Maggie Haberman

And so I would take seriously what Kash Patel has been saying about what he thinks the FBI should do and what should be done with people who he and Donald Trump perceive as Donald Trump's enemies. What is very striking is that Kash Patel is a loyalist who has been involved in producing a song with some of the people who were imprisoned in connection with the January 6th, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

And so I would take seriously what Kash Patel has been saying about what he thinks the FBI should do and what should be done with people who he and Donald Trump perceive as Donald Trump's enemies. What is very striking is that Kash Patel is a loyalist who has been involved in producing a song with some of the people who were imprisoned in connection with the January 6th, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Producing a song? With Trump's voice. And Trump often brags about how it rose to the top of the Billboard charts.

Producing a song? With Trump's voice. And Trump often brags about how it rose to the top of the Billboard charts.

And as hostages in their telling. And most of those folks, the vast majority of those folks, have now been granted clemency. Right. That was one of Trump's first official acts. So what that does reveal is Kash Patel's mindset about how he sees the government against Donald Trump. I do want to make one point in fairness, Michael, and you started out asking about...

And as hostages in their telling. And most of those folks, the vast majority of those folks, have now been granted clemency. Right. That was one of Trump's first official acts. So what that does reveal is Kash Patel's mindset about how he sees the government against Donald Trump. I do want to make one point in fairness, Michael, and you started out asking about...

Trump wanting to rid the government of anyone who might not be loyal to him. And that's certainly true. And we've heard all kinds of questions being asked about loyalty. It is a pretty capricious standard about who's getting chosen and who's not for some of these roles. But look, there were aspects of the federal bureaucracy that

Trump wanting to rid the government of anyone who might not be loyal to him. And that's certainly true. And we've heard all kinds of questions being asked about loyalty. It is a pretty capricious standard about who's getting chosen and who's not for some of these roles. But look, there were aspects of the federal bureaucracy that

that was trying to stymie Trump's agenda or that disagreed with things he was doing or that tried to convince him otherwise in 2016 when he was a duly elected president. And so he does have reasons that he is unhappy with aspects of the government. This is taking things to an entirely different level.

that was trying to stymie Trump's agenda or that disagreed with things he was doing or that tried to convince him otherwise in 2016 when he was a duly elected president. And so he does have reasons that he is unhappy with aspects of the government. This is taking things to an entirely different level.

Well, I don't know what defined matter. I don't know that it would have any impact on other confirmations. This actually might be the vote that senators choose to sink a nominee because they approved others who were controversial, like Pete Hegseth, who was a 50-50 split, and that tie had to be settled by Vice President Vance.

Well, I don't know what defined matter. I don't know that it would have any impact on other confirmations. This actually might be the vote that senators choose to sink a nominee because they approved others who were controversial, like Pete Hegseth, who was a 50-50 split, and that tie had to be settled by Vice President Vance.

Correct. Presidents usually get their nominees through, but this just might be the line they draw.

Correct. Presidents usually get their nominees through, but this just might be the line they draw.

Eight days. So that was a rebellion that was maybe more... It was the rebellion that made some of the rest possible, and it was also what made Pete Hegseth such an important fight for Trump's folks.

Eight days. So that was a rebellion that was maybe more... It was the rebellion that made some of the rest possible, and it was also what made Pete Hegseth such an important fight for Trump's folks.

Thanks, Michael. Thanks.

Thanks, Michael. Thanks.

My sense is that it is actually not that gigantic a portion of the federal government, but it does exist in various pockets of agencies. It shouldn't be surprising. Trump did say all of this, as Nolan said, during the campaign. He is doing what he said he was going to do.

My sense is that it is actually not that gigantic a portion of the federal government, but it does exist in various pockets of agencies. It shouldn't be surprising. Trump did say all of this, as Nolan said, during the campaign. He is doing what he said he was going to do.