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Mass polygraphs at the Pentagon show Hegseth’s weakness | Margaret Sullivan

The more defense secretary Pete Hegseth tries to flex his manly strength, the wimpier he looks

The more the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, tries to flex his manly strength, the wimpier he looks.

The former Fox News host has attempted to seize control of what the public is allowed to know, but bad news keeps creeping out from the Pentagon.

Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist

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© Photograph: Daniel Heuer/Reuters

© Photograph: Daniel Heuer/Reuters

© Photograph: Daniel Heuer/Reuters

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Trump’s threat against an NBC journalist is an attack on reality | Margaret Sullivan

The president’s call for the FCC to scrutinize Kristen Welker’s innocuous remarks is a sign of desperation

With his approval ratings tanking, the crucial midterm elections looming, and his war with Iran turning into a quagmire, Donald Trump has entered full freak-out mode.

It’s not hard to tell. Just look at what happened this week when he lashed out at Kristen Welker, the well-respected host of NBC’s Meet the Press, and one of the best-known journalists in the nation.

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© Photograph: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

© Photograph: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

© Photograph: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

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Dolly Parton brought divided Americans together. What can we learn from her? | Margaret Sullivan

The singer had a serendipitous mixture of humor, humility and humanity. We could all stand to channel it a bit more

The moment that the world found out that Dolly Parton had died, I was in a hair salon in the reddest congressional district in New York state. The neighborhood on the shore of Lake Erie where I move every summer voted solidly for Donald Trump in 2024.

I often pass a lawn sign that has something misogynistic to say about New York’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, and the mere mention of Kamala Harris’s name can bring derisive jokes. Of course, there certainly are liberals and independents to be found, but on balance the area leans right.

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© Photograph: LGI Stock/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

© Photograph: LGI Stock/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

© Photograph: LGI Stock/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

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