Hey, it's Martine. We want to thank you, our Post Reports listeners, by offering a special

discount on a digital subscription to the Washington Post. Get unlimited access to our website

and apps for less than a dollar a week. Sign up at postreports.com slash offer.

From the newsroom of the Washington Post.

Hey, it's Ross Helderman from the Post calling. How are you?

Hey there, it's Simon and the Post. Hey, it's Dave Farron from Post.

Have you got a seat? This is Post Reports. I am Martine Powers.

It's Tuesday, June 18th. Today, Trump's defense pick with draws from consideration,

a proposed plan for mass migrant deportations, and a memorable ride on a golden escalator.

Patrick Shanahan was the acting secretary of defense. He had been in this position in an

unconvinable role for a record amount of time since January. Aaron Davis is an investigative

reporter with the Post. And a month ago, the White House said he's going to be our nominee,

we're going to put him up permanently, and then they never submitted the paperwork. So for four

weeks, we've been waiting for him to actually officially on paper be the nominee he never was.

Today, President Trump made an announcement about Patrick Shanahan. He did, and a tweet he said that

he was withdrawing his nomination and would not be the next secretary of defense.

So what do we know about why he is withdrawing his nomination?

Well, we know a lot, and we've known a lot about this backstory that's been going on with

Patrick Shanahan and his family for many months. And it's a very sad tale, really. It's a series of

his, he uses this word a lot, tragic episodes of domestic violence, evolving his now ex-wife,

one of them involving him and her, making allegations against each other, and another one after

they are separated where an extremely violent episode occurs where his oldest son, then 17,

...