A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.
These People Deserve Each Other
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent got into a heated confrontation with Federal Housing Finance Agency chief Bill Pulte last week at the Executive Branch, the MAGA-chic private club in D.C., Politico reports.
Bessent accused Pulte, the MAGA influencer ginning up mortgage fraud claims against Trump foes, of bad-mouthing him to Trump, leading to this diatribe from the sitting Treasury secretary: “Why the fuck are you talking to the president about me? Fuck you. I’m gonna punch you in your fucking face.”
Co-owner Omeed Malik attempted to intervene in the confrontation, prompting this memorable exchange:
“It’s either me or him,” Bessent said to Malik. “You tell me who’s getting the fuck out of here.”
“Or,” he added, “we could go outside.”
“To do what?” asked Pulte. “To talk?”
“No,” Bessent replied. “I’m going to fucking beat your ass.”
Even Trump-world insiders described the scene to Politico as “bonkers” and “unhinged.”
Not Normal
The signature piece of propaganda over the weekend, posted by President Trump on his social media platform:
Quote of the Day
“We’re going to go on offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We’re going to raise up warriors, not just defenders.”–Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at President Trump’s Oval Office signing of an executive order making the Department of War a “secondary title” for the Department of Defense
Capitulation I: Service Academy Speakers Censored
- USAF Academy: Air Force Academy officials have canceled an upcoming annual lecture by University of Utah professor Paisley Rekdal after discovering her online history of disparaging President Trump, the Denver Gazette reports.
- U.S. Military Academy: An alumni group at West Point canceled an award ceremony for actor Tom Hanks scheduled for later this month. It’s not clear if the award for Hanks, which was announced in June, has been revoked. “[T]he planned celebration appears to have run headlong into Trump-era politics,” the WaPo reports. In addition to being a big backer of a number of military and veterans causes, Hanks has been a public supporter of Joe Biden and was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. While no reason was given for the cancellation, President Trump have away the game:
Capitulation II: CBS News Surrenders Editorial Control
Under absurd pressure from the Trump administration, CBS News will no longer edit pre-recorded interviews for Face the Nation.
Thread of the Day
Abrego Garcia Targeted in New, Cruel Ways
Since we last checked in on the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration has issued new threats to deport him, variously, to El Salvador (again!) and the small African country of Eswatini — all because he dared to challenge the error of his original unlawful deportation to El Salvador.
RFK Jr. Watch:
- KFF Health News: The Trump administration has given notice that political appointees, rather than scientists, will ultimately decide who gets NIH grants.
- WSJ: HHS to Link Autism to Tylenol Use in Pregnancy and Folate Deficiencies
- WaPo: RFK Jr. says anyone who wants a COVID shot can get one. That’s not the case.
The Big Comeback Even Childhood Diseases Didn’t Expect
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