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The MAGA loyalist running the FBI
The Senate has confirmed Kash Patel.
Joey Sendaydiego for Vox
Patrick Reis was the senior politics and ideas editor at Vox. He previously worked at Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, Politico, National Journal, and Seattle’s Real Change News. As a reporter and editor, he has worked on coverage of campaign politics, economic policy, the federal death penalty, climate change, financial regulation, and homelessness.
Welcome to The Logoff. Today I’m focusing on the Senate’s confirmation of new FBI Director Kash Patel, a move that puts a hardcore Trump loyalist at the head of federal law enforcement.
What’s the latest? The Senate voted 51-49 today to confirm Patel as the head of the FBI. All Democrats and both independents voted no, as did Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
Who is Kash Patel? Patel is a former public defender, prosecutor, and Republican congressional staffer. During the first Trump administration, Patel worked on the National Security Council and for the Defense Department.
He’s also a longtime MAGA loyalist who has appeared on right-wing podcasts and criticized investigations into Donald Trump’s conduct as political persecution. Patel’s 2023 book included an “enemies list,” naming dozens of officials whom he deemed threats to democracy via the “deep state.”
What’s going on between Trump and the FBI? The Trump administration has fired high-ranking FBI officials and demanded bureau leadership compile a list of employees involved in the January 6 investigations, raising concerns about a coming political purge.
During his confirmation hearing testimony, Patel pledged: “There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI, should I be confirmed as the FBI director.” But Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) accused Patel of involvement in the early firings — a claim Patel’s team denies.
What’s the big picture? Trump’s critics charge he’ll use the Justice Department to attack his critics and take revenge for past investigations. The FBI would be critical to that process, and now a Trump loyalist — rather than an official with a background in law enforcement — will lead it.
And with that, it’s time to log off …
I didn’t know what a “social biome” was before reading this piece from my colleague Allie Volpe, but since learning about it, I’ve grown a touch obsessed. This piece is about how you can make sure your social life actually works to make you a happier, more fulfilled person. And it turns out, some of the prescribed steps — like slowing down to make sure you have at least one high-quality conversation a day — are not as difficult as I expected. I hope you enjoy it. See you back here tomorrow.
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