Jonathan Swan

And then it's the most influential figures on the right who have real followings and have the ability to activate the most intense faction within the Trump base. Very unpleasant. It makes your life miserable if you're a sitting senator and that's what comes down on you.

That's right. And none of these people would say this, but it's absolutely a fact that when pressure campaigns like this happen, there's the fear of... some crazy supporter committing an act of violence or coming up to you and harassing you in person. I mean, it's a factor. It's a factor in this era.

That's right. And none of these people would say this, but it's absolutely a fact that when pressure campaigns like this happen, there's the fear of... some crazy supporter committing an act of violence or coming up to you and harassing you in person. I mean, it's a factor. It's a factor in this era.

I mean, I've seen these pressure campaigns before from Trump's movement, and this might be the fastest effect that I've ever seen.

I mean, I've seen these pressure campaigns before from Trump's movement, and this might be the fastest effect that I've ever seen.

Within 72 hours after this campaign really kicked off, she meets with him again and she puts out this statement and her language was unrecognizable.

Within 72 hours after this campaign really kicked off, she meets with him again and she puts out this statement and her language was unrecognizable.

He will continue, she says, to support the roles of both servicemen and women. As I support Pete through this process. And as I support Pete through this process, so that's very different. She's now saying she's supporting him through this process. The second half of the statement was even more remarkable.

He will continue, she says, to support the roles of both servicemen and women. As I support Pete through this process. And as I support Pete through this process, so that's very different. She's now saying she's supporting him through this process. The second half of the statement was even more remarkable.

I look forward to a hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources. So those last three words, those are the talking points of the Trump team. I mean, to say a hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources, you're essentially setting up two categories. You're saying there are statements that are true and there are statements or accusations made by anonymous sources that are therefore false.

I look forward to a hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources. So those last three words, those are the talking points of the Trump team. I mean, to say a hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources, you're essentially setting up two categories. You're saying there are statements that are true and there are statements or accusations made by anonymous sources that are therefore false.

And so by doing that, given that the accusations against Pete Hegseth are from anonymous sources, you are invalidating on its face the accusations against Pete Hegseth. The fact that she's willing to support me through this process means a lot. And pretty quickly, we saw Hegseth make some comments that indicate that he seems to believe he's got her vote.

And so by doing that, given that the accusations against Pete Hegseth are from anonymous sources, you are invalidating on its face the accusations against Pete Hegseth. The fact that she's willing to support me through this process means a lot. And pretty quickly, we saw Hegseth make some comments that indicate that he seems to believe he's got her vote.

Now, it's worth noting, in this statement, Hegseth also seemed to back off his earlier position about not supporting women in the military. Some of our greatest warriors, our best warriors out there are women. And Ernst says this is based on a pledge he made to her in that second meeting.

Now, it's worth noting, in this statement, Hegseth also seemed to back off his earlier position about not supporting women in the military. Some of our greatest warriors, our best warriors out there are women. And Ernst says this is based on a pledge he made to her in that second meeting.

It's all a little vague, but essentially this is why she claims she's softening her position on him, that he's made concessions on issues that matter to her. And to be clear, she's still not coming right out and saying he absolutely has her vote, but she certainly seems to have reversed course and put herself in a situation where, at this point, it's very hard to imagine her backing out.

It's all a little vague, but essentially this is why she claims she's softening her position on him, that he's made concessions on issues that matter to her. And to be clear, she's still not coming right out and saying he absolutely has her vote, but she certainly seems to have reversed course and put herself in a situation where, at this point, it's very hard to imagine her backing out.

She would, if she did that, be a pariah with the MAGA base. They would make sure of that. And just from her actions so far, it seems pretty clear that she wants to stay on the right side of the Trump movement.

She would, if she did that, be a pariah with the MAGA base. They would make sure of that. And just from her actions so far, it seems pretty clear that she wants to stay on the right side of the Trump movement.

Absolutely. And when I talk to people close to President-elect Trump and people who work for him, people on the outside, allies, they already see this as a resounding success. You know, they will say, look, who knows, maybe more accusations will come out against Pete Hexeth. Maybe we end up losing four senators and he goes down.