Morning all! Connor Echols and I talked to a bunch of folks about the string of conspicuous departures from the admin. It's a bit of a sh%tshow as you can imagine. But one theme emerges: the Rubio folks have targeted Vance allies who are more or less the only foreign policy restraint oriented people inside the govt. today. They have been marginalized, squeezed out or silenced by the neocons ahead of and during the Iran war. That doesn't mean some aren't merely leaving to start 2028 early, but the writing is on the wall. In the Pentagon, Hegseth has all but consolidated power for the political appointees, boxing out the brass and making sure that Vance's friends, including Army Secretary Driscoll, who left this week, are iced along with them. More here today:
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/vance-rubio-rivalry/