Voter Perception and Presidential Pardons

Donald Trump and Joe Biden marked the weekend after thanksgiving with two big news developments that look a lot like chess moves in a high-stakes match between the revenge-obsessed far right and the outgoing liberal establishment. First, Trump nominated Kash Patel, an aggrieved loyalist with a literal enemies list, to run the FBI. Second, Biden pardoned his son Hunter.

In this episode, Matt and Brian discuss:

* Who is Kash Patel and why is his “nomination” to a vacancy that doesn’t exist so chilling?

* Does it justify a blanket pardon for Biden’s son, who really did engage in illegal activity, but who’s been the target of a years-long Republican harassment campaign?

* Should Democrats in Congress, caught off guard by Biden’s move, challenge Republicans to reform the pardon power?

Then, behind the paywall, what should Democrats do about nominees like Patel? Should Biden offer pardons to his full enemies list? Is strategic silence and working the inside game really the best way to guard against the corruption of the so-called “power ministries”? Should Democrats really concern themselves with insisting on the kinds of guardrails that protected Trump from the political consequences of his own corruption in his first term?

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Further reading:

* Brian’s 19 thoughts on the Hunter Biden pardon, and why there was a better option.

* Josh Marshall on the merits the YOLO, DGAF Biden pardon.

* An August Atlantic profile of Kash Patel.

* Jane Mayer’s bombshell investigative report on Pete Hegseth’s secret history.