President Donald Trump signed an executive order on oversight of AI on Tuesday, less than two weeks after postponing a White House ceremony, fearing a similar policy might dull America’s tech edge.

It establishes a framework to vet advanced AI’s national security risks up to a month before public release. Participation by developers would be voluntary, the order notes.

“Advanced AI capabilities make our Nation stronger, but also introduce new national security considerations that require coordinated action across executive departments and agencies,” the order states.

The differences from the order Trump declined to sign on May 21 remain unclear.

The order says the government would have only 30 days to review an AI system, a shorter time frame than some in the industry were expecting. A longer time period might have been seen as too burdensome for a fast-moving and highly competitive industry.

Trump canceled an Oval Office event with tech industry executives last month because he did not like what he saw in the earlier version of the order’s text. “We’re leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that lead,” Trump told reporters at the time.

That directive was characterized as a voluntary collaboration with participating U.S.-based tech companies, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Google, which are sometimes described as “frontier labs” because they are building the most advanced AI systems. Several companies had been planning to have executives present at the May 21 signing event. Trump ended up signing it without any ceremony.

The White House said in a social media post Tuesday that the executive order “creates a process for frontier labs to voluntarily share cutting-edge cyber models in order to secure critical infrastructure and strengthen the government’s own cyber defenses. We are NOT conducting oversight of all new models, as that level of government overreach would have chilling effects on free speech and innovation.”

Juan Londoño, a policy analyst at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, said the order is imperfect but “a step in the right direction to prepare the nation for the release of advanced AI systems.”

He applauded the White House’s characterization of the process as voluntary but said he was concerned about the vagueness of how the government, led by the director of the National Security Agency, will decide which AI models qualify for scrutiny, and how it will decide which “trusted partners” get early access to them.

Londoño said in an interview that giving so much discretion to the NSA director was a “dangerous precedent” that could enable the government to “weaponize” the policy against companies it is clashing with, like Anthropic.

Plans for a new AI cybersecurity directive followed Anthropic’s April announcement of its most advanced AI model, called Claude Mythos, in the middle of the company’s legal fight with the Trump administration over a contract dispute with the Pentagon.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell soon after convened an urgent meeting with Wall Street CEOs, warning them about the risks posed by Mythos’ apparent ability to find cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the world’s software. Anthropic has limited access to Mythos to only a small group of trusted partners, such as big tech companies and banks, though it said Tuesday it has expanded that group by another 150 organizations.

Anthropic called Trump’s new order “an important step in strengthening America’s leadership in AI” and said it looks forward to collaborating with the White House to support its implementation.

Its chief rival, ChatGPT maker OpenAI, also described the policy as an important step, as did Google.

“As AI capabilities continue to advance, we believe effective safety frameworks should continue to be developed through democratic institutions, informed by technical expertise and broad stakeholder input, to promote accountability and public trust,” said a statement from Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also welcomed Trump’s policy but criticized the administration for having “belatedly discovered the need to redo something it hastily dismantled in its first year.”

Trump repealed many of former President Joe Biden’s guardrails for AI just hours after returning to the White House last year.

Here’s how the players rated in the 1-1 draw at home to Ghana

Wales started their summer with a 1-1 draw at home to Ghana at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Lewis Koumas came off the bench late on to rescue a draw for Craig Bellamy’s men, who had previously fallen behind through substitute Caleb Yirenkyi’s opener midway inside the second half.

Here’s how the players rated on the night.

Karl Darlow 7

Had an early howler in the first half, but recovered fairly well and made some good stops on the night.

Jay Dasilva 6

Did quite well in possession, but was caught out a little defensively in the second half. Subbed

Joe Rodon 7

Did his job well enough. Little to really take issue with on the night.

Dylan Lawlor 7

Arguably at fault for the goal, which was a shame as this was otherwise another fairly assured performance. Played some superb passes from deep too.

Neco Williams 7 STAR MAN

Some really important defensive contributions. Also played an important role going forward down the right. Perhaps could have reacted better for the goal, but cross for equaliser was superb.

Ethan Ampadu 7

Mopped up brilliantly in defence and was often at the base of his side’s most promising moves. Faded after the break, but still a good shift.

Josh Sheehan 6

Marshalled things well in midfield initially, but also dropped off a little after half-time.

Daniel James 7

Really lively early on. Denied twice by the woodwork. Caused the Ghanaian defence a fair amount of problems before coming off in the second half.

David Brooks 7

Made some really good runs and linked up nicely with his attacking colleagues. Couldn’t quite find the final ball at times, but still a fairly good shift. Subbed.

Sorba Thomas 6

Worked so hard all night, but couldn’t quite have the level of influence he would have liked.

Kieffer Moore 6

Quite quiet by his standards. Couldn’t quite get on the end of a couple of half-chances. Subbed.

Subs

Lewis Koumas (on for Moore 60) – Missed a couple of promising chances shortly after coming on, but deserves immense credit for his goal. Follows in his father’s footsteps by finding the net – 7

Nathan Broadhead (on for Brooks 60) – Injected a welcome dose of pace – 6

Cameron Congreve (on for James 60) – Did really well on his first senior outing. Put in a couple of really good crosses – 7

Chris Mepham (on for Lawlor 67) – A decent cameo – 6

Isaak Davies (on for Thomas 67) – As above – 6

Rhys Norrington-Davies (on for Dasilva 83) – Fairly quiet outing – 6

Kai Andrews (on for Rodon 83) – Came on for his debut – 6

Actor Emily Blunt was recently asked for advice for young women who hate their jobs. Her response – to quit and pursue what you want or love to do, even if it earns no money – generated polarised reactions.

Many people bristled at the financial impossibility of following this advice. Others rightly pointed out that this question is too complex to be answered in a brief interview reply.

At any stage of your career, it can be challenging to know why, when and how to quit. These decisions are especially tough when considering leaving your first “real” job. You’ve never made the leap, and the stakes can be high.

Thankfully, there are signposts that can help. These come in the form of jolts: events that cause us to stop and rethink our relationship with work. As an organisational psychologist, I’ve spent the past 15 years studying how people quit their jobs, including the jolts that lead them to look for the exit door.

No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

Read more from Quarter Life:

Jolts are typically (but not always) negative events. They may happen directly to us at work, but can also come from events in the lives of those around us – for example, a major work failure, a small slight from your boss, or the departure of a well-liked coworker.

While they can happen any time, they are especially common in the first year of a new role, in moments where you realise that the reality of a job doesn’t line up with your expectations. Outside of work, good or bad news in your personal life can also jolt you into reevaluating the time and energy you’re investing in work.

The key question is: when is a jolt an insignificant moment of doubt, and when does it signal a real problem that needs addressing?

Determining the answer requires perspective that comes from separating yourself from the emotional aftermath of jolts. So, when they happen, it’s typically best not to respond right away, but instead have a plan to revisit them at a later time.

By scheduling a recurring check-in on your relationship with work, perhaps every three to six months, you’ll free yourself from the pressure of having to think through every jolt immediately – which can be a recipe for discontentment and burnout. In “batching” your jolts, you’ll find that many fade away over time, allowing you to see the ones that signal a real problem in your relationship with work.

To determine whether a jolt points to a real problem, it helps to mentally zoom in and out of your relationship with work. Is the cause of the jolt an everyday drain on your positive energy? Has it revealed that your job is no longer fulfilling its purpose in the broader scheme of your career?

Finally, think about all of the positive aspects of your job, and ask yourself: does this problem outweigh them? If the answer is yes to one or more of these questions, then it’s worth taking action.

Stick or twist

So, what do you do when you realise a jolt is a real problem?

The first step is to speak up to see if the problem can be resolved. Too often, especially early in their careers, people don’t ask for changes at work because they assume the answer will be no, or that complaining will harm their reputation.

Bringing up problems to your boss can indeed be a career-limiting move. Research has found that managers tend to rate employees who raise problems lower than those who don’t speak up, or who only speak up with positive suggestions for improvement.

However, speaking up is less likely to backfire when workers offer a realistic solution that benefits not only themselves but also the organisation.

Speaking up is sometimes all it takes to get your relationship with work back on track. And even if it fails, it is still valuable. You can move on to considering quitting with the knowledge that the cause of your departure was unresolvable, which will reduce future feelings of regret over “what could have been”.

The next step is to weigh up your alternative career options. It’s critical not to rush this process. Spending weeks, months or even years on a career plateau, looking for the right next move, is common. During this time, beware of the tendency to withdraw a bit at work and give other behavioural “tells” to observant colleagues that you’re eyeing the exit door.

However, once you locate and secure what’s on the other side of that door, it’s time to resign.

The best way to resign

In almost all cases, it’s best to deliver your resignation in a face-to-face (or video) meeting with your boss, during which you share why you’re leaving and give a reasonable notice period. What constitutes reasonable notice differs by country, industry, profession and company. Check your contract and do some research to determine what is right for your situation.

Resigning via email or other messaging platforms is tempting, but it elicits more negative responses than communicating face-to-face. During the resignation, there is little value in disparaging the company or those in it. It’s best to focus on the opportunity ahead rather than problems in your current job.

The way you leave your first job can have lasting implications for your career. The goal should be to avoid burning bridges while leaving in a way that minimises disruption to your team. That means remaining fully engaged during your notice period, and providing the best possible handover of your tasks and projects.

You may even consider giving more notice than necessary and expressing gratitude as you leave. Doing so will not only make for a more enjoyable notice period and a smoother transition, it could also set you up for a future job move that is becoming increasingly common: boomeranging back to your former employer.

The Met Office says a new weather system will bring low pressure to our shores tomorrow, with heavy rain expected across eight UK regions on Wednesday

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Substantial rainfall is forecast for millions across Britain tomorrow as the jet stream undergoes a significant shift.

Temperatures have fallen to typical levels for this period following May’s record-shattering heatwave, when thermometers climbed beyond 35C in certain locations – representing the warmest temperatures ever recorded for May.

Yet thunderstorms and precipitation have since arrived across numerous regions. And while the Met Office indicates some “dry and bright weather ” can be anticipated early tomorrow, forecasters warn: “It is not going to last.”

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern indicates a fresh weather system “with a stronger-than-average and more south-shifted jet stream” will deliver low pressure to our coastline tomorrow.

“That means it swiftly turns wet across Northern Ireland, Wales and the South West first thing Wednesday morning, ” he said. “[It will be a] tricky rush hour as this rain moves north-eastwards, turning damp for central, eastern and northern England by the afternoon, as well as central and southern Scotland.”, reports the Mirror.

Mr McGivern noted that, despite skies clearing and brightening during the afternoon, there will remain “a lot of showers returning to Northern Ireland, the north and central England, as well as Wales in particular”.

UK areas experiencing substantial rainfall on Wednesday

• Northern Ireland
• Wales
• South West of England
• Central England
• Eastern England
• Northern England
• Southern Scotland
• Central Scotland

The Met Office previously indicated temperatures could reach 21C across southern regions on Wednesday, while northern areas might see highs of 19C. Comparable conditions are anticipated throughout the coming days.

BBC weather outlook for the week ahead

The BBC weather outlook for the week ahead reports: “[Wednesday] will be cloudy and windy with outbreaks of rain pushing eastwards, these occasionally heavy with a risk of thunder in the north. Sunny spells developing in the south later in the afternoon.

“A mix of sunshine and heavy showers on Thursday. Risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Friday looks to see sunny spells interspersed with showers in the west and north. Drier elsewhere. Saturday will see mostly cloudy skies with a chance of light rain in western areas.”

US President Donald Trump has called suggestions the US and Iran are no longer holding peace talks “false and erroneous” and insisted the two countries have been speaking “continuously”.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, he added the US and Iran in fact spoke “four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today”.

But he also said he had told Tehran, “It’s time, one way or another, for you to make a Deal. You’ve been doing this for 47 years, and it cannot be allowed to go on any longer!”

It comes after reports that Trump berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a call aimed at ending fighting in Lebanon.

The US president is said to have told Netanyahu: “You’re f***ing crazy”, adding, “Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this”, according to one US official who summarised the call to Axios.

A senior official in Netanyahu’s office told Israeli outlet N12 News that reports on the call were “inaccurate.”

Lebanon confirmed a partial ceasefire had been agreed between Hezbollah and Israel, though there were already reports of violations on Tuesday as both sides traded new attacks.

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Watch: Trump is furious with Netanyahu because Israel is still in charge

Rebecca Whittaker3 June 2026 00:00

Powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia says it will start handing its weapons to the state

One of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed armed groups said Tuesday it would begin putting its weapons under government control, a major step in the new government’s effort to bring militias that have long operated on their own under state command.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq said it had formed a committee to oversee the move, including an inventory of its fighters, weapons and equipment, and to coordinate with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The group cast the decision as a response to calls by Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework, the largest bloc in Parliament that dominates Iraqi politics.

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Rebecca Whittaker2 June 2026 23:00

Over 2,000 US diplomats left foreign service over the last year

As the United States grapples with a deadlock in negotiations with Iran, NBC News has revealed that over 2,000 US diplomats left the foreign service over the last year, according to figures by the American Foreign Services Association.

The officials were either laid off or forced to retire, according to the report.

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Current and former state department officials say that the reduction in numbers is a critical disadvantage for the US at this time. The US diplomatic service was made up of 13,000 employees in 2024.

Rebecca Whittaker2 June 2026 22:00

Pictured: Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, Lebanon

Becky Whittaker2 June 2026 21:00

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Watch: Netanyahu says Iran will ‘fall in the end’ in speech in Tel Aviv

Rebecca Whittaker2 June 2026 20:40

Israel kills 11 in Lebanon, a day after Trump said Israel and Hezbollah will de-escalate

Israeli drone strikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed 11 people, including a man along with his son and daughter, the state-run news agency said, a day after Donald Trump said Israel and the militant group Hezbollah agreed to dial back fighting.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, launched dozens of projectiles and drones toward Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and Israeli cities and towns in recent days as Israel’s airstrikes killed dozens, including women and children, in Lebanon. Hezbollah did not carry out any attacks on Israel after Trump’s announcement.

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Trump said Monday he’d spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had communicated with Hezbollah through mediators, and that no troops would be “going to Beirut.” But the intensity of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah continued.

Rebecca Whittaker2 June 2026 20:20

‘Stuck in quicksand’: How the Iran war has stalled the Trump agenda and frustrated the White House

The mood inside the White House is reportedly being driven by a sense of burnout among staffers and officials who are trying to push President Donald Trump’s agenda forward while being “all-consumed” by the unpopular Iran war.

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For more than three months, Trump’s war with Iran has dragged on, pushing gas prices and inflation higher for Americans – leading to negative media attention and general disapproval by the public. The administration has made several efforts to end the war, or at least open the Strait of Hormuz but so far no tangible deals have been implemented.

Rebecca Whittaker2 June 2026 20:05

British couple jailed in Iran lose appeal

A British couple jailed in Iran on spying allegations have lost an appeal against their convictions, their family and the UK government said Tuesday.

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Craig and Lindsay Foreman were detained in January 2025 while on an around-the-world motorcycle trip. In February they were handed 10-year prison sentences for espionage, which they both deny.

Britain’s Foreign Office called the couple’s incarceration “unjustified and appalling.”

“We are disappointed by the appeal decision and will continue working to ensure that Craig and Lindsay are returned safely to the U.K.,” it said in a statement.

“Since their arrest last year, Britain’s ambassador to Tehran, diplomats and officials in London have been working to provide consular assistance. This includes the ambassador visiting them in prison and facilitating calls with their family back in the U.K.”

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Daniel Keane2 June 2026 19:37

Nuclear watchdog offering technical support to UAE after attack on nuclear plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency is offering the United Arab ⁠Emirates technical as well as moral support, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi ⁠said after ⁠a visit to the site ⁠of a nuclear power ​plant ⁠that came under ‌a drone attack last month.

Grossi said Emirati ‌authorities had reacted ‌very quickly to the attack at the Barakah ⁠Nuclear Power Plant by shutting down a reactor because of the loss of external power.

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He said a number of ‌activities would take ​place to ‌complete repairs at ⁠the plant but ⁠provided no further details.

Daniel Keane2 June 2026 19:10

Watch: Trump calls Netanyahu ‘crazy’ in furious call as Hezbollah agrees to halt attacks

Maira Butt2 June 2026 18:50

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The Old Station Quarter features a gym, tattoo parlour, and café and wants to create a community to draw more people to the city

An old building in the centre of Peterborough has been completely transformed into a multi-use space for working, socialising and fitness. Laura Green, the director of the Old Station Quarter, wanted to turn the “dilapidated” building into “destination for the people of Peterborough to come, work, socialise, and train”.

Ms Green said: “We found this building and it was just beautiful and really fitted with what we wanted to do. We’re trying to create one destination that is open to everyone. That’s probably the main question we’ve had over the launch weekend is can anyone go in? Absolutely everyone can use the space. We’re doing socials and events as well. We want to promote networking and creating a community in the work space. A lot of people that work remotely still miss that community feel of being in an office environment. We’re almost trying to recreate that.”

The Old Station Quarter features a range of businesses including a gym, tattoo parlour, a barbers, an independent café, and a bar. There is also a co-working space that members can book out or the public can walk in and use.

All of the businesses involved in the project are from the local area with Ms Green hoping the Old Station Quarter will draw more people to Peterborough. She added: “The demise of the city centre has sort of hit us all a little bit. We’ve all got children growing up in Peterborough and we remember what is was like growing up in Peterborough when it was thriving. There’s a lot of noise about regeneration of the city centre, but unless you’re going to put your money where your mouth is and invest in it, people aren’t going to have anywhere to come back to.

“As a group of independent businesses, we need to be providing an environment people want to come back to. That’s what drew us into it. We’re business people, so we need to create something sustainable but equally, there’s a personal attachment to all of us with the city.”

Ms Green believes the concept of the Old Station Quarter will help it to stand out in the area by creating an “all-in-one community”. The business mixes wellness and fitness with creativity and offers people a place that isn’t “soulless” to work.

Ms Green continued: “It’s going to be for people with different interests. Whether it’s sport, art, food, drink, coffee, it’s going to be a place where everyone can go. I don’t think I’ve ever come across anywhere in our area that offers that at the moment.”

Launch events were held at the Old Station Quarter over the weekend with many people saying how “impressive” the building and concept was. Ms Green said: “We didn’t have any negativity, which was amazing. We’ve had nothing but love from people about the building and the aesthetics of what we’ve done. A lot of people said it reminded them of being in London. It looked like they were in the arches of Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross rather than Peterborough.

“We had feedback that the gym is something very different. A lot of people have been quite impressed by the size of it and the amount of equipment we’ve got. They like the idea of an independent gym rather than going to a large commercial gym. A lot of people have a nervousness walking into a big gym environment and I think people feel we’re a bit more personal.”

There are a few memberships on offer that provide members with perks such as discounts on the café, open access to the gym, and different fitness classes. However, the Old Station Quarter is open to everyone to use and take a look around.

The Old Station Quarter can be found on Viersen Platz in Peterborough. More information, including the opening times of each business, can be found on the Old Station Quarter’s website.

​Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, has softened her stance on proposals for the introduction of a new levy on overnight stays in North Yorkshire, which has been described as a “game changer” by the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith.

​Mr Skaith has suggested that a “modest levy” on 41 million annual visitors to the region could raise £50 million for York and North Yorkshire to “turbocharge investment”, but hoteliers have expressed “deep concern” about its potential impact on businesses.

​Labour’s Ms Hume previously said that “local coastal communities absolutely should benefit from a simple tourist tax.”

​However, on Tuesday, June 2, the MP said she was yet to be convinced on how it would work on the coast.

​Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), she said: “I’m having conversations with Mayor David Skaith about how the tourism levy will work.

“Whilst I think introducing a tourist tax is a great idea for York, as it’s a city which attracts a lot of international tourists used to paying tourist levies, I remain to be convinced on how it would work on the coast where domestic tourism is the lifeblood of our visitor economy.

​“Family finances are already squeezed and I worry that a tourist levy could be seen as a tax on the family holiday.”

​Ms Hume added that she would “also like to see a licensing system for Airbnbs and short-term holiday lets introduced at pace, so residents aren’t squeezed out or unfairly disadvantaged.

​“There’s a balance to be struck and it’s achievable.”

Alison Hume And David Skaith At Constituency Office In Scarborough 19.07.25 Courtesy Anttoni Numminen/LDRS

​It comes as the Government announced its first post-Covid campaign to promote national tourism with a focus on coastal communities.

​Mayor Skaith has emphasised that he will “work with local authorities, businesses, and the tourism sector as a whole, to really bring them all on the journey together and actually work out what we want to see from such a levy, how it’d work, how it’d be collected”.

​Last week, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for Open to Business, Cllr Mark Crane said that “a lot of businesses are very concerned about the introduction of such a tax and we want to make the mayor aware that there is a strong opposition from businesses who would be hit by the introduction of the tax”.

​The conservative councillor added: “That being said, it’s his decision and his alone to do it, and if he does it, we understand that some of that money will go to the Local Visitor Economy Partnership, which I sit on and officers from this council sit on and we would have some control on how it would be spent.”

​The Government’s consultation on the overnight levy closed on February 18 and responses are being analysed.

(Image: Newsquest)

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, who led the Met investigation, said: “Ahmed Ali Jama was a delivery driver, who had visited his home estate and was talking to an old friend during his shift. He was unarmed and defenceless as he was fatally stabbed by Hashani on the orders of Adaw, Ahmed’s cousin.

The Black Horse on Consett Front Street, is up for sale for £225,000, according to a listing on Rightmove.

The building includes the ground floor pub – with no suggestions that it will close – a first floor three-bedroom manager’s flat, and additional basement storage space.

In central Consett, the Black Horse is positioned directly opposite the town’s popular Wetherspoon’s pub.

The ground floor offers what is called “traditional ground floor trading accommodation” and is said to have an open plan public bar with a central bar servery and a games area to the side.

Furnished with loose tables, chairs, and bench seating, it provides seating for up to 40 customers.

The basement includes a beer cellar and further storage facilities.

According to the listing, the first floor comprises a manager’s flat with three bedrooms, lounge, office, kitchen, and bathroom.

Outside, the premises offer an enclosed beer patio and garden described as having seating for 25 covers. There is also a detached single storey outbuilding used for storage.

The Black Horse ‘s premises licence allows the sale of alcohol from 10:00am to 01:00am, seven days a week.

Fixtures and fittings, except specific items such as tills, IT equipment, leased and branded items, can be included in the sale.

The rateable value is listed as £22,000, estate agents Savills said although

The listing can be seen here: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/754381367089249.

Senate Republicans have greeted President Donald Trump’s decision to name Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of National Intelligence with either ignorance or opposition.

Pulte’s name was a shock. Aside from the fact that he lacks any real qualifications, there’s also the fact that for the past year, Pulte has used his perch to go after Trump’s perceived enemies, such as Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

It’s just the latest sign that Senate Republicans’ patience with the president is wearing thin at a time when they should be unified to pass his massive immigration spending bill and to protect the Republican majority.

Trump announced the move on the heels of the Justice Department’s notification on Monday that it would abandon its planned $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. On Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told the House Appropriations Committee it“was not moving forward with the fund,” which had infuriated many Republicans.

It seemed like–to borrow a phrase from Sen. Susan Collins–the president had learned his lesson. But Trump’s decision seemed to cross yet another line.

And it’s coming as Trump has a contingent of Republicans who have an axe to grind after the president drove them out of a job. Known colloquially as the “YOLO caucus,” these are Republicans whom Trump drove out either through supporting primary challenges or forcing them not to seek re-election.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told a gaggle of reporters that “I don’t see any evidence of qualifications for that job, but I’m willing to listen.”

Cornyn remains understandably salty after Trump backed Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary last week. The four-term Texas Republican lost his primary last week and now Texas’s Senate seat risks falling into Democratic hands.

Unsurprisingly, Sen. Thom Tillis, the unofficial chairman of the YOLO caucus, had the loudest criticism for Blanche. The North Carolina Republican announced last year he would not seek re-election after he opposed Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” and helped drive Kristi Noem out of the job as Homeland Security secretary.

“I had no idea he had national security experience,” he told The Independent. “I’m gonna have to look into his resume.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) told a local Louisiana First News that he had his own reservations, saying Pulte “doesn’t seem to be qualified.”

Cassidy lost his primary last month after Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow to replace him as payback after Cassidy voted to convict Trump for his actions on January 6.

The reaction from Cornyn and Tillis symbolizes the changing attitude among Republicans compared to last year. Cornyn, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard in deference to Trump’s re-election and to save his own skin.

Tillis voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense despite his own reservations toward Hegseth. And Cassidy famously sacrificed his credibility as a physician to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

But now that they are out of a job, the group is free to vote according to their conscience.

Combine that with Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who needs to break with the president to win re-election in a blue state, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, whose home state has ranked-choice voting, and that makes five out of 53 Republicans. That’s just enough to sink any of Trump’s major legislative priorities or nominees.

But it’s not just the YOLO Caucus and the Mod Squad who have reservations. When Murkowski’s fellow Alaskan Sen. Dan Sullivan was informed about the nomination, he said, “I don’t know who that is.”

This is poppycock. In March of last year, Sullivan voted to confirm Pulte to lead FHFA. But Sullivan is embroiled in a tough race against former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola in Alaska.

For the past year, Trump has used his return to Washington as an opportunity to poke, prod and tweak Republicans, especially the older establishment types whom he felt were never fully on the MAGA train.

But he still has to work with them to get his agenda through and needs to present a united front against the Democrats. And after repeatedly antagonizing Republicans in the upper chamber, he might have pushed them to their limit.