Tom Nichols

I am both more and I'm going to give you one of those Weasley answers. I'm more optimistic, Tim, but I'm less optimistic too.

I am both more and I'm going to give you one of those Weasley answers. I'm more optimistic, Tim, but I'm less optimistic too.

In what ways? I knew it was going to be bad, but I didn't expect his cabinet nominations to sound like the setup for a cold open at Saturday Night Live. Like you can see them sitting around the writers room. It's like, okay, okay. All right. So Pete Hegseth comes in, right? Because he's the Secretary of Defense now, right? And Tulsi Gabbard is the DNI, okay?

In what ways? I knew it was going to be bad, but I didn't expect his cabinet nominations to sound like the setup for a cold open at Saturday Night Live. Like you can see them sitting around the writers room. It's like, okay, okay. All right. So Pete Hegseth comes in, right? Because he's the Secretary of Defense now, right? And Tulsi Gabbard is the DNI, okay?

In what ways? I knew it was going to be bad, but I didn't expect his cabinet nominations to sound like the setup for a cold open at Saturday Night Live. Like you can see them sitting around the writers room. It's like, okay, okay. All right. So Pete Hegseth comes in, right? Because he's the Secretary of Defense now, right? And Tulsi Gabbard is the DNI, okay?

And you're like saying, okay, nobody, even Donald Trump, nobody would do this. So in that sense, I'm like just – astonished that how quickly we've normalized saying things like defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, as if that's like a thing you would say outside of a parody. On the other hand, I really want to caution people against this

And you're like saying, okay, nobody, even Donald Trump, nobody would do this. So in that sense, I'm like just – astonished that how quickly we've normalized saying things like defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, as if that's like a thing you would say outside of a parody. On the other hand, I really want to caution people against this

And you're like saying, okay, nobody, even Donald Trump, nobody would do this. So in that sense, I'm like just – astonished that how quickly we've normalized saying things like defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, as if that's like a thing you would say outside of a parody. On the other hand, I really want to caution people against this

And preemptive despair and nihilism, you know, I mean, it seems like a lot of the folks who once, you know, were running around being resistance liberals and Trump opponents and, you know, even I suppose I think are never Trump OGs or, you know, always held firm. eight years ago and now. But look, the guy is not a supernatural being.

And preemptive despair and nihilism, you know, I mean, it seems like a lot of the folks who once, you know, were running around being resistance liberals and Trump opponents and, you know, even I suppose I think are never Trump OGs or, you know, always held firm. eight years ago and now. But look, the guy is not a supernatural being.

And preemptive despair and nihilism, you know, I mean, it seems like a lot of the folks who once, you know, were running around being resistance liberals and Trump opponents and, you know, even I suppose I think are never Trump OGs or, you know, always held firm. eight years ago and now. But look, the guy is not a supernatural being.

I mean, the fact that Matt Gaetz got turfed so fast should tell you something. And that the thing going on in the Senate right now, I keep hearing these stories about, oh, Joni Ernst is getting to yes, and they're going to warm to these nominees. Look, I worked in the Senate. Right now, these senators realize there is nothing in it for them right now.

I mean, the fact that Matt Gaetz got turfed so fast should tell you something. And that the thing going on in the Senate right now, I keep hearing these stories about, oh, Joni Ernst is getting to yes, and they're going to warm to these nominees. Look, I worked in the Senate. Right now, these senators realize there is nothing in it for them right now.

I mean, the fact that Matt Gaetz got turfed so fast should tell you something. And that the thing going on in the Senate right now, I keep hearing these stories about, oh, Joni Ernst is getting to yes, and they're going to warm to these nominees. Look, I worked in the Senate. Right now, these senators realize there is nothing in it for them right now.

To keep going out there and slamming their head into a brick wall and getting hate mail and death threats from MAGA World. That doesn't mean anything for what could happen in the next month or after confirmation hearings. You know, I guess what I'm saying, Tim, is in a way, I thought it would be. Bad in a very dark way, like there would be all these nominees like, OK, I'll give an example.

To keep going out there and slamming their head into a brick wall and getting hate mail and death threats from MAGA World. That doesn't mean anything for what could happen in the next month or after confirmation hearings. You know, I guess what I'm saying, Tim, is in a way, I thought it would be. Bad in a very dark way, like there would be all these nominees like, OK, I'll give an example.

To keep going out there and slamming their head into a brick wall and getting hate mail and death threats from MAGA World. That doesn't mean anything for what could happen in the next month or after confirmation hearings. You know, I guess what I'm saying, Tim, is in a way, I thought it would be. Bad in a very dark way, like there would be all these nominees like, OK, I'll give an example.

One nominee that I think flew right under the radar who is really dangerous because I think he does know what he's doing. He's thought about stuff is Roosevelt. Roosevelt. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like we're all sitting here saying, oh, you know, you know, again, what does it mean when Pete Hague said, you know. Took his shirt off. No, Russ Vout is the guy.

One nominee that I think flew right under the radar who is really dangerous because I think he does know what he's doing. He's thought about stuff is Roosevelt. Roosevelt. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like we're all sitting here saying, oh, you know, you know, again, what does it mean when Pete Hague said, you know. Took his shirt off. No, Russ Vout is the guy.

One nominee that I think flew right under the radar who is really dangerous because I think he does know what he's doing. He's thought about stuff is Roosevelt. Roosevelt. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like we're all sitting here saying, oh, you know, you know, again, what does it mean when Pete Hague said, you know. Took his shirt off. No, Russ Vout is the guy.