Good morning, everyone. Today is shaping up to be one of the most consequential and chaotic days of the year, and I will be with you every step of the way — covering every minute. This morning, Pete Hegseth delivered a stunning address to military leaders in Quantico, declaring that combat standards would be rolled back to the “highest male standard only.” He added, “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is.” At nearly the same time, Donald Trump confirmed that his meeting with generals and admirals will be nothing short of a loyalty test, saying bluntly that if he doesn’t like someone, “I’ll fire them right on the spot.”
All of this is happening as a government shutdown looms over the country tonight. I’ll be staying up until midnight, and I will confirm the very moment this nation falls into shutdown. This isn’t politics as usual — it is brinkmanship at the highest levels, paired with rhetoric that pushes the boundaries of democratic norms.
Right now, in this moment, we need media that isn’t afraid — media willing to speak truth, without flinching. I will never be afraid. What we are witnessing is the backsliding of American norms, the normalization of authoritarian behavior, and I refuse to stand by silently. I will always share the truth, and nothing but the truth. Subscribe to support this work, because today is proof of why it’s needed.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
Ahead of today’s meeting with top military leaders, Donald Trump confirmed that it will be a loyalty test to him stating: ‘I’ll be meeting with generals and with admirals and with leaders and if I don’t like somebody, I’ll fire them right on the spot.’”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the nation’s top military leaders at an unprecedented gathering in Quantico, Virginia, where Donald Trump also spoke; hundreds of generals and admirals had been summoned on short notice to the Marine Corps Museum without explanation, later learning the meeting would focus on Hegseth’s emphasis on “warrior ethos.” Here are some moments from the speech this morning:Hegseth opened by declaring, “Good morning and welcome to the War Department. Because the era of the Department of Defense is over,” stressing that “those who long for peace must prepare for war.” He argued that pacifism is “naive and dangerous” and warned that if enemies challenge the U.S., “they will be crushed by the violence, precision, and ferocity of the War Department. To our enemies, FAFO.”He condemned what he called the “woke department,” saying the military had promoted leaders based on “race, gender quotas, [and] historic so-called ‘firsts,’” while removing others as “toxic leaders” through psychology assessments. He said, “No more dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship … we are done with that shit.” He insisted that combat standards would return to the “highest male standard only,” adding, “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. If that means no women for some combat jobs, so be it.”Hegseth announced new expectations for professionalism and physical readiness: “No more beardos … if you don’t meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don’t want to shave and look professional, it’s time for a new position.” He promised to overhaul the inspector general and equal opportunity systems, eliminating “frivolous complaints” and “anonymous complainants.” On leadership, he reminded the room, “We all serve at the pleasure of the president — every single day,” and warned that if his words made anyone’s “heart sink,” they should “do the honorable thing and resign.”
Hegseth opened by declaring, “Good morning and welcome to the War Department. Because the era of the Department of Defense is over,” stressing that “those who long for peace must prepare for war.” He argued that pacifism is “naive and dangerous” and warned that if enemies challenge the U.S., “they will be crushed by the violence, precision, and ferocity of the War Department. To our enemies, FAFO.”
He condemned what he called the “woke department,” saying the military had promoted leaders based on “race, gender quotas, [and] historic so-called ‘firsts,’” while removing others as “toxic leaders” through psychology assessments. He said, “No more dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship … we are done with that shit.” He insisted that combat standards would return to the “highest male standard only,” adding, “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. If that means no women for some combat jobs, so be it.”
Hegseth announced new expectations for professionalism and physical readiness: “No more beardos … if you don’t meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don’t want to shave and look professional, it’s time for a new position.” He promised to overhaul the inspector general and equal opportunity systems, eliminating “frivolous complaints” and “anonymous complainants.” On leadership, he reminded the room, “We all serve at the pleasure of the president — every single day,” and warned that if his words made anyone’s “heart sink,” they should “do the honorable thing and resign.”
Top U.S. military leaders, including Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, are voicing alarm over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new Pentagon strategy, which shifts focus from global competition — especially with China — toward domestic homeland threats; the unusual public split has prompted Hegseth to call a rare summit of senior officers in Virginia, highlighting tensions between political appointees and uniformed leadership over the direction of U.S. defense priorities.
The U.S. government is on the brink of its first shutdown since 2019, with funding set to expire Tuesday night after Republicans advanced a stopgap bill extending spending through November 21st that Democrats refuse to support unless it restores cuts and extends subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans, Medicaid, and public media; despite a late meeting hosted by President Trump, both parties remain deadlocked, and polls suggest voters would primarily blame Republicans if agencies close and federal workers are furloughed starting Wednesday.
Just hours after meeting with Democratic leaders at the White House, President Trump inflamed tensions by posting a vulgar AI-generated deepfake mocking Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, escalating the likelihood of a government shutdown as both sides remain deadlocked over healthcare funding; Democrats blasted the video as bigoted and unserious, while Republicans privately warned the stunt could rival the 2018–2019 record shutdown, with the Senate set for a last-ditch vote on competing stopgap bills before the Tuesday midnight deadline.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued Minnesota over its sanctuary city policies, accusing the state of obstructing federal immigration enforcement and releasing “dangerous criminals,” making it the latest Democratic-led jurisdiction targeted in Trump’s mass deportation drive; Minnesota’s major cities now join Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and others already facing lawsuits, as the administration escalates threats to strip funding and prosecute local governments despite recent court rulings blocking such efforts.
The Trump administration announced it will open 13.1 million acres of public land to coal mining and provide $625 million to coal-fired power plants as part of a push to revive the declining coal industry, even as coal’s share of U.S. electricity has fallen from 50% in 2000 to 15% in 2024 and renewables surpassed coal for the first time last year; officials framed the move as vital for national energy security amid rising demand from AI-driven data centers.
Utah governor Spencer Cox urged Americans to “stop shooting each other” after being haunted by video of a sniper killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, telling CBS’s 60 Minutes he isn’t asking for kumbaya but for an end to political violence and warning that framing the nation as being “at war” risks encouraging more shootings.
In a rare moment of U.S.-Iran cooperation, the Trump administration deported 120 Iranians back to Tehran this week as part of its broader immigration crackdown, with reports indicating a chartered flight from Louisiana transited through Qatar; the move follows months of negotiations and comes amid Trump’s push for record deportations despite logistical challenges, with officials saying about 400 Iranians in total are slated for removal, some after detention and some volunteering to return.
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Students at Catholic universities like DePaul are running covert “womb service” networks to distribute contraception and provide sex education after schools banned such access, reflecting wider U.S. battles over reproductive rights and highlighting student activism against institutional and political restrictions.
Jian Guo, a former aide to far-right German lawmaker Maximilian Krah in the European Parliament, was convicted of spying for China between 2019 and 2024, sentenced to nearly five years in prison for passing EU information and monitoring dissidents, amid broader scandals linking AfD figures to Beijing influence.
President Trump and Israeli PM Netanyahu unveiled a Gaza peace plan welcomed by many global leaders but met with skepticism, requiring Hamas to disarm in exchange for ending Israel’s offensive, releasing hostages, and opening a path (though not a guarantee) to Palestinian statehood, while Hamas and critics argue it lacks concrete guarantees for Palestinians.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
