Tuesday Update
It’s Tuesday. Hope you’re making the most of your government-funded day, though it feels a bit surreal.
In today’s newsletter:
- Hegseth targets “fat” generals
- Trump advises military leaders to “slack off”
- Congress stalls in preparation for a potential shutdown
- Airlines warn of future flight delays
- Dems take aim at Trump with an AI video
- Taylor Swift’s surprising late-night moment
Insights from Quantico
This morning, I had a chat with a prominent military figure sent to Quantico, Virginia, on short notice. It’s not every day you see military leaders gathering like that.
During a lengthy 70-minute speech, Trump, addressing a mostly silent military audience, touted his successes and took shots at his political rivals. The room felt eerily still—he even remarked on it. When he joked that if anyone disapproved, they could “leave the room,” it brought a nervous laugh. Check out the clip.
One notable part of his talk was his suggestion to treat American cities as “training grounds” for the military, claiming there’s a “war from within” to fight.
Before Trump, Hegseth spoke about cultural issues in the military, emphasizing a need for higher standards, specifically rejecting what he labeled “fat generals.” He was pretty blunt about his views on physical fitness within the ranks.
Standout comments from Trump and Hegseth:
- On military spending in 2026: “A trillion dollars, that’s a lot.” He added a note of sarcasm, hoping they’d appreciate it.
- Trump expressed a desire for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying it’d be unfair if he didn’t win.
- Talking about “two words,” he didn’t elaborate much, just stated they were significant.
- He promised to make the military “stronger” and “faster” in the coming years.
- Trump also took swipes at Biden, particularly criticizing his use of an autopen for signing documents, implying it was disrespectful.
- Hegseth again emphasized his disdain for operational fitness, stating he’s tired of the sight of “fat formations” in military ranks.
Organizing such a gathering of military personnel, especially with little notice, likely drained resources, but Trump called it a “very nice meeting” regarding military effectiveness.
However, as Tom Nichols from the Atlantic pointed out, the security risk of congregating so many leaders is questionable.
Updates from Washington
The Government Shutdown Conversation
It’s that familiar debate again about whether the government will shut down. Lawmakers seem to be playing their usual chicken game, but this time tensions appear higher.
The federal government is edging closer to a shutdown, with negotiations dragging on as Republicans and Democrats remain far apart. The Senate might vote on competing proposals soon, but neither is expected to pass.
The main funding disputes? Republicans want to delay the funding deadline until mid-November, while Democrats want to tie healthcare subsidies to the discussions. The expiring subsidies, set from the pandemic, threaten to raise costs significantly for many people if they lapse.
Recent talks between Trump and Democratic leaders sparked some hope among centrists in the Senate regarding a potential resolution, but prospects look dim.
Another potential impact of a shutdown: U.S. airlines have cautioned about possible flight delays during this period, as essential staff may have to work without pay, just like during the previous shutdown in 2019.
Additionally, after his meeting with Democratic leaders, Trump shared a controversial AI-generated video of them, which stirred anger on the left. Jeffries criticized Trump’s biases, while Schumer accused him of throwing a tantrum. Some Republican senators dismissed the video as a joke.
Other News and Updates
“Trumprx” Initiative
In other news, Pfizer announced it would offer its products in the U.S. at preferred pricing following Trump’s executive order on prescription drug prices. This move aligns with the administration’s effort to lower costs for consumers.
For context, drugmakers must comply with Trump’s order to sell medications at the lowest prices available in developed nations until late September.
Lastly, a few light-hearted distractions: National Hot Mulled Cider Day is today, and Taylor Swift is set to be a featured guest on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” soon. Also, there’s a funny story about a woman pranking her boyfriend with a stone claimed to be a pricey Anthropologie find.
That’s the scoop for now. Stay tuned for more updates.
