From the New York Times, I'm Natalie Kitchrow-F.

This is the Daily.

During Trump's second term, one person has emerged as the most influential outside advisor to the president.

This morning, a major shakeup at the National Security Agency, telling Trump who to

fire, the director of the national security agency and the deputy director were fired.

And shaping major policy decisions.

Today, the U.S. State Department is halting medical humanitarian visas for people from

Gaza.

The State Department's policy shift comes after far-right activist Laura Lumer criticized

the three Gaza and children for coming to the U.S. for medical treatment.

Today, my colleague Ken Bensinger on the story of Laura Lumer.

Laura Lumer is a very good patron.

The social media provocateur who has become Trump's favorite blunt instrument.

I guess President Trump just likes me.

You have a friendship?

Yeah. I would say it's a friendship.

It's Thursday, August 21st.

Ken, welcome to the show.

Thanks for having me, Natalie.

So tell me, when and how did Laura Lumer first come onto your radar?

Well, I cover media and politics and have been interested in right-wing influencers and the way they shape

political discourse in the country. So I'd been aware of Laura Lumer as a figure in that world,

...