You are reading this story only because the White House didn’t want you to.

I’ll explain. This past Sunday, Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia — who has become quite good at delivering viral campaign sound bites, slickly filmed by multiple cameras — unleashed a blistering indictment of President Donald Trump’s leadership. Ossoff, a former documentary filmmaker who is generating 2028 buzz, denounced Trump’s handling of the Iran war this way: “While he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings. He golfs and trades stocks. See, he doesn’t want to do the job. He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar.”

It was a pithy and well-structured attack, but not so different from the broadsides delivered daily by Democrats on the campaign trail or on MS NOW. But one new word stood out: Natalie.

The line got a knowing laugh from a handful of observers in the room, and it electrified a subset of political obsessives on social media, who took to their favorite platforms and group chats with some version of “Oh, he went there!” or “I can’t believe he did that!” But although Ossoff’s aside resonated with the junkies, the majority of Americans likely had no idea who this Natalie woman was, and might never have given it another thought.

But then the West Wing lost its mind. And Trump did too. Their pushback was so overwhelming, so obviously coordinated, so ugly and personal that it became a story. The White House inadvertently created news, as well as a permission structure for even the most cautious, fact-based media organizations to take on the topic. Which is why the name Natalie Harp is now everywhere.

READ MORE ON THE ATLANTIC.

ON THE CALENDAR THIS WEEKEND

Tennis season is back in full swing. Fan Week kicks off Sunday at Flushing Meadows with Arthur Ashe Kids Day — on-court clinics, player practices, even the Savannah Bananas. Here’s what else is going on:

Vroom down I-95 for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, the first-ever IndyCar race on the National Mall. Open-wheel racing against the Washington Monument is either peak Americana or a very committed fever dream. 

In Philly tonight, the Crayfish Party at the American Swedish Historical Museum is the most Swedish way to bid summer goodbye: funny hats, bibs, meatballs, and aquavit for the 21-and-over crowd. Skål.

In Miami, it’s sips and synths at Music for Heating Water, a tea ceremony that meets live music. The name alone earns the trip.

Over in Chicago, SuperTri takes over Lake Michigan, Lakeshore Drive, and Columbus Drive. Swim, bike, run — or just park yourself curbside with a coffee and opinions.

In Los Angeles, the El Segundo Art Walk is free all day Saturday: ceramicists, jewelers, face painters, and four stages of live performance strung along the route. Everything LA does well, nothing it doesn’t.

Up the road in Pasadena, Just Like Heaven brings The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Chromeo, and Feist to Brookside at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. One day, one lineup, no filler.

In the Bay Area, it’s wall-to-wall music: rooftop rhythms atop Salesforce Park, Laufey’s A Very Laufey Day, and Noah Kahan at Oracle Park on The Great Divide Tour. The album opens with “End of August,” and the timing writes itself.

And down in Charleston, Folly Beach Pier hosts the Moonlight Mixer tonight. Sand, stars, the Atlantic. You won’t find a better dance floor. 

MAILBAG

What can be done if Mike Johnson refuses to seat lawfully elected Democratic or independent members of Congress based on false claims of election irregularities?

—Howard W., Potomac, Md.

Joe: For Americans concerned about Donald Trump’s continued efforts to interfere with free elections, their goal should be to do everything legally possible to make sure the contest to control the House majority is not close. 

The worst-case scenario for American democracy could well be an election that ends up deadlocked, or one with Democrats winning the majority by a handful of seats. If that happens, expect both Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson to do everything in their power to stop Democratic candidates who won close races from being seated in the House. 

We have already seen how far the House speaker was willing to go in refusing to seat a Democratic candidate who won a special election because her elevation would help pass the Epstein-Files Disclosure Act. Now imagine how much worse Johnson’s actions would be to American democracy if Republican control of Congress were on the line. To stop that from happening, Democrats should focus on making sure the fall elections are not even close. 

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Trump must be living the dream. He speaks and the markets tumble. He frowns and headlines follow. He sees his name everywhere and he’s surrounded by people who worship at his feet. How do we break through that delusion? Will he ever see reality? 

— Janet R., Bishop, Ga.

Thank you very much for your statement on why Todd Blanche is unfit to be attorney general and the reminder of how horrific Jan. 6, 2021, really was. Neither Blanche or Trump agree. 

—Anonymous

Joe, excellent synopsis of the USS Lincoln crew problems. I hear today they have been ordered to return to port. This debacle illustrates three things: 1) Trump/Hegseth’s incompetence in planning, strategizing and anticipating the enemy in war, 2) the callousness and disregard both men(?) have for our American military and Americans here at home as evidenced by their insulting and demeaning comments regarding the length of the war and its effects (like gas prices/cost of living), and 3) maybe most importantly, the power and critically essential need for a free press. Keep the pressure on and the truth coming. They won’t do the right thing unless they are forced to. 

—Harry H., Dayton, Ohio

With Donald Trump trying, once again, to do an end-run around the courts to build his ballroom, I don’t understand why he wasn’t prosecuted in the first place for tearing down the East Wing of the White House w/o getting permission from ANYONE. If you or I tried something like that, we’d be locked up before we could turn around.

— Don. M, Casa, Arizona

If taxpayer dollars are paying for renovations to the Kennedy center, why should Trump get the credit? Hopefully, it is not going to get the gold treatment like everything else he’s touched…

— Daria G., Langhorne

Please know that service people serving in Afghanistan are dealing with food insecurity and water shortages too. Our son was deployed in Kuwait and finally arrived back to the U.S. in June. Talk about being on high alert and full of anxiety. Please keep on reporting these stories. 

—Lynne K., Garden City, NY

The post The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe: Weekend edition appeared first on MS NOW.

From MS Now.