Trump’s Cabinet Appointments Range From “Terrifying to Absurd”

It's been about a week and a half since Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of The United States so I wanted to speak with Michael Tomasky, an American columnist, progressive commentator, author and the editor of The New Republic. We spoke about Trump's head scratching cabinet appointments and how the growth of right wing media and their spread of misinformation is the real reason Trump won.

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[valerieladeda]

A 17-year-old is not an "underage woman" she is a girl.

[stephanieadams]

My husband died while serving on Active duty in the Navy. Hed be appalled by this Hegseth gyy being chosen to run the Pentagon. I know I am; I served in the Navy, too!

[ldhorricks]

Having lived in Russia for a number of years and now in Prague for 30 years...I have to say that America under Trump is edging closer and closer to a Putin-like or Orban-like personal regime, where rule of law is whatever someone like Putin or Orban decides and where meaningful political opposition and free and fair press has been utterly dismantled. It may sound hyperbolic...but I see all the signs.

[jillyjill]

I don't understand why anyone is surprised or shocked at these cabinet picks. His first term was batshit crazy, and every campaign and rally since then has been batshit crazy. He associates with nutjobs. What did y'all expect?

[bluesunset]

NOT "underage woman." It's "MINOR" or "CHILD."

[voiceforchangecommunitycho]

NOT happy about being dragged into another four years of this gaslighting sh**t show!

[swright]

A new low bar has been set. Electing a leader with significant legal issues sends a troubling message, normalizing actions that once would have been deemed unacceptable. It reflects a shift in standards, where background checks, ethical conduct, and accountability seem secondary to political loyalty. It's a sobering moment for the nation.

[rhapi]

Canadian Federal panel "warns that algorithms designed to engage audiences emotionally rather than factually could "increase distrust and social fragmentation, " isolating people in "separate realities shaped by their personal media …" I know people in a different reality than me who I love that are lost in a FOX hole. and I live in Canada. This other reality is a poison

[TimBadger-wd]

My late father in law worked diligently for 35 years for The State Department. I’m sure he’s turning in his grave.

[LindaCochrane-qk]

Truth, facts and morals are rare commodities these days, around the world

[tylermoore]

The challenge of building a left media ecosystem is vast and potentially insurmountable. RW media is where all the juicy stuff is, it's where you go to get comforting conspiracies instead of scary and unyielding reality (of global warming, say). How do you compete with that? Second, consensus reality itself has bifurcated into separate continents. Facts are impossible to adjudicate when each side trusts different sources. Once a debate on facts differs on the sources, who steps in to decree the truth?

[NancyBrown-iwvh]

The bar has been dropped so low and precedents are being set; our standards for people serving in our government will never again be as high as they once were. So very sad!

[conaccento]

The appointment of Matt Gaetz wants to show that justice is wrong when it accuses perverts and rapists. It is a direct reference to the history of the future president of the United States.

[Amyls]

I dont know how you can think that MSNBC and CNN do not have a political agenda.

[crash]

Katie, your guest is 100% correct right wing media can take responsibility for Donald Trump and every horrible thing he does from this point out!

[bugsea]

I promised myself I would not listen to anything trump till this nightmare is over, but here we go again.

[lepoid]

We should not be surprised that Trump would choose people who will do his bidding without hesitation. He clearly wants people, not shockingly, who will simply say, "Yes, sir."

[deborahhoffman]

People need to learn what primary sources are and be encouraged to read them and listen to them.

[jam]

It's the Dunning-Kruger effect on an epic scale.

[corinnasanchez]

Thank you Katie for having these conversations!!!