Today’s notice: Lotta knives out for Pete Hegseth, but also, does anyone care about that anymore? USTR has the heart for trade deals, but does it have the bandwidth? Dems advise each other to stop talking about Project 2025. A scoop about wind power research. A deep dive into HHS cuts.
Pete’s Dragons
The question for the Pentagon this week: Are we seeing a redux of nomination announcement Pete Hegseth or confirmation hearing Pete Hegseth?
When Donald Trump selected the Fox News personality to head the Department of Defense, the smart money said the laws of political physics were stronger than Trump’s desires. Defense contractors trashed Hegseth in the press, Republicans in the Senate expressed skepticism and a steady thrum of ugly scandals emerged with each passing day. Alternative names were floated. Hegseth was going to be another Matt Gaetz, a nominee that would prove that even in this D.C. moment, some things a president just cannot get away with.