Warning: this episode contains strong language.
Over the past few weeks, the resistance of a single Republican senator, Joni Ernst of Iowa, had threatened to derail Donald J. Trump’s choice of Pete Hegseth to run the Department of Defense.
Karoun Demirjian, who covers Congress for The Times, and Jonathan Swan, who covers politics, discuss how Mr. Trump and his allies ensured that Ms. Ernst’s resistance went away.
Guest:
• Karoun Demirjian ([ Ссылка ]) , who covers Congress for The New York Times, with a focus on national security.
• Jonathan Swan ([ Ссылка ]) , a Times reporter covering politics and Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign.
Background reading:
• Mr. Trump became convinced that letting Mr. Hegseth fail would set off a feeding frenzy ([ Ссылка ]) among senators.
• Ms. Ernst, who is facing re-election in 2026, appeared less skeptical about the pick after MAGA supporters threatened her with political retribution ([ Ссылка ]) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily ([ Ссылка ]) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts ([ Ссылка ]) or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
