Hello, everyone. Before we dive into today's episode, I have a couple special announcements.

First, this Wednesday, February 5th, we will be welcoming Chris Hayes, the Emmy Award-winning

host of All In with Chris Hayes on MSNBC, for a conversation around his new book, The Sirens Call.

The event is a sellout, I'm sorry to say, but on the off chance that some tickets are

returned and just to get information about future events, visit talkingsandiego.net.

Second, I wanted you to know that we have decided to be the sort of house podcast for the contrarian,

the new independent substack with an amazing array of important writers across the spectrum from

domestic politics, foreign affairs, humor, culture, and the like in different ages.

And as a special feature for that new partnership, you can go to Contrariant Substack and get as part of

your package for subscribing ads-free Patreon-level subscription to Talking

Fed's for a dollar a month. We would have made it free, but Patreon would only do a dollar

a month, but still quite a deal, I think. So check that out as well at Talking Feds or the Contrarian Substack. And now,

our show. Welcome to Talking Feds, a roundtable that brings together prominent former federal

officials and special guests

for a dynamic discussion of the most important political and legal topics of the day.

I'm Harry Littman.

Donald Trump's unprecedented assault on the government he is purportedly leading redoubled in force

this week. It was a grotesque spectacle, like a multi-car

pile up on the freeway that you can't look away from. Except here, the wreckage isn't just metal and

glass, but bedrock democratic norms, with millions of Americans caught in the debris. Trump's final set of nominees included three candidates so glaringly unfit for their roles

that their selections seemed less like governance and more like sabotage.

Appointees hand-picked to wreck the very agencies they are supposed to oversee.

...