The Powers That Be: Daily The MAGAfication of the State Department
Aug 6, 2025
Julia Ioffe, a journalist at Puck specializing in the State Department, joins Leigh Ann Caldwell to discuss the controversial appointment of Trump loyalist Lou Alowski as head of HR. They delve into Alowski's erratic behavior and questionable qualifications, raising alarms about a shift in U.S. diplomacy prioritizing loyalty over expertise. Ioffe highlights how this trend affects recruitment practices and underscores its implications for U.S. diplomacy in the face of rivals like Russia and China. The conversation unveils the unsettling transformation within the State Department.
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Lou Olowski’s Strange Persona
- Lou Olowski has a bizarre and intense aura, described by colleagues as "fucking crazy" but not vicious.
- His photo resembles a bearded Stephen Miller, reflecting his unconventional and unsettling nature.
Olowski’s Troubling Embassy Behavior
- Olowski accessed classified information unrelated to his visa duty at random times, an action for which he was counseled.
- He disrupted embassy order by adding unsolicited calendar invites and awkwardly handing out cold gifts dressed as Santa at the Beijing embassy party.
Political Loyalty Shapes State Dept
- Olowski, as head of HR, enforces political loyalty, dubbed 'fidelity', as a key promotion criterion.
- This reshapes the State Department’s recruitment and promotion based on allegiance to Trump rather than expertise, impacting U.S. diplomacy long term.