Rachel Abrams

Great to be here.

So we have talked a lot on the show about all of these dramatic ways that the Trump administration has reshaped the role and the function of the federal government.

A lot of those results are quite visible.

ICE agents in the streets.

Prosecutors defying court orders.

But one of the agencies that has been reshaped in perhaps less visible ways is the FBI.

The two of you embarked on an enormous, ambitious reporting project to try to really get inside the FBI.

So tell us what specifically you were trying to understand about the agency and how it was functioning under the Trump administration.

Well, let's start with the leadership aspect of this, because I imagine that in large part, your reporting has to do with Trump's pick for the FBI director, Kash Patel.

Patel is a really controversial figure.

He's often been accused of pretty erratic behavior.

What has your reporting shown about his tenure?

I remember that line.

And I remember that there was a lot of concern and speculation and so many questions from outside the bureau about who this guy was and what the agency would even look like under his leadership.

And we should note that you do not have recordings of Tanya or your other sources, but we did send a producer from The Daily, Anna Foley, to call some of your sources back and get some audio that we're playing in this episode.

That's right.

What did you think of his book?

And Rachel, remind us who Bongino is and why was this a turning point for John Sullivan?

So, Emily, Bongino is now Patel's number two.

What does John make of their tenure in these early days?