News from HQ, they say…

How did I never realize this?

NEW in MORNING D: Today, senators are expected to ask a top Pentagon official why so many UFO sightings are unexplained — and if the public deserves more insight into mysterious reports. w/ samskove 1/2

we have yet to hear from Taylor Swift on how effectively presidential drawdown authority funds are being spent on Ukrainian military assistance programs and quite frankly her silence is deafening.

Musk vs the F-35 politico.com/live-updates/2…

NEW: Biden has requested $24 billion in Ukraine related funding as part of the budget anomalies the WH wants in an upcoming CR. The request is long-term money: $16B to backfill US stocks and $8B for Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. w/Joe Gould subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024/1…

JUST IN: Trump has tapped financier John Phelan to be Navy secretary. Phelan is the second Pentagon pick Trump has made after Pete Hegseth to be SecDef.

The drone rangers: Trump world declares war on fighter pilots politi.co/496QWl7 Paul McLeary POLITICO

Jared Isaacman is President-elect Trump's choice for the next NASA administrator, per a post on Trump's Truth Social account. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTru…

Excited for a new role @Politico as defense editor. Can’t wait to work with the impressive global security team and defense gurus Paul McLeary, Jack Detsch, Joe Gould, Connor O'Brien, samskove. Reach out with ideas and tips.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew accused the Pentagon on Thursday of hiding the truth about mysterious drones spotted near military sites in New Jersey. samskove politico.com/news/2024/12/1…

NEW: At least a dozen senators are pushing to see the FBI’s background check on Pete Hegseth — a rare move for the committee that oversees his confirmation and a sign Donald Trump’s pick for Pentagon chief still faces hurdles. politi.co/4iMakIK

NASA says its workforce was so busy this week that it did not have time to complete a plan on… how to cut that workforce.

NASA chief nominee, contradicting Musk, opts for the moon first over Mars politico.com/news/2025/04/0… samskove

Jack Detsch samskove Full story: politico.com/news/2025/04/2…

A who's who of space companies is pushing for the Senate to back a return to the moon amid anxiety of NASA favoring a Mars mission - see the letter I obtained, which references a previously unannounced "Senate reconciliation bill."