The Trump cabinet pageant continues! And we’re all about to find out which of the judges – aka our elected U.S. senators – are willing to let President-elect Donald Trump run the show. On Wednesday, Trump selected Florida Rep. and contender for most hated member of Congress Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general of the United States. Gaetz has little relevant experience, but he is one of Trump’s most loyal — and vocal — supporters in Congress. At least one senator is already expressing skepticism. Ken White, a former federal prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney who writes the Popehat newsletter, games out what an Attorney General Matt Gaetz would mean for the Justice Department. And in headlines: President Joe Biden and Trump had an awkward meeting at the White House, South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune is the new Senate majority leader, and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars media empire is auctioned off to anonymous bidders.
It's Thursday, November 14th.
I'm Jane Coston, and this is what a day.
The show where we're thinking of things more enjoyable than living through Trump's Cabinet pic, getting a colonoscopy, having a uti, walking in on your parents, having sex.
On today's show, Trump and Biden sit down for a cordial meeting and GOP senators have chosen their new leader.
Let's get into it.
The Trump Cabinet pageant continues, and we're all about to find out which of the judges, AKA our elected US Senators, are willing to let President Elect Donald Trump run the show and crown the contestants he wants, even if they seem poised to faceplant on stage or during their Senate confirmation hearing.
This is a tortured metaphor, but we are a tortured people right now because on Wednesday we got the nomination heard round the Beltway and beyond.
Trump announced on Truth Social that he's nominating Florida representative and contender for most hated member of Congress, Matt Gaetz, for the rol of Attorney General of the United States.
Gates has served four terms in the House.
Prior to that, he spent a few years in the Florida State House.
He did practice law briefly before entering politics, though.
Ideally you would hope that the top lawyer at what's essentially the world's largest law firm, overseeing more than 10,000 attorneys, would have a few more legal bona fides.
But in the world of maga, Gates trades in the highest currency of them all, unending, excessively vocal, and shameless loyalty to Donald Trump.
And he would absolutely help Trump make good on his campaign promises of using the Justice Department to go after his personal enemies.
For his part, Gates seems super confident that he's headed for a promotion to Trump's Cabinet because on Wednesday he resigned from his House seat.
And maybe he should be confident.
Despite his obvious lack of qualifications and the fact that everyone hates him, it's an open question whether the Senate will block his nomination.
Already some Republican senators are lining up behind him, like Tennessee's Bill Haggerty.
Well, you know, Matt has been an outspoken advocate in the House for reform of the doj.
As you mentioned, he's been on the receiving end of the DOJ's weaponization.