No event held in front of a chainlink fence calls for a $3,750 cashmere jacket.

I intend to support Robert Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services. While there is no dispute that the U.S. spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country, our health outcomes do not reflect this investment. Instead of focusing on who covers our exorbitant healthcare costs, we need to reduce these costs by directing our attention to prevention and keeping people healthy. This is the appeal of RFK, and many Alaskans have shared that view with me. Chronic conditions are a significant source of illness and major drivers of public debt; he recognizes this and is committed to addressing it. I continue to have concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies, which initially caused my misgivings about his nomination. Vaccines have saved millions of lives, and I sought assurance that, as HHS Secretary, he would do nothing to make it difficult for people to take vaccines or discourage vaccination efforts. He has made numerous commitments to me and my colleagues, promising to work with Congress to ensure public access to information and to base vaccine recommendations on data-driven, evidence-based, and medically sound research. These commitments are important to me and, on balance, provide assurance for my vote. I am encouraged by the time he has spent among indigenous peoples, his commitment to tribal sovereignty, and his promised attention to the Indian Health Service. He has spent time in rural Alaska and understands some of the unique public health challenges we face that require complex solutions. There is much shared work ahead to achieve better public health outcomes, and I will push Mr. Kennedy to realize these goals.

McConnell statement on his vote against Gabbard: “The Senate’s power of advice and consent is not an option; it is an obligation, and one we cannot pretend to misunderstand.” “When a nominee’s record proves them unworthy of the highest public trust, and …” 1/2

SCOOP: Dems "pissed" at liberal groups MoveOn, Indivisible

Here are the latest Trump plans to gut the federal workforce: There’s an Executive Order out tonight on DOGE’s federal “workforce optimization initiative.” It requires: 1) all hiring to be approved by DOGE’s agency lead 2) Only 1 hire allowed for everyone 4 people who leave 3) Each agency to prepare for “large-scale reductions in force” 4) within 30 days, each agency is supposed to submit to OMB (Russ Vought) a report on whether the entire agency or any sub-functions can be eliminated —>Note that the military, immigration enforcement and public safety jobs are exempted

Federal employee retirements are processed using paper, by hand, in an old limestone mine in Pennsylvania. 700+ mine workers operate 230 feet underground to process ~10,000 applications per month, which are stored in manila envelopes and cardboard boxes. The retirement process takes multiple months.

No competition. Dumbest intersection in the city.

🚨HAPPENING NOW IN THE OVAL: President Trump and @elonmusk give the TRUTH about DOGE!

Russia releases Mark Fogel, the American teacher held for years on drug charges, in an exchange brokered by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff. @jonathanvswan @maggieNYT @julianbarnes @antontroian