I went live on MS NOW from Ankara, Turkey to talk about the end of the ceasefire with Iran and what it might mean m.youtube.com/watch?v=UcUx...
Trump says ceasefire is 'OVER', U.S. launches strikes on Iran
YouTube video by MS NOW
m.youtube.com
Paul McLeary
@paulmcleary.bsky.social
National security reporter for Politico, Buffalo sports fan despite all of it.
Our wrap up story from the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump announced the Iran ceasefire is over www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
Europe prepares to go it alone as Trump returns to war in Iran
The president’s comments that the U.S. ceasefire with Iran had ended only cemented the sense among NATO members that they can no longer rely on America.
politico.com
NEW: Czechia is on track to slash its core defense spending to below 2 percent of GDP this year, setting it on a collision course with U.S. President Donald Trump — and the country’s NATO allies. w/ @paulmcleary.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
NATO’s next villain: Czechia
Prague is on track to spend less than 2 percent of its GDP on defense, setting it on a collision course with the U.S. and other NATO allies.
politico.eu
It’s a busy Friday with @waytooearly.bsky.social after an extremely busy week— ☀️ Nnamdi Egwuonwu ☕️ @lbarronlopez.bsky.social ⛅️ Moses Small 🌞 Rep. Jennifer McClellan 🥐 @paulmcleary.bsky.social 🌅 @mpolymer1.bsky.social If you’re up with us, email waytooearly@ms.now with why. #waytooearly
"South Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear submarine capability reflects Seoul’s jitters over China’s increasingly aggressive military footprint in the Indo-Pacific as well as alarm about a growing threat from North Korea" w/ @paulmcleary.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Trump will arm South Korea with a nuclear submarine
South Korea’s nuclear submarine development plans reflect Seoul’s concerns about potential Chinese and North Korean aggression.
politico.com
Trump today told several hundred generals that American cities should be “training grounds,” calling on the military leaders to “handle” the “enemy from within…before it gets out of control.” The president's comments can often be viewed as orders. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Hegseth uses rare meeting of generals to announce new military standards
He warned commanders who don’t support the changes could leave the service.
politico.com
It’s Tuesday w/ @waytooearly.bsky.social and unless something major changes, the government will shut down at midnight. That & more, with… ☀️ @jonallendc.bsky.social ☕️ @mpolymer1.bsky.social 🌅 @paulmcleary.bsky.social Email why you’re up with us to WayTooEarly@msnbc.com #waytooearly
Per the White House - legally it is still the Department of Defense. The Department of War is a "secondary title." So, it's a nickname.
Despite crime in DC being at a 30 year low, Trump orders 800 National Guard troops to the capital www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Trump will send National Guard into Washington
About 800 troops will assist local law enforcement amid the president’s pledge to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital.
politico.com
NEW: Army says that of the 800 National Guard soldiers activated, "100-200 Soldiers will be supporting law enforcement at any given time. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement."
Confirmed that USS Nimitz left the South China Sea and is heading for the Middle East - making TWO U.S. carrier strike groups there once it joins the USS Vinson. Also, a wave of US refueling aircraft just left for Europe. Lots of hardware moving. www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
US builds up military presence in Middle East
The Pentagon is routing another aircraft carrier to the region and sending additional aircraft to Europe as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.
politico.com
The US is "using its air defenses in the region" to assist Israel in engaging Iranian missiles targeting Israel, per US defense official. www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
US moves warships closer to Israel
The move comes as Israel braces for a retaliatory attack from Iran.
politico.com
A must-read deep dive into the chaos inside the highest offices inside the Pentagon: www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
The vicious rivalries tearing apart Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon
A feud between the secretary's advisers and his chief of staff created backbiting and distrust that has erupted into the open.
politico.com
The Pentagon is in "total chaos" and Pete Hegseth is unlikely to remain in his role, according to its former top spokesperson, who painted a scene of dysfunction, backstabbing and missteps at the highest levels of the department. "The building is in disarray." www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
Former Pentagon official warns department's dysfunction could topple Hegseth
“The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon,” John Ullyot, the former top Defense Department spokesperson, wrote in a POLITICO Magazine opinion piece.
politico.com
BREAKING: The DC Circuit has *rejected* DOJ's effort to lift Judge Boasberg's block on Alien Enemies Act deportations. Ruling is 2-1, with Judge Walker dissenting. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is spiraling through yet another overseas trip eclipsed by a controversy largely of his own doing. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Hegseth slips up during an international trip — again
Every international trip the Pentagon chief has taken has been clouded by controversy.
politico.com
“The information that you have fighter aircraft launching off of an aircraft carrier, flying over enemy territory and impending combat operation is the most sensitive information we have” said Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
‘It is highly classified’: Hegseth leaked sensitive attack details, former officials say
Hegseth and the White House have denied sharing classified information or war plans.
politico.com
Elon Musk Musk was briefed on China by Indo-Pacom chief Adm. Samuel Paparo and SecDef Pete Hegseth this morning, showing "the extraordinary level of access Musk, a defense contractor with billions of dollars in government contracts, holds over the administration." www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Musk won’t hear classified war plans in Pentagon visit
A meeting about China’s threat with the Defense Secretary and a U.S. commander in the Indo-Pacific, even if unclassified, shows the billionaire’s extraordinary level of access.
politico.com
SCOOP: The Trump team is taking a hatchet to the State Department's annual — and world-renowned — human rights report. www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Trump drastically cutting back annual human rights report
Sections on women’s rights and the security of LGBTQ+ people are among those being axed.
politico.com
The @DeptofDefense appears to have shuttered its @DoDMinerva research program, which funded studies designed to help policymakers in the military. The Web site is down, and several academics tell me they received project termination letters. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Pentagon announces DOGE cuts, but won’t say what they are
subscriber.politicopro.com
The first big challenge for Donald Trump’s top military adviser pick isn’t the Ukraine-Russia war or even his lack of qualifications. It’s the legend about a red MAGA hat. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
MAGA hat drama could taint Trump’s top military adviser pick
The president said Dan Caine once offered to kill for him and slapped a signature red hat on his head, a violation of military rules.
politico.com
Trump and his defense secretary today said they're looking to relieve any military officer or civilian involved in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Trump signals more firings of military leaders
Senior officers involved in the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan are “going to be largely gone,” he said.
politico.com
Last year, now-SecDef Hegseth wrote “should we follow the Geneva conventions ... Aren’t we just better off in winning our wars according to our own rules?” And now he fired the Pentagons top military legal advisors www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
'Roadblocks' or supports? Military lawyers question Hegseth’s firings.
The Pentagon chief said he doesn’t want lawyers who are “roadblocks” to decisions he or military commanders make.
politico.com
Pete Hegseth’s firing of top Pentagon legal staff has alarmed military lawyers: “It will keep the lawyer out of the rooms where the decisions are made.” www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
'Roadblocks' or supports? Military lawyers question Hegseth’s firings.
The Pentagon chief said he doesn’t want lawyers who are “roadblocks” to decisions he or military commanders make.
politico.com
Don't let this slip by: Trump is also firing the senior judicial officers for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. They're the services' top lawyers.
WIPED OUT: Trump gutted the Joint Chiefs Friday night, firing Chairman Gen. CQ Brown - while he was visiting troops in Texas - and SecDef Hegseth said he will also replace Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti and UASF vice chief Gen. James Slife.
NEW: Pentagon says it is firing 5,400 civilians next week as part of an effort to cull up to 8% of the civilian workforce, while implementing a hiring freeze. 46% of DoD civilians are veterans. @politico.com www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Pentagon prepares to fire thousands of civilian employees in dramatic culling
The Department of Defense is preparing to eliminate 8 percent of its civilian workforce
politico.com
BREAKING: The Pentagon is planning to fire 5,400 civilian employees starting next week as it prepares to eliminate 8 percent of its civilian workforce, the department announced Friday www.politico.com/news/2025/02... @paulmcleary.bsky.social
Pentagon prepares to fire thousands of civilian employees in dramatic culling
The Department of Defense is preparing to eliminate 8 percent of its civilian workforce
politico.com
NEW: Half of all U.S. military flights transporting detained migrants out of the country have gone to Guantanamo Bay over the past month, officials told me. In total, 14 of 28 total flights have brought about 100 detainees to the base. @politico
NEW: Army Green Berets have been sent to Mexico to train Mexican Marines, a move which somes as US designated Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations which Musk says, “means they’re eligible for drone strikes.” www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Four ways of looking at Trump’s Ukraine tirade
We’re watching all four to see how they can influence the coming negotiations.
politico.com