Mullin faces White House strain as threats and Bertha top the morning
NBC News reports friction around DHS chief Markwayne Mullin, rising Secret Service threats, Bertha’s landfall and a movie-format arms race.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
4 min read
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is four months into the job, and NBC News reports that friction with the White House is already building after a pair of early controversies.
A senior Trump administration official and a senior Department of Homeland Security official told NBC News that concerns include Mullin’s brief move last week to halt ICE vehicle stops and his pick of Lance Schroyer to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
DHS tension grows around Mullin
Mullin, a former Oklahoma senator, was tapped to run a department central to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda as the administration tries to restart its mass deportation push, according to NBC News.
One flashpoint came after two fatal shootings by ICE officers in Houston and Maine. Mullin ordered a temporary pause on vehicle traffic stops, NBC News reported, before Trump reversed the directive a day later. One administration official called the sudden change a bad move.
Schroyer’s nomination to run ICE has also drawn internal attention, a DHS official told NBC News. Schroyer is an ally of Mullin’s and has no direct background in federal law enforcement or immigration enforcement, according to the report. A senior Trump administration official said multiple officials were not enthusiastic about the choice.
Secret Service says threat cases are climbing
The Secret Service is preparing security for the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner as officials say threats against protectees are rising sharply.
According to NBC News, the agency has opened more than 10,000 investigations this year, up 40% from the same period last year. Secret Service Director Sean Curran said threats are “off the charts” and described the political climate as more volatile than any he has seen.
Trump has been targeted in at least three assassination attempts, and Iran continues to call for his death, NBC News reported. Curran and other senior leaders said they were confident in security plans for the dinner. Officials also identified drones as a growing threat.
Saudi nuclear deal draws criticism
The United States signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia to help the kingdom build a nuclear power program, NBC News reported. Riyadh has long sought access to American atomic technology, and the deal could benefit U.S. industry.
Critics warned the agreement could weaken long-running U.S. efforts to limit the spread of sensitive nuclear technology. Darryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, told NBC News the deal sets a “corrosive precedent.” Arms control analysts also said it could undercut U.S. efforts to persuade Iran to abandon uranium enrichment.
Bertha hits Louisiana, heads toward Texas
Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall Wednesday afternoon in St. Bernard Parish, about 40 miles east of New Orleans, NBC News reported. Early Thursday, it was southwest of New Orleans and moving west toward Texas.
The storm had already closed Gulf Coast beaches from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi. Forecasters expected Bertha to reach the upper Texas coast Thursday and dissipate inland by Friday.
Wind and storm surge were the main concerns across the Deep South. Parks, piers and some low-lying roads were closed, while a tropical storm warning ran from Alabama to Louisiana, including New Orleans, where extreme heat added to the strain. Louisiana State Climatologist Jay Grymes said widespread damage was unlikely, and Gov. Jeff Landry called the forecast encouraging while urging residents to prepare for possible flooding.
Hollywood races for bigger screens
Studios and theater owners are watching audiences chase premium formats for major releases including “The Odyssey” and “Toy Story 5,” NBC News reported. Some moviegoers have traveled hundreds of miles to see Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” on IMAX 70 mm screens, of which there are only 41 worldwide.
A coming Dec. 18 clash between “Dune: Part III” and “Avengers: Doomsday” has already been nicknamed “DUNESDAY” online, according to NBC News. Because Warner Bros. already has an IMAX arrangement, Disney created its own premium format, Infinity Vision, for “Avengers.”
Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has also become part of an online culture fight. NBC News reported that some right-wing critics objecting to the film’s casting and creative choices say they would rather watch an AI-generated version. Elon Musk was among those touting AI tools as a way to create a different take, while the creators of “Odysseus: The Fall,” a fully AI-generated adaptation due later this summer, discussed the comparisons with NBC News.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.