Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed

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This Is How Trump Just Got Triply Humiliated: Political Guru

Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and other world leaders made the president’s “back-to-school week” rough, David Rothkopf explains on The Daily Beast Podcast.

Donald Trump’s “back-to-school week” was an embarrassment when the leaders of China, India, and Russia held a summit and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un joined in a military parade in Beijing, foreign policy analyst David Rothkopf says.

Rothkopf explained on Thursday’s episode of The Daily Beast Podcast why the gatherings got under Trump’s skin just weeks after his summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin.

“It’s been a bad back-to-school week for Donald Trump, right?” the Daily Beast columnist told host Joanna Coles. “He’s going back and he wants to go to school, and he wants to hang out with the cool kids and all the kids he thinks are cool, who are really the bad kids. But all the kids he thinks are cool don’t want to have anything to do with him,” he explained. “And he has not only alienated them, but he has elevated them. And, you know, you mentioned [Chinese President] Xi Jinping, who’s the big host of this and who’s the big winner of Trump.”

Rothkopf then highlighted how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has downplayed any role Trump may have had in easing hostilities between India and Pakistan.

“Modi did this terrible thing to Trump. He said, ‘You know, Donald, you keep saying you solved the India-Pakistan war. You didn’t.’ And he’s pulling the rug out from Trump’s myth of himself as a peacemaker. And this p---ed off Trump,” Rothkopf said.

“And so he imposed all these trade sanctions, tariffs on India. And India is like, well, we may have hated China for the past several thousand years, but enough is enough. We’re going to go over and we’re going to get together in a way that we haven’t gotten together before.”

Monday’s summit in Tianjin, China, featured more than 20 leaders, mostly from Asian countries. This caused a sense of “fear of missing out” in Trump, who “has no sense of geopolitics at all” and “sees everything in personal terms,” Rothkopf continued.

“‘They’re leaving me out of this. I’m not in the center of this. I said I loved Kim Jong Un, but he doesn’t love me back. I said I love Vladimir Putin, but he doesn’t love me back. You know, I did all this stuff for China,’” Rothkopf imagined Trump reacting.

Rothkopf then addressed Wednesday’s military parade in the Chinese capital to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. Both Kim Jong Un and Putin attended.

“Can you imagine what it was like for Donald Trump to look at the military parade that took place in China yesterday?” he wondered.

“He had squeaky tanks going by him in Washington. He had the worst military parade in history on his birthday. And all of a sudden China puts on a display like we have not seen in decades in the world of advanced technology, armies marching in step, perfect uniforms.”

Prior to the parade, Putin, Xi, and Kim were also discussing advances in biotechnology to extend lifespans. This added yet another layer of embarrassment for 79-year-old Trump, who has faced health concerns after his diagnosis with chronic venous insufficiency, Rothkopf said.

“It was like muscle flexing and Donald is sitting there going, ‘How do I get in with the good kids again?’” he said.

“And they’re talking about, ‘We’re going to live forever.’ Well, the headlines in the United States are, ‘Is the president even alive anymore?’ I mean, it’s really something.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a Daily Beast request for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-is-how-trump-just-got-triply-humiliated-political-guru/?

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How America’s Enemies Hit Trump with Their Ultimate Weapon: A Parade

Nán wàng (unforgettable) indeed.

Wednesday’s actually HUGE military parade in Beijing was everything President Trump must have wanted, but did not get from the paltry predecessor he held in Washington to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and his 79th birthday.

Back on June 14, Trump promised an “unforgettable” event in which “thundering tanks and breathtaking flyovers will roar through our capital city.” He ended up dozing off while First Lady Melania Trump closed her eyes and Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeatedly yawned. The only real drama was whether Vice President JD Vance would be able to control his kids.

But video of the Chinese observance of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II was right out of a strongman’s dream.

Formations of super fit, precision goose stepping troops.

Choreographed detachments boarding mobile vehicles carrying every kind of ultra modern, ultra destructive weapons.

Women only in all female detachments.

Jet airplanes roaring overhead as Helicoptered clattered by with outsized patriotic banners.

All of it done to rousing music at a dramatic pace.

Nán wàng (unforgettable) indeed.

And, in unmistakable command, there was Chinese President Xi Jinping, rolling through Tiananmen Square, where back in 1989 a lone anonymous hero stood in front of a tank with a white shopping bag. Xi continued past the troops and weapons in an open topped limo with four microphones arrayed before him as he called out, “Greetings, comrades…Comrades, you are working hard!”

The most memorable moment at Wednesdays’ parade was when Xi stood flanked by two men Trump has called his friends, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and North Korean President Kim Jong Un.

Trump went on Truth Social from The White House and dissembled in the way of a teenager who did not want to admit how much it bothered him to not be invited to a party.

“The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader,” Trump began. “Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!”

But as he came to the question of his supposed friends, Trump’s jealousy seemed to get the better of him. The most powerful man in the world lapsed into essentially saying go ahead and have a good time without me.

“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.”

He closed by sounding exactly like Trump.

“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”

He retained his usual upper case sense of himself as he later spoke to reporters about seeing footage of the parade in China. He again proved able to shock without being at all surprising.

“I thought it was very very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing it,” he said. “And they were hoping I was watching — and I was watching.”

He seemed to suggest that Xi, and maybe Putin and Kim, were all hoping he was watching them at the HUGE parade.

Right. The cool kids at the party were all thinking about the uninvited bully.

Suàn le (forget about it.)

https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-americas-enemies-hit-donald-trump-with-their-ultimate-weapon-a-parade/?

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Trump email asked for donations so he could 'get to heaven'

In the email, Trump said God saved him during the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and asked supporters for $15 donations.

Claim:

An August 2025 email from one of U.S. President Donald Trump's political action committees asked for $15 donations and began, "I want to try and get to heaven."

Rating:

True

In late August 2025, online users claimed an official fundraising email from U.S. President Donald Trump asked for $15 donations and began, "I want to try and get to heaven." Snopes received reader emails about this matter, and users also searched our website for information.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/rating/true/

DC lawsuit challenges Trump’s National Guard deployment as a forced ‘military occupation’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The District of Columbia on Thursday challenged President Donald Trump’s use of the National Guard in Washington, asking a federal court to intervene even as he plans to send troops to other cities in the name of driving down crime.

https://apnews.com/article/washington-dc-trump-federal-takeover-national-guard-lawsuit-f2f76ef685676ee0d3bbd81496c74f2e?

The president blamed AI and embraced doing so. Is it becoming the new ‘fake news’?

Blaming AI is an increasingly popular strategy for politicians seeking to dodge responsibility for something embarrassing — among others. AI isn't a person, after all. It can't leak or file suit. It does make mistakes, a credibility problem that makes it hard to determine fact from fiction in the age of mis- and disinformation. And when truth is hard to discern, the untruthful benefit, analysts say. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

Trump will host top tech CEOs at a White House dinner. Musk won’t be there The success of AI music creators sparks debate on future of music industry These tips from experts can help your teenager navigate AI companions

 

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Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages of Fraud. Records Show 3 of His Cabinet Members Have Them.

The Trump administration has vowed to go after anyone who got lower mortgage rates by claiming more than one primary residence on their loan papers.

https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-cabinet-mortgage-fraud?

ps:Right!!

Trump Says America’s Oil Industry Is Cleaner Than Other Countries’. New Data Shows Massive Emissions From Texas Wells.

Hakim Dermish moved to the small South Texas town of Catarina in 2002 in search of a rural lifestyle on a budget. The property where he lived with his wife didn’t have electricity or sewer lines at first, but that didn’t bother him.

https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-methane-oil-emissions-climate?

ps:As per usual another false hood!!!!!

Trump puts onus on Europe to pressure Putin in Ukraine conference call

President Trump told European leaders in a virtual meeting on Ukraine on Thursday that they are "funding the war" through purchases of Russian oil and must cut Russia off and pressure China to do the same, a White House official said.

https://www.axios.com/2025/09/04/trump-zelensky-call-ukraine-russia-peace-talks?

ps:So what he wants others to do the job he claimed he'd do in one day?? Can't stand up to Russia or China?????

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Trump seeks to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, his latest effort to project an image of toughness for America’s military.

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-hegseth-department-of-war-pentagon-067d89413670394c4d2149519dcb09c3?

ps:So our No War president wants to rename "the Department of Defense" to "the Department of War??"

In rebuke to Trump, Senate hearing warns Artemis changes will let China win moon race

The nation’s goal of getting back to the moon before China could be threatened if President Trump follows through on his plans to sunset the rocket and spacecraft of NASA’s Artemis program, according to a series of supporters that gave Senate testimony Wednesday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/04/in-rebuke-to-trump-senate-hearing-warns-artemis-changes-will-let-china-win-moon-race/?

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Trump's danger zone

Photo illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump's team has urged GOP lawmakers to rebrand his One Big Beautiful Bill Act as the "Working Families Tax Cut Bill" or the "Working Families Tax Plan." But Trump is in danger of getting trapped in the same "vibecession" dynamic that doomed President Biden — only this time, the structural signals are flashing red, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. Some Republicans already fear inflation could cost them dearly in the 2026 midterms, warning that Trump has only a few months to reset his trajectory on voters' most important issue. For a president whose credibility on the economy has always been his strongest asset, the prospect of the bottom falling out is uniquely dangerous. ? By the numbers: Trump's approval rating on inflation and cost of living currently sits at -24, nearing Biden's lows during the peak of the 2022–23 price surge, according to averages by pollster G. Elliott Morris. Trump's favorability on jobs and the economy overall is better, but still underwater at -13. 52% of U.S. adults say the economy is "getting worse," while only 24% say it's getting better and 20% say it's about the same, according to The Economist/YouGov polling. Poll after poll shows Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Act — which extended his 2017 tax cuts while slashing Medicaid and other safety net programs — is the most unpopular major piece of legislation in years. ?️ The big picture: The bleak voter sentiment matches increasingly bleak fundamentals. Inflation is creeping higher as Trump's trade war continues to reorder the global economy, with some analysts predicting drug shortages and an uncertain holiday season. The labor market is softening: Layoffs are rising, and the number of unemployed workers now exceeds job openings for the first time since April 2021. The housing market is on shaky footing, with interest rates relatively high and supply stagnant. Manufacturing was supposed to be the biggest beneficiary of Trump's tariffs. Instead, economic activity has shrunk for six months running. Now the sector is shedding jobs. The other side: Trump officials maintain the economy is fundamentally strong — pointing to consumer spending, corporate investment and the booming stock market — and blame media coverage for skewing perceptions. The White House is touting no tax on tips, $1,000 "Trump accounts" for newborns and other worker-friendly provisions as proof the legislation helps ordinary households.

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? Tech dinner: Titans lavish Trump with praise

President Trump and Melania Trump host a tech dinner in the State Dining Room last night. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP President Trump hosted Big Tech elite last night at a White House dinner, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates — and each took turns to lavish praise on him, Axios' Rebecca Falconer writes. Zuckerberg, seated next to Trump, thanked him for arranging the event and said that all present were making "huge investments" in the U.S. "to build out data centers and infrastructure to power the next wave of innovation," with Meta committing to at least $600 billion through 2028. Trump jokes with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during last night's tech dinner. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Gates, seated next to First Lady Melania Trump, thanked the president "for setting the tone such that we could make a major investment in the United States and have some key manufacturing, advanced manufacturing here." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman thanked Trump "for being such a pro-business, pro-innovation president," adding: "It's a very refreshing change. ... I think it's going to set us up for a long period of leading the world, and that wouldn't be happening without your leadership." Elon Musk said on X he was invited but couldn't attend. More quotes. Cover: N.Y. Post ? President Trump said he thinks Democrat Zohran Mamdani is likely to become New York City's next mayor unless two of the three major candidates running against him drop out of the race, AP reports. Trump said "No" when he was asked by a reporter at the tech dinner if he'd urged or encouraged any of the candidates in the race to drop out — but went on to say he would like to see that happen. "I don't think you can win unless you have one-on-one, and somehow he's gotten a little bit of a lead," Trump said of Mamdani. "I would like to see two people drop out and have it be one-on-one, and I think that's a race that could be won." Recently, intermediaries for Trump reached out to people close to incumbent Mayor Eric Adams to talk about whether he would consider abandoning his reelection campaign to take a federal job. On a recent trip to Miami, Adams met with Steve Witkoff, a former real estate developer in New York who is now one of Trump's main diplomatic envoys in Washington. ps:LOL More rear end kissing!!!!

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DOD rebrand

Via X President Trump plans to sign an executive order today that would rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, Axios' April Rubin writes. Why it matters: Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are attempting to reframe the military's identity to project toughness and restore a "warrior ethos." The agency has been known as the Defense Department since shortly after World War II. "As Department of War, we won everything," Trump said last month. Between the lines: Renaming the department would require an act of Congress. The executive order will authorize the Pentagon to use the Department of War as a "secondary title." The order will also authorize Hegseth and other officials to use secondary titles such as "Secretary of War" and "Deputy Secretary of War."

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Chaotic showdown over Guatemalan children exposes fault lines in Trump’s deportation push A reconstruction of the aborted deportation of dozens of Guatemalan children on Labor Day weekend illuminates the latest clash between the administration’s desire for mass deportations and longstanding legal protections for migrants. A middle-of-the-night call to a judge allowed attorneys to block the flights for two weeks, but the episode has raised questions about how truthful the administration was in its initial accounts. Read more.

Why this matters: A Guatemalan government report obtained by The Associated Press says that investigators found families for 115 children, and nearly 50 of them said they wanted their children to remain in the U.S., while 59 refused to cooperate with investigators. That undercuts the administration’s claim that they wanted their children back in Guatemala , believing it would make it more likely their children could remain in the U.S.   A 2008 law requires children to appear before an immigration judge with an opportunity to pursue asylum, unless they are from Canada and Mexico. It is unclear how many children who boarded at Texas airports in Harlingen and El Paso over Labor Day weekend were allowed their day in court as required by the 2008 law.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Appeals court panel stops order to wind down operations at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Everglades   Justice Department ramping up efforts to target human smuggling at the northern US border   US immigration officers raid Georgia site where Hyundai makes electric vehicles   10 Alaskans born in American Samoa plead not guilty in voting case highlighting citizenship issues   A deadly strike marks a moment in Rubio’s long desire to confront Venezuela   Venezuelan jets fly over US warship in the Caribbean   US designates 2 more gangs in Latin America as foreign terrorist groups   Trump seeks to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War   Judge orders Trump administration to release billions in foreign aid approved by Congress   Justice Dept. probes mortgage fraud claims against Lisa Cook of Federal Reserve, AP source says   Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let him fire member of Federal Trade Commission   Trump’s Fed nominee says he’d keep his White House job even if confirmed by the Senate   FBI seized phones, computer equipment, folders during search of Bolton’s home, records show   World shares climb after another Wall Street record and hopes for cuts to U.S. interest rates   Trump admin ditches Biden-era plan to make airlines pay compensation for flight disruptions   Trump administration targets Boston in latest sanctuary city lawsuit   Trump-backed plan to redraw Missouri congressional districts draws opposition at first hearing   Trump extends his reach into Congress in ways large and small   US considers banning Iranians from shopping at Costco during UN meeting   Demolition for new White House ballroom doesn’t need approval, Trump-appointed commission head says

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Tech Lords Shamelessly Suck Up to Trump After He Iced Out Elon

The president asked his billionaire dinner guests to tell him how great he is.

President Donald Trump wined and dined a flock of Silicon Valley billionaires at the White House on Thursday, with the tech lords competing to stay on the president’s good side.

Former “first buddy” Elon Musk was notably absent from the entitled gathering, with the Tesla CEO posting on X after a user wondered why Bill Gates was present at the event, but not him. “I was invited, but unfortunately, I could not attend,” Musk said. ”A representative of mine will be there.”

Trump broke his silence on his relationship with Musk this week, telling The Scott Jennings Show, “He’s got 80 percent super-genius, and then 20 percent he’s got some problems. When he works out the 20 percent, he’ll be great.”

Dinner guests included Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, who was seated next to Trump, while Microsoft founder Bill Gates sat next to Melania Trump. Also present were Apple CEO Tim Cook and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

At one point, Trump asked the guests to talk about their companies, which quickly turned into flagrant fawning over the president.

Cook, seated on the non-Trump side of the table, gushed, “It’s incredible to be among everyone here, particularly you and the first lady. I’ve always enjoyed having dinner and interacting.”

It turned back into a work dinner when Trump asked guest after guest how much money they were investing in America.

“I want to thank you for setting the tone such that we could make a major investment in the United States and have some key advanced manufacturing here,” Cook, who was at the White House earlier this year to give Trump a gaudy gold gift to mark Apple moving some of their production to America, said at Thursday’s dinner.

Trump asked, “How much money will Apple be investing in the United States? Because I know it’s a lot and you know, you were elsewhere and now you’re really coming home in a big way. How much will you be investing?”

Cook said it would be $600 billion. “We’re very proud to do it,” he said. Apple has previously said that while the glass, semiconductors, and Face ID modules will soon be made in the U.S., the “final assembly” of their products “will be elsewhere for a while.”

Altman also spoke Trump’s love language, saying, “Thank you for being such a pro-business, pro-innovation president. It’s a very refreshing change.”

After talking up the potential of AI and their investments in America, Altman promised: “We will invest a ton in the United States.” Trump jumped in to clarify it would be “hundreds of billions of dollars.”

That started Trump going around the table like an auctioneer: “Come to think of it, how much is Google investing?” ($250 billion in the next two years), and then “What about Microsoft? That’s a big number.” ($75-$80 billion).

Before the dinner, some of the tech guests attended a session of the new Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force, chaired by Melania Trump.

Facebook founder Zuckerberg seemed to avoid most of the media attention, until a reporter asked him a question about the latest crackdowns on social media posts in the U.K.

When Trump asked if he would like to answer the question he had been directly asked, Zuckerberg admitted, “Sorry I wasn’t paying attention.”

“This is the beginning of your political career,” Trump said. “No, it’s not,” the Meta CEO replied.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tech-lords-shamelessly-suck-up-to-donald-trump-after-he-iced-out-elon-musk/?

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100 ways Trump has hurt workers in his first 100 days

The first 100 days of Trump’s second term have been chaotic. Trump along with Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have engaged in a near-daily onslaught of actions to dismantle the federal government and eliminate services and benefits that working families rely upon. Some of Trump’s actions were rolled back days after being announced and others are tied up in legal challenges, making it difficult to determine the full impact of Trump’s policies at this time. But even amid the chaos, these policies still caused pain to working people and the economy: He reduced workers’ wages, made workplaces less safe, threatened workers’ retirement savings by destabilizing the global economy, and gutted government offices that administer fundamental programs covering millions of people in the United States like Social Security and Medicare.

https://www.epi.org/publication/100-days-100-ways-trump-hurt-workers/?

Judge blocks Trump administration’s ending of legal protections for 1.1M Venezuelans and Haitians

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary legal protections that have granted more than 1 million people from Haiti and Venezuela the right to live and work in the United States.

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-haiti-venezuela-judge-trump-administration-8519e669dada7e678531f21180cf8def?

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? Battery raid reveals Trump tension

The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is seen on March 26, in Ellabell, Ga. Photo: Mike Stewart/AP Homeland Security arrested as many as 475 workers, most of them South Korean nationals, at the construction site for a battery plant at a Hyundai campus in Georgia. The immigration raid underscores the inherent tension in President Trump's goals, Axios' Joann Muller writes. The administration's fundamental economic policy is that companies should build factories in America. ? It's particularly keen on automakers expanding U.S. production. ? But you can't build factories if the workers get arrested. ? Catch up quick: Several hundred workers at Hyundai's joint battery plant with LG Energy Solution and others in Ellabell, Ga., near Savannah, were arrested yesterday morning by DHS. ⏸️ Hyundai and the joint venture say they're cooperating with law enforcement, and construction has been paused. It's believed many of those arrested were South Koreans on temporary assignment in the U.S. to set up the plant. The U.S. government is pressuring companies to hire locals, but South Korean companies say they can't find the right workers here. ?? "Any foreign workers brought in for specific projects must enter the United States legally and with proper work authorizations," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson tells Axios. ?? "The rights of our citizens must not be unfairly infringed upon," South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Go deeper.

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Trump Ordered SEALs Into Disastrous Mission on North Korean Soil

An explosive new report details a botched covert operation that resulted in local civilians being gunned down.

A Donald Trump-approved plan to send Navy SEALs into North Korea to spy on leader Kim Jong Un led to civilians being killed by U.S. forces, according to a bombshell report.

The mission, carried out in early 2019 during Trump’s first term, tasked SEAL Team 6’s Red Squadron with sneaking onto the shores of the reclusive state via mini-subs to plant an electronic device that would allow the U.S. to intercept Kim’s communications, The New York Times reported.

But as the SEALs were on the shore, they spotted a small boat, with one person entering the water. Believing the boat could be North Korea’s security force, the U.S. team opened fire, killing two or three people in a hail of gunfire.

When the SEALs approached to confirm the kills, they discovered the men were civilians who had simply been fishing for shellfish, the Times reported. Realizing their mistake, members of the Red Squadron—the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011—pulled the bodies from the water so they would not be discovered by North Korean authorities.

One official familiar with the mission told the Times the SEALs even punctured the fishermen’s lungs to ensure the corpses would sink.

North Korea has never publicly acknowledged the deaths, and U.S. officials remain unsure whether the regime ever learned what happened six years ago, according to the report.

The Times noted that several factors may have contributed to the deadly mistake. Communications were blocked as the SEALs approached the shoreline, meaning they had no way of detecting people nearby until arrival. The could not use overhead drones as usual to scan the area, and instead relied on satellites and high-altitude spy planes to send images, but those could not be relayed in real time.

The blackout also prevented SEALs on the ground from contacting the mission commander, who remained aboard a larger submarine miles away. The SEALs’ night-vision goggles were also designed to detect heat, meaning they wouldn’t have spotted the fishermen, as their wetsuits worn during their shellfish dive had been chilled by the icy seawater.

According to the Times, before the SEALs entered the no-communications zone, Trump had to personally give the final go-ahead for the mission.

The botched operation was subjected to a series of military reviews during Trump’s first term. Investigators concluded it was justified under the rules of engagement and declared that the deaths were part of a chain of “unfortunate occurrences” that could not have been foreseen or avoided, according to the Times. The findings were then classified and never made public.

Several of those involved in the failed mission were later promoted.

Matthew Waxman, a law professor at Columbia University who previously served in national security roles under President George W. Bush, suggested that the Trump administration may have violated federal law by failing to disclose details of the North Korea mission to key congressional committees.

“The point is to ensure that Congress isn’t kept in the dark when major stuff is going on,” Waxman told the Times. “This is exactly the kind of thing that would normally be briefed to the committees and something the committees would expect to be told about.”

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and the Pentagon for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-ordered-seals-into-disastrous-mission-on-north-korean-soil/?

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Trump’s GOP Nemesis Says Cover-Up Helps Party Donors in Epstein’s Little Black Book

Thomas Massie says Trump’s Justice Department is shielding allies from exposure in the Epstein files.

Republican Sen. Thomas Massie accused Donald Trump’s administration of suppressing Epstein records to shield GOP megadonors he alleges are in the files.

As pro-Trump money floods Kentucky to unseat him, Massie named financier John Paulson as being “in Epstein’s black book,” using an interview on Newsmax to allege a broader effort to keep high-rollers from embarrassment.

Massie said he was only saying Paulson’s name is in the files, not that he had committed any crime.

The Epstein files are the heart of a MAGA conspiracy that Jeffrey Epstein was killed, despite all official probes showing he died by suicide, to protect high-profile accomplices. Efforts by the Trump administration to delay or stop the release of files have now angered his base.

Massie, speaking to Prem Thakker on Zeteo, said Paulson, Paul Singer, and Miriam Adelson were “running $2 million in ads against me.”

FEC data shows a Trump-tied super PAC in Kentucky, “MAGA KY,” reported $2 million in initial receipts at launch in late June.

Massie says this is from the three billionaires, who are bankrolling the advert blitz against him.

Massie—who is attempting to bring a discharge petition to have all files related to the late pedophile financier—has previously accused all three of trying to oust him from his seat.

Pressed on Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt Tonight, Massie argued the government is curating and redacting the “Epstein Files” to protect the well-connected.

“My bill has exceptions for victims’ identifiable information, but it doesn’t allow [DOJ] to redact things that they think might be embarrassing to billionaire donors.”

He added that flight logs provided to Congress were “all… redacted.”

Discussing who he alleged to be behind the negative ad campaign, Massie told Thaker, “It’s three billionaires, two hedge fund managers, one of them is in Epstein’s black book,” naming Paulson, Singer, and Adelson. “Those are max donors to the Speaker… NRCC… RNC… Trump’s campaign.”

While Massie stated there was no suggestion that Paulson had done anything illegal or improper, Paulson—who hosted Trump’s record-setting $50.5 million Palm Beach fundraiser on Apr. 6, 2024—flatly denies any connection to Epstein whatsoever.

He says he never socialized with Epstein, never visited his properties, and was never on his plane. “If John Paulson is in Epstein’s black book, it’s news to him… This is a weak attempt to imply a relationship… that never existed,” a spokesperson told Newsmax in response to Massie’s claim.

Massie says the only way to end the speculation is full disclosure of the files—without carve-outs for embarrassment.

The clash came as Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna push the “Epstein Files Transparency Act.” Khanna told Democracy Now! they had 216 signatures and were courting a handful of Republicans to clear the 218 threshold.

Trump, who has publicly derided Massie and vowed to “lead the charge” against him, has aligned political allies and outside groups against the libertarian-leaning congressman, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Daily Beast has contacted representatives for John Paulson, Paul Singer, Miriam Adelson, and the White House for comment.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-gop-nemesis-says-cover-up-helps-party-donors-in-epsteins-little-black-book/?

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Trump Suffers Jobs Numbers Disaster After Firing Stats Chief

Revised data shows a net loss of jobs in June.

Donald Trump’s contentious decision to fire the U.S. statistics chief has done little to stem an economic slump, with the latest jobs report showing only 22,000 jobs were added in August - well below expectations.

One month after Trump sacked the Bureau of Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer in response to weak job numbers, the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 per cent, the highest since 2021.

Revised data also showed employers cut 13,000 jobs in June, the first time that has happened since the pandemic effectively stalled the economy in December 2020.

“The jobs market is cracking,” analyst Saira Malik, chief investment officer of Nuveen, said on CNBC’s Squawk Box.

The numbers released on Friday mark the first such release since a dismal jobs report last month prompted Trump to fire McEntarfer, the bureaucrat in charge of them, and claim the data was politically manipulated.

He then nominated Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni, a Project 2025 architect and fan of Nazi battleships, as her potential replacement.

But, in a silver lining for the President, the downturn could mean he may soon get his wish for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates after months of pressure on central bank chairman Jerome Powell.

“This underlines growing risks in the labor market and injects fresh urgency into discussions over monetary policy direction,” Vervent chief executive David Johnson said in response to the data.

The figures are the latest snapshot of the US economy under Trump’s aggressive trade agenda.

They come after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick predicted, less than an hour before Friday’s data was released, that the report would be more accurate as a result of Trump’s decision to remove the bureau’s statistics chief last month.

“I think they’ll get better,” he told CNBC when asked whether people should believe the numbers were accurate.

Trump, however, sought to lower expectations on Thursday night, telling reporters at the White House: “They come out tomorrow, but the real numbers that I’m talking about are going to be whatever it is, but will be in a year from now on.”

On Friday, his press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president had created more than half a million private sector jobs for American-born workers, re-shored manufacturing and implemented “the most aggressive pro-growth agenda in our country’s history.”

But she blamed Powell for holding them back, saying in a statement: “It’s time for the Fed to finally do the right thing on behalf of the American people and cut interest rates.”

According to the latest report, the number of Americans who have been out of work for more than six months has been steadily rising in recent months and hit 1.9 million in August.

Government bond yields, which underpin borrowing rates for companies and consumers, have continued to drop, and almost every industry apart from health care lost jobs.

Among them were manufacturing, construction and the federal government.

The figures undercut Trump’s ongoing claims about the economy booming.

“One year ago our country was a dead country, now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world,” he said earlier this week.

Economists and analysts have also attributed some of the softness to the impact of his tariff policies and trade wars, which have caused uncertainty for many businesses and consumers.

“August’s employment report confirmed that the labor market has headed off a cliff-edge,” Bradley Saunders, North America economist at Capital Economics, said in a Friday research report.

Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, acknowledged the results were a “disappointing” readout.

Still, he argued that the economy was otherwise healthy, particularly in attracting more private investment.

“We expect this number will be revised up, that’s been the pattern over and over,” he said, speaking to Fox News about the August figures.

“If that happens then it will be consistent with all of the other indicators we’re seeing: industrial production is at an all time high, capital spending is up... there are a lot of real positive things to see.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-suffers-jobs-numbers-disaster-after-firing-stats-chief/?

ps:I guess that didn't help!!!!

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A Skeleton Crew

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The best line of Donald Trump’s three-hour-plus Cabinet meeting last week came not from the president but from Marco Rubio.

“Personally, this is the most meaningful Labor Day of my life, as someone who has four jobs,” said Rubio, who was serving as secretary of state, acting national security adviser, acting archivist of the United States, and acting administrator of USAID. (He’s since handed the latter to Russell Vought, who now also has three titles.) Three of these roles are subject to Senate confirmation; Rubio has been confirmed, and for that matter nominated, only as secretary of state. Trump has not put any nominee forward for the other two positions.

From top roles on down, the Trump administration continues to struggle to find people who can and will fill jobs, leaving the president to rely on a small circle of advisers, each playing multiple roles. The result is short-staffing and conflicts of interest that help explain why the executive branch has been bad at accomplishing not only its statutory responsibilities but also some of its political goals.

Consider Stephen Miran, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Trump has nominated him to fill a recently vacated seat on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors. Miran told senators during a hearing yesterday that if he is confirmed, he will not resign from the CEA.

“I have received advice from counsel that what is required is an unpaid leave of absence from the Council of Economic Advisers,” Miran said. “And so, considering the term for which I’m being nominated is a little bit more than four months, that is what I will be taking.” (Miran said that if confirmed to a full term, he would resign.)

In other words, Miran would be simultaneously serving (albeit without pay) a president who has demanded that the Fed lower interest rates and sitting on the ostensibly independent board that sets interest rates. Conflicts of interest aren’t usually quite so obvious. The claim that an attorney advised Miran that his approach is fine is not encouraging: This administration seems to be able to get a lawyer to sign off on practically any arrangement. That doesn’t mean the public should accept it. But don’t worry—Miran demurred when a senator asked if he was Trump’s “puppet.”

Somehow, this is not the most disturbing case. Emil Bove, Trump’s former personal lawyer and a top Justice Department official, was narrowly confirmed as a federal appeals judge in July. But between that vote and taking his spot on the bench, Bove continued to work at the Justice Department, reportedly attending both internal meetings and a public event—a highly unusual arrangement. Once again, this didn’t appear to be an explicit violation of the judiciary’s rules, because he hadn’t yet been sworn in; nevertheless, he risked working on issues that could come before him in court. It doesn’t take a law degree to see why this arrangement looks bad, especially at a moment when faith in the courts as a check on the executive branch is in question.

“Socializing with Trump is fine. Advising Trump is not fine. Putting himself physically in a place where it looks like he is identifying with the president’s political agenda is not fine,” the legal ethicist Stephen Gillers told The New York Times. Then again, Bove has never seemed all that concerned about appearing to be anything other than a Trump sycophant. During his confirmation process, he refused to say whether a third presidential term was permitted, despite the clear language of the Constitution, and accounts from several whistleblowers contradict statements he made in his confirmation hearing, which suggests that he may have lied to senators. (He denies this.)

I first wrote about Trump’s use of dual-hatting, which is the term for one person filling multiple jobs, back in May. At the time, the possibility existed that this was a temporary state of affairs. Now it’s starting to look more permanent. Despite a focus on identifying qualified nominees, a key point in Project 2025, Trump’s pace of confirmations for top jobs is roughly the same as it was in his first, shambolic term. This comes even though Republicans control the Senate and have not voted down any nominees. Democrats have tried to slow down various appointments, and the GOP is considering the “nuclear option” to circumvent Democrats’ efforts, but they can’t confirm someone who hasn’t even been nominated, as is the case for nearly 300 roles.

Jobs that don’t have a person devoted to the work full-time are bad for effective governing. For example, the Department of Homeland Security recently told the nonprofit watchdog American Oversight that since early April, it has not been saving text messages exchanged by top officials, as required by law. (DHS later told the Times that it does preserve texts but did not explain why it had previously denied American Oversight’s requests for them.) Responsibility for collecting public records and enforcing laws falls on the National Archives, which Rubio now runs, but he seems unlikely to crack down on DHS, even if he had the time to concentrate on the matter.

An ideological case for failing to appoint individuals for each opening is more plausible: Traditional conservatives who prefer that government do less might cheer this. But as I wrote last week, Trump is attempting to establish an extremely intrusive government that flexes its muscles in nearly every area of American life. That’s hard to do with a skeleton crew, and it sometimes means staffers trying to do things that they don’t really have the authority to do.

Or, in other cases, the expertise. This week, the Department of, uh, War reportedly approved plans to detail as many as 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges. A shortage of immigration judges is a real problem that has dogged the U.S. government for years. A person who comes to the United States and requests asylum may wait for years before they receive a hearing or an interview. Some of those people will be accepted, but some will not, and the prospect of spending years in the U.S. while waiting is understandably attractive for migrants.

That doesn’t mean military lawyers are a good solution, and not simply because the Pentagon seems to have its hands full of tricky legal situations, including the soft launch of martial law in American cities and what look like extrajudicial murders of suspected drug smugglers (the administration has said that it acted lawfully, but it hasn’t offered a detailed explanation). Immigration law is notoriously complex. Bringing in military lawyers “makes as much sense as having a cardiologist do a hip replacement,” Ben Johnson, the head of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told the Associated Press.

This is the latest instance of Trump turning to the armed forces to do things for which they aren’t trained or prepared. A militarized society isn’t merely a threat to the Constitution and freedom; it’s also unlikely to work very well. Nor is a Federal Reserve that’s a subsidiary of the White House, or a federal bench that is a wing of the Department of Justice, which itself appears to be an appendage of Trump’s personal legal team. These moves have the same ultimate effect as Trump’s efforts to steamroll the judiciary and seize powers from Congress: They create a president who is worse-informed, worse-advised, and ever more powerful.

Related:

• The mad dual-hatter
• Emil Bove is a sign of the times.

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? Trump makeovers

With a dinner for GOP lawmakers, President Trump last night inaugurated the Rose Garden Club — his Mar-a-Lago-esque dining patio in the newly paved Rose Garden.

• The president held a microphone as he addressed about 100 people — mostly House Republicans, along with some GOP senators, AP reports.

"We call it the Rose Garden Club," Trump said. "And it's a club for senators, for congresspeople and for people in Washington — and, frankly, people that can bring peace and success to our country."

New signs at the Pentagon proclaim Pete Hegseth "Secretary of War" yesterday, as Trump ordered the Department of Defense to be renamed the Department of War — reverting to a title it held since 1949 (76 years ago).

• Officials made the change after World War II to emphasize preventing conflict.

"I think it sends a message of victory ... a message of strength," Trump said.

• The executive order restores "Department of War" as a "secondary title for the Department of Defense." (Congress would have to formally authorize a new name.)

It's Trump's 200th executive order in his 229 days in office.

• Executive Order ... History of the name.

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Trump morphs military

The USS Sampson docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City on Sept. 2. Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images Deadly airstrikes and military buildups Americans usually associate with faraway wars are creeping closer to home, as the Trump administration amasses power on the southern border and in the Caribbean. Why it matters: When, where and how the U.S. military is applied is morphing under Trump 2.0, Axios' Colin Demarest reports. ? In the past few days alone: Vice President Vance said on X: "Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth likened drug-runners to al-Qaeda, after President Trump disclosed the killing of 11 people aboard a boat in international waters. (Both shared footage of the attack on social media; a subsequent congressional briefing was canceled.) The Army said it would refresh its presence at the U.S.-Mexico border with troops from the 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain divisions, among others. ? Zoom in: The Indo-Pacific, Europe and Middle East have for decades dominated headlines. But new emphasis on the Western hemisphere has elevated the profile of Northern and Southern commands, which oversee a combined area stretching from Alaska to Chile to Greenland. Congress hasn't authorized war with cartels and gangs like Tren de Aragua. Smugglers are typically seen as criminals, not combatants, and they are often captured, not bombed. Keep reading.

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?? Tougher citizenship test

An immigrant studies to take a U.S. citizenship exam on March 29 in Connecticut. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images The Trump administration is planning to make the test to become a U.S. citizen more difficult, possibly with an essay requirement that would help give officials wide discretion on which immigrants are approved, Axios' Brittany Gibson reports. Why it matters: As President Trump pushes for mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants, his team also wants to narrow pathways to legal immigration — a plan that's already drawing criticism from immigration advocates. ? Zoom in: The essay plan is emerging days after administration officials said they would apply increased scrutiny on whether citizenship applicants meet a standard for "good moral character." Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said the current citizenship exam is too easy to pass. "Ultimately, what I'd like to see is moving to a standardized test where an applicant goes beforehand to a testing center, answers the questions, we'll get a sense of whether they understand what's going on," he said, as opposed to the current 10-question civics test. Edlow also envisions an essay question on a subject such as, "What does it mean to be an American?" or "Who was your favorite founding father?" — "or something that is going to really show an attachment to the Constitution." Read on.

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? Trump's "Chipocalypse"

Via Truth Social

President Trump threatened to unleash "the Department of WAR" on Chicago in a Truth Social post yesterday, evoking the film "Apocalypse Now." Why it matters: Language that seemingly threatens to wage war on an American city is a significant escalation from Trump who has already deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufmann writes. The post comes as immigration enforcement operations are set to ramp up in Chicago this weekend. 300 federal agents are using the nearby Great Lakes Naval Station as the logistical hub for the expanded operations. Protesters blocked an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center on Friday. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are urging demonstrators to avoid violent confrontations that could give the president a reason to bring in the National Guard.   Trump threatens Chicago with apocalyptic force and Pritzker calls him a ‘wannabe dictator’ President Donald Trump on Saturday amplified his promises to send National Guard troops and immigration agents to Chicago by posting a parody image from “Apocalypse Now” featuring a ball of flames as helicopters zoom over the nation’s third-largest city. In response to the post, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, called Trump a “wannabe dictator.” Read more.

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Trump administration says Kilmar Abrego Garcia is ineligible for asylum

The Trump administration is fighting Kilmar Abrego Garcia ‘s bid to apply for asylum in the United States, arguing that he’s ineligible as a member of the MS-13 gang.

https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-asylum-trump-administration-court-5f2d18021fa6d8869c0327cfae9d4d87?

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Stabbing video fuels MAGA's crime message

MAGA influencers are drawing repeated attention to violent attacks to elevate the issue of urban crime — and accuse mainstream media of under-covering shocking cases, Axios' Marc Caputo writes.

• Newly released video of the fatal Aug. 22 knife attack on 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a light-rail car in Charlotte, N.C., dominated weekend conversation on Trump-friendly social media.

?️ The big picture: The rising number of surveillance cameras in public spaces, including on Charlotte's light rail, has become a big accelerant in these cases.

• The video is easily shared or leaked, and can instantly pollinate across social media — a visual counterpoint to statistics showing crime decreases.

President Trump has seen the Charlotte video "and is going to be weighing in," a presidential adviser told Axios.

• The adviser said: "This is exactly what he's talking about, and it's going to be an issue he's going to highlight. This is not just about North Carolina. Other campaigns will deal with this."

Elon Musk repeatedly posted about the Charlotte case this weekend for his 225 million X followers.

• Also commenting on X: White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Trump confidant Charlie Kirk, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
• North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley — a former chair of the national GOP — invoked the case to accuse his Democratic opponent, Gov. Roy Cooper, of being soft on crime.

Zarutska recently arrived in Charlotte from Ukraine to escape the war there, The Charlotte Observer reports.

• The suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was charged with first-degree murder. His criminal record includes charges of armed robbery, felony larceny, breaking and entering, and shoplifting, according to jail records cited by WBTV.
• Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, in an interview with Axios Charlotte last week, didn't comment directly on the case but acknowledged the limitations and complexities of holding defendants with mental health issues accountable.

? Between the lines: Influential conservative social media accounts accused major national news outlets of not covering the racial dynamics of the Charlotte killing — a white victim and a Black suspect — with the same intensity as they did in the case of Daniel Penny.

• Penny, who is white, choked to death a homeless Black man who was threatening passengers on a subway car in Manhattan in 2023. A jury acquitted Penny.

Reality check: As Republicans have consistently highlighted crime, Democrats have accurately pointed out that violent crime rates have been decreasing since pre-pandemic highs.

? What's next: Trump won't just discuss this case once, his team says. He's going to keep highlighting crime because it's important to him — and he believes it moves voters as the GOP tries to keep control of Congress in next year's midterms.

• "Crime is not a data thing — it's a feeling thing," the Trump adviser said. "It's not about whether you're a victim. It's about whether you feel you're a victim or not."

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?? Trump's new Gaza push

Via Truth Social White House envoy Steve Witkoff sent a new proposal last week to Hamas for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal through an Israeli peace activist, sources told Axios' Barak Ravid. Why it matters: The new U.S. proposal aims to find a diplomatic solution ahead of the massive offensive Israel is planning to launch to occupy Gaza City. President Trump said yesterday the U.S. is "in deep negotiations with Hamas" on a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. He stressed the U.S. message to Hamas is: "If you immediately release the hostages, good things are going to happen, but if you don't — it is going to be tough and nasty for you." ? Between the lines: Trump's comments came as the Israeli military began flattening high-rise buildings in Gaza City that it claims are used by Hamas for military purposes. It marked the first major phase in Israel's new offensive to occupy Gaza City, which the government says is aimed at rooting out Hamas. The operation — backed by Trump — is expected to escalate quickly. Keep reading. ps:How long have we heard this story? Hamas has agreed to our terms, or Israel has agreed to our terms, etc., etc.!!!!! And how many times have we heard "If you immediately release the hostages, good things are going to happen, but if you don't — it is going to be tough and nasty for you."

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Feds dismantle 44-year-old vigil

Philipos Melaku-Bello flashes the V sign during the peace vigil in Lafayette Park across from the White House on Sunday. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP Federal law enforcement agents took down a four-decade-old peace vigil — considered to be the longest continuous anti-war protest in U.S. history — outside the White House yesterday, The Washington Post reports (gift link). The peace vigil, "a call for nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflict," has stood in Lafayette Square, just across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, since 1981 — 44 years ago. On Friday, Brian Glenn — a correspondent for the conservative network Real America's Voice — told President Trump the blue tent was an "eyesore." Trump responded: "Take it down. Take it down today. Right now." A group of activists helped Philipos Melaku-Bello, the vigil's steward, rebuild the site. Keep reading.

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The White House’s review of Smithsonian content could reach into classrooms nationwide Far beyond museums in Washington, Trump’s review at the Smithsonian could influence how history is taught in classrooms around the United States. The institution is a leading provider of curriculum and other educational materials, which are subject to the sweeping new assessment of all its public-facing content. Read more.

Why this matters: Trump is moving to bring the Smithsonian into alignment with his vision of American history. In a letter last month to the Smithsonian Institution, the White House said its review is meant to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.” It is part of Trump’s agenda to “celebrate American exceptionalism” by removing “divisive or partisan narratives,” the administration said. Those opposed to the changes fear they will promote a more sanitized version of U.S. history.   More than 80% of history teachers report using free resources from federal museums, archives and institutions including the Smithsonian, according to an American Historical Association survey last year. The federal institutions’ materials have been widely trusted partly because they are thoroughly examined by professionals, said Brendan Gillis, the historical association’s director of teaching and learning.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Girls fell behind boys in math during the pandemic. Schools are trying to make up lost ground   Mississippi universities halt funding for student groups, citing DEI law   These neurodivergent students are helping each other build more inclusive schools ps:The stupidity of this man is just astounding!! So now he's going to tell us his version of history??