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📌 PINNED POST — BREAKING (3:23 p.m. ET): Pentagon Moves to Fire Stars and Stripes Publisher and Editor in Chief
The Pentagon has moved to dismiss Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer and editor in chief Erik Slavin, the two senior leaders of the taxpayer-supported military news organization. Separation notices delivered Friday give both men five days to appeal, with alleged insubordination cited as the reason.
“According to the notice, I am being fired for stating in a CBS interview that censorship of news for service members would constitute a red line. The Pentagon’s public affairs office has charged me with insubordination,” Slavin said.
“I stand by the principle that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent, as required by law and by the department’s own policies.”
Lederer, who has led the publication for 19 years, announced this week that he planned to retire Sept. 30 because of fundamental differences with the Trump administration.
“It has become clear that my philosophy of leadership, and my understanding of value and mission of the Stars and Stripes, differ in fundamental ways from the direction of the leadership of the Department of Defense,” Lederer wrote in a letter to staff.
The move follows Stars and Stripes’ reporting—with Navy Times—on deteriorating conditions and a mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is finally returning from a record-breaking nine-month deployment in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have downplayed concerns raised by sailors’ families. There is no established link between that reporting and the separation notices. Slavin, however, has spoken publicly about tensions with Pentagon leadership, saying last month that his “foxhole” would be defending the publication’s editorial independence.
The Pentagon provides approximately 65% of Stars and Stripes’ funding and has been pushing to reshape its coverage. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote earlier this year: “We are bringing Stars & Stripes into the 21st century. We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members.”
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to leave his post by the end of the year following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll, a friend and Yale Law School classmate of Vice President JD Vance, reportedly angered Hegseth early in his Pentagon tenure by offering to arrange a visit by Vance and President Donald Trump.
His departure, should it proceed, would further deplete the Army’s ranks of Senate-confirmed leaders as the United States remains at war with Iran. Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April, and the administration has yet to nominate a replacement.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Donald Trump again insisted that taxpayers would not fund his White House ballroom when a reporter asked whether he could “guarantee that no tax money will be used in the construction of the ballroom?”
“We’re spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the ballroom and it’s all from people like me and great companies that are putting it up. It’s going to be close to $400 million and it’s all paid for by patriots and patriotic companies,” Trump said while traveling to a political rally in South Carolina.
“No taxpayer money for the ballroom at all.”
That claim conflicts with a contractor’s project summary obtained by The Washington Post, which estimated the ballroom’s total cost at $600 million, with more than half expected to come from taxpayers.
The New York Times subsequently revealed that the administration had shifted more than $350 million from the Secret Service’s budget to the White House to pay for a secure military bunker beneath the luxury ballroom—federal spending directly connected to the project, despite Trump’s repeated assurances that it would be privately financed.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Donald Trump has threatened the Center for American Progress with a $5 billion defamation lawsuit over its conclusion that his costly National Guard deployments did little to reduce violent crime, The New York Times reports. In a letter sent Monday, Trump’s personal lawyer, Alejandro Brito, demanded that the progressive think tank retract the report in full, apologize, and provide unspecified financial compensation by 5 p.m. Friday—or face legal action.
The center’s analysis examined homicide, violent-crime, and gun-victimization data from Washington, Los Angeles, and Memphis between January 2023 and February 2026. It found that violent crime was already falling before Trump returned to office and “finds no evidence that National Guard deployments have reduced violent crime.” Extending those deployments through the end of 2026 could cost taxpayers more than $1.7 billion, the report estimated.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for transforming public safety in Washington, D.C.
“This was the crime capital, frankly, of the world. It was the most unsafe capital of any country in the world. Now, it’s one of the safest, and it’s one of the safest places in the United States,” he told reporters recently.
Center for American Progress President and CEO Neera Tanden said the organization would “neither cower nor bend in the face” of legal action, defending findings she described as “grounded in rigorous, evidence-based research and analysis.”
“This threatened lawsuit’s attack on facts and evidence is baseless. A fundamental protection of the First Amendment is to allow for the publication of facts and analysis that is contrary to the arguments and claims of any administration. A lawsuit is a transparent attempt to silence us.”
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
The Pentagon has moved to dismiss Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer and editor in chief Erik Slavin, the two senior leaders of the taxpayer-supported military news organization. Separation notices delivered Friday give both men five days to appeal, with alleged insubordination cited as the reason.
“According to the notice, I am being fired for stating in a CBS interview that censorship of news for service members would constitute a red line. The Pentagon's public affairs office has charged me with insubordination,” Slavin said.
“I stand by the principle that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent, as required by law and by the department's own policies.”
Lederer, who has led the publication for 19 years, announced this week that he planned to retire Sept. 30 because of fundamental differences with the Trump administration.
“It has become clear that my philosophy of leadership, and my understanding of value and mission of the Stars and Stripes, differ in fundamental ways from the direction of the leadership of the Department of Defense,” Lederer wrote in a letter to staff.
The move follows Stars and Stripes’ reporting—with Navy Times—on deteriorating conditions and a mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is finally returning from a record-breaking nine-month deployment in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have downplayed concerns raised by sailors’ families. There is no established link between that reporting and the separation notices. Slavin, however, has spoken publicly about tensions with Pentagon leadership, saying last month that his “foxhole” would be defending the publication’s editorial independence.
The Pentagon provides approximately 65% of Stars and Stripes’ funding and has been pushing to reshape its coverage. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote earlier this year: “We are bringing Stars & Stripes into the 21st century. We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members.”
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Further to our reporting yesterday, the family of World War II hero Doris Miller says it was blindsided by reports that the Navy may rename the aircraft carrier being built in his honor—potentially for President Donald Trump.
Thomas Bledsoe, Miller’s great-nephew, told CNN that the possible change came as “quite a shock” and that the family received no advance notice.
“Not only was it a shock, but it was also shocking that we found out from a new outlet [and not] from the Navy,” he said.
The Navy announced the future USS Doris Miller during Trump’s first term, honoring the Black enlisted sailor who defended his ship and helped wounded crew members during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It would be the first aircraft carrier named for an enlisted sailor—and the first honoring an African American. No final decision on a new name has been announced.
Bledsoe said the proposed change carries meaning far beyond the name painted on the ship:
“It’s about an opportunity and a goal. It’s about what it means to be an American and it’s also about how we as a community can grow as one.”
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Vice President JD Vance reportedly mocked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s negotiating posture toward President Donald Trump during a private fundraiser in Southampton, New York. The leaked recording surfaced as the United States and Canada entered the final stretch of tense trade negotiations.
Vance described Carney as a “very sweet guy” before saying the prime minister “comes in and puffs his chest out” while claiming he will “out-tough Donald Trump.” Vance reportedly told supporters that Canada had presented the emerging agreement as a victory despite backing down on several issues.
The remarks could further strain relations as Trump threatens to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. Trump paused the tariffs for three days, allowing negotiators more time to finalize an agreement. The emerging deal is expected to include Canadian provinces restoring sales of U.S. alcohol, which they removed from store shelves in retaliation for earlier tariff threats.
Carney has urged provincial leaders to return American alcohol to shelves, but resistance remains. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Canadians should continue boycotting U.S. products even if stores resume sales, arguing that the country must remain united against Trump’s pressure campaign. Canadian imports of U.S. wine, beer, and spirits have fallen approximately 81% from a year earlier.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
A new analysis of Polymarket International activity has identified 152 pseudonymous wallets that may have traded with advance knowledge of U.S. military and defense operations. The wallets collectively generated approximately $8 million in profits, with an average win rate of 97.2%.
The Anti-Corruption Data Collective reviewed every settled market through May 5, searching for “long-shot” wagers of at least $2,500 placed within an hour on outcomes carrying implied probabilities of 35% or less.
Researchers identified 556 wallets—dubbed “Orcas”—that typically appeared, placed highly successful bets in niche markets where insiders could hold an advantage, and then cashed out or disappeared. The 152 wallets tied to military and defense markets were the most successful subset.
The findings do not prove that every wallet used classified or confidential information. The researchers acknowledge that luck, market mispricing, and sophisticated analysis could explain some of the results. Because the wallets are pseudonymous, the public blockchain data alone cannot establish who controlled them—or whether multiple wallets belonged to the same person.
The broader concern is that suspicious wagers could expose signals about impending military action. Researchers found that apparent insider bets were frequently followed by large copycat trades from wealthy users and automated bots, potentially making sensitive activity visible to foreign intelligence services. Polymarket prohibits trading on confidential information and says it monitors unusual activity, can ban wallets, and refers suspected violations to law enforcement.
Polymarket did not respond to The Developer’s questions about the findings.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
A divided federal appeals court on Friday upheld an order blocking two Justice Department subpoenas targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, leaving former acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone barred from participating in the investigations behind them. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s ruling in a 2-1 decision.
The subpoenas sought records from civil enforcement cases James’ office successfully brought against Donald Trump, his associates, and his family business, and against the National Rifle Association and its former leaders. Both cases produced liability findings at trial. After Trump returned to office in 2025, the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into whether James’ office committed potential civil rights violations while pursuing the cases.
U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield quashed the subpoenas in January, finding that Sarcone was not lawfully serving as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York when he obtained them. The appeals court agreed that federal vacancies law allows only a first assistant already serving when a vacancy arises to take over automatically. It also rejected the government’s argument that former Attorney General Pam Bondi could separately delegate the office’s full authority to Sarcone, ruling that the maneuver violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act by bypassing its restrictions.
The court also upheld Sarcone’s disqualification from the investigations after finding that the government failed to develop an argument challenging that portion of Schofield’s order. Judge Michael Park dissented. The ruling does not prevent a lawfully authorized federal official from issuing new subpoenas, but James’ office would be allowed to challenge them on grounds the courts have not yet addressed.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
A charter plane carrying two pilots and six passengers crashed Thursday near a remote U.S. military radar site in western Alaska, killing everyone aboard. The twin-engine Cessna 441 went down on land near Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, about 450 miles west of Anchorage, after departing from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The crash occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time.
The aircraft had been chartered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which said two of its employees were among those killed. The military described the plane as a “civilian-contracted aircraft” but did not disclose the work the passengers had been performing. Their relatives have been notified, and federal, state, and local authorities are coordinating the response. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause.
“This is a devastating loss for our military family and the communities we serve,” Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Davis, commander of Alaskan Command, the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, and 11th Air Force, said. Davis described those aboard as “dedicated professionals carrying out a vital mission in a demanding environment. Our absolute priority right now is providing unwavering support to their families, friends and teammates during this devastating time. We are profoundly grateful for the swift and tireless response of our search and recovery professionals.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski@lisamurkowski
I join Alaskans in condolences as we learn of the plane crash in Cape Newenham today. I’ve traveled extensively with Security Aviation throughout Alaska, and have met many of their experienced pilots. I appreciate the U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB, Alaska State Troopers, and the Rescue
2:37 AM · Aug 21, 2026 · 7.35K Views
61 Replies · 6 Reposts · 77 Likes
The Cape Newenham site, managed by the Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center, is part of a network that monitors aircraft operating across Alaska’s airspace and along its borders. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, identified Security Aviation as the flight’s operator and offered her condolences: “I join Alaskans in condolences as we learn of the plane crash in Cape Newenham today. I’ve traveled extensively with Security Aviation throughout Alaska, and have met many of their experienced pilots.”
She added: “Alaska is praying for those on board, their loved ones, and the team at Security Aviation.”
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
The Department of Education has taken an initial step toward revoking the American Bar Association’s authority to accredit law schools, opening a new front in the Trump administration’s campaign against the institutions that oversee higher education, according to new reporting from The Wall Street Journal. Administration supporters cast the effort as an attempt to break an accreditation “cartel,” while opponents describe it as a politically driven attack on the legal profession.
The move remains far from final.
“Any final decision to reject the ABA is two steps and several months away; the outcome isn’t certain,” the report says.
“The Education Department’s initial recommendation goes next to a panel that reviews accreditors, which then makes a recommendation to Undersecretary of Education Nicholas Kent.”
The battle is rooted in a long-running conservative backlash against the ABA’s diversity requirements. The organization suspended enforcement of Standard 206 in February 2025, before Trump issued an executive order directing the department to target accreditors that impose diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements. Trump has demanded that the standard be eliminated permanently. Although the ABA’s accrediting council voted to repeal it, the organization’s House of Delegates rejected immediate concurrence this month and sent the proposal back to the council for further consideration.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
WASHINGTON (Aug. 21, 2026) — Hello, and welcome to The Developer’s U.S. news and politics live blog where we’re tracking the Trump administration, the battles consuming Washington, and the stories driving the national conversation.
Today’s developments include The Daily Beast’s publication of intimate letters from White House aide Natalie Harp to President Donald Trump, offering a striking look at the relationship between the president and one of his most influential gatekeepers.
This blog will be updated frequently as new developments come in, so check back and refresh the page for the latest.
The letters published in full reveal an extraordinary level of devotion from Harp, 35, toward Trump, 80, whose inner circle has reportedly grown increasingly concerned about her access and influence. Written during or shortly after a 2023 trip to Scotland and Ireland, when Harp was 31 and Trump was 76, the notes show her telling him: “You are all that matters to me,” and, “I don’t want to ever let you down.” One ends, “With all my heart, Natalie.” The other closes, “Always, Natalie,” followed by a Sharpie signature.
The letters blur professional and deeply personal lines. Harp apologizes for panicking after she was temporarily left in a van outside customs without her passport, worries that she may have caused Trump trouble, and describes forgetting to eat and sleep while working. She also admits she had begun envying women “whose only ‘job’ seems to be to talk with you and look pretty,” adding: “I want that job!!” Harp writes that she misses the days when Trump would call “and we’d talk about everything and nothing,” insisting, “We shouldn’t have to talk about work all the time!!” Elsewhere, she tells him: “You have the absolute right to cuss me out, if need be, when I deserve it, because no one knows or cares about me more.”
The disclosure comes as Harp’s White House role faces mounting scrutiny. The $150,000-a-year special assistant and executive assistant reportedly sits outside the Oval Office, has access to Trump’s Truth Social account, and serves as a conduit through whom foreign leaders can reach the president. Reporting this week also alleged that she declined to undergo a background check for roughly a year. Harp was among the small group accompanying Trump when he left Air Force One in a catering truck in Turkey and boarded a secret aircraft amid an apparent Iranian plot targeting the presidential plane. David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama, called the situation “a deadly serious issue.”
Author Michael Wolff said campaign sources gave him the letters while he was writing All or Nothing, his book chronicling Trump’s 2024 campaign. According to Wolff, staff members discovered the notes among the piles of printouts Harp delivered to Trump, photographed them, and circulated the images as concern about her growing influence spread through the campaign. “The relationship here is not a relationship that should exist in a professional setting,” Wolff said while discussing his decision to release them. He said the material came from “an extremely reliable source,” and that campaign staffers who had seen the letters did not question their authenticity.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle defended Harp, saying: “Natalie Harp is one of the most loyal and hardest-working aides on President Trump’s team. The Fake News’ continued attacks on President Trump and his Administration prove exactly why trust in media is at historic lows. The media should get back to reporting real news and stop regurgitating Trump-Deranged liberal talking points.” Ingle also lashed out at Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, whose remark that Trump cared only about “traveling with Natalie” fueled a MAGA backlash, calling him “a feminine theatre [sic] kid” and attacking his voting record.
Press freedom does not survive on vibes. It survives because readers decide the work is worth protecting. The Developer is independent, ad-free, and reader-funded—which means your support goes directly into the reporting, not into some billionaire’s pocket. If my work helps you stay informed, consider upgrading to paid: $8/month or $80/year. If upgrading isn’t possible right now, sharing The Developer with someone who needs to read it matters just as much. Help keep independent journalism alive and impossible to buy.
*This is a developing story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
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