Greg Myrie

There are periodic calls to scale it back. One of Trump's national security advisors in his first term, Robert O'Brien, recently wrote this in an op-ed. One source, for example, told NPR that the Middle East section at the NSC is being reduced from 10 staffers to five.

There are periodic calls to scale it back. One of Trump's national security advisors in his first term, Robert O'Brien, recently wrote this in an op-ed. One source, for example, told NPR that the Middle East section at the NSC is being reduced from 10 staffers to five.

So it appears to be an attempt to streamline the national security process, though, again, we don't know precisely because it was done without notice or explanation.

So it appears to be an attempt to streamline the national security process, though, again, we don't know precisely because it was done without notice or explanation.

So it appears to be an attempt to streamline the national security process, though, again, we don't know precisely because it was done without notice or explanation.

Well, Scott, I think at this point we can say what we're seeing is very unusual arrangements on the national security team. Marco Rubio has these dual roles, which is very rare. His stock seems to be on the rise with Trump. Yet some of the biggest foreign policy matters, Trump has turned to Steve Witkoff, his longtime friend from his New York real estate days.

Well, Scott, I think at this point we can say what we're seeing is very unusual arrangements on the national security team. Marco Rubio has these dual roles, which is very rare. His stock seems to be on the rise with Trump. Yet some of the biggest foreign policy matters, Trump has turned to Steve Witkoff, his longtime friend from his New York real estate days.

Well, Scott, I think at this point we can say what we're seeing is very unusual arrangements on the national security team. Marco Rubio has these dual roles, which is very rare. His stock seems to be on the rise with Trump. Yet some of the biggest foreign policy matters, Trump has turned to Steve Witkoff, his longtime friend from his New York real estate days.

Witkoff had no national security experience, and yet he's the point man on the Iran nuclear negotiations. He's also the main negotiator in the U.S. efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. So at this point, the Trump administration still feels like it's working out some of these arrangements on the fly.

Witkoff had no national security experience, and yet he's the point man on the Iran nuclear negotiations. He's also the main negotiator in the U.S. efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. So at this point, the Trump administration still feels like it's working out some of these arrangements on the fly.

Witkoff had no national security experience, and yet he's the point man on the Iran nuclear negotiations. He's also the main negotiator in the U.S. efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. So at this point, the Trump administration still feels like it's working out some of these arrangements on the fly.

Yeah, Hegseth said reporters must now be escorted by Pentagon officials when they leave the area inside the Pentagon designated for the media. This reverses decades of policy where reporters could move about in the non-classified parts of the Pentagon and generally had pretty good access to officials. Hegseth has taken a number of moves to limit contact between journalists and military officials.

Yeah, Hegseth said reporters must now be escorted by Pentagon officials when they leave the area inside the Pentagon designated for the media. This reverses decades of policy where reporters could move about in the non-classified parts of the Pentagon and generally had pretty good access to officials. Hegseth has taken a number of moves to limit contact between journalists and military officials.

Yeah, Hegseth said reporters must now be escorted by Pentagon officials when they leave the area inside the Pentagon designated for the media. This reverses decades of policy where reporters could move about in the non-classified parts of the Pentagon and generally had pretty good access to officials. Hegseth has taken a number of moves to limit contact between journalists and military officials.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the Pentagon, said it, quote, appears to be a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing. I'll note the Pentagon has had only one formal press briefing in four months under this new administration, and Hegseth didn't take part in that one.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the Pentagon, said it, quote, appears to be a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing. I'll note the Pentagon has had only one formal press briefing in four months under this new administration, and Hegseth didn't take part in that one.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists covering the Pentagon, said it, quote, appears to be a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing. I'll note the Pentagon has had only one formal press briefing in four months under this new administration, and Hegseth didn't take part in that one.

So Trump plans to nominate Waltz to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Now, Vice President J.D. Vance tried to downplay any sense of turmoil. In an interview on Fox News, he said Waltz was being given a new position for which he seemed better suited.

So Trump plans to nominate Waltz to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Now, Vice President J.D. Vance tried to downplay any sense of turmoil. In an interview on Fox News, he said Waltz was being given a new position for which he seemed better suited.

So Trump plans to nominate Waltz to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Now, Vice President J.D. Vance tried to downplay any sense of turmoil. In an interview on Fox News, he said Waltz was being given a new position for which he seemed better suited.