Jonathan Swan

Great to be back.

Great to be back.

I don't want to be like the Australian talking about American history here, but obviously... But here you are. Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously, the benchmark is FDR's first 100 days where he pushed, I think it was 15 major bills through Congress and created a legacy that we still live with.

I don't want to be like the Australian talking about American history here, but obviously... But here you are. Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously, the benchmark is FDR's first 100 days where he pushed, I think it was 15 major bills through Congress and created a legacy that we still live with.

So ever since then, presidents have used this, as Maggie said, artificial construct to measure their self-worth at an early point in the administration.

So ever since then, presidents have used this, as Maggie said, artificial construct to measure their self-worth at an early point in the administration.

I mean, there's a million places you could start, but if you just look at the series of reporting that we laid out, the first big element that we talked about was expansion of power and destruction of or elimination of any pocket of independence within the executive branch. I would put a big tick next to that one, maybe even a double tick. He's clearly done that

I mean, there's a million places you could start, but if you just look at the series of reporting that we laid out, the first big element that we talked about was expansion of power and destruction of or elimination of any pocket of independence within the executive branch. I would put a big tick next to that one, maybe even a double tick. He's clearly done that

firing checks on his power, getting rid of inspectors general and other elements within the executive branch. Another element, obviously, that we reported on in depth was immigration. I think we can talk about that later, but it's, I would say, a very mixed scorecard. Well, let's talk about it now. They've effectively started to do what they plan to do.

firing checks on his power, getting rid of inspectors general and other elements within the executive branch. Another element, obviously, that we reported on in depth was immigration. I think we can talk about that later, but it's, I would say, a very mixed scorecard. Well, let's talk about it now. They've effectively started to do what they plan to do.

It just, in at least one half of their program, isn't going so well. So the first half, sealing the border, tick, record low border crossings. They've absolutely achieved that in a very short space of time. If you talk to people internally, they're almost, I'm not going to say frustrated by their success, but it almost came too quickly, too easily.

It just, in at least one half of their program, isn't going so well. So the first half, sealing the border, tick, record low border crossings. They've absolutely achieved that in a very short space of time. If you talk to people internally, they're almost, I'm not going to say frustrated by their success, but it almost came too quickly, too easily.

And, you know, so now they're sort of, well, we need to send the troops down there. And it's like, okay, but no one's really coming across. But the second part of the immigration agenda that has been far less successful is interior deportations, removing people from the country. And in that sense, the numbers are nothing like what they said they would be so far.

And, you know, so now they're sort of, well, we need to send the troops down there. And it's like, okay, but no one's really coming across. But the second part of the immigration agenda that has been far less successful is interior deportations, removing people from the country. And in that sense, the numbers are nothing like what they said they would be so far.

They promised the biggest deportation operation in American history, deporting millions of people every year. They're nowhere near on track to do that. And of course, very widely reported, they are jettisoning due process and sending people to prison for terrorists in El Salvador. At least one person sent there by mistake. They're running into a battle with the courts.

They promised the biggest deportation operation in American history, deporting millions of people every year. They're nowhere near on track to do that. And of course, very widely reported, they are jettisoning due process and sending people to prison for terrorists in El Salvador. At least one person sent there by mistake. They're running into a battle with the courts.

So that side of the immigration agenda is very messy.

So that side of the immigration agenda is very messy.

I can't speak for everyone in the White House, but for the vast majority of them, any day that the public conversation is about immigration is a good day. Anytime they're in trouble, like when their tariff strategy is causing huge anxiety in the public, the markets to crash, their safe space, their North Star is immigration. And the playbook is the same.

I can't speak for everyone in the White House, but for the vast majority of them, any day that the public conversation is about immigration is a good day. Anytime they're in trouble, like when their tariff strategy is causing huge anxiety in the public, the markets to crash, their safe space, their North Star is immigration. And the playbook is the same.