Aidan McLaughlin

Washington Correspondent @VanityFair

Tips: [email protected]. Signal: aidanmclaughlin.10

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Some news: I'm writing a weekly column at @VanityFair on politics, power, and society in Washington. You can see that, and more, in my newsletter Party Animals, which drops Thursday afternoons starting this week

Subscribe here: https://t.co/2v0DyKduxW

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

When it's the World Cup and your boss asks what you've been doing all month

[Shane Goldmacher @ShaneGoldmacher]

DNC Chairman Ken Martin writes a long essay explaining his spending philosophy as the DNC reports $2.2 million in debts compared to $128.5 million cash for RNC: "We must measure success by power built, not simply dollars retained."
https://t.co/zXUutUrJUc

[Nick Field @nick_field90]

"In her campaign memoir, 107 Days, Harris lists a few concerns that she had about Kelly. One was that he had never experienced an “oh shit moment” in his political career. This is quite a remarkable statement" https://t.co/E6eipTwx3w

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Whitney Cummings says Netflix cut her Trump joke from the Mark Twain Prize special honoring Bill Maher that’s airing this week.

The joke was: “I actually heard Trump may come tonight but he couldn't make it. He got caught in sex traffic.”

[Yashar Ali 🐘 @yashar]

NEWS

Senator Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham, confirms to Sean Hannity that she is going to run for a full-term.

[Jonathan Lemire @JonLemire]

U.S. Sought Phone Records of Times Journalists and Their Relatives https://t.co/MFMg0LFWyl

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Big problem for DSA politicians who claim they’re no different from the dem socialists of Scandinavia is the DSA platform is considerably more radical than any Nordic model in existence

[Brad Polumbo @brad_polumbo]

I just read through the DSA's new platform.

It is the most utopian/dystopian, bat-sh*t insane thing I have ever read.

It includes:

1. No more bills for anyone

2. Government-run food, housing, medicine, transportation, and nationalizing all other large corporations and essential industries

3. The drafting of a “new constitution”

4. Defunding the Department of War

5. Slavery reparations

6. Unlimited free abortion and “gender-affirming care” for all, including minors

7. Have taxpayers pay off everyone’s entire student debt & fund unlimited “free” higher education for all

8. Taking “steps toward fully abolishing the police and prison system”

9. Ending ALL deportations, providing amnesty for ALL illegal immigrants, and allowing unlimited migration to America

10. Abolish the Presidency, Supreme Court, and Senate

Other than that, their plans seem super realistic, practical, and not at all naive, revolutionary, or dystopian.

🤡🤡🤡

[Matt Viser @mviser]

NEW: At a court hearing this morning for David Hearn, the Olympic canoeist accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool, a trial date was set for Sept. 28. Prosecutors anticipate calling roughly 5-7 witnesses and one expert. 

Read more on Hearn here: https://t.co/KW0fOqXIWd

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Sen. Mark Kelly to @MarkLeibovich on whether America can handle a disabled first lady https://t.co/n6LVYhs9i1

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

@adamwren @AOC @playbookdc 😬

[Paul Farhi @farhip]

New: Trump says Qatari-gifted Air Force One plane to be grounded so it can be “maxed out”—apparently confirming an earlier @nytimes story that led Trump’s DoJ to subpoena journalists for reporting the plane lacked full security measures. @maggieNYT

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

@wsteaks @politico @adamwren @DashaBurns Congrats Will, so well deserved!

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

If you needed more evidence this is an influencer administration here’s the FBI director posting a dramatic promo video of him hopping out of private jets and signing autographs to honor his own role in the World Cup

[FBI Director Kash Patel @FBIDirectorKash]

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the largest sporting event in the history of the world, shattering previous attendance record by double digits. America- we got it done, ZERO major security incidents across our nation while we hosted the equivalent of 78 super bowls in 38 days, along with 40 base camps, endless fan zones, and celebrations in nearly every state.

President Trump promised his administration would deliver the most safe, secure, and fun environment for FIFA. He started by establishing the White
House FIFA Task Force some 16 months ago, and we got right to work.

This FBI led the charge dedicating nearly 5,000 personnel to the effort out of HQ, field, and international offices - across 16 host cities. And, none of what we accomplished is possible without our federal, state and local partners who all put in the same relentless effort. It’s the largest resource dedication the FBI has EVER made for a any event.

This FBI stood up a Joint Ops Center, International Police Coordination Center, Intelligence Coordination Center, and more - all from scratch- to collect and share intel in live time.

We established the first ever counter-UAS drone school, training members of law enforcement from across the country for the World Cup- we seized over 700 drones near FIFA airspace.

Whether it was UFC 250, SAIL 250, State Fair 250 or so many other events happening simultaneously- we DELIVERED the safest and most secure World Cup in history.

President Trump's leadership set the course, he led the way, and this FBI and our partners rose to the challenge- thanks to all our partners, @FIFA @DHSgov @WHTaskForceFIFA and their Director Andrew Giuliani.

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Martin Amis on Argentina’s 1986 World Cup

[Joe Bernstein @Bernstein]

Have the Argentines always been like this? Or is it just this group of players?

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Messi hit Merino in the face with a shot and the US commentator said, very sincerely, that Merino “put his face on the line for his country”

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

World Cup finals should not be played in broad daylight this is like watching Sunday league

[cay @koralinadean]

this vibes of this game not giving finale its giving charity fundraiser match

[Sophia Cai @SophiaCai99]

NEW: In Trump’s box at the World Cup final, per person familiar:

• Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
• King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
• First Lady Melania Trump
• FIFA President Gianni Infantino
• Secretary Howard Lutnick
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio
• Secretary Markwayne Mullin
• Andrew Giuliani
• Barron Trump
• Eric Trump
• Brian Kilmeade
• Bob Kraft

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

👑

[Awful Announcing @awfulannouncing]

"I thought it was crap." - Wayne Rooney on the FIFA World Cup final halftime show

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Did not know Brad Parscale, while working for Israel, is also a top executive at conservative talk network Salem. Per WSJ, his initial contract with Israel included “integration of narrative messaging into Salem Media Network properties...”
https://t.co/kfDbcmeh2Y

[Dan Lamothe @DanLamothe]

Number of nights of consecutive bombing: 7.

Number of press briefings in that time frame by any defense official to explain to the American people what is happening on their behalf: 0.

[Aidan McLaughlin @aidnmclaughlin]

Good god. Anna Paulina Luna allegedly tipped off MAGA influencer “DC Draino” that Trump would pick Vance as VP so he could place a bet on Polymarket, per @PhilipWegmann and @schwartzbWSJ https://t.co/rPOqe80hRK