12:30 REPORT

Tuesday, September 30 | By Cate Martel

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It's Tuesday. Enjoy your government being funded today. *nervously laughs into the void*

In today's issue:

Hegseth declares war on 'fat' generals
Trump tells military leaders to 'loosen up'
Congress careens toward shutdown
Airlines warn of potential flight delays
Dems lash out at Trump's AI video
Taylor Swift's late-night blitz

🎖️ AT QUANTICO

What I would give to be able to read these military generals' minds:

President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were in Quantico, Va., this morning, speaking to top military leaders who were ordered to be there on short notice.

Trump's 70-minute remarks resembled those from a campaign event, touting his accomplishments and bashing his political rivals, but to an eerily quiet audience of military brass.

"I've never walked into a room so silent before," Trump said as he walked on stage, later joking, "We gotta loosen up these guys a little bit."

Trump even joked that military leaders could "leave the room" if they didn't like what he was saying. "Of course, there goes your rank," Trump added to a few laughs. 📹 Watch the clip

It was a newsy speech but one moment that stands out is when Trump defended using military troops to police American cities. He encouraged military leaders to use U.S. cities as "training grounds," arguing they are fighting "a war from within."

Hegseth came on stage before Trump, using the meeting he planned with the highest-level generals and admirals gathered from around the world to rail against culture wars.

The Defense secretary riffed about what he believes to be the "right culture" at the department, calling for no more "fat generals" or "beardos." He also announced he would impose the "highest" male standards for all combat roles in the U.S. military.

More top quotes from Trump and Hegseth:

🎖️ On 2026 military spending: "$1 trillion, that's a lot of money. I hope you like that, ma'ams and sirs. I hope you like that," Trump said.

🎖️ Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize: Trump said it would be an "insult to our country" if he doesn't get the Nobel Peace Prize.

🎖️ And says there are 'two N words': One of which is "nuclear," according to Trump. "There are two N words. You can't use either of them. You can't use either of them."

🎖️ Trump says he will make the military 'tougher' and 'faster': "Together over the next few years, we're going to make our military stronger, tougher, faster, fiercer and more powerful than it has ever been before," he told the military leaders.

🎖️ Trump bashed Biden: Trump took several swipes at former President Biden, including attacking Biden's autopen use to sign certain documents. "To me it's just totally disrespectful. And it turned out almost everything he did was signed by autopen, except for when he gave his son, Hunter, a pardon," Trump said.

🎖️ Hegseth doesn't want 'fat troops': "Frankly, it's tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops," Hegseth said. "Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world."

Keep in mind: Getting all of these military figures in one place with only a few days' notice has been estimated to cost millions of dollars. Trump on Sunday described this meeting to NBC News as "really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we're doing militarily."

But as The Atlantic's Tom Nichols argues, "few things are important enough to justify the security risk of putting all of these people in the same place."

💬 Follow today's live blog

💻 Watch Trump and Hegseth's remarks

⏱️ IN WASHINGTON

**It's the final countdown:**

I know we go through this song and dance every year — multiple times a year, even — over whether the government will shut down. Nearly every time, lawmakers fold in their game of chicken and avert a shutdown at the last minute.

This does *not* appear to be one of those times.

The federal government is likely to shut down at midnight for the foreseeable future, and Republicans and Democrats are miles apart on a deal.

One last shot: The Senate is expected to vote around 5 p.m. on two competing proposals to avert a shutdown, but they're both widely expected to fail.

What's the holdup to funding the government?: Republicans want to punt the funding deadline to mid-November. But Democrats want to tie an upcoming health care deadline to the funding debate.

Let me explain: There have been health care subsidies in effect since the COVID-19 pandemic. Those are set to expire in January. If and when those expire, health insurance costs are expected to skyrocket for millions of Americans — so much so that some using the marketplace may have to drop their health insurance. Democrats want to extend these subsidies to stop these price hike, but Republicans do not.

Centrists have given up hope: Monday's contentious meeting between Trump and top Democratic leaders fizzled centrist senators' hope for avoiding a shutdown, reports The Hill's Alexander Bolton.

➤ ANOTHER WAY THE SHUTDOWN MAY AFFECT YOU:

U.S. airlines warn that flights may be delayed during a government shutdown. That's because air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration employees would be required to work without pay.

Reuters noted that airport worker absences rose during the last shutdown in 2019 when employees weren't getting paid.

➤ HAVE YOU SEEN THE AI VIDEO TRUMP POSTED…?:

After Trump's Monday afternoon meeting with Democratic leaders, he shared a vulgar AI-generated video of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), sparking outrage on the left.

📹 Here's the 34-second AI video

Jeffries responded by calling out Trump's "bigotry" and 📸 posted what he noted was a "real" photo of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein.

Schumer argued Trump was throwing a "tantrum."

For what it's worth, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall (Kan.) told CNN he thought the video was "in jest."

📰 OTHER NEWS

'TrumpRx':

"President Trump on Tuesday announced that Pfizer had agreed to sell its products in the U.S. at 'Most Favored Nation' pricing, one day after the administration required companies to respond to his prescription drug pricing executive order," reports The Hill's Joseph Choi.

What we know: "Drugmakers were given until Sept. 29 to respond to Trump's 'Most Favored Nation' Executive Order that required companies sell drugs in the U.S. at the lowest price they sell in other developed countries, establish direct-to-consumer avenues and not sell new drugs for lower prices in other countries."

The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump's direct-to-consumer drug website will be called "TrumpRx."

➤ MORE READS:

Axios: Vance, Trump Jr. tighten ties to Charlie Kirk's group

Politico: 'There could very well be consequences': Trump's team pressures wary GOP lawmakers to draw new maps

The Washington Post: Why growing fears of a new tech bubble could be bad news for 401(k)s and jobs

COMING UP

The House is out. The Senate is in. Trump is in Quantico, Va., and Washington today. (All times EST)

12:30 p.m. Senators meet for weekly caucus luncheons. 📆 Today's agenda

3 p.m. Trump signs executive orders.

🐝 INTERNET BUZZ

🍎☕ Celebrate: Today is National Hot Mulled Cider Day.

❤️‍🔥 Taylor Swift's late-night blitz: NBC announced that Taylor Swift will be the sole guest on "Late Night with Seth Myers" on Oct. 8. She will also appear on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Oct. 6. Eeek, we're only a few days until "The Life of a Showgirl" is released!

🪨 A great, wholesome prank: A woman pranked her boyfriend by opening a package with a rock that she claims she bought at Anthropologie for $150. His reaction is hilarious.

👋 AND FINALLY…

Because you made it this far, watch Walter and Gus learn to catch treats.

Stay Engaged

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