Tonight, Doge targets the Pentagon, Elon Musk's team now focusing on military spending

as the Defense Secretary considers firing top generals.

Then President Trump ratchets up attacks on Ukraine's leader, calling President Zelensky a dictator

after blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion.

And a judge grills a top DOJ prosecutor about the move to drop a corruption case against New York's mayor as the 11th hour gets underway on this Wednesday night.

Good evening once again.

I'm Stephanie Ruhl and welcome to the midweek nightcap. It is day 31 of the

Second Trump administration. I know you feel like you've aged six years, but it's only been 31 days.

And on this day, Doge has hit the Defense Department. NBC News reports its employees arrived at the

Pentagon earlier this week, but the agency has not shared their names

or what exactly they're doing there. And defense secretary, Pete Hagseth is considering

firing generals as early as next week. Meanwhile, tension between the U.S. and Ukraine is escalating

after President Trump called Ukrainian President Zelensky a dictator. That comment, as well as his earlier suggestion, that Ukraine should not have started

the war has spurred a handful of Senate Republicans to distance themselves from the leader

of their party.

Vice President J.D. Vance, on the other hand, you know what he did, double down.

In an interview with a conservative outlet earlier today,

he said Zelensky's public response to President Trump's criticism was, quote, disgraceful.

The Ukrainian president had said that Trump had been caught in a web of disinformation from Russia

over the war in Ukraine. We've got a lot to cover. So let's get smarter with the help of our

nightcap tonight.

Abby Livingston is here, congressional correspondent for Puck News. Democratic strategist, Joel Payne,

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