Executive Branch
Follow the decisions and debates emerging from the executive branch. Reporting examines presidential actions, federal agencies, appointments, and the policy choices affecting public life and markets.
Bessent Ate A $22.95 Cheeseburger To Prove He Is Not Fancy
The Treasury Secretary went to a chain restaurant, ordered a $22.95 burger, and used lunch to call a former president an elitist.
Katie Zacharia Lasted Five Days. Fox News Was the Last Straw.
Katie Zacharia lasted five days as White House press secretary. She says the interview that ended it was with Sean Hannity, a host she expected to be friendly.
Trump’s Tariff Exemptions Now Have a Name: The Trump Tariff Discount
The average U.S. household is expected to pay $820 more this year because of tariffs, according to the Tax Foundation. That is an estimate, not a bill.
A Judge Said Let Them In. The White House Kept Them Out.
MS NOW, CNN and Politico can walk back into the White House. They still cannot do the job they were sent there to do.
Beef Imports Were Supposed to Cut Grocery Prices. The Cash Hasn’t Shown Up.
President Trump promised 300,000 tons of beef imports at lower tariff rates to ease grocery costs.
Trump’s Oil Holdings Doubled While Gas Prices Stayed High
President Trump’s oil and gas stock holdings nearly doubled in value during a year when Americans were paying more at the pump.
The Plain Dealer Broke Its Own Rule For Amy Acton
The Cleveland Plain Dealer had a rule. It would not endorse candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, or president.
James Comey Is Charged Again, Ten Years After the Alleged Leak
James Comey has been charged by the Justice Department for the third time. The new case concerns events from Oct. 5, 2016, when Comey was FBI director.
A Judge Says the DOJ Fired Maurene Comey Unlawfully
Maurene Comey got her job back, after she had already left it.
Trump Defended the Ad, Then Fox Had to Explain Why People Hated It
Donald Trump defended Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign ad. Minutes later, Fox News host Will Cain was explaining why the same ad had caused outrage.
Trump Calls Reporters Dummies While Access Gets Tighter
The president called one reporter a dummy, another stupid, and a third a sick person. That was in one week.
Trump Says Canada Has No Cards While Tariffs Still Bite
The president says the United States holds “all the cards” in its trade dispute with Canada. The cards have cost both sides money since August.
A White House Called a Reporter a Slur, Then Took Away His Seat
Andrew Feinberg wrote on Thursday that the bullying had not stopped him. The White House had already removed him from an Air Force One press pool assignment.
JD Vance Defended the Ad. That Was the Surprise.
JD Vance did not hedge. He did not call Vivek Ramaswamy’s Ohio attack ad “tough” and leave the rest to the campaign.
Trump Sued the BBC for $10 Billion. Now He Has to Answer Questions.
Donald Trump has been ordered to sit for a deposition in his own $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC by Dec. 11.
Trump Tells a Reporter, “You Better Be Careful”
A president does not usually have to tell a reporter to “be careful.” The words themselves are not the story. The setting is.
Elon Musk Says DOGE Proved Washington Won’t Cut the Deficit
Elon Musk has concluded that DOGE proved Washington will not cut its way out of the deficit.
Trump Says Tariffs Don’t Cause Inflation. The Fed Counts 2.9 Points.
President Donald Trump stood in Montana and said, “We don’t have inflation, and tariffs don’t cause inflation.” The New York Fed has a different arithmetic.
Katie Zacharia Wanted More Camera Time. She Lasted Five Days.
Katie Zacharia asked for morning and evening television appearances while she was still settling into the White House press secretary job.
Social Security’s 2027 Raise Is $75 a Month
The average Social Security retiree will get $75 more each month in 2027. Sen.
Trump Tells His Own Network’s Audience To Watch Someone Else
President Donald Trump has picked a fight with Fox News two weeks before the midterms. He wants the MAGA faithful to change the channel.
Katie Zacharia Lasted Five Days as Press Secretary
Katie Zacharia got the White House press secretary job on a Friday and lost it five days later. That is not a personnel decision.
Katie Zacharia Lasted Five Days, and Trump Suggested She Reconsider
Katie Zacharia was out as White House press secretary after five days.
Katie Zacharia Called Trump Her Husband, Then Left After 14 Minutes
Katie Zacharia called the president her husband at her first White House press briefing.
Katie Zacharia Lasted Five Days as Press Secretary
Katie Zacharia was out as White House press secretary after five days.
Katie Zacharia Got a White House Job by Appearing on Fox News at the Right Time
Katie Zacharia did not lobby for the White House press secretary job, she said. She simply arranged to be on Fox News when President Trump might be watching.
Katie Zacharia Says Nobody Asked About the Bar Exam
Katie Zacharia says Donald Trump never asked whether she passed the bar exam.
Katie Zacharia Lasted Five Days at the Podium
Katie Zacharia is leaving the White House press secretary job after five days.
$740 Million Bought Republicans Very Little
Elon Musk put $276 million into Republican groups since July. Republican groups put more than $740 million into House and Senate races since Labor Day.
Real America’s Voice Cut Off Its Own Rally Interview
The interview was already on the air.
Obama’s Center Cut Benefits. The Workers Remember His Words.
Barack Obama’s Presidential Center is facing backlash after workers said the foundation cut benefits, froze raises, suspended promotions, and reduced paid.
Kamala Harris Says Trump Should Leave If He Wants Secrets
Kamala Harris has a simple test for Donald Trump: if the presidency requires secrecy from the press, leave the White House.
Trump Picks His Scapegoats Before Texas Votes
President Donald Trump has named the people responsible if Ken Paxton loses Texas. They are Sen. John Cornyn and Karl Rove.
Gasoline Did the Damage, and Voters Noticed
The last inflation report before the midterms was not subtle.
Gas Costs $4, Diesel $6, and Washington Calls It Good News
The average gallon of gas now costs more than $4. Diesel costs more than $6.
The White House Is Already Counting Katie Zacharia’s Days
Katie Zacharia had been White House press secretary for one briefing when an unnamed official began measuring her job in days. Not weeks. Not months.
The Press Secretary Says She Passed the Bar in China
Katie Zacharia was asked where she passed the bar exam. She said China.
Katie Zacharia’s First Briefing Lasted 14 Minutes
Katie Zacharia took the White House podium for the first time and left after 14 minutes. She answered questions from three reporters.
Federal Agents Searched Ilhan Omar’s Home 22 Days Before the Election
A sitting member of Congress had her Washington, D.C., home searched by federal agents on Monday morning. Rep. Ilhan Omar has not been charged with a crime.
Katie Zacharia’s Fox News sign-off came before the briefing
Katie Zacharia was named White House Press Secretary, then told a Fox News host she looked forward to working more with him. That is a small exchange.
Katie Zacharia Made the Job About Trump
Katie Zacharia’s first message as press secretary was that the job was not about her. That may be the part worth reading twice.
The DOJ Is Counting the Networks that Went Quiet
Five television networks stopped sharing coverage of President Donald Trump after his administration barred three news outlets from the White House.
Riyadh’s Airport Is Becoming a U.S. Decision
Twelve people were killed and 309 injured at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Now President Donald Trump is weighing whether the U.S.
Trump Let In 661 Million Pounds Of Beef. Nebraska Ranchers Got The Bill.
Beef costs $6.92 a pound. That is the number the White House is trying to beat.
The Justice Department Is Now Investigating ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News
The Justice Department has opened an antitrust investigation into five television networks over their brief decision to stop covering the White House.
Peter Navarro Held a Press Conference and Says Nobody Came
Peter Navarro says he held a press conference about manufacturing data. He says no journalists showed up for the data and nobody asked questions.
Guilfoyle’s $100,000 Story Has a Diplomatic Address
Kimberly Guilfoyle is Trump’s ambassador to Greece.
ABC News Had to Put the Contracts Story Back
ABC News removed its story about Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and government contracts, then put it back with a correction. That is the clearest fact here.
The White House Wants the Tape to Explain It
The White House says the media got President Trump’s words wrong. The words at issue named Los Angeles and San Diego.
Iran Bombs Loom as Oil Flows Return to Normal
Donald Trump said he no longer wants a deal with Iran. The words landed on Wednesday in Texas, at a rally with Republican candidates.
Trump Tells Fox Viewers They Will Stop Watching
Fox News now faces a threat from its most loyal viewer.
Trump Wants Reporters Arrested Over Rally Photos
Donald Trump wants reporters arrested for writing that his Ohio rally had empty seats. He said it on Truth Social.
A Reporter for Real America's Voice Joins the White House Press Team
Beni Rae Harmony will stand inside the White House briefing room as an assistant press secretary.
Musk Says U.S. Is Totally Screwed Without Robots
Elon Musk says the U.S. is "actually totally screwed" without a surge in artificial intelligence and robotics to outrun the national debt. The words are blunt.
Karoline Leavitt Takes a Fox News Chair in November
Karoline Leavitt will sit on Fox News starting November 1. She left the White House in August. She was the youngest press secretary in history.
Trump's Alaska LNG Ultimatum to South Korea
South Korea has not signed the $50 billion Alaska LNG project. Trump told reporters Friday he would charge more if they wait.
Alito Thought About Retiring and Then Counted the Votes
President Donald Trump may get another Supreme Court opening, but Samuel Alito has decided not to create one before the midterms.
Trump Says MAGA Will Never Like Fox News
Fox News is now the enemy. Not CNN. Not the Times.
Nearly 50 Journalists Ended Up in Jack Smith’s Records
Nearly 50 journalists had communications with government officials swept into records obtained during Jack Smith’s Trump probe.
Trump Calls Reporters Artificial News
Donald Trump has a new name for the press. He called it artificial news. The phrase landed during a White House event that was mostly about something else.
Stelco Workers Lose Jobs After CEO Backed Trump Tariffs
Up to 500 steelworkers in Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario, are being laid off by Stelco, the Canadian subsidiary of U.S. steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs.
Trump Called CNN Fake News. Zuckerberg Laughed.
A question about who will police artificial intelligence ended with Trump policing the reporter instead.
Trump's Taxpayer Ads Face Propaganda Complaint
Public Citizen filed a complaint to federal regulators. The group says Trump's government-funded ads are propaganda.
Schmitt Confused the Hawks and the Hawkeyes
Sen. Eric Schmitt tried to trap Jack Smith with a basketball game. He got the league wrong.
Trump Is Mailing $500 and Calling It Health Reform
Some ACA families will receive several $500 payments because more than one person in the household was marked as affected.
Trump's AG Says No Access Was Denied While Reporters Stay Outside
Todd Blanche told a national television audience that President Trump never denied access to the outlets, even as the reporters stood outside with their.
Karoline Leavitt May Put the White House on Paper
Karoline Leavitt may soon turn her White House years into a book. That is a small sentence with a large amount of trouble packed inside it.
Trump Wants the FDR Pool Back While CNN Stays Off Air Force One
CNN is not on the flight schedule for Air Force One. The White House says the network is barred from the presidential trip to Tennessee.
Trump TV Hits 187 Viewers as Leavitt Steals Show
Trump TV hit 187 viewers on Sunday.
Oil Drops as Iran Talks Doomsday War
Iran says it is ready for a doomsday war. The same day, crude oil fell. West Texas Intermediate dropped 2.3% to close at $92.41 per barrel.
Trump Rates Morning Joe While War Drums Play
Joe Scarborough answered back. He noted his show is the No. 1 morning show in the Washington, D.C.
Abby Swan Says Get Bent to Twenty Dollars
Abby Swan runs a dairy in Westfield, Wisconsin, and she cannot find help to milk her 300 cows. She posted a video about the shortage.
Clinton Admits He Wanted to Ban the Press Too
Bill Clinton said there were lots of times when he wanted to ban the White House press corps.
LindellTV Takes the Seat Where CNN Used to Sit
LindellTV got the seat on Air Force One that CNN was supposed to fill. The White House said so in a Friday night note.
Clinton Wanted to Ban the Press Too
Bill Clinton stood at a podium this week and said he wanted to ban the White House press corps. Lots of times. He did not do it.
The White House Had to Be Ordered to Return Press Passes
CNN and MS NOW had to go to court to get back into the White House after the Trump administration denied them entry.
Networks Go Dark Before the 1 A.M. Ruling
CNN went back inside the White House on Thursday after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore press passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
Trump Tells Reporter to Be Quiet Outside the White House
President Donald Trump snapped at a female reporter outside the White House on Saturday morning. The exchange lasted less than a minute.
The White House Ban Lasted Five Days
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico got their White House press access back after a judge ruled at about 1 a.m.
The Seven Words That Cost a Press Pass
Kaitlan Collins stood inside the United Nations with a credential that did not come from the White House.
The U.S. Strike on Minab Left 120 Children in the Peace Talks
A Tomahawk missile struck a primary school in Minab and killed more than 150 people, including approximately 120 children.
Trump Banned Three Outlets and Got a Lawsuit
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico told the administration on Monday they were filing a First Amendment lawsuit after President Donald Trump banned the three news.
TV Networks Go Dark on Trump Over Ban
The cameras stopped.
Trump TV Arrived After the Cameras Left
The White House barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from its television press pool, then launched Trump TV a few days later. The timing is hard to miss.
The White House Locked Out Its Own Reporters
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are suing President Trump and three of his top advisers after their reporters were blocked from the White House.
Trump Wants a Judge to Explain the First Amendment
Trump filed a lawsuit against media outlets that his White House had already banned.
Twenty-Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Trades and a Ban for Everyone Else
President Donald Trump's portfolio logged 28,700 securities trades in 17 months, more than every member of Congress combined, while he backs a trading ban.
Trump Bars CNN, Politico, MS NOW From White House
The White House confiscated press badges on Saturday morning.
Trump Saw a Clip and Then Banned Three News Outlets
Trump announced a ban against CNN, MS NOW, and Politico shortly after executive aide Natalie Harp showed him a clip of MS NOW criticizing his administration.
White House Staff Saw the Ban on Truth Social
White House staffers learned about a media ban from a Truth Social post. The directive was issued while the chief of staff was out of town.
Trump Bars CNN, MS NOW, Politico From White House
President Donald Trump banned CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House on Friday, citing unfavorable coverage and warning that more media prohibitions.
Canada Will Lease Its Airports and Cut Investment Taxes
Canada is offering private money the keys to its four largest airports while keeping the buildings and land in public hands.
No Photo, No Photographer, No Proof on Trump Kiss Claim
The photo does not exist in any verified form. That is the fact.
Trump Imported Half a Billion Pounds and Ranchers Paid
Jaclyn Wilson sold yearling steers after President Donald Trump announced the beef imports. She received $175 less per head than normal.
Trump Offered $5,000 With a Receipt Nobody Can Check
A $5,000 payment is less useful when the government says where you must spend it but cannot say how it will know.
Kimmel Said the FCC Threatened Their Show Over a Talarico Interview
The claim came out in a whisper and then spread.
Tariff refunds align as revenue tops payouts
The numbers say it plainly. Revenue from tariffs beat refunds for the first time in months. The shift is not a gimmick.
Trump Wants the FCC to Punish a Journalist Over Endorsement Math
President Donald Trump said he would report NBC's Kristen Welker to the FCC for saying he had "mixed results" on his endorsements. That is the fact.
Oil Won't Drop Until After the Midterms, Trump Says
President Donald Trump told reporters this week that oil prices will not come down until after the midterm elections.
Bombardier Told: Build Here or Get Out
Bombardier makes jets in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Fox Cut Maria Bartiromo Loose Without a Farewell
Maria Bartiromo was gone from Fox News before Fox told the public she was gone.
Maria Bartiromo Out at Fox After Sharing Internal Memo
Maria Bartiromo is no longer with Fox News Media. The network said so on Thursday afternoon. The statement was short.
Trump Threatens Trade Cutoff Unless Fed Cuts Rates
The Federal Reserve now sits in a position no central bank wants. Cut rates and risk reigniting inflation.
MAGA Inc. Holds $403 Million as Trump Pledges $500 Million
MAGA Inc. sits on $403.45 million while President Donald Trump says he will spend up to $500 million to help Republicans in the November midterms.
Musk Puts $800,000 on Mailers Before the $120 Million Check
Elon Musk's America PAC just spent more than $800,000 on printing for midterm mailers, and almost all of it went to seven Senate races where the margins are.
Trump Threat to FCC Complicates Press Freedom, Not Politics Alone
Trump walked out of the interview. He said he would report Kristen Welker to the FCC. The room was still.
Karoline Leavitt Advises Trump on Her Replacement
Karoline Leavitt is out of the White House press secretary chair and still advising Donald Trump on who takes it. That is the odd part.
Trump Made 21,000 Stock Trades Last Year
President Donald Trump executed more than 21,000 stock trades in his personal portfolio last year. The number comes from his own financial disclosure.
A Trader Staked $9.53 Million in Ether Before the White House Meeting
A mysterious trader bought 5,000 Ethereum worth $9.53 million and staked it ahead of President Donald Trump's White House meeting with crypto executives.
Twitter CEO Defends Trump Ban but Voices Concern Over Precedent
Twitter Inc. Chief Executive Jack Dorsey defended the company’s decision to ban President Trump’s personal account, but expressed concern about the risks of companies’ having too much power over public discussion. In a series of tweets…
Trump Signs Bill That Could Lead To Delisting Of Chinese Stocks Including Nio, Li, Xpeng, Alibaba
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a bill calling for the delisting of foreign companies that don’t adhere to the same accounting transparency standards that securities regulators impose on public U.S. firms. Why It Matters: The…
U.S. Considers Moving Forces Out of Somalia
The Trump administration is considering a plan to pull hundreds of U.S. troops out of Somalia, reposition them in neighboring countries and shift the focus of their mission from training Somali government forces to directly combatting the…
French Teacher’s Lesson on Charlie Hebdo Fueled Social Media Dispute
PARIS—Days before Samuel Paty was beheaded in an attack that shocked France, the 47-year-old history teacher was guiding his class through a fraught debate over the limits of free speech. The teacher—who was interviewed by French…
Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE:PFE) – Trump Signs Executive Order To Lower US Drug Prices After Negotiations With Drugmakers Fail
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Sunday that aims to lower prescription drug prices in the United States for certain drugs by linking them to those paid by other developed countries. What Happened: The executive order…
Trump signs bill holding China accountable for ‘oppressive actions’ in Hong Kong
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he signed a China sanctions bill targeting Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, as well as an executive order to hold China accountable for “oppressive actions” against the former British colony’s…
Joe Biden Unveils $2 Trillion Plan to Combat Climate Change
Former Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a $2 trillion proposal Tuesday to combat climate change, calling for a bigger investment and faster action than he backed during the Democratic primaries earlier this year. “If I have the honor of…
Trump says ex-adviser Bolton will break the law if he publishes book
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday his former national security adviser John Bolton will have broken the law and face criminal liability if a book he has written about his time in the White House is…
Tesla’s Elon Musk calls for breakup of Amazon in tweet
FILE PHOTO: SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the automobile awards “Das Goldene Lenkrad” (The golden steering wheel) given by a German newspaper in Berlin, Germany, November 12, 2019. REUTERS/Hannibal…
U.S. candidate Biden was vastly outspent by Sanders in February
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden’s campaign in February spent less than one-third the amount spent by rival Democrat Bernie Sanders, according to disclosures by the campaigns filed on Friday.…
Trump says it might be better to wait until after 2020 election for a China trade deal
President Donald Trump said Tuesday it might be better to wait until after the 2020 election to strike a trade deal with China. “In some ways, I like the idea of waiting until after the election for the China deal, but they want to make a…
CBS-Viacom merger leads to big payouts for top execs
The merger of Viacom and CBS is shaping up to be lucrative for its top two execs. Acting CBS Chief Executive Joe Ianniello, who will be chairman and CEO of CBS at the combined firm, will bank a hefty payout of $70 million when the deal…