Tom Nichols

And you get another guy there the next day because they're not it is not a totally under control of office. The president is not a Senate confirmable position. It only has as much power and influence as the president ever lets it have. In theory, it has well-defined roles in the National Security Council and so on.

But the reality is the National Security Advisor is whatever the president wants it to be. If he fires Hegseth, he opens up this whole shit show. about who's going to come in, who's going to get past the Senate. Now, somebody made a – I can't remember who it was. I apologize to whoever's idea I'm stealing here.

But the reality is the National Security Advisor is whatever the president wants it to be. If he fires Hegseth, he opens up this whole shit show. about who's going to come in, who's going to get past the Senate. Now, somebody made a – I can't remember who it was. I apologize to whoever's idea I'm stealing here.

But the reality is the National Security Advisor is whatever the president wants it to be. If he fires Hegseth, he opens up this whole shit show. about who's going to come in, who's going to get past the Senate. Now, somebody made a – I can't remember who it was. I apologize to whoever's idea I'm stealing here.

But it was something to the effect of there was a way to do this quick do-si-do with Dan Cain and another nominee that you get basically a chairman and a new sec def all at once. That would have been really uncontroversial. But, of course, that would be the simple and – Scandal smothering approach, and Trump didn't take it.

But it was something to the effect of there was a way to do this quick do-si-do with Dan Cain and another nominee that you get basically a chairman and a new sec def all at once. That would have been really uncontroversial. But, of course, that would be the simple and – Scandal smothering approach, and Trump didn't take it.

But it was something to the effect of there was a way to do this quick do-si-do with Dan Cain and another nominee that you get basically a chairman and a new sec def all at once. That would have been really uncontroversial. But, of course, that would be the simple and – Scandal smothering approach, and Trump didn't take it.

So he's going to hang out Mike Waltz and Alex Wong and some other people, because that's the easy thing to do. And because, as you say, not our people, not our guys. I mean, he really, by all reports, the president really likes Hag Seth. Because Hegseth knows how to play to that gallery. Hegseth knows how to suck up to the boss.

So he's going to hang out Mike Waltz and Alex Wong and some other people, because that's the easy thing to do. And because, as you say, not our people, not our guys. I mean, he really, by all reports, the president really likes Hag Seth. Because Hegseth knows how to play to that gallery. Hegseth knows how to suck up to the boss.

So he's going to hang out Mike Waltz and Alex Wong and some other people, because that's the easy thing to do. And because, as you say, not our people, not our guys. I mean, he really, by all reports, the president really likes Hag Seth. Because Hegseth knows how to play to that gallery. Hegseth knows how to suck up to the boss.

And that, as we now know, going back to what we were talking about earlier, you know, cabinet meetings, sucking up to the boss is a core skill set here. It's how you survive.

And that, as we now know, going back to what we were talking about earlier, you know, cabinet meetings, sucking up to the boss is a core skill set here. It's how you survive.

And that, as we now know, going back to what we were talking about earlier, you know, cabinet meetings, sucking up to the boss is a core skill set here. It's how you survive.

This is where I do the Jim Carrey water meme. You know, come on. I mean, are you serious? They're floating Witkoff to be National Security Advisor?

This is where I do the Jim Carrey water meme. You know, come on. I mean, are you serious? They're floating Witkoff to be National Security Advisor?

This is where I do the Jim Carrey water meme. You know, come on. I mean, are you serious? They're floating Witkoff to be National Security Advisor?

And I'm sure that selling real estate... sets you up to convene National Security Council meetings. Why not? Sure. Why not? You know, ever since I've had to practice saying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth out loud, you know, nothing surprises me.

And I'm sure that selling real estate... sets you up to convene National Security Council meetings. Why not? Sure. Why not? You know, ever since I've had to practice saying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth out loud, you know, nothing surprises me.

And I'm sure that selling real estate... sets you up to convene National Security Council meetings. Why not? Sure. Why not? You know, ever since I've had to practice saying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth out loud, you know, nothing surprises me.

But what I was going to say a minute ago was that the Republicans who, you know, have been going along with all of this and praying for some kind of miracle, this has to give them the willies because Waltz, As you say, no love for Mike Walz, but somebody you could look at and say, I disagree with him, but he seems to take these issues seriously.