The Campaign Moment

Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of The Campaign Moment newsletter, sits down with senior congressional correspondent Paul Kane and White House reporter Matt Viser to talk about what Biden is trying to do with his last few weeks in office. They also talk about Time magazine’s person of the year interview with Trump and what two GOP Senate appointments could mean for Trump’s ability to get his agenda through Congress. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and mixed by Justin Gerrish.  Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/campaign-moment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs].

On Capitol Hill, Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/05/hegseth-defense-republican-senators-confirmation/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment] over allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct, which he denies. So this week, the veteran and former Fox News host spent time with lawmakers, publicly and privately making the case for his leadership of the Defense Department. But some Republican senators are skeptical, and Trump is reportedly lining up other options. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down the latest Cabinet controversies [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/05/campaign-moment-trump-cabinet-picks-in-trouble/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment] with White House editor Naftali Bendavid and Washington Post Live anchor Leigh Ann Caldwell. Plus, they discuss the extraordinary breadth [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/02/hunter-biden-presidential-pardon-comparisons/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment] of Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter and the possibility that Biden will issue more preemptive pardons to critics of the incoming president.  Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Justin Gerrish.  Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/campaign-moment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs].

“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell, who co-authors the Early Brief politics newsletter [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/early-brief/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment] for The Post, about why Gaetz’s bid for attorney general lasted just eight days. Aaron breaks down why Trump’s electoral mandate is actually weaker than he claims. Plus, answers to listeners’ and readers’ lingering questions about the 2024 election.  Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Justin Gerrish.  Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/campaign-moment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs].

When Trump floated the name of Matt Gaetz for attorney general, some Republicans balked. The former Florida congressman has been investigated by both the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/18/trumps-cabinet-picks-morality-problem/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment] over allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. Trump’s announced choice to lead the Defense Department, Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth, also faces new scrutiny after it was revealed that he paid a woman after she accused him of sexual assault. Hegseth denies the assault allegation. Host Aaron Blake and national political reporter Michael Scherer break down the various controversies around Gaetz and Hegseth and weigh whether Republicans will ultimately oppose [https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/the-campaign-moment/will-republicans-give-trump-the-cabinet-he-wants/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment] their confirmations. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy.  Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/campaign-moment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs].

There’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to head up the Justice Department. Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence. Trump has chosen some eyebrow-raising names to staff his Cabinet. But are there any Republicans in the Senate that would choose to block them?  Congress reporter Liz Goodwin joins hosts Aaron Blake and Elahe Izadi to dig into Trump’s Cabinet appointments, their chances in the Senate, and whether Trump could bypass the upper chamber entirely with the use of recess appointments. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/11/15/trump-administration-transition/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment] Today's episode was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Rena Flores, Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/campaign-moment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-campaign-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs].