Karoun Demirjian is a Congressional reporter for The New York Times with a focus on national security, while Jonathan Swan covers politics and Trump’s campaigns. They delve into the tense saga of Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense, exploring Senator Joni Ernst's resistance fueled by concerns over military sexual assault and political ramifications. The duo discusses how Trump's allies mounted a campaign to diminish Ernst's skepticism, illustrating the high-stakes machinations and pressures within the GOP as they navigate internal disagreements.

For the past few months, a single senator — Tommy Tuberville — has blocked hundreds of promotions in the U.S. military.Karoun Demirjian, a congressional correspondent for The Times, explains what’s behind the senator’s blockade, and why military leaders say it’s becoming a threat to national security.Guest: Karoun Demirjian, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.Background reading: Tuberville’s bid to reverse a Pentagon policy ensuring abortion access for service members has delayed the smooth transfer of power at the highest echelons of the armed forces.Here’s David Firestone of Times Opinion on Tuberville’s blockade.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 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.

Karoun Demirjian, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times, discusses the failed bipartisan immigration agreement to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. The podcast explores the unorthodox linkage made by Republicans between funding for Ukraine and border security. It also delves into the collapse of a bipartisan immigration deal and the challenges Republicans face in making deals.