Trump defends Pete Hegseth and school shooting in Thailand: Morning Rundown

Trump defends Pete Hegseth amid concerns about the defense secretary’s leadership. A student kills multiple people at a school in Thailand. And why Americans are still spending on little luxuries despite economic uncertainty.

Trump says he stands by Pete Hegseth as defense secretary

President Donald Trump appears determined to stand by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth despite the Iran war’s unpopularity and concerns about his leadership. “I think he’s actually one of my best. I’m very good at this stuff,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview yesterday.

“Smart guy,” he added. “He’s very much into it. Respected by the military.”

At least one political ally told Trump in recent weeks that Hegseth is “not a manager” and isn’t up to leading the Pentagon in wartime. Separately, Sen. Thom Tillis said he has “zero confidence” in Hegseth.

Elsewhere, a deal to end the six-month war appeared to be taking shape in Qatar, but there were few signs of progress as of Thursday. A smaller agreement between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, however, appeared to be close .

Were Trump to oust Hegseth, he would need to find a replacement capable of winning Senate confirmation. One name floated in pro-Trump circles is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, though Trump said he would be open to considering DeSantis for another role.

Rep. Ogles loses, Sen. Blackburn wins in Tennessee GOP primaries

Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee lost his Republican primary to former state official Charlie Hatcher, becoming the ninth House member — and the third Republican — to lose a primary this year.

Despite President Trump’s endorsement, Ogles was unable to fend off Hatcher, a former state agriculture commissioner backed by the governor and other prominent Republicans. Ogles has faced several controversies over the years, including criticism over comments about Muslims and an investigation into alleged campaign finance violations. More on Ogles’ loss.

In the state’s gubernatorial race, Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the Republican nomination, defeating Rep. John Rose. Blackburn became the first woman to represent Tennessee in the Senate in 2018 and would be the state’s first female governor if she wins in November. She is among the Senate’s most conservative members, known for her tough stances on abortion and transgender rights. More on Blackburn’s win.

More politics news:

Jobs report is expected to show a pickup in hiring

Economists expect the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ nonfarm payroll report, due this morning, to show 83,000 jobs added and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Average hourly earnings are expected to rise 0.3%, though wages continue to struggle to keep pace with inflation as the Iran war pushes up energy and other prices.

Experts said the biggest job gains are likely to come in education, health services, and leisure and hospitality, while manufacturing employment continues to edge higher.

A stronger-than-expected jobs report could pave the way for interest rate increases as soon as next month by reinforcing concerns that inflation remains the bigger challenge.

But some economists are expecting a less rosy economic outlook.

Spokane fires highlight a difficult reality

The man accused of starting one of the fires burning in Washington state was charged with four additional first-degree counts of arson after investigators linked him to blazes dating back to July 2025. Aaron Farinacci ignited the Old Trails Fire in Spokane with just a cigarette, a pack of matches and a rubber band, authorities said. The fire has so far burned over 800 buildings and displaced around 60,000 people.

While there is little evidence of a statewide arson trend, intentionally set blazes have greater potential to spread as fire seasons lengthen, climate change intensifies and forests become denser. In the past three years, some of the most destructive U.S. wildfires have involved arson during extreme conditions.

How an act of arson caused so much destruction.

Student kills multiple people at Thai school after fatally shooting grandparents

A gunman shot and killed his grandparents before killing five people and himself at a school outside Bangkok on Friday, Thailand’s prime minister said, in the country’s deadliest mass killing since 2022.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told a news conference that at least 30 people were injured in the shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok.

The gunman was identified as a student. Police said he fired at least 26 rounds and that 34 additional rounds of ammunition were found at the scene. Authorities recovered a 9mm handgun believed to have belonged to his grandfather.

At least two people were in critical condition, police said.

Staff Pick: Forget the home renovation. Americans are choosing little luxuries instead.

Who doesn’t love getting a little treat? Increasingly, Americans are making room in their budgets for cosmetics, movie tickets, specialty coffees and even treats for their furry friends as they put off major purchases like home remodeling or vacations.

But it’s not just about buyer preferences. While retail sales remain strong, consumer confidence is still shaky and many households feel increasingly uneasy about their financial futures. I dug into why companies like L’Oréal and AMC are benefiting from this little luxury trend, and what it reveals about broader economic uncertainty . — Grace Thomas , business intern

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