The Daily

A Victim of the Shadow Government

Oct 24, 2019

David J. Shulkin, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs during the Trump administration, reflects on his turbulent tenure, marked by political interference. He shares insights into the 'dual path of decision-making' in the White House that complicated his role and led to his downfall. Shulkin also discusses the complex dynamics of privatizing veteran healthcare, revealing the tension between veterans' choices and the effectiveness of the VA system. His experiences echo the struggles of diplomats navigating a similar political landscape.

26:50

Creator website

Episode guests

David Shulkin

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Navigating Transition: From Obama to Trump

8min

Navigating the Complexities of Veteran Healthcare Privatization

2min

Navigating Legislative Challenges in Veterans Affairs

2min

Internal Struggles: The Fallout in Veterans Affairs

13min

Political Dysphoria and the Need for Independent Journalism

3min

Before the career diplomats working in Ukraine discovered a “highly irregular” power structure around President Trump determined to undermine and derail them, a Trump cabinet secretary said the same thing happened to him.

Today, David J. Shulkin, former secretary of Veterans Affairs, speaks about his experience with “a dual path of decision making in the White House” and how falling out of favor with President Trump’s political appointees ended his tenure. Guest: David J. Shulkin, a former secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Trump administration. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background listening and reading:

Mr. Shulkin’s story matches a pattern described that career diplomats have described to the impeachment inquiry. Here’s a “Daily” episode about their testimony.
Back channels to the White House are at the heart of the investigation.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.