Molly Ball

And there's even some talk that Trump may invite some of the rioters he's pardoned to appear with him in the White House. So he really is going all in on rewriting the history of what actually happened that day and valorizing, not just pardoning, but valorizing these rioters.

Can I ask you, Sadie, is this a through line through multiple administrations of federal prosecutions being seen as more political in nature? Or has there been more continuity across administrations where like career prosecutors could stay there for decades and work under presidents of different parties?

Can I ask you, Sadie, is this a through line through multiple administrations of federal prosecutions being seen as more political in nature? Or has there been more continuity across administrations where like career prosecutors could stay there for decades and work under presidents of different parties?

Can I ask you, Sadie, is this a through line through multiple administrations of federal prosecutions being seen as more political in nature? Or has there been more continuity across administrations where like career prosecutors could stay there for decades and work under presidents of different parties?

I think the vibes have really shifted in Trump's direction. You know, when he won eight years ago, it seemed to a lot of people like sort of a fluke. He hadn't won the popular vote, so you could make the argument that actually the will of the people was to have Hillary Clinton be president. It was unexpected. Even Trump didn't expect it. He was surprised when that happened.

I think the vibes have really shifted in Trump's direction. You know, when he won eight years ago, it seemed to a lot of people like sort of a fluke. He hadn't won the popular vote, so you could make the argument that actually the will of the people was to have Hillary Clinton be president. It was unexpected. Even Trump didn't expect it. He was surprised when that happened.

I think the vibes have really shifted in Trump's direction. You know, when he won eight years ago, it seemed to a lot of people like sort of a fluke. He hadn't won the popular vote, so you could make the argument that actually the will of the people was to have Hillary Clinton be president. It was unexpected. Even Trump didn't expect it. He was surprised when that happened.

So the transition was really bumpy and they didn't know what they wanted to do or who they wanted to put in a lot of these positions. He's much more prepared this time. And he also, to your point, has spent his four years out of power. building his political power, building his political movement, taking over the Republican Party in a very intentional way.

So the transition was really bumpy and they didn't know what they wanted to do or who they wanted to put in a lot of these positions. He's much more prepared this time. And he also, to your point, has spent his four years out of power. building his political power, building his political movement, taking over the Republican Party in a very intentional way.

So the transition was really bumpy and they didn't know what they wanted to do or who they wanted to put in a lot of these positions. He's much more prepared this time. And he also, to your point, has spent his four years out of power. building his political power, building his political movement, taking over the Republican Party in a very intentional way.

So the party that's behind him now, you know, he had a trifecta in 2017, but it was a trifecta of old school Republicans who wanted to do things like pass Paul Ryan's privatization of Social Security and, you know, repeal Obamacare and other things that Trump didn't really care about. Whereas now, this is a much Trumpier Republican Party.

So the party that's behind him now, you know, he had a trifecta in 2017, but it was a trifecta of old school Republicans who wanted to do things like pass Paul Ryan's privatization of Social Security and, you know, repeal Obamacare and other things that Trump didn't really care about. Whereas now, this is a much Trumpier Republican Party.

So the party that's behind him now, you know, he had a trifecta in 2017, but it was a trifecta of old school Republicans who wanted to do things like pass Paul Ryan's privatization of Social Security and, you know, repeal Obamacare and other things that Trump didn't really care about. Whereas now, this is a much Trumpier Republican Party.

They're much more on board with his agenda and his vision and just him himself. I think you're right that the culture has shifted as well. I would say, however, presidents almost inevitably overreach when they get into office, and that's why you almost always have that first midterm election going in the other direction, right?

They're much more on board with his agenda and his vision and just him himself. I think you're right that the culture has shifted as well. I would say, however, presidents almost inevitably overreach when they get into office, and that's why you almost always have that first midterm election going in the other direction, right?

They're much more on board with his agenda and his vision and just him himself. I think you're right that the culture has shifted as well. I would say, however, presidents almost inevitably overreach when they get into office, and that's why you almost always have that first midterm election going in the other direction, right?

And, you know, while he does come in with a trifecta, it's a very, very narrow trifecta. In the House in 2017, Paul Ryan could afford to lose 27 Republican votes. The current speaker, Mike Johnson, can lose two. So it's going to be really hard for them to get things done through Congress. And that's part of the reason that Trump is doing so many things unilaterally.

And, you know, while he does come in with a trifecta, it's a very, very narrow trifecta. In the House in 2017, Paul Ryan could afford to lose 27 Republican votes. The current speaker, Mike Johnson, can lose two. So it's going to be really hard for them to get things done through Congress. And that's part of the reason that Trump is doing so many things unilaterally.

And, you know, while he does come in with a trifecta, it's a very, very narrow trifecta. In the House in 2017, Paul Ryan could afford to lose 27 Republican votes. The current speaker, Mike Johnson, can lose two. So it's going to be really hard for them to get things done through Congress. And that's part of the reason that Trump is doing so many things unilaterally.

It's just going to keep being fascinating.