Julia Jester
@julesjester.bsky.social
covering State, politics, Washington, + beyond for @ms.now • past lives: NBC News, Vox • Georgetown forever • Baltimore, hon 🦀
Reposted by Julia Jester
w/ @julesjester.bsky.social for @ms.now
The return of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, 24, marks the first time since 2014 that there are no hostages being held in Gaza, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a volunteer group.
Remains of last hostage in Gaza returned to Israel
Hamas's return of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, 24, marks the first time since 2014 that there are no hostages being held in Gaza.
www.ms.now
January 26, 2026 at 6:14 PM
w/ @julesjester.bsky.social for @ms.now
Reposted by Julia Jester
Trump diplomacy 2.0: Foreign diplomats say the president’s embrace of Steve Witkoff & the emir of Qatar is frustrating nations that have backed the U.S. for decades. w/Vaughn Hillyard @julesjester.bsky.social @ianjsherwood.bsky.social www.ms.now/news/trump-w...
Trump diplomacy 2.0: A billionaire developer and a monarchy scramble longtime U.S. alliances
Foreign diplomats say the president’s embrace of Steve Witkoff and the emir of Qatar is frustrating nations that have backed the U.S. for decades.
www.ms.now
January 23, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Trump diplomacy 2.0: Foreign diplomats say the president’s embrace of Steve Witkoff & the emir of Qatar is frustrating nations that have backed the U.S. for decades. w/Vaughn Hillyard @julesjester.bsky.social @ianjsherwood.bsky.social www.ms.now/news/trump-w...
Trump officials have repeatedly insisted the Maduro capture was a *law enforcement* operation, NOT a military one — Pentagon + CIA merely provided assistance to DOJ
So excluding Senate Judiciary leaders from its briefing w/ AG Bondi, Hegseth, Rubio, Caine & Ratcliffe really undercuts that argument.
So excluding Senate Judiciary leaders from its briefing w/ AG Bondi, Hegseth, Rubio, Caine & Ratcliffe really undercuts that argument.
January 5, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Trump officials have repeatedly insisted the Maduro capture was a *law enforcement* operation, NOT a military one — Pentagon + CIA merely provided assistance to DOJ
So excluding Senate Judiciary leaders from its briefing w/ AG Bondi, Hegseth, Rubio, Caine & Ratcliffe really undercuts that argument.
So excluding Senate Judiciary leaders from its briefing w/ AG Bondi, Hegseth, Rubio, Caine & Ratcliffe really undercuts that argument.
Senate Judiciary leaders Grassley + Durbin issue a rare bipartisan statement slamming exclusion from briefing w/ Gang of 8, House+Senate Armed Services & Foreign Cmte leadership
“The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable”
“The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable”
January 5, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Senate Judiciary leaders Grassley + Durbin issue a rare bipartisan statement slamming exclusion from briefing w/ Gang of 8, House+Senate Armed Services & Foreign Cmte leadership
“The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable”
“The administration’s refusal to acknowledge our Committee’s indisputable jurisdiction in this matter is unacceptable”
No deadline but the ‘makings of a deal’: President Trump meets Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago @ms.now www.ms.now/news/trump-z...
Here's what Trump and Zelenskyy said when they met at Mar-a-Lago
Trump wouldn't commit to a deadline for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
www.ms.now
December 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
No deadline but the ‘makings of a deal’: President Trump meets Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago @ms.now www.ms.now/news/trump-z...
Reposted by Julia Jester
President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet in Florida Sunday to hammer out a peace deal with Russia. The news comes after Russia launched a massive barrage of missiles and drones at Kyiv. MS NOW Reporter @julesjester.bsky.social reports.
www.ms.now/weekends-wit...
www.ms.now/weekends-wit...
Trump, Zelenskyy to meet Sunday amid positive signs for peace progress
President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy are set to meet in Florida on Sunday to hammer out a peace deal proposal with Russia. The news comes after Russia launched a massive barrage of missil...
www.ms.now
December 27, 2025 at 7:06 PM
President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will meet in Florida Sunday to hammer out a peace deal with Russia. The news comes after Russia launched a massive barrage of missiles and drones at Kyiv. MS NOW Reporter @julesjester.bsky.social reports.
www.ms.now/weekends-wit...
www.ms.now/weekends-wit...
Reposted by Julia Jester
4 key takeaways from the inspector general’s Signalgate report by @julesjester.bsky.social
(TL;DR: Not quite an "exoneration"...)
www.ms.now/news/4-key-t...
(TL;DR: Not quite an "exoneration"...)
www.ms.now/news/4-key-t...
4 key takeaways from the inspector general’s Signalgate report
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth transmitted secret military information in a group chat on his personal phone and declined to cooperate with investigators, according to an inspector general report.
www.ms.now
December 5, 2025 at 3:10 AM
4 key takeaways from the inspector general’s Signalgate report by @julesjester.bsky.social
(TL;DR: Not quite an "exoneration"...)
www.ms.now/news/4-key-t...
(TL;DR: Not quite an "exoneration"...)
www.ms.now/news/4-key-t...
President Trump + Zohran Mamdani will meet at the White House today
Mamdani says he’s “ready for whatever happens” — and there’s quite a bit at stake for NYC’s youngest mayor in more than a century
My latest for @ms.now: www.ms.now/news/trump-m...
Mamdani says he’s “ready for whatever happens” — and there’s quite a bit at stake for NYC’s youngest mayor in more than a century
My latest for @ms.now: www.ms.now/news/trump-m...
Can Mamdani talk his way out of Trump’s defunding threat?
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faces a challenge at the White House: convince President Donald Trump not to cut federal funding to NYC — without bowing to him or abandoning his own values.
www.ms.now
November 21, 2025 at 2:47 PM
President Trump + Zohran Mamdani will meet at the White House today
Mamdani says he’s “ready for whatever happens” — and there’s quite a bit at stake for NYC’s youngest mayor in more than a century
My latest for @ms.now: www.ms.now/news/trump-m...
Mamdani says he’s “ready for whatever happens” — and there’s quite a bit at stake for NYC’s youngest mayor in more than a century
My latest for @ms.now: www.ms.now/news/trump-m...
Exclusive for @msnbc.com: Democrats are showing signs of life not only w/ latest election wins, but also in a groundswell of fundraising
The DNC is touting a $6 million haul of small-dollar grassroots donations in October — 3x MORE than Oct ‘17 of Trump’s first term
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/e...
The DNC is touting a $6 million haul of small-dollar grassroots donations in October — 3x MORE than Oct ‘17 of Trump’s first term
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/e...
DNC rakes in major grassroots haul thanks to Trump at the helm
The Democratic National Committee enjoyed a much-needed fundraising boon in October ahead of its election victories.
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Exclusive for @msnbc.com: Democrats are showing signs of life not only w/ latest election wins, but also in a groundswell of fundraising
The DNC is touting a $6 million haul of small-dollar grassroots donations in October — 3x MORE than Oct ‘17 of Trump’s first term
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/e...
The DNC is touting a $6 million haul of small-dollar grassroots donations in October — 3x MORE than Oct ‘17 of Trump’s first term
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/e...
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — With Trump's tariffs taking center stage at ASEAN + APEC in Asia this week, the president used summits of multilateral cooperation + diplomacy as the backdrop for his one-on-one dealmaking on trade.
My latest for @msnbc.com: www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/a...
My latest for @msnbc.com: www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/a...
In Asia, Trump’s trade war forces allies to choose sides
The president’s trade policies have caught smaller nations between the U.S. and China as the world’s two most formidable economic powers vie for dominance.
www.msnbc.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — With Trump's tariffs taking center stage at ASEAN + APEC in Asia this week, the president used summits of multilateral cooperation + diplomacy as the backdrop for his one-on-one dealmaking on trade.
My latest for @msnbc.com: www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/a...
My latest for @msnbc.com: www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/a...
Humanitarian aid into Gaza by the # s, per a Trump administration official —
ON Oct 16: 950 trucks entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom + Kissufim crossings, incl. 96 UN + NGO trucks w/ food, medicines, tents, WASH supplies + other aid
SINCE Oct 10: 3,571 trucks have entered Gaza (avg of 510 daily)
ON Oct 16: 950 trucks entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom + Kissufim crossings, incl. 96 UN + NGO trucks w/ food, medicines, tents, WASH supplies + other aid
SINCE Oct 10: 3,571 trucks have entered Gaza (avg of 510 daily)
October 18, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Humanitarian aid into Gaza by the # s, per a Trump administration official —
ON Oct 16: 950 trucks entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom + Kissufim crossings, incl. 96 UN + NGO trucks w/ food, medicines, tents, WASH supplies + other aid
SINCE Oct 10: 3,571 trucks have entered Gaza (avg of 510 daily)
ON Oct 16: 950 trucks entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom + Kissufim crossings, incl. 96 UN + NGO trucks w/ food, medicines, tents, WASH supplies + other aid
SINCE Oct 10: 3,571 trucks have entered Gaza (avg of 510 daily)
Some ~professional news~
After 10 years with NBC, I’ll be joining @msnbc.com next month as a reporter covering all things Washington, Trump administration, + politics
HUGE thanks to @sudeepreddy.bsky.social for the opportunity — excited for this new adventure. www.thewrap.com/msnbc-new-hi...
After 10 years with NBC, I’ll be joining @msnbc.com next month as a reporter covering all things Washington, Trump administration, + politics
HUGE thanks to @sudeepreddy.bsky.social for the opportunity — excited for this new adventure. www.thewrap.com/msnbc-new-hi...
August 7, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Some ~professional news~
After 10 years with NBC, I’ll be joining @msnbc.com next month as a reporter covering all things Washington, Trump administration, + politics
HUGE thanks to @sudeepreddy.bsky.social for the opportunity — excited for this new adventure. www.thewrap.com/msnbc-new-hi...
After 10 years with NBC, I’ll be joining @msnbc.com next month as a reporter covering all things Washington, Trump administration, + politics
HUGE thanks to @sudeepreddy.bsky.social for the opportunity — excited for this new adventure. www.thewrap.com/msnbc-new-hi...
NEW: OPM is officially ending the Musk-led "5 things" weekly email requirement for federal employees
OPM Dir. Scott Kupor: "We communicated w/ agency HR leads that OPM was no longer going to manage the 5 things process nor utilize it internally"
+ adds managers have other tools to stay informed
OPM Dir. Scott Kupor: "We communicated w/ agency HR leads that OPM was no longer going to manage the 5 things process nor utilize it internally"
+ adds managers have other tools to stay informed
August 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
NEW: OPM is officially ending the Musk-led "5 things" weekly email requirement for federal employees
OPM Dir. Scott Kupor: "We communicated w/ agency HR leads that OPM was no longer going to manage the 5 things process nor utilize it internally"
+ adds managers have other tools to stay informed
OPM Dir. Scott Kupor: "We communicated w/ agency HR leads that OPM was no longer going to manage the 5 things process nor utilize it internally"
+ adds managers have other tools to stay informed
Reposted by Julia Jester
✅ @julesjester.bsky.social has been verified by @nbcnews.com.
May 23, 2025 at 2:03 AM
✅ @julesjester.bsky.social has been verified by @nbcnews.com.
A senior White House official calls Shaheen's letter "pointless."
"SGEs are already required to abide by executive branch ethics rules including the rules relating to misuse of position or other government resources or information," the official told NBC News in a statement.
"SGEs are already required to abide by executive branch ethics rules including the rules relating to misuse of position or other government resources or information," the official told NBC News in a statement.
Scooplet: In a letter first shared w/ @nbcnews.com, Sen. @shaheen.senate.gov urged President Trump to require Elon Musk + other special government employees involved in DOGE to sign a certification that they won't use nonpublic information to their benefit.
MORE: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
MORE: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
May 21, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A senior White House official calls Shaheen's letter "pointless."
"SGEs are already required to abide by executive branch ethics rules including the rules relating to misuse of position or other government resources or information," the official told NBC News in a statement.
"SGEs are already required to abide by executive branch ethics rules including the rules relating to misuse of position or other government resources or information," the official told NBC News in a statement.
Scooplet: In a letter first shared w/ @nbcnews.com, Sen. @shaheen.senate.gov urged President Trump to require Elon Musk + other special government employees involved in DOGE to sign a certification that they won't use nonpublic information to their benefit.
MORE: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
MORE: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
May 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Scooplet: In a letter first shared w/ @nbcnews.com, Sen. @shaheen.senate.gov urged President Trump to require Elon Musk + other special government employees involved in DOGE to sign a certification that they won't use nonpublic information to their benefit.
MORE: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
MORE: www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
NEW: Jeremy Lewin – a DOGE associate & close ally of Elon Musk who was instrumental in dismantling USAID – is now serving as the Acting Director of Foreign Assistance at the State Department, a spox confirms. His appointment comes after Pete Marocco abruptly left the position.
April 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
NEW: Jeremy Lewin – a DOGE associate & close ally of Elon Musk who was instrumental in dismantling USAID – is now serving as the Acting Director of Foreign Assistance at the State Department, a spox confirms. His appointment comes after Pete Marocco abruptly left the position.
NEW: Pete Marocco, the key figure in dismantling USAID + U.S. foreign assistance, is OUT at the State Dept
Marocco “conducted that historic task” of conducting “an exhaustive review of every dollar spent on foreign assistance,” per a senior admin official in part to @nbcnews.com
Marocco “conducted that historic task” of conducting “an exhaustive review of every dollar spent on foreign assistance,” per a senior admin official in part to @nbcnews.com
April 13, 2025 at 11:09 PM
NEW: Pete Marocco, the key figure in dismantling USAID + U.S. foreign assistance, is OUT at the State Dept
Marocco “conducted that historic task” of conducting “an exhaustive review of every dollar spent on foreign assistance,” per a senior admin official in part to @nbcnews.com
Marocco “conducted that historic task” of conducting “an exhaustive review of every dollar spent on foreign assistance,” per a senior admin official in part to @nbcnews.com
Hi bsky 👋🏻 I’m an @nbcnews.com journalist reporting on Elon Musk, #DOGE, government agencies + the federal workforce.
I’m looking for reporting tips, insights, + human impact stories. Reach out on Signal if you have any leads, intel, documents, &/or experiences that may be helpful to our reporting.
I’m looking for reporting tips, insights, + human impact stories. Reach out on Signal if you have any leads, intel, documents, &/or experiences that may be helpful to our reporting.
April 9, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Hi bsky 👋🏻 I’m an @nbcnews.com journalist reporting on Elon Musk, #DOGE, government agencies + the federal workforce.
I’m looking for reporting tips, insights, + human impact stories. Reach out on Signal if you have any leads, intel, documents, &/or experiences that may be helpful to our reporting.
I’m looking for reporting tips, insights, + human impact stories. Reach out on Signal if you have any leads, intel, documents, &/or experiences that may be helpful to our reporting.
Reposted by Julia Jester
Interesting anecdote about AOC's popularity and how even moderate Dems recognize how effective she is
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
March 20, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Interesting anecdote about AOC's popularity and how even moderate Dems recognize how effective she is
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
National Transportation Safety Board concludes: if MDTA had conducted the vulnerability assessment recommended by AASHTO in both 1991 + 2009, “MDTA would have known the risk and could have taken action to safeguard the Key Bridge … Had they done that, the collapse could have been prevented” (4/x)
March 20, 2025 at 9:09 PM
National Transportation Safety Board concludes: if MDTA had conducted the vulnerability assessment recommended by AASHTO in both 1991 + 2009, “MDTA would have known the risk and could have taken action to safeguard the Key Bridge … Had they done that, the collapse could have been prevented” (4/x)
MORE from Chair Homendy of NTSB, which is issuing 4 urgent safety recommendations to bridge owners across 19 states, the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, & U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a result of its investigation into the March 2024 Baltimore bridge collapse (3/4)
March 20, 2025 at 9:09 PM
MORE from Chair Homendy of NTSB, which is issuing 4 urgent safety recommendations to bridge owners across 19 states, the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, & U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a result of its investigation into the March 2024 Baltimore bridge collapse (3/4)
NTSB Chair Homendy: Bridge's risk was 30x greater than threshold set by AASHTO
"What's frustrating is not only did MDTA fail to conduct the vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge, they did not provide - nor were they able to provide - NTSB with the data needed to conduct the assessment" (2/4)
"What's frustrating is not only did MDTA fail to conduct the vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge, they did not provide - nor were they able to provide - NTSB with the data needed to conduct the assessment" (2/4)
March 20, 2025 at 9:09 PM
NTSB Chair Homendy: Bridge's risk was 30x greater than threshold set by AASHTO
"What's frustrating is not only did MDTA fail to conduct the vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge, they did not provide - nor were they able to provide - NTSB with the data needed to conduct the assessment" (2/4)
"What's frustrating is not only did MDTA fail to conduct the vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge, they did not provide - nor were they able to provide - NTSB with the data needed to conduct the assessment" (2/4)
NEW: ~A year after the Baltimore bridge collapse, the NTSB concludes "had the MDTA conducted a vulnerability assessment of the Key Bridge based on recent vessel traffic [it] would have been able to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and loss of lives" (1/4)
March 20, 2025 at 9:09 PM
NEW: ~A year after the Baltimore bridge collapse, the NTSB concludes "had the MDTA conducted a vulnerability assessment of the Key Bridge based on recent vessel traffic [it] would have been able to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and loss of lives" (1/4)
Reposted by Julia Jester
Elon Musk has tweeted about impeaching judges more than a dozen times in the last 24 hours, per @julesjester.bsky.social
when you're such a high-level genius that you think 60 is 2/3rds of 100
March 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Elon Musk has tweeted about impeaching judges more than a dozen times in the last 24 hours, per @julesjester.bsky.social