Trump teases autism announcement; Hegseth gets blowback over Pentagon moves
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In today's issue:
• Trump’s expected autism announcement
• Erika Kirk offers forgiveness at memorial
• Congress careens toward shutdown
• Pentagon issues reporter restrictions
• Trump border czar in spotlight
???? IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Trump teases autism announcement:
President Trump is expected to make an autism announcement today. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump administration officials plan to release information seeking to link Tylenol to childhood autism.
Trump said over the weekend: “We’re going to have an announcement on autism on Monday … I think it’s going to be a very important announcement. I think it's going to be one of the most important things that we will do.”
What do we know about the announcement?: A Trump administration report on autism is expected to raise concerns about women taking acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, during pregnancy, The Washington Post reports. Officials will reportedly urge pregnant women against taking the pain reliever early on unless they have a fever.
It's important to mention: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made autism a key component of his "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative and has previously claimed a link between autism and vaccines despite a lack of research to support the link.
????️ Follow today’s live blog
???? Watch Trump’s 4 p.m. announcement live
⛪ CHARLIE KIRK MEMORIAL
I've never seen a service quite like it:
Tens of thousands of mourners, plus the upper echelon of government, gathered in an Arizona arena to memorialize Charlie Kirk. The tone oscillated between sharing memories of the conservative activist’s life to President Trump vowing to target political foes.
The most captivating moment came when Kirk’s grieving widow, Erika Kirk, said she forgave the man accused of killing her husband. She spoke in a quiet voice, occasionally wiping away tears. TV channels carried her speech ???? ubiquitously.
???? Watch Erika Kirk walk on stage
On the assassin’s punishment: Erika Kirk told The New York Times ahead of the service that she wouldn’t want to decide. “I’ve had so many people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?’” she said. “I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger.”
However, Trump took a different tone: The president suggested the alleged shooter should face the death penalty and said he disagreed with Charlie Kirk’s love-oriented message. “He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them,” Trump said. “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry.”
At several points, Trump’s remarks also veered into rally mode, such as mocking former President Biden, teasing his upcoming autism claims, touting his tariffs and reiterating his claims that Democrats “cheated like dogs” in the 2020 election. ???? Here’s a clip
There was quite a guest list: The White House flew two planes of staff, lawmakers and administration officials to attend the funeral.
Who spoke?: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and conservative pundit Tucker Carlson were among the speakers. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who rarely makes public remarks, also briefly spoke.
Miller blames the left: "They cannot imagine what they have awakened,” the deputy chief of staff — and architect of many key Trump policies such as on immigration — declared. “We stand for what is good, what is virtuous and what is noble. And to those trying to incite violence against us? ... What do you have? You have nothing. You are nothing. You are wickedness. You are jealousy. You are envy. You are hatred. You are nothing.” ???? Watch the clip
Read more: 5 takeaways from Kirk’s funeral
➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM THE MEMORIAL:
A Trump, Musk reunion: Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk were seen together for the first time since their breakup in June. They shook hands and chatted. Numerous GOP figures quickly praised the cordial encounter on social media.???? Watch their greeting
^ For what it’s worth, Trump downplayed the reunion. “Elon came over and said hello,” Trump said.
???? AT THE PENTAGON
Hegseth gets blowback:
The Defense secretary is getting pushback for trying to oust some in the military and for seeking to implement new restrictions on reporters covering the Pentagon.
The Hill’s Ellen Mitchell reports that “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign to oust service members celebrating or mocking the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk online has already seen at least eight people suspended or placed under investigation, with legal experts warning of a chilling effect on free speech.”
Including: Suspensions “of at least five Army officers and an Air Force senior master sergeant, a Marine officer relieved of his recruiting duties and placed under investigation, and an Army Reserve major also being looked at, according to Task & Purpose.”
Timing: Last week, Hegseth ordered his staff to actively find anyone who works for the Defense Department who condoned or made fun of Kirk’s death.
But as one expert put it, “a ‘witch hunt’ for people who criticize someone that the Trump administration is lionizing is 'extremely dangerous' as it threatens to remove the long-held apolitical nature of the military.”
Read Mitchell’s reporting: ‘Hegseth’s purge of service members cheering Kirk killing comes under heavy scrutiny’
Plus, via The New York Times: ‘The Firing of Educators Over Kirk Comments Follows a Familiar Playbook’
➤ DOD TRIES NEW REPORTER LIMITS:
The Pentagon unveiled new restrictions on reporters covering the Defense Department on Friday, sparking fury and deep concerns from the press.
The restrictions: Journalists must pledge not to publish any information that has not been authorized by the administration. That includes unclassified information. If they don’t follow this new rule, they risk losing access to the Pentagon.
The reactions have been fierce: Media organizations and Washington lawmakers have strongly condemned the new restrictions.
For example, Republican Rep. Don Bacon (Neb.) reacted, “This is so dumb that I have a hard time believing it is true. We don’t want a bunch of Pravda newspapers only touting the Government’s official position. A free press makes our country better. This sounds like more amateur hour.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) called the new policy “unreal.” Read more reactions, via The Washington Post
???? Why this matters: “The move is part of an effort by the Trump administration to help quash leaks to the media and continue to impose restrictions on the news outlets. In the note, the Pentagon also said it would limit the allowed movement of reporters within the building, marking large areas unavailable unless journalists have escorts.” (The Hill)
➤ TRUMP WEIGHS IN:
Trump appeared to break with the Pentagon when asked about the topic Sunday. The Hill's Brett Samuels asked Trump whether the Pentagon should be in charge of deciding what journalists can report on.
“No, I don’t think so. Nothing stops reporters. You know that,” Trump responded, though it’s unclear whether the president knew the full context.
???? OTHER NEWS
Getting traction:
MSNBC published a report over the weekend that Trump’s border czar Tom Homan accepted $50,000 in cash in exchange for contract awards last year.
From the report: “The FBI and the Justice Department planned to wait to see whether Homan would deliver on his alleged promise once he became the nation’s top immigration official. But the case indefinitely stalled soon after Donald Trump became president again in January, according to six sources familiar with the matter. In recent weeks, Trump appointees officially closed the investigation, after FBI Director Kash Patel requested a status update on the case, two of the people said.”
Homan used profanity to deny the report: He told NewsNation’s Libbey Dean that it was “bulls---.”
Stan, it appears there is no plan:
“Congress is cruising at a steady clip toward a government shutdown at the end of the month, with both parties — and both chambers — pointing fingers at the other while refusing to blink,” reports The Hill’s Mike Lillis.
Where things stand: Both chambers of Congress are out of session this week. The House passed an extension before leaving town, but the Senate quickly rejected that plan. Now, it’s a big game of chicken. Senators won’t return until Sept. 29, and House lawmakers are set to be out of Washington until October.
Read Lillis’s useful explainer on where things stand: ‘Congress locked in game of shutdown chicken as funding deadline nears’
➤ ODDS & ENDS:
— A magnitude 4.3 earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay Area early today.
— New data from Decision Desk HQ suggests that [v]Gen Z men are trending toward the GOP.
— 1,000 kilos of cocaine were seized from a speedboat that the U.S. recently targeted, according to officials in the Dominican Republic.
➤ MORE READS:
The Atlantic: Democrats Don’t Seem Willing to Follow Their Own Advice
The Wall Street Journal: The Rush to Return to the Office Is Stalling
COMING UP
The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)
1 p.m. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters. ???? Livestream
4 p.m. Trump makes an autism announcement. ???? Livestream
5:30 p.m. Trump leaves for New York City.
9 p.m. Former Vice President Kamala Harris appears on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show.”
Tuesday morning: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) appears on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
Sept. 30: Government funding expires. And it sure looks like we’re heading toward a shutdown. Read more
???? INTERNET BUZZ
???? Celebrate: Today is National Brown Butter Day. That should be a federal holiday, IMHO.
???? Happy Fat Bear Week!: Every year, there’s a March Madness-style bracket to vote for the fattest bear in Katmai National Park and Preserve while they prepare for hibernation. That starts tomorrow! The bracket reveal is happening at 7 p.m.
???? AND FINALLY…
Before I leave you, I want you to see these brave little ducklings.