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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 8h

A person close to the White House: “2026 can’t be about health care” for the GOP.

Trump's off-script comments cause shutdown headaches for GOP

President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are straining to project a united front against Democrats.

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 9h

“Never in modern times has the federal government undermined bedrock constitutional protections on this scale or usurped states’ police power by directing federal agents to carry out an illegal mission against the people for the government’s own benefit.”

Chicago journalists, protesters sue Trump administration, alleging ‘extreme brutality’

The organizations are urging the court to protect the First Amendment rights of protesters to peacefully protest and journalists to “observe, record, and report on the federal agents’ activities and t...

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 1d

From @politico.com's Ankush Khardori: What I Learned By Watching Every Pam Bondi Speech.

What I Learned By Watching Every Pam Bondi Speech

The Trump loyalist is a new kind of attorney general.

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 3d

Really? Just a year ago?

The Woman Who Made Kamala Harris — and Modern America

Shyamala Gopalan’s immigrant story explains the roots of a multiethnic society that has defined the country in the 21st century — and also become a political flash point.

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 6d

Ran five years ago today.

‘Weakness Was the Greatest Sin of All’: How a Lifelong Need to Seem Strong Made Trump Vulnerable

His father’s admonition to be a “killer” became his Achilles’ heel.

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 6d

“The problem is they don’t know what they’re doing when they try to attract attention.”

‘Gen Z Is in the House!’ and Other Cringe Moments in the Democrats’ Shutdown Marathon

Democrats promised to livestream the shutdown battle until (almost) the bitter end. We watched so you didn’t have to.

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 6d

“... he’s showing what an oppositional party leader should do — a lot of fight, a lot of strength — and frankly, the ability to keep Democrats united on the other side of the Capitol,” @corybooker.com tells @politico.com.

‘A lot of fight’: Hakeem Jeffries is determined to make a mark on the shutdown standoff

The House minority leader has made conspicuous moves to make himself a leading foil to Donald Trump.

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 6d

Posting this from the airport.

Congress just created a new reason to worry about air travel

Yet another concern for air safety: the understaffed employees who will work without pay.

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 6d

“There’s a good bit of evidence that Trump is underwater on certain economic issues and underwater with young people,” says @milsingh.bsky.social. “The question is whether those two things are connected. My guess is that they are.”

'Underwater': Young voters, Black Americans sour on Trump as job market struggles

The economy has defied the worst forecasts, but its resilience masks weaknesses that expose elements of his coalition to any slowdown in employment.

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 6d

“I keep telling them: When they have eight or 10 — preferably 10, or more — when they have a critical mass, let me know if there’s a conversation they want to have.”

How John Thune sees the shutdown ending

The Senate majority leader told POLITICO what a Democratic capitulation might look like.

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

Trump Keeps Blurring the Line Between Capitalism and Socialism.

Trump Keeps Blurring the Line Between Capitalism and Socialism

The president’s plans on drug pricing echo themes of Zohran Mamdani, democratic socialist running for mayor of New York.

www.wsj.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

Madison Cawthorn launches comeback bid — in Florida.

Madison Cawthorn launches comeback bid — in Florida

The former member of Congress lost his North Carolina seat in 2022 after a scandal-plagued term.

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

“... it’s dangerous for the civilian leadership to agitate for our military to use our cities as ‘training grounds’ for war,” says @kschake.bsky.social. “And it’s flat-out ridiculous to say that Washington, D.C., is more violent than anything the American military experienced in Afghanistan.”

Hundreds of Generals Try to Keep a Straight Face

Pete Hegseth gathered commanders from around the globe to unveil new physical-fitness standards.

www.theatlantic.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

“Every Democrat, including the squishes, needs to understand that this president is unpopular, becoming more unpopular by the day, and is pushing wildly unpopular proposals. This is not some 800-pound gorilla,” @jamespmanley.bsky.social tells @russellberman.bsky.social.

How Democrats Backed Themselves Into a Shutdown

Democrats surrendered a spending fight in March—and it all but foretold the October shutdown.

www.theatlantic.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

“Pete Hegseth was about 10 years old in 1990,” @mikiesherrill.bsky.social tells @ktumulty.bsky.social. “I was entering the Naval Academy. So he has no idea what was going on. I had a first-hand look at it.”

Analysis | Hegseth wants to return the military to 1990 — a dark time in its history

The early 1990s saw the U.S. Navy rocked by the Tailhook sexual assault scandal, exposing a dark underside of military culture.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

“I mean, first of all, that’s like an insane insult to his senior officers, who all made their bones fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those guys have got a lot more dust on their boots than he does.”

A Novice Defense Secretary Lectures the Brass on What It Takes to Win

www.nytimes.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

“And if you want to do anything you want, you can do anything you want.”

Trump Gave the Military’s Brass a Rehashed Speech. Until Minute 44.

www.nytimes.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

Is MAGA ready for Bad Bunny?

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

Filmmaker @billycorben.bsky.social summed the debate up in four words: “It was a cockfight.”

Corruption, charges and dynasties: Miami’s wild debate

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

I'm told today is National Pumpkin Spice Day.

GREAT PUMPKIN CONSPIRACY GETS HIS GOURD

Pumpkin penetration.

www.tampabay.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

“Inner cities are a big part of war. I will never hesitate to protect our people from the horrible plague that is taking place from within.”

Trump, justifying domestic military action, tells Pentagon leaders to ‘handle’ the ‘enemy from within’

The president suggested “dangerous” American cities should be used as Pentagon “training grounds” during a dark and winding 72-minute speech.

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

“Total waste of money.”

‘Could have been an email’: Officials balk at Hegseth's generals meeting

The last-minute gathering featured hundreds of senior military officials, who swear an oath to the Constitution, attending something more akin to a campaign rally.

www.politico.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 7d

Sigh.

Government shutdown 2025: A guide to what’s still open, what’s closed and what’s fuzzy

While Social Security checks, mail and student loan bills will still be delivered, millions of workers are still set to suffer financial hardship.

www.politico.com

Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 8d

“Can somebody who’s not Donald Trump turn out Donald Trump’s voters? It didn’t happen in 2017 or 2018. Is there something different in 2025? That’s what this election is a test of.”

The Blue State That’s Now a Bellwether

New Jersey is no one’s idea of a swing state. Or is it?

www.theatlantic.com

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Michael Kruse @michaelkruse.bsky.social · 8d

Ran three years ago today.

‘It’s My Curse and My Salvation’: Trump’s Most Famous Chronicler Opens Up

For Maggie Haberman, owning the Trump beat has defined her career for better — and for worse.

www.politico.com

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