What a week! With the squeaky sharpie in hand, Donald Trump began his first hours in office freeing hundreds of violent criminals, earning full-throated endorsements of far right militias for Kash Patel to head the FBI.On the second day, Trump announced that Joe Kasper would join Pete Hegseth as his COS at the Pentagon. Kasper was famous on Capitol Hill as the COS and party pal to disgraced former congressman Duncan Hunter. Hunter was convicted of conspiracy to steal campaign funds for personal use and was sentenced to federal prison. Trump pardoned him in late 2020.And last night Trump announced that both Tulsi Gabbard and and militia-endorsed Kash Patel would have their confirmation hearings on the same day, next Thursday. Both nominees face uphill battles and should have to defend their lack of basic qualifications, sound judgement and, ulitmately their loyalty to the United States of America. That's a lot to accomplish, but Team MAGA hopes that forcing these weak candidates through in the same news cycle will pressure the senators and the media to divide their attention. Some observers have noted that Gabbard is the weaker of the two, with Patel having more support from hardcore MAGA and the Trump Bro Circle. But neither have exactly hit it out of the park in their meetings with Senators. Wondering here whether Gabbard is just a distraction and bait to screen Patel, Trump's most loyal political attack dog.
What a week! With the squeaky sharpie in hand, Donald Trump began his first hours in office freeing hundreds of violent criminals, earning full-throated endorsements of far right militias for Kash Patel to head the FBI.On the second day, Trump announced that Joe Kasper would join Pete Hegseth as his COS at the Pentagon. Kasper was famous on Capitol Hill as the COS and party pal to disgraced former congressman Duncan Hunter. Hunter was convicted of conspiracy to steal campaign funds for personal use and was sentenced to federal prison. Trump pardoned him in late 2020.And last night Trump announced that both Tulsi Gabbard and and militia-endorsed Kash Patel would have their confirmation hearings on the same day, next Thursday. Both nominees face uphill battles and should have to defend their lack of basic qualifications, sound judgement and, ulitmately their loyalty to the United States of America. That's a lot to accomplish, but Team MAGA hopes that forcing these weak candidates through in the same news cycle will pressure the senators and the media to divide their attention. Some observers have noted that Gabbard is the weaker of the two, with Patel having more support from hardcore MAGA and the Trump Bro Circle. But neither have exactly hit it out of the park in their meetings with Senators. Wondering here whether Gabbard is just a distraction and bait to screen Patel, Trump's most loyal political attack dog.