Victor Davis Hanson: Trump’s Nominees’ Confirmation Battles

The Daily Signal Podcast

The Daily Signal

News, Government, Politics, Daily News

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 29 January 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Do those who opposed Pete Hegseth’s nomination really believe he will be worse than former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin? On this edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Hanson discusses the contentious Senate confirmation process for Trump administration nominees. He highlights past and upcoming nominations, such as Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, and RFK Jr., and the crucial role swing-state senators play in these votes: “There's a general rule, though, that we can make sense that, I think, will apply—has applied, to Pete Hegseth. It will apply to Kash Patel, especially, RFK Jr. and others. And that is three things: The more important the Cabinet position is, the more controversial the vote; the more likely a Republican nominee is going to try to make fundamental and needed changes, the more controversial the vote; and, the more that senators in swing states worry about being reelected, the more controversial vote.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:29.6	There's a general rule, though, that we can make sense that I think will apply, has applied
0:34.1	to Pete Hexeth, it will apply to Cash Patel, especially RFK Jr. and others. And that is
0:40.6	three things. The more important the cabinet position is, the more controversial to vote, the more
0:47.6	likely a Republican nominee is going to try to make fundamental and needed changes. And the more
0:54.0	that senators in swing states worry about being re-elected,
0:59.5	the more controversial.
1:15.9	Hello, this is Victor Davis Hansen again for The Daily Signal.
1:24.8	We're in a weeks-long process of confirming nominees of the Trump administration for these 13 cabinet-level positions.
1:27.1	And I think it may go on all the way through February,
1:29.7	given the Democratic strategy to oppose wherever possible the confirmations.
1:36.5	There's a general rule, though, that we can make sense that I think has applied to Pete
1:41.0	Hexeth.
1:41.7	It will apply to Cash Patel, especially RFK Jr. and others. And that is
1:47.6	three things. The more important the cabinet position is, the more controversial the vote. The more
1:56.7	likely a Republican nominee is going to try to make fundamental and needed changes, the more
2:03.6	controversial the vote. And the more that senators in swing states worry about being re-elected,
	...

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