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"Hegseth is purging military leaders with little explanation."

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Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Hegseth Is Purging Military Leaders With Little Explanation; Rubio Admits to Vance Being Groomed As The 2028 GOP Candidate; Democrats Celebrate Election Wins. Regaining Power Will Be Harder + Trump pardons Tennessee Republican convicted of federal public corruption charges. Jakub Lepš Nov 7   READ IN APP   This is a quick roundup of some of the more notable recent news stories covering U.S. politics: Hegseth Is Purging Military Leaders With Little Explanation (The New York Times) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed or sidelined over two dozen senior military officers in recent months, an unprecedented move that has created turmoil and mistrust within the armed forces. Many of those removed had ties to former Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley or had supported diversity and inclusion programs, drawing accusations of a political purge. Among those affected are top combat veterans like Maj. Gen. James Patrick Work and Rear Adm. Milton Sands, despite strong backing from senior commanders. Critics warn that Hegseth’s actions are politicizing the military, eroding its apolitical tradition, and weakening morale. Lawmakers and former generals have compared the scale of these firings to purges seen in authoritarian regimes, warning of lasting damage to the military’s legitimacy. Rubio privately admits to Vance being groomed as the 2028 GOP candidate (Irish Star) Marco Rubio has privately expressed support for Vice President JD Vance, believing he is being groomed to replace Donald Trump in 2028. Rubio is reportedly committed to backing Vance’s potential presidential bid and has even indicated he would support running as vice president alongside him. A recent poll shows Vance has stronger backing among Trump supporters, while Rubio lags significantly behind. Trump’s Approval Drops While Democrats are ‘More Motivated to Vote’ Than Usual in Midterm Elections, Poll Shows (Emerson College Polling) A new Emerson College Polling survey shows that President Trump’s approval has dropped to 41%, with 49% disapproving, reflecting a decline in support among key groups like Republicans, independents, and Hispanics. On the 2026 congressional ballot, Democrats hold a slight lead over Republicans, but voters are more motivated to vote than in the last midterms, with Democrats showing the highest motivation. For the 2028 presidential election, California Governor Gavin Newsom leads the Democratic field, while 35% of voters remain undecided. Democrats celebrate election wins. Regaining power will be harder (BBC News) A year after losing power and direction, the Democratic Party is at a crossroads, energized by recent electoral victories in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey. Candidates like Zohran Mamdani, Abigail Spanberger, and Mikie Sherrill won by running on diverse platforms, sparking debate on whether centrists or the left wing will shape the party’s future strategy. As Democrats aim to rebuild and refine their message for the 2026 midterms and beyond, some advocate focusing on affordability issues, while others suggest a stronger stance against Trump and his supporters. Donald Trump under pressure on economy after Democratic election wins (Financial Times) After significant Democratic wins in local and state elections, Donald Trump is facing increased pressure on his economic record, particularly concerning inflation and affordability. Despite touting economic growth, stock market highs, and falling prices, many voters remain concerned about the cost of living, an issue that helped Democrats secure victories. Trump’s credibility on the economy is further challenged by his lavish actions during a government shutdown and his inability to fully address inflation. Trump pardons Tennessee Republican convicted of federal public corruption charges (The Guardian) Donald Trump pardoned former Tennessee state House speaker Glen Casada and his ex-aide Cade Cothren, who had been convicted on public corruption charges related to a scheme to win taxpayer-funded mail business. The White House defended the pardons, claiming the case had been “significantly over-prosecuted” by the Biden administration, highlighting that the offenses involved a minor issue with a small financial loss. Trump’s pardons continue a pattern of granting clemency to political allies and public figures, including others convicted of fraud or corruption.   Like Comment Restack   © 2025 Newsmatics dba US Politics Today 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036 Unsubscribe