Politics
The Perilous Path to Job Security in the Trump Administration: Serving an "Audience of One"
February 14, 2026, 5:45 AM – The current political climate, particularly within the Trump Administration, appears increasingly dictated by a singular imperative: satisfying the "audience of one." This unique dynamic suggests that remaining in favor, and thus retaining one's position, can paradoxically involve executing duties in a manner that might otherwise be deemed incompetent or legally unsound by objective standards. This week’s events offer stark illustrations of this peculiar phenomenon, where public humiliation and legal rebukes are seemingly less consequential than demonstrating unwavering loyalty.
(Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images and Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images.)
Legal Setbacks and Political Loyalty
Prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Columbia, spearheaded by Jeanine Pirro, experienced a significant defeat on Tuesday. Their attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers—four House members and two senators—for a social media video recorded last year, which reminded service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders, was resoundingly rejected. According to NBC News, the D.C. grand jury not only declined to issue an indictment but saw not a single member deem the charges credible enough to proceed.
Further demonstrating legal overreach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort to penalize Senator Mark Kelly, a veteran and one of the six lawmakers involved in the video, was swiftly overturned by a judge this week. The court explicitly stated that Hegseth’s actions had "trampled on Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms." These public legal embarrassments for Pirro and Hegseth appear to stem from a perceived need to appease former President Donald Trump, who had previously condemned the video as "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL" and "punishable by DEATH!"
Cabinet Controversies and Congressional Defiance
Attorney General Pam Bondi delivered a highly contentious performance before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, which stunned observers. Her testimony was characterized by shouting, unrelated personal attacks on Democratic members, and demands for apologies to Trump over his impeachment, culminating in her calling Representative Jamie Raskin, the Democratic ranking member, a "washed-up loser lawyer!" In response to Representative Jerry Nadler's inquiry about Epstein co-conspirators, Bondi pivoted to an unrelated defense of the stock market's performance under Trump. This deeply embarrassing display, however, resonated with her intended "audience of one," with Trump later posting that "AG Pam Bondi, under intense fire from the Trump Deranged Radical Left Lunatics, was fantastic at yesterday’s Hearing."
Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson faced a legislative defeat this week when a White House-requested rule, designed to block Democrats from forcing votes to repeal Trump’s tariffs, failed 217–214. Three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing the measure, opening the door for House Democrats to repeatedly challenge Trump’s tariff policies. Within a day of this rule vote failing, the House moved to eliminate Trump’s Canada tariffs, prompting an immediate threat from Trump: "any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!"
Shifting Alliances and Political Retaliation
The threat of primary challenges, however, may not deter all Republicans. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, a retiring swing-district member, voted against the rule and promptly left the premises. Similarly, California Representative Kevin Kiley, whose district was significantly altered in the "Redistricting Wars," also voted against it, as did Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie, a known critic of Trump. With the House GOP’s narrow margin, even a few defectors can disrupt the administration’s agenda.
Further complicating the Cabinet landscape, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is facing renewed scrutiny following revelations from the Epstein files. Despite his previous claims of minimal contact with Jeffrey Epstein—including a 2005 house tour where he allegedly decided he'd "never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again"—the files indicate Lutnick and his family visited Epstein’s island in 2012. Records also suggest business dealings and sporadic correspondence, including scheduled drinks. While this discrepancy might jeopardize others, Lutnick's position remains secure, perhaps due to Trump’s preference for "Good-Time Howie" and the potential implications of punishing those associated with Epstein.
Redistricting Battles and Unexpected Endorsements
The political maneuvering extends to state-level battles, exemplified by Virginia Democrats' proposed mid-decade gerrymander. This controversial new map, if approved by voters and upheld legally, could shift the state's congressional delegation from its current 6-5 Democratic majority to a commanding 10-1 split. The strategy involves intricately carving up Democratic votes from Northern Virginia suburbs and extending them into rural areas, creating incoherent districts. Virginia State Senator Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, a key proponent, unabashedly defended the move against critics like Texas Senator Ted Cruz, stating, "You all started it and we fucking finished it." This aggressive redistricting is seen as retaliation for Trump's earlier encouragement of Republican-led states to redraw their maps.
Adding another layer of intrigue, a new U.S.–Canada bridge between Detroit and Windsor faces a blockade from Trump, who declared he would prevent its opening until the "United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them." This move appears linked to Trump's ongoing grievances with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Intriguingly, billionaire Matthew Moroun, owner of the rival Ambassador Bridge and a long-time opponent of the new crossing, met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday. The New York Times reported that Lutnick then spoke with Trump by phone, with Trump’s declaration following that call.
In the competitive race for New York’s 12th Congressional District, left open by Representative Jerry Nadler's retirement, Jack Schlossberg, JFK’s 33-year-old grandson, has garnered an unexpected endorsement. Despite a less conventional political background, Schlossberg received the "most high-profile endorsement so far, of any candidate" from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi lauded him, stating, "This moment calls for leaders who understand the stakes and how to deliver for the people they serve," highlighting the enduring power of the Kennedy name in American politics.
