Good morning,
Welcome to MS NOW’s Sunday Spotlight, where you can find a selection of the week’s most interesting and important stories. President Donald Trump’s latest nominee has stalled — for now. Meanwhile, the administration’s latest spending cut comes with some terrible political timing, a Republican megadonor may not get much bang for his buck and the Senate’s grilling of Dr. Fauci is more than a little ironic. Plus, a friendly neighborhood hero’s latest outing is a throwback.
Don’t forget to check out more top columns and videos from the week below.
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Unsettling: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to the position permanently has stalled after two Republican senators were unsatisfied with his answers on Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and audit-immunity deal with the IRS. Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolian have been pushing for Blanche to sign a written agreement that he won’t revive the fund. But the Justice Department doesn’t need the fund to keep paying its political allies who were supposedly victims of government persecution, as demonstrated by a seven-figure payout to an anti-abortion activist, argues Anthony Coley. Senators should focus on reforming the law that allows those settlements, rather than just focusing on Blanche. Read more.
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Third rail: Medicare and Social Security have long been called the “third rail of politics” because of their danger to lawmakers who try to touch them. But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced this week that it would end a subsidy program to stabilize premiums of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, in which nearly 25 million people are enrolled. The timing is ironic, as open enrollment for Medicare Part D coverage begins on Oct. 15, less than three weeks before the midterm elections, argues Miranda Yaver, author of “Coverage Denied.” But the end of the subsidy aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to reduce social spending. Read more.
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Musk’s return: Tesla CEO Elon Musk spent more than $260 million helping Trump get elected in 2024, becoming the single-biggest political donor in a political cycle in American history. Now, he’s reportedly going to jump into the midterms with more than $100 million to boost GOP turnout. But that doesn’t mean his spending will be effective, argues Zeeshan Aleem. Musk has shown himself to be erratic and often self-defeating, and his political maneuvering and his low favorability ratings provide Democrats with a ready-made villain. Musk has also responded in unexpected ways to blowback, at one point floating the idea of launching a brand new political party, which means there’s no guarantee he’ll stick to the plan. Read more.
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Fauci takes the Fifth: Dr. Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions at a Senate hearing on the Covid-19 pandemic, but the only reason it could be held is because he preserved a diary that he kept at the time. That same level of scrutiny is rapidly becoming impossible across the rest of the federal government, as the Trump administration has selectively released records that align with its political priorities while actively shredding its own paper trail, argues Lauren Harper, chairwoman on government secrecy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation. While Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was able to spend eight months searching for Fauci’s notes, he has eviscerated public records offices through his agency. Read more.
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Stoic heroics: Stan Lee liked to regale interviewers with the story of his publisher calling the pitch for Spider-Man “the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” That’s because Lee wanted the teen hero to have personal problems that humanized him. The latest movie installment, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” continues in that vein, with Tom Holland’s superhero showing a stoic attitude toward self-sacrifice that reflects Lee and other Marvel creators coming of age during World War II, argues media critic Brian Lowry. With audiences facing “superhero fatigue,” a reminder of those old-time values might be just the thing that keeps the franchise relevant. Read more.
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The National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., is far from perfect. It’s dimly lit, super crowded and jumps from period to period, randomly spotlighting items such as Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” and costumes from “Star Wars.” But sociology professor Robyn Autry, who has studied museums, says the White House’s recent attacks have made her appreciate it more. A recent White House report smears the museum’s leadership, while Trump has ordered signs be placed outside falsely warning visitors that it contains inaccurate information. But the very exhibits the White House complains about are more a reflection on America’s complicated history. And if the museum sometimes feels disjointed in its presentation, that’s because America is disjointed. Read the column here.
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This week on “The Best People,” Nicolle Wallace is joined by Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon to discuss the importance of telling the truth to keep the nation safe, and why she worries about President Trump’s casual approach to national intelligence. Subscribe to MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and a special bonus episode featuring Nicolle’s conversation with Rachel Maddow.
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