The Briefing with Jen Psaki Trump sinks to new levels of petty to rewrite history of his disgrace
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Oct 30, 2025 Jonathan Karl, ABC News chief White House correspondent and author of "Retribution," shares insights from his book on how Trump's cabinet was filled with unqualified loyalists. He delves into the flawed vetting process that prioritized loyalty over expertise. The conversation touches on Steve Bannon's influence in critical policy decisions and raises questions about Trump's potential third term. Karl also discusses ongoing political tensions, including the Senate's struggle to address government shutdowns and the implications for national security.
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Pardons Didn't Erase All Criminal Accountability
- Trump used pardons selectively, shielding January 6 defendants for insurrection charges while other crimes remained prosecutable.
- The administration punished prosecutors for referencing January 6 and Trump's actions by putting them on leave and refiling the memo without those details.
Political Control Rewrites Prosecutorial Records
- The White House response to a factual sentencing memo suggests retribution-driven control over DOJ messaging.
- Removing January 6 references from a memo signals politicization of prosecutorial decisions.
Loyalty Trumps Expertise In Staffing
- Loyalty became the overriding criterion for Trump's second-term staffing, displacing expertise and vetting.
- That produced a cabinet of unqualified loyalists built to carry out a retribution agenda.
