Jay O’Brien

ABC: Do you still trust the president on tariffs? Trillions of dollars in the market have been lost.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We have to give the president space. His strategy is playing out. It's been less than a week, so I think he's owed that.

Meantime in the House Intelligence Committee

Mike Waltz just responded to the Houthi group chat on camera — said the story was pushing “more hoaxes” about President Trump

The administration has acknowledged the group chat was real. CIA Director Ratcliffe confirmed it was real under oath today on Capitol Hill.

Two officials in that Houthi strike group chat reported by The Atlantic will coincidentally testify on Capitol Hill tomorrow.

Both DNI Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe will address the Senate Intel Cmte’s annual Worldwide Threats hearing tomorrow.

ICYMI — this is Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying his 94-year-old mother wouldn’t care if she missed a social security check.

Implies only “fraudsters” would complain.

More than 1 in 10 beneficiaries rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income, per SSA.

ABC was first to report Friday the administration had paused the firings, after realizing the critical role these workers play in national security.

The NNSA maintains the U.S. nuclear stockpile, among other key nuclear and national security roles.

"The termination letters for some NNSA probationary employees are being rescinded, but we do not have a good way to get in touch with those personnel," an internal email obtained by ABC News says.

Most fired employees lost access to email. Many are now getting calls on personal phones.

NEW: The Trump administration is frantically trying to rehire critical nuclear workers, after roughly 300 were terminated late Thursday.

But, Department of Energy is having a hard time getting in touch with some terminated National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) personnel, ABC has learned

Then, in a reversal, firings were PAUSED. Managers told ABC they frantically called many employees back to say they weren’t fired after all.

Now, I’m told Dept of Energy is going through who should be let go & who shouldn’t at a key national security agency 2/2

Chaos yesterday in the agency that manages the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile —

Roughly 300 probationary employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were initially terminated late yesterday, multiple sources tell ABC. 1/2

REPORTER: Do you see Ukraine as an equal member in this peace process?

TRUMP: That’s an interesting question. I think they have to make peace. Their people are being killed, and I think they have to make peace

…and my colleagues, promising to work with Congress to ensure public access to information and to base vaccine recommendations on data-driven, evidence-based, and medically sound research. These commitments are important to me and, on balance, provide assurance for my vote.”

…Vaccines have saved millions of lives, and I sought assurance that, as HHS Secretary, he would do nothing to make it difficult for people to take vaccines or discourage vaccination efforts. He has made numerous commitments to me…

NEW: Sen Lisa Murkowski, a key moderate Republican, says she’s a YES on RFK JR.

Part of her statement;
“I continue to have concerns about Mr. Kennedy’s views on vaccines and his selective interpretation of scientific studies, which initially caused my misgivings about his nomination...

Is MoonPie making a comment on this administration?

Newly created House Declassification of federal secrets task force will look into:

-assassination of JFK, RFK, & Dr. MLK Jr
-Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP or “UFO”)
-Unidentified Submerged Objects (USO)
-Epstein client list
-origins of COVID-19
-9/11 files

A lesson from Capitol Hill…if you’re in a gaggle, watch your facial expressions.

H/t Joe Khalil of NewsNation (who is much more handsome than me but was mistaken for me here)