| CLAIRE HOWORTH,
DEPUTY EDITOR |
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As many have argued, Donald Trump’s second coming has been lighter on the chaos than his first, with the administration touting fewer scandals, fewer leakers, maximum loyalty. The tighter ship has often been attributed to Susie Wiles, his chief of staff. But in an explosive VF excerpt, Jonathan Karl reveals how two other women in Trump’s inner circle, Linda McMahon and Brooke Rollins, nearly derailed the Wiles pick, among some other surprising early infighting during Trump 2.0. (Karl’s excellent new book, Retribution, is one wild reminder that the stories do ultimately come out.) Elsewhere in politics, Aidan McLaughlin follows how the Paul Ingrassia “Nazi Streak” scandal embodies group-chat dynamics on the right, and Keziah Weir has reporting on the left’s own Nazi scandal—Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s tattoo. |
During Trump’s second term transition, Joe Biden was still the president, but for all intents and purposes, 1100 South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach was the center of the political universe. His transition team’s office was situated a few miles away from Mar‑a‑Lago in what had been the campaign’s headquarters, but the key decisions that would shape the incoming administration were being made within the ornate and gold‑accented walls of Trump’s private club. As virtually everyone looking to influence the president‑elect or get a top job knew, proximity to Trump mattered more than anything else. The key was to be the last person to speak with him before he made a decision. |
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One former Trump official warns a “loose-screw caucus” is championing “the worst aspects of Trumpism.” |
Platner’s mother, former DNC delegate Leslie Harlow, warmed up the 600-person crowd that descended upon the tiny hamlet of Ogunquit to hear the Maine Senate Democratic front-runner explain himself. |
As the unscripted genre reaches new heights, two men are coaching the next crop of reality stars—aspiring influencers, single workaholics, and disgraced politicians among them. |
In his memoir You Thought You Knew, Federline tries to have it both ways. In an interview, he claims that airing his scandals with the pop princess is in service of his children—and Spears herself. |
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The Rebirth of Television |
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