.5 trillion budget request.
MTG pounces on Hegseth, claiming US troop casualties 'fuel' his 'bloodlust for a senseless war'
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused War Secretary Pete Hegseth of "bloodlust" in response to a post Hegseth issued about fallen U.S. service members.
Hegseth’s testosterone mandate carries risks, raises questions
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth kicked a hornet’s nest with his move this week to test troops’ testosterone levels. Hegseth argues the effort, to become part of the military’s periodic health …
Doctors question evidence behind Pentagon plan for testosterone screening
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week ordered annual testosterone-deficiency screening for active-duty and reserve service members age 30 and older, which he says will help to maintain military readiness.
Pete Hegseth’s Plan for ‘High T’ Troops Is a Junk Science Fever Dream
The defense secretary’s idea of administering testosterone therapy to service members of the US Armed Forces reveals little understanding of the complexity of hormones.
What does medical science say about testosterone deficiency?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the military will now annually screen the testosterone levels of active service members over 30. NBC News' Dr. Akshay Syal explains the impacts of low testosterone, possible causes, treatments and the risks.
Pete Hegseth’s Questionable Testosterone Plan
The secretary of defense wants to monitor the hormone levels of every service member over 30.
Hegseth announces new policy to test troops for low testosterone
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that he is rolling out a new screening program for “testosterone deficiency” among troops, calling it necessary to allow them to operate at their “absolute best.”
Hegseth announces annual testosterone screenings for service members
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced a new effort to annually screen service members’ testosterone levels and offer testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), framing it as a way to k…
The Quintessential Trump-era Politician
In 2020, I wrote an article about collaboration and collaborators. The title was History Will Judge the Complicit, and it started with the story of two famous East Germans, Markus Wolf and Wolfgang Leonhard, who both landed in East Berlin just after the end of the war. Although they came from very similar backgrounds, the former stuck with the regime, eventually becoming its spy boss; the latter, horrified by the brutal reality of Soviet-style communism, escaped. By way of juxtaposition, I also wrote about Lyndsey Graham and Mitt Romney. These two men also made very different decisions when confronted by Donald Trump’s assault on the ideals that they had both grown up believing: A glance at their biographies would not have led many to predict what happened next. On paper, Graham would have seemed, in 2016, like the man with deeper ties to the military, to the rule of law, and to an old-fashioned idea of American patriotism and American responsibility in the world. Romney, by contrast, with his shifts between the center and the right, with his multiple careers in business and politics, would have seemed less deeply attached to those same old-fashioned patriotic ideals. Most of us register soldiers as loyal patriots, and management consultants as self-interested. We assume people from small towns in South Carolina are more likely to resist political pressure than people who have lived in many places. Intuitively, we think that loyalty to a particular place implies loyalty to a set of values. But in this case the clichés were wrong. It was Graham who made excuses for Trump’s abuse of power. It was Graham—a JAG Corps lawyer—who downplayed the evidence that the president had attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader into launching a phony investigation into a political rival. It was Graham who abandoned his own stated support for bipartisanship and instead pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. It was Graham who played golf with Trump, who made excuses for him on television, who supported the president even as he slowly destroyed the American alliances—with Europeans, with the Kurds—that Graham had defended all his life. By contrast, it was Romney who, in February, became the only Republican senator to break ranks with his colleagues, voting to impeach the president. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office,” he said, is “perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.” In the wake of Graham’s unexpected death on Saturday, I wrote about him again. He was, in many ways, the quintessential politician of Trump’s Washington, a man who shifted 180 degrees. Graham had been a fervent American patriot, proud reserve officer and military lawyer; he became one of the most important defenders of a president who believes soldiers are “suckers and losers” and shows no respect for law of any kind. As his politics changed, his language grew coarser and his behavior grew worse: He urged Israel to “level the place” in Gaza, and insulted the Danish prime minister in Munich, prompting a colleague, Senator Elissa Slotkin, to issue an apology. Here’s an excerpt from the article, which you can read in The Atlantic (gift link here) Like his close friend John McCain, Graham believed that America should stand at the center of a broad democratic alliance. The few times I met him were in that context, at the Munich Security Conference or at other European-American gatherings, which he once attended with great regularity. He also took seriously the practice of American democracy at home. In a 2014 conversation with The Atlantic, he described himself as a pragmatic politician who eschewed populist slogans. “I know Washington is broken, but what’s broken about it is everybody yelling and nobody trying to fix it,” he said. “I’m trying.” When Donald Trump first appeared in U.S. politics, Graham recognized him immediately for what he was: the spokesman for an alien ideology, one radically different from the idealistic patriotism that Graham had practiced and preached since childhood. Trump privately mocked the military that Graham loved as nothing but “suckers and losers.” He put falsehoods, cynicism, and personal greed at the center of his politics, while expressing disdain for transparency, accountability, and democracy itself. In 2015, Graham described Trump as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot” who should “go to hell.” Also as a “nutjob.” When Trump won, Graham understood, as did so many others, that he would have to make some important choices. For a while, he went silent. In the spring of 2016, I saw him at one of those conferences in Europe. He seemed too depressed to speak. But then, like many other Republicans—and, more important, like many other people who have lived under political occupation or experienced radical regime change—he made the decision to abandon his previous ideals, to bury the patriotism that was once so important to him, and to become, instead, a loud, opportunistic collaborator. As I wrote in 2020, it’s very hard to look in to anyone’s heart and to understand their motivations from the outside. But it does seem that Graham had a deep need to be relevant, to be in the game, to be a player, at any cost. And that, rather than any particular achievement, is what he will be remembered for. Continuing to monitor conflicts of interest, ostentatious emoluments, outright corruption and policy changes that will facilitate outright corruption. (Read my original article, Kleptocracy Inc and check out the SNF Agora Institute chart) June 27 Trump diverted funds from more than 900 projects nationwide—including safety upgrades at national parks—to finance beautification projects around Washington, including $700,000 used to fix a White House walkway. June 28 After a years-long Department of Justice investigation into Abbott Laboratories over its management of a baby formula facility where potentially deadly bacteria turned up enough evidence to criminally charge the firm, top department officials instead opted for a financial penalty—illustrating the department’s move away from strict corporate enforcement under the Trump administration. June 29 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stacked the Defense Policy Board—which is charged with providing independent national security recommendations to the Office of the Secretary of Defense—with Trump allies, including tech billionaire Marc Andreessen, who has invested in defense contractors like OpenAI and SpaceX, after purging the panel last year. Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock in Axon—which makes about 90% of US tasers—two weeks before ICE solicited bids for a $220 million taser contract. The White House unveiled limited-edition US passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a portrait of Trump overlaid on the Declaration of Independence. June 30 Trump made around $1.2 billion from his various crypto companies last year, including more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial and $600 million from sales of his meme coin. Trump is considering issuing 250 pardons to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. These are expected to be largely doled out through the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s informal network of intermediaries. White-collar defense attorneys say they can typically win pardons for clients for $2 million. Last year, Trump administration officials awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million to Clark Construction for the White House ballroom—negotiations in which the president was directly involved. July 1 The Amazon MGM Studios documentary about Melania Trump earned the First Lady more than $10 million. Trump made hundreds of individual stock purchases worth as much as $12.8 million the day before his announcement pausing “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days sent the S&P 500 soaring nearly 10%—one of the largest single-day gains ever. Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral saw record surges in revenue during Trump’s first year in office, earning $77.5 million and $121.9 million respectively, compared to average annual revenues of $25 million and $75 million during Trump’s first term. Entities across the Persian Gulf paid more than $300 million to Trump’s businesses last year, including $263 million from the sale of half his stake in World Liberty Financial to a firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a top UAE royal and brother of the country’s president. Kash Patel failed to properly disclose his stock purchase of a Department of Justice contractor, MicroStrategy, worth up to $250,000 last year, despite laws requiring disclosure within 45 days of the trade. July 2 Trump has been directing administration officials to steer more government contracts—so far worth more than $2.4 billion—to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace firm, after Amazon gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, donated to the White House ballroom project, and reached a $40 million deal to license a Melania Trump documentary. Alongside the billions he made from cryptocurrency last year, Trump earned millions of dollars from real estate licensing fees, including $21 million from organizations in the UAE and $9.2 million in Saudi Arabia, along with smaller sums from merchandise sales, including $4.7 million from Trump Watches and $35,920 from 45 Guitar, a guitar brand endorsed by the president. House Democrats accused consultants tied to the Trump administration of financial fraud, alleging they gave prospective donors to America250—the bipartisan committee created by Congress to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial—the banking and routing numbers for Freedom 250, the White House’s fund for events like the UFC cage fight. Democrats also allege that Freedom 250’s CEO traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to solicit donations from foreign government officials and business leaders. The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of gun regulations would lift the prohibition on mailing handguns to individuals, a significant win for GrabAGun—the direct-to-consumer firearm retailer on whose board Donald Trump Jr. sits and in which he holds a 1.1% ownership stake. GrabAGun currently must rely on a middleman to transfer firearms to customers. Trump’s financial disclosure revealed that he made more than 21,000 securities trades during his first year back in office, growing his investment account to at least $858 million across stakes in around 1,600 companies, compared to the 13 total trades Joe Biden made during his entire presidency. July 4 Nearly 1 million people who bought the president’s meme coin—Trump Coin—collectively lost $3.8 billion on the token, while he walked away with $636 million. July 6 Shares of Dell closed up 4.4% after Trump recommended people buy the firm’s computers during a speech announcing the launch of Trump investment accounts for children, boosting the more than $1 million worth of shares the president owns in the company. July 9 Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh named crypto investor and Trump ally Marc Andreessen to a task force aimed at modernizing the Federal Reserve, including rethinking its approach to inflation—a key factor keeping interest rates elevated. Palm Beach International Airport has officially changed its name to Trump International Airport—a move that will require Florida to pay royalties to the president’s family for licensing his name. I was there a few months ago, during a trip to Barcelona. The sculptures were a revelation, I’d never seen so many together before. Each one has its own personality. Enjoy the good weather, if you are lucky enough to have it. History Will Judge the Complicit The Quintessential Politician Autocracy Inc Open Letters, from Anne Applebaum is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Trump’s DC beautification push navigates troubled waters
At a ceremony in front of the iconic cascading fountain at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and top US officials touted President Donald Trump’s efforts to make the city “safe and beautiful.”
Hegseth pushes for action after sailors appear to flout his beard policy
As the US-Iran war risked reigniting in recent weeks, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded a Navy ship for what was supposed to be a routine visit with sailors.
Top general fired by Trump administration criticizes use of military for political missions
The former top US general whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired last year offered a sharp criticism of the Trump administration in an op-ed published Friday, pointing to its political use of the military, such as deploying troops to clamp down on crime in major cities.
Senators call for military healthcare program to cover autism therapy as a basic benefit
A letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth follows an NBC News investigation into the military healthcare program’s restrictions on applied behavioral therapy.
Politics: What Donald Trump’s Defense Policy Means For Black Service Members
Black Americans serving in the U.S. military have long lived with a great contradiction. The country they’re fighting to protect is the same one that’s failed to serve and protect them.Despite this, Black Americans continue to enlist. There are over 350,000 Black active duty and select reserve members and more than 2.4 million Black veterans. That’s according to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.This year, Defense secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked or delayed the promotions of more than a dozen Black and female senior officers. He’s also dismissed several high-ranking Black and female officers, according to The Atlantic. This comes amid the second Trump administration’s aggressive rollback of programs and policies connected to diversity, equity and inclusion.Black military members have always battled discrimination. But for some, this is a step too far in the wrong direction. So, what does their future hold? And what does it mean for the U.S. military?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Hegseth appears out of step in criticisms of NATO allies
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticized NATO allies and announced a Pentagon review of their performance. But Hegseth is mostly telling them things they already know.
Senators seek to block Hegseth travel funds until Pentagon releases report on Iran school strike
Senators are seeking to block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds until the Pentagon submits its investigation into a strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed more than 165 people | WWJ Newsradio 950
Hegseth announces 6-month review of American forces in Europe, blasts NATO allies for putting troops 'at risk'
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announces six-month review of U.S. force deployment in Europe, pressing NATO allies to take primary responsibility for defense.
Hegseth announces review of US forces in Europe and again criticizes NATO allies
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down on the Trump administration’s combative posture towards NATO on Thursday, announcing a six-month review of US forces in Europe and lambasting Washington’s allies for limiting their involvement in the war in Iran.
Inside Hegseth’s Pentagon, where distrust and suspicions of loyalty are rampant
Nearly from the beginning of his tenure, multiple sources said, Pete Hegseth has been distrustful of officials around him — civilian and military alike — and suspicious about their loyalties.
Hegseth Criticizes Europe Over Migration ‘Invasion’ in D-Day Speech
The remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reflect many of the Trump administration’s previous assertions on immigrants in Europe, which overlap with the language of European far-right political parties.
Hegseth warns of 'invasion' and 'dangerous ideologies' in D-Day anniversary speech
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day anniversary speech on Saturday to appear to link immigration by sea to the wartime liberation of Europe, warning that the freedom won by Allied troops could prove temporary if leaders failed to defend it.
Pentagon Bars Reporters From Its Press Office
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has repeatedly curtailed journalists’ access in the Pentagon.
Hegseth torches identity politics in West Point speech: ‘Can’t throw your pronouns at the enemy’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the pouring rain on Saturday morning, in which he accused former “foolish and feckless …
Trump Says Poland Will Get an Extra 5,000 U.S. Troops
In a recent call, Trump asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth why a previous deployment to Poland was canceled.
Pete Hegseth boosts Trump-backed challenger to Rep. Thomas Massie ahead of Kentucky primary
It’s highly unusual for the defense secretary to participate in a political event. Massie has opposed the Trump administration’s handling of the war in Iran.
Crowds pack into Washington's National Mall for prayer rally
President Donald Trump was expected to address the gathering, which got underway as a light rain fell, in a video message. Other top Republicans, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., were also on the schedule as part of the celebrations this year marking 250 years of U.S. independence.
Hegseth faces bipartisan grilling about weapons drawdown during the Iran war
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing tough questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the Trump administration’s end game for the Iran war, the cost of the conflict and its
Hegseth calls for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated by Pentagon for second time
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday called for Sen. Mark Kelly to be investigated over comments he made about US weapon stockpiles, marking the second time the Pentagon chief has opened a review into the Democratic senator.
Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly's public statements about classified briefing amid ongoing feud
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth suggested Sen. Mark Kelly may have violated his oath by discussing a classified Pentagon briefing on weapons stockpiles.
Appeals court appears poised to reject Hegseth’s bid to punish Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video
A federal appeals court appeared ready Thursday to reject Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort to punish Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over his call to US service members to refuse illegal orders.
Trump administration rejects need for Iran war Congressional approval despite deadline
Pete Hegseth argued that a ceasefire agreement with Iran more than three weeks ago ‘means the 60 day clock pauses, or stops’
A deadline for the Iran war is here. What does the War Powers Act say?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted an ongoing ceasefire “pauses” the clock on the 60-day deadline to end hostilities in Iran or seek congressional approval.
Iran War Costs $25 Billion, Pentagon Says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the war, arguing that the spending is justified to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Hegseth and Kid Rock went ‘for a ride’ with Army helicopter pilots weeks after previous Apache incident sparked criticism
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that he and Kid Rock went “for a ride” Monday with US Army Apache helicopter pilots — less than a month after the military sparked criticism when Army pilots flew Apaches over the entertainer’s Nashville-area home.
Who Approves of Congress? Virtually No One | WSJ Politics Newsletter for April 23
Plus, Pete Hegseth fires Navy secretary, John Phelan, and Republicans worry that their redistricting strategy may have backfired.
Week in cartoons (opinion): Religion and politics mix with ink
Religious controversies involving President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the pope inspire political cartoonists.
Pentagon makes flu shot optional for troops, rescinding requirement
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the US military will no longer require the annual flu vaccine for troops.
Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military will no longer mandate the flu vaccine for American troops.
Pentagon defends Pete Hegseth using 'Pulp Fiction' monologue as prayer at worship service
The Pentagon is defending Pete Hegseth after the secretary of war used a Samuel L. Jackson monologue from 'Pulp Fiction' as a prayer at a worship service.
Did Pete Hegseth just quote 'Pulp Fiction' during a Pentagon worship service?
Pete Hegseth seemed to quote 'Pulp Fiction' as he paraphrased a Bible verse during a recent Pentagon worship service.
Judge blocks Pentagon’s latest bid to limit press access
A federal judge tore into the Department of Defense on Thursday for attempting an end-run around his decision voiding parts of a restrictive press policy rolled out by Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, saying the Pentagon had flouted his ruling when it quickly implemented a tighter policy.
A deal or a mirage? Trump’s Iran ceasefire collides with chaos on the ground
Less than three hours before President Donald Trump’s 8 p.m. deadline for Iran to make a deal or face his apocalyptic warning of death and destruction, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, the country’s top two military officials, were summoned to the White House.
Pete Hegseth, Dan Caine holding press briefing after Trump agrees to 2-week ceasefire with Iran
Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric at the Pentagon reignites praise and scrutiny
Democrat whose parents fled Iran moves to oust Hegseth
Democratic Rep. Ansari, daughter of Iranian immigrants, moves to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for alleged war crimes in the Iran conflict.
Suspension lifted for helicopter pilots who hovered near Kid Rock's home
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Army pilots who hovered two helicopters near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home during a training run while he clapped and saluted have had their
At Pentagon Christian service, Hegseth prays for violence 'against those who deserve no mercy'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has hosted a monthly Christian prayer and worship service at the Pentagon, the first since the Iran war began.
Judge says it looks like the Pentagon tried to 'cripple Anthropic'
Anthropic has sued to stop Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from labeling the company a risk after it set limits on the use of its technology.
BIW strike comes weeks after visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The strike arrives several weeks after a morale-boosting appearance in which U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touted the need to boost defense manufacturing.