Will Pete Hegesith and his mom convince key Republican senators that he's a changed man?

Donald Trump is standing by his choice for Secretary of Defense, but is there an expiration date on this nomination?

Tonight, the nonstop drama around Trump's cabinet picks as a former Republican standard bearer says goodbye to Washington.

Next.

This is Washington Week with the Atlantic. Good evening and welcome to Washington Week.

Somewhat miraculously, Pete Hegseth, the Fox morning host chosen by President President-elect Trump to lead the world's most powerful military,

is still in the game tonight after a week of stunning revelations about his private life and personal demons.

The drama around Hegseth has diverted attention from Trump's choice to run the FBI, Cash Patel,

the most loyal of loyalists, who appears ready to use his power to prosecute Trump's

enemies. Joining me tonight to discuss all this, McKay Coppins, my colleague and a staff writer at the

Atlantic. He's also the author of Romney, A Reckoning. Jane Mayer is a staff writer at The New Yorker,

and Tarini Parti is a national politics reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

Thank you all for joining me tonight. I appreciate it. Let's start with the Washington that was.

This week, Mitt Romney said goodbye to the Senate.

There are some today who would tear at our unity,

who would replace love with hate,

who deride our foundation of virtue,

or who debase the values upon which

the blessings of heaven depend.

I will leave this chamber with a sense of achievement,

but in truth, I will also leave with the recognition that I did not achieve everything I had hoped.

McKay, your Romney's biographer.

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