{"id":2647849,"date":"2026-08-21T13:27:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T17:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-report-card-even-our-gop-strategists-say-no-good-news-this-week\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T13:33:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T17:33:30","slug":"white-house-report-card-even-our-gop-strategists-say-no-good-news-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-report-card-even-our-gop-strategists-say-no-good-news-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"White House report card: Even our GOP strategists say no good news this week"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhite-house-report-card-even-our-gop-strategists-say-no-good-news-this-week%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2647849&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article offers a detailed overview of recent political developments and opinions in Washington. It discusses the potential departure of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the challenges faced by the Biden management, and various narratives surrounding foreign policy and domestic issues. Highlights include President Trump&#8217;s recent actions and statements,such as scaling back military drills with South Korea and threatening Oman over Iran-related efforts,alongside concerns about the ongoing war in the Middle East and rising tensions with Iran and North Korea.The article also covers Trump&#8217;s declining approval ratings, alarming economic indicators like the surpassing of $40 trillion in national debt, and various analyses from political experts rating the current administration\u2019s performance poorly. Additionally, it explores speculation about who might replace Leavitt, including both real contenders and wild guesses, and shares notable stories and analysis on topics ranging from police investigations to royal family matters. it portrays a tumultuous political landscape marked by instability, economic concerns, and uncertain leadership transitions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Welcome to Friday\u2019s <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>. If anyone has a spare ticket for this weekend\u2019s grand prix, then you know where we are! Today, we bring you the winners and losers from days of speculation about who will be the next White House press secretary. But first, we run the rule over the White House week \u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Will we hear from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karoline-leavitt\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karoline-leavitt\/\">Karoline Leavitt<\/a> before she steps down as press secretary at the end of August? It has been almost a month since she held a briefing. This reflects a White House that is struggling to put difficult issues to bed. And even President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s public schedule has fewer events with press.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4694819\/white-house-report-card-republican-strategists-say-no-good-news-this-week\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House report card: Even our Republican strategists say there\u2019s no good news this week<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4693229\/why-three-republican-senators-backed-massachusetts-candidate-late-term-abortion\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Why did three Republican senators back a Massachusetts candidate who supports late-term abortion?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4692438\/meet-the-duffies-transportation-secretary-takes-family-road-trip-america\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Meet the Duffies: Trump\u2019s transportation secretary takes his family on a romp through America<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe it\u2019s just because it is August and everyone needs a bit of a break. Anyway\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunday arrived with a bombshell. Or maybe the absence of bombshells, as Trump ordered the Pentagon to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690075\/trump-gutted-south-korea-drills-lack-help-iran\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690075\/trump-gutted-south-korea-drills-lack-help-iran\/\">scale back U.S. participation in joint exercises<\/a> with South Korea. He said it was because of his \u201cvery good relationship\u201d with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kim-jong-un\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1029\">Kim Jong Un<\/a>, the leader of nuclear-armed and heavily sanctioned North Korea. South Korea was understandably worried, but pointed out that the annual exercises had already begun.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Trump\u2019s frustration with the war in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> was on full display Monday. Trump threatened to attack <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oman\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3362\">Oman<\/a> if it hampered American efforts in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf Oman gets in the way, we\u2019ll bomb the s*** out of them,\u201d he told Fox News, while claiming his administration had opened a back channel to Iran.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oman is a U.S. ally, but has maintained relations with Tehran. In a sign of a deepening quagmire, at least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lebanon\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1192\">Lebanon<\/a>, marking the deadliest day since a June ceasefire agreement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans also expressed worries that Trump\u2019s dismissive comments on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690266\/democrats-republicans-midterms-iran-uss-lincoln-reports-lacking-food-veterans-input\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690266\/democrats-republicans-midterms-iran-uss-lincoln-reports-lacking-food-veterans-input\/\">conditions aboard the <\/a><em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690266\/democrats-republicans-midterms-iran-uss-lincoln-reports-lacking-food-veterans-input\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690266\/democrats-republicans-midterms-iran-uss-lincoln-reports-lacking-food-veterans-input\/\">USS Abraham Lincoln<\/a> <\/em>last week could come back to haunt them, with growing unease among service families.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A day later, Trump had to clarify that there were no talks underway with Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps publicly contradicted his claim, leaving analysts in the awkward position of trying to decide which account they trusted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wednesday brought an indication of where it is all going and what it means politically. The president\u2019s approval rating <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690392\/trump-approval-rating-iran-war-poll\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4690392\/trump-approval-rating-iran-war-poll\/\">dipped to 33%<\/a> in a Reuters-Ipsos poll, its lowest yet. Trump distracted himself by taking reporters on a 30-minute tour of the new South Lawn helipad, where he signed a piece of its stonework.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president also announced a \u201ccrushing economic operation\u201d that he said would amount to \u201cEconomic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,\u201d with warnings that countries trading with Iran would face consequences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thursday brought awkward economic news. The Treasury announced the national debt had passed $40 trillion, the result of decades of borrowing to pay for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schumer-spokesman-celebrates-1-9-trillion-covid-relief-plan-erases-ny-budget-deficit\/\" title=\"Schumer Spokesman Celebrates: .9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan Erases NY Budget Deficit\">social safety net programs<\/a>, military spending, and Trump\u2019s tax cuts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With so much gloom around, some midterm candidates have been happy to have the president stay away from their campaigns. Not Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), who needs all the help she can get after a<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4693496\/darline-graham-nordone-debate-fumble-spotlights-policy-views\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4693496\/darline-graham-nordone-debate-fumble-spotlights-policy-views\/\"> shaky debate performance<\/a> against her Republican runoff opponent, Ralph Norman. Trump is due to stump in South Carolina for Lindsey Graham\u2019s sister on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So what did our two strategists make of it all?<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-jed-babbin-grade-d\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jed Babbin: Grade D-<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The national debt went to over $40 trillion last week, resulting in a loss of a whole letter grade here for Trump. There\u2019s a lot more going on with Iran, North Korea, and NATO, which Trump isn\u2019t able to get into a war with Iran.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">$40 trillion is an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4694886\/we-owe-40-trillion-national-debt\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4694886\/we-owe-40-trillion-national-debt\/\">unimaginable amount of money<\/a>, and it doesn\u2019t even include the amount taken from the Social Security \u201ctrust fund,\u201d which isn\u2019t included in the debt estimate. I calculate that if you took $100 bills and laid them end-to-end, you wouldn\u2019t reach $1 trillion until you went around the earth at the equator \u2014 that\u2019s about 25,000 miles \u2014 8.8 times. $40 trillion is forty times that amount.\u00a0 It\u2019s impossible to understand, or believe, that number, which is why no one takes it seriously \u2014 but the president damned well should.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of some interest is the fact that the interest payments on the debt will have risen to over $1 trillion this year. That\u2019s equal to the entire Pentagon budget.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump has threatened to bomb <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oman\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/oman\/\">Oman <\/a>if it gets in the way of peace talks with Iran. And why does he believe that peace talks with Iran will come to any reliable agreement? It\u2019s a substitute for reality. We shouldn\u2019t be negotiating with those people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump now wants a summit meeting with North Korea\u2019s Kim Jong Un. Why? Just because. Not a good idea. He needs to wake up because the Russians are beginning to launch drones over Poland, a NATO ally. No good news here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><em>Jed Babbin (<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jedbabbin\">@jedbabbin<\/a>)\u00a0is a <\/em>Washington Examiner<em> contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of President George H.W. Bush.<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-john-zogby-grade-f\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">John Zogby: Grade F<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president\u2019s polling numbers are terrible, no longer just \u201cnot good\u201d or \u201ctroubling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He tells Americans to simply accept high gas prices (caused mainly by HIS unpopular war) and tariffs,\u00a0then threatens to attack Iran again. He declares that the Strait of Hormuz is \u201cUS territory\u201d and threatens to bomb Oman if they stand in the way of negotiations with Iran (which are not really taking place anyway).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He shows utter disregard for the condition of sailors deployed on the <em>USS Abraham Lincoln<\/em>, who are sorely lacking in food and basic supplies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the home front, U.S. debt passed $40 trillion this week and is on its way to $50 trillion at a fast pace. Taxpayers are now paying more to \u201cservice the debt\u201d (AKA making the minimum payment on your credit card) than on defense.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Retail sales are the lowest in over a year (recording a 0.6% drop from June to July), and consumer confidence is down 8% in August. A majority of Americans tell pollsters they are doing worse financially under Trump, personal bankruptcy filings have increased, and bond market yields are up to 6%, en route to 7%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for Trump, according to an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RalphNader\/status\/2088375383183822926\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RalphNader\/status\/2088375383183822926\">analysis by Ralph Nader<\/a>, he made $1.1 million per hour based on a 40-hour work week in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what is the president talking about when he isn\u2019t trashing allies and enemies and sailors? He is asking the Supreme Court to approve funding to continue work on his White House ballroom, praising the renovations to the White House, and touting his new multimillion-dollar White House helipad, which all comes down to the John\u00a0Zogby\u00a0LARGAS principle: Like Anybody Really Gives a S***!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>John Zogby (<em><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/zogbystrategies\">@ZogbyStrategies<\/a><\/strong><\/em>)\u00a0is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/johnzogbystrategies.com\/\">John Zogby Strategies.<\/a> His latest book is <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Beyond-Horse-Race-Polls-Should\/dp\/1538197146\"><strong>Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should<\/strong><\/a><em><strong>. His podcast with son, managing partner, and pollster Jeremy Zogby, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/johnzogbystrategies.com\/the-zogby-report\/\">can be heard here<\/a>. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-some-wild-speculation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some wild speculation<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Secrets <\/em>brings you an updated list of possible contenders to replace the irreplaceable Karoline Leavitt. Some of this is based on actual intel. Some is just wild speculation. If you want one takeaway: No one knows anything.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Scott Jennings<\/strong>: CNN\u2019s favorite Republican has seen his stock soar. There have been whispers of a meeting with Susie Wiles and well-placed comments that the job is his if he wants it.<strong><em>  Secrets <\/em>verdict<\/strong>: Not a chance. He probably meets Wiles all the time, and no one gets a job in Trumpworld by letting everyone know you want one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alina Habba<\/strong>: Rather ruled herself out with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AlinaHabba\/status\/2090200287801647382\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AlinaHabba\/status\/2090200287801647382\">social media post<\/a> saying she was not in the running for a new job and blasting the fake news. <strong><em>Secrets <\/em>verdict<\/strong>: She\u2019s running. Might be the canniest move she has made yet, having missed out on previous gigs for being too pushy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Anna Kelly<\/strong>: Good on TV. Would be a promotion from within. <strong><em>Secrets <\/em>verdict<\/strong>: We have barely recovered from our past tussles with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jen-psaki\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"571\">Jen Psaki<\/a>, the last redhead to hold the role. But Kelly fits the bill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ari Fleischer<\/strong>: Don\u2019t laugh. His name keeps coming up in conversations with <em>Secrets<\/em>, plus <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/trump-white-house\/president-trump-considers-man-white-house-press-secretary\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/trump-white-house\/president-trump-considers-man-white-house-press-secretary\"><em>NOTUS<\/em> threw his name into the mix<\/a> yesterday. <strong><em>Secrets <\/em>verdict<\/strong>: Surely a misunderstanding. Trump may consult with him, but isn\u2019t likely to go back to the future with George W. Bush\u2019s press secretary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Natalie Harp<\/strong>: Trump\u2019s human printer has been having quite the week, and now her name is popping up in relation to the press secretary gig. <strong><em>Secrets <\/em>verdict<\/strong>: Do me a favor! Anyone who tells you this is not connected has no idea what they are talking about.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Roma Daravi<\/strong>: Who? Exactly. Last seen handling communications for the Kennedy Center, she has been a devoted spokeswoman for various Trump causes for a decade. <strong><em>Secrets <\/em>verdict<\/strong>: Exactly the sort of profile that could land the gig.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Donald J. Trump<\/strong>: Last night, the president <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/117131396419596554\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/117131396419596554\">posted a picture<\/a> of himself at the lectern with the caption, \u201cBest press secretary ever.\u201d <strong><em>Secrets <\/em>verdict<\/strong>: Exactly. Don\u2019t expect a new press secretary to be appointed soon when the president does a lot of it himself.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/investigations\/2026\/08\/21\/inside-police-investigation-how-rep-max-millers-daughter-got-hurt\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/investigations\/2026\/08\/21\/inside-police-investigation-how-rep-max-millers-daughter-got-hurt\/\"><strong>Inside the police investigation into how Rep. Max Miller\u2019s daughter got hurt<\/strong><\/a>: The more you learn, the muddier it gets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/gift\/500ddbd0e233cedc\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/gift\/500ddbd0e233cedc\">The Sussexes\u2019 strategy for a quiet life and a fresh start in Britain<\/a><\/strong>: Harry and Meghan are heading home. So what does it look like? There won\u2019t be a revenge tour, and new organizations have already been told to watch their step.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#f182949283948582b186908299989f96859e9f9489909c989f9483df929e9c\"> <span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"a7d4c2c4d5c2d3d4e7d0c6d4cfcec9c0d3c8c9c2dfc6cacec9c2d589c4c8ca\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Friday\u2019s Washington Secrets: White House week review<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2647850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WEX_TRUMP-5-e1772220851131.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32133,84505,32603,33296,32127],"class_list":["post-2647849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-current-events","tag-gop-strategists","tag-political-news","tag-report-card","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WEX_TRUMP-5-e1772220851131.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647849"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647853,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647849\/revisions\/2647853"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}