Karoun Demirjian

Two years after that, she's joining with Kirsten Gillibrand to rally support for a bill that is trying to address how sexual assault cases in the military are adjudicated. It had been in the chain of command forever, and they were trying to take it out of the chain of command so that victims wouldn't have their cases basically muzzled if it was inconvenient to their unit.

Two years after that, she's joining with Kirsten Gillibrand to rally support for a bill that is trying to address how sexual assault cases in the military are adjudicated. It had been in the chain of command forever, and they were trying to take it out of the chain of command so that victims wouldn't have their cases basically muzzled if it was inconvenient to their unit.

And she really opens the floodgates for more Republicans to say, OK, I'm on board with this.

And she really opens the floodgates for more Republicans to say, OK, I'm on board with this.

And so she basically built this brand where people look to her and the GOP, and Democrats consider her a partner and ally for talking about these issues of women's experience in the military, for bringing to light various sexual assault issues. And then Trump picks Hegseth, who is accused of sexually assaulting and harassing women.

And so she basically built this brand where people look to her and the GOP, and Democrats consider her a partner and ally for talking about these issues of women's experience in the military, for bringing to light various sexual assault issues. And then Trump picks Hegseth, who is accused of sexually assaulting and harassing women.

And, oh, by the way, has said publicly he doesn't believe women should serve in combat roles. And Joni Ernst is a combat veteran. So there's just a lot of tension and clashing there between her resume and what she stands for and the allegations against him and the problems that are associated with his pick.

And, oh, by the way, has said publicly he doesn't believe women should serve in combat roles. And Joni Ernst is a combat veteran. So there's just a lot of tension and clashing there between her resume and what she stands for and the allegations against him and the problems that are associated with his pick.

Well, the day that Hegseth is announced as Trump's pick, I caught her in the hallway of the basement of the Capitol and asked her what she thought. And she said he's going to have his work cut out for him. At that point, we didn't even know all these allegations against him.

Well, the day that Hegseth is announced as Trump's pick, I caught her in the hallway of the basement of the Capitol and asked her what she thought. And she said he's going to have his work cut out for him. At that point, we didn't even know all these allegations against him.

But as the allegations began to mount, she became that much more resolute of, I will talk to him, but very, very clearly not saying anything nice about him. And this all leads to a whole lot of scrutiny and focus on the first in-person meeting they have.

But as the allegations began to mount, she became that much more resolute of, I will talk to him, but very, very clearly not saying anything nice about him. And this all leads to a whole lot of scrutiny and focus on the first in-person meeting they have.

Peg Seth goes to her office for a sit down and comes out and he talks to reporters, but she doesn't really say anything else except for, OK, we met.

Peg Seth goes to her office for a sit down and comes out and he talks to reporters, but she doesn't really say anything else except for, OK, we met.

And then she goes on Fox News the next morning, and the host kind of has to drag it out of her, but he basically, after asking her about the meeting, he says, Okay, it doesn't sound on your answer that you've gotten to a yes. If I'm wrong about that... It doesn't sound like you got to yes yet, and she says that's right. Hmm.

And then she goes on Fox News the next morning, and the host kind of has to drag it out of her, but he basically, after asking her about the meeting, he says, Okay, it doesn't sound on your answer that you've gotten to a yes. If I'm wrong about that... It doesn't sound like you got to yes yet, and she says that's right. Hmm.

Which is a pretty big confession of uneasiness. And it just kind of confirms what everybody was sensing, which is that she's not OK with this guy.

Which is a pretty big confession of uneasiness. And it just kind of confirms what everybody was sensing, which is that she's not OK with this guy.

Correct. And what Ernst is expressing is something that a lot of people in the GOP are starting to feel and worry about. And aides start to whisper that, you know, this nomination might just be dead already. Because if Joni Ernst can't get to yes, how can other people cross her? She's been such a moral leader on these issues that are of concern to Hegseth.

Correct. And what Ernst is expressing is something that a lot of people in the GOP are starting to feel and worry about. And aides start to whisper that, you know, this nomination might just be dead already. Because if Joni Ernst can't get to yes, how can other people cross her? She's been such a moral leader on these issues that are of concern to Hegseth.