Episode 17

Donald Trump's first week in office has been nothing short of exhausting. In just five days, he has signed dozens of executive orders, including pardons for over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6th attack on the Capitol and commutations for Proud Boys and Oath Keepers convicted of seditious conspiracy. He has declared a national emergency at the southern border and taken aim at the constitutional right granting automatic citizenship to anyone born in the United States, a move already facing court challenges. Trump is also threatening federal workers with punishment for engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Critics argue that the chaos, cruelty, and relentless pace are deliberate, exemplified by his controversial nomination of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, to lead the Department of Defense. Hegseth faces a Senate confirmation vote tonight amid revelations that he made a $50,000 payment to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, disclosed during questioning by Senator Elizabeth Warren. Warren has also raised serious concerns about Hegseth's judgment, citing troubling incidents involving alcohol, including strip club visits and episodes of severe intoxication. She contends that his behavior renders him unfit to oversee the nation's security.