Epstein Secrets

e Care Act when it zeroed out the tax imposed on those who choose not to buy insurance. (Gerald HerbertfAP) BY JAMES HOHMANN with Joanie Greve and Mariana Alfaro THE BIG IDEA: Oral arguments in New Orleans on Tuesday over the future of the Affordable Care Act foreshadowed the massive impact that President

uptly stepped aside, is expected to hand over to a third acting secretary, Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer, when the White House formally submits Esper's nomination to the Senate for confirmation. Under a federal law known as the Vacancies Act, Esper, who has been serving as Army secretary since 2

ld signs that read "We Vape! We Vote!" outside President Trump's rally in Dallas on Oct. 17. (Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg) BY JAMES HOHMANN with Mariana Alfaro THE BIG IDEA: President Trump is spurning the women who have his ear to side with male advisers as he kowtows to a pressure campaign orchestrated

orea. From the AP: "The move comes even as Japan's defense minister, whose country feels threatened by repeated North Korean missile launches, told Esper 'no one could be optimistic about' changing the North's behavior. ... Esper insisted the postponement was not a concession to North Korea but rathe

ron's hangar in Pensacola, Fla., on Nov. 5. He was forced out on Sunday as secretary of the Navy. I Schunnaker/Navy/EPA-EFE/Rex) BYE HOHMANN with Mariana Alfaro THE BIG IDEA: What makes America exceptional isn't any arsenal. It's moral authority. That's the upshot of Richard V. Spencer's Sunday letter to P

- Pentagon spokespeople said Defense Secretary Mark Esper asked for Spencer's resignation after losing confidence in him. Their explanation is that Esper became "deeply troubled" when he discovered Spencer was backchanneling with the White House to offer a secret deal in which a review board would de

y Leader Mitch McConnell, visits the Capitol in March for a lunch with the Republican caucus. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post) BYE HOHMANN with Mariana Alfaro THE BIG IDEA: Mitch McConnell told President Trump privately last month that no politician has ever lost an election for spending more money. That

-- Pentagon spokespeople said Defense Secretary Mark Esper asked for Spencer's resignation after losing confidence in him. Their explanation is that Esper became "deeply troubled" when he discovered Spencer was backchanneling with the White House to offer a secret deal in which a review board would de