Friday Insights-January 17, 2025

The Trump version of “Shock and Awe” starts in three days—and it is aimed at us!

Screen Capture from CBS coverage of President Biden's farewell speech on YouTube.

I got up early this morning and read a news feed before starting my day. Donald Trump plans to remake Washington, D.C. in his image. He has previously announced plans to move thousands of federal workers, and probably entire agencies, out of the Nation’s Capital. He also plans to “clean the city up,” a goal he adopted, one article said, while riding in the back seat of a limo going through a tunnel marred by graffiti while on the way to a deposition in connection with one of his criminal indictments.

I doubt Trump will remake Washington, but I have already heard from friends who plan to move out of the city because Trump is moving in.

Trump is beginning to focus on his legacy, much as Hitler did in the 1930s. That” leader envisioned himself as the most powerful man in the world and worked with an architect to envision a remade capital city. Less than a decade later, that city was in rubble.

Interesting?

The irrelevant Jack Smith report.

I have another reason this week to worry about America’s future—the public’s indifference to the Jack Smith report on January 6, 2021, released early Tuesday morning. The report is receiving attention from MSNBC and other media outlets catering to progressives but started to fall out of the news before the sun set on January 14. The report, one may argue, had a shelf-life of less than 18 hours. That’s worrisome.

We are all tired of the Donald Trump story. Progressives did not need the report to believe Trump was guilty of the criminal charges that Jack Smith brought against him. Many were disappointed that the report did not include a startling new revelation—something like a check with Trump’s signature on it made out to the Proud Boys.

Trump supporters don’t want, or may be unable, to hear another word about Trump’s complicity in the January 6 Insurrection. Many know what Trump did that day but have convinced themselves it’s old news. They are angry that Democrats and others keep talking about January 6, as if Trump’s 2024 wiped his slate clean.

I read the entire 174-page report and declare it a yawner. I have concluded it is irrelevant as far as Trump 2.0 goes, but history is another story. Historians will read the document as additional evidence that Trump tried to overthrow the government and got away with it. History is not going to be kind to Trump.

Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing.

I needed a stomach distress bag to listen to a few Republican Senators at Tuesday’s Hegseth confirmation hearing. Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), Senators Mullen (R-OK), Schmidt (R-MO), Sheehy (R-MT), Banks (R-IN) and Budd (R-NC) embarrassed themselves with softball questions. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who expressed concerns about an alleged sexual assault by Hegseth, has announced her intention to vote for Hegseth.

Senator Markwayne Mullin asked the hearing’s most ridiculous question. He asked Hegseth about his wife. Senator Sheehy asked about how many push-ups Hegseth did before the hearing.

With Ernst’s vote, Armed Services Committee approval of Hegseth is a certainty. Approval by the full Senate is highly likely.

Committee Democrats, especially ranking member Jack Reed (D-RI), a West Point graduate, was effective in identifying Hegseth’s lack of qualifications for the job of Secretary of Defense. Senators Duckworth (D-IL) and Slotkin (D-MI) were aggressive in probing Hegseth’s knowledge and qualifications. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) asked about Hegseth’s divorces, and alleged drinking and sexual assaults.

Remember how Republicans handled their responsibility to “advise and consent” on an obviously inappropriate nomination. When Hegseth blows up, which he will, these Senators will share the blame.

My guess is that Putin is celebrating Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.

Gabbard in trouble? Let’s hope so.

Vladimir Putin is not likely to be celebrating this week’s news on Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for the post of Director of National Intelligence. News emerged this week that Gabbard’s meetings with Republican Senators were not going well. When Gabbard was asked to explain what the job of Director of National Intelligence does, she did not know.

Gabbard also fails to qualify for appointment under a provision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which created the office of Director of National Intelligence. That Act provides: “Any individual nominated for appointment as DNI shall have extensive national security experience.” Gabbard has no national security experience. None.

Fires in California.

The tragedy of the fire in California continues. A friend this week expressed marvel that the scope of the fires was not a wake-up call on climate change. I agree.

Cold predicted for Inauguration Day.

Washingtonians have a love-hate relationship with Inauguration Day. It is an honor for the city to host the start of a new Presidential term, but Inaugurations are disruptive. I recall President Obama’s first Inauguration. I was flying back to Washington’s Dulles Airport from a business trip. When I started my trip home, the roads were closed due to the massive crowds attending the Inauguration. Dulles Airport is 26 miles from D.C.

I’ve been worried about this year’s Inauguration because I expect protests. Thus far, it appears there will be fewer than in 2017. That means less chaos in D.C. But there is something else on the radar screen—the possibility of freezing weather. One forecast I saw this week forecasts a high temperature of 28 degrees and a low of 9 degrees.

That could prevent Trump from enjoying the largest crowd in recorded human history. MAGA supporters love Trump but don’t want to freeze to death for him.

The flag at the Capitol will be at full mast.

Donald Trump has been outspoken in expressing his anger at President Biden’s decision to order flags to be flown at half mast for 30 days in honor of President Carter. House Speaker Johnson has come to Trump’s rescue. The flags above the Capitol—the same Capitol that Trump supporters attacked on January 6, 2021—will be at full mast for the Inauguration ceremony.

Executive Orders Tsunami expected.

Washington insiders expect Trump to issue dozens of Executive Orders on Inauguration Day relating to oil drilling, border security, DEI, and much more. The sheer number of Executive Orders will likely overwhelm much, if not all, of the media, meaning it will be a few days before we understand everything that Trump does three days from now.

In addition to the Executive Orders, Trump will issue hundreds of pardons, including pardons for his “January 6 Patriots” and for others involved in his failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election. I will likely spend most of January 21 reading about who got pardoned and, in the case of the Executive Orders, who got screwed or rewarded for making big contributions.

Biden farewell address—must reading.

I hope to write more about President Biden’s farewell address, delivered January 16 from the Oval Office. It was a historic speech. Read it here if you have not already done so,

Thank you.

Please let me offer special thanks for reading Dean’s Friday Insights.