Why This Political Moment Feels Different

Happy Sunday. Thanks for your patience as I continue to tinker with the newsletter's timing and the best way to deliver concise, critical news that matters while saving you time and energy.

The news moves faster now than at any point in my career - including my 12 years covering politics in TV news. It may feel that way to you, too. Stories transform between morning and evening, then morph again overnight. By Friday, what started on Monday feels like ancient history.

Covering the news feels like we are being drawn into a game of whack-a-mole while the villains rob the vault.

So, first, let's step back from the daily chaos and look at the bigger picture. Understanding the larger forces at play ultimately impacts our understanding of daily news.

CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS LOOMS

Constitutional crisis.

You'll hear that phrase constantly in the coming weeks. Are we in one? The signs suggest yes. A constitutional crisis happens when our Constitution stops working as intended or people in power actively work to undermine it.

Ask legal experts and historians about our current situation. Their answers range from "we're headed there" to "we're already in it." Notably absent? Anyone saying these concerns are overblown.

The three branches of government were designed to have equal powers and to check on the others’ powers. But did the Founding Fathers rely on the honor system? What happens when a president breaks the laws for personal gain and a Congress that follows along?

So far, the judiciary is showing signs of still having a spine.

Federal judges – appointed by both Republicans and Democrats - have temporarily blocked nearly a dozen Trump orders specifically because they likely violate the Constitution.

The White House is working overtime to obscure the true nature of the crisis.

White House White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt - at the podium this week – told reporters that claims about Trump testing constitutional limits are lies and accused judges of taking sides instead of interpreting the law.

"The denunciation, delivered from the lectern in the White House briefing room, was the latest example of an escalating assault on the court system from Trump and his allies. Supporters have circulated pictures of judges online, made claims about their families, and suggested that the Republican president simply ignore their orders." (AP)

Watching Leavitt lecture the press about "getting it wrong" reveals the strategy. Her performance, crafted for social media and Fox News, sends a clear message to millions of supporters: don't worry, everything's fine.

Except it isn't.

Legal experts are alarmed:

• David Cole, former ACLU legal director and Georgetown Law professor, puts it plainly: "If he disagrees with the law that Congress has enacted, including an appropriation, he can urge Congress to amend the law. Ideological disagreement with a law is not a justification for refusing to execute that law." ProPublica
• Princeton historian Julian Zelizer explains the strategy: "The end goal is to avoid accountability this time. Not just being protected by his party and counting on the public to move on when scandals or problems emerge, but this time by actually removing many of the key figures whose job it is to oversee" the administration. AP
• “They’re shredding the Constitution; it’s gone,” said Kimberly Wehle, a law professor at University of Baltimore Law School, a legal contributor for ABC News and author of the newsletter Simple Politics. “He’s converting himself into a moyenarch with unlimited power.” (Washington Post)
• “We are moving toward an authoritarian version of the governing spectrum,” said David Alexander Bateman, an expert on democratic institutions at Cornell University. (Washington Post)
• Jillian Blanchard from Lawyers for Good Government says the funding freeze breaks the law: "It is illegal to pause legally obligated funds for policy reasons without congressional approval, which is what is happening." ProPublica

TRUMP'S TEAM

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary by a 52–48 Senate vote. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote “no,” citing his childhood battle with polio in response to Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance.
• Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed by a 52–48 vote despite concerns over her 2017 secret meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad and her sympathetic comments about Russia. McConnell again voted against her, arguing that she had shown “poor judgment.” NBC News
• Kash Patel’s FBI nomination cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 12–10 vote. Democrats oppose him because they say he plans to politicize the agency, lacks management experience, has promoted conspiracy theories, and has raised funds for January 6 defendants. A whistleblower claims that Patel is already involved in FBI hiring decisions.
• Linda McMahon, the former head of WWE, struggled during her Education Secretary hearings. Critics noted that she could not answer basic questions about education policy—and she has little relevant experience. President Trump has even suggested shutting down the department entirely.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Approximately 75,000 federal employees (about 3% of the workforce) accepted the Trump Administration's “deferred resignation” offer. After the deadline expired, DOGE began targeting probationary employees (roughly 200,000 newly hired workers) for termination. The Hill

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

On Wednesday, a federal judge unpaused a hold on Trump's "deferred resignation" offer to federal employees. At least 75,000 employees --or 3% of the workforce– accepted the offer. (The goal was 5-10%.)

After the deadline to take the deal expired, DOGE called on government agencies to fire probationary employees - those in the first 1-2 years of being on the job, which is about 200,000 employees.

This mandate called to fire 1,000 employees at the Department of Energy, including hundreds at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) – the agency that oversees America's nuclear weapons.

"The firings unfolded at such a chaotic pace that DOGE ended up pausing the process and rescinding some terminations." NBC

"Despite having the words 'National' and 'Security' in its title, it was not getting an exemption for national security, managers at the agency were told last Friday... It was a tall order for the relatively obscure civilian agency that conducts a wide variety of nuclear security missions, including servicing the nation's nuclear weapons when they're not on missiles and bombers, and making extensive safety and security upgrades of the warheads. Some workers were responsible for making sure emergency response plans were in place at sites like a giant facility in Texas, where thousands of dismantled warheads are stored. Others worked to prevent terrorists and rogue nations from acquiring weapons-grade plutonium or uranium. Many had 'Q'clearances, the highest level security clearance at the Department of Energy." NPR

Everything to know about the government's offer from the AP.

MUSK

• Standing in the Oval Office, Elon Musk admitted that his earlier claim—that the Biden Administration spent $50 million sending condoms to Gaza—was untrue. “Some of the things that I say will be incorrect.” CNN
• Under the Biden Administration, the State Department solicited bids to upgrade its fleet to electric vehicles by 2035. Tesla was the only bidder, and a contract reportedly worth $400 million was awarded—with delivery expected by September 2025. After the contract was revealed, the State Department removed any mention of Tesla from its website and now claims it does not intend to fulfill the contract. Drop Site News

"After reports circulated Wednesday night of the State Department's intent to purchase Tesla vehicles, NPR noticed that the document was edited, at 9:12 p.m., to say the federal contract is for $400 million worth of "armored electric vehicles," but the word 'Tesla' was removed." NPR

THE ECONOMY

• New economic numbers came out this week reflecting January 2025. Inflation was up, hitting 3%:
  • Eggs up 53%!
  • Beef up 5%
  • Bacon up 6%
  • Core inflation (excluding food prices, which can be volatile): 3.3%
• Trump announced new "reciprocal tariffs" to match what other countries charge the US, plus 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel.

"If his agenda pushes up inflation and grinds down growth, making this a high stakes wager for a president eager to declare his authority over the U.S. economy." AP

• Congress is in recess this week but when they return, expect Trump’s tax plan — which includes continuing tax cuts for the wealthiest — to take center stage. AP

ON THE WORLD STAGE

Middle East

• Hamas freed three Israeli hostages —just days after it claimed that Israel was not meeting its part of the ceasefire deal. Hamas claimed Israel was not allowing in the agreed-upon number of humanitarian aid trucks. Trump had threatened that "all hell" would break loose without releases. Israel has killed 92 Palestinians and wounded over 800 since the ceasefire started. Al Jazeera
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly blocking mobile homes and construction equipment needed to clear rubble in Gaza. Hamas claims this was part of the ceasefire deal. Israeli media reports that this move appears aimed at extending the first phase of a ceasefire—currently set to end on March 1—to secure the release of additional hostages, some of whom are in poor health. Netanyahu’s strategy is to convince Qatari and Egyptian mediators, with U.S. backing, that an extension is in everyone’s interest since the second phase has not yet been finalized. Times of Israel
• Last weekend, Trump announced that he was “committed” to taking over Gaza, owning it and rebuilding it while forcibly displacing millions of Palestinians, a move that experts say would amount to ethnic cleansing. Trump claims Palestinians would not be allowed to return.
• Egypt is hosting an Arab summit on February 27 and is working on a counterproposal that would allow Gaza to be rebuilt without displacing its population. Human rights groups warn that any forced expulsion would likely violate international law.
• In a separate meeting, President Trump discussed Gaza with Jordan’s King Abdallah. Jordan has agreed to take in 2,000 Palestinian children in urgent need of medical aid. King Abdallah appeared uncomfortable when Trump mentioned the forced expulsion of Palestinians but remained diplomatically silent. You Tube | Responsible Statecraft

Iran

Intelligence shows Israel is planning to hit Iran's nuclear sites, asking for U.S. help with refueling and surveillance. Trump approved selling them guidance kits despite reports saying the strikes would have limited impact. Washington Post

Russia - Ukraine

• President Trump directly called Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine, describing the discussion as “highly productive.” They reportedly discussed meeting to end the Russia–Ukraine war—without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump later said he had called Zelensky to relay the details. AP
• Ukrainian and European officials expressed outrage, insisting that no deal should be made without Ukraine’s involvement. Additionally, Defense Secretary Pete Hegspeth stated that Ukraine should not be admitted to NATO—a key request for its protection against Russian aggression.
• In response, French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for a meeting of European leaders on Monday, with representatives from Germany, Italy, the UK, Poland, and NATO’s Secretary General expected to attend.

“Macron’s speed in trying to unite European leaders behind a joint response shows the extent of anxiety in Europe about US efforts both to control the process and exclude European governments from any detailed negotiations between the US and Russia.” The Guardian

MAGA GOES TO EUROPE

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance accused centrist European leaders of abandoning their values by failing to crack down on immigration and restrict free speech. He cited a UK case in which an army veteran was arrested for praying outside an abortion clinic within a designated safe zone. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius later condemned the arrest as “not acceptable.” BBC

While in Germany, Vance met with Alice Weidel, a leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party—a party known for its staunch anti-immigration stance.

"Vance’s speech amounted to an attempt to export MAGA to Europe — and a declaration of common cause with rising anti-migrant parties in Europe, who, like Trump, are skeptical of international alliances and many of the hallmarks of the global system that developed in the aftermath of World War II and expanded after the fall of Communism." Washington Post

HEADLINES

• In a retaliatory move, the White House banned the AP from access to a press conference and the White House press pool because they continue to use "Gulf of Mexico" AP
• Bird flu has spread from cattle to veterinarians NPR
• Republicans want to end a government program that has saved 20 million people from HIV/AIDS The Intercept
• Trump fired Kennedy Center's board and canceled shows he didn't like Washington Post
• Seven DOJ prosecutors quit rather than drop charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams AP
• Trump banned ICC prosecutor Karim Khan from U.S. for investigating Israel AP
• Medical research stalls despite court order to restore funding The Hill
• Treasury stops making pennies, saves $85.3 million per year Wall Street Journal
• Trump pauses law that keeps government officials from taking bribes CBS News