We’re Tired

Fast & Furious: the White House Edition

What’s going on: Feeling whiplash from the Trump administration’s updates this week? Us too — there’s confusion about military leadership, the US Postal Service, and even what’s happening to our national forests. Here’s what you need to know…

Who’s the Army boss?: After 18 months on the job, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has officially resigned. The news follows reports he repeatedly butted heads with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose overhaul of the Pentagon and Army forced Driscoll to bring concerns to President Donald Trump. Guess we know who the president sided with. Driscoll, who's expected to leave in the coming days, joins a long list of top military officials who have departed (by choice or otherwise) under Hegseth — who’s still out here blocking promotions. It leaves the Army in a precarious state amid the war in Iran and US involvement in the Russia-Ukraine War. And some say Hegseth's latest hires don't exactly instill confidence.

A USPS whistleblower comes forth: ...And says the agency defied court orders to build a new computer ballot system that could reject thousands of mail-in ballots or delay delivery to eligible absentee voters. The Postal Service built it in a matter of weeks — rather than the usual nine months — to accommodate a Trump executive order that could restrict mail-in ballots. The whistleblower says the rush job has the potential to "derail" the midterms. Probably not the news you want to hear the week that mail-in voting for November kicks off in certain states.

Tree huggers, assemble: As if encroaching on Big Bend and Yosemite wasn’t enough, Trump shared plans in August to get rid of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule (aka the “roadless rule”). In place since 2001, the statute limits developers from touching 45 million acres of national forest. For years, the logging industry has advocated for its repeal, and Republican lawmakers have supported these efforts. If this plan goes through, it directly benefits companies that US Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz — a former timber industry lobbyist and executive — once represented. Conflict of interest much? While he says the rule change protects forests’ “long-term health” by deterring wildfires, studies show such development could put 400 threatened and endangered species at risk.

Related: Nicki Minaj Will Judge the White House’s Version of Shark Tank (The Hill)

Free Speech

In Case of Emergency, Dial FCC 

What's going on: We thought no one could have bigger beef with the Federal Communications Commission than rapper Eminem (“So the FCC won’t let me be” will remain stuck in your head all day, sorry). But FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is here to test that theory. He’s consistently making waves, acting as a kind of attack dog for President Donald Trump, analysts say. Trump, meanwhile, has been using “to the FCC!” like a Bat-Signal. Most recently, he called out NBC reporter Kristen Welker on Truth Social, saying the FCC should carry out “rebuke and punishment” for a report in which she stated Trump’s endorsements during midterms have garnered “mixed results.” Trump even summoned Carr by name in the post, demanding something be done. 

But does the FCC have to listen to Trump? Nope. Trump has little jurisdiction over what the FCC does — and the FCC also has limited power (FCC, meet NPC). That includes on the Welker issue; it specifically “cannot prevent the broadcast of any particular point of view.” That doesn’t necessarily mean Carr — a well-known Trump supporter — will leave NBC alone. Last fall after Charlie Kirk’s death, Carr used his power to press ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel for comments he made on-air. Then earlier this year, the FCC ordered ABC to submit “early license renewal applications” as part of an investigation into “possible violations.” This tactic hadn’t been used since the ‘70s by the FCC, and led ABC to sue the government, naturally. Carr has also threatened networks over their Iran War coverage, arguing that broadcasters running “fake news” could change course “before license renewals,” a threat Trump’s chair during his last term refused to make. Meanwhile, the only Democratic FCC commissioner condemned Trump’s Welker comments. Talk about a little controversy. 

Related: Why Warner Bros. Discovery Is Living in Limbo (CNBC)

RIP, Quibi

Revenge and Romance in 90 Seconds

What's going on: By now, we’ve all probably accidentally scrolled our way to a clip from a serialized soap opera titled something like Double Life of a Millionaire Heiress, watched with fascination… and then maybe went looking for the other 62 parts. (There’s only so many times you can rewatch Heated Rivalry before the knockoff Bound to My Hot Rival starts to seem intriguing.) Microdramas pair new technology, like AI actors and virtual currency payments, with classic storytelling tricks like a good ol’ cliffhanger to keep viewers returning and paying to watch. Once deemed a fad when they crossed from China to the US around 2023, microdramas are now impossible to ignore. US revenue is projected to hit $1.5 billion this year and nearly $2 billion next year, microdrama actors (the human ones) are growing dedicated fanbases, and major brands are getting in on the game. Hollywood microdramas starring B- and C-listers could soon be the norm; James Franco is already in one. 

Is it just more AI slop?: While microdramas’ over-the-top titles and plotlines are easy to make fun of, production companies are trying to make money, not win Oscars. They’re cheap to produce, and more men are joining the audience as the field expands beyond romance into genres like sci-fi and horror. One co-founder even compared the format to the early days of YouTube or Netflix. However, others say that microdramas’ days are numbered (something the heroine of 30 Days Till I Marry My Husband’s Nemesis can relate to). Some critics compare it to OpenAI’s video platform Sora or the pandemic-era Quibi, both of which are largely considered cautionary tales. Others warn that the industry exploits workers, say that the popular stories often rely on misogynistic tropes, or argue that audiences will get sick of AI videos. For now, though, microdramas are still raking in cash — just like the love interest in Billionaire CEO’s Secret Obsession.

Related: The Newest Microdrama Stars: the Chicago Cubs (Variety)