The Weekly Primer is a ‘pop-up’ newsletter that highlights the latest developments from the Trump White House with a view into the deeper agenda underway.
What’s ahead on the Trump 2.5 Agenda?
Political momentum is converging this week as the campaign season picks up intensity, with the president not looking to leave anything on or off the table.
The White House will use every pressure tactic to find votes, from promising cash giveaways to making flashy announcements, and could yet surprise with an unexpected midterms result.
Coming up this week
President Promotes Paying Voters | Trump continued his insistence that voters will get a $5,000 check if the GOP maintains control of Congress, in addition to a new $100 payment for Medicare recipients.
Brazil Vote Advancing Right | Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of the jailed former president, will head to a runoff with the current president on October 25, as conservatives gain ground in Brazil.
More Rallies For Trump, Vance | The president and vice president are due to headline rallies in at least Alaska, Nebraska, Texas and potentially New York this week.
Rubio Travels to Europe | The Secretary of State will visit Europe to shore up alliances, with stops in Greece, Portugal and Iceland.
Anduril Summit to Host President | The weapons supplier is hosting a summit where the president is expected to deliver a keynote Tuesday on defense manufacturing.
You may have missed
Intelligence Accord Agreed | Leading technologists joined the White House for a lunch that led to a self-policing accord on AI/SI as well as appointing intelligence chief Jay Clayton as the AI Czar.
Trump, Cotton Face off on Time | The president and senator have disagreed publicly about whether to end Daylight Saving Time.
Pentagon Initiates Project Meridian | Elon Musk joined a new advisory board to map the future of defense under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership.
US Withdraws from Iraq | On September 30, the United States withdrew its last troops from the country, marking a new milestone for the Middle East.
Kushner in Nepotism Crosshairs | The president’s son-in-law has been accused in a media investigation of using his position to benefit his investment firm.
Readings & Viewings
Snapshots from around the media from the past week.
TIME | Transcript of Interview with President Trump
MDMEETS | Interview with Peter Thiel
UCSB | Full Text of AI Accord
“Tom Cotton (R- Arkansas)— Senator Cotton is the Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Republican Conference. After his military service, during which he served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, he briefly worked for a consulting firm. He became a congressman before running successfully for the Senate in 2014. He is one of the foreign policy hawks of the Senate and is at times on the other side of Trump’s agenda. That being said, he backed the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for DNI. Cotton will help shape the overhaul of the intelligence apparatus.”
- p. 121 “People and Positions” | Trump 2.5: A Primer (2025)