Hi everyone. This is Sarah Lee, one of the co-hosts of the Capital Research Center Influence Watch podcast.

I just wanted to let you know we're taking a break for the Christmas holiday. We do have a new

episode coming, which is a year in retrospective right before the new year. But for next week,

we are going to offer you a look back

at a previous episode that actually first aired a year ago, pretty close to this time in

December 2024, about Donald Trump's intention to nominate Cash Patel to the FBI. And as we know,

there's a lot that's been done since

that time. A lot been going on in that beleaguered agency. So we thought we would give you a look back

at how it all began. Please do enjoy your holiday season. Like I said, we'll have a new episode

right before the new year and then we'll be back in full

swing in 2026. Take care and we'll talk to you then.

Hello, I'm Michael Watson, joined by Sarah Lee, and this is the Influence Watch podcast.

A new presidential administration does not typically mean new management at the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

but typically the incumbent FBI director did not oversee the FBI when it rated the President elect's house.

Given that fact and other standing disputes with the Bureau, it is not surprising that President-elect Donald Trump and Senator Chuck Grassley have informed FBI director

Christopher Ray that he does not have the confidence of both the incoming administration and

the incoming Senate majority.

President-elect Trump has announced his intention to nominate Cash Hell, a former congressional staffer, a national security staffer, and the incoming Senate majority. President-elect Trump has announced his intention to nominate Cash Hell,

a former congressional staffer and national security staffer in the first Trump administration,

to replace Ray.

Here to discuss how the FBI got here and where it might go in the next administration is our colleague, Ken Brown.

And welcome back.

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