Dan Diamond

well I guess paternity leave is officially over

BREAKING: Susan Monarez, forced out by RFK Jr as CDC director, to testify in front of Senate panel next week. Monarez has said RFK Jr pressured her around vaccines. RFK Jr has said she was untrustworthy. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

where we are in 2025: major universities seeking a mutual-protection treaty against the U.S. president

Thinking about this moment ahead of RFK Jr's Senate hearing tomorrow.

BREAKING — Trump is planning to sign an executive order today that calls for spacing out childhood vaccines, breaking the MMR into three separate shots and making other key vaccine changes. @lenasun.bsky.social @rachelroubein.bsky.social

Trump has a new top lawyer — WILL SCHARF. The incoming White House counsel has been serving as Trump’s staff secretary. He’s also chaired a federal commission that’s sped approval of Trump’s construction projects, like the president’s planned ballroom. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

UPDATE — Trump says he will be "immediately" appealing the ruling to the Supreme Court Lengthy Truth Social post also rehashes Trump's arguments for the ballroom — particularly, that presidents need it for security

thinking of this today

BREAKING - federal appeals panel orders halt to Trump's ballroom construction “Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence,” Judges Millett and Garcia wrote in majority opinion Order is paused for 2 weeks so Trump can appeal to SCOTUS

Stuck circling over DCA, which is frustrating, but got rare (for me) overhead views of Joint Base Andrews and Air Force One, which is interesting.

Good morning from the airport. It’s my birthday and … I don’t know where we’re going today. My toddler told me last night that I’m flying to Chicago. But my wife (who’s with me) told me she fed him false info because she knew he’d spoil the surprise. So … destination TK! (More to come, I hope.)

GOP Sen. Ron Johnson says he's obtained a copy of Tony Fauci's phone. News comes as Republicans prepare to hold a contempt vote on Fauci tomorrow after he declined to testify last week.

New: Democrats are asking Interior Department’s inspector general to investigate if department concealed relevant info about Reflecting Pool damage. “Numerous questions remain: How was the vandalism lie cooked up?” @whitehouse.senate.gov and @heinrich.senate.gov write.

On the left - workers installing Trump’s planned granite seal last week On the right - the helipad today, after granite was dismantled over the weekend Photos via AP and WaPo’s Peter Stevenson (And yes, I have asked repeatedly who’s paying for it.)