David E. Sanger

release of documents, another revelation, is going to dismiss those conspiracy theories, it's just as likely that they'll give them new life.

release of documents, another revelation, is going to dismiss those conspiracy theories, it's just as likely that they'll give them new life.

Somebody made the point to me that if you worked in the federal government, there were two things in the past that you were asked to call in and snitch about, right? One of which is if you had a suspected spy who might be leaking classified information to the Russians or the Chinese or the Iranians. And the second was corruption.

Somebody made the point to me that if you worked in the federal government, there were two things in the past that you were asked to call in and snitch about, right? One of which is if you had a suspected spy who might be leaking classified information to the Russians or the Chinese or the Iranians. And the second was corruption.

And now we've created a third category, which is you might secretly be working on a DEI program.

And now we've created a third category, which is you might secretly be working on a DEI program.

And there was a place where you've seen it the most, Michael, which has been the Pentagon, right? So one of the first things they did was fire the admiral who was the commandant of the Coast Guard. And the argument was that she was placing DEI principles above all others for defending the country.

And there was a place where you've seen it the most, Michael, which has been the Pentagon, right? So one of the first things they did was fire the admiral who was the commandant of the Coast Guard. And the argument was that she was placing DEI principles above all others for defending the country.

But you've heard it also in confirmation hearings, including for Pete Hegseth, who basically made the argument that he is going to focus on the warfighter first. And this is at the core of his argument that women shouldn't be in combat.

But you've heard it also in confirmation hearings, including for Pete Hegseth, who basically made the argument that he is going to focus on the warfighter first. And this is at the core of his argument that women shouldn't be in combat.

Here's the oddity that I find here. I can understand this for political appointees. Everybody wants political appointees who are aligned with your vision. of how to conduct the government. But the loyalty tests are also being applied to younger career officials. So what we saw happen at the National Security Council on Wednesday... Where a bunch of folks were let go.

Here's the oddity that I find here. I can understand this for political appointees. Everybody wants political appointees who are aligned with your vision. of how to conduct the government. But the loyalty tests are also being applied to younger career officials. So what we saw happen at the National Security Council on Wednesday... Where a bunch of folks were let go.

Well, they weren't let go yet, Michael. It was interesting. They were gathered on a two- or three-minute Zoom call. This was well over 100 career people who work at the National Security Council but actually are detailed from the State Department, the Pentagon, the CIA. And they were told, go home. Don't call us. We'll call you. Don't go on your email. Don't do any work.

Well, they weren't let go yet, Michael. It was interesting. They were gathered on a two- or three-minute Zoom call. This was well over 100 career people who work at the National Security Council but actually are detailed from the State Department, the Pentagon, the CIA. And they were told, go home. Don't call us. We'll call you. Don't go on your email. Don't do any work.

And we're going to tell you whether you still have your job. And they all have the sense that their social media is being examined, that people are being interviewed to hear. Have you ever heard them say something critical of Donald Trump?

And we're going to tell you whether you still have your job. And they all have the sense that their social media is being examined, that people are being interviewed to hear. Have you ever heard them say something critical of Donald Trump?

Well, I think there are three things going on. I don't think it's too delicate a phrasing at all. First of all, this is part of the completion of his rewriting of the history of January 6th, right? If his argument was it was a day of love, then there was really nothing to convict them for.

Well, I think there are three things going on. I don't think it's too delicate a phrasing at all. First of all, this is part of the completion of his rewriting of the history of January 6th, right? If his argument was it was a day of love, then there was really nothing to convict them for.

And he never actually, in talking about it, did the balancing test between these acts of sedition that the most serious of the cases were charged with or the attacks on the police. He simply said, well, they've served a lot of time in jail. Well, They've served a fraction of their sentences. So that's the first. The second is the symbolism of doing this in the opening days of a new presidency.

And he never actually, in talking about it, did the balancing test between these acts of sedition that the most serious of the cases were charged with or the attacks on the police. He simply said, well, they've served a lot of time in jail. Well, They've served a fraction of their sentences. So that's the first. The second is the symbolism of doing this in the opening days of a new presidency.