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President Donald Trump just pulled a fast one on the Senate and the intelligence world. He called off Jay Clayton’s confirmation hearing and said Bill Pulte will stay on as Acting Director of National Intelligence for now. The move landed like a surprise punch — and not the good kind.
Trump’s DNI shuffle: politics over prudence
This was not a normal personnel delay. The White House tied Jay Clayton’s confirmation to other fights on the Hill and left Bill Pulte — a political appointee from the Federal Housing Finance Agency — in charge of America’s spy shop. Senators from both parties had been rushing to hold Clayton’s hearing because of a looming deadline on Section 702 of FISA. Instead of calming the mess, the president made it worse. Republicans who wanted a quick vote were left scrambling. Democrats used Pulte’s lack of national‑security experience as a reason to hold firm. The result: gridlock where we needed steady hands.
Section 702, FISA, and why this is dangerous
Section 702 is a tool used by intelligence agencies to gather foreign intelligence. Lawmakers had been close to a deal to keep it working. That deal fell apart once Pulte was in the mix. You don’t play political games with FISA deadlines and expect no fallout. If Congress can’t act because leadership is busy trading confirmations like chips at a poker table, the country pays the price. This is about more than feuds and theater — it’s about keeping the intelligence community able to protect Americans.
California’s LGBTBE procurement goal: policy or legal landmine?
The California Public Utilities Commission long ago set aspirational goals for certified LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBE) — including a 1.5% supplier‑spend target for utilities. Those goals are part of a broader supplier‑diversity push that sounds fair on paper. But the AM Update suggested a Justice Department official called the program illegal. I could not find a public DOJ press release or named official saying that in major outlets. That’s an important gap. Still, the idea of government favoring businesses based on sexual orientation raises real questions about fairness and the law. Should contracts go to the best bidder, or to the most politically‑favored group? Conservatives worry merit and taxpayers lose when identity politics runs procurement.
Other headlines that matter
On culture and accountability: a Colorado French teacher was fired after students said she pressured them into same‑gender kissing skits in class. Parents and school officials said students felt coerced — and the district moved to remove the teacher. And on a darker note, Richard Tillman, the brother of the late Pat Tillman, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to setting a San Jose post office on fire. These stories show consequences follow bad choices, whether in classrooms or on the road.
Whatever your view of the president, this DNI episode is a reminder that Washington’s horse‑trading now reaches into national security. Delays and political leverage are headline fodder, but the risk is real: when lawyers, lobbyists and political strategists are running the clock, America’s safety can slip. Lawmakers should stop treating vital security tools like bargaining chips and start doing their jobs. Voters deserve leaders who protect the country first, and headlines like these make it clear we’re a long way from that.
