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Wednesday, May. 14, 2025

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Trump is running short on MAGA loyalists to run federal offices

It was bad when President Donald Trump unceremoniously fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to be named to the role. But Trump added further insult to injury Monday when he tapped Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as the acting head of the Library of Congress. As you might guess, Blanche, Trump's personal defense attorney in his criminal cases, has no training in library sciences.

Notably, Blanche, who's staying put at the Justice Department, is the latest Trump administration official simultaneously serving in leadership positions for two unrelated offices. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has collected the most side jobs. Most recently he was named interim White House national security adviser, taking on one of the most stressful and consequential jobs in government. He's also been named the acting national archivist after Trump fired the previous officeholder as part of his grudge against the institution and the acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (more on that later).

Trump doesn't trust many people, and he prioritizes loyalty over efficiency. Thus, we see him appointing the same people to multiple roles. But the practice also speaks to how few people there are inside Trump's orbit and willing to work for his administration.

This is a preview of Hayes Brown's latest column. Read the full column here.

TOP STORIES

RYAN TEAGUE BECKWITH

No, your 'DOGE check' from Elon Musk is not in the mail

The Department of Government Efficiency is probably not going to send you a dividend. Read more.

JACOB MCHANGAMA AND ASHKHEN KAZARYAN

GOP-backed bill threatens to police what Americans can read, watch and say online

Utah Sen. Mike Lee introduced the Senate version of a bill that could ban online pornography across the U.S. Read more.

EMMA FREER

Trump is right that drug prices are too high, but his solution is absurd

Even if the executive order takes effect, it will do nothing to address the root causes of the problem it purports to solve. Read more.

KEITH REED

The intriguing unpredictability of Michael Jordan's new gig

What will a 62-year-old Jordan have to say about a game with so many 3-pointers and fouls whistled as flagrant? Read more.

TOP VIDEOS

THE BEAT

Ari Melber confronts Mehmet Oz over RFK Jr.'s false vaccine claims

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THE WEEKNIGHT

David Hogg: I'm challenging the status quo and that scares people

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KATY TUR

'It's naked corruption': Sen. Chuck Schumer blasts Trump accepting luxury plane from Qatar

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ALL IN

RFK Jr. took his grandchildren to swim in contaminated creek on Mother's Day

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MORE FROM MSNBC

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