Spiegel Stuff: Pete Hegseth’s Staff Shortage; Chaos in California; the 2025 Tonys Scene With Cole Escola

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MATTHEW LYNCH,
EXECUTIVE EDITOR

And now we've reached the part of the story where the president and his allies are publicly floating the idea of arresting the governor of the nation's most populous state. Good Monday afternoon! Governor Gavin Newsom of California has been busy fighting against the deployment of National Guard troops ordered to the streets of Los Angeles by President Trump this past weekend in response to protests over ICE raids, with Newsom formally asking the secretary of defense on Sunday to call back the soldiers. "The situation in LA represents the boiling over of tensions that had been simmering since Trump took office," VF's Eric Lutz observes today. And boiled over, things have. Border czar Tom Homan has even suggested that Newsom and other political leaders could be arrested. In response, the governor said: "Arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy." Story very much developing…

Elsewhere today: We take a closer look at the Tony Awards red carpet; said secretary of defense reportedly has a staffing issue; and New York Times chief Trump chronicler Maggie Haberman gives an interview. More tomorrow, tough guy!

For Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne, Making Les Misérables Was "Terrifying"

BY REBECCA FORD

When Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne filmed Tom Hooper's musical epic Les Misérables in 2012, they were both rising stars—and the film was a demanding undertaking unlike anything either had experienced before. Still, for a pair of self-proclaimed musical-theater geeks, making Les Misérables was a dream come true. "We were all making the thing because we also knew that this was the one," says Seyfried. "They're not going to make it for another 50 years."

In the latest edition of Vanity Fair's Reunited series, Seyfried and Redmayne discuss their favorite moments from the challenging shoot and why they loved their characters.

Hot Topics

RED FLAGS

Report: No One Wants to Work With Pete "Lemme Just Text These War Plans" Hegseth

BY BESS LEVIN

At least three people are said to have turned down potential jobs under the defense secretary.

CENTER STAGE

All the Looks From the 2025 Tony Awards Red Carpet

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Shakespeare said that all the world's a stage—here are the costumes that the guests at this year's Tonys wore to tread the boards.

CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE

Donald Trump "Wants to Demonstrate Absolute Power"

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In conversation with VF, New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman delves into how Trump is "pretty untethered" from previous limitations in office.

Cinderella Moment

Cole Escola on Tony Drama and Their Bernadette Peters–Inspired Look

BY KASE WICKMAN

VF's Kase Wickman attended the final fitting of Cole Escola's custom Wiederhoeft gown ahead of the 2025 Tony Awards, with the now best-actor winner expounding on Patti LuPone, Mary Todd Lincoln, and a proposal for fixing gendered categories at the Tonys: "They should do it based on where you piss, and that's what they should call it."